Blackout Tattoo Artist in Bristol

I'm Si, a blackout and blackwork tattoo artist in Bristol. I work from a private studio in Bristol, by appointment only, and solid-black blackout work is a big part of what I do.

A blackout is solid black over part of the body, a forearm, a sleeve, part of a leg, a hand. It's a bold look, it ages really well, and it's one of the best ways to cover heavy old ink. It also takes skill to pack the black solid and even, which is why it's worth going to someone who does it a lot.

What a blackout tattoo is

A blackout is exactly what it sounds like, an area filled completely with solid black, no design inside it. People go for it for the look on its own, and they go for it to bury old work they're done with. Dark covers dark, so a blackout hides heavy old ink more reliably than almost anything else.

What I take on:

• Blackout sleeves and half-sleeves
• Leg and calf blackouts
• Hand, chest and shoulder blackouts
• Blackouts to cover old or unwanted tattoos
• Blackouts combined with geometric or negative-space panels

See more finished pieces, with real session counts, on my Work page.

Split over sessions for easier healing

A blackout is a lot of solid black in one area, so it's harder to sit through and harder to heal than a small piece. That's why I usually split a bigger blackout over two or three sessions rather than doing it all in one go. It keeps the sitting manageable and, more importantly, it makes the healing far easier.

Blackouts heal more like a big graze than a small tattoo. I'll take you through the full aftercare in the chair, dry healing, keeping it clean and dry early on, and how to look after it week by week. There's a complete guide here: how to heal a blackwork or blackout tattoo.

Blackout as a cover-up

About half my work is cover-ups and blast-overs, and a blackout is one of the cleanest ways to deal with heavy old ink. If you've got dark, dense or messy old work you just want gone, a blackout buries it in solid black. If you'd rather have a new design over the old tattoo instead of solid black, that's a blackwork cover-up or blast-over, and I do plenty of those too. Send me a clear photo and I'll tell you honestly which suits what you've got.

Is a blackout right for you?

A blackout is a big commitment. Solid black is very hard to remove with laser later, so treat it as permanent, choose it because you love the look, not just as a quick fix. If you're not sure, that's what the consultation is for. I'll be straight with you about whether a blackout, a blast-over, or a different approach is the better call for what you want.

Blackout in the spotlight

Blackout has had a lot of attention lately. Machine Gun Kelly went viral for his upper-body blackout, and Chris Daughtry blacked out his arms not long after, both done by the artist Roxx. That put solid black in front of a much bigger audience, and it's part of why more people are asking about it now.

It's a bold look, and it's not a quick job. Chris Daughtry's took around forty hours over seven days. That's the nature of a big blackout, every inch has to be packed solid and even, which is exactly why it's worth going to someone who does it a lot. I wouldn't recommend doing a big one in a single sitting, though. I split mine over a few sessions, it's easier on you to sit through and it heals far better.

My process

Every piece is custom, so it starts with a consultation. Consultations are free, on the first two Saturdays of each month, in person at the studio or over video. We go through your idea, placement and size, and if it's a cover-up, what you've already got.

I plan the piece around the placement, then tattoo it over one or more sessions depending on size. I work fast, and I pack the black solid and even so it settles dark and clean.

The studio

I work from a private studio in Bristol, by appointment only. It's private and one-to-one, you get the space and the full session to yourself, which suits big blackout work.

The studio's easy to reach from across Bristol, including Redland, Cotham and the wider BS8 and BS6 area, and plenty of people travel in from further across the UK for bigger pieces. It's a three-minute walk from Clifton Downs station, and if you drive, I sort you a parking permit.

Common questions

What is a blackout tattoo?

A blackout tattoo is solid black coverage over part of the body, a forearm, a sleeve, part of a leg, a hand. No design inside it, just clean solid black. It's a bold look and one of the best ways to cover heavy old ink.

Does a blackout tattoo hurt?

It's a lot of solid black, so some placements are more sensitive than others. It's manageable, and I split larger blackouts over two or three sessions, which makes both the sitting and the healing much easier.

How long does a blackout tattoo take to heal?

Usually around two weeks. A blackout heals more like a big graze than a small tattoo, so I dry heal it and keep it clean and dry early on. I give you the full day-by-day routine in the chair, and there's a full aftercare guide on the site.

Can you blackout over an old tattoo?

Yes. Dark covers dark, so a blackout is one of the most reliable ways to bury heavy old work you don't want anymore. Send me a clear photo of what you've got and I'll tell you what's possible.

How many sessions does a blackout sleeve take?

I usually split a full blackout sleeve over two or three sessions. It's a lot of solid black in one area, and splitting it keeps the healing manageable.

Can a blackout tattoo be removed later?

It's very hard to remove solid black with laser, so treat a blackout as permanent. Choose it because you love the look. If you want a design over old ink instead, a blast-over or cover-up might suit you better, tell me your idea and I'll be straight with you.

How do I book a blackout tattoo in Bristol?

Message me on Instagram (@si_tattoos) or use the booking link with your idea. We start with a free consultation, then a deposit secures your dates. I book ahead, so there's usually a wait, get in touch and we'll sort dates.

About Si

I'm Si, a custom blackwork, geometric and blackout tattoo artist in Bristol. I've been tattooing for over ten years, working alone from a private studio on bold custom pieces. There's behind-the-scenes work and full aftercare on my YouTube, including a full day-by-day heal of one of my own blackouts, and my latest pieces on Instagram.