News

4% vs 5% lidocaine: what the difference actually means
5% is the maximum available over the counter. What that means in practice, and why the percentage matters less than how you apply it. Read more...
Your first tattoo: what to expect, and what to bring
Nobody tells you the practical stuff before a first session. Eat properly, bring snacks, tell your artist things. Here is the list. Read more...
Does numbing cream affect tattoo healing?
The healing question is different from the ink question, and it gets answered less often. What actually matters, and what to ask your artist. Read more...
Numbing cream and tattoo ink: why grease is the real issue
Most artist objections to numbing cream are about greasy residue, not numbing. What that means and what to ask your artist. Read more...
How much numbing cream do you need? A size guide
One 30g tube covers roughly a palm-sized area. A rough guide by tattoo size, and why one tube is usually not enough. Read more...
How long before a tattoo should you apply numbing cream?
Apply numbing cream 60–90 minutes before your session. Why timing matters more than quantity, and what to do if you are running late. Read more...