FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I bring a friend to the studio?

Does it hurt?
Which spot hurts the most?
How to prepare for a tattoo?
How to choose a design?
What size should it be?
How does the whole process go?
What is the minimum age to be tattooed?
Which body parts don't you tattoo?
Could you email me designs?

 

Can I bring a friend to the studio?
Due to the small size of the studio (and waiting area), please do not bring more than one friend with you. Also please do not bring young children to the studio. And for the same reasons we do not allow friends to the tattoo area; in the past it created too many distractions, and we really need to concentrate, thanks for your understanding. For the same reason: please do not use mobile phones while in the studio.

Does it hurt?
Yes, it always hurts, but it's bearable.
It is more irritating than really hurting.
When you get your first tattoo you expect a lot of pain, but it always is much less than you thought it would be.
The first 10 minutes are always a bit fastidious but after that you get used to it.

Which spot hurts the most?
Places on the body just above bones (elbow, collar bone, knee, shin etc.) , the inside of the upper arm , the inside of the thigh and the lower back are more sensitive than the rest of the body.
But do not decide of the spot of your tattoo based on the "hurt factor". Because if you choose get your tattoo on a spot that would hurt 10% less, you always will regret it later. Get your tattoo where you really want it.

How to prepare for a tattoo?
First of all, the night before the tattoo: rest well, get a good night's sleep, refrain from partying using drugs and/or alcohol.
On the day of the tattoo:
-Eat well, have a good breakfast/ lunch before your tattoo.
-Do not use any drug or alcohol at all.
If you follow these instructions getting a tattoo will be a lot easier on you.

How to choose a design?
Tell us what you would like to have and we will draw it with you.
Maybe you came across an image you liked in an art book, magazine, commercial etc. Bring it with you so we can see what you would like to have.
Draw what's in your head, make a little sketch, it really doesn't matter if you think you can't draw: even the most simple of sketches will help me in designing the tattoo you want.
Ask yourself what kind of style appeals to you. Do you want your tattoo to be monochrome or in colors?
The more you have done your "homework" the easier it is for you to guide us in the right direction.
We will make a few drawings and you'll be able to comment on them, then we'll go back to the drawing board and show you the improved version and so on until you like it.

What size should it be?
In tattooing bigger is better! All tattooers will say it and it's not (only) because they want to sell you a bigger tattoo, but because a tattoo changes through time.
In time the lines grow a bit wider, it's a lengthy process but it will affect the tattoo nonetheless.
In fifteen years your tattoo will look different, there's no doubt about it. So this is a given you have to take into account while designing the tattoo.
If you design a small tattoo with intricate details and lines really near to each other, in fifteen years it will turn into a big blur you won't recognize anymore.
As it's important for a tattoo to stay legible in the future, the perfect distance between lines should be, in my opinion, at least 0,5 cm from each other (that's a fifth of an inch). That way when the lines spread there still will be space between them and other people will see what your tattoo represents.

How does the whole process go?
After we have agreed on the design, the tattooer will set-up the tattooing instruments. It consists of covering everything that will be touched by the tattooer with plastic foil (the table, power unit, bottles etc.), set up the machines with new and sterilized needles and sterilized tubes etc.
For sterilization we use a vacuum-autoclave sterilisator for the best results in the business.

Then we will shave and disinfect the area of skin that we will tattoo.
After that we will place a transfer of the design on your skin ( sometimes we'll draw directly on your skin or even do a combination transfer & freehand). You'll then be able to check in the mirror if it's exactly placed on the spot you wanted to have it on. If not, no problem, we will apply it again until you are perfectly pleased with the position.

The tattooing will then commence.
First the line work, then the shading and/or coloring.
We will start by tattooing a really small line in order for you to get accustomed to the weird sensation of the tattooing needles.
It usually takes around 10 minutes to get used to the feeling, after that it's a lot easier.
Whenever you want a short break, just ask we'll stop for a little while.

After the tattooing is done, you'll be able to have a look in the mirror and admire your new tattoo.
We will then cover the tattoo with a bandage that you'll have to keep on for around 4 to 6 hours.
We will tell you how to take care of your tattoo and give you a leaflet with the care instructions.

What is the minimum age to be tattooed?
The minimum age is 18 years old.
The problem is that if you take a tattoo at a young age and your body still is growing it might deform the tattoo, even slightly "move it from its spot" (if for example it was centered in the middle of the arm, rapid growth could end up moving your tattoo off center).

Which body parts don't you tattoo?
We will not tattoo on the face, neck and hands.
That's because we think it's not very smart to have tattoos on your body that you can't cover with clothes.
On hands tattoos age very quickly do the nature of the skin.

Could you email me designs?
No, sorry we will not do that, because we only draw for customers in the shop, it's quicker to get feedback and exchange ideas about a sketch that way; and also because we don't want to take the risk to work on a design, send it and have the person get the tattoo done by a another tattooer.