Claudio Traina, owner of the London-based tattoo studio Sixty Ink, has built a career in tattooing spanning more than a decade, attracting a diverse clientele that includes well-known musicians such as Doja Cat and James Arthur. Over the years, Traina has observed a significant shift in the demographics of those seeking tattoos, noting that professionals like bankers and lawyers have become common clients, along with older individuals making their first foray into tattoo art—sometimes choosing large, bold designs.

Traina recounts a recent experience with an octogenarian woman who requested an extensive tattoo of butterflies covering half her leg. The client explained that after the passing of a relative who would have disapproved, she felt free to get the tattoo she had always wanted. This exemplifies how tattoos often carry personal meaning or commemorate significant life events, a point Traina emphasizes. He notes that approximately 95% of the tattoos he creates hold a deeper story or emotional significance, ranging from celebrations to memorials.

When working with newcomers, Traina employs a gentle approach to alleviate initial fears, beginning with light skin contact before proceeding with the actual tattoo. Despite his familiarity with pain thresholds through years of experience, he admits being the worst patient himself, recounting his own struggles with pain during tattoo sessions on his arm.

In terms of process, Traina guides clients who bring in ideas that may not translate well onto skin, using stencils applied to the skin to visualize and adjust designs before starting the tattooing process. He highlights advancements in tattoo equipment over the years, shifting from traditional heavy and noisy coil machines to more precise, electric rotary machines that operate with greater efficiency.

Traina also addresses concerns about the profession’s standards and regulations. Having trained in Italy, where a medical qualification is required and tattooists receive formal education on skin conditions, allergies, and first aid, he contrasts this with the more loosely regulated environment in the UK, where obtaining a local council license is sufficient to practice. He expresses concern about inexperienced individuals performing tattooing, sometimes causing lasting damage requiring hospital treatment.

He maintains ethical boundaries in his practice, refusing to create tattoos with political or hateful content and declining requests for tattoos in private areas, which he finds inappropriate. Among his more challenging projects was a full-back tribal geometric tattoo on a professional bodybuilder, a task complicated by the subject’s steroid-hardened skin that required nearly a year of monthly sessions to complete.

Traina describes tattoo artists as not only skilled practitioners but also confidants, as clients often share intimate stories during sessions. He reflects on the physical toll that tattooing takes, requiring intense focus on minute details for extended hours, resulting in physical fatigue and mental exhaustion at the end of the day.

Clients typically pay from £150 for small tattoos requiring about an hour, with larger works starting at £600 per day, reflecting the time and precision involved.

Ultimately, Traina finds fulfillment in witnessing his clients’ appreciation, noting the pride they feel when their tattoos are admired publicly. For him, tattoos represent unique, permanent art that people carry with them, symbolizing personal stories and transformations.