What we recommend is:

• Remove the bandage after 3 hours (do not re-bandage at any point)

• Wash with warm soapy water.

• Gently dry the tattoo.

• Apply a thin layer of fragrance-free lotion 2-3 times a day after washing.

• Keep your tattoo clean. Showering IS ok.

• In 2-3 days, the tattoo will begin to flake or scab

• DO NOT  

  • Pick at your new tattoo

  • Submerge your new tattoo in water

  • Expose your tattoo to direct sunlight or tanning beds for 2-3 weeks

We take walk-ins daily on a first-come, first-served basis and recommend this option for smaller, single-session tattoos. We can’t guarantee tattooer availability or wait times since they will vary daily based on the number of walk-ins we receive. However, we can typically take care of the majority of tattoos that come through the door each day. 

To book an appointment, please fill out our APPOINTMENT REQUEST FORM. If you need help picking a tattooer, you can see up-to-date work from everyone on the Portfolios page.

If you are 18 or older, you will need a government-issued ID with your birth date and picture. This can be a driver’s license, state i.d. card, or passport. School and other forms of ID are not accepted.

Our shop minimum is $100. Most tattoos are priced individually based on size, body placement, and level of detail. Larger tattoos taking multiple sessions are priced hourly at $250/hr.  It is difficult to give an accurate price estimate without visual reference and exact measurements. Once a design is finalized, the tattooer can give you a price. We suggest talking with your tattoo artist to get an estimate before getting your tattoo and also letting them know if you have a budget you are working with.

We accept cash, cards, and mobile-wallet payments (Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, etc).

It depends on the tattoo you are getting. Each tattoo is different, and the amount of time it requires will vary depending on the size of the tattoo, the complexity of the design, how well you sit, etc. The tattoo artist can always give you a ballpark time estimate once the design, size, and location have been chosen.

Tipping is not required but is always greatly appreciated by your tattoo artist. We recommend tipping like you would any other service professional.

Tattoos can be uncomfortable. The level of discomfort can vary from person to person. On average, the discomfort is mild and sometimes described as more annoying than painful. Some people have compared the sensation of getting tattooed to a hot scratch or similar to a sunburn when healing. It is not the same sensation as having blood drawn or getting a shot. Some areas are more sensitive than others on the body, and some people take getting tattooed better than other people. If it were unbearable or extremely painful, you wouldn’t see so many people with tattoos.

We encourage you to bring in visual references of what you like so your tattooer can get a better sense of what you are looking for. Your reference does not have to be exact and can simply be ideas or examples of styles and things you like for the tattooer to draw from. Or, you can bring in exact designs that you would like replicated. Keep in mind that some things that look great on paper or on a screen do not always translate well as a tattoo. Your tattoo artist can work with your design to make sure it works as a tattoo. We also have hundreds of designs on the walls of the shop and in books behind the counter for you to choose from.

Touch-ups for tattoos done at Great Lakes Tattoo are complimentary for up to a year. For tattoos not done at Great Lakes Tattoo or done over a year ago, the cost depends on how much work needs to be done on the tattoo.

*This does not include tattoos on the fingers or areas that are not guaranteed.

Typically, yes, although it does depend on the tattoo. While we do re-do tattoos and do cover-ups often, each one is unique and might require a different approach. We recommend you speak to one of our tattoo artists in person and let them look at the tattoo to see what options are available.

Yes, we do. Cover-ups typically need to be darker and larger than the original tattoo. Certain designs work better for cover-ups, but having an idea of what you would like to cover it with is suggested.  We recommend you speak to one of our tattoo artists in person and let them take a look at the tattoo to see what the best options are.

In the state of Illinois, you must be 18 years or older.

No, you must be 18 years of age to be tattooed in Illinois. There isn’t a parental or guardian consent option.

All of our tattoo supplies are individually wrapped single-use instruments. They are opened immediately before each tattoo and disposed of after. The entire tattoo area, including countertops and furniture, is sanitized with medical-grade sanitation products after each tattoo. All tattoo artists are compliant with OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard.

This depends entirely on the tattoo design and its complexity. Over time, ink gradually spreads. When tattoos are done correctly with enough space between dimensional lines, the expansion of the lines is barely noticeable. If lines are tattooed too close together, the space between them can disappear, and they end up looking like one thicker, blurred line. This is most likely in tattoos with small lettering, details on a face, and other small elements and can make the tattoo less ‘legible’ after several years. Once this happens, it is irreversible. The tattoo artist will let you know if this is risky for you at your chosen size. With small adjustments to the size or by simplifying the design, we can often give you the tattoo you want that will hold up well over time.  

You can bring a friend with you to the shop. However, only the person getting tattooed is allowed in the station.

We will do white ink in tattoos, however the longevity and quality of white tattoos cannot be guaranteed. This means that unlike other tattoos done at Great Lakes Tattoo, touch-ups are not included in the price of tattoos done only in white ink.

Although white pigment is used in tattoos, it is mostly used for highlights and mixing, not as the main color of a tattoo. White pigment fades and loses its shape more quickly than other pigments. It can also develop a yellow, brown, or pink tint that is irreversible. These things can happen within a few weeks of getting the tattoo or sometimes after a longer time has passed. Most of the photos of white ink tattoos you see are taken right after the tattoo is completed and not after it has healed.

We will tattoo the fingers, but the tattoos are not guaranteed. This means that unlike other tattoos done at Great Lakes Tattoo, touch-ups are not included in the price of finger tattoos. Unfortunately, finger tattoos do not hold up well over time. Your hands are used almost constantly - washing, reaching into pockets or bags, driving, holding your phone, etc. Also, the skin on your hands and feet is different from the rest of your body and does not hold ink as well. This, along with so much use of your hands, can stop your tattoo from healing correctly and cause fading, blurriness, and disappearing lines. The options to fix or repair this are very limited. Sometimes these issues can be resolved with touch-ups, but more often, the same or similar issues reoccur. The same applies to any spot on the foot located below the ankle.

It is our shop policy not to tattoo faces, including inner lip tattoos.

It is possible to cover scars with tattoos, but each scar is different. This is a case-by-case situation. The age, size, and type of scarring make a difference in whether or not covering it with a tattoo is possible. We recommend you speak to one of our tattoo artists in person and let them take a look at the scar to see what the best options are.

Our tattooers tattoo with brands listed as vegan such as Eternal and Solid ink. When signing in for the tattoo, please let the counter and tattoo artist know that you only want vegan inks used. This will ensure that the artist sets up correctly for your tattoo. We highly recommend you do your research on brands of ink labeled vegan. While we can guarantee only Solid Ink or Eternal brand inks are used in a tattoo, because we do not manufacture them, we cannot guarantee they are animal-product free.