Backlog as demand for tattoos remains high
A BOOM in interest in tattoos has led to long waiting lists, local tattooists have said, with some shops leaving islanders waiting for more than a year to get inked.
Waiting times at Sacrebleu Tattoo Studio are normally around two to three months. Owner Zineb Slaimi said she was taken off guard by its popularity after moving to the Bailiwick in March 2020, opening the shop six months later.
‘I have tattooing experience in places like France, Cambodia and Canada and I was very surprised how the people of Guernsey want so many tattoos,’ she said.
‘It’s such a small place, but so many people have lots of tattoos, and especially have lots of big pieces.
‘Some people even have face tattoos in Guernsey. It’s not very common in other countries, and Guernsey is very small.’
Sacred Hand Tattoo’s waiting list has reached more than a year.
Owner Andrew Woodward also remarked on the popularity of larger designs and indicated that this plays a big part in stretching waiting lists.
‘People want bigger areas covered so most sessions tend to be all day,’ he said.
Last year St James was host to a tattoo convention, the first event of its kind in Guernsey.
Sacrebleu won the award for best female large pieces and Miss Slaimi, who has been tattooing for 15 years, said it showed how the art form had become more accepted within the community.
‘When I started out as a tattoo artist it was always the same kind of customer but now society has changed,’ she said.
‘With Instagram and Facebook now we see different types of people are getting involved. It’s easier for people to open the door to the shop now, before it was a little bit scary.’
Sacrebleu tattooist Kaya Ozard said there is a big focus on creating an inclusive environment.
‘It’s very important that everyone is comfortable and feels at home when inside the shop.’
Ritual Tattoo Club’s normal waiting times range from three to six months. Owner Jen Lanceley agreed that the rise of the internet had contributed highly to the popularity of tattoos.
‘It’s getting so much exposure on socials,’ she said. ‘Year-on-year we keep seeing more people come into the shop.’
She said that islanders may be able to jump the queue quicker than they think, as Covid and other illnesses over the winter have caused many customers to miss appointments.
‘The chances are you could get in from a cancellation.’
While waiting times look to be high, this is constantly subject to change. All tattoo shops that spoke to the Guernsey Press said their waiting lists vary widely, depending on what each client asks for.
