Frequently asked questions before your tattoo

From €80, depending on size and complexity, with a personalised quote once I have studied your project. Level of detail, placement and the number of sessions also count: a realistic portrait on the forearm doesn’t take the same time as a small fine-line design. Send me your idea with a few photos and I’ll give you an estimated duration and price before anything is booked.

I don’t work from a ready-made price list: my prices start from €80, then follow the size and complexity of your project. The estimated amount is in my proposal, before you pay anything; the 50 € deposit paid when booking is then deducted from it, and the balance is paid at the studio on the day of the session, in cash or by card.

It all starts with the project request form: your idea, the placement, the size and a few photos. I review every request personally, then send you a proposal (duration, estimated price, number of sessions) with a link to your booking page, where you choose one of the slots I have opened. Your appointment is confirmed as soon as your 50 € deposit is received, by bank transfer or by card. Every step is explained on the process page.

The deposit is 50 €, paid by bank transfer or by card when you book and deducted from the final price. Under French law it is not an acompte (a part-payment) but arrhes (article L214-1 of the French Consumer Code), and the difference matters: a part-payment binds both of us for good, whereas arrhes allow either of us to back out. If you cancel outside the withdrawal period, I keep the deposit; if I cancel, I refund twice the amount, 100 €, unless you freely choose a new date, in which case the deposit is carried over to it.

By bank transfer or by card, as you prefer, on your booking page. The amount is the same, with no fee. By transfer: my bank details and a reference to copy into the transfer description appear on the page and are emailed to you; the slot stays held for 48 hours. An instant transfer arrives within seconds, even at weekends. By card: you pay straight away on the page of SumUp, my payment provider; the slot stays held for about 30 minutes while you pay, and your card details never pass through this site. If no payment arrives in time, the slot is released and the order cancelled, at no cost to you. As soon as the deposit is received, you get a receipt and the confirmation of your appointment. My bank details are only ever given on your booking page and in my emails, and I will never ask you to change them.

Usually within 3 working days. I study every request myself, so when the diary is full it can take a little longer. If I need more information to price your project, I’ll ask you for it first.

You can move your appointment once, free of charge, if you let me know at least 72 hours in advance; a later request counts as a cancellation. If you cancel outside the withdrawal period, don’t turn up, or arrive more than 30 minutes late without letting me know, I keep the deposit. If your health or skin rules the session out (sunburn, infection, pregnancy, medication…), rescheduling is free on your word alone, with no medical certificate needed. In case of force majeure, you choose between a refund of the deposit and a new date. Full details are in the booking terms.

Yes. A booking made at a distance gives you 14 days to withdraw, counting from the day your deposit reaches me: just click ‘Withdraw from the contract here’ on your appointment page, linked from your confirmation email, and the deposit is refunded in full within 14 days, by the means you paid with (transfer or card). An acknowledgement is sent to you automatically. If your appointment falls before the end of that period, you need to ask expressly, by ticking a box when you book, for the service to start earlier; your right of withdrawal then ends once the tattoo has been fully completed.

First email me at contact@sergiodurotattoo.com describing the problem: I reply within 3 working days and we look for a solution together. If we still disagree, you can refer the matter free of charge to the consumer mediator CM2C, online at cm2c.net, within one year of your written complaint.

My two specialities are black & grey realism and fine line, with its fine, precise linework, like this bouquet of peonies. I also tattoo floral designs, mandalas and ornamental work, blackwork and blackout, anime and other styles on request. I don’t do colour realism, Māori or Polynesian work, or neo-traditional, and I never copy another artist’s tattoo. If in doubt, describe your project: I’ll tell you honestly whether I’m the right artist for it.

Yes, it’s one of my two specialities, along with fine line: realism, mostly in black and grey. I tattoo portraits, animals, landscapes, religious and classical statues, and darker pieces. I come from charcoal drawing, and I approach skin with the same attention to tonal values, light and texture. The portfolio shows both fresh and healed pieces.

Very little. I tattoo mainly in black and grey, and only occasionally add a touch of colour when it serves the image: a gaze, a few flowers. I don’t do colour realism, though, and I’d rather tell you so up front.

Yes, and it really helps: a photo of the area lets me fit the design to your body and spot what is already there (scars, moles, existing tattoos). The form accepts up to 8 photos, 10 MB maximum each (JPEG, PNG, WebP or HEIC). Frame just the area, without your face, and leave out any medical information. The photos are used solely to study your project; you can withdraw your consent at any time, and they are then deleted. If your request doesn’t lead to an appointment, they are erased three months after it is closed (see the privacy policy).

Yes, I do cover-ups and reworks of older tattoos, such as this tiger’s gaze on a forearm. It all depends on the existing tattoo: its size, the ink density, its dark areas. The new design usually needs to be larger and darker than the old one. Send me sharp photos taken in daylight and I’ll tell you honestly what can be done.

The portfolio shows a selection. I have been posting my work on Instagram since 2014, healed results included: @sergiodurotattoo. My drawings and paintings are on @sergioduroart.

A realistic piece is often done in one long session of roughly four to eight hours; I once tattooed a lighthouse in a single sitting of about seven hours. Larger projects are spread over several sessions. The estimated duration is in my proposal, and the slots I offer you are matched to it: a few hours, half a day or a full day.

Sleep well the night before, avoid alcohol for 24 hours beforehand and eat a proper meal before you come. The skin on the area must be healthy: no sunburn, irritation or wounds. Wear comfortable clothes that give easy access to the area, bring photo ID and, for a long session, water and something to snack on. If you have any health concern (medication, pregnancy, a skin problem), let me know: rescheduling is free. The full list is on the process page.

A little, yes, but it varies a lot with the placement, the person and the length of the session. Bony or thin-skinned areas, such as the ribs or the foot, are generally more sensitive than the forearm or the thigh. On a long session we take breaks when needed; a good night’s sleep and a proper meal beforehand make a real difference.

A tattoo is permanent: laser removal is slow, expensive and does not always clear it completely. The main risks are infection – hence the importance of aftercare – and, more rarely, an allergic reaction to the inks. Some situations can be contraindications: pregnancy or breastfeeding, a skin condition or lesion on the area, certain medications (anticoagulants, immunosuppressants…) or certain illnesses. If in doubt, ask your doctor before the session. Full written information is given to you at the studio.

I tattoo at the Cœur de Vaurien studio, 10 rue Poincaré, 68100 Mulhouse, France, by appointment only. Directions are on the contact page, and the address is repeated in your confirmation email.

Yes, gladly. Mulhouse is close to both the Swiss and German borders, not far from Basel and Freiburg im Breisgau, and clients from Switzerland or Germany use the same request form. The deposit is paid in euros, by bank transfer or by card. From Switzerland, a card is often simplest: no euro transfer to France to arrange, no international transfer fees, and your bank converts the amount automatically on its usual terms. I don’t speak German, but we can talk in English, French or Spanish.

Spanish is my native language, and I also speak French and English. From your first message to the session, everything can be done in any of the three; the site is also available in French and Spanish.

No, I don’t tattoo minors. It’s a rule I have set myself: French law allows it with a parent’s written consent, but I stick to adults. Requests and online booking are open to those aged 18 and over, and I’ll ask for photo ID on the day of your session.

On the surface, the skin heals in roughly two to four weeks: it flakes a little, and the tattoo can look slightly dull, even milky, for a while. Deeper healing takes a few more weeks. That is when grey gradients reach their final look, which is why I like to show my pieces once healed, a month or more after the session.

Always wash your hands before touching the tattoo. Clean it with lukewarm water and a mild soap, pat it dry, then apply a thin layer of the aftercare product I recommend. Don’t scratch or pick at the flakes: let them come away on their own. For about three to four weeks, avoid baths, swimming pools, the sea, saunas and the sun; showers are fine. After that, a high-SPF sunscreen helps the greys stay soft over the years. If redness spreads, or you notice swelling, fever or increasing pain, see a doctor and let me know. I explain the exact routine at the studio and give it to you in writing.