FAQ
Where are you based?
I’m currently based in London, UK. I am a resident artist and creator of Studio Egúngún, which is located in East London (E14). The closest station is Limehouse (DLR). Closest tube station is Mile End. As it is an appointment-only studio, you will only be given the full address once the deposit is received. Unfortunately the studio is not step-free at the moment as it is on the first floor of a building with no lifts.
Where are you from?
I was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where I lived for most of my life.
How long have you been tattooing for?
I have been tattooing for five years now.
How old do I have to be to get tattooed?
You must be at least 18 to get a tattoo under UK laws. It is required that you bring your photo ID at the time of your appointment. Even those who are under 18 and have parental consent, will not be allowed to get a tattoo.
Can I get tattooed while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Getting a tattoo while pregnant or breastfeeding is a topic with mixed opinions. While there’s no strict ban from medical authorities, most advise against it. It’s generally recommended to wait at least 9-12 months after birth, when the child is no longer dependent solely on breastmilk, before getting a tattoo. This reduces potential risks such as allergic reactions to ink, skin infections, and blood infections from unsterilised equipment. At Studio Egúngún, we prioritise following proper hygiene and sterilisation practices. However, it’s important to note that complications from tattoos may require treatments unsuitable for breastfeeding. For this reason, we adhere to the 9-12 months after birth wait recommendation.
Is there any kind of design you don’t tattoo?
I do not copy other artists artwork. I take custom designs if they fit in my style (e.g. botany and forest inspired designs that include flowers, plants, animals etc). Have a look at my instagram page for some inspiration. I occasionally accept to do script/text tattoos as long as the size and placement you want do not affect the tattoo’s legibility once it is healed/as they age.
How much are your tattoos?
Most of my flash designs are priced from £150 to £500 depending on size & placement, but some of them will require more than one day-session to be finished. Custom designs have a minimum price of £240. Script/text tattoos fall in the category of custom designs.
If you want to book me for the day (1-6pm) and get multiple designs or start a big piece for a fixed day rate, that would cost £650 (flash/pre-drawn designs) and £750 (custom).
I also offer the option of spreading the cost of your tattoo in instalments via partial.ly.
If you have a specific budget, please mention it in the booking form so we can work reasonably within that.
How do I book an appointment?
You can book an appointment by filling in the booking form with all the necessary information. I will respond to you with a quote and the next steps going forward. You can also email me at bookings@manitattoo.com with all the required information.
Why is the deposit non-refundable?
This is in place to ensure that if you change your mind, all the admin work is still paid for. In the case of custom requests, I ask for a higher deposit to also cover the work I have creating the design. Cancellations, no-shows and last minute reschedules mess up my diary and income. The deposit protects my time.
After your appointment is booked, if due to any unforeseen circumstances you need to reschedule your appointment, and you let me know with at least 72 hours notice, your deposit will remain valid. The deposit will be withheld, though, if you cancel at any time, don’t show up on the day or reschedule more than once.
Once the deposit is paid, it has a three-month expiry date, meaning you have this amount of time to book or reschedule your session.
How do you take payments?
Deposits are made via a Monzo link or alternative option in case the link doesn’t work for you. For the rest of the payment, you have the options of paying with cash, card or bank transfer.
Do you accept tips/How do I tip you?
Yes, although they are not a common practice in the UK, tips are accepted and welcomed. Tattooing is an extremely time consuming job and also a very expensive one. There’s absolutely no pressure for you to do it, but if you choose to do so, you can tip me in person or through a bank transfer. I also love receiving snacks or plants and gifts for the studio.
When can I see my custom design?
I work on my designs the day before and sometimes even on the morning of the appointment, so you will see it when you arrive at the studio.
At the time of the appointment we have the opportunity to discuss the design and make any adjustments/changes you’d like. Communicating this way in person is much easier and stress free. Due to the intuitive nature of my process, I find that most of the time the adjustments are very minor. But, of course, you are encouraged and more than welcome to take as long as you need to decide on the final design.
If in the end you’re still not happy with the design, we can cancel the appointment and reschedule for a completely new design. This would require you to pay another full deposit to secure a booking.
If it is a deal-breaker for you, I’d recommend looking for an artist whose work suits you better or choosing one of my available flash designs if you’d still want to get tattooed by me.
How should I prepare myself for a tattoo session?
The week before getting your tattoo and throughout the healing process it is important that you stay hydrated, eat well and get lots of rest.
At least 3 days before your session, start exfoliating and moisturising the area to be tattooed once a day. Hydrated and moisturised skin absorbs the tattoo ink better and gives better results when healing. The tattooing process will also be less painful if your skin is well moisturised and you are well hydrated.
On the day of your tattoo make sure you eat breakfast/lunch, and feel free to pack some snacks to bring along with you in case you have a long session booked in.
Please avoid alcohol, blood-thinning medications, and limit caffeine consumption on the day of your tattoo. Ideally avoid these substances 3 days before and 3 days after your session as well. Don’t come in hungover, drunk or intoxicated with any substances — it will cause the process to be more painful and the tattoo won’t heal as well afterward.
Remember to wear comfortable clothing and items you wouldn’t mind getting stained by ink.
How long will my tattoo take to heal?
The healing varies depending on each individual but it can take up to two weeks. You can find more aftercare information here.
Is it okay to arrive early or late?
Please aim to arrive at the scheduled time of your appointment; arriving either too early or too late can pose challenges. If you arrive too early, there might not be anyone in the studio to receive you. I allow a 25-minute grace period. However, if you are more than 30 minutes late, a 20% late fee will apply.
Do you do tattoo over scars/do you cover scars up?
I tattoo over scars and I can work with the shape of the scars without trying to hide them. I will need you to come for a consultation at the studio before the day of your tattoo appointment.
I don’t create designs or tattoo with the intention of covering up a scar. As a person with visible scars myself, I have chosen to only work with clients who are looking to honour their scars by decorating them.
If you wish to disguise a scar by getting it completely covered with a tattoo, I recommend you look for someone that specialises in scar cover-ups.
Do you do cover-ups/rework of older tattoos?
I don’t do cover-ups but I do blast-overs if that interests you. You will need to send me good quality pictures and/or videos of the existing tattoo so I know what I am going to work with.
I only do rework of very old tattoos and/or tattoos where you cannot reach the original artist to fix it/give it a touch up. I do not accept requests to rework or to create additions to tattoos that have been recently done by other artists.
Can I bring a friend with me when I get my tattoo?
Because the studio is on the smaller side, you are allowed to bring only a +1 with you. Please communicate if you are bring a +1 and do not bring more than one friend with you.
Do you offer free touch-ups?
Yes, the first touch-up is complimentary. However, I will request a picture to assess whether a touch-up is genuinely necessary or if it’s the right time for one. Touch-up requests for tattoos older than 6 months will incur a charge. Please reach out within the first 6 months of receiving your tattoo to schedule a free touch-up.
What kind of ink do you use? Is it vegan?
I use Kuro Sumi and Dynamic Ink for blacks and Eternal Ink for colours. All of them are vegan, made with plant based glycerin. They are far less likely to cause an allergic reaction than non-vegan or chemical based ones.
Is your studio accessible?
Unfortunately the studio is not step-free. The studio is on the first floor of a building with no lifts.
If this does not answer your questions, please feel free to email me at hello@manitattoo.com
