A visit during which a permanent tattoo is created follows an established sequence: first, a discussion about the design and health consent, then applying and approving the stencil on the skin, preparing the sterile workstation, the tattooing itself—usually the outline first, followed by shading or color—and finally cleaning the skin, applying a dressing, and giving aftercare instructions. Below, we describe each of these stages as they take place in a professional studio, so you know what to expect and what to look out for before you sit in the chair.
- The consultation establishes the design, size, and health consent, and changes are easiest to make at this stage, before the stencil is created.
- A stencil applied to the skin shows the exact shape, direction, and size before tattooing begins.
- Sterile, single-use materials and an autoclave for reusable equipment are standard, and you can assess them by sight as soon as you arrive.
- The outline is usually the first part of the work, with shading or color added later.
- After the session, you receive a protective dressing and written aftercare instructions, not just a brief verbal summary.
The consultation: what is decided before anyone touches your skin
The first stage of the appointment has nothing to do with the tattoo machine. It is a conversation during which the artist and client agree on the final design, where it will go on the body, its size, style, and approximate session length (source: Tattoo Process, Safety & Aftercare: The Complete Guide). It is also the best time to make changes: adjusting the size or moving the design is much easier now than after the stencil has been applied, when the shape has already been fitted to a specific part of the body. If you are still deciding between several design options or are not sure which placement will look best, choosing a design and placement for your first tattoo is a separate topic worth thinking through before this conversation.
The second part of the consultation covers health-related formalities: a medical history and consent form, with questions about allergies, skin conditions, medications, and pregnancy or breastfeeding, and confirmation from the client that they understand the possible risks, such as irritation, infection, an allergic reaction, scarring, or a change in the pigment color (source: Tattoo Consent Form: What to Include). The form also covers age and identity verification, as well as confirmation that the client has received take-home aftercare instructions—this is a standard part of a professional appointment, not extra bureaucracy.
The stencil on your skin: your last chance to make a change
Before the tattoo machine touches your skin, the artist applies a stencil—a transfer of the design that shows the exact position, direction, symmetry, and scale of the tattoo where it will actually be created (source: Tattoo Process, Safety & Aftercare: The Complete Guide). This is the moment to take your time before approving it. It is good practice to look at the stencil from several angles and in a natural standing position, especially when the way your body is positioned—bending your arm or twisting your torso—changes how the design will sit in everyday life.
Once you have approved the stencil and the outline has begun, changing the position or size is no longer possible, so this is the time to ask any questions you still have: will the line be visible from a particular angle, does the symmetry work on both sides of the body, and is the size too small for the planned details? An artist who gives you time to assess it instead of rushing you into a quick approval treats this stage as seriously as it deserves.
The workstation: what to look for in terms of hygiene
You can assess workstation hygiene without specialist knowledge, because most standards are visible to the naked eye. Needles and cartridges in a professional studio are sterile, factory-sealed, opened only in front of the client, and intended for one person only (source: Tattoo Process, Safety & Aftercare: The Complete Guide). Ink cups, razors, and wipes are single-use, while work surfaces, the machine grip, and other items the artist touches during the procedure are wrapped in protective film. Gloves are changed between different tasks, not just between clients.
Before starting work, the artist cleans visible dirt from the countertops and chair, disinfects them with a product that destroys bloodborne pathogens, and sterilizes reusable equipment in an autoclave (source: Is Your Professional Tattoo Artist Protecting You Against Infections?). Used needles and other sharp items go straight into a designated sharps container, not a regular trash can. You also have the right to ask to see the facility's license or health permit issued by the relevant authority—a reputable studio will show it without hesitation.
Warning signs: what should not be at the workstation
The opposite of the standards above gives you clear warning signs that are worth asking about or walking away from the session over: a needle taken from a previously opened, unsealed package; no protective film on the grips and surfaces; or gloves that are not changed between different tasks. No visible sharps container or an artist's reluctance to show the facility's license are further reasons to look for another studio.
The tattoo itself: the outline, then shading or color
Tattooing usually starts with the outline, which establishes the main shape and structure of the design, and shading or color is added afterward—although the exact order can vary from artist to artist and depends on the design itself (source: Tattoo Process, Safety & Aftercare: The Complete Guide). The tattoo machine can sound louder than expected, but that is a normal part of the process, not a sign that anything is going wrong.
During longer sessions, taking breaks to stretch, hydrate, or catch your breath is entirely normal, and it is worth agreeing on them with the artist before work begins, especially if the design requires you to sit in one position for a long time. If something hurts noticeably differently during the session or you need to change your body position, it is worth saying so right away rather than waiting until the end. A good artist responds to this and adjusts the pace of the work instead of ignoring it.
At the end of the session: cleaning, dressing, and instructions
When the tattoo is finished, the artist removes any remaining ink and plasma, checks that the lines are even and looks for any skin irritation, then applies a thin layer of ointment and covers the tattoo with a transparent protective dressing (source: Tattoo Aftercare: Immediate Care & Infection Signs). This dressing limits contact with clothing, friction, and contaminants in the first few hours after the session, when the skin is most vulnerable.
The artist tells you how long the dressing should stay on the skin—usually at least a few hours, sometimes longer, depending on the tattoo's size and placement. You should leave the studio with clear, written aftercare instructions, not just a verbal summary that is easy to forget once you get home.
The first few days after a tattoo: what is normal and what is not
During the first week, slight oozing and redness around the tattoo are part of normal healing, and itching that appears in the first or second week is a natural reaction as the skin regenerates (source: Tattoo Healing Process: Steps, Aftercare, and Precautions). Between the second and fourth weeks, the epidermis starts to peel—this is also a normal stage, even if it looks worrying when you get your first tattoo.
However, some signs go beyond normal healing and require you to contact a doctor: fever or chills, pain that gets worse instead of easing, a noticeable smell or discharge, greenish or yellowish fluid that persists a week after the session, and red streaks spreading from the tattoo or redness that is getting larger (source: Tattoo Aftercare: Immediate Care & Infection Signs). If you notice any of these symptoms, contact a doctor, not just the artist who did your tattoo.
If you are wondering whether to get a permanent tattoo at all or try a temporary version first, this article on how to choose between a temporary and permanent tattoo may be helpful—it looks at the decision from a broader perspective before you narrow your choice down to a specific design.
Why this is not a guide to “how to tattoo” at home
The entire procedure described above—sterile, single-use needles and cartridges, an autoclave for reusable equipment, a licensed premises, and a trained artist—is not a formality. It exists because inserting a needle into the skin to create a permanent tattoo without these conditions carries a real risk of infection (source: Is Your Professional Tattoo Artist Protecting You Against Infections?). That is why this article deliberately does not describe how to create a permanent tattoo yourself and does not replace a visit to a trained professional at a licensed studio.
If what you are really looking for is a way to see a specific design, its size, and its placement on your own skin before making the decision described above, you can try it at home with a temporary tattoo, which you apply yourself and which does not affect the skin. You can find step-by-step instructions in the article on how to apply a temporary tattoo at home. A design such as the delicate fine-line Lotus design from the Small Temporary Tattoos collection lets you assess the size and placement on your body for several days before you sit in the artist's chair. Remember, though, that this trial only shows you the appearance, size, and placement—not how healing will go, how much it will hurt, or exactly how the final result will look on the skin as a permanent tattoo.
We explain more about why it is worth trying a design before deciding on a permanent tattoo in the article why it is worth testing a design before making it permanent. And if you are looking for more guides to read before and after a studio appointment, you will find them on the InkLabs blog.
