TAG Studio | Tattoo Shop | 112 Fore Street, Saltash, UK

Tattooing is Safe?

Yes, as long as you go to a reputable artist who follows the recommended safety precautions.

Is it Permanent?

Yes! However your skin is not like paper, it is a living thing and all tattoos will age over time. How well they age depends on the size, and placement of the design. We will be able to advise you on this.
Sun, improper healing, and poor health, will affect the final results so be sure to look after your tattoo even after you got it!
Older tattoos can be redone and recoloured.
Unwanted tattoos can be covered with a new tattoo (cover up tattoo) or removed (laser treatment).

How safe is Tattoo Ink?

High quality tattoo ink has been tried and tested over generations without ill effects. Nowadays, the manufacture of inks is regulated to meet certain health and safety standards, but only in some countries (EU and USA).
Sale of tattoo inks on eBay, has unfortunately opened the market up to cheap inks, and counterfeit copies of well known and respected brands. These inks can be dangerous. A report was recently released in which some of these inks had been analysed and shown to contain both banned and toxic substances. With this in mind, it is no longer good enough that your tattoo artist uses trusted brands, they must also source their inks directly from the manufacturer, or manufacturer’s approved outlet, to ensure the integrity of their product.

What’s the Best Time of Year to Get a Tattoo?

Although you can get a tattoo at any time of the year, your skin gets a lot more abuse during the summer (with swimming, tanning and just being exposed to the elements). Autumn and Winter are really the best seasons to get a tattoo.

How long does a tattoo take?

Tattooing is not a quick process, nor should it be rushed as you will be living with the results for the rest of your life. Some pieces could take only 10 minutes whereas larger or more complex pieces can take tens of hours, and will require several sittings to complete. A full sleeve (done by any decent artist), could take anything from ten to fifty hours to complete depending on complexity. For a clearer idea on how long your design may take, please contact us directly with the details and can give you an estimate.

Choosing the right artist ?

We will assign you the right artist for your design so you can get the best possible tattoo.
We'll guide you through the process and we will design your piece, answer any questions (there are no weird questions) and explain everything with patience.

How old must I be to get a tattoo?

You must be 18 years of age and have a picture ID issued by the government.
We do not tattoo minors with parental permission, you could come hand in hand with the PM and the Queen and we will still NOT do it. It is illegal to tattoo anyone under 18 years of age.

Deposit

I In order to book we require a deposit, the deposit is deducted from the overall price of the tattoo and it is refundable as long as we are given 7 days notice.
The deposit is non-refundable under any circumstances, including illness, sunburn, or funerals (you name it) if you cancel within 7 days. No exceptions will be made.
Gift Vouchers can be used as deposits, but they are non-refundable

Design Fee

We don't charge for your design as long as you book and transfer the deposit. However if you change your mind and decide you want a different tattoo (e.g You booked in for a dove tattoo and now you want a rose), unfortunately we will have to charge the artists hourly rate design fee.
Designing is still work and requires time and effort to do.

Is the designing process free?

The design process, including any alterations, should not exceed two hours since the majority of designs are completed within that timeframe. However, once the two-hour limit has elapsed, you will be billed at the hourly rate for any additional time spent on the project.

What happens if I'm late to my Appointment?

Please don’t be. Seriously!
If you’re late to your appointment it will throw our schedule off for the day. Some artists have multiple tattoos on different people to do in a day and we can't delay everyone for one person. In this circumstance we would not have the time to tattoo you and you would lose your deposit.
If you are more than 30 minutes late and you have not contacted us/replied to us, you will lose your deposit.

What Happens if I No-Show during My Appointment?

We’ve only ever had a few people do this and it’s a terrible idea. If you no-show you will lose the deposit. That means your tattoo (if you do get it), will cost you more than it should have cost.

How do I book?

You can book online, over the phone, or in person at the shop.

Do you require a deposit?

Yes. Appointments require a deposit and can be made via cash, bank transfer depending on the individual situation. Deposits are completely refundable up until 7 days before your appointment.
The deposit is deducted from the overall cost of the tattoo.

How long is the waiting list?

Our waiting list depends on the artist/design that you fancy, most of the time we are booked 1-4 months in advance, however sometimes we do get cancellations and it may be possible to squeeze you in.

Do you have a cancelation list?

Yes, we do! Give us your contact details (phone and email) and we will contact you once we get space available with your artist!

Can I get my deposit back?

YES, of course!
If you give us at least 7 days notice prior to your booking, we are more than happy to refund your deposit, ASAP and no question asked... Like it should be!

Why 7 days?

This is the minimum amount of time that we would normally need in order to to advertise and find another client for that day.

We wish we could!

If you don't show up to your booking

The deposit is non-refundable under any circumstances, including illness, sunburn, unforeseen events like funerals, or if you cancel or reschedule. Additionally, if the design session takes longer than two hours and you don't proceed with the tattoo, the deposit will not be refunded. No exceptions.

If you are late by 30 mins or more.

We cannot tattoo sunburnt skin. Sunburn is a burn trauma to the surface of the skin, tattooing on top of this will cause further damage, affecting the tattooing process and again the healing. If you turn up to your appointment with sunburnt skin, unfortunately you will lose your deposit.

Gift Vouchers are non-refundable. However, they are transferable, so you can re-gift it, or you can sell it to someone else.

If you engage in verbal or physical harassment with one of the members of the staff

How should I prepare for my tattoo session?

Make sure you are well rested, well hydrated, and have eaten recently.
Take a shower!
Charge your phone or tablet
Don’t bring company (unless they are being tattooed as well, or they just want to have a quick chat with us) You'll have all the time in the world to spend with your friends, and the last thing you want is for them to distract your artist!
We cannot tattoo sunburnt skin. Sunburn is a trauma to the surface of the skin
So, please make sure you are not sunburnt! We cannot tattoo sunburnt skin, sunburn is a trauma to the surface of the skin and tattooing sunburn will cause further damage, affecting the tattooing process and the healing. We will not tattoo you and you will lose your deposit.

What should I wear?

It’s more important to be comfortable than to be fashionable. We’ve had clients arrive in PJ’s (with their slippers and blanket) before!
Looser is better than tighter.
Keep in mind that depending on the location of your tattoo you may want to be able to cover certain areas of the body (e.g. don’t wear a t-shirt for a back piece unless you are comfortable being topless, a good alternative would be ago wear a button-up shirt and put it on backwards when we start to tattoo so that we have free access to the skin).
Its always best to avoid white/favourite clothes, the ink can stain and it's better to be safe than sorry!

How long does it take to heal?

It takes up to 7-14 days for the body to heal most of the tattoo.
Why do tattoos start to itch while healing?
The itch is caused by the skin rejuvenating itself. Usually about a week after the tattoo is done, the itch sets in, this is 100% normal.
Coconut oil, olive oil or our recommended aftercare will help immensely.
DO NOT SCRATCH IT! ... SLAP IT!
If oil/aftercare cream isn’t helping, run it under cold water for a few moments and you should be itch free.

Is it normal for my new tattoo to scab?

Scabbing, flaking, peeling, and dryness are all natural parts of the healing process.
Severe scabs that are deep and thick may indicate that something rubbed on the tattoo/it has not been moisturised enough, or we might have touched a part with more blood vessels/over-traumatised the skin during the tattooing process. Send some pictures to your artist and they will advise if a change in aftercare routine is necessary.

Are Tanning and Sunbathing OK with a Tattoo?

NO! Sunbathing and tanning beds might be really tempting, but are not a wise choice in the first month if you have fresh tattoos.
UV is the biggest enemy of any pigment on the face of the planet. It's wise to have apply a high Sun Protection Factor (SPF) Cream

What happens if it gets infected?

More often than not, what you perceive as an infection, is actually an irritation. Usually E45 will help to clear it up.
Allergic reactions or infections are extremely rare in a professional tattoo studio.
If you think there is an issue, please speak with your artist. If there is an actual infection, a physician will advise the right course of action.
Usually E45 does the job

Tattoo removal?

Although possible, it is best to circumvent the need for tattoo removal by choosing your artist and your design wisely. Check their portfolio. Remember that you are getting a tattoo that will be with you for the rest of your life.

Do I have to laser my tattoo completely before getting covered?

Good news! You don't necessarily need to have your existing tattoo completely removed. You just have to light it up just enough for us to cover it up, usually 3-4 sessions are enough.

I don't want to laser it! What should I do?

This is a difficult question to answer because it depends on the surface, placement, depth of colours and the design that you want to cover the previous tattoo with. In this situation it is best to come and see us in person so that we can see the condition of the tattoo/skin and advise you from there.

Do you do touch ups?

Of course we do! Touch-ups are free of charge for tattoos done by our artists, provided you follow our recommended aftercare instructions and use our aftercare cream.

If you're wondering why this is important, the answer is simple. We've spent years experimenting, investing significant time and money into researching the best aftercare instructions and creams to ensure you get the most out of your tattoos. We've consulted with top brands in the industry, reviewed their scientific papers, and continually pushed for the best products.

We prioritise your health and wellbeing, so it's crucial that you follow our instructions and not anyone else's. This way, we can truly help you and ensure you're eligible for a free touch-up.
We as artists need to "okey" touch ups before they are booked in so that uncessesary booking can be avoided
Not all tattoos do not need a touch-up. You can avoid touching up by following the aftercare instructions of your tattoo artist for healing.
Sometimes your skin’s natural healing process might create imperfections in your tattoo. A touch-up session will fix this issue.
You can only get 1 touch up for FREE in the first 6 months after you had your tattoo, so please respect the aftercare instructions.

When should I request a touch up?

Allow time for the skin to settle down to a more normal condition before having your touch ups (1-5 months, but no more than 6 months).
If the tattoo is older (e.g. 3 years old) you may wish to opt for a rework due to the natural ageing process of the tattoo. Reworks (and touch-ups of other artists tattoos are charged at the normal hourly rate)
Finger/toes, hand/foot, neck, head, face are tattoos that we discourage our customers to have as their healing is most problematic due to the placement and we don't offer free touch ups on tattoos in the aforementioned area. For more details please contact the shop.

Do cover up tattoos hurt more?

Covering up a tattoo is a harder process than it seems, for the client and the artist.
Depending on the size and location, you might need to go a little larger than the original tattoo. This means more pain (over scar tissue), and trying to create a suitable design to cover it with.
It can be difficult coming up with an idea that both you and the tattoo artist are happy with, as well as it resulting in an effective cover up. You both need to be happy with the end result.

How soon can you cover up a tattoo?

People do sometimes ask if we can re-do work they got tattooed elsewhere (and how soon that can happen). You should wait until the tattoo has completely healed.
The surface of your tattoo usually heals in 2-3 weeks, but it might take up to 2 months for the tattoo to heal completely.
Make sure to meet and check with your artist ahead of time, just to make sure the skin’s ready for a cover-up, so you’ll be good to go when your appointment day comes along.

I want to CoverUp! Do I need to laser it first?

Before covering up we would greatly appreciate it if you could send us a picture of the tattoo to be covered, or to the studio in person.
Depending on the design you want, you might not need laser-ing at all, though that is very rare.
You don't have to laser your tattoo completely, it just needs to be light enough for us to cover it, and make sure it doesn’t peek back through again over time!

Do you cover scars?

Yes we do, however we will have to have a look at the extent of the damage before we can advise you. We’d greatly appreciate it if you could send us photos or even come to the studio in person so we can have a quick look.

Don't do it! Seriously!

When Should I Not Get Tattooed?

Drunk
High
Pregnant
Pre-Surgery
Post-Surgery
When you don’t know what you want
When you can’t afford it
When you’re sunburned
When you haven’t showered
When you have your kids with you
If you don’t have an ID
If you’ve been pressured into it
When your artist has told you that its a bad idea

Should I have a drink before my tattoo to steady my nerves?

No. This is not advisable for several very real reasons, other than the obvious difficulties of tattooing a drunk person. The fact is, any good tattooist will refuse to tattoo you if you are drunk, and you will lose your deposit.
The main reason is that alcohol thins your blood considerably. In turn this causes excessive bleeding while you are having the tattoo, which not only makes it difficult for the tattoo artist, but will have the effect of ‘washing out’ ink as it is being put in.
This makes the process much longer, and can produce poor results.
Alcohol can have an effect for several days, so it is also not a good idea to have a tattoo after a night drinking, even if you have not consumed anything on the day.

Is It OK to Get a Tattoo if I'm Sick?

Getting a tattoo when your immune system isn't at 100% isn't a good idea.
You're going to need your strength and your white blood cells to heal your tattoo effectively, something your body won't be able to do if it's already battling against virus and bacteria.
Not to mention the fact that it's very inconsiderate to bring your illness into the tattoo studio and risk passing the germs onto others, particularly your artist. If you are sick on the day of your appointment, call and reschedule for when you're feeling well again.

My Friend Just Bought a Tattoo Kit and Wants to Practice on Me

Do not let them do it. Your friend could be putting both of your lives in danger by foolishly trying to learn this at home. The risk of getting an infection in that situation is very high.
Tell them they need to get a proper apprenticeship, and they can start practicing on you when their mentor (master) feels they are ready.

Unusual Questions

Do you tattoo with ashes?

Yes and No!
Yes! There are companies in the UK that can take a certain amount of the ash and create a tattooing ink that is infused with it, resulting in an ink that is free of toxic materials like heavy metals, medicine and other foreign bodies from that person's lifestyle and the cremation process.
NO! If you expect us to sprinkle ashes over our inks the way a 5 star michelin chef sprinkles the seasoning over his dish it's not going to happen!
Is not a safe or hygienic method of tattooing and we would not put our clients through any risks.

Do you tattoo with BLOOD?

No! There is no safe way to tattoo using someone else’s blood.
We understand that you had a loss and we are sorry for it, yet you shouldn't believe everything that's written on the internet.
YOU SHOULD ABSOLUTELY NOT DO IT!

Do you tattoo with U.V Ink?

It sounds cool to have a U.V. tattoo until you have one and you slowly realise that the needle is still going to leave a trace on your skin once it's healed (it's not going to be an invisible tattoo)
The U.V. effect of the tattoo is going to fade quite quick.
That being said, no, we don't!

How much for a small tattoo?

For a small tattoo our minimum charge is £50. This is for a tattoo that takes less than half an hour to do and covers the costs of our single-use materials.

Deposit

In order to book we require a small deposit, the deposit is deducted from the overall price of the tattoo and it is refundable up until 7 days before your booking.

Is the designing process free?

The design process, including any alterations, should not exceed two hours since the majority of designs are completed within that timeframe. However, once the two-hour limit has elapsed, you will be billed at the hourly rate for any additional time spent on the project.

Are Tattoos Expensive?

Some artists charge by the hour (between £70/h-£100/h) and £500/per day some will charge by the piece. Although these days hourly charge is more popular.
Tattoo artists set their prices according to their skills, styles and experience. This is why you should not shop around for the best price, but the best quality. It is definitely better to wait until you can afford to pay for a quality service from experienced artist work you love instead of settling for something cheaper of a lesser quality.

How can cheap tattoos become expensive?

Getting a cheap tattoo. (e.g. not done in a professional studio) carries high risk of infections, flesh eating bacteria, hepatitis, HIV etc.
Even a ‘cheap tattoo’ in a professional studio can cost you more in the long run. If you settle for the cheapest price (as opposed to saving up and going to the best artist for the job) you are much more likely to regret the tattoo.
If you find yourself unhappy with your cheap tattoo, you'll not only have the embarrassment of showing it in public, but if you want to get rid of it you will also need to factor in the cost of laser removal (at least 3-4 sessions, with 8 to 12 weeks waiting time between sessions), and the price of you new tattoo on top (in order to cover the scarring caused by the previous tattoo and laser removal).

Not sure how much the total will cost?

Please be aware that although we can estimate how long your tattoo might take, we are not able to give you a definitive price. If you are worried about the cost then please inform us and and we will limit the time of this particular appointment to suit your budget. This may require you returning at a later date so that we can finish your tattoo.

Is the designing process free?

The design process, including any alterations, should not exceed two hours since the majority of designs are completed within that timeframe. However, once the two-hour limit has elapsed, you will be billed at the hourly rate for any additional time spent on the project.

Where to find tattoo images?

You get a tattoo, especially as an expression of your individuality, why would you like a tattoo just like someone else?
Instead, find some pictures of what you're looking for and have a custom design for you by your designer.
Example: if you want a penguin tattoo standing on a glacier, find real pictures of the icebergs and the penguins and send them over.
If the pictures don't show precisely what you want, simply take them to your artist to use them as guidance and tell them what improvements to the original images you wish to make. A true artist should take up a custom piece's challenge.
Tell us all about what you would like your tattoo to express, how to look and your vision about the overall look of your design and we will custom design it for you.
Just because you saw it on Pinterest doesn’t make it a good tattoo and sadly some tattoos are fake.
Don’t put words in your realism tattoos - we’re going to try to talk you out of it because of that whole “a picture is worth 1000 words” thing.

Can I bring my design for tattooing?

You are more than welcome to bring your own design, but be aware that it might require some changes in order to match the placement and style of the artist. It is worth noting that some photos that work on paper but not on skin, your artist can advise you if this is the case.
Feel free to bring some references to show us the sort of thing you like, but please don't ask us to copy the work of other artists, we do only custom designs. It's not fair on the original artist/client for us to copy their work.
We are also delighted to design something based on an idea you have in your mind.

How do I know if I like it or not?

After the booking is made and the deposit is paid, the designated artist is going to let you know how he approaches things and what to expect next. Each artist works slightly differently in terms of designing, but rest assured you will never be pressured into having a tattoo you are unsure about. We are flexible with our designs and we do our best to create a design to match your description.
If you change your mind/idea about the design you booked in for (e.g. you booked in for a rose and now you want a lion) you will be charged £40 for the new design. It's not fair for our artists to spend time designing something new each time the idea is changed. If you are not settled on your idea, it would be best to discuss this with your artist and wait until you are 100% sure before you book in..

How should I plan for a larger tattoo (arm/leg/back/etc.)?

Firstly, talk to us. The best large pieces always BEGIN with a cohesive plan, not just bits and pieces loosely tied together.
We can do a sleeve or back piece with existing work in place, but it will ALWAYS look better when you come in with a plan and allow the same artist to help bring that plan to fruition for you.

Where can I find tattoo ideas/images?

Pinterest is the best source of tattoo ideas, designs, and reference photos. Take your time and save as many ideas as possible, and think outside the box! (Example: if you want a penguin tattoo standing on a glacier, find pictures of the icebergs and the penguins in the styles that you like and send them over).
If the pictures don't show precisely what you want, simply take them to your artist to use them as guidance. Explain what you like/dislike about each reference, tell us what you would like your tattoo to express and your vision for the final piece. Your artist will use that information to create a custom design for you.
Just because you saw it on Pinterest doesn’t make it a good tattoo, and sadly some tattoos images online are fake/photoshopped.
Don’t put words in your realism tattoos - we’re going to try to talk you out of it because of that whole “a picture is worth 1000 words” thing.

I really like a design I've found or created, and I want it exactly as it is. Should I be offended if you give me advice?

Throughout our years of experience, we have come to realize that not all designs translate well into tattoos. Our goal is to share this knowledge with you to ensure you get the best possible outcome for your design. While we provide advice, please remember that our intention is to guide you towards the best result. We encourage you to have an open mind and understand that our suggestions are meant to offer you options for making the most informed decision.

What does it feel like to get a tattoo?

It feels like you are scratched with a vibrating needle. The actual pain is not that bad, because we use the latest tattoo machines and techniques in the industry, however everyone's pain tolerance is different and the length of the tattoo will have an impact on this.

Can I have a painless tattoo?

We also use professional Numbing Cream (you can find out more about this in the Numbing Cream tab), this is applied before the session (1-2h before) and it works wonders! Many clients do not feel any pain at all up to 3-4 hours when applied properly!

Most of our clients decide to use numbing cream, however we only use the brand recommended on our website, because most of the numbing creams out there are either illegal/toxic, or adversely affect the skin during the tattooing and healing process.

How deep do you go in the skin?

Your skin has three layers: the epidermis, the dermis, and the hypodermis.
Because the epidermis is constantly replenishing itself, the needle needs to penetrate through the dermis layer to make the tattoo permanent.
For this to occur, the tip of the needle enters your skin layers approximately 1-1.5mm at a 30-45 degree angle
The depth varies depending on the placement and structure of the skin in that area.

Do numbing agents work?

Yes they work! You can get a tattoo whilst experiencing only 0-5% of the actual pain.
We only use our recommended numbing agents, because we know for sure that they work and they are 100% legal and safe for the client.
They don't affect the healing or mess with the natural properties of the skin.