How to get a tattoo — the complete guide

01Step 1: The idea and visual references

Every good tattoo starts with a clear idea — not necessarily a fixed image, but a direction. Before contacting us, spend a visual week: save on Instagram, Pinterest or your phone gallery any tattoo, painting, photograph or text that draws you in. It doesn't matter whether it's "your style" or not — visual references help us understand what aesthetic language your soul speaks.

Bring your references to the consultation, but don't expect us to copy them one-to-one. At Funky Tattoo we only do custom work — every design is built starting from you, but filtered through the chosen artist's style and through the anatomical specifics of the area. An identical copy of a tattoo from the internet is a red flag: if a studio agrees to do it, it means they respect neither another artist's work nor your originality.

Think about size and placement too. A tattoo that looks good at 10 cm may become illegible at 3 cm — fine details turn into black smudge after a few years. Tell us which body area you have in mind and how visible you want it to be; we'll honestly tell you whether that size will hold up over time.

What to bring to the consultation:

• Visual references (maximum 5-6 images, more becomes confusing)
• An idea of size (in centimetres, not in "medium" or "large")
• An idea of budget — not necessarily an exact sum, but a range
• Patience: a good consultation takes 30-60 minutes

Call us at +40 731 525 808 or email contact@funkytattoo.ro to book your consultation. We're in Piața Romană, Bd. Magheru 35, Sector 1, Bucharest — open Mon-Fri 10-21, Sat-Sun 13-18.

02Step 2: Booking the consultation

The consultation is mandatory for any tattoo over 5 cm or with complex details. It is not an upsell — it's our way of making sure the final design is exactly what you want, not a surprise on session day.

At Funky Tattoo consultations are free and take place at the studio in Piața Romană. We talk face to face with the artist who will do your tattoo: we discuss the idea, references, the right style, size and placement, session length (or number of sessions), estimated price, and medical contraindications. At the end you sign a consultation sheet where all these details are recorded.

To book a consultation, call +40 731 525 808 (Mon-Fri 10-21, Sat-Sun 13-18) or message us on WhatsApp at the same number. For small tattoos (under 5 cm, no fine details), you can book the session directly without a prior consultation — but we recommend a consultation anyway, especially if it's your first tattoo.

The booking deposit is 100 RON and is paid when confirming the appointment. It is deducted from the final tattoo price. The deposit is non-refundable in case of no-show or cancellation with less than 48 hours' notice before the session, but it can be moved once to another date with at least 48 hours' notice.

What happens if you want to change the artist after the consultation? Very simple: tell us. We have several artists with different styles (realism, old school, fine line, black & grey, color) and we'll reassign you to the right colleague. The deposit stays valid.

03Step 3: Preparing for the tattoo session

24 hours before the session, your body is responsible for half the final result. Hydrated skin, a rested body, and a good meal before the session make the difference between a tattoo that goes in easily and one that bleeds heavily and heals poorly.

What to do on session day:

• Eat a solid meal 1-2 hours before — low blood sugar is the #1 cause of fainting in the chair
• Hydrate well with water (not coffee, not energy drinks) starting the night before
• Do not consume alcohol for 24 hours before — it thins the blood and increases bleeding
• Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen (they are anticoagulants); for pain use paracetamol
• Shower is mandatory, with neutral soap; clean skin = zero infection risk
• Wear loose, comfortable clothes that allow access to the tattooed area without rubbing

What to bring to the studio:

• ID card / passport (mandatory for signing the consent form)
• Water and a sweet snack (chocolate, banana) — useful for long sessions
• Headphones with music if it helps you relax
• A companion only if the tattoo is in a sensitive area or if you're very nervous
• The deposit has already been paid; the rest is paid at the end of the session

Moisturise your skin 1-2 weeks in advance if you have dry skin — a neutral cream, no perfume, applied daily. Dehydrated skin resists the ink and forces the artist to go over the same area multiple times, which means more pain and slower healing.

04Step 4: The tattoo session — what happens

On session day, arrive at Funky Tattoo 10-15 minutes before your appointment. You'll sign the consent form (if you haven't already at the consultation), sit in the chair, and the artist will prep the area: cleaning with alcohol, shaving (if necessary), applying the stencil (transfer design) and checking the placement in the mirror. This step is not rushed — if the placement isn't perfect, we redo it.

After confirming the placement, the artist prepares the materials: the single-use tattoo machine in sterile packaging, the sealed needle (opened in front of you), the ink poured into a single-use cap, fresh gloves. Everything that comes into contact with your skin is either single-use or wrapped in protective barrier film. Funky Tattoo is DSP-authorised under number 816/26.07.2022.

We start with the liner (outline) — the black contour of the design. This is usually the most uncomfortable moment, because the needle moves at high speed with a lot of ink. After the outline comes the shading (for black & grey) or the colour. Between passes the artist tells you, you can catch your breath, drink water. An average session lasts between 1 and 4 hours; complex pieces are split into multiple sessions.

At the end, the artist cleans the area, applies a professional bandage (Saniderm / Second Skin) and explains the aftercare protocol — see our complete aftercare guide. You pay the remaining amount, receive a sheet with written instructions, and you can contact us anytime on WhatsApp at +40 731 525 808 if you have questions during healing.

One more thing: pain is subjective. Some clients fall asleep in the chair, others can't concentrate. Communicate with the artist — we take breaks when needed, there is no such thing as mandatory "tattoo pain".