Health & Safety

Understanding the Risks and Health Considerations of Getting a Tattoo

Your safety matters more to us than any single tattoo — here's what's worth knowing before you book.

1. Allergic reactions. Rare, but ink allergies can cause itching, redness, or swelling. Latex allergies are more common — we use nitrile gloves, so that's one less thing to worry about.
2. Infection. Any time the skin is broken there's some risk — watch for unusual redness, warmth, pus, or fever during healing. We can advise on aftercare, but we're not a substitute for a doctor if something seems wrong.
3. Bloodborne illness. Proper sterilization and single-use needles are non-negotiable — it's how reputable studios prevent transmission of things like hepatitis or HIV.
4. Existing skin conditions. Eczema, keloid-prone skin, and similar conditions can complicate healing — worth a conversation with us and possibly your dermatologist first.
5. Fading. Sun exposure, time, and your skin's own changes will soften a tattoo over the years — that's normal, not a flaw.
6. Scarring. Good aftercare goes a long way toward avoiding it.
7. Regret and removal. Removal is real but it's slow, expensive, and doesn't always fully erase the ink — worth sitting with a design before committing.
8. Consultation and aftercare matter. Talking it through beforehand and following aftercare closely afterward are the two biggest things in your control.

None of this is meant to scare you off — just to make sure you're deciding with the full picture.