Finding an artist whose work you love is the fun part. What happens after you press “message” is where most first-timers get lost: nobody explains the order of things, and every studio does it slightly differently. Here is the usual route — nine steps — with what typically happens at each, what varies, and the question worth asking.
In one line: message → consultation → deposit → design → date → session → payment → aftercare → touch-up. The deposit and the design are the two steps people most often misunderstand.
Choose by the individual artist’s portfolio in the style you want — studios often host artists with very different specialities. Look for healed photos of work similar to your idea, not only fresh ones. How to choose a tattoo artist.
Use the channel the artist asks for — booking form, email or Instagram DM. A good first message is short and complete: the idea and 2–3 references, placement and rough size in centimetres, colour or black & grey, your budget range and the dates you are free. Artists reply faster to messages they can quote from. What to write, with a template.
What varies: reply time. Busy artists can take a week or more; some only answer during “books open” periods.
A short conversation — in person, by video or just by message — about the design, placement, size, price and number of sessions. For a small flash piece it may be two messages; for a sleeve it can be a proper meeting. It is often free. What to ask, bring and expect.
A payment that reserves your date and pays for the artist’s drawing time. It usually comes off the final price. It is usually not refunded if you cancel late or don’t turn up, and usually is moved to a new date if you reschedule with enough notice. Ask for the rules in writing before you pay. Deposits, rescheduling and cancellations.
For custom work the artist draws your piece. Some send it a few days before, many show it on the day and adjust it with you. Nothing goes on your skin until you are happy with the stencil. When you will see your design and how changes work.
Waits range from days to many months. Large pieces are split into sessions a few weeks apart so the skin can heal in between. If you are travelling for the appointment, confirm the date and time a few days before.
Ask: “What is your typical wait, and how far apart are sessions for a piece this size?”
Paperwork and ID, a final look at the design, the stencil, a placement check in the mirror, then tattooing with breaks as needed. At the end the artist cleans the tattoo and covers it. How to prepare · What happens in the chair.
The remaining price (minus the deposit) is paid at the end of the session, or per session for multi-session work. Check whether the studio takes cards. Where tipping is customary, as in the US, 15–20% is typical. Tipping and etiquette.
The first two to three weeks decide how the tattoo heals. Follow your artist’s instructions. Small gaps after healing are common and many studios fix them free within a few months. Aftercare · Touch-ups.
| Step | Ask or check |
|---|---|
| Before messaging | Does the artist do this style and subject regularly? Any healed photos? |
| Consultation | Is it free? How many sessions? Rough total price? |
| Deposit | How much, does it come off the price, what happens if I reschedule or they cancel? |
| Design | When will I see it? How many changes are included? |
| Date | How long is the wait? Where exactly is the studio? What should I bring? |
| After | Written aftercare? Is a touch-up included, and within what time? |
Many studio pages on TatSeek show these answers in a “Before you book” box, with the date they were last confirmed. Where a field says “not listed”, it simply means the studio hasn’t told us — ask them directly.