Joe Bird — black and grey realism tattoo artist, Newcastle upon Tyne & Australia. Joe Bird

From the UK to Australia

10+

Years tattooing

UK · AU

Two continents

Multi

Award-winning

Got questions
before booking?

You'll find answers to the most common ones here. If there's anything else you'd like to know, just reach out.

• How do I book a tattoo?
  All bookings are taken through the booking form on the website. For the quickest response, please make sure you complete the form to the best of your ability. This applies to all bookings worldwide and for conventions. Any availability and travel dates will be updated on the Travel page. In the event that a short-notice space or availability comes up, these will be posted on my Instagram page.
• Do you do cover-ups or reworks?
  Cover-ups may be considered if the tattoo is small enough or has had sufficient laser treatment for me to create my best work for you. I will not take on a tattoo if I do not believe I am the right person for the job. I do not rework other artists' tattoos.
• How should I prepare for my appointment?
  When preparing for a tattoo, there are a few crucial steps you can start following to ensure your body and skin are in the best condition for tattooing. These include: • Eating a healthy, nutrient-rich diet to ensure your body is receiving the vitamins and minerals needed for good skin health. • Keeping yourself hydrated leading up to your appointment and on the day itself by drinking plenty of water (electrolytes can be beneficial too). Your skin is the largest organ in your body, so if you are dehydrated, your skin will be as well. • Avoiding sun exposure on the area you are going to be getting tattooed. I believe being in the sun is an important part of a healthy life, so I would not recommend avoiding it completely. However, I strongly advise covering the area to be tattooed when in the sun or applying total sunblock regularly. Unfortunately, I cannot tattoo sun-damaged skin, and being more tanned than usual has a negative impact on the tattoo process and the overall result of the healed piece. These are just a few steps you can take to prepare for your tattoo, but don't worry — once you are booked in, I will send you a more comprehensive protocol that covers everything, ensuring your skin is in the best possible condition for your tattoo day.
• What is your recommended aftercare?
  Many tattoo artists have different approaches to healing tattoos. I personally see the best results with a mostly dry healing process. I find that a healthy body is very good at healing itself, so there is no need to overcomplicate the process. That said, there are still many things to consider when healing your tattoo, such as keeping it out of the sun, keeping it clean, and keeping it away from pets, among many others. Don't worry though — I will talk you through the full process once the tattoo is complete and will also send you a full aftercare procedure once you are booked in, so you can familiarise yourself with the dos and don'ts :)