Frequently asked tattoo questions

The easiest way is to complete the booking form. Three short steps cover style, placement, size, preferred timing and artist. You can also call +48 516 499 990.

After receiving your enquiry, we reply with a suggested artist, approximate date and price range. A deposit secures your session.

Yes. The consultation is free and comes with no obligation to book. We discuss the style, placement, size and price range.

Under the studio terms, a phone or online consultation takes place before booking a session. Our tattoo process explains the steps from consultation to aftercare.

Tattoo sessions take place at an agreed time. The artist reserves that time for one person, so please contact us by phone or through the form first.

A walk-in day offers available slots without advance booking. If we organise one, we announce it separately.

We respond to most enquiries within a few hours on studio working days. Many clients book a session for the same week.

Availability depends on the artist and the size of the project. Large tattoos usually take several sessions, which we plan in advance.

Describe your idea in one or two sentences. Include a photo of the placement and an approximate size. Choose two or three references and explain what you like about them.

• Say whether you want colour or black ink.
• Tell us whether the design should connect with existing tattoos.
• Mention any preferred artist.

These details help us assess your idea. We discuss common mistakes in our guide to preparing a tattoo enquiry.

Yes. You can select an artist in the booking form or ask us to recommend someone. Each team member has a different style, so explore their portfolio first.

• Gozdi: traditional and old-school tattoos.
• Karol Sutura: blackwork and fine line.
• Lupus: neo-traditional, traditional and colour.
• Andrei: blackwork.

If you are unsure who suits your idea, describe it in your enquiry. We will suggest an artist.

For safety and hygiene, only staff and clients may stay in the studio. Exceptions apply to a carer accompanying someone who needs assistance and a legal guardian accompanying a minor.

Children and animals are not admitted. Guide dogs are an exception and wait in the waiting area during the procedure.

We price each tattoo individually. The cost depends on size, detail, style, colour, placement and the number of sessions. Two designs of the same size can have different prices.

We provide an approximate range after receiving a description, placement photo and references. Read more about tattoo prices in Warsaw.

No. At Dirty Lust, the design is always included in the tattoo price. The artist develops it from your idea and adapts it to the placement.

Read about how a tattoo design is created.

A deposit of 50% of the tattoo price secures the session. Pay it by bank transfer within 3 working days of agreeing the date. After that, the booking is cancelled.

A deposit is required for each further agreed session. See the full studio terms.

The deposit is non-refundable if you cancel the tattoo. If you need to change the date, tell us at least 5 days before the session.

Missing the appointment or giving less notice means losing the deposit. The studio terms also allow the studio to change the agreed date.

Yes. We make personalised tattoo vouchers and help you choose the amount. Our gift voucher page explains how to order and use one. You can also call +48 516 499 990.

Before buying, ask about validity and how to pay the difference if the design costs more. Our tattoo voucher guide covers what to check.

Artists prepare designs on the day of the booked session. Preparing a design earlier is the individual artist's decision.

At the start of the session, you agree the final design, size, colours and placement together. Before tattooing, the design is transferred to your skin as a stencil, so you can see how it sits on your body.

Yes, as a reference. A picture shows the direction you want, and the artist creates an original design from it. We do not copy other people's tattoos, because designs and tattoos are protected by copyright.

Our guide explains original tattoo designs and Pinterest references.

Yes. If a design is too small for its level of detail or does not suit the placement, we will explain before starting. We want the tattoo to remain readable over time.

An artist may also refuse a tattoo that poses a health risk or conflicts with their views. Read why we sometimes advise against a tattoo.

Start by looking at tattoos and noting what you like: line thickness, shading, colour or detail. You do not need to know the style name. A description or a few examples are enough.

Explore our gallery, the tattoo dictionary and our guide to choosing a tattoo style.

Size depends on the amount of detail and the spacing between lines. Very small elements can lose definition over time, so the artist may suggest a larger scale or a simpler design.

Read about fine-line tattoos over time and minimalist tattoo size and placement.

Yes. We plan large projects over several sessions. During the consultation, we discuss the main theme, the order of work and how to connect the design with existing tattoos.

See our guides to planning a sleeve and planning a large blackwork project.

Arrive at the agreed time, rested and without having drunk alcohol. Wear comfortable clothing that gives easy access to the area being tattooed. You may have a drink with you, but food must not be eaten at the workstation.

Our first tattoo preparation guide covers the steps from your first message to leaving the studio.

No. We do not tattoo anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Smoking and drinking alcohol are also prohibited in the studio.

Tell us before your session if you take medication or have concerns about your health.

We tattoo adults. People aged 16 or over may get a tattoo only with their legal guardians' personal written consent and in their presence.

We do not tattoo anyone under 16.

Yes. We do not tattoo during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Contraindications also include epilepsy, haemophilia and skin diseases. Diabetes, a tendency to faint and circulatory conditions require caution. See contraindications for getting a tattoo.

If you receive ongoing treatment, consult your doctor before the session. Poland's sanitary authority also discusses risks such as allergic reactions to pigments in its tattoo safety guidance, in Polish.

Sometimes, but not every scar is suitable for tattooing. A dermatologist or the doctor treating you should assess it first. The artist then discusses the design with you.

Our tattoos over scars guide explains how to prepare for that conversation.

Plan your session around your trip. During healing, avoid sun exposure, pools, the sea and saunas. If your holiday involves mostly beaches and swimming, choosing a date after you return is better.

Mention your travel dates during the consultation. Read about summer tattoos, swimming and holidays.

Usually, at least a little. People describe scratching, burning or repeated pricking. The sensation depends on placement, size, session length and individual sensitivity.

Tell the artist if you need a break. The artist also stops if you start feeling unwell. Read more about tattoo pain.

Ribs, areas close to bone, hands and feet are often described as more demanding. Upper arms, thighs and calves are often considered easier. This is a general guide, not a prediction for every person.

See examples and advice for rib tattoos and thigh tattoos.

From tens of minutes to several hours, and sometimes more than ten hours. Duration depends on the size, complexity and detail of the design. We divide larger projects into several sessions.

Your artist will estimate the time after the consultation. See tattoo creation time.

We work with sterile tools and disposable materials. Hand sanitiser is available to clients, and tattooing equipment must not be touched.

Polish tattoo studio hygiene guidance is available from the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate and the National Institute of Public Health.

Aftercare depends on the dressing. After the session, you receive instructions suited to your tattoo.

• Cling film: remove it after 2 to 3 hours, wash the tattoo with lukewarm water and mild soap, dry it with a paper towel and apply a thin layer of ointment.
• Second skin: leave the dressing on for 1 to 4 days, as instructed by your artist. After removal, wash the tattoo thoroughly and apply ointment.

Read about tattoo healing stages and signs to watch for.

The first 2 weeks require the most care. Take short showers during this time to avoid soaking the tattoo. After a few days, the skin starts to peel and itch.

The skin renewal cycle takes up to 30 days. This is the time needed for a new epidermal layer to cover the tattoo. Healing also depends on tattoo size, placement and skin condition.

Apply a thin layer of ointment, such as Bepanthen, after each wash. With a cling-film dressing, wash the tattoo every 3 to 4 hours during the day. When changing the dressing, let the skin rest for 10 to 15 minutes.

See our comparison of tattoo ointments and creams available in pharmacies.

This is a normal stage of healing. Do not scratch the tattoo or pull off peeling skin or scabs. Ointment helps relieve itching, and areas with scabs take longer to heal.

If you notice severe redness, swelling, pain or other worrying symptoms, contact the studio and a doctor.

Throughout healing, avoid soaking the tattoo in pools, the sea or lakes, as well as saunas and sunbathing. Keep a fresh tattoo out of the sun.

After healing, protect the tattoo with sunscreen, particularly during the first year. See general sun protection guidance from Poland's patient information service and protecting a tattoo from the sun.

Yes. If needed, we provide one free touch-up. Contact us for it one month after getting the tattoo, once the skin has healed. Later touch-ups are charged.

Aftercare also affects the tattoo's appearance. The studio is not responsible for effects caused by failing to follow the instructions.

Yes. We create tattoos that cover existing work. However, we cannot guarantee that a cover-up will look like a design on previously untattooed skin. The new design must account for the saturation, outlines and size of the old tattoo.

Read about cover-ups and when to consider laser removal.

We most often work in fine line, blackwork, colour realism, old school (traditional) and neo-traditional styles. Each artist specialises in different styles, so we match the artist to your project.

Read about old school and neo-traditional tattoos and colour tattoos over time.

Yes, if the photo is good enough and the subject works at a suitable scale. We need a clear file with good lighting and visible detail.

Our realistic tattoo reference guide explains how to choose a photo and describe the crop.

The studio is at ul. Raszyńska 3 m. 6, on the second floor, near Plac Zawiszy, 02-026 Warsaw (Ochota). Find a map and details on the contact page.

If you are travelling to Warsaw for a tattoo, see our visitor planning guide.

Every day, Monday to Sunday, 11:00 to 17:00.

Sessions and visits are by appointment.

Dirty Lust Tattoo has operated in Warsaw since 2012. Szymon Godlewski founded the studio.

Meet the team and explore its history and portfolios on our about page.