Independent · source-checked · not a studio

Plan your tattoo, get it done safely, and heal it well.

Fourteen practical guides and one planning tool. Every health point links to a named public source such as Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, the NHS, EADV or the FDA. Every diagram on this site is our own work.

Start here: first tattoo planAll guides

Start here

  1. Put the decisions in the right order: idea, style, placement, artist, then design.
  2. Vet the artist on their healed work and settle price and deposit terms in writing.
  3. Check the set-up on the day, then follow one aftercare routine.

Before

Planning the tattoo

Design, style, placement, artist and price: the choices that are hard to undo.

Choosing a designSize vs detail, the squint test, and writing a brief.Styles comparedNine styles compared, including how each one ages.Fine-line tattoosWho fine line suits and how to make it last.Colour vs black & greyContrast, skin tone, sun, allergies and removal.PlacementPain, friction, coverability and surface, by area.Choosing an artistReading portfolios, consultations and red flags.Cost & quotesHow quotes, minimums, deposits and tipping work.

During

On the day

What safe tattooing looks like, and what to expect from the needle.

Safety & hygieneWhat safe set-up looks like, and licensing by country.PainWhat it feels like, harder areas, and coping strategies.

After

Healing

One routine page and one page on what's normal. We keep them separate so they never contradict each other.

Aftercare routineThe routine the medical sources agree on, and where they differ.Healing: normal vs notHealing timeline, plus normal vs warning signs.Cover-upsWhy covers are bigger and darker, and when to lighten first.Laser removalHow laser works, its risks and limits (FDA).

Tools & checklists

Free to use and print. The planner shows its full method, and the checklists are plain images you can save to your phone.

Tattoo time & budget plannerHours, sittings and a budget range from your artist's rate. Consultation checklistEight questions to settle before paying a deposit. Studio hygiene checklistWhat you should see during set-up. Appointment-day checklistThe night before and the morning of.

Who's behind this site

Double Down Tattoo is an independent editorial project funded by advertising. We are not a tattoo studio, and we're not connected to the studio that used this domain name years ago. We don't claim personal tattooing experience. We read the official sources, write plain-language guides, show where the sources disagree, and tell you when to ask your artist or a doctor instead. More about us · How we check facts and fix mistakes.

Last full review of every guide: 2026‑10‑11.