Frequently asked questions

How old do you have to be to have a piercing/tattoo?

The legal age for a tattoo is 18+ with valid photographic ID only; no parental consent is valid for tattoo work. However, for those who want a piercing, parental consent is needed for anyone under the age of 16 (excluding tongue, navel, nipple and genital piercings).
Anyone aged between 16 -18 years old need either parental consent or valid photographic ID (excluding genital piercings). Anyone who wants a genital piercing needs to be over the age of 18 years of age and have valid photographic ID.
18+ for genitals piercings & for female nipple piercing. 16+ for tongue piercing & navel piercing.



Do I need to book an appointment?

Walk ins are no longer available for tattoos or piercings, which means you will need to book an appointment. To book a piercing appointment please call us on 02086440966. To book a tattoo appointment please email us on longislandink@hotmail.co.uk. A non refundable deposit is required for all tattoo appointments; if you can not make your appointment please call us to cancel or rearrange.
If we have 72hrs or more notice we can move the date of your appointment. Any less notice will result in losing your deposit. If you cancel your appointment altogether you will lose your deposit.



What is the process for getting my tattoo design?

Face to face consultations are available again or we can do this via email. Please email initilally. When sending an email to us you should make sure to include the following; what tattoo you would like, a rough size in inches or cms, placement on the body, any reference pictures you may have as this will help the tattooist design your tattoo, your availability and your preferred artist (if any). If the consultation is successful then the next step is to book an appointment.



What happens if I don't like the tattoo design?

If you are not happy with the tattoo design then changes can always be made.



I have an old tattoo can I get it covered up?

Yes we do cover up old tattoos. But not all tattoos can be covered. So we ask that you send us an email with information of the cover up including any reference pictures. It would be ideal if you had a vague idea of the design you want.



Can we haggle on the price of my tattoo?

Although we respect the fact tattoos can be expensive, our artist are trained professionals and the tattoos are priced according to equipment costs and the time it takes. We will not charge over the odds, remember good tattoos aren’t cheap and cheap tattoos aren’t good.



Where is the most painful place to get a tattoo?

Everybody’s pain threshold is different but some areas can be more sensitive than others, for example a tattoo on the foot can be a bit more sensitive to say the wrist or forearm, due to the density of skin tissue and nerve clusters. But as we say, you never know until you try!



How do I pay for my tattoo or piercing?

We only accept CASH. Payment is taken before any work is carried out, so please make sure you have the cash ready. There is a cash machine in the shop next door to the studio, however, the machine is not always working.



Will I be told how to take care of my piercing/tattoo?

Every artist has been highly trained to deal with not only the tattoo/piercing in question but how to take care of it and keep it healthy. After your tattoo/piercing you will be given any information you will need and any products you will require to take care of your new addition.



Can I bring a friend for support?

We ask all customers to come to their appointment alone. However, if you need a parent/guardian with you for a piercing then you must bring them with you.