IS IT SAFE?                                                                                                                                                                            At House of Tattoos, we want you to feel safe and confident about receiving your tattoo. We would like to encourage you to ask question about any concerns that you may have about your safety. We offer clients a very safe and sterile environment. Our artists are Local Health Authority Registered.

Here are some things we would like you know:
Tattooists wear gloves for their protection, and yours. New needles are used for each client, and then are disposed of in a biohazard container, and removed by a medical waste pick up service each week. All instruments are ultra sonically cleaned before being sterilized in the autoclave. All inks, razors, ointments are individually dispensed. All surfaces, including counters, chairs, arm rests, clip cord covers, plastic Bags, etc., are covered with a barrier film, and then stripped and wiped down before and after each client with an anti-viral, anti-bacterial germicidal spray. We use every precaution to ensure your safety and ours.

Does it hurt?
Getting your first tattoo can be very exciting experience and being prepared for what to expect can keep your more relaxed. First, you should be well rested, and don’t come in on an empty stomach, or your blood sugar levels are low. Drinking alcohol before a tattoo is always a bad idea, it will cause you to bleed more and have a negative effect on your new tattoo.

As far as pain goes this will vary from person to person, but usually it is about what you would expect from a cat scratch or bee sting. The best thing to do is try to relax and not fight it. The worst part of getting a tattoo for the first time is the anxiety of not knowing, once you feel the first line go in you will be relieved that it is not as bad as you thought it would be.

Will I get HIV or AIDS?
HIV is a very delicate virus and does not survive long outside the human body. The virus is transmitted when infected blood enters into the body of another.

What about Hepatitis?
Hepatitis, unlike HIV, is a very hardy virus that is transmits through an infected needle. We ultra sonically clean all our tattooing instruments before sterilizing it in a hospital grade autoclave. We use individual portions of ink and lubricant, dispose of used needles in a sharps container and put all used wipes and barrier film into a clinical waste bin. We also use anti–viral and anti-bacterial sprays to clean our stations between clients, and use barrier protection. Basically, we treat everyone as though they were infectious, so the potential for infection is reduced to next to nothing.

Will my tattoo get infected?
If you do not take care of your new tattoo it could get infected, just like any other break in the skin. Always follow the instructions of aftercare from your artist.

What aftercare cream should I use?                                                                                                                             We supply after care cream. You can buy this from us when you come for your tattoo.

Why should I not go in the sun or go swimming for two weeks?                                                                          
The sun can dry out your tattoo or cause blistering while healing. The salt water or chlorine water can cause colours to fade and lead to infections.

Is it OK to workout or play sports right after get tattooed?                                                                                     Yes it’s fine. Be your own judge and only do what is comfortable. If it hurts, or if you don’t feel up to it then stop! Listen to your body, it will tell you what it is capable of.

 Can I get a tattoo if I am pregnant or on medications?
We will not tattoo anyone that thinks they might be pregnant. If you are on any medication, please consult your doctor before being tattooed, especially if you are diabetic, taking blood thinners or any heart medication.

I know what I want but I haven’t seen it anywhere and I can’t draw. Can you draw it out for me? How much does that cost?                                                                                                                                                        Yes. We are fully capable of drawing your design for you. Bring us whatever reference material you may have, even if it’s just a verbal description and we can get to work. The more reference you bring the better; this makes it quicker and easier for us to draw you up a design that you will love!

Can I bring in my own design?
Of course you can. We also have a huge design selection of designs that you can choose from. Feel free to alter any one of them, or better yet, have us design something just for you!

Do I need an Appointment?
Walk Ins are always welcome, but appointments are a guarantee. It is very hard to judge how long a tattoo will take over the phone so we prefer that you come in to make an appointment so that we can discuss what you are getting first. To make an appointment we require a £20.00 cash deposit, which will go towards the price of your tattoo. If you do not show up you will lose your deposit. No exceptions so think before you leave a deposit. If you are running late, please call us and let us know, because if you are more than 15 minutes late, and we haven’t heard from you, and someone else is waiting to get tattooed, you will lose your deposit.

We do not rush people, so please be patient if we are running late. We like to take our time with each customer, and we are sure you don’t want us rushing your tattoo to stay on schedule.

How much does it cost?                                                                                                                                             Each design is differently priced. The price is dependent on style, size and how long it will take to complete. Our shop minimum is £25. This covers the cost of needles, ink, sterilization, etc. It is really hard to give prices over the phone without seeing the design first. Please feel free to send us an email for a price estimate. (You can find our email address on the Contact page). Please let us know where you are placing it on your body because certain areas take longer to tattoo.

How much does session work cost?                                                                                                              Session work is charged at £80 per hour.

 How do I go about getting a portrait done?                                                                                                                 You will need to bring in a clear, good quality photograph for us to look at beforehand so we can tell you whether it is able to be done or not. The bigger the photograph the better! Prices start from £150.

Should I tip my artist?
All of our artist work on commission. If you feel that they have done a good job then tipping is up to your discretion. Tipping is never expected, but always appreciated!

Can a tattoo be covered up?
Yes, it most certainly can. Your artist will be happy to work with you on your options for cover-ups. Sometimes, your options might be limited, depending on what you have and how old or dark the tattoo is. We cannot use flesh tones to cover a tattoo instead of getting it removed.

 Can a tattoo be removed?
Yes, but it is very expensive and very painful. Think, before you ink!!

 

If you have any questions or concerns that were not answered please feel free to stop by our studio and we can go over everything with you. Remember, no question is a stupid question when it comes to your safety.