Tattoo pre-care

·       What to bring

  • A valid form of photographic ID

  • Warm comfortable layers of clothing

  • Suitable payment (we take cash or bank transfer), there is a cash machine just up the high street

  • Plenty of food/ snacks for the day, water and hydrating drinks (we can provide tea and coffee)

·       Time

  • Allow yourself plenty of time on your tattoo day. Try and keep your day as free as possible as occasionally our tattoo artist can run over on tattooing time

  • If you do have specific time restrictions on the day, please let your artist know ahead of time

·       Clothing

  • Please wear comfortable clothes that aren’t expensive. Our artists try to contain ink, however sometimes it can get onto clothing. Keeping the clothing loose fitting and comfortable is best.

  • For ladies that are getting ribs, sternum and upper back tattooed, it may be needed for you to avoid wearing a bra (this can be discussed during consultation). A button up shirt or a zip up hoodie is perfect to cover the front and keep you warm in this case.

  • In the winter we recommend to wear warm clothing, such as some cosy socks, hat and sometimes gloves these all can help make your tattoo experience more comfortable. In summer wear loose cool garments and bring water and perhaps a small personal cooling device.

·       Parking

  •   If you are parking in a pay and display car park, please bear in mind you will be at the studio longer than your allocated tattooing time. We strongly advise you put a minimum of an extra hour, preferably two, to your parking session. This allows for any preparation time, breaks and going through after care. However, there is free car parking available within a 10 minute walk from our studio throughout the town. See our contact form page for more information.

·       Food

  • We recommend you eat a well balanced meal at least one hour before your tattoo appointment, you can also bring food with you. There are plenty of eateries in Southwell if you fancy stretching your legs in your lunch break.

  •   Try to avoid too much sugary food and drink, as well as highly caffeinated drinks as these can dip or spike your blood sugar levels. When your blood sugars plummet this can sometimes lead to feelings of jitteriness, nausea, dizziness or fainting. We advise you to eat nutritious food and hydrate with water.

·       Moral support

  • We know when getting a tattoo you are sometimes nervous and a companion is helpful to feel more relaxed and comfortable. Please note we are a small studio and request you come alone unless it has been pre-arranged with us to bring a companion if it is necessary. Please let your artist know ahead of time if you require a carer or companion to be with you.

  • Environmental Health will only allow the tattooist and clients in the tattoo work stations. The tattoo room is strictly 18+.

·       Alcohol

  • Do not drink any alcohol or consume recreational drugs from a minimum of 24 hours before your tattoo appointment. Arriving for your appointment under the influence will result in you not being tattooed and forfeiting your booking fee.

·       UV Exposure

  • Avoid getting sun burnt before your appointment. Avoid sun beds for a minimum of 48 hours before your tattoo. Please note repeated and prolonged exposure to UV radiation via sunshine or sunbeds will affect the quality of your tattoo over time. We cannot tattoo sunburnt skin, arriving for your appointment with damaged skin may result in not being tattooed and forfeiting your booking fee.

·       Skin prep

  • You do not need to shave your skin before the appointment, we will do this for you, regardless of if the area has hair or not.

  • Be freshly washed and clean, moisturising and exfoliating beforehand will help your skin be softer and easier to work with. However avoid using new or harsh products on the area to be tattooed in case of a reaction that prevents us from being able to tattoo you

  • Do not use any numbing cream before your appointment, it is against our studio policy and we cannot tattoo you if so.

A note on numbing cream use:

We CANNOT tattoo you if you use numbing cream for your appointment. There are too many health risks and concerns and we will have to turn you away from your appointment if you have applied any kind of numbing cream to the skin beforehand.

We use a regulated soothing cream with Clove extract that helps during the tattoo process and aim to keep you as comfortable as possible throughout the day. However the use of chemical numbing agents is against studio policy.