Nobody explains the boring parts
At my Birr studio, I tattoo clients aged 18 and over. I quote after seeing the design, size and placement, and I confirm any deposit terms in writing before payment.
Most people who sit down in my studio have already spent hours scrolling and saved a folder full of images. They still may not know what happens on the day or what a tattoo costs. They may also wonder why two artists give very different prices for a similar idea. That's fair. These practical details are rarely explained.
Here is the full process, from the age rule to taking off the wrap. I work at Unit 4, The Heritage, Main St, Birr, County Offaly. I have been tattooing for fifteen years and have completed more than 1500 tattoos. I draw each design for the person who will wear it.
Who I can tattoo, and the ID I ask for
My Birr studio is for clients aged 18 and over. If you look young, I'll ask for original photo ID before we begin.
The law and studio policies are not the same thing. A 2019 written answer from the Minister for Health to the Oireachtas explains that Ireland has no tattoo-specific licensing or regulation and considers consent, including age, under wider law. I keep the full Republic of Ireland, parental-consent and Northern Ireland explanation in my what age you can get a tattoo in Ireland, together with the official sources.
If you're close to 18, use the waiting time to refine the idea, placement and budget rather than rushing the appointment.
Reading a studio in the first two minutes
You don't need to know how an autoclave works. You need to know what a clean setup looks like while you're standing in it.
Hygiene matters, but it is only one part of the choice. If you're still comparing artists, read my guide to choosing a tattoo artist in Ireland. It explains how to check whether their work suits your idea, whether the portfolio shows real results, and how they handle questions.
Watch the artist open the equipment. Needles and cartridges should come out of sealed packs in front of you, not from a tray that was ready before you arrived. The machine, cable, bottles and lamp handle should be covered with clean single-use protection. Fresh gloves should go on after the setup is ready.
Then look at the bits nobody stages for photos. The floor. The bin. The sink, and whether there is soap and a way to dry your hands that is not a shared towel. Lovely lighting and a plant in the corner do not make up for poor hygiene.
Ask what training the artist has and how the studio prevents infection. I completed HSeLanD courses in hand hygiene and infection prevention. You can see the certificates on my about page. They show the training I completed, but they are not a government licence for the studio.
Here is the simple rule. Leave if a studio is willing to tattoo you while you're drunk, will not explain aftercare, or gets annoyed when you ask about the price. You should be able to ask basic questions before you agree to anything.
Money, and why nobody quotes off one line of text
My studio minimum is €50. That is the smallest appointment I can properly set up and prepare, and it is a floor, not a price list. The price of a Custom Tattoo starts at around €150 because I prepare the drawing before you sit down.
Two tattoos of the same size can have different prices. Size is only one factor. Solid black takes time, and fine detail can take even longer. On curved or moving skin, I may need more time to place the stencil well. I also need to see the old ink before I can give an honest price for a Cover-Up.
When I don't send a price after a one-line message, I'm not avoiding the question. For an accurate quote I need the subject, body area, rough size and two or three references. If there is old ink nearby, I also need a clear photo taken in daylight. The pricing guide shows the usual price ranges and has a planner you can use before you message me.
If you have a firm budget, say the number. It helps far more than people expect. I can tell you whether the idea fits the budget or whether the design needs to be simpler. It's easier to have that conversation before you pay a deposit.
Deposits, and what they are for
The deposit holds your date and comes off the final price. It is non-refundable, and I tell you the amount and the terms before you pay a cent.
The deposit is part of the tattoo price, not an extra charge. Once I hold the appointment for you, I can't offer that time to another client, and I may already have spent time drawing. If you need to move the appointment, tell me early and it's usually grand. If you cancel late or miss the appointment, the deposit is not returned.
How booking and the consult go
Send the idea through booking with the body area, rough size and a few references. I read every request myself. I'll reply with a quote, a price range, or a question if I need one more detail.
If you're deciding whether to arrive without a booking, read my walk-in tattoo guide for Ireland first. My Birr studio is appointment-only, so every visit needs confirmation.
Consultations are free. Some people want to see the room, look at examples of healed work, and talk through placement. Others arrange everything by message. Both are grand. For a Cover-Up or a large tattoo, I prefer to see the skin in person instead of relying on a cropped photo.
On the day, I prepare the stencil and place it on your skin. You check it in the mirror before tattooing starts. Tell me if you want it higher, lower, turned or larger. It's easy to move the stencil before I start. Eat first, bring water, and wear something comfortable.
After the needle stops
You leave wrapped, with instructions, and the instructions depend on the dressing I used. Follow the ones I gave you, not the ones a stranger posted online.
The routine is simple, and that is the point. Wash it when I told you and pat it dry. Use a thin layer of cream as instructed, then leave the tattoo alone. Avoid pools, baths, the sea and saunas. Showers are fine. Wear loose clothes because a waistband or bra strap can rub the area all day.
It will peel and itch. Do not scratch or pick it. Picking can damage the healing skin and leave patchy areas that need a Touch-Up. The full routine is in the aftercare guide. Read it the night before so you know what to do with the wrap the next day.
There is one important limit. You can send me a clear photo and I can say whether the tattoo looks like it is following the usual healing pattern. I can't diagnose an infection. Contact a GP or an out-of-hours service if redness keeps spreading, the skin gets hotter, swelling increases, pus appears, or you feel unwell.
Coming in from another county
Quite a few people drive to my studio. Birr sits handy for the midlands, and I regularly tattoo people who come from Tullamore, Portlaoise, Athlone and Roscrea.
Two things are worth planning if you're on the road. Book earlier in the day so a long session doesn't end with a sore drive home in the dark. Dress for the placement before you leave the house. Skinny jeans are a poor choice after a thigh tattoo, and a seatbelt can rub a fresh rib tattoo.
If it is a big piece split over two sessions, leave a few weeks between them and let the first heal properly. There is no prize for rushing it.
Quick questions I get every week
Do I lose the deposit if I need to change the date?
Not if you tell me in good time. Move it late or miss the appointment altogether and the deposit stays with the slot it was holding.
What should I bring on the day?
Photo ID if you look young, water, and food in you beforehand. Wear something that lets me reach the placement and will not rub the tattoo on the way home.
Can you tattoo over an old tattoo?
Sometimes. It depends how dark and how large the old work is. Send a clear photo taken in daylight. I'll tell you whether a Cover-Up can work, whether the new design needs to be larger, or whether laser fading may help first.
Where to go next
If this is your first, the first tattoo guide covers choosing a placement and keeping the idea focused enough to hold up. The rest of the guides handle pain, healing and meanings, and the blog takes the narrower questions one at a time.
And if the idea is ready, send it over. Worst case, I tell you it needs to be bigger.
