Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring a friend?

Yes of course, we understand tattoos can be scary especially if it’s your first one! So yes we allow you to bring 1 person with you as long as they bring good vibes and good chat then they are more than welcome to join us throughout the tattoo session. For longer day sessions we do advise you come alone as this can be long and boring for your +1 but they are welcome to come and go throughout the session.

Do tattoos hurt?

Every person, tattoo and placement is different. There are areas on the body that are more painful and less painful than others, we can advise you on where these areas are and accommodate to this for the tattoo placement. If this is your first tattoo, less painful areas include the forearm, bicep, thigh, calf and behind the ear. Areas that are sensitive to touch or crease/bend more are often more tender, this includes around the elbow and knee, the wrist, stomach and the neck.

Can I use numbing cream?

Yes you can use numbing cream for your tattoo appointment but please do let us know. Numbing cream can help reduce but not entirely eliminate the pain completely. Everyone has a varied pain threshold so we always advise, if you can, avoid numbing cream to get a sense for the feel of a tattoo and then if you need to incorporate numbing spray midway through your session, we can offer this in store.

Do I need to book an appointment?

Absolutely not! Walk ins are accepted, however, bookings are always prioritised. It is always worth calling or messaging the studio in advance to check for availability on the day.

How can I book an appointment?

You can book an appointment by sending us an enquiry via our online enquiry form or message us directly via instagram @devlin_ink and we will get back to you as soon as we possibly can. Once all details of the tattoo have been confirmed with a price and date agreed, a small deposit (between £20-50) will be required to be paid and this will be taken from the final payment at the appointment.

Are tattoos safe?

We assure you our tattoos are extremely safe! We pride ourselves on how clean the Devlin Ink studio is. We deep clean our whole studio and all our equipment between every tattoo and at the beginning and end of every day to ensure that all our tattoos are as safe as we can make them. Once you leave our studio we advise you how to clean them and can provide you professional aftercare products - sponsored by Ink Doctor Tattoo Aftercare - that have seen outstanding results, but to ensure your tattoo stays safe at home, you must follow all our aftercare advise.

What should I do before my tattoo?

Before your tattoo session we advise you should get a good nights sleep, with no alcohol or drugs at least 24 hours before your booking. When you wake up, have a strong breakfast full of carbs, especially if you’ve got a long day session booking ahead. Ideally don’t have an excessive amount of caffeine or water before as this can cause blood thinning and cause the artist a lot of issues which may prolong or even reschedule your tattoo. No need to shave, we will shave you at the beginning of the session.

What should I bring to my appointment?

We always advise you bring a sugary drink, some sweets or high carb snacks and your phone charger. We do have water and sweets in store and there are lots of other shops around us that you can get food and other snacks. We do have a tv to binge watch any movies or series to your hearts content, Spotify to get them absolute bangers on and even a Nintendo switch if you fancy a gaming session with Mario but we also understand if you just fancy being on your socials for a bit, we offer super fast sky wifi too - just don’t forget your phone charger!

How long will my tattoo take?

Most large tattoos take a full day session which is around 6-7 hours, in this time we can cover roughly a quarter of a limb ie inner forearm, calf, etc. Half a day session which is 3.5 hours can cover approximately a palm sized tattoo: ie. half an inner forearm, half a calf, the top of the hand. Small tattoos vary based on detail, size, saturation of ink, etc - these timings are just approximate estimates and all timings are at the discretion of our artists.

How much will my tattoo cost?

Tattoos are priced at our artist discretion. Direct message our studio or send an enquiry form to get a more accurate price as all tattoos are different. A few things to consider that will affect your tattoo price is; the size of the tattoo, detail of the tattoo, colour vs black ink.

Do you tattoo over scars?

We can tattoo over old scars and have multiple examples of photos we can show you. We do advise you however, tattoos don’t heal as strong over scars and can be more painful when being tattooed but as long as you understand the risks and accept them, we are happy to tattoo over any possible scars you may have.

What happens during the tattoo appointment?

We understand it may be your first time with us or your first exciting tattoo and this can be very nerve wracking. From the moment you walk through our doors, our friendly team will be there to greet you at the reception, take your coat and bags, offer a drink and snacks and begin the session. You will then be required so sign a legal consent form and provide any required ID but don’t worry it’s not as scary as it sounds! We will then talk you through the design, discuss any changes to the design and placement and measure you before printing out a few size options for your tattoo stencil. One of our artists will then take you into the tattooing area and confirm the final stencil placement, showing you throughout in the mirror. Our artist will clean your skin with some antibacterial soap, dry you and use a stencil cream to ensure the stencil stays strong throughout the session. Once the stencil has been placed on the skin it can be changed if you require it to do so but all this can be discussed with our artist on the day. You will then be sat or laid down while our artist sets up and your stencil ink dries and the tattoo session will then begin. After your tattoo is complete you will be cleaned, photographed and wrapped before one of our artists explained the aftercare process. Any remaining balance will then be paid and you will be sent on your way with your shiny new tattoo! How exciting!

Do you offer touch ups?

We offer a single free touch up at our artists discretion in certain areas, however hands, fingers, neck, face, feet and other areas listed in our terms and conditions will not be free of charge. If we are aware of any issues that have caused the tattoo to fade or fall out that are not by fault of our own, touch ups will require a further payment.

Do you provide tattoo removals or cover ups?

We have done multiple tattoo cover ups, our artists pride themselves on providing very strong cover ups in the past, if you want to see some examples of past cover ups contact us directly and we can provide you some before and after photos. We also have a partnership with a laser removal company called The Laser Clinic based in Tiptree, where you will receive 10% off if you quote Devlin Ink when booking with them.

Do you offer piercings?

No unfortunately not, we have a neighbouring studio called body piercings by Jodie who offer some amazing piercings, so check them out.

What is your cancellation or reschedule policy?

All deposits are non refundable. You may reschedule your appointment a further 2 times after booking your appointment before another deposit will be required. If you cancel your booking, you will need to pay another deposit for any future booking. If you reschedule 12 hours before your appointment you will be required to pay another deposit because this has lost our artist their wage without enough time to refill the appointment slot time.

I am pregnant, can I get tattoos?

Unfortunately not. Tattoos can put the body under immense stress and this can potentially have adverse effects on your baby and we would hate to cause any problems. We will also not tattoo you if you are breastfeeding so please ensure enough time after birth before booking a tattoo.

How do I care for my tattoo to make it heal well?

We will tell you after your tattoo exactly how to look after your tattoo. The basics include: No submerging in water, no direct sunlight/sunbeds, no scratching/picking, and moisturise twice a day all for the next 6 weeks. All our aftercare recommendations are on both of our artists instagram highlights. We also have a blog post on how to best care for your tattoo.

Can I get a tattoo under 18 with my parents permission?

No. This is not a legal loophole. All tattoos require a valid 18+ photo ID or you will be turned away. If you have paid a deposit, you will lose this.

I have another question that isn’t listed above, how can I contact you?

You can send an enquiry form, message us via instagram or pop into our studio and discuss this directly with us, there is no such thing as a stupid question so if you are concerned or have any questions before, during or after your tattoo, ask away.