Tattoo Questions, Answered

No. Walk-ins are welcome 7 days a week from 12pm to 10pm at 3704 6th Ave in Hillcrest, subject to artist availability. Same-day requests are genuinely possible here.

If you want a specific artist, a large piece, or a cover-up, book a free 15-minute consultation so the design can be planned before your session.

Monday through Sunday, 12:00pm to 10:00pm. We are open seven days a week, including weekends and most holidays.

We are at 3704 6th Ave, San Diego, CA 92103 - on 6th Avenue between Robinson Ave and Pennsylvania Ave, in the Hillcrest neighbourhood.

It is a short walk from University Ave, roughly five minutes from Balboa Park, and within easy reach of Bankers Hill, Mission Hills, University Heights and North Park.

Yes. Metered street parking on 6th Ave, Robinson Ave and Pennsylvania Ave, plus paid lots within one to two blocks on University Ave. Weekday evenings after 6pm and Sundays are usually the easiest times to find a spot.

Yes. The 15-minute consultation is free with no obligation. You leave with a firm price, a deposit amount, and a clear plan for size, placement and number of sessions.

A small piece is typically 30 minutes to an hour. A palm-sized tattoo with detail usually runs one to two hours. Half sleeves and larger work take several hours, and full sleeves, back pieces and leg sleeves are spread across multiple sessions.

Your artist will give you a realistic time estimate at your consultation. We would rather tell you it needs two sessions than rush something you will wear for life.

Contact us as early as you can. With reasonable notice, your deposit simply moves to the new date at no extra cost.

If you cancel at short notice or do not turn up, the deposit may be retained, since that time and the artist's preparation were set aside for you. If we ever have to move your appointment for reasons within our control, your deposit transfers or is refunded in full, whichever you prefer.

One guest is welcome in most cases, and it often helps to have someone with you for a first tattoo or a long session. Space in the studio is limited, so please let us know in advance if you would like to bring more than one person.

We ask that guests stay aware that other clients are being tattooed. Children cannot be in the studio while tattooing is happening - this is a health and safety requirement, not a preference.

Yes. Tell your artist you served and they will apply the military discount to your piece.

Broken Heart Tattoo is veteran-owned - the founder served in the U.S. Army before opening the studio in 2010 - so this one is personal. Mention it at your consultation or when you sit down for the session.

It depends on size, detail, placement and artist. There is a shop minimum that covers setup, sterile equipment and materials - this applies even to very small tattoos. Larger work is quoted hourly or by the session.

The fastest way to a firm number is a free 15-minute consultation. You will get an exact quote and the deposit amount before anything is booked.

For booked sessions, yes. The deposit comes off the final price of your tattoo. The exact amount is confirmed at your consultation, before you commit to a date.

Cash, Credit Card, Zelle.

Design time is built into the price of the tattoo rather than billed separately. For very complex custom work, this is discussed at your consultation so there are no surprises.

Tipping is appreciated but never expected. Fifteen to twenty percent is typical for good work in the US, and many clients round up instead. Nobody will treat you differently either way.

Book the free 15-minute consultation, or send us an email with a description of the design and some reference images. To quote accurately we need to know the subject, the approximate size, and where on the body it is going.

You are also welcome to walk in and talk to whoever is free at the studio. We would rather spend ten minutes getting the price right than have you commit to something you are unsure about.

You must be at least 18 years old. California law does not allow tattoos for minors, even with a parent or legal guardian present and consenting.

Bring valid government-issued photo ID - a driver's licence, state ID or passport.

Get a full night's sleep, eat a proper meal an hour or two beforehand, and drink plenty of water. Avoid alcohol and blood-thinning painkillers like aspirin or ibuprofen on the day.

Wear clothing that gives easy access to the placement area, and bring a light layer in case the studio is cool. For long sessions, bring snacks and a drink.

Honestly, yes - but it is manageable for most people, and it varies hugely by placement. Forearm, outer thigh and upper back are among the easiest. Ribs, sternum, hands, feet and neck are the hardest.

Tell your artist if you need a break. Nobody is going to judge you for it.

Your artist will give you written aftercare instructions at the end of your session. In general: keep it clean, keep it lightly moisturised with a fragrance-free product, avoid soaking it in baths, pools or the ocean for the first two weeks, and keep it out of direct sun.

Some light peeling and flaking around days 3 to 7 is completely normal. Do not pick or scratch it.

The surface usually heals in two to three weeks. Peeling and flaking settle within the first week to ten days, and the skin then looks closed and settled.

The deeper layers take longer - typically two to three months to fully settle. During that time a tattoo can look slightly dull or milky, then sharpens up as the skin recovers. That is normal and not a sign that anything has gone wrong.

Yes. Peeling is a normal part of healing, usually starting around day three and lasting about a week. The outer layer of skin flakes away and it can look like ink is coming off - it is not. Colour can also appear dull and milky for a couple of weeks before it settles.

Do not pick at it. If you see spreading redness, hot skin, pus, or you are running a fever, contact a doctor - that indicates infection, not normal healing.

See a doctor. Signs of infection include spreading redness and warmth, swelling that gets worse after day three, yellow or green discharge, a foul smell, or a fever.

Contact the studio afterwards so we know what happened. We will help where we can, but we are tattoo artists, not medical professionals.

We do not tattoo clients who are pregnant or breastfeeding. This is a studio policy as well as a common recommendation - it is not worth the risk, and we will happily book you in once you are ready.

Black & grey, American traditional, neo-traditional, fine line, blackwork, colour realism, lettering and freehand.

We also do cover-ups, full sleeves, back pieces, chest panels and leg sleeves. See the services page for a full breakdown, or ask us to match you with the right artist for what you want.

Absolutely. Bring a sketch, reference images, or just a rough description. Your artist will adapt it for size, placement and how it will age on skin, rather than tracing something that will not hold up.

Yes - cover-ups are one of the studio's specialities. We assess what is underneath, tell you honestly whether laser lightening would improve the final result, and design something that genuinely covers it rather than just hiding part of it.

Freehand means the artist draws the design directly onto your skin with a marker instead of using a stencil transfer. It is used for pieces where the design needs to flow with your body naturally - lettering, organic designs and pieces built around existing work.

Soda Pop is the studio's freehand specialist.

Alyssa and Philip Leslie for fine line, minimalist and small custom work. Sky for sleeves, back pieces, cover-ups and heavy black & grey. Soda Pop for lettering, freehand and portraits.

Still unsure? Book a free consultation and we will match you with the right person for the style.

Yes. We walk first-timers through placement, size, aftercare and pain expectations, and several of our artists specialise in small, fine line and minimalist pieces that suit a first tattoo.