The 11 questions to actually ask at a tattoo consultation

A consultation is the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy. It costs nothing or close to nothing, and the questions you ask determine whether you walk in on the day of with confidence or with quiet dread. Here is the list I'd give a friend.

1. 'What would you change about my reference if it were your piece?' This is the most revealing question. A great artist has opinions and will share them. A passive artist will say 'whatever you want' and you'll get a passive tattoo.

2. 'What size makes this design actually work?' Most clients undersize. Detail needs room. An honest answer here saves you from a piece that reads as a smudge in three years.

3. 'How will this age in 10 years?' Anything fine, anything pastel, anything tiny, anything on hands or feet ages differently than the day-one photo. Ask, and listen.

4. 'How many sessions, and how long is each?' Get the schedule before you commit. A '4-hour piece' is rarely 4 hours.

5. 'When will I see the final design?' Some artists send the design 48 hours before, some show it for the first time on the day. Both are normal — but you should know which kind of artist you're booking.

6. 'How much design revision is included?' Usually one or two rounds. Beyond that, expect to pay a redraw fee.

7. 'What's the deposit, and what's your cancellation policy?' Get this in writing.

8. 'Is this a flat rate or hourly? What happens if it runs long?' The most common surprise on tattoo day.

9. 'Do you offer touch-ups, and within what window?' Standard is free within 3–6 months if you healed it properly. Confirm it.

10. 'How many of these have you done in the past year?' Volume matters. An artist who has done 30 fine-line moths this year is meaningfully more reliable on your moth than one who has done two.

11. 'Can I see healed photos of a similar piece on similar skin?' If the answer is 'I don't have any,' ask why. Sometimes the answer is innocent (new artist, new style). Sometimes it isn't.

Printed references (your phone screen will be too dim under shop lights), a soft tape measure to mark the placement, and a notebook for the answers. Treat it like a meeting, because it is one.