Etiquette For Contacting a Tattoo Artist: How To Email the Tattoo Artist?

Tattoo artists are super busy, and that is generally well known. So, between the tattooing sessions, design creation, client consultation, and overall preparation for tattooing, tattoo artists have little to almost no time to read potential client emails. But, when they do, there are a few things or rather information they want to have right away, from the very first email.

This means that you, as a client, need to know how to properly approach a tattoo artist to grab their attention and actually be interested in replying and working with you. Let’s state one thing right away; asking the tattoo artist for the cost of the tattoo in the very first sentence is a no-go! No tattoo artist will take you seriously enough to even consider replying to your email.

So, how should you email a tattoo artist? In the following paragraphs, we’ll provide you with a detailed guide on how to write a proper, effective email, explain the info it needs to contain, and provide you with the one and only way you should ask the tattoo artist about the price. Therefore, without further ado, let’s get right into it!

Emailing The Tattoo Artist

Understand The Purpose of The Email

Before you start writing the email, you need to ask yourself; why am I emailing this artist? Is it because I want them to do my tattoo, or is it because I’m just interested in their rate and tattoo cost?

To write an effective email, you need to understand its purpose. If you want to ask an artist some silly question about tattoos, chances are you don’t really need to email them about that. Just Google the answer, and there’s that. You’ll be writing an email if you are interested in one of the following information;

  • I want this tattoo artist to do my tattoo – Is the tattoo artist available?
  • I want this tattoo artist to create a custom design for me – Is the tattoo artist available and willing to do that?
  • I got tattooed already but I have a few questions about the aftercare and the healing process.

If you want to write an email to ask about tattoo cost or random info about tattoos, we advise you not to bother the artist. They won’t answer your email and consider it spam. We would also say that it is super nice if you want to write an email asking the tattoo artist about copyright and using their work as inspiration for another tattoo.

The Info You Need To Provide

Now that you know why you want to write this email in the first place, let’s get into the information you need to provide. The email should contain some info about you, but mostly about the tattoo stuff. Here’s a quick list of information you should provide based on your tattoo-related questions and the overall purpose of the email;

If you want the tattoo artist to create a custom tattoo design, you need to;

  • Explain whether it is a completely new tattoo design, a design that’s inspired by something or someone, or a cover-up tattoo design (whatever design you want, make sure to send an exemplary image, an image of the ‘inspiration’, or the image of the tattoo the design should cover-up).
  • Explain the type of design you’d like to get; the style of tattoo, or the style in which you want the tattooist to create the design.
  • Explain the desired size of the tattoo, potential color scheme, and where the tattoo will be placed (in case of a cover-up, where the current tattoo is located).

The purpose of this particular email is to get a consultation with the tattoo artist to discuss the potential design. The tattoo artist will be open to more questions, in person, so there’s no need to write a lengthy email. Make sure to be straightforward and concise; other information will be discussed in person anyway.

If you want the tattoo artist to do your tattoo, you need to;

  • Explain whether you want a completely new tattoo, done on blank skin, or if you want a cover-up tattoo.
  • Explain whether the tattoo will be surrounded by other tattoos, or if the location has none or a few tattoos (provide a photo in case there are other tattoos).
  • Explain the type or the style of the tattoo you’d like the get (for example, do you want your tattoo to be done in a traditional style, realistic or illustrative style, Japanese or tribal style, etc.)
  • Explain whether you want a new design or if you’re using your own idea, inspired by another tattoo for example (provide a photo if you have a specific inspiration in mind).
  • Specify the size of the tattoo you’d like to get, as well as where the tattoo might be located.
  • Don’t forget to mention if you suffer from certain allergies; some people are allergic to latex, for example, so by mentioning the allergy, the tattoo artist will not use latex gloves for the tattooing process and thereby avoid a potential allergic reaction.

This is the general information you should briefly mention in the email. Make sure you’re straightforward and concise; you don’t want to be writing an essay since no tattoo artist has the time to actually go through it word by word. Once the tattoo artist replies, you’ll be getting an appointment for consultation either way, so then you can discuss the details in person.

And, finally, if you want to ask a question about the tattoo aftercare, you need to;

  • State in which healing stage your tattoo is; did you just get the tattoo or has it been a few days/weeks since you got it.
  • Explain if the healing process is going well or if there’s something bothering you; for example, tattoo redness, tattoo raising, issues with scabs and itching, tattoo oozing or flaring up, pain and discomfort, ink leaking, etc.
  • Provide a photo of the tattoo, so the tattooist can take a quick look and see whether everything’s healing nicely or if there’s something wrong with the healing process.

Once your tattoo artist replies, you’ll know what to do. Either they’ll say everything’s good and provides you with further aftercare instructions, or they’ll invite you for an in-person check-up to examine the tattoo and see what’s your next step if it turns out that something might be wrong.

An Example of an Email To a Tattoo Artist

Hello,

My name is Sasha. I’m 28, and I live (state the city, country, state). I’ve come across your portfolio online and I really like your style. It would be amazing if you could do my new tattoo.

I do not have any tattoos; this would be my first one. I have a design in mind, but I’m open to new design ideas if you’re available for a quick sketch. I’m sending you the exemplary photos in the attachments section so you can check them out. The tattoo will be placed on the forearm and should be 8 inches, from top to bottom. I would like the tattoo to be colored, with some shading as well.

I’ll be available for a tattoo appointment in October. When it comes to prior consultation, I can make it whenever you’re available. Let me know if you have an opening for me during October, but I can make some adjustments if needed.

I would like to mention that I’m allergic to latex, so it would be great if you used non-latex gloves during the tattoo session; just a quick heads up.

I would greatly appreciate a quotation for doing this particular tattoo.

Thank you very much! I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely, Sasha

And, this is how you should write your first email to contact a tattoo artist. The email is straightforward, concise, and professional. It is important to be informative, but not overdo it. As we mentioned, tattoo artists don’t have much time to spare between the tattoo sessions, so they need to have essential info in just a few sentences.

As you can see, we mentioned the quotation for the tattoo quickly, at the very end of the email. Asking about the tattoo cost right away is rude and no tattoo artist will take such an email seriously. When writing such an email, try to be polite, professional, and considerate of the artist’s art and craft.

We wish you good luck and hopefully, our little guide will help you get your dream tattoo!

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