Tattoo Guide
Getting your first tattoo is exciting, and a little nerve-racking if you don’t know what happens. This guide walks you through every step: choosing a design and a studio, preparing for your appointment, what it feels like, and how to look after your new tattoo.
It’s written by Tattoo Lab, a tattoo and piercing studio in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with links to trusted health sources where it matters.
Start with what the tattoo means to you. In a large US survey by Pew Research Center, 69% of tattooed adults said honouring or remembering someone or something was a reason for at least one of their tattoos. Others simply love a design, a style or a symbol.
Look for a studio whose work you love and that follows Nova Scotia’s safety rules: a posted Body Art Facility Permit, trained artists, sterile single-use needles, a consent form and written aftercare. Our checklist explains each point: how to choose a safe tattoo studio in Halifax.
At Tattoo Lab, booking works in four steps:
Prices depend on size, detail and placement. See tattoo prices and how booking works. Want something small and simple sooner? Ask about walk-in tattoos.
Everyone feels it differently. In a survey of 1,092 tattooed adults published in 2020, people rated their pain during tattooing at 4.35 out of 10 on average, and 2.07 right afterwards.
In that study, broad body areas (arms, legs, torso, neck) didn’t significantly change how painful tattooing was, while longer sessions, bleeding and stress were linked to more pain. Read more in does getting a tattoo hurt?
Your tattoo is healing skin, and the first weeks make a big difference to how it looks for years. Our tattoo aftercare guide covers every step, including:
See a doctor if you notice fever, spreading redness, pus, a bad smell, worsening pain or red streaks.
Most people do. In a 2024 survey of Canadians by Halifax-based Narrative Research, about three-quarters of tattooed Canadians said they were happy with their tattoos, and very few wanted them removed. A 2023 Pew Research Center survey found that 24% of tattooed US adults had ever regretted a tattoo.
Taking your time on the design, choosing the placement carefully and working with an artist whose style you love are the best ways to be in the happy majority.
A design that means something to you, in a size and placement you’re comfortable with. Many people start with a small fine line piece, a word or a symbol, then go bigger once they know what to expect.
It depends on the size and detail. A small, simple tattoo is much quicker than a detailed piece. Your artist will give you an idea of timing when you plan the design.
Comfortable, loose clothing that gives easy access to the tattoo area and won’t rub it afterwards.
Talk to a pharmacist or doctor first, and tell your artist. The US FDA has warned about some high-strength numbing products marketed for tattoos, and Health Canada’s labelling standard doesn’t cover numbing before cosmetic procedures.
No. Please come to your appointment sober. In one US survey, tattoos done while impaired were more likely to be regretted later.
It depends on the size, detail and placement. See our tattoo prices page, and send your idea for a quote. Consultations are free for most tattoos.
Send us your idea, even if it’s rough, and we’ll help you plan a first tattoo you’ll love.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Always follow your artist’s aftercare instructions, and ask a doctor or pharmacist about medicines, numbing products or health conditions.
