How to Order an Artistic Tattoo from an Artist and Not Overpay
Choose the artist first, then the price
A tattoo is work you cannot “return”. So the order is: first the style and the portfolio, then the money. An artist who does brilliant realism will not necessarily do lettering or fine linework well, and the other way round. Look for the one whose portfolio matches your idea, not simply the one who is free tomorrow.
What forms the price of a tattoo
- Size and placement. Ribs, feet or fingers are harder than a forearm: the skin and the pain are different, and the work is slower.
- Style. Minimalism and lettering take less time than realism, colour work or dense black fill.
- The design. Your own ready design is usually cheaper than a drawing the artist makes for you, which takes separate time.
- Cover-up. Covering an old tattoo is the hardest, because the new design has to hide the old one, so it is almost always done by an experienced artist.
- Number of sessions. A large piece is split into several visits, and the price may be counted per session or per hour.
What to put in your request
- Placement and size — for example, forearm, 15×10 cm.
- Style — realism, graphic, minimalism, lettering, black-and-grey or colour.
- Design — whether you have your own or it needs to be drawn.
- New or cover-up — a new tattoo, a cover-up or a correction of an old one.
- Date and time, area of the city.
- Artist's experience — portfolio in the style you want.
- Budget, if you want to name one.
Example: “I want a black-and-grey graphic-style tattoo on my forearm, about 15×10 cm, with my own design (photo attached). Dubai, at the weekend. I need an artist with a graphic-style portfolio, budget up to AED 350.”
How searching works on BlaBlaPrice
You can add one photo to the request, so a sketch or a reference works best. Before the artists see your request, it is checked for adverts and contacts. Then tattoo artists reply in the chat: whether they will take it, the price or what it depends on, and when they have a free slot. They see where they stand among the other offers, so terms often improve.
BlaBlaPrice shows the best-value offer first, with reviews beside each. Only the artist you choose sees your phone number. How it all works is on the How it works page.
Before you agree
Ask about a deposit to book the date and what happens if you reschedule. Check whether the design, changes and touch-ups after healing are included in the price, and what aftercare is advised. Ask for examples of healed work, not only fresh pieces. A good artist works in sterile conditions with single-use needles and will happily show how the workstation is prepared.
Do not choose by the lowest price: a cheap tattoo can cost more to fix. Similar services — tattoo, permanent makeup, piercing — are collected in the neighbouring category, and you can begin by creating a request.
Questions and answers
Can I order a tattoo from my own design?
Yes, add it to your request as one photo and say the design is yours. The artist will assess the size and complexity and give a price or a range.
How much does covering up an old tattoo cost?
The price depends on the size, colour and density of the old design. Add a photo of the old tattoo to your request, and artists will judge whether a cover-up is possible.
How do I choose an artist in the style I want?
Look at portfolios in exactly that style and at the reviews beside the offer. You can state in your request that you want an artist experienced in, for example, realism.
Do artists see my phone number?
No, contacts are hidden. Only the artist you choose gets them, by the channel you pick yourself.
