Your First Tattoo: What to Expect

You must be 18 with valid government photo ID. HeadRush Whitby does not tattoo anyone under 18, with or without parental consent.

Anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours, depending on size and detail. A small wrist or behind-the-ear piece can be done in 30–45 minutes start to finish; a small forearm or shoulder piece is closer to 1–2 hours; a medium-sized first tattoo with shading or fine detail can take a full 3 hours. Plan for an extra 30 minutes at the studio for stencil and placement before the actual tattooing starts.

Loose, comfortable clothing that gives easy access to the area being tattooed. For an upper arm: a tank top or loose t-shirt. For a thigh: shorts. For a back piece: a button-up shirt that opens fully. Skip anything you'd be upset about getting ink on. First cleanup wipes can stain.

One support person is welcome at the consultation and the session. We do recommend leaving kids at home if you can. Tattoo sessions can stretch a couple of hours, kids get bored fast, and the movement and noise pulls the artist's focus off your piece.

No. Alcohol thins your blood, makes you bleed more during the tattoo, and pushes ink out of the skin. Leading to a patchy heal. Aspirin and ibuprofen do the same thing. Stick to water and a real meal beforehand. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is fine if you want something mild for nerves.

The deposit reserves your artist's time and is applied to your final price, not added on top. It also covers the design work your artist does before the session. Drawing, revising, building the stencil. You only pay the remainder on the day of the appointment.