Anyone can buy a machine, get a registration and start tattooing whether or not they have any artistic ability — a situation that professional tattoo artists object to — so it’s a good idea to do your homework before rolling up your sleeve, it really is a case of buyer beware and the chance is if it’s a cheap tattoo then its cheap because there is no infection control, there is no artistic ability or the establishment simply doesn’t care about the well-being of its clients.
So when choosing a studio: Look around to see if the studio is clean and professional.
Ask questions: Is there an autoclave? Are the needles and other materials single-use? Do the tattoo artists wear gloves during tattooing? Professional artists won’t mind the questions. Watch the artist and pay attention to health and safety precautions.
Watch the artist open all needles before beginning work. Ask about the staffs professional experience. Ask to see examples of past work.
We specialise in custom work, depending on the artist you choose waiting times will vary. Fixed designs are given a fixed price, large work such as sleeves is priced by the hour this is currently £80 per hour.
As a rule of thumb the cost and the amount of time it takes to complete a tattoo is dependent on the size and complexity of the tattoo, basic designs range from £30 upwards. Custom tattoos and larger designs are more expensive, and elaborate pieces can require multiple sessions.
Custom tattoos take time to design and draw up, we do not charge for this time or the design(as many studios do) however we do require a deposit to be left on all appointments. For the reasons above appointments cannot be made via phone or email and must be made in person.
All design work is done with no obligation, if you want it changing then we will work with you to get exactly what you want. For a consultation about a design no booking is required, please feel free to drop in.
The opening hours for each studio can be found under the address.
up a consultation with the Tattoo Artist. This is a good time to get
to talk with your tattooist about the design you want to get. You
can explain why you are getting this design and what influenced
you to get it. If you have any images or reference photos, now is the time to give them to the tattooist. It’s kind
of fun and exciting,open discussion.
Your tattooist will use this time to get to know you a little better
and ensure the right vision and style for you. From this
interaction with you, the Artist can tell how serious you are (or aren’t)
about the tattoo.
In the consultation describe your ideas as fully as you can to
the tattooist. The tattooist should have a very good understanding
of what you are looking for. It should be easy enough for to
start putting your drawing together.
Unlike many other studios we don’t charge for the drawing of a tattoo. The Artist
takes on the challenge of drawing for you because they believe
you are going to get the tattoo. Not many people realize that a
tattooist can spend up to six hours or more drawing one design.
This is out of the Artists own personal private time. Drawing a cover-up so an old tattoo is
“gone” takes an immense amount of work and concentration. This
is where tattooing becomes more of an art than a craft, and an art
background really makes the difference.
Unless you leave a deposit for an appointment the Artist will not give you the drawing to take away. Many clients ask to do this and often get
cross when they are told they cannot. If the design goes out the
door, the person with the design can then take it somewhere
else to get it tattooed. You may think that is preposterous but it
happens all the time. They will get it tattooed cheaper in another
shop by someone with less talent.
Custom Tattoos need to be drawn to your specification, so the artist will take away the information you’ve given, do you a drawing and contact you to come and see it. If you’d like changes making the artist will work with you until it’s just right. Drawings can take from a few days to a couple of weeks depending on the Artists workload. Designs are Free of charge however the artist will need you to show some commitment before they spend their time on the drawing.
There are certain contraindications to tattooing and you should seek the advice of your tattoo artist or GP/Doctor, if you have any of the following:
Impetigo, Cellulitis, Eczema, Psoriasis
Heart disease/disorders, Haemophilia, Low or High blood pressure
Epilepsy, Diabetes
HIV, Hepatitis B/C
Conditions which compromise the immune system, Conditions that may cause haemorrhaging e.g leukaemia
Conditions which may cause excessive bleeding
Allergies to metals(including Nickel), Latex, antiseptics, adhesive dressings or topical dressings and medicines.
You are undergoing a course of medication or medical treatment/
I am not pregnant or breast feeding.
Taken Aspirin or other medicines that thin the blood.
Or suffer from any other condition through which my health may be compromised when receiving a tattoo.
When you look at a persons tattoo, you’re seeing the ink through the epidermis, or the top layer of skin. The ink is inserted into the dermis, which is the second layer of the skin. A tattoo machine creates a puncture wound every time it inserts a drop of ink into the skin. Since any puncture wound has the potential for infection and disease transmission, hygiene and correct protocols are imperative.
Tattoo artists must use sterilisation, disposable materials and hand sanitation to protect themselves and their clients. To eliminate the possibility of contamination, most tattoo materials, including inks, ink cups, gloves and needles, are single use.
Many single-use items arrive in sterile packaging, which the artist opens in front of the customer just before beginning work. Reusable materials, such as the tubes, are sterilized before every use in a vacuum autoclave. Prior to sterilizing the equipment, each item must be cleaned and placed in a sealed pouch. An indicator strip on the pouch changes color when the items inside are sterile.
As a bare minimum before carrying out a tattoo procedure the artist should wash and inspect their hands for cuts and abrasions, Disinfect the work area, Place plastic bags on spray bottles to prevent cross-contamination, explain the sterilization process to the client, Remove all equipment from sterile packaging in front of the client, open new pre-sterlised single use needle in front of the clients, Clean and disinfect (with a mixture of water and antiseptic soap) the area to be tattooed.
Clients work with artists to create custom tattoo designs, or they chose images from flash, which are tattoo designs displayed in the shop. The artist draws or stencils the design onto the person’s skin, since the skin can stretch while the artist uses the tattoo machine.
The artist must also know how deeply the needles need to pierce the skin throughout the process. Punctures that are too deep cause excessive pain and bleeding, blowouts and poor healing and ones that are too shallow cause uneven lines and patchy tattoo’s.
During the tattooing procedure itself, the artist creates a permanent line over the stencil, this is called the outline, the outline is possibly the most painful part of the tattoo procedure. Try not to worry too much though as the body will release it’s natural pain killers. Once the outline is complete they will move on to the shading, improper technique during this step can cause shadowed lines, excessive pain and delayed healing. And finally if it’s a color tatoo the artist will apply coloured ink. Again the technique and experience of the artist are paramount in order to achieve solid colour and/or smooth colour blends.
The final step is to clean and bandage the tattooed area, the artist uses a disposable towel to remove any excess blood and plasma and then covers the tattoo with a sterile dressing. Some bleeding always occurs during tattooing, but most stops within a few minutes.
The artist will then provide verbal aftercare advice and talk you through looking after and the healing of your tattoo, this will then be underpinned by the provision of a printed aftercare sheet that you can take away for reference.
Risks associated with Tattoos are as follows:
Scarring, Blood Poisoning(Septicaemia)
Localised Infection, Allergic Reactions to Ink
Localised Swelling
Since tattoos involve needles and blood, they carry risks.
These include transmission of diseases like hepatitis, tuberculosis and possibly HIV.
When tattoo artists follow all the correct sterilization and sanitation procedures, risks for disease transmission are relatively low.
There has not been a documented case of HIV transmission from a tattoo. However, doctors warn that non-sterile tattooing practices can lead to the transmission of syphilis, hepatitis B and other infectious organisms.
Infections can occur in new tattoos like all wounds, especially without appropriate aftercare.
Some people also experience allergic reactions to tattoo inks. If you have any concerns please consult the tattoo artist.
Tattoo professionals use rules known as universal precautions to prevent the spread of illnesses during tattooing. The same rules apply to hospitals and doctors’ offices. The Law states that no-one under the age of 18 can receive at tattoo,. So, some adolescents get tattoos from friends, amateurs or unscrupulous studios, who use makeshift tools like pens and paper clips with little if any sanitary precautions. This is extremely dangerous, since proper equipment and sanitary measures protect people from disease and infection.
No professional studio should ever touch anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol, no matter how small the amount. This will cause difficulty in applying the tattoo.
It is recommended that you do not drink any alcohol, take any aspirin or antihistamines for 24 hours prior to your tattoo appointment. A vitamin supplement with zinc is recommended.
Arrive at your appointment well rested.
Further, it would help to have a small to medium meal approximately 2/3 hours before your tattoo. Bring some drinks with you to keep Hydrated.
Tattooing is a sterile process. You will want to be clean for the tattoo so you won’t run the risk of infection. Tattoo
shops put a lot of effort into being a safe and sterile environment for your safety. It doesn’t make much sense to jeopardize that, coming straight to the tattoo
shop from the construction site or aerobics class may not be such a great idea.
If you know you are going to get a tattoo in the near future, stay away from self-tanning or Spray tan products. If you use these your skin will have a different texture, which makes it difficult to tattoo.
Stay out of the sun before and after you get a tattoo. Sunburned skin is already irritated and trying to heal itself.
Generally, you will care for your new tattoo for the first two weeks, with healing time averaging 7 – 10 days.
Your artist will go over the best method for you and your type of tattoo.
Below is the healing procedure and do’s and don’ts we recommend.
Because each individual is different, this may not always be best recommendation for each person. We recommend you follow the advice of your tattoo artist:
Aftercare / Minimising Risk of Complications:
Avoid unnecessary touching, scratching or picking to reduce the risk of introducing infection.
Always Wash and Dry your hands before and after touching a new tattoo.
Your new tattoo should be kept covered for at least an hour using the sterile, non adherent dressing applied.
The dressing will stop the tattoo catching on clothing or being exposed to air-borne bacteria and other contaminants.
The dressing will also help to stop bleeding and oozing but should be removed before it dries onto the treated area.
After removal of the dressing, gently wash the tattoo with warm water and pat dry with a clean paper towel or tissue.
Do not rub or skin will become irritated. If possible shower rather than bathe so that unnecessary water exposure is prevented.
Do not use products on the tattoo that have not been recommended by your artist or are not intended for open wound healing.
You may apply moisturising cream 2-3 times a day to assist healing and prevent skin cracking, but avoid petroleum based creams as they will affect healing.
You should not share skin products with others.
After approximately 2 weeks any scabbing should have gone.
The area should be completely healed in a further 10-14 days.
Avoid Swimming, sunbeds and exposure to the Sun or UV light until your tattoo is fully healed. Sunlight/Chlorine can interact with the tattoo pigment causing irritation and inflammation.
Try to wear loose cotton clothing to minimise rubbing and irritation whilst the tattoo is healing.
Always keep a new tattoo covered and protected if working in a dirty/dusty/oily environment.
If you have any problems or queries please contact your tattoo artist on 0151 709 0479, he/she will refer you onto your GP if there are any signs of adverse reaction/infection.
You can find a printable aftercare sheet here:
Therefore, the darker the skin tone, the more muted the colors of a tattoo will appear.
On coffee-colored complexions or lighter, colors can still be used although there are some limitations in the palette. On darker skin, consideration has to be given to the choice of colors depending on skin tone.
As a general rule the darker the skin the more limited the choice of colour becomes and for very dark skin gray shading and solid black are appropriate.
If you require any further info regarding tattooing and skin tone please pop in or give us a bell!!
A “job stopper” is a tattoo that is below the wrist or above the
collarbone. Tattoos in these areas can make it very difficult to get a job. It is prohibited in certain countries to tattoo someone below the wrist or
on the neck or face.
