Important information

Here you can find guides for how to prep for your tattoo, aftercare and our studio policies. Please make sure you read this before proceeding to the enquiry form.

before you book

  • You will be asked to pay a deposit when you book your tattoo. Our artists are all self-employed and set their own rates/deposit amounts, please confirm you're messaging the right artist when you book. Appointments are not secured until this has been paid. If for some reason your artist can't make it on the day your deposit will be safe and they will get in contact to reschedule your appointment.

  • All deposits are non-refundable. (Our artists are self-employed. This covers your artist for the time spent on admin and designing your tattoo.)

    If you need to reschedule an appointment you can do so up to 7 days before, after this you will need to rebook with a new deposit.

    If you are more than 20 minutes late to your appointment you will need to rebook with a new deposit. If you last minute cancel or no-show for an appointment you may be asked to pay the full amount in advance for your next booking.

    You will be sent a draft of your design early in the process for you to confirm. If you decide to make major alterations to the design after confirming it you will be asked to rebook with a new deposit.

  • You will be asked to provide a form of photographic ID when you arrive. This is compulsory. We accept passport, driving license/provisional or citizen card. Parental consent is not accepted and we do not allow under 18's in the studio.

  • If you require additional support for your session please let your artist know in advance.

  • Please turn up for your appointment on time (not early). Seraphim is a private studio and the front door is locked for clients privacy. Your artist will collect you at the time of your appointment.

  • Please do not plan an event directly after your tattoo. We cannot always control how long your tattoo will take and sometimes sessions run over.

  • We do not currently take card.

    Please check with your artists ahead of time as we are all self-employed and have our own preferred methods.

  • Make sure you have antibacterial soap and some sort of tattoo appropriate moisturiser ready for when you get home from your tattoo. Brands we recommend are Palmers Cocoa butter, Hustle butter or Inkeeze.

    Never use Vaseline, Sudocrem, E45 or Perfumed/glittery products.

  • Touch-ups are free for the first 3 months of the original work. After this you will be charged our studio minimum (£40)

    Hands and feet are a different texture skin to the rest of the skin on your body. This tougher skin often requires more than one touch up and heals differently to other tattoos. Your first touch-up will be free, after this you will be charged our studio minimum. Please wait at least 2 weeks for the tattoo to heal fully before contacting us for touch-ups.

  • We do not tattoo over moles and some scarring, please check with your artist in advance and include photos in the cover up section of our enquiry form if applicable.

  • Please do not use numbing cream without checking with your artist. This can make the area much harder to tattoo and also affects the quality of your healed tattoo. Sometimes when applied incorrectly or to sensitive skin it can cause a rash that we can’t tattoo over, in this case you will have to rebook with a new deposit.

    Please always speak to your artist in advance if you feel you can’t do the session without it. We will ask you to come in earlier so we can make sure it's applied correctly and you may be asked to do a patch test before your appointment if you have never used it before.

  • Please tell us if you’re planning a holiday or attending a festival in the two weeks after your tattoo. We may ask you to book in after so that your tattoo has the best chance at healing.

  • Unfortunately our studio is on the second floor and there is no lift. We are very sorry :(

before your Appointment

  • Please make sure you have eaten within at least two hours of your appointment.

    Sweets are provided for free while you are being tattooed but you should still bring sugary drinks/sweets with you, especially for longer sessions.

  • Alcohol is a blood thinner. Do not drink for 24 hours before your tattoo.

  • Please refrain from using fake tan one week before your appointment.

    Do not use sun beds or sunbathe for at least a week before your tattoo. We cannot tattoo burnt or peeling skin.

  • Please moisturise the area for the week before your tattoo.

    If you are getting your hands, feet, elbows or knees tattooed then please exfoliate and moisturise the area for at least two weeks before. This will vastly improve the tattooing process for both of us!

  • Please dress comfortably and make sure the area getting tattooed will be easily accessible. Try not to wear light colours as ink can stain clothing.

Aftercare

Looking after your tattoo is just as important to the end result as the tattooing process. Please follow the instructions below to ensure your tattoo heals the best it can.

What to do

Only keep the cling film on for 1-2 hours while you are travelling home from your appointment.

  • After this time wash your hands and remove the clingfilm. 

  • Wash your tattoo with clean hands, antibacterial soap and warm water to remove excess ink.

  • Always use a shower, never soak in the bath.

  • Either let your tattoo air dry or use paper towel.

     Do not use a normal towel as this can be unhygienic and leave fibres on your new tattoo.

  • Your tattoo should be cleaned every 3 hours for the first few days. You can start to do this less the more it heals.

  • Use a thin layer of moisturiser after cleaning your tattoo for the next two weeks.

  • Brands we recommend are Palmers Cocoa butter, Hustle butter or Inkeeze.

What not to do

For at least two weeks:

  • Do not use fake tan, sun beds, or sun bathe.

  • Do not use perfume or cosmetics on your tattoo.

  • Do not use swimming pools, hot tubs, or swim in any outdoor bodies of water.

  • Do not go to the gym for the first week and be cautious with sweating on your new tattoo.

  • Tattoos become itchy while healing. DO NOT SCRATCH IT! This can cause scabs to come off prematurely and impact how it eventually heals. Applying a little of your chosen moisturiser and taking an antihistamine should help.

  • Never use Vaseline, Sudocrem, E45 or Perfumed/glittery products.

It is completely normal for some ink to seep out of a fresh tattoo for the first few days of healing. If this happens wash away the excess ink, but be aware this could potentially stain bed sheets or clothes.