Got questions?

Of course you do, and we are massive nerds about our jobs and really love to answer any questions you might have!

It's really important to us that you have all the answers you need to feel confident and comfortable before you come for your session at the studio. Hopefully this page will feed all your curiosities, but if there's anything else, just drop us an email.

Enquiries and Bookings

How do I get to your studio?

We are based on George Street in Glossop, a small town in the High Peak. You can reach us by train, from Manchester and there are also regular bus services from both the High Peak and Tameside. If you prefer to drive, there's also plenty of parking in town.

How do I book an appointment?

Whether you want to book a consultation chat or a tattoo session, please use our online enquiry form. It's full of important information for you and helps us to get everything we need to know to plan for your needs. If you struggle with the form, just send us an email over letting us know so we can help you or get the information we need another way.

After we've processed your enquiry and are happy we know what you want we will either send you an email to book a consultation OR send you an email with a price and link to book in for a session.

If you want a consultation chat but don't want to come into the studio for it, we can chat via email, but it might take a little longer to make sure we have everything we need.

We aim to reply to every enquiry form within 7 days; please check your junk/spam folder and let us know if you don't hear from us within 10 days.

Do you take walk-ins?

Not for tattooing. We exclusively work by appointment, as the quality and creativity of the work we do requires hours of research and designing/drawing. We do our best work when we are totally prepared and we want you to have our best!

You're always welcome to pop by the studio and ask if we have time for a chat, but please note that we are often open by appointment only.

How much do you charge?

We charge a custom price for each piece, depending on the size and location of your tattoo, the style and amount of detail you're wanting. Larger pieces that will take more than one session to complete are charged by the session. Our minimum fee for any tattoo is £100, unless stated otherwise.

We will always discuss cost and confirm with you before you book, so you don't have to worry about watching the clock or rushing through pain. If we think the cost is going to change at any point we will let you know as soon as possible and create work-arounds if needed.

How do I prepare for my consultation chat?

The more information you have about your ideas the easier the consultation will go... but that doesn't mean you need to have all the answers. We will help with the composition and details of your design and will give you realistic ideas of what's possible and what's going to work best for us all.

Before you arrive, take a look at our social media and the gallery on this site; use those previous designs to show us what you do (and don't!) like. You can also bring additional images and ideas from other artists or media. Think about where you want the tattoo, how big you'd like it to be and what your tattooing experience is like. It can help us to know what your pain tolerance is like and if there are any additional needs or accessibility requirements you need managing on the day. Also, think about budget, and set yourself a realistic limit (maybe just shy of your actual limit... as we all like to splurge!)

How old do I have to be to get a tattoo?

You must be 18 years old and we ask everyone to provide ID (full or provisional drivers license or passport). We don't tattoo underage people. This is the law and has been for a long time (Tattooing of Minors Act 1969). Parental consent doesn't change this.

Can I get a tattoo while pregnant?

We do not tattoo pregnant people. Though the risk of infection or a negative outcome is relatively small, we don't believe this is a risk worth taking. You and your body are already doing plenty; we don't want to give it more work, healing a tattoo.

Can I get tattooed if I'm feeling unwell?

We won't tattoo you if you are unwell. This can negatively affect both your session experience and the healed results, as it overloads your immune system; and it impacts our health too!

Designs

Do you charge extra for design work?

All design work is covered by the cost of your booking fee, which is paid upfront. If you change your design after booking one in, you will be required to pay another new booking fee, for the new design.

Will you tattoo a design I've created?

It depends on whether or not we are able to translate it into the tattooing styles we specialise in; we usually have to redraw and sometimes have to make adaptations to client's ideas, which is why most choose to let us design it from the beginning using their ideas. If you bring a design and we think we can recreate it, we will always discuss any alterations with you beforehand and will try to retain the spirit of the original as much as possible.

We won't tattoo designs created by other tattoo artists; but we are happy to see other artists' designs as ideas/inspiration for what you are hoping for.

Can I see the tattoo design before my appointment?

You generally won't see your design until you arrive at the studio on the day of your session. This allows for our creative process, which might mean last minute tweaks and alterations to ensure it's the very best it can be.

If this causes a lot of concern or anxiety, please let us know before booking your tattoo in and we will book a quick consultation appointment close to the date of your tattoo, so that you can come in and see the design in advance. Depending on how close this is to the session day will dictate how much change can be made from that point.

Please note, we will not send out copies of our designs by email or any other method.

Do you do cover ups and/or tattoo over scars?

Yes! Provided we believe we can do a great job of it we love turning your historical marks into something new and beautiful that you'll love. Cover ups/scarring can include differences in healed results to fresh tattoos and sometimes require an extra session but we will always discuss this before you book in. Ink migration is slightly more likely when tattooing over scarring and stretch marks, though we account for this in our designs and technique as much as possible.

Is there anything you won't tattoo?

We don't tattoo on genitalia and we will not tattoo racist, homophobic or offensive symbols or messages/hate speech (general swears not included!) We always reserve the right to not tattoo something if we think we can't do it justice with our skills and styles and will always be as honest about our limitations as our awesomeness!

On the day of your tattoo

What should I expect on the day of my tattoo session?

We have a full 'social story' breakdown of what your tattoo day will be like coming soon!

How long will my session take?

This depends on the tattoo design and the pace at which you need the session to move, meaning there's no way to tell until we've confirmed more details about your tattoo. We will provide an approximate time once we have received your enquiry and had a consultation chat (if booked).

Sleeves, back pieces, and anything of that scale can be much harder to estimate as your capacity and skin can alter over time. Our standard day session length is 5 hours of tattooing, which probably totals around 6 hours in the studio (taking into account breaks etc.)

I'm running late to my appointment, what should I do?!

We know it happens, so first of all don't panic! Give us a text, WhatsApp, email or voicemail to let us know as soon as you can. If we can wait for you and start a little later, we will, but we cannot guarantee this. If we cannot wait, your appointment will need to be rescheduled; this will result in the loss of your booking fee and you will need to pay a new one to secure your rescheduled appointment.

What if I can't make my appointment? Can I reschedule?

If something comes up and you need to reschedule we ask that you let us know as soon as possible, via email, text message, WhatsApp or voicemail. If you cancel more than 7 days prior to your appointment date your booking feel will roll over to the new appointment. If you cancel any less than 7 days before your appointment date, you forfeit your booking fee. You can reschedule once before a new booking fee must be paid.

What should I wear / bring to my session?

The priority is always comfort! Please wear something that provides easy and unrestricted access to the area being tattooed, that you can be still in for a good period of time. This includes no elastic putting pressure on or near the area as this can 'bunch' the skin and affect how the tattoo sits once the pressure is gone. Tattooing can occasionally be messy, so don't wear anything you wouldn't want to risk getting a stain out of.

You can bring drinks or snacks to keep you energised during the session, and if you'll be having a day session you may want to bring some lunch. You can also bring anything you think will help you get through the session itself: book, phone, tablet, headphones, fidgets, comfort items (soft toys and clothing) as well as blankets and cushions are all very welcome! You can bring meaningful trinkets if you'd like them to be there in the room with you.

The only restriction is that we must have our work area clear and hygienic. If you aren't sure if the thing you want to bring will pose a problem, just ask us ahead of time so we can let you know if we can make it work.

Is the studio private?

Our appointments are single client as standard so it will always be one tattooist with one client (and their support person if needed). This means we can give you our full attention and adjust the privacy levels of the studio to your personal needs. The studio door can be locked or unlocked, and we have screens to set up that will block the view from the waiting area/window either completely or partially.

What if I need lots of breaks or can't finish my session?

We actively encourage taking breaks and respecting your body's limits. You can have as many breaks as you need, and if you find it impossible to carry on before completing the tattoo we can bring it to a pause point and complete at another time. Please be aware however that additional sessions, not booked upfront, will incur an additional charge. We will discuss all this with you before you make a decision, so please let us know on the day if you think you might need to finish earlier than planned.

Can I bring someone with my for my session?

Of course! All we ask is that they are able to sit quietly and respectfully, either in the waiting area or somewhere closer to you that doesn't obstruct our work or compromise hygiene/safety. Please let us know when you are booking your appointment that someone will be attending with you. Please note, this does not extend to children or dependents who will need you to look after them during the session.

Being tattooed

How much will my tattoo hurt??

Tattoos do hurt, but it's generally a very manageable pain, otherwise there wouldn't be so many people with tattoos!

Everyone experiences pain differently and each of us will have a difference tolerance for pain at different times in our life. If you are worried about or struggle with pain let us know, we have lots of different options to approach pain management. These are really personal so what combinations we use will depend on you and your specific needs.

Where will it hurt the most/least??

Some of the least painful places to get tattooed are generally the outer arms and legs; while the stomach, ribs and feet are likely to hurt more. That said, we have worked with exceptions to every single one of those generalisations over the years!

Almost everyone we work with copes super well and this is in part because we always listen, take your pain seriously and tailor any pain management to your specific needs.

Can I use numbing cream?

We don't tattoo when numbing cream has been used, as it drastically affects the skin, making it hard to tattoo as well as affecting the healing process. When it wears off it can actually be a shock to your system because until that point, your body hasn't been using it's own natural pain management with hormones etc.

So, how do we manage the pain?

There are lots of simple things you can do to manage the pain:

make sure you're well rested
come for the session when you are healthy and have energy (avoid times of illness, stress, menstruation etc.),
eat well and drink plenty of water in the 24 hours beforehand
wear comfy clothes (pyjamas and slippers are 100% acceptable!)
bring along any comfort items that will make you feel safe (cushions, blankets, soft toys, headphones, tablets, books etc.)
make plenty of time after the session to rest and let your body heal, avoiding stressful activities.

Pacing is also really important we will do our best to ensure the tattoo session goes at a speed that suits you and your body; this includes movements breaks and not sitting or laying for longer than you can comfortably manage. We're big advocates of not pushing your body past it's limits, even if it means taking a little longer to get your tattoo finished.

After the session

How long will my tattoo take to heal?

Your tattoo will look healed before it is healed. Black and grey and line work tends to heal faster, with less scabbing and pain. Colour work can (but won't always!) take a little longer and require a bit more work in terms of changing dressings and protecting scabs. Generally your tattoo will be healed four to eight weeks after it's done, though it may still continue to change and settle further over the next year or two. For full details on the healing and aftercare process, read our Aftercare Instructions.

What should I do if I have questions after my appointment?

Ask us! We have been doing this a long time and have a wealth of knowledge and experience to draw from. There are no silly questions and we want your tattoo to heal well and with as little stress as possible. We are the experts in how our tattoos heal and are more than happy to help. Just send an email, text or WhatsApp and we'll respond as soon as possible, even if it's just for reassurance that you're rocking it!

Will my tattoo fade or look different over time?

It might seem obvious to some, but not everyone expects this... tattoos do change with your body and skin and with time. We provide advice to give your tattoo the best care for the life of it, and we design all our tattoos to account for time passing and bodies changing. However, at the end of the day, we don't have psychic powers and we can't tell you exactly how your tattoo will develop, just that it will transform over time, like any other part of a living thing. And really, isn't that one of the amazing parts of having them?!

Do you provide touch ups?

Of course. We offer a free touch up on all of our tattoos, within six months of it being done. To be eligible, you must have followed our aftercare instructions properly. We want you to love your tattoo for always so we are always happy to touch up older work too. If it sits outside the 6 month window, this will need to be booked in as an additional session.