Q. How much does a tattoo cost?
Q. Does it hurt to get a tattoo?
Q. Where is the most painful place to get a tattoo?
Q. Do you charge by the hour for tattoos?
Q. Why is there a minimum charge of £20?
Q. Do I need to make an appointment to get a tattoo?
Q. Can I bring in my own tattoo design?
Q. Can you design a tattoo for me?
Q. Do you use numbing cream?
Q. How do I look after my tattoo?
Q. What aftercare products should I use on my tattoo?
Q. Do you finish other tattooists work?
Q. Do you re-colour old tattoos?
Q. Can tattoos be removed?
Q. Where do you get your tattoo equipment/supplies?



Q. How much does a tattoo cost?

A. We get asked this question on a daily basis. The prices vary depending on what you want and are based on size, level of detail and shading etc. Back



Q. Does it hurt to get a tattoo?


A. There is always some level of pain involved but most people can take it quite easily (that’s why you see so many people with tattoos). With most of our customers their anticipation of the pain is generally worse than what it actually is. Back



Q. Where is the most painful place to get a tattoo?

A. Everyone is different so there is no straight answer. The most commonly complained about are tattoos done on the ribs, feet and stomach. The best thing to do is to get the tattoo exactly where you want it rather than just going for the least painful place. Back



Q. Do you charge by the hour for tattoos?

A. We only charge by the hour for large tattoos that require more than one sitting. We currently charge £60 an hour. Back



Q. Why is there a minimum charge of £20?

A. The minimum charge is to cover the cost of all the materials used per customer. For every tattoo we use pre-packed disposable needles, ink, ink caps, disposable razor, Vaseline, gloves, kitchen roll, carbon and tracing paper (unless it’s a free hand tattoo), consent form. We also have to put all our tips and grips through an ultrasonic cleaner and then sterilise them in an autoclave not to mention all the Studio costs. £20 is cheap! Back



Q. Do I need to make an appointment to get a tattoo?

A. You DO NOT need an appointment unless you want to come in on a specific day at a specific time. Appointments require a deposit of £10 - £30 depending on the size of the tattoo you are getting. Back



Q. Can I bring in my own tattoo design?

A. Yes, we are more than happy to do custom work. Back



Q. Can you design a tattoo for me?

A. If you have a good idea of what you want and where on your body you want it then we can design a tattoo for you. Back



Q. Do you use numbing cream?

A. We don’t stock numbing cream at our studio but you can bring your own or apply it yourself at home before your appointment. Emla numbing cream is available at most chemists including Boots and takes around 45 minutes to an hour to begin working. Apply a generous amount to the skin and keep air tight with cling film for example. Depending on your skin type and the area of the body, Emla can last for as little as 30 minutes and up to around 3 hours. We don’t recommend using numbing cream as it can often be more uncomfortable when it wears off. Back



Q. How do I look after my tattoo?

A. Keep your tattoo covered for about an hour and then clean with warm soapy water (make sure everything that touches your tattoo is clean including your hands). Do not soak your tattoo (in the bath for example) as this may affect how the tattoo turns out. Lightly pat your tattoo dry with a towel, do not rub the skin. Keep your tattoo clean throughout the healing process. Do not re-bandage your tattoo as it will need air to begin the healing process. The use of aftercare cream is optional but recommended. Avoid swimming for about 2 weeks to avoid infection from the water. Avoid sun exposure to the tattoo until about 2 weeks after it has completely healed. Do not pick or scratch the tattoo while it is healing as you will end up with a patchy tattoo. Avoid clothing that will rub on your tattoo until it is fully healed. Back



Q. What aftercare products should I use on my tattoo?

A. If you wish to use an after care cream, for best results we recommend Bepanthen (nappy rash cream). Make sure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients used in Bepanthen before using it. Apply a thin layer to your tattoo once or twice daily; make sure your hands are clean when applying the cream. Back



Q. Do you finish other tattooists work?

A. If the original tattooist has done a bad job and you don’t want to go back OR your tattooist is no longer available then YES. If the work is good and the original tattooist is still available then we recommend that you go back to them.  Be aware that different tattooists use different inks and have different styles. If you are happy with your tattooist then stick with them. Back

Q. Do you re-colour old tattoos?

A. Most tattoos can be re-coloured (assuming you can still make out what they are supposed to be) but they will usually need re-outlining too so it would be like having the whole tattoo done again. Back



Q. Can tattoos be removed?

A. Yes. Laser tattoo removal is the most effective and safest way to remove unwanted tattoos (unless you have them covered up with another tattoo). Laser tattoo removal is done in stages with 4-5 week gaps in between to allow healing time. The amount of sessions you have depends on the size of the tattoo and the colours used. We recommend www.lasertattooremovalblackpool.com to all enquiring customers. Gary gets great results, is fully qualified, reasonably priced and has been doing it the longest in the FYLDE area. Back



Q. Where do you get your tattoo equipment/supplies?

A. We buy all of our supplies from www.maniatattoosupplies.com. (Prices are lower when you buy in store and they have a good range of high quality and budget goods.) Back

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TATTOOS AT WEST COAST TATTOOS IN BLACKPOOL