Review our extensive Tattoo Aftercare Guide for all the information you need to heal up right.

All tattoos hurts to some degree. Pain varies from person to person. Most are an annoying pain that is uncomfortable but tolerable. Often times people compare getting a tattoo to the discomfort of a cat-scratch on a sunburn.

Relax, don’t fight it and it will all be over soon or in 3-4 hours, depending upon the size of the tattoo. If tattoos were terribly painful no one would have them and if they were easy everyone would have one.

While all tattoos hurt to a degree. The general consensus is that the stomach, sternum, ribs, back of the knees and palms of the hands will tend to be the most painful.

Don’t choose an area or a size based on the pain factor. The tattoo’s beauty will last for decades longer than the minimal difference in sensation.

Blood flow is an integral part of the healing process. Tattoos further from the core of the body tend to heal slower.

Friction can also be a factor affecting healing tattoos in locations where clothing can constrict or constantly rub.

Areas of the body with natural seams, like ankles, wrists, elbows and knees as well as fingers, feet and palmer surfaces are notoriously difficult to heal.

It really shouldn’t provided you take care of the tattoo during the healing process. There are always exceptions and everyone heals a little differently. If you find that during the healing process you lose a little pigment please contact your artist.

After your tattoo has healed you will want to use lotion and sunblock for the life of the tattoo and yourself. If you are in the sun a lot and don’t protect the tattoo, it will fade.

Yes.

We will need to see the tattoo you want to cover in person. Not every tattoo can be completely covered. Size, color saturation and location all factor into whether your tattoo can be covered well or not. As a general rule cover ups must be considerably darker than the existing tattoo. Be prepared to go at least 50-70% larger than the tattoo you want to cover.

In some instances you may need to have a few laser treatments prior to getting their tattoo covered or reworked.

A consultation in person is required for all cover ups and fix ups.

For cover ups we need to determine what imagery is necessary to adequately cover the old work. Be prepared to go at least 50-70% larger than the tattoo you want to cover.

For fix ups we can often turn the exiting tattoo you are unhappy with into a nice piece of art that will look great for years to come. In some cases we can give old tattoos new life without having to cover them up.

FYI: The most frequently covered up tattoos are lovers names.

Often times our artists would rather not do white ink tattoos, seeing as most customers are not happy with the end result. They tend to heal blotchy and/or discolored. Your skin tone is going to be a factor as well. The more fair your skin is the brighter the tattoo will be. Despite popular belief, white ink DOES NOT show well on darker skin. In the future, removing or covering white ink tattoos is considerably more difficult than other pigments.

It is ultimately up to the individual artist’s preference. You are welcome to come by for a consultation to speak with an artist directly.

You will need to come in and speak with an artist. We will need to see the scar in person and get some history. The severity and maturity of the scar will factor into whether or not we can tattoo into it. This is judged on a case-by-case basis.

We are not interested in tattooing hate imagery or known gang signs. Outside of that we are happy to tattoo just about anything as long as we feel it will hold up and heal well in your skin.

Highly visible locations like the face, neck and hands are taken on a case by case basis.

Our artists reserve the right to refuse service to anyone, for any reason. Especially mean, nasty, rude people with bad attitudes. Feel free to take your attitude elsewhere.

UV light/ the Sun is one of the most detrimental things to tattoos. Any form of tanning can and will damage and fade a tattoo. If you are a sun worshiper, we recommend a SPF 80+ sun block.

In general it is best to stay out of the sun and tanning booths. DO NOT tan at all and minimize sun exposure during the healing process.

We use the highest standards of cleanliness and sterilization techniques. Our tattooers strive to go far beyond what is dictated by the Texas Department of Health. Cleanliness and health safety are of the utmost importance to us.

As for other shops, take a look around. Do you like what you see? Trust your eyes and instincts. Does it look/ smell clean? If you have any doubts, go somewhere else. Better safe than sorry.

Ask if there is an autoclave on premises and if so, do they spore test? The answer to both questions should be yes and they should be able to show you proof.

The artist’s supplies should be sterile, single-use needles, disposable, and the artist should change their gloves frequently during the tattoo process.

Smoking, eating and pets should be restricted on the premises.

Yes, we take your health and safety very seriously. Tattoos at Lamar Street Tattoo Club are as safe as any visit to a reputable doctor or dentist. We use pre-sterilized disposable single-use equipment and supplies. We have our autoclave spore tested every month which lets us know the autoclave is working properly, and sterilizing any reusable items.

Preventing cross-contamination is paramount to cleanliness and health safety. Cross-contamination is simply the spreading of germs from one surface to another. To prevent this we wrap anything that will be touched with a barrier film and do not touch anything else while performing the tattoo.

We practice safe tattooing, but what you come into contact with after you leave the shop is something we cannot prevent. An infection occurs from an outside organism coming in contact with the tattoo and not from the sterile equipment that we use.

If you have any questions about this please contact us.

Yes.

Stencils, soaps and ointments often times contain lanolin. Just because the ink is Vegan doesn’t mean the rest of the tattoo process is.

If this is a concern for you, you will be interested to know that our entire tattoo process and aftercare can be made Vegan upon request.

We do not use any latex products in the shop. You should inform your tattooer of any and all allergies you may have prior to getting tattooed.

Please bathe/shower and pop a breath mint. Our tattooers will do you the same courtesy.

Drink plenty of water in the days before and after your tattoo appointment. Being well hydrated makes a big difference.

Avoid alcohol for at least 8 hours before your tattoo.

Eat a good meal within 2 hours of your tattoo appointment.

Avoid caffeine and energy drinks the day of your tattoo.

Happy, healthy people heal better. Getting tattooed when you are sick, post / pre-surgery or extraordinarily stressed out is not ideal.

Furthermore, people with compromised immune systems (e.g. diabetes, Hepatitis, HIV) typically take longer to heal and are taken on a case by case basis.

YES. It is ideal to eat within two hours of being tattooed. Having stable blood sugar bolsters your immune system and helps the body deal with the fluctuation of endorphins, which are emitted during the tattoo process.

It is illegal and ill-advised to get tattooed while you are under the influence of alcohol. It will not make your experience any better. It actually makes the process more difficult for you and the artist. It raises the risk of complications and poor decisions.

YES. We encourage you to bring in your own artwork or references and ideas to use, to draw you a custom tattoo! The more the better. Your tattooer may need to rework personal drawings based on the drawing’s “tattooability”.

Artwork is “unveiled” on the day of the appointment, based on information, examples, and tracings gathered at the time of the consultation. If your tattooer feels a preliminary showing is necessary, they will call you to come in earlier.

Artwork is done in the days leading up to, if not the day before the appointment, as we are very busy. The artwork is usually shown at time of your tattoo appointment and can be modified at that time if needed. Any minor requested changes to the design, will be done on the day of the appointment. Extensive reworks may require a reschedule.

We take pride in producing tattoos that meet both the client’s needs as well as addressing design issues that are necessary for a tattoo to last and look good, over the course of a lifetime.

Style and quality of the artist’s work should be the first thing you are looking at. If you are “shopping” for a tattoo based on price you are probably going to make a permanent mistake. The best price does not always mean the best deal and the highest price does not always mean the best tattoo. Price should be a priority, just not your first priority.

“Good Tattoos Aren’t Cheap, Cheap Tattoos Aren’t Good”