Key Takeaways
- Pre-booking conversation matters: Ask about timing, design preferences, and experience level before scheduling.
- Scheduling options: Back-to-back, simultaneous (two artists), or split days each have pros and cons.
- Complementary > identical: Designs that work independently often age better than exact matches.
- Double the aftercare: Two fresh tattoos means two supplies and separate instructions for each partner.
- Know when to redirect: Hesitant partners, recent relationships, or pressure situations are red flags.
Valentine’s season brings a predictable wave: couples wanting matching tattoos. Hearts, coordinates, initials, puzzle pieces, you name it. Some have been planning for months. Some booked yesterday after a romantic dinner and too much wine.
Both types need the same thing from you: professional guidance that results in two great pieces, not two regrets.
Here’s what experienced artists know about handling couple sessions.
The Pre-Booking Conversation
Before you schedule anything, have a real conversation. Not just about design, but about expectations.
Questions to ask:
- “Have you both wanted this for a while, or is this a recent idea?” (Gauges impulse factor)
- “Are you thinking identical or complementary?” (Sets design direction)
- “Have either of you been tattooed before?” (Tells you who needs more hand-holding)
- “Who’s going first?” (Gets this awkward decision out of the way early)
The goal isn’t to talk them out of it. It’s to make sure they’ve thought it through. Couples who’ve discussed it beforehand make better clients than couples figuring it out in your chair.
Scheduling Strategy
You have options for how to handle couple sessions:
Back-to-back same day: Most common. One partner goes, then the other. Works well for small pieces (under 2 hours each).
Advantage: They share the experience together. Challenge: The second person waits. And watches. Sometimes that’s fine. Sometimes it psychs them out.
Simultaneous (two artists): If you work with a partner or in a shop, you can tattoo both at once.
Advantage: True shared experience. Same aftercare timeline. Challenge: Requires coordination. Design consistency can vary between artists.
Split across two days: Each gets their own session.
Advantage: Less waiting, less fatigue. Challenge: Feels less “romantic” to some couples. Different aftercare timelines.
There’s no wrong answer. Just make sure they understand what they’re signing up for.
Managing the Non-Tattooed Partner
When one person is in the chair, the other is… there. Watching. Waiting. Sometimes helping, sometimes not.
Set ground rules early:
- “You’re welcome to hold their hand, but stay out of my sightline.”
- “Questions are fine. Commentary on my work while I’m working is not.”
- “If you feel faint watching, sit down. No shame in it.”
Some partners are great support. Others get in the way. A quick, friendly conversation about expectations prevents awkward moments mid-session.
Design Considerations for Matching Pieces
Matching doesn’t have to mean identical. In fact, complementary designs often age better and feel more personal.
Options to present:
- Identical: Same design, same placement. Classic approach.
- Mirrored: Same design, opposite orientation (left/right).
- Split: Two halves that form a whole when together.
- Themed: Same style, different elements (matching flowers but different species).
- His/hers variations: Same concept, personalized touches.
Push gently toward complementary if the couple seems open to it. Two pieces that work independently but connect together tend to hold up better over time, especially if the relationship doesn’t.
(Yeah, we have to think about that. Don’t say it out loud, but design accordingly.)
Aftercare for Two
Here’s where things get practical. Two fresh tattoos in the same household means:
- Twice the aftercare product needed
- Two people who might compare their progress (and panic if one looks different)
- Potential for one person to slack on aftercare because the other is handling theirs fine
What to tell them:
“You’ll both follow the same aftercare routine, but your tattoos might look different at different stages. That’s normal. Everyone recovers at their own pace. Don’t compare day by day. Focus on following the instructions.”
Give each person their own aftercare card. Even if they’re sharing a tube of product, separate instructions prevent the “I thought you were doing it” problem.
The Aftercare Product Conversation
Couples are an easy sell for aftercare kits because they naturally need two of everything anyway.
“I recommend [your product]. You’ll each want your own supply. Using the same jar with two fresh tattoos isn’t ideal for hygiene reasons.”
This isn’t upselling. It’s good practice. Two clean applications from two clean supplies.
Tattoo Luv works great for couples because the instructions are simple and identical for both partners. No confusion, no “but yours says something different” conversations.
When to Gently Discourage
Not every couple should get matching tattoos. Part of your job is recognizing red flags:
- One person is clearly driving, the other is hesitant: “Maybe just one of you today, see how it feels?”
- Name tattoos for a recent relationship: “Have you considered something symbolic instead of literal?”
- Intoxication: Don’t tattoo anyone who’s been drinking. Period.
- Pressure: If one person is pressuring the other, that’s a hard no.
You’re not their therapist, but you also don’t want to be the artist who gave them matching tattoos a week before they broke up. Your work is your portfolio. Protect it.
Valentine’s Rush Tips
February gets busy. Some practical ways to handle the increased couple traffic:
- Require deposits: Valentine’s cancellations happen. Protect your time.
- Extend your booking window: If you only book 2 weeks out, consider opening February earlier.
- Have flash sheets ready: Pre-designed couple options speed up consultations.
- Stock up on supplies: Two clients per session means twice the aftercare walking out the door.
Making It Special
Little touches that make couple sessions memorable (and get you referrals):
- Take a photo of them together showing their fresh ink
- Offer to tag them when you post the work (with permission)
- Write both names on the aftercare cards
- Congratulate them genuinely
Couple tattoos are often celebrating something: an anniversary, an engagement, a shared milestone. Acknowledge that. It takes five seconds and creates loyal clients.
Set Couples Up for Success
The right aftercare makes the difference between “we love our tattoos” and “mine didn’t turn out right.”
Tattoo Luv Couples Kit: Two full-size bars, enough for both partners through the entire aftercare period. Same product, same instructions, same results.
Resources for Artists
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Questions? Reach out at [email protected]
Tattoo Luv is made by Momma Bears Creations in Enola, PA. Professional-grade, 100% natural, trusted by Central PA artists.