Guide · 8 min
Your first tattoo: what to know before booking
Arriving without knowing about styles, areas or sizes is normal. Nobody is born knowing, and a studio that makes you feel bad for asking is a studio worth leaving. Here is what really needs to be clear before you book.
Your idea does not need to be final
You can arrive with half an idea, a photo on your phone or just a feeling. That is the part we solve: turning it into a drawing that works on your body.
What does help is bringing the area where you want it and a reference of what you like visually, even if it has nothing to do with the motif.
Size: the most expensive and most common mistake
Almost everyone asks for their first tattoo smaller than it should be, out of fear. And insufficient size is what ages worst: ink spreads slightly over the years, so two lines very close together end up touching and the detail closes up.
If your idea will not hold at the size you had in mind, we will tell you, even if it is not what you want to hear. We would rather lose the booking than hand you something that is a blur in five years.
The area: think in ten years, not next summer
Forearm, upper arm, shoulder and thigh are safe zones: stable skin, little friction, little sun if you want to cover them. Hands, fingers, feet and neck are the ones that hold up worst, because they rub and are exposed constantly.
If it is your first tattoo, starting in a comfortable area also gives you information about how you handle it before you commit to something bigger.
What you pay and how the deposit works
What you pay for is working time: size, area and level of detail. That is why the quote is free and closed, and valid for 30 days from the moment we give it to you.
The appointment is confirmed when you pay a 50 € deposit (or 10 % if the piece exceeds 600 €). It is not an extra: it is deducted from the final price. Moving the date with 48 hours or more notice keeps it.
What you should ask at any studio
Whether materials are opened in front of you. Sterile, single-use needles and inks with a traceable batch. If they look at you badly for asking, that is a bad sign.
Whether you will see the design beforehand, and whether you can ask for changes. And whether you will see the stencil placed on your skin before the needle starts.
What happens if something does not heal well and who takes responsibility for the touch-up.
Starting small is a perfectly valid option
If you want to test how you handle it before committing to a large piece, a small, well-sized piece is a reasonable entry. Just make sure you do not make it so small that it will not survive the years.
Real work
Studio work, no renders
Every photo on this website is a piece done at Arkadia.
Questions before you book
Quick questions
How much does a small first tattoo cost in Madrid?
It depends on detail and area more than on size itself: a simple line piece on the forearm and one the same size with shading on the ribs are not the same price, because the working time is different. That is why we give a closed price before you book, free and valid for 30 days. We are at Av. del Marqués de Corbera 33, in La Elipa.
Can I change my mind after seeing the design?
Yes, and that is why we show it to you beforehand. The drawing is changed as many times as needed until it convinces you, and on the day of the appointment you see the stencil placed on your skin to check height, angle and size in the mirror. We do not start until the placement looks right to you. If at that point you decide not to go ahead, that is fine too.
How far in advance do I need to book?
It depends on the schedule and the size of the piece. What depends on nothing is the quote: you can ask for it today, it is free and commits you to nothing. The date is only locked once you pay the deposit, and you have 48 hours to do it from the moment we set the slot aside. We are open all seven days of the week.
Free quote
Been turning that idea over for months?
Tell us about it and we will come back with a price, how many sessions it takes and how it would sit on your body. Free, no strings: if it does not add up for you, that is fine.
Free quote · Valid for 30 days · The slot is confirmed once the deposit is paid