A. The best way to book in is in person is to pop into the studio with your ideas. You can save pictures on your phone, bring in sketches, imagery from magazines etc, so we can get an idea of what you would like.
For cover-ups or large scale work you may require a consultation with your chosen artist. If this is the case then please give us a call and we will advise the best time to come in. If you are unable to come into the studio in person due to distance, you can contact us by phone or email and we will do our very best to book you in if it is possible to do so without seeing you before your appointment.
For piercings, you can book in advance or contact us on the day where we will advise you the best time to come in. We can sometimes do piercings as a walk in but this is dependent on the availability of our piercing staff.
To avoid disappointment we do recommend phoning in advance. When booking in for semi-permanent make up a short consultation may be necessary so please contact the studio by phone or email and we will advise further, or feel free to pop into the studio and ask for Elizabeth.
A. When booking in you may be asked to pay a non-refundable deposit. The value of the deposit depends on the appointment. This will guarantee your space in the diary. Deposits are cash only although we can accept PayPal payments in extenuating circumstances.
A. It depends on what you would like and our artist’s availability on the day. However, we try to fit any walk-ins so we should be able to help. Feel free to pop in or call the studio to find out our current availability.
A. Absolutely. Next Level is a custom studio and we will happily design a tattoo based on your ideas for no extra charge. However, our artists are unable to do so until an appointment has been made and a deposit paid.
A. It depends on the image. Some minor changes may be required to make it work as a tattoo. If the picture is of an existing tattoo we would most likely redraw it as it is important to us that it is bespoke and we do not wish to copy someone else’s hard work.
A. Unfortunately it is not always possible to do this as our artists may not have time to show you the design in advance but if requested they will do their utmost to show you before your appointment. On the day of your tattoo, if you are unhappy with the design, we will be able to make minor changes.
A. We do, where possible. We ideally need to see what you would like to have covered up in person and have a rough idea of what you would like to cover it with so we can advise on the suitability of the cover up and it’s effectiveness. If it is not possible to cover your tattoo, we may advise that you let us rework it to make it look better or to look into tattoo removal.
A. You can, however, depending on how busy the studio is that day, they may not be able to sit in the tattooing area. We also appreciate that you limit this to just one person as our studio can get very busy, due to a limited number of seats in our waiting area that are used by other customers.
A. Well behaved children are fine in the waiting area while you are booking in or enquiring but under 18s are not permitted in the tattooing area and cannot sit in the waiting area even if attended by an adult. We appreciate your co-operation in this matter.
A. The law states that you MUST be 18 years of age or over to get a tattoo. Parental consent does not change this. Any studio that will tattoo someone under the age of 18 is operating outside of the law.
A. Deposits are non-refundable. If you give us MORE than 48 hours notice to move your appointment then we will rearrange the appointment to a more suitable date and transfer your deposit to that date. If you give us LESS than 48 hours notice or cancel your appointment AT ANY TIME then you will lose your deposit.
A. Everyone is different and different areas of the body are more sensitive than others. If this is your first tattoo then you will probably find it is much less painful than you are anticipating. We also stock numbing creams for very sensitive areas or for anyone who is apprehensive.
Aftercare
Tattoos
For best results we recommend you read the following aftercare advice: When your artist has finished they will clean and wrap your tattoo in cling film. We suggest you leave this on for two to three hours to keep the tattoo free from dirt and bacteria while it begins to heal. In a clean environment, i.e. your bathroom at home, remove the cling film and gently wash the area with warm water and a fragrance free, anti-bacterial hand soap, i.e. Carex, and pat dry with a clean towel (you may get ink transfer from the tattoo to the towel so be aware of staining that may occur). Alternatively, you can use kitchen roll. Always pat the tattoo dry, never rub it, while it is healing.
We recommend you use Bepanthen (nappy rash ointment) we suggest this as the best cream to use during the healing process. Apply a thin layer of this ointment after you have cleaned and dried your tattoo. We suggest you wash, dry and apply the cream twice a day until the tattoo has healed. During this time do not soak the tattoo for long periods, avoid swimming. Showers are fine and baths are okay as long as you do not let the tattoo sit in the water.
Please keep your new tattoo out of direct sunlight and do not use sun beds/sun showers. After the tattoo has healed you can use factor 50 sun creams on the tattoo to help it stay bright and reduce fading. Do not pick or scratch the tattoo, allow scabs to fall away naturally. This process should take one to two weeks but can be longer.
Piercings
After a piercing, it is important to keep the area clean and dry. We suggest using a sea salt water solution that you can make at home – boil the kettle and mix a quarter of a teaspoon of salt in a small clean cup or container. Allow to cool to a comfortable temperature so as to not scald yourself. The salt should be iodine free. Either submerge your piercing into the container or use clean, disposable cotton wool or cotton buds to wipe around the pierced area and gently remove any dirt. Do this twice a day for six to ten weeks or until fully healed.
For oral piercings use a non-alcoholic mouthwash in place of the salt water solution and rinse your mouth out twice daily following the manufacturer’s instructions. There is no need to twist or play with your piercings and ensure your hands are clean before you touch them.
