Straight answers to the things that stop people booking a tattoo — from the first idea to a healed tattoo. Each guide points you at real, credited work in the catalogue, and health guides quote dermatologists who specialise in tattoos.
What happens during a tattoo session: consent form, stencil, how the needle deposits ink in the dermis, breaks, normal bleeding, the wrap or second skin, payment and first aftercare.
1. Start with the style, not the name
Start with what you actually have
Start with visibility, not the design
Japanese (Irezumi) tattoos: large-scale compositions of dragons, koi, tigers and waves - fit, sessions, cost and how to spot good work.
Is my tattoo healing normally? How to tell normal healing (redness, oozing, peeling, cloudiness) from an infection, allergy or blowout, with a quick checker and dermatologist quotes.
When will I see my tattoo design? Flash vs custom, why artists often show it on the day, how many revisions are normal, design fees, copying other tattoos and AI designs.
What fine line tattoos are, what they suit, how they age over 5-10 years and how to pick an artist who does them well - with real examples.
Realism or fine line? What the two styles share, where they split, how they age and which one fits your idea - with real examples of both.
Old School (American Traditional) tattoos: bold lines, a limited palette and classic subjects - fit, aging, cost and how to spot good work.
Neo-Traditional tattoos: Old School structure with richer colour, depth and illustrative detail - fit, aging, cost and quality signs.
What a tattoo is: how ink sits in the skin, how permanent it really is, what a session feels like, what you pay for and what makes it good.
Nine stages from a vague idea to a healed tattoo. Every guide ends with a link to the next step, so you can read them in order — or jump straight to where you are.
The worries people mention most — and where the honest answer is.
11 guides
10 guides
4 guides
6 guides
4 guides
4 guides
5 guides
1 guide
Health guides quote dermatologists who specialise in tattoos word for word. New to the words? See the tattoo glossary. How guides are written and corrected: editorial policy.