Frequently Asked Questions
How much will my tattoo cost?
Our minimum charge is £80 for a small, simple tattoo. For everything else, we charge £100 an hour. The price covers the artist’s time designing your tattoo, the hygiene materials used to ensure your safety, the actual tattooing procedure, the inks we use and the aftercare. If you want to discuss your design with an artist before you commit to your tattoo we offer free consultation sessions.
Will my tattoo last a lifetime?
Some tattoos last longer than others because of their placement, size or design details. For example:
Finger and hand tattoos are constantly exposed to washing, sunlight, friction, etc so they might fade and blur relatively quickly. They may need regular touch-ups
Fine lines and delicate details may blur or fade as your skin ages and regenerates
Watercolour tattoos with soft shading use less ink so more prone to fading over time
Our artists can advise about your personal tattoo design.
Will my tattoo need a touch-up?
Your completed tattoo may still need a touch-up, particularly if there’s a lot of solid colour because the ink saturates differently depending on your individual skin type. If a well-looked-after tattoo requires a touch-up we will do that free of charge.
What sort of inks do you use?
Our inks are organic, vegan and have not been tested on animals. They are compliant with all UK and European safety guidelines.
Can I use numbing cream?
Old Marine Arts Group does not provide numbing cream but if you choose to use it, then it is important that your decision is informed about its use. Although numbing cream is widely used for tattooing, is generally considered safe and side effects are rare, there are some disadvantages to consider:
Increased Risk of Infection
We use sterile processes during the tattooing procedure. We will also use alcohol and disinfectant to clear naturally occurring bacteria from your skin when we tattoo you. But please remember that a fresh tattoo is an open wound, and we will explain the aftercare process and provide a guidance leaflet at the end of your tattoo session. However, there is some evidence that using numbing cream can increase the risk of infection. Although antibiotics should clear any infections quickly, you need to be aware of this before you choose whether to use numbing cream
Increased Risk of Ink Not being Retained
Tattooing involves injecting ink under the top layer of your skin, which is retained after the tattoo heals. Numbing cream can harden the skin for some people, which may cause the ink to be unevenly distributed. We cannot predict how your skin will react to numbing cream so you must be aware that if you use numbing cream your tattoo may need to be touched up to a greater degree than if you didn’t.