If you're looking for where to get tattooed in Santo Domingo, whether you live here, you're visiting or you're back to see family, there are questions worth asking at any studio before you book, not just at NARA. Here they are, with how I answer them myself.
Who's actually going to do your piece?
At some studios, the person you talk to isn't the one who ends up tattooing you. Ask directly whether there's rotation between artists, or a flash catalog to pick from. At NARA, there isn't: the same person talks through the idea, draws the line work and executes it, from the first consultation to the last dot. That continuity is what keeps the result matching what was discussed, and it's a reasonable question to ask anywhere you're considering getting tattooed.
What hygiene protocol can you actually verify, not just be told about?
Single-use materials for every session, disinfected surfaces, a station built from scratch before each piece, and every supply logged per session. None of that should be exceptional at any studio, and it's fair to ask to see it rather than just hear about it. At NARA it's the standard protocol.
Is walk-in service available, or does everything go through a consultation first?
The atelier works by appointment only. The consultation and the session are arranged in advance over WhatsApp or through the form, and the time is agreed when you book. If a studio tells you that you can walk in and get tattooed the same day with no prior conversation, it's worth asking how they're deciding the scope of your piece without having seen your skin. That conversation is what prevents surprises on price or time later.
How do you get there, and what should you expect on arrival?
This one is practical. NARA is on the 3rd floor of Plaza Giardino, Ensanche Julieta. There's no street-level storefront: you walk in and go up, and the wooden sign at the entrance confirms you're in the right place. Parking at the plaza is shared and fills up at certain hours, so if you're driving, plan to arrive a few minutes early. And if you're getting tattooed that day, come having eaten. A session on an empty stomach runs longer than it should.
Will you be alone with the person tattooing you, or is there a crowd?
At NARA only one person is booked at a time, so you'll most likely be alone with Melody for the whole consultation and session. There's no crowded waiting room and no loud music. The space is set up for talking through a piece calmly before starting it. It's another fair question at any studio: how many people will be around while someone works on your skin.
What if you're just visiting, not living here?
It's worth asking the same questions, plus one more: whether the studio can coordinate with you before you arrive, not only once you're already in the country with just a few days to spare. At NARA, the consultation and the session are arranged over WhatsApp or through the form from wherever you are. If you're visiting or coming back to see family, we can work through the idea, placement and references ahead of time, and leave the in-person consultation for once you're in Santo Domingo. The process is the same; only the first part happens earlier.
What happens after the session, not just before?
Ask about the after, too: whether you get written aftercare instructions before you leave, or verbal ones you're likely to forget halfway home. At NARA you leave with the written guide that same day. If something doesn't look right in the weeks that follow, there's a direct channel to send a photo and get an answer quickly.
Let's start with a conversation
You don't have to decide today where to get tattooed. Walk into any consultation, ours included, with these questions ready. If you want to see NARA, write to me with your idea, placement and references, and book your consultation.
More on how to get here and on the tattoo service.