Tim Creed
Owner. Custom, illustrative, and traditional. Tattooing since 1995. @diamond_mind_tattoo
First tattoo · Buzzards Bay, Cape Cod
Your first tattoo: what to expect at Diamond Mind
First tattoos are welcome. We’ll walk you through it.
Step one
Before you book
Getting your first tattoo in Buzzards Bay or anywhere on Cape Cod? Start by picking a style and an artist. Our portfolio lives on Instagram, so look through each artist’s page and see whose work fits what you want.
Aline Cimorelli
Specializes in fineline. Fine line tattoos · @alinecimorelli
Chris Soucie
Specializes in American Traditional. @chris_soucie_tattoos
Brendon Frietas
Follow on Instagram for style and availability. @b_tats_31
Just turned 18?
A free tattoo in your birthday month
We offer a free tattoo in the first month after your 18th birthday. We want you to have a positive experience the first time.
- Book it in the first month after your 18th birthday.
- It covers up to the shop minimum, which is a 30-minute tattoo.
- Bring a valid photo ID. You have to be 18.
- There’s a $25 deposit to hold the time. We refund it when the tattoo is done.
- Please email us your reference and confirm your birth date before we accept the appointment.
Email your reference ahead of time to diamondmindtattoo@hotmail.com so Tim can confirm your birthdate and make sure the design can be done in 30 minutes.
Appointments
How booking and deposits work
Appointments are booked through our Square site. Pick a time, share what you have in mind, and we’ll confirm details from there.
- Some bookings need a deposit to hold the slot. You’ll see it during Square checkout.
- If you need to reschedule, contact the shop as early as you can so we can help.
- Questions before you book? Call (508) 743-8462 or email diamondmindtattoo@hotmail.com.
The day before
How to prep
- Get a good night’s sleep.
- Eat beforehand, and arrive hydrated.
- Wear comfortable clothes that make the tattoo area easy to get to.
- Avoid alcohol beforehand.
- Bring your ID, and bring reference pictures if you have them.
- If you’re unsure about placement or references, message ahead.
In the chair
What happens at the appointment
Tell your artist it’s your first so they can walk you through the process. Be open to sizing and placement advice so the piece ages well.
- Check in with your ID and sign the consent form.
- Go over the design and size with your artist.
- Your artist puts on the stencil, and you check the placement in the mirror before anything starts.
- Get tattooed.
- Your artist wraps it, usually with Second Skin. If you have an adhesive allergy, tell us and we’ll use Saran Wrap or Ink Beetle instead.
- You get a quick aftercare rundown before you leave.
After
Aftercare
Your artist will walk you through aftercare for your piece. In short: bandage off after 2–3 nights or the following morning, wash once a day with your hand, get it completely dry, and leave it alone until it flakes. Stay out of the water and the sun while it heals. If it didn’t heal right, touch-ups are free. Sun damage isn’t covered.
Good to know
First tattoo FAQ
Is Diamond Mind a good shop for a first tattoo?
Yes. First tattoos are welcome. Tell your artist it’s your first so they can walk you through the process.
Do you really do a free tattoo when I turn 18?
Yes. We offer a free tattoo in the first month after your 18th birthday. We want you to have a positive experience the first time.
Bring a valid photo ID. You have to be 18, and the free tattoo has to be booked in that first month. There’s a $25 deposit to hold the time, and we refund it when the tattoo is done. Please email us your reference and confirm your birth date before we accept the appointment.
Is there a size or design limit on the free tattoo?
Yes. The free tattoo covers up to the shop minimum, which is a 30-minute tattoo. It’s for the first month after you turn 18. Bring a valid ID, and there’s a $25 deposit that we refund when the tattoo is done. Email your reference ahead of time to diamondmindtattoo@hotmail.com so Tim can confirm your birthdate and make sure the design can be done in that time.
How old do I have to be?
18, with a valid photo ID.
How should I prepare?
Get a good night’s sleep, eat beforehand, and arrive hydrated. Wear comfortable clothes that make the tattoo area easy to get to. Avoid alcohol beforehand, and bring your ID.
Should I bring reference pictures?
Yes, bring them if you have them, and be open to sizing and placement advice so the piece ages well. If you’re unsure about placement or references, message ahead.
How much will it hurt?
Most people find it more uncomfortable than painful, and it depends a lot on placement. Bony spots like ribs, feet and spine usually hurt more, and the outer arm, forearm and thigh usually hurt less. Your artist can take breaks whenever you need one, and quality numbing cream is OK.
Can I use numbing cream?
Yes, as long as it’s a quality brand. We carry a couple at the shop, including NOTATTOOPAIN, which can last up to 2 to 3 hours. Cheap creams can make the skin rubbery and harder to tattoo.
Numbing lasts about as long as the cream was left on, so 30 minutes on is roughly 30 minutes numb. Put it on thick and cover it with plastic wrap. Your artist will take it off before starting.
How much does a first tattoo cost?
Small tattoos start at the shop minimum of $100, which covers 30 minutes of tattooing. Bigger pieces are priced by time, and your artist will give you a real estimate at a free consult: a free 15-minute consult for medium and large work, or a free 20-minute drawing appointment for sleeves, legs, or back pieces.
What if I need to reschedule?
Contact the shop as early as you can so we can help. You can call us at (508) 743-8462.
Ready when you are
Book your first tattoo
Diamond Mind Tattoo · 53 Main St, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532 · Mon–Sun 10am–6pm as listed on Square. More about the shop on our Cape Cod shop page. Traveling in? See travel.