Your
Questions,
Answered.

The closest tube is Loughton Station on the Central Line. It's a 7 minute walk to the studio.

Straight Lines Tattoo, Unit 7-8, 92A Forest Road, Loughton, IG10 1EQ. It's a small industrial estate between the houses. When you come from the High Road or the station it is on your left.

If you drive, you can park at Clifton Road or at the beginning of Shaftesbury, both are a 3 minute walk from the studio. There is also an app called JustPark where you can book a space on a nearby private drive.

A full day session is usually 6–7 hours long, but most of the time even longer, so get prepared. We only do day sessions and as a guide, an A5 sized tattoo normally takes a full day to complete.

Yes. We have water, hot drinks, and basic refreshments available for clients. You should also bring your own food for a long session, or order from Uber Eats or Just Eat during the day.

Prices depend on size, detail, and the artist. Our full day sessions start from premium rates due to the level of skill involved. Fill out the booking form with your reference and we'll come back to you with pricing.

Pain varies by body area and your own tolerance. Realism tattoos involve long sessions, so we recommend eating well and staying hydrated. Read our preparation guide on the website for the full breakdown.

No. Numbing cream affects the quality of the tattoo and the healing process. It only lasts 2 to 4 hours, and after that you can't apply it because the skin is open. The pain becomes ten times worse. Eat properly, stay hydrated, get a good night's sleep before your session, and you'll be fine.

Yes, but it depends on the cover up. If it's small, we can work with it. If it's big, it needs to be faded first, a few laser sessions to lighten it before we can work over it properly.

Yes. Many clients fly in from Europe and beyond. We can help you plan your sessions in advance. The nearest hotel is Premier Inn, Buckhurst Hill, a 20 minute walk or 5 minute drive from the studio.

We allow one guest to accompany you, as long as they don't interrupt the artist's workflow and don't walk around the tattoo area.

No. Sunburned or freshly tanned skin is unsafe to tattoo, the ink won't settle properly. Wait until the skin is fully back to its normal condition.

Yes. We offer consultations with our studio manager. He's great with Photoshop and can help you with design ideas and layout. The consultation fee is £50, a one-off payment, and you can book as many sessions as you need.

Yes. If the tattoo needs a touch up after it's healed, we sort it out. Just send us a clear picture after six weeks.

Yes. The more reference you bring, the easier it is for the artist to understand the look you want.

Yes, depending on the area and how the scar has healed. Send us a clear photo and we'll tell you if it's possible.

It depends on the medication. Most are fine, but some can thin the blood or affect healing. Send us a message with the name of the medication and we'll let you know before you book.

Fill out the booking form on the website, attach your reference and a short description. We'll reply with availability, pricing, and available artists.

Yes. All bookings require a deposit to secure your date. The deposit goes toward your final price and is non-refundable, but you can move your appointment with a minimum of one week's notice.

Deposits are non-refundable. If you need to reschedule, you must give at least 7 days notice, otherwise the deposit is lost.

We don't have a waiting list as we work with many artists, and we don't book more than 2 months in advance.

No. All sessions are by appointment only. Every tattoo is planned in advance to guarantee quality and safety.

No. We only work in full-day sessions and focus strictly on realism. We don't take on small tattoos or quick walk-in style pieces.

No. Deposits secure your date and the remaining balance is paid in full on the day of your session.

Yes. We offer in-person consultations where we design your tattoo together on Photoshop. The consultation fee is £50, one-to-one, and you can come as many times as you want. If the idea is straightforward, the artist can also create the design on the day of your session.

Yes. Book a consultation by filling out the form on the website, but please speak with our studio manager first.

Realism is a tattoo style that focuses on making the artwork look as close to real life as possible, like a photograph on the skin. It uses fine details, smooth shading, and high contrast to create depth, texture, and lifelike results. It's one of the most technical styles in tattooing and takes real skill to pull off properly.

A realism tattoo is all about detail. Expect smooth shading, high contrast, and a design that looks as close to a real photo as possible. The sessions are longer, the work is slower, and the artist needs full concentration. If you follow the aftercare properly, the tattoo heals crisp and sharp, exactly how realism should look.

Most A5 realism pieces are completed in one full-day session.

Yes. All tattoos heal slightly softer. Realism settles into the skin and looks more natural after a few weeks. If the contrast and shading are strong from the start, it will heal clean and clear.

Yes. You need high quality reference photos with sharp detail and strong contrast. Bring a few options so the artist has some freedom to choose the best one for your skin tone and the style of the piece. The better the reference, the stronger the tattoo.

It depends. If the tattoo is faded or light, we can usually improve it with better shading and detail. But if it's dark, scratchy, or full of heavy lines, there's not much we can do without laser first. Send us a clear photo and we'll tell you straight.

Simple, you're already in the right place. Straight Lines Tattoo works with some of the strongest realism artists in the UK and the world. Check our portfolios and you'll see the difference: clean work, smooth and crisp shading, and healed work that stays sharp.

Keep the tattoo clean. Wash it three times a day for the first three days, this is when the infection risk is highest. Apply a thin layer of Bepanthen two to three times a day, rubbing it in gently. Don't scratch it, don't pick the flakes, and avoid the gym, sauna, swimming, and direct sun until it's fully healed.

Most tattoos heal on the surface in 10 days. Full skin recovery takes 3–6 months.

For the first three days, wash it three times a day. After that, once or twice a day is enough, usually when you shower. Keep it simple, don't scrub it, just wash and pat dry. Make sure you remove all plasma and blood from the skin in the first couple of days.

Three times a day. Apply a thin layer of Bepanthen, rub it in gently until fully absorbed, and don't overdo it, too much cream clogs the skin, stops it breathing, and slows the healing.

No. Avoid the gym for at least a week. Sweat, friction, and bacteria can ruin the healing and create an infection.

If you notice redness spreading, strong burning pain, or yellow discharge — stop putting any creams on it, wash the tattoo every hour, contact us immediately, and then visit your GP or a walk-in clinic. Don't pick it, don't scratch it, and don't try to fix it yourself.

Some artists use it and some don't, it depends on the piece and the client. We mainly use it when a customer has had good results with it in the past. Otherwise, the artist will choose the aftercare method that suits your skin and their preferred approach.

Yes, but it depends on the artist. Every artist has slightly different aftercare advice because they know exactly how their own work heals. We use Tattoo Armour pads after the session to protect the area and control excess plasma during the first 24 hours.