Top tips for booking a tattoo appointment
When it comes to getting a tattoo, the first and potentially the most important part of the process is the booking.
Tattoo idea and reference images
A clear, concise description of your tattoo idea is the starting point.
We need to understand what exactly the design is. Reference photos are a must also, as the pictures will support your description. Reference images help us visually understand what you want for the tattoo. You don’t need to worry about using buzz words to describe your tattoo. In our experience, most people who try to label their tattoo idea with a style, are usually using the incorrect terminology. The reference photos should support your idea.
Tattoo size
Avoid using subjective terms (such as “small”, “medium”, “palm size”) to tell us the size. Also, sending us a photo to depict a size is not helpful as every person’s body is different so the proportions of the tattoo may be very different.
To make things easier for everyone, be sure to tell the studio/tattoo artist the approximate dimensions for the tattoo in centimetres or inches. If in doubt, an objective point of reference such as a credit card, iPhone Max, or an A4 page, can also be used.
Size plays a big part in the design process. Knowing the size is very important as it helps us to understand the parameters and what you’re visualising.
We will always let you know if the size isn’t suitable for the design you’re after, and provide you with our advice for the size. It may be that a design may need to be simplified if it is too detailed for a particular size, or a tattoo is too simple to be done at a larger size.
Placement
The next thing to know is where exactly on your body you plan to have the tattoo and whether or not the artist will be working around other tattoos.
Placement is crucial for the aesthetic of a tattoo. For example, you will want to avoid wrapping a portrait around a body part. Portraits are always best on a flat surface so the image is not distorted or warped. Also, the flow of a body part can affect the design. We want your tattoo to look good on the body.
While placement is finalised on the day of the tattoo appointment, it is important that we have a general idea of where you would like the tattoo.
Cover up
If the tattoo requires a cover up, this adds a layer of complexity to the design. Some ideas just aren’t suitable for a cover up. When making an enquiry for a booking, a clear photo of your existing tattoo is a necessity.
We recommend being open to ideas for a cover up but tattoo artists will always be limited to what is already on the skin. Sometimes we may recommend some laser tattoo removal sessions in order to get the tattoo you really want.
Skin conditions
It is imperative that if you have any medical or skin conditions that you let us know, especially if they interfere with the tattoo process or healing. It is important to note that not every artist is experienced with every condition that might affect the tattoo, so it is always good to disclose any relevant information beforehand.
For medical conditions, it is always best to get clearance from your doctor as we are not medical advisers. We don’t know medicine, we just know tattoos.