It's not the most comfortable feeling in the world, but strangely addictive to some. 

Small pieces on the forearm feel like being scratched by a kitten. or like you have sunburn.

Having a full-colour piece done on the ribcage, I would describe it as... A unicorn licking your skin with razors instead of taste buds every time the artist wipes the area. 

Most people's pain threshold will manage a 3-4 hour sitting before you have to start digging deep into your soul to allow the artist to finish the task at hand.

Plan your sitting with your artist based on your pain threshold especially for bigger more detailed pieces. Breaking it up into manageable sessions helps you create a magical tattoo.

Having a solid meal before your tattoo does help as well as lots of rest the day before. 

In short. Yes, a tattoo does hurt. 

Smaller tattoo designs start at R600. This would include 1-3 word script tattoos and symbols in a 5 x 5 cm area.

Large tattoo designs will be quoted per design

Half-day sitting are charged at R3500

A full day sitting is R6000

Certain tattoos designs will require multiple sittings. 

There are many ways to care for your tattoo and many companies that make amazing aftercare products. Most fragrance-free aqua-based moisturisers are fine to use. Stay away from oil-based moisturisers as they extract ink from the skin. 

Keep out of the sun for a week following your tattoo. The sun will cause the skin to dehydrate and could cause fallout. 

Avoid exercise and excess sweating as much as possible. Your fresh tattoo is in effect an open wound and bacteria is easily trapped under the skin. Until your tattoo is scabbed over (approximately one week) you are prone to infection.

Do not soak the tattoo in water, quick showers instead of soaking in a bathtub. Impurities from the water can enter the tattoo causing infection. 

Once the tattoo has completed scabbing. Feel free to do as you please. 

For at least a week before your appointment limit sun exposure to the planned area. 

Refrain from alcohol for 48 hours before your tattoo appointment. Alcohol thins your blood and causes excessive bleeding during your session. Your artist cannot continue if you are bleeding too much. 

Moisturize the area 3 times a day for a week before your appointment. Softer skin allows the ink to saturate better, resulting in fewer passes and an all-around better experience and result. 

There are health factors to consider when using numbing agents and painkillers.

There are some very good lidocaine local anaesthetic products on the market that take away that sting and even numb the area completely.

It is recommended that you consult a doctor before using any form of anaesthetic so that you understand the risks and chances of an adverse reaction. If you have any pre-existing health conditions numbing agents are not a good idea.

Benzocaine in high doses can result in Flu-like symptoms and cause you to run a fever. Overdosing can cause methemoglobinemia and even death. So not something to abuse on your larger pieces.

Understand the risks before reaching for the creams. 

No. 

It's a risk, no matter how small that chance is. Your tattoo could get infected or you could go into shock during your session - the body is a marvellous and complex machine. Although adverse outcomes are rare they're not impossible. It's just an unnecessary risk for both you and your baby.

During pregnancy your body also produces chloasma which causes pigmentation and could affect the colour of the ink of the tattoo. 

You can book and start planning your tattoo if you'd like but we'll see you in about 18 months (see next question).

Sorry, still a no.

Infections, shock, allergic reactions to ink etc although rare do happen and this would affect the production of breast milk and safety for your baby.

Our artists are comfortable with cover-ups. Unfortunately there are often limitations to what can be done in terms of design. 

Come in for a consultation and discuss your piece with your artist. He'll have a look at your current tattoo and be honest about what can and can't be done. It may be beneficial to undergo a few sessions of laser tattoo removal which will lighten the older piece. You don't want to cover a tattoo you don't like with something else you're not going to like.  Come in and let the artist advise you on how best to proceed.

We do not tattoo anyone under the age of 18 years. Even if you come in with a guardian we will, unfortunately, have to turn you away until you come of age.