Plenty of Soulraven’s clients are visiting: Jamaicans home for the holidays, people here for work or Carnival, and travellers who want a piece from a Kingston artist rather than a souvenir shop. A little planning makes it work.
Message before you fly
Send your idea, references, placement and your dates on WhatsApp as early as you can. The studio can tell you whether a consultation is needed, how many sessions the piece will take and what dates are open. Large or custom work begins with an in-studio consultation, so allow a day for that and time for the design before the session.
Tattoo last, swim first
A new tattoo must stay out of the sea, pool and river until it has healed, and out of the sun for weeks. So do the beach days first and book the tattoo towards the end of the trip. Flying with a fresh tattoo is fine; soaking it is not.
Deposits from abroad
A 50% deposit secures your date. Ask the studio how to pay it from overseas when you book; the balance is paid at the appointment. The published price ranges are in US dollars and Jamaican dollars are accepted, which makes budgeting simple for visitors.
Getting to the studio
Soulraven Studios is at Shop 5, 9½ Courtney Walsh Drive in Half Way Tree, Kingston 10, in the middle of the city’s main transport hub and open every day from 10 am to 6 pm. From Norman Manley International Airport it is about half an hour by taxi depending on traffic; from Ocho Rios or Montego Bay allow two to four hours. Directions and map.
Healing on the road
Pack a mild fragrance-free soap and the ointment recommended at your appointment, loose cotton clothing to cover the piece, and clean sheets in mind if you are moving between guest houses. Keep it out of the sun, keep it clean, and follow the aftercare guide. Sunscreen only once it is fully healed.
Bring ID
You must be 18 or older, and photo ID is required. A passport is ideal.
Ready to plan? Start your tattoo with your travel dates and the studio will work around them.
Keep reading
Tattoo aftercare in Jamaica’s climate
Heat, sweat, sun and the sea are the four things that spoil a new tattoo here. How to manage each of them through the first month.
Getting your first tattoo in Jamaica: what to know
Choosing an artist, what a consultation is for, how deposits work and what the day itself feels like, from a Kingston studio that has walked hundreds of people through their first piece.
How much do tattoos cost in Jamaica?
The studio’s published ranges by size, what moves a price up or down, how deposits and consultations fit in, and why the cheapest quote is rarely the best value.
Kingston, Jamaica
Have something in mind?
Let’s talk about it. Tell Soulraven the idea, the placement and the size, and send your references in WhatsApp.