Top Tattoo Shops in Singapore

Tattooing is a type of permanent body modification that is made by puncturing the skin with needles and injecting inks and dyes into the skin. Many people in the past considered tattoos to be taboo and associated it with rebellion and unprofessionalism. But the art form has come a long way and is now being accepted in society as man’s way of expressing themselves through body art.  It may sound like a harsh procedure, but it is absolutely safe in contrast.  

Top Tattoo Shops in Singapore

Tattoo Studio	Charlotte Tattoo. Makeup. Hair
Speciality	Graduated from Art school with more than 20 years of tattooing experience under his belt. An eye for the finest detail in the artwork. Light-handed, no bleeding during the tattoo session. Hygienic and sterile tattoo parlour with numbing available.
Website	http://www.charlottetattoosg.co
Address	NEWest 1 West Coast Drive #01-K16 Singapore 128020
Contact	Telephone: 96522546 Email: [email protected]
Review 1	first time having a tattoo. and after considering I decided to let charlotte tattoo done it for me. I was very happy with the result and really glad that I didn’t regret the choices. !! definitely will support again when i need another one highly recommended!!! Amazing results – Nanaas Sim
Review 2	First time with Vivian, and she’s fabulous! She really takes time to understand my hair and what I want, before she starts the whole process. And I liked the personalized service, as she only does 1 to 1 basis so full attention given. Would definitely be back. Thanks Vivian! -Jeslyn Choo
Review 3	Absolutely brilliant service. Second time getting a tattoo done and i am very pleased and grateful to have choose Charlotte Tattoos as it as they made it as comforting and smooth as possible for me. They didnt judge me for being afraid and was very patient . Will definitely recommend and will be back soon for more! The best anyone could get ! – Simran Kaur

Why do people get tattoos? 

A form of self-expression

Most of the time, people get inked simply to express themselves. They see their bodies as canvases and tattoos to be intricate pieces of artwork that belong on their bodies to be displayed. Some of these tattoos may have a significant meaning, but they can also just be a pretty design that they want to be inked on their skin. These people usually see tattoos as an accessory, just as you would with jewellery and makeup and see it as a way to make a statement and create their own identity through it. 

Sentimental reasons

One of the most common reasons for people getting tattooed is for sentimental reasons. These designs usually have a meaning to it and were well thought of, and sometimes even customised by an artist. These tattoos usually have a form of symbolism tied into it — whether it’s to honour a family member that has passed, a significant date, an ancient saying, or even a religious text. 

Just because they want to

Finally, the simplest of reasons to get a tattoo is just because you can. Some people feel that every tattoo must hold a sort of significance or have a deep meaning behind it. But there are some people who walk into a tattoo studio and pick a design that they want on the spot. Not everything has to have a meaning behind it and the misconception that there needs to be, need to go. 

Ranked: which tattoos hurt the most and the least 

While the tattooing process is commonly associated with pain, there are areas in the body that hurt more than others. Here’s a brief list of common areas that hurt the least to the most. 

Least pain: Arms, calves, and outer shoulder

Typically the areas that have more fat, muscle, and skin will hurt the least. This includes the arms, calves, outer shoulders, forearm, and upper thighs. The reason for this is that these areas are padded with a layer of tight skin that has fewer nerve endings and isn’t close to the bone. This layer of skin acts as a cushion or protective layer. If you want to get inked on these areas, the pain level will most likely be low to moderate, depending on your pain tolerance. 

Moderate pain: Face area, hands, fingers, feet, stomach, and inner bicep

With these body parts, they don’t have as much fat or skin in the area and may have more nerve endings as well. Getting inked in these places may be more painful but definitely tolerable. Areas like the lips, hands, and stomach may be more sensitive due to the numerous nerve endings that it has compared to other body parts, so please proceed with caution. 

Most pain: Rib cage, ankles, elbows, hips, neck and spine

The common denominator for the body parts mentioned above is that the skin around these areas is extremely thin and has less fat than other parts of your body. This means that when a tattoo needle comes into contact with any of these areas, they will tend to be more sensitive and also the most painful.

Now that you know which areas hurt the most and the least, you can now decide where you want to get inked! 

Things to note before you get a tattoo 

Get a tattoo artist that you can trust

Tattoos are permanent. The last thing that you want to go down with is an infection or terrible and poorly-made tattoo. Going to a reputable tattoo studio or finding an artist you can trust will surely lower your risk of infection and ultimately the disappointment of getting a bad tattoo. 

Always look for references to an artist’s past work to see if you like the quality of their designs. Furthermore, it is important to also look up reviews of a specific tattoo studio that you’re eyeing to make sure that other people have only said good things about the work that they do. 

Consider your tattoo placement carefully

Deciding where you want to place your tattoo is one of the most important decisions throughout this process. You have to consider if the design that you want will look good in the placement you desire. There are occasions where a client’s design can be pretty, but the placement is not ideal. Large designs will typically need a lot of surface area to cover such as your back, arm or rib cage, while simpler and smaller designs can be placed in more intimate areas like your wrist, ankle, or shoulder. 

Ask for pain relief if you need to

There is no shame in asking for pain relief! Sometimes, there are people who have less pain tolerance than others, which is absolutely acceptable. Generally, tattoo artists go ahead with the process without general anaesthesia. But clients can avail for numbing cream upon request at an additional price.

What to expect during the entire tattooing process?

If you have finally got down to deciding to get your very first tattoo but am completely unfamiliar with the tattooing process, the thought of it may meet you with much anticipation.

As exciting as it may sound, there may also be a small element of fear for some. What if it hurts too much? What if the design does not come out the way I had in mind?

These fears may sometimes cause us to put off that decision to get our very first tattoo. However, by educating yourself on the entire tattooing process – from design all through to application – it helps to prep yourself mentally for what to expect!

So how is a tattoo applied to your skin? Here is the detailed breakdown of how a beautiful piece of art is transferred (permanently) onto your skin:

Do a thorough research on the tattoo studio and artist

There are plenty of tattoo studios and artists in Singapore. However, each tattoo artist has their own style and speciality. Some may specialise in minimalist-style tattoos, while others may focus on large and colour tattoo works. Hence, each tattoo artist may interpret your design idea differently.

Most tattoo artists tend to showcase their portfolio on social media. Use that to your advantage and narrow down the tattoo artists which you feel best suits your style and preference. Once you have found the tattoo studio and/or tattoo artist, check online reviews or enquire with them directly to ensure that they are safe and reputable.

Discuss your tattoo design with your tattoo artist

After booking an appointment with your tattoo artist, it is time to communicate your tattoo design and idea to them. Some people are dead set on a design that they have in mind, while others may have a design idea and are open to the tattoo artist’s inputs and suggestions. 

Decide on the placement and size

Once you have decided on your tattoo design, it is time to decide on the placement and size. Similar to the aesthetic of your tattoo, the placement is completely up to you to decide! However, you may want to think twice about certain tattoo placements depending on various factors such as your skin condition or nature of work. For example, if you were to work in a social worker setting, having tattoos along your arms may not be appropriate for that environment.

Depending on your tattoo placement and body shape, your tattoo artist may also recommend that your tattoo be of a certain size to ensure that your tattoo placement does not look odd.

Preparation of the tattoo area 

Once you have decided on your tattoo design, placement and size, it is time to get started on the actual tattooing work! The chosen area on your body for the tattoo will first need to be cleaned. This is usually done by rubbing alcohol to ensure that the area is sterilised. Any hair on the target area will also be removed by shaving with a disposable razor. Do not underestimate the importance of this step – even the finest hair can get in the way of the tattooing process and may affect the final outcome of your tattoo!

Once the shaving is done, your tattoo artist will reclean the area with alcohol to ensure that it is completely smooth and ready for the tattoo stencil transfer.

Approve placement of tattoo stencil transfer

Most tattoo studios leverage on a particular machine, also known as the thermal-fax to produce your tattoo stencil. This saves them time from having to trace the tattoo by hand on your skin. The tattoo artist will simply insert your tattoo design into the machine, and viola, it will be transferred onto a special thermal paper which can then be pasted directly onto your skin. 

The transferring process from the thermal paper to your skin is typically done by moistening the skin with water or soak. This helps to ensure that the stencil transfer is better and darker on your skin, facilitating the tracing of the design during the actual tattooing process.

Your tattoo artist will prepare the necessary equipment

As your tattoo artist leaves some time for the stencil to dry, they will start preparing the necessary tattooing equipment. The tattoo inks will be placed in little cups and the tattoo needles and tubes will be removed from their sterile pouches and placed inside the tattooing machine. 

Your tattoo artist will also prepare a cup of clean and distilled water to clean the tattoo needles during the tattoo process in order to change from one colour to another.

Brace yourself for the linework / tracing / shading

Now the actual tattooing process begins! Your tattoo artist will first start off by tracing the tattoo stencil that was previously transferred on your skin. They will typically apply a little ointment over your tattoo design during the process. This helps to ensure that the transfer stays on your skin longer and also ensure that the tattoo needle slides along your skin easily, ensuring smoother tattoo lines.

Once all the tattoo linework is done, your tattoo artist will move on with the shading or colour depending on your tattoo design. Some tattoo artists may switch to a different set of tattoo needles that are specifically meant for tattoo shading and colouring.

Dressing and bandaging your tattoo

While the entire tattooing process may be slightly painful for some, the entire process tends to go along quickly. Before you know it, you have a completed tattoo! It is now time to start admiring and flaunting your new tattoo!

Some tattoo artists may prefer to take a photo of your tattoo to add to their existing portfolio. This is also a good time for you to practise taking your tattoo shot as well. After all, it is a design that you and your tattoo artist have conceptualised together!

Now that your tattoo is completed, you have to treat it like a wound.The tattoo artist will first apply a layer of ointment over the tattoo which acts as a protective layer to prevent any potential infection. A bandage is subsequently applied to it and taped up to ensure that it does not come loose. Your tattoo artist will also share with you specific aftercare instructions. It is imperative to follow these aftercare instructions diligently to ensure that your tattoo heals properly and lasts longer.

What do I do if I want my tattoo removed? 

In some unfortunate cases, there are times where people want their tattoo removed. Tattoo removals are usually done with laser treatments that may even cost more than when you got inked. What laser tattoo removals do is break down the tattoo ink and flush it out of your system. Depending on the size of your ink, these procedures are usually done in multiple sessions ranging from five to ten sessions. Before finally deciding to remove a tattoo, please consult with a professional first on the suitable treatments for you. 

Editor’s Note:

While every precaution has been made to ensure the accuracy and fairness of this listing, we acknowledge that they may be inaccuracies. Therefore, we urge you to contact the service provider above for the correct information and/or contact us with the correct information.

If you are a service provider and wish to be featured in this listing (MediaOne reviews are read by hundreds of thousands of Singaporeans), please contact us at [email protected]. There is no charge! Please allow us up to 3 working days to review before adjusting the information or including your entry.