FAQs

• Avoid alcohol and blood-thinning medications (like ibuprofen) for 24 hours beforehand.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing that allows easy access to the area being tattooed.

Remove the second skin after 3 days if it is not already coming off or damaged, minimum 1 day. Handy tip: better to do in the shower with warm water, don't rip it off like a plaster — it will hurt!

Wash the tattoo with mild, unscented soap and apply a thin layer of fragrance-free lotion 2 to 3 times a day. You can buy tattoo goo from the salon — remind me at your appointment.

What to avoid:

• No swimming: avoid baths, pools, hot tubs and the ocean for 2–4 weeks.
• No gym: avoid heavy workouts for 1–2 weeks.
• No direct sun: avoid sunbathing and sunbeds for at least 2–3 weeks, until your tattoo has completely healed.
• No picking: avoid picking at the flaking or scabbing skin, as this can pull out the ink and ruin the design.

• The initial healing normally takes about 2–3 weeks for the top layer of skin.
• Deeper skin layers can take up to 6 months to completely settle.

In the UK, you must be 18 or older to get a tattoo, so you will need to provide a valid photo ID at your appointment.

I'm not going to lie to you, it hurts! But it is highly manageable and often compared to a scratching sensation.

Pain varies greatly by location; ribs and inner arms are typically more sensitive than outer arms or thighs.

You can apply numbing cream to the area that is going to be tattooed — this needs to be applied 1.5 hours prior to your appointment time.

Picking a tattoo artist is a bigger decision than picking a haircut — it's permanent. Well, you can get it covered up, but let's do it right the first time. So here's what actually matters:

• Look at recent work, not just the highlight reel. Check Instagram for consistency across different styles, not just the five best pieces.
• A good tattooist should make you feel heard, not rushed. If a consultation feels like a sales pitch, that's a red flag.
• A proper studio will talk you through hygiene and setup without you having to ask twice.
• Aftercare questions come up — you want someone who'll actually reply.
• If the chat feels easy and they're straight with you about pricing, timing, and what will and won't work — that's usually your answer.

If you're after a tattoo artist in Bedford who ticks those boxes, get in touch — happy to have that chat, no pressure either way.

It depends on the size of the existing tattoo, and the original tattoo design.

If it is heavy linework, dark black ink, blues and greens are difficult to mask — but that's not a problem for me. Check out my cover up work.

There is always a solution. Send me a picture of your tattoo and a reference of what you would like — if you know what you want. If you don't, we will work it out together and I can give you a price.

I can!

Bookings are preferred, to avoid disappointment, especially for big or detailed tattoos. Check my availability here to book in.

I do offer walk-in days for smaller pieces — look out for them on my Insta, or hit me up with a message.