What you always wanted to know about Tribe Tattoos, but were too afraid to ask:
With the refinements of modern equipment and methods the choice of designs has become practically limitless.
You can bring your own design or discuss an idea with us. Bring in your
source of inspiration- be it a piece of jewellery, a photograph, a picture
in a book or magazine or a sketch of your own- and we'll draw something
up for you. That way you will be guaranteed a completely unique piece.
We also have a selction of designs for you to choose from or to inspire
you. Whatever you choose, try and keep it fairly big and bold, rather
than small and fiddly. Thin lines and small gaps are unsuitable for tattoos,
as they may fade and merge respectively.
Try to think of your tattoo as part of your body, following curves and
muscle definition, and the movement of the part of the body to be decorated.
Don't end up with a random selection of unrelated designs like a stamp
collection, but keep an eye on the big picture.
Once the design and price has been discussed, we can make an appointment for you where necessary. A deposit is required, the amount of which depends on the size of the piece or the lenght of the session booked.
The price of a tattoo is determined by how long it will take to do and how much work is involved. For this pupose we have to assess every tattoo individually. Some larger tattoos may take more than one sitting to do, pricing in this case goes by the session and depends on how long the session is (Usually between 2 and 4 hours). Size and complexity, amount of colours and placement on the body are just some of the factors we have to take into consideration when assessing each tattoo, therefore we can not offer any ready made prices, but need to dicuss everything with you beforehand.
Everything used in the process of tattooing is either disposable or autoclaved (sterilized in a steam pressure autoclave). Our studios are licensed with the Environmental Health and are therefore under the same strict regulations as dentists and doctors.
Everybody experiences sensations slightly differently. Descriptions of
getting tattooed range from "hot buzzing feeling" to "sharp scratchy feeling".
Some parts of the body are more tender than others e.g. around joints
or on soft, ticklish areas, other parts have comparatively few nerve endings,
like upper arms, thighs or calves.
The first 5 minutes are usually when people experience most of the discomfort,
after that the natural endorphins kick in and it gets a lot better. Endorphins
are the body's natural painkillers and can produce a great sense of euphoria!
We use Dermaglo ink pigments and have never experienced any allergic reactions or adverse effects. If you have any concerns please read the technical info here.
When your tattoo is finished you will be given an after care sheet that
details all the procedures. If you have any further questions, just ask.
During the healing process the tattoo can become damaged accidentally
or by carelessness, resulting in pale patches where the scab has been
forced off. These can be fixed easily once the tattoo has heale completely.
Repairs are free, but spare yourself (and us!) the hassle by following
the instructions on your sheet carefully.
Once the tattoo is healed, the pigments are encapsuled in the skin by
collagen, and stay there for good. The layer of skin that grows over the
pigment dulls it's appearance slightly, and gives it that "grown in" look
(compare that to stuck on designs!) Long exposure to the sun can affect
the brightness of your tattoo, but living in Scotland that is hardly a
problem...
If you use the sunbed a lot, or spend a lot of time in sunny climates,
cover your tattoo with sun block to protect it.