What if I do not like the design?
You say so, and it changes. Nothing starts until the stencil is on your skin, you have looked at it in a mirror and you have said yes. Changing your mind at that point is normal and it costs you nothing.
The two points where you can change it
Both of these come before any needle, and both of them are yours.
When you first see the drawing · at the consultation or on the day, depending on your artist.
When the stencil is on your skin · this is the real one, because a design that works on paper can sit wrong on a shoulder.
How to say it
Plainly. "Can we make it bigger", "can it sit higher", "I am not sure about that part". No artist is offended by this and every artist would far rather hear it now.
If you cannot say what is wrong, say that instead. "Something is off and I cannot tell you what" is a useful sentence and your artist has heard it before.
What is reasonable and what is not
Adjusting size, placement, angle and detail on the day is normal and expected. Arriving and asking for a completely different subject is a new drawing, which means a new appointment · not because we are being difficult, but because the drawing takes as long as it takes.
If you have genuinely changed your mind about the whole idea, say so rather than going ahead. It is permanent. A rearranged appointment is a small problem and the alternative is not.
Nobody will push you
You can leave without being tattooed. It happens, it is fine, and it is a better outcome than the alternative.
Related frequently asked questions
Do I need to know exactly what I want?
No. You need enough for us to start a conversation · a subject, a rough placement, or even just a picture you keep coming back to. Turning that into a design is the work you are paying an artist for.
Read the full answer › What if I need to move my appointment?
Let us know at least 48 hours before your session and we will move you to a new date, with your deposit carried over. Deposits are not refunded, but a date is not the same thing as money lost.
Read the full answer › How should I prepare for a tattoo?
Turn up rested, fed and hydrated, and do not drink alcohol beforehand. Good preparation genuinely reduces how much it hurts, cuts down bleeding and helps the skin take the ink cleanly.
Still want to ask somebody? That is what the first conversation is for.
- Written and checked by
THRONE , a tattoo studio in Northampton.
Last checked 28 August 2026 .