Nervous about your full-day sitting? Don't be. From the 09:25 arrival to the final white highlights, here is exactly how a day in my chair goes down.
Most people walk into a tattoo studio with a mix of excitement and adrenaline-fuelled nerves. I get it. Committing to a full day in the chair is a big deal, both for your body and your bank account. But my studio in Chapeltown isn't a high-street shop with people walking in off the street to ask for prices. It’s a private sanctuary.
Whether you're booked in for a portrait or a large-scale realism piece, I run a tight ship. My background in construction project management means I value precision and process. There’s no chaos here, just a controlled environment designed to get the best art onto your skin.
Here is exactly what goes down on the day.
My doors open at 09:25. I’m strict on this because I spend the morning setting up my station to clinical standards. If you arrive early, don't worry—there’s a cracking café right next door where you can grab a coffee while I finish prepping.
Once you’re in, we handle the admin straight away. I’ll check your ID (if you look under 25, have it ready) and get the consent forms signed. I’ll get you a drink, and we’ll settle in.
The first 30 to 60 minutes are purely preparation. This is the foundation of the tattoo. I’ll mark out the area, take reference photos of your arm or leg, and use my iPad to scale the design so it flows perfectly with your anatomy. Realism fails if the placement is off.
I print the stencil and apply it. Then, we wait. We need a good 10–15 minutes for that stencil to dry completely. If we rush this, we lose the guide halfway through the session.
While the stencil dries, you get to control the vibe. I’m notorious for my "Wild" playlist—it’s 80+ hours long and features bangers from every genre known to man. Most clients love the chaos of it, but if you want your own tunes, that's fine.
Since it’s a 1-on-1 private studio, we can also throw something on the TV. Netflix, Amazon Prime, whatever you need to get in the zone.
When you first get in the chair, the anxiety usually peaks. Then the needle hits, and almost everyone realises: it’s not as bad as I thought.
The first few hours honestly fly by. We get our heads down and work. Around 12:00 PM, we’ll take a quick five-minute stretch. You can nip outside for a cigarette or just get the blood moving.
We’ll push for another hour and a half or so. By this point, the area will start to feel tender—usually comparable to a bad sunburn. It’s annoying, but manageable.
Between 1:30 PM and 2:00 PM, we down tools for a proper break. We’ll grab some food, reset mentally, and let your skin breathe for a bit.
The afternoon session is where the endurance comes in. When we get back in the chair, it’s going to feel sore. I won't lie to you, this is the part where you have to focus.
Depending on the session length, we might take one more short stretch break, but generally, we are aiming for the finish line.
This is the part everyone dreads, but it’s the part that makes the tattoo pop. The white highlights. We are going over raw, tender skin, and it bites. But this is the light at the end of the tunnel. Grit your teeth and bear it—it only lasts a few minutes.
Job done. The relief is instant. Most clients are shocked at how fast a 6, 8, or 10-hour session actually passes once you're in the rhythm.
I’ll give the piece a thorough clean, take high-quality photos and videos for the portfolio, and wrap you up. We’ll sort the payment, say our goodbyes, and you walk out with a piece of art you’ll have forever.
By the time you get home, you'll already have "the bug." Once the soreness fades, you'll be planning the next one.
Ready to book your day in the chair? Check my availability and let's get a project started.