Guides

• Before your first session — six things most first-timers get wrong

  None of these are complicated. All of them matter more than people realise before they sit down.

  24/04/2026

• Brighton's tattoo scene — what sets it apart

  More studios per square mile than almost any UK city outside London. Here's what makes Brighton's scene distinct, and where to look first.

  24/04/2026

• Cover-ups and reworks — what's actually possible and who does them well

  The density of the original ink dictates everything. Here's a realistic guide to what cover work can and can't achieve.

  24/04/2026

• Why single-needle fine-line on the wrist fades twice as fast — and what to do about it

  The wrist is one of the most requested locations for fine-line work and one of the least forgiving places to put it. Here's the technical reason why.

  24/04/2026

• Five UK studios redefining traditional blackwork

  Heavy black ink is everywhere. These five UK studios are doing something actually different with it.

  24/04/2026

• Walk-ins in 2026 — which UK studios still take them, and how

  Spontaneous tattooing isn't dead. But the studios that do it well are operating nothing like they did five years ago.

  24/04/2026

• Irezumi vs neo-Japanese: what's actually different (and who does each best)

  Two traditions, one catch-all category on most directories. The differences that matter if you're booking.

  24/04/2026

• What £100, £200, and £500 actually buy you in a UK tattoo

  Shop minimums, flash, custom sleeves — an honest look at where the money goes at each price point.

  24/04/2026

• How to read a tattoo portfolio like an art-director

  Most people look at a portfolio and think 'I like this' or 'I don't like this.' Here's a more useful framework.

  24/04/2026

• How UK tattoo licensing actually works (and why you should care)

  Every legal UK tattoo studio is registered with its local council. Here's what that means — and what to do if a studio isn't listed.

  24/04/2026

• How FeelGoodInk works

  Browse UK studios by the work they do. Compare up to three. Find your artist.

  24/04/2026