All the images below are available to be tattooed on the 31st October and Friday 1st November. Have a browse through at some of the fantastic work our artists have produced and send them a DM to book in!
Or- we’re also open 10-6 tomorrow! Feel free to walk in at any point during the day at our City Centre studio to meet our artists and get some new ink!
Tattoos can and do hurt, after all, a needle is being pushed into the skin and depositing ink. However, where exactly you get the tattoo, can dramatically differentiate the amount of pain you feel. Factors that can also affect pain is preparedness, diet and the individual.
A tattoo can never be pain free, but in this blog, we’ll share some of our tips and tricks, to help prepare and help manage tattoo pain!
As a general rule of thumb, based on our personal experiences and those of our tattooists, these are the least and most painful placements,
Least Painful: Outer Arm
Painful: Back, Shoulders, Outer Leg
More Painful: Inner Thigh/ Arm, Hip, Ear, Hand
Most Painful: Lips, Fingers, Knee, Armpit, Ribs, Chest, Neck, Stomach, Genitals
How everyone experiences and feels pain is different, but tattoos are typically referred to as a sharp/ stinging pain, often compared to that of a cat scratch.
What makes a difference in the amount of pain you feel, is how many nerve endings are on the placement of your tattoo. Nerve endings are what feel pain and pressure, and send signals to your brain, telling you you’re in pain, body parts with the most nerve ending are often more or the most painful, i.e, the back of your knee, your palm, the bottom of the foot.
Moreover, areas with less nerve endings are therefore, less painful, this is your upper back, shoulders and arms.
Different types of tattoo can also affect how painful they can be, tattoos that take longer I.e. when they’re darker, more detailed, can mean going over the same spots again and again, meaning a more painful experience.
For example, with these tattoos above. The one on the right will take a significantly less amount of time than the one on the left, and despite them being in the same spot, the lantern will hurt more, as it will take longer- and meaning the needle will be going over the same spots repeatedly, in comparison to the fine line hands.
Preparing for a tattoo is the most important part of the process, to ensure as little pain as possible for you, and that your skin is easy to tattoo for your tattooist! To prepare, it’s important to:
It’s important you communicate your feelings with your artist, if you need a break- that’s okay! If you need to stop for a snack- that’s more than okay too! A tattoo is a permanent piece of body art and the last thing your artist will want is for you to be pushed past your limits and you have a bad experience. Furthermore, the last thing we want is you passing out, so if you feel light headed or faint, it’s important you tell your artist as soon as possible.
Numbing Cream is a lotion that can be applied prior to your appointment that numbs the skin, a good numbing cream will mean that you feel significantly less or no pain when getting tattooed. This can seem like an obvious choice for those extra wary of the hurt a tattoo may bring. However, it’s important to note, that due to the way numbing cream works, it completely changes the consistency of the skin, and can make it significantly harder to tattoo. It’s always important to ask your artist whether they’re comfortable with you using numbing cream, as many artists will refuse to tattoo numbed skin.
Once you’ve been tattooed, the pain is over! You may experience some itchiness as it heals, and it’s important to note not to scratch a fresh tattoo, but there shouldn’t be any pain in the healing process. It’s incredibly important you follow the artists aftercare instructions, and get in touch if you have any questions at all, your artist and/or Buzz Club is always happy to help 🙂
First and foremost, tattoos are a form of expression, so it’s no surprise that mythological and fantasy tattoos are often a popular choice. With the rich history that comes hand in hand with the mystical tales, and the stories and meanings that certain stories and creatures hold, it’s a strong choice for those that want a tattoo with meaning, without being too on the nose.
This blog will explore some of the mythical tattoos we’ve created at Buzz Club, and what they can and/or mean to the client and artist.
Dragons symbolise power, health, wisdom, health and longevity, and are a timeless piece of art. They are often done as back tattoos to allow the tattooist a larger canvas, to ensure all those little details have enough space to breathe! Whether they’re Chinese dragons or one brought from western folklore, dragon tattoos never age- and will always be on trend.
Phoenix’s symbolise birth, renewal and transformation. They represent the ability to rise from adversity stronger than ever before. Phoenix tattoos are often free flowing, with free hand work coming hand in hand, to twist and cater to the body canvas, as you can see in the images above. Like the dragon, a phoenix tattoo is timeless, so always a good choice for those that have had to see through to the end of hard times.
Animals/ people from greek mythology are also incredibly popular, we’ve gathered some of our favourite examples to show you how these grecian tales can come to life on skin. From greek god to Medusa, our artists are fantastic at bringing your ideas to life.
To book in for your next mythology tattoo, you can book via your chosen artists Instagram (linked on the images) or by filling out our enquiry form below!
This week, we’re highlighting one of our most talented artists, Lara has been with us since April 2022, and has been tattooing for 11 years. Her old school methods mean that Lara draws up every design with a pencil and paper, no technology, no iPads, just her and her tools. This means Lara’s work has a very illustrative feel, as if it’s sprung straight from the page. As you can see, her work is detailed, emotive and flowing.
To book in with Lara, you can either message her directly on Instagram here, or select her name when booking in via the link below!
One thing about Leeds, is it’s always been home to the best gigs and concerts and this autumn sees some of the best new Indie acts taking to our venues, including Katy J Pearson, Fat Dog and CMAT, and moreover, the famed Live At Leeds In the City is taking place on 15th November. In celebration of our infamous music scene, we’ve put together some of our greatest art influenced by songs and musicians alike.
From left to right:
You Me At Six by @deathandbloomtattoos
Deftones by @Nannon.anon
Mac Miller by @hayl.tattoo
MF Doom by @yugi__bee
Smashing Pumpkins by @wiktoria.tatts
Car Seat Headrest by @bitchpokes
Mac Miller by @tinacarusodot
Stevie Wonder by @wiktoria.tatts
David Byrne by @titz.4tatz
Paramore by @yugi__bee
Billy Joel by @titz.4tatz
Gorillaz by @nannon.anon
Mac Demarco by @nannon.anon
Harry Styles by @bitchpokes
My Chemical Romance by @deathandbloomtattoos
To check out the artist of the tattoo you like best, you can simply click on the image to be taken to their Instagram.
We’d love to book you in for your next music tattoo! To enquire, you can click on the link below.
See you soon!
Money is always a tough subject to bring up, and always seems especially tricky when discussing tattoos. Especially as every individual artist can charge differently depending on a variety of things, some artists charge by hour, some by piece and some by day, and even then they can fluctuate based on the artists relationship with the client, the style of work and so many more external factors. And really, tattoos do often cost a lot, but more often than not, this is for the best.
There are many factors that go into the cost of the tattoo, this includes
Phew! So a lot of factors do actually come into play when pricing up a tattoo, and it’s important to keep these all in mind when you’re quoted for your next ink.
Size, placement, ink colour and timing can also all affect the price of a tattoo. The bigger the tattoo, the higher the price, as it takes up more of the artists time and materials, some placements can bump the price as they’re more difficult to tattoo, such as, neck or stomach, some artists will need to purchase specific ink colours depending on the tattoo, which can play a factor and typically, the longer a tattoo takes, the higher the price.
Above all else, experience will be what bumps that price up, after all, a 6 month apprentice will be charging significantly less that a seasoned tattooist of 10 years. At Buzz Club Tattoo Studio, the majority of our artists have been at work for 5+ years, so the high prices are often to reflect the time and dedication our artists have spent perfecting their craft.
Although tattoos on a budget may seem handy and the best option in the moment, this often means the tattooist isn’t experienced or doesn’t value their own work very highly, this can often lead to blowouts*, ink falling out, shaky lines and poorly proportioned work that you’ll probably need covering/ touching up anyway, so it’s often best to just bite the bullet to begin with, and ensure you’re booking in with a seasoned professional.
If you’re worried about pricing, ask you artist for a quote, any respectable artist should have no trouble offering you a rough price range to help you budget for your tattoo, it also means no surprise for you when you hear the total. If the artist can’t give you a rough price in advance without reason- avoid!
Deposits have become fairly common place in the industry, and are often necessary to secure your appointment, but why?
Deposits are there to protect your artist, and always come off the total on the day without them! They’re essential for artists because if they are no-showed* or have a rescheduling last minute, they would have lost all their expected profit for that day without them, so deposits ensure they are still earning a profit, even in the worst case scenario. Most artists will transfer deposits onto another appointment if you have to reschedule- but this isn’t always the case, so make sure to read your artists policies!
Tipping is always appreciated, and is the perfect way to show your artist you’re happy with the work they’ve produced, but is definitely not essential, so no pressure !
Overall, in the fine words of Sailor Jerry, “good tattoos aren’t cheap, cheap tattoos aren’t good.”
We hope this blog helped you understand tattoo pricing a bit more and next time you’re given a price, you understand all the factors that help create that sum!
*blowout. Where ink is pushed too deep into the skin and spreads beneath the surface, causing a ‘fuzzy’ or ‘blurry’ appearance.
*no-showed. client not turning up to an appointment without contacting the artist.
We’re so happy to announce that the wonderful Emma Burton will be joining us at Buzz Club from October 2nd, and she will be working Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Emma specialises in blackwork tattoos, and is inspired by anime, video games and gothic themes. To get an idea of her portfolio, please feel free to browse some of her fantastic work below:
Emma is booking up fast so make sure to get in touch while she still has space, you can book in with Emma, by contacting her on Instagram here
We can’t wait to see what she does while she’s here, see you soon Emma!
As Halloween Approaches, many horror and halloween fanatics find themselves drawn to tattoos, to commemorate their love of the season. At Buzz, we love a spooky tattoo and are definitely not strangers to celebrating the season.
Below we have accumulated 31 of our halloween-iest, spookiest and scariest tattoos to help inspire your own. To find the artist, simply click the image to be taken to their Instagram. Not sure which artist you like most? Fill out our general enquiry form on the bottom of the page and we’ll designate the best artist for you.
Still not convinced? Keep an eye on our socials for some extra special Halloween flash, specially prepared for our Halloween Flash Day! Date to be announced.
Thanks for looking and have a wonderful spooky season!
Getting your first tattoo can be daunting, but here’s a step by step guide on how to prepare, what to expect and how to care for your first piece of ink.
So, you’ve got your design in mind, you’ve been thinking about it for months and want it to be perfect! But you’re not sure who will be the best artist for you.
The most important thing when choosing a tattoo artist is ensuring you trust them and you’re comfortable with them. A good way to establish this trust is by finding tattoo artists on social media and following them, by keeping up to date with their work and lifestyle, it can help to gain insight into who they are as a person and artist, as having a good experience is just as important as having a good tattoo.
When looking at the social media of an artist, it’s really important to look at the healed work as well as their fresh work. Healed work is more indicative of an artist, as it shows how their work heals and looks after a period of time, if an artists doesn’t have any healed work examples or their healed work doesn’t look good, it might be worth avoiding that artist.
On Instagram, we collaborate with our artists social media posts so they’re all in one place and easy for you to find, feel free to have a browse through and see if any artists take your fancy, you can find our Instagram here.
If you find yourself really anxious for your tattoo, it’s important to remember that any reputable artist can offer you a consultation beforehand, to cover any questions, go over placements and any fears you may have. Consultations can be really helpful for big tattoos and first time tattoos, so your artist can get to know you and/or your body before the actual tattoo appointment.
Before the appointment, it’s important to prepare for your tattoo, get a good nights sleep, drink plenty of water and have a good, hearty meal. These steps are vital, as it will make the tattoo easier and less painful for you, and will also help the tattoo artist, as hydrated bodies take ink easier.
If you get any sort of irritation on the place you’re hoping to get tattooed, it’s important to let your artist know as soon as possible, this can mean eczema flare ups, hives, bruises etc.
The entire tattoo process is designed to be collaborative between you and the artist, and during the stencilling process it’s important to be completely upfront and clear about your feelings.
Firstly, unless you’ve picked a flash piece, your artist will show you the drawing they’ve created for you, this may be a pencil drawing or an iPad drawing. This is your chance to communicate whether the artist has captured your vision, any good artist will be more than happy to make as many changes as you need.
After the both of you have finalised the design, you and your artist will use a stencil to trial and error the correct placement. They will print off your design and place it on you using stencil ink, a non permanent ink that will allow you to see the tattoo as is on your skin, before you begin tattooing. This process is designed to allow you to change the placement as many times as needed, so don’t feel bad if you need to try out a few different stencils!
Once you’re happy with your stencil, it’s time to tattoo!
Unfortunately, tattoos do hurt, but usually no more than a cat scratch. Pain levels vary depending on placement and the person, so there’s no right or wrong way to handle getting inked. The placement that tends to hurt the least are the outer arms, and most painful being elbows, knees and stomach.
Once the tattoo starts, it’s important you try and stay as still as possible for your artist. If you begin to feel ill, lightheaded or faint, it’s vital you communicate this with your artist, it’s more than okay to ask for breaks, stretch your legs and have a drink. Most of the time, the tattooists themselves will have been tattooed in the past, so they understand what it’s like!
Feel free to bring your headphones, a book or a gaming device to distract you. For longer tattoos, it may be worth bringing a snack to help keep you going!
Once your tattoo is finished, your artist will either cover it with clingfilm or second skin. You’ll then be talked through the aftercare, and often given a sheet, detailing all the steps. It’s important you keep to your artists recommended aftercare, instead of listening to a friend of family member that may have gotten a tattoo, your artist will know their own work best and will know how to heal it best.
If you’ve been given clingfilm, this should typically be removed after 3-5 hours, second skin however can be left on for a number of days. How and when to clean and moisturise your tattoo is down to the artists discretion, but make sure to only touch your fresh tattoo with clean hands, and don’t let bacteria get into it.
It’s also incredibly important to not pick at or itch your tattoo, as after a few days, you’ll typically find it starts to itch. this is completely normal, but it’s important to remember not to touch it
if any issues arise, get in touch with your artist or the studio, they’ll be happy to help with any queries you may have.
Having a tattoo is so much fun, and it should be enjoyable! It’s completely normal to be anxious in the lead up to your first, but the likelihood is, you’ll be coming back for your second- and at that point, you’ll know exactly what to expect, and you’ll be an expert in getting inked 🙂
To book in with us, you’ll find our enquiry page, here.
We hope to see you soon!
Buzz x
Traditional tattoos date back to the 18th-20th century, adorning the bodies of sailors with anchors, women, panthers and pirate ships. Their popularity from there on out only grew, peaking especially during World War I and II, with British servicemen and women getting inked to commemorate their wartime experiences. The demand for the body art only grew and tattoo shops began to open, slowly forming into the type of tattooing we know and celebrate today.
At Buzz, we love paying homage to the roots of tattooing, and celebrating all the styles that have grown and evolved from it. Furthermore, that brings us to our next featured artist, Libby, who is combining her love of traditional tattoos with her fine line style.
Libby takes traditional tattoos ideas, such as panthers, swallows, scorpions, and illustrates them in her own style. She describes her style as ‘dainty’ and ‘delicate’, and as you can see in the below images, her work has a soft touch in comparison to traditional tattoos.
The combination of the traditional imagery and Libby’s style makes for a unique and eye-catching result. For those that enjoy or are inspired by traditional tattoos but are put off by the darker/ bolder ink.
We’ve attached some of Libby’s best work below, to see more, you can find her Instagram here . To book in, just send her a direct message!
Buzz Club Tattoo Studio – Tattoo Shop Leeds
154, Hyde Park Road,
Woodhouse, Leeds, LS61AG
60, Wellington Street, First Floor,
Leeds City Centre, LS12EE
Recent Comments