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Frequently Asked Questions
Are tattoos safe?
As long as you go to a reputable artist that is following all recommended safety precautions, getting a tattoo is perfectly safe. Make sure you're fully honest about any medical conditions.
How should I prepare for my tattoo session?
Make sure you are well rested, well hydrated, and have eaten recently. Aside from that, take a shower and charge your phone or tablet up to full.
What should I wear for my tattoo session?
It’s more important to be comfortable than to be fashionable. Looser is better than tighter, and keep in mind you want to be able to cover up certain places that might show, depending on where you're getting your tattoo.
How long does a tattoo take?
Tattooing is not a quick process, nor should it be rushed as you will be living with the results permanently. An averagely complex piece of work about the size of the back of your hand, usually takes about two hours to complete. Larger or more complex pieces can take tens of hours, and will require several sittings to complete. Usually appointments are made in multiples of hours, but some smaller pieces may only require a thirty minute appointment. A full sleeve (done by any decent artist), could take anything from ten to fifty hours work to complete depending on complexity
Does it hurt?
Pain is really relative. Everyone has a different tolerance for pain. We're not going to kid you, though—it does hurt. Just not that much. Some have compared it to a "hot scratching feeling." But, people would not be returning again and again for tattoo after tattoo if it hurt that bad. Most of us are not into pain, but the beauty of the tattoo and the pride associated with wearing it far outweighs a little pin-stick here and there.
Is It OK to get a tattoo if I'm sick?
Getting a tattoo when your immune system isn't at 100% isn't a good idea. You're going to need your strength and your white blood cells to heal your tattoo, something your body won't be able to do if it's already doing battle against virus and bacteria. Not to mention the fact that it's very inconsiderate to bring your illness into the tattoo studio and risk passing the germs onto others, particularly your artist. If you have an appointment, call and reschedule for when you're feeling well again.
How long does it take to heal after a tattoo?
The majority of your new tattoos healing process will be done within the first two weeks. However, the skin is still working to heal and rejuvenate and you need to plan on a 4-6 weeks for your skin to be back to its previous state.
Can old tattoos be touched up?
All tattoos do not need a touch-up. However, when your skin’s natural healing process might create imperfections in your tattoo. You will need some extra detailing to fix the issue. In fact, you can avoid touching up by following some precautions. You need to follow the aftercare instructions of your tattoo artist for healing.
You need to avoid sun exposure as well. It is suggested to cover your tattoo while being under the sun. You can also apply a sunscreen lotion to offer required protection to your tattoo and to avoid early fading.
Can tattoos be removed?
They can, completely and without scaring. There are several options available to you if you have ink that you want rid of. The first, and by far most common way is the cover-up. This involves working with your tattoo artist to come up with a design that will go over and ‘cover-up’ the old one. There are a few misconceptions regarding cover-ups, it is not as easy as just doing another tattoo over the top. The new tattoo will sit in the same layer of skin (the dermis), as the old one, so the cover-up needs to be darker than the existing tattoo in order to over-power it. This makes very old or faded tattoos easier to cover up than new bright ones.
The second option available to you is laser removal. This can be very effective, again depending on age and color of the tattoo, but can also be very time consuming. Have a look at the Laser Removal Frequently Asked Questions (Laser FAQs), on our website if you are interested in more information on removal.
The third option available is a combination of both of the above. The laser removal can be used to reduce the density of the offending tattoo, so that a much more desirable (and often smaller), tattoo can be used to cover up the old design. This takes much less laser treatment than removal, and gives much better cover-up results on the new tattoo.