Frequently asked questions and aftercare guide

It depends on the area. Ribs, feet, inner arm and around the elbow are sensitive; the outer arm and leg, back and shoulder are comfortable for most people. The pain comes in waves rather than constantly, and after the first ten minutes your body largely adjusts. We take breaks during long sessions. Don't come on an empty stomach and get a good night's sleep — both have a big effect on your pain threshold.

Size alone doesn't decide it. The level of detail, the amount of shading and gradients, whether colour is used and the placement set the time — and the time sets the price. A small but very fine piece can take longer than a large, simple line of lettering. For a clear figure, send your idea, the approximate size in centimetres and the placement on WhatsApp and we'll give you a range. For cover ups and removal we need to see a photo of the existing tattoo first.

Don't drink alcohol the night before; it thins the blood and makes it harder for the ink to settle. If you regularly take aspirin or blood thinners, tell us before you come. Eat before your session and bring water. Wear loose, comfortable clothes for the placement — a button-up shirt for ribs, shorts for a calf piece. We don't tattoo freshly sunburnt or irritated skin.

Both are fine. If you bring a reference, rather than copying it exactly we redraw it for your placement, size and any existing tattoos — the same drawing doesn't look the same on a different arm. Just an idea is enough too; we'll start by talking it through. No needle touches your skin until you approve the drawing.

Keep it covered on the first day. After that, wash it two or three times a day with lukewarm water and unscented soap, pat it dry and apply a thin layer of aftercare cream — a thick layer stops the skin breathing. Don't pick the scabs or peeling skin; let them fall off on their own. No sea, pool, hammam, sauna or direct sun for the first two weeks. Heavy exercise and lots of sweating are also hard on the tattoo during this time.

Yes. Scabs and dead skin form a layer over the ink, so the tattoo looks dull in the second week. The colour comes back as the skin renews; it can take two to six months to settle into its final look. Don't judge the result before then. If there really are gaps in the lines once it has healed, come in and we'll take a look.

Earlobes 6–8 weeks; cartilage, helix and nose 3–6 months, and some areas up to a year. Don't take the jewellery out during this time — the hole can close within hours. Clean it twice a day with sterile saline, and don't touch or twist it. Don't sleep on it, and keep hairspray, perfume and makeup away from it.

Not before it has fully healed. Changing early irritates the channel and restarts the healing. It's safest to have the first change done at the studio. Make sure the jewellery is implant-grade steel or titanium; cheap alloys contain nickel and are the most common cause of irritation and allergy.

No — it depends on how dark the existing work is. A wide design is easy to build over a light, fine-line tattoo. For dark, heavily filled, bold-lined or reworked tattoos, a few laser sessions to lighten the pigment come first; this greatly widens the options for the new design. A cover up is usually larger than the original — it's good to know that from the start.

Black ink comes out to a large extent. Colours like green, light blue and yellow are more stubborn. The tattoo's age, how deep and dense the ink is, whether it was done by an amateur or a professional, and your skin type all affect the result; amateur work usually fades more easily. For colourful, layered work, lightening it enough for a cover up can be a more realistic goal than full removal. We look at the photo and talk honestly at the first meeting — we don't make promises we can't keep.

4–8 sessions on average; dark, large and layered work can take up to 10. If your aim is to lighten before a cover up rather than remove it completely, 2–4 sessions are usually enough. The first sessions show a visible fade; the change slows down as you go — that's expected.

Usually 6–8 weeks. Your body needs time to clear the broken-down pigment through the lymphatic system; shortening the gap doesn't improve the result, it only tires the skin. We don't do a new session until the skin has fully healed. Protect the area from the sun between sessions.

It feels similar to getting a tattoo, but much shorter; most people describe it as a rubber band snapping. Afterwards there may be redness, tenderness and light scabbing for a few days. With the right settings and if the scabs are left alone, the risk of scarring is low. What really increases the risk is squeezing sessions together and going in the sun before healing is complete.

We use single-use needles and sterile cartridges for every procedure. Ink is poured into a separate cup for each client. Reusable equipment goes through the autoclave. If you're curious about anything, just ask — we're happy to show you.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding, diabetes, blood thinners or regular aspirin, psoriasis, eczema, a tendency to keloids and any known ink allergy — tell us about all of these before you come. We'll decide together whether the procedure can be done and whether a doctor's approval is needed. Your period isn't an obstacle, but your pain threshold may be lower then; for a sensitive area, moving the date may be more comfortable.

No, you can walk in. All three studios are open every day from 09:00 to 01:00. But if you send your idea and size on WhatsApp beforehand, the design will be ready and you won't have to wait. Large and multi-session pieces are done by appointment.

Our two Taksim studios are on İstiklal Avenue, within walking distance of each other. İmam Adnan Street is closer to Taksim Square; the Fish Market (Sahne Street) is closer to Galatasaray. From the Taksim metro or funicular exit, walk into İstiklal and you'll be there in a few minutes. Our Galata studio is on Galipdede Street, between Tünel and the Galata Tower. Tell us on WhatsApp which one you're heading to and we'll let you know the nearest one and which artist is free.