Firstly, thank you for choosing us for your tattoo! We can’t wait to bring your ideas to life. We need to assess what you want and, if you don’t already have a preference, which artist is best for you. The easiest way to do this is over email. We just need a brief idea of what you have in mind, along with some reference images and a clear photo of the area you would like your tattoo. From this, if you’d like to come in for a free consultation to discuss your ideas further, we would be more than happy to set something up.
We need an overall idea and theme of what you’re looking for. Reference pictures always help. Photos of other tattoos help us with the style you have in mind, but also feel free to send actual photos of the subject matter. This could be anything – statues, landscapes, wildlife, etc. If you’re struggling to find reference images, don’t worry – our artists are extremely experienced in designing the perfect tattoo. An overall idea should be enough, but we do ask that we have a clear an idea as possible. Terms like “ethereal” and “powerful” may mean one thing to one person and something totally different to another, so it’s difficult to design something using adjectives alone.
A clear photo of the area you would like your tattoo helps us gauge size and placement and providing you with a quote.
Have an idea, pick a style or look you would like and then an artist who does that kind of work really well. If you’re unsure on which artist best suits what you would like, we have experienced team members who can match what you want with the right artist.
Style and content are inextricably linked. Mixing too many themes into one tattoo can result in a confusing design. If you are getting your first tattoo, it’s highly unlikely this will be your last. You have so much space on your body to fill with so many ideas.
When it comes to a tattoo, consistency is key. Try to stick with one theme per tattoo. For a sleeve, for example, maybe 3 or 4 main elements following that theme is plenty. Our artists are experienced in bringing everything together into a consistent, readable tattoo that will last a lifetime.
Try not to leave too long between sessions. When you wait six months or more between sessions the tattoo has already started the ageing and settling in process and so the new parts may never quite look the same. Additionally, artists are always progressing and adapting their styles, meaning their approach to their work may have changed in that time, so therefore, they may not be quite as enthusiastic returning to older work. We fully understand getting a large tattoo is a huge financial commitment. We are the only company in the UK able to offer interest free finance for this, which means you can book regular sessions at an affordable rate.
In a word – No. There are many reasons for this. The main reason is that it’s just wrong. The person wearing that tattoo went to that artist for a reason. It may have an extremely significant meaning to them, and the artist worked hard to produce an original design for them. When you ask an artist to copy someone else, it’s insulting to the artist you have approached and also the artist who made the original tattoo. It’s unethical and frowned upon in tattooing. We will by all means use other artists designs as inspiration but ultimately, your tattoo will be original, designed exclusively for you in your chosen artist’s style.
Our best advice would be to have a good night’s sleep the night before, a decent breakfast on the day and stay hydrated. You’re welcome to bring snacks with you and there will be refreshment breaks all day. We’re a really chilled out studio and you’re more than welcome to bring an iPad or headphones as a distraction. Wear loose comfortable clothing or something where the artist can easily access the area to be tattooed. Don’t wear anything that you will be upset if it gets inky.
Everyone has an opinion. There are going to be plenty of people who will like your design and plenty of people who won’t. Too many cooks spoil the broth. The most important thing is that you like it. Tattooing is a collaboration between the client and the artist and our main goal is that the wearer of the tattoo is happy with the work.
Yes, a little bit. Sometimes you barely feel it, other times it hurts quite a bit but it is always bearable (otherwise no one would be heavily tattooed). Some places on the body hurt more than others but that varies from person to person (over bone doesn’t necessarily hurt more). Don’t pick a place based on where you think it’ll hurt less – Just get your tattoo where you want it, because the pain is temporary but the results aren’t. Try to relax and not tense up and make sure you breathe as slowly as possible (breathe out on any bad bits) The trick is to accept it hurts but not let it bother you. Tattoo technology has come a long way in the past few years – machines run a lot smoother and can pack ink at a lower voltage and cause much less trauma to the skin. Needles are much more defined, meaning longer sessions are so much easier than they were even 5 years ago.
Because we are a private studio and typically focus on large scale work, we aren’t always able to offer walk-ins. If you’re looking at getting tattooed at short notice, it would be best to call or email ahead, but we will always try our very best to fit you in on the day, where possible.
If you have any questions that aren’t here, feel free to drop us an email at London@noireink.com or head to our Enquiries page and our team will get back to you asap.
