Customer Guide
Welcome to InkLink — the all-in-one platform for discovering tattoo artists, booking appointments, purchasing flash designs, attending events, and connecting with the tattoo community. This guide covers everything you need to know as a customer.
What You Can Do as a Customer
Discover
Browse shops, artists, and portfolios. Search by name, location, or tattoo style.
Book Appointments
Request tattoo sessions or services with secure deposit payments.
Flash Designs
Reserve unique pre-drawn designs before anyone else.
Events
Attend competitions, courses, live streams, and community events.
Wallet
Manage your balance, redeem gift cards, and earn referral credits.
Social
Follow artists, like posts, watch stories, and message shops directly.
Creating Your Account
Setting up your InkLink customer account takes just a few minutes. Follow these steps to get started.
Download the App
Get InkLink from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). You can also use the web app at portal.inklinkup.com.
Choose a Sign-Up Method
You can register with your email address, phone number, or use social sign-in with Google, Apple, or Facebook. Social sign-in is the fastest way to get started.
Verify Your Identity
Enter the one-time verification code (OTP) sent to your email or phone number. This confirms your identity and secures your account.
Select "Customer" as Your Role
When prompted, choose the Customer role. This gives you access to the customer dashboard with booking, flash, events, and wallet features.
Complete Your Profile
Add your name, profile picture, and location. Your location helps InkLink recommend nearby shops and artists. You can update these details at any time from Settings.
Discovering Shops & Artists
InkLink makes it easy to find the right tattoo artist or studio for your next piece. The platform offers multiple ways to browse and discover talent.
Using the Home Feed
Your home feed is personalised based on your location, the artists you follow, and the styles you engage with. The feed displays posts, flash designs, and stories from artists and shops in your area and beyond. Scroll through to get inspired and discover new talent.
Search and Explore
Open the Search Tab
Tap the search icon in the bottom navigation bar to access the Explore screen.
Search by Name, Style, or Location
Type an artist name, shop name, city, or tattoo style (such as "realism", "fineline", "traditional", or "blackwork") into the search bar. Results update as you type.
Browse Results
Results are displayed as cards showing the artist or shop photo, name, location, and a preview of their work. Tap any card to view the full profile.
View the Full Profile
A shop or artist profile includes their portfolio, available flash designs, services offered, operating hours, address, ratings, and a button to start a booking.
What You'll Find on a Shop Profile
- Portfolio — a gallery of completed work posted by the shop's artists.
- Artists — the list of artists who work at the shop, each with their own profile.
- Services — non-tattoo services offered by the shop (piercings, laser removal, etc.).
- Flash Designs — pre-drawn designs available for reservation.
- Reviews — ratings and written reviews from previous customers.
- Location & Hours — the shop address with a map and operating hours.
- Contact — direct messaging to the shop.
Booking a Tattoo
Booking a tattoo on InkLink is a structured process that ensures both you and the artist are aligned before the session. Here is how the entire flow works from start to finish.
Step-by-Step Booking Process
Choose an Artist
Navigate to the artist's profile from a shop page, search results, or your feed. Tap the Book button to begin.
Describe Your Tattoo
Fill in the booking request form. Provide a description of the tattoo you want, including the style, size, placement on your body, and any reference images. The more detail you provide, the better the artist can prepare.
Select a Date and Time
Pick from the artist's available time slots. The calendar shows only open slots based on the artist's set availability and existing bookings.
Complete the Intake Form
If the shop has set up an intake form, you will be asked to fill it out. This typically includes health questions, allergies, and consent information required before your session.
Submit Your Request
Review all the details and submit your booking request. The request is now sent to the artist or shop for review. Your booking status is set to Requested.
Wait for the Shop's Response
The artist or shop will review your request. They may confirm it directly, or they may send a counter-offer with a different price, date, or details. You will receive a push notification when they respond.
Pay the Deposit
Once the booking is confirmed (or you accept a counter-offer), you will be asked to pay the deposit. The deposit amount is set by the shop and secures your appointment. Payment is handled securely through Stripe.
Attend Your Appointment
Show up at the scheduled date and time. The artist will mark the session as in-progress when your appointment begins.
Pay the Remaining Balance
After the session is complete, pay the remaining balance (total price minus the deposit you already paid). You can pay in-app via card or wallet balance, or pay in person at the shop.
Booking Statuses
Your tattoo booking moves through several statuses as it progresses. Here is what each one means.
Booking a Service
In addition to tattoos, many shops on InkLink offer other services such as piercings, laser tattoo removal, tooth gems, microblading, and more. Service bookings work slightly differently from tattoo bookings.
How to Book a Service
Navigate to the Shop Profile
Find a shop that offers the service you are looking for. The shop's profile page lists all available services under the Services section.
Select a Service
Tap on the service you want to book. You will see a description of the service, the price, the estimated duration, and the artist or staff member who performs it.
Pick a Date and Time
Choose from the available time slots. The calendar only shows slots when the assigned staff member is available.
Fill Out Any Intake Forms
Some services require you to complete a health or consent form before the appointment. Complete the form as part of the booking flow.
Pay the Deposit or Full Price
Depending on the shop's configuration, you may need to pay a deposit upfront or the full service price. Payment is processed securely via Stripe.
Attend Your Appointment
Arrive at the shop at your scheduled time. After the service is completed and any remaining balance is paid, the booking is marked as complete.
How Flash Works
Flash designs are pre-drawn tattoo designs created by artists and made available for customers to claim. Unlike custom tattoos where you describe what you want, flash designs are ready-to-ink pieces that you select from an artist's collection.
Key Concepts
- Flash Sheets — artists upload collections of flash designs, often grouped by theme or style. Each sheet contains one or more individual designs.
- One-of-a-Kind — some flash designs are marked as unique, meaning once someone reserves it, nobody else can get the same design. Others may be available to multiple customers.
- Fixed Price — each flash design has a set price determined by the artist. There is no negotiation or counter-offer process for flash.
- Reservation Window — when you reserve a flash design, you have a limited time to complete the booking and schedule your appointment. If you do not follow through, the reservation expires and the design becomes available again.
Where to Find Flash
You can discover flash designs in several places throughout the app:
- Artist Profiles — visit an artist's profile and look for their Flash section.
- Shop Profiles — shops display flash designs from all their artists in one place.
- Home Feed — artists may post their flash designs as regular posts. Tap the design to see if it is available for reservation.
- Explore / Search — search for flash designs by style or keyword.
Reserving a Flash Design
When you find a flash design you love, you can reserve it to secure it for yourself. Here is how the reservation process works.
Find a Design You Like
Browse flash designs from artist profiles, shop pages, or the explore feed. Tap on a design to see the full details including price, size, and availability.
Tap "Reserve"
If the design is available, tap the Reserve button. This places a hold on the design so no one else can claim it while you proceed.
Select Your Preferred Body Placement
Choose where on your body you would like the flash design placed. This helps the artist prepare for your session.
Pay the Deposit
Complete the deposit payment to lock in your reservation. The deposit amount is set by the artist and is deducted from the total flash price.
Schedule Your Appointment
Once reserved and paid, select a date and time from the artist's available slots. Your flash booking is now confirmed.
Get Inked
Show up at your appointment and the artist will tattoo the flash design. After the session, pay any remaining balance and leave a review.
Competitions
InkLink hosts tattoo competitions where artists submit their work and the community votes for winners. As a customer, you can participate by attending events, viewing entries, and casting your votes.
How Competitions Work
Browse Competitions
Open the Events tab and look for active competitions. Each competition has a theme, entry deadline, and voting period.
Purchase a Ticket (If Required)
Some competitions require a ticket to attend or vote. If a ticket is needed, you will see the price displayed on the event page. Purchase it directly through the app.
View Entries
Once the competition opens, browse all submitted entries. Each entry shows the artwork, the artist's name, and a description.
Cast Your Vote
During the voting period, select your favourite entries and submit your vote. Voting rules vary by competition — some allow one vote, others allow multiple.
See the Results
After the voting period ends, winners are announced on the event page. You will receive a notification if a competition you participated in has posted results.
Courses
Courses on InkLink are video-based tutorials created by experienced artists. They cover topics ranging from tattoo techniques and machine setup to business skills and aftercare advice. Courses can be free or paid.
Browsing and Purchasing Courses
Open the Events Tab
Navigate to the Events section and select the Courses category to see all available tutorials.
Browse Course Listings
Each course shows a title, description, instructor name, duration, and price. Free courses are clearly marked.
Purchase or Enrol
For paid courses, tap the purchase button. On iOS devices, payment is handled through Apple In-App Purchase. On Android and web, payment is processed through Stripe. Once purchased, the course is yours forever — there is no subscription or expiration.
Watch the Content
Access your purchased courses from the Courses tab. Videos are streamed directly in the app. You can pause, resume, and rewatch as many times as you want.
Live Streams
Live streams let you watch tattoo sessions, Q&A sessions, and demonstrations in real time. Artists and shops host live streams to showcase their work and interact with the community.
Joining a Live Stream
Find Upcoming Streams
Check the Events tab for scheduled live streams. Each listing shows the host, topic, date, time, and whether a ticket is required.
RSVP or Purchase a Ticket
Free streams let you RSVP to receive a reminder. Paid streams require a ticket purchase before you can join.
Join When It Goes Live
At the scheduled time, you will receive a notification. Open the event and tap to join the live stream. You can watch the video feed and participate in the live chat.
Classic Events
Classic events are in-person or online gatherings such as tattoo conventions, meet-and-greets, flash days, pop-up shops, and community meetups hosted by shops or artists.
Attending a Classic Event
Browse Events
Open the Events tab and look for classic events in your area. Each event listing shows the title, date, location, description, and ticket price (if applicable).
RSVP or Buy a Ticket
Free events allow you to RSVP, which adds the event to your calendar and sends you reminders. Paid events require purchasing a ticket through the app.
Attend the Event
Show up at the location on the specified date. For paid events, you may need to show your ticket (available in the app) at the door.
Types of Events You Might Find
Tattoo Conventions
Multi-day events with dozens of artists, live tattooing, vendor booths, and competitions.
Flash Days
Special days where shops offer walk-in flash tattoos at discounted prices. First come, first served.
Meet & Greets
Casual meetups where you can chat with artists, see their work up close, and discuss future projects.
Pop-Up Shops
Temporary events where guest artists tattoo at a host shop for a limited time.
Wallet Overview
Your InkLink Wallet is a digital balance you can use to pay for bookings, events, and other services within the app. The wallet makes payments faster and allows you to manage gift cards and referral credits in one place.
How the Wallet Works
- Balance — your wallet displays your current available balance. This can be used toward any payment in the app.
- Top Up — you can add funds to your wallet at any time using a credit or debit card. Funds are added instantly.
- Automatic Use — when making a payment, if you have a wallet balance, you can choose to use it. The wallet balance is applied first, and any remaining amount is charged to your card.
- Transaction History — view a full history of all wallet activity including deposits, payments, refunds, and gift card redemptions.
Gift Cards
InkLink gift cards are a great way to give someone the gift of ink. Recipients can use the gift card balance for any payment on the platform — bookings, flash designs, events, or services.
Purchasing a Gift Card
Open the Wallet Tab
Navigate to your Wallet and tap the Gift Cards section.
Choose an Amount
Select from pre-set amounts or enter a custom amount for the gift card.
Add a Personal Message
Optionally include a personalised message for the recipient.
Send or Share the Code
Complete the purchase and share the gift card code with the recipient. They can redeem it from their Wallet.
Redeeming a Gift Card
If you have received a gift card, go to your Wallet, tap "Redeem Gift Card", and enter the code. The balance will be added to your wallet immediately and can be used for any payment on InkLink.
Referral Credits
Earn credits by inviting friends to InkLink. When someone signs up using your referral link and completes their first booking, you both receive a credit added to your wallets.
How to Refer Friends
Find Your Referral Link
Go to your Profile or Wallet and tap "Refer a Friend". You will see your unique referral link and code.
Share It
Send your referral link to friends via message, email, or social media. They can use it to download and sign up for InkLink.
Earn Your Credit
Once your friend signs up and completes their first booking, the referral credit is automatically added to both your wallets.
Viewing Your Bookings
All your active and past bookings are accessible from the Bookings tab. This is your central hub for managing appointments, checking statuses, and reviewing payment history.
The Bookings Screen
- Upcoming — shows all confirmed bookings that are scheduled for the future. These are sorted by date, with the nearest appointment first.
- Pending — shows bookings that are in the "Requested" or "Counter" status and still need action from you or the shop.
- Past — shows completed and cancelled bookings. You can view the full details and payment history for any past booking.
What You'll See on a Booking Detail Page
- The artist and shop name
- The booking status with a visual indicator
- The date, time, and duration of the appointment
- The tattoo or service description and any reference images
- The price breakdown showing the deposit, remaining balance, and platform fee
- A timeline of all status changes and messages
- Action buttons (pay deposit, accept counter, cancel, reschedule, or message the shop)
Rescheduling
Life happens, and sometimes you need to move your appointment to a different date. InkLink supports rescheduling for confirmed bookings, subject to the shop's policies.
How to Reschedule
Open the Booking
Go to the Bookings tab and tap on the confirmed booking you need to reschedule.
Tap "Reschedule"
On the booking detail page, tap the Reschedule button. This opens the calendar with the artist's available time slots.
Select a New Date and Time
Pick a new time slot that works for you. The available slots reflect the artist's current schedule.
Confirm the Change
Review the new date and confirm. The shop will be notified of the schedule change and your booking will be updated.
Cancellation
You can cancel a booking at any time, but the refund terms depend on when you cancel and the shop's cancellation policy.
How to Cancel a Booking
Open the Booking
Navigate to the Bookings tab and select the booking you wish to cancel.
Tap "Cancel Booking"
On the booking detail page, tap the Cancel button. You will be shown a summary of the cancellation terms, including whether you are eligible for a refund.
Provide a Reason (Optional)
You may optionally provide a reason for the cancellation. This helps shops improve their service.
Confirm the Cancellation
Confirm that you want to cancel. The booking status changes to Cancelled and any applicable refund is processed.
Cancellation & Refund Rules
- Before deposit is paid — you can cancel freely with no charge. The booking is simply removed.
- After deposit, with sufficient notice — if you cancel before the shop's notice period (typically 48-72 hours before the appointment), you may receive a full or partial deposit refund to your wallet.
- Late cancellation — cancelling within the shop's notice window may result in forfeiting your deposit. This protects artists from last-minute no-shows.
- Shop-initiated cancellation — if the shop cancels your booking, you will always receive a full refund of your deposit to your wallet.
Payment Methods
InkLink supports multiple payment methods to give you flexibility when paying for bookings, events, and services.
Accepted Payment Methods
- Credit and Debit Cards — Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Cards are processed securely through Stripe. Your card details are never stored on InkLink servers.
- Apple Pay — available on iOS devices for a faster checkout experience.
- Google Pay — available on Android devices.
- InkLink Wallet — use your wallet balance (from top-ups, gift cards, referral credits, or refunds) toward any payment.
- Apple In-App Purchase — used specifically for purchasing courses on iOS devices, as required by Apple's guidelines.
Managing Your Payment Methods
You can add, remove, and manage your saved cards from the Payment Methods section in your account settings. InkLink stores only a tokenised reference to your card (the last four digits and expiry), while the actual card details are held securely by Stripe.
Deposits & Remaining Payments
Most tattoo bookings on InkLink use a two-part payment structure: a deposit paid upfront to secure the appointment, and a remaining payment made after the session is complete.
How It Works
- Deposit — the deposit is a percentage or fixed amount set by the shop. It is paid when you confirm your booking and guarantees your time slot. The deposit is non-refundable in case of late cancellation or no-show.
- Remaining Balance — the total price of the tattoo minus the deposit you already paid. This is charged after the session is marked as complete by the artist.
Example Breakdown
When Is the Remaining Balance Charged?
The remaining balance is not automatically charged. After the artist marks your session as complete, you will receive a notification to pay the remaining amount. You can pay through the app using your card or wallet balance. Some shops also accept in-person payment for the remaining balance.
Refunds
Refunds are processed in specific circumstances and are always credited to your InkLink Wallet.
When You May Receive a Refund
- Shop cancels your booking — you receive a full refund of your deposit to your wallet.
- You cancel with sufficient notice — depending on the shop's policy, you may receive a full or partial deposit refund.
- Event cancellation — if an event you purchased a ticket for is cancelled by the organiser, you receive a full refund to your wallet.
- Duplicate payment — if a payment is accidentally processed twice, the duplicate amount is refunded to your wallet.
Refund Timeline
Wallet refunds are processed instantly. The credited amount appears in your wallet balance immediately and can be used for any future payment on InkLink.
Platform Fees
InkLink charges a small platform fee on transactions to cover payment processing, infrastructure, and platform maintenance. This fee is charged to you as the customer and is included in your payment total.
What the Fee Covers
- Secure payment processing via Stripe
- Booking management and scheduling infrastructure
- Customer support and dispute resolution
- Platform development and maintenance
Where the Fee Applies
The platform fee is applied to all experience types on InkLink:
- Tattoo bookings (charged on the remaining payment)
- Service bookings
- Flash design reservations
- Event tickets (competitions, courses, live streams, classic events)
How the Fee Is Displayed
The platform fee is always shown as a separate line item in your payment summary before you confirm. You will never be surprised by a hidden charge — the total amount including the fee is displayed clearly at checkout.
Receipts
InkLink provides digital receipts for every transaction you make on the platform.
Accessing Your Receipts
- From the booking detail page — open any past booking and scroll to the payment section. Your receipt is available to view and download.
- From your wallet history — your wallet transaction log shows every payment with a receipt link.
- Via email — a receipt is automatically sent to your registered email address after every payment.
What's Included on a Receipt
- Transaction date and time
- Shop and artist name
- Service or booking description
- Itemised breakdown: deposit, remaining balance, platform fee, and total
- Payment method used (card ending, wallet, or Apple/Google Pay)
- A unique transaction reference number
Posts
Your home feed is filled with posts from the artists and shops you follow. Posts are how the tattoo community shares completed work, inspiration, announcements, and behind-the-scenes content.
Interacting with Posts
- Like — tap the heart icon to like a post. Liked posts are saved to your profile for easy reference later.
- Comment — tap the comment icon to leave a comment. You can also reply to other people's comments.
- Save — tap the bookmark icon to save a post to your collection. Saved posts are accessible from your profile.
- Share — share a post with friends via direct message or copy the link to share outside the app.
Discovering Content
The Explore screen features trending posts, popular artists, and content curated based on your interests. Tap on any post to view it in full, and from there you can visit the artist's profile, browse their portfolio, or start a booking.
Stories
Stories are short-lived photo or video updates that disappear after 24 hours. Artists and shops use stories to share quick updates, time-lapse videos of tattoo sessions, flash previews, and daily life at the studio.
Viewing Stories
- Stories appear at the top of your home feed as circular profile pictures.
- Tap on a story circle to start watching. Tap the right side of the screen to skip to the next story, or the left side to go back.
- Swipe left to move to the next person's stories.
- Stories with new content you have not seen are highlighted with a coloured ring.
Replying to Stories
While viewing a story, you can tap the message field at the bottom to send a direct reply to the creator. This opens a private message thread between you and the poster.
Messaging
InkLink has a built-in messaging system that lets you communicate directly with shops and artists. This is useful for discussing booking details, asking questions, sharing reference images, and more.
Starting a Conversation
From a Profile
Visit any shop or artist profile and tap the message icon to start a conversation.
From a Booking
Open a booking detail page and tap the message button to discuss details about your specific appointment.
From the Messages Tab
Open the Messages tab from the bottom navigation to see all your conversations. Tap any conversation to continue it, or start a new one.
What You Can Send
- Text messages
- Photos and reference images
- Quick replies and reactions
Following
Follow artists and shops to stay updated with their latest posts, stories, flash designs, and events. Following is one-directional — the person you follow does not need to follow you back for you to see their content.
How to Follow
- Visit any artist or shop profile and tap the Follow button.
- You can also follow someone from a post by tapping the follow button next to their name.
- To unfollow, visit their profile and tap Following to toggle it off.
What Following Gets You
- Their new posts and stories appear in your home feed.
- You receive notifications when they post new flash designs (if you have notifications enabled).
- You receive notifications for new events they create.
- Their content is prioritised in your Explore feed.
Managing Who You Follow
View your full following list from your profile page. Tap "Following" to see everyone you follow, and unfollow anyone you no longer want updates from.
Notifications
InkLink sends notifications to keep you informed about your bookings, messages, events, and social activity. You have full control over which notifications you receive.
Types of Notifications
- Booking Updates — when a shop responds to your request, sends a counter-offer, confirms your booking, or changes your appointment status.
- Payment Reminders — reminders to pay your deposit or remaining balance.
- Messages — when you receive a new message from a shop or artist.
- Flash Alerts — when an artist you follow posts a new flash design.
- Event Reminders — reminders before events you have RSVP'd to or purchased tickets for.
- Social Activity — when someone likes your comment, follows you, or replies to your comment.
Managing Notification Preferences
Go to Settings and tap Notifications. You can toggle individual notification categories on or off. You can also control whether notifications are sent as push notifications, email, or both.
Settings
Your account settings let you manage your personal information, preferences, and security options.
Profile Settings
- Edit Profile — update your name, username, bio, and profile picture.
- Location — set or update your location. This is used for discovering nearby shops and artists.
- Time Format — choose between 12-hour and 24-hour time display throughout the app.
Security Settings
- Change Password — update your account password. If you signed up with social login, you can set a password to enable email + password login as well.
- Email Preferences — control which types of emails you receive from InkLink.
Account Actions
- Log Out — sign out of your account on the current device.
- Delete Account — permanently delete your InkLink account and all associated data including bookings, messages, and wallet balance. This action cannot be undone.
Help & Support
If you run into any issues or have questions that are not covered in this guide, there are several ways to get help.
In-App Bug Reporting
If you encounter a bug or something is not working correctly, use the in-app bug report feature. Go to Settings, tap "Report a Bug", and describe the issue. You can attach screenshots and your device information is automatically included to help us diagnose the problem faster.
Email Support
For general questions, account issues, or payment concerns, email us at support@inklinkup.com. Our support team typically responds within 24 hours on business days.
Feature Requests
Have an idea for improving InkLink? We welcome feature requests and community feedback. Submit and vote on features at inklinkup.com/feature-requests.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I change my role from Customer to Artist? — Yes. Go to Settings and tap "Switch Role". You may need to complete additional profile setup for the new role.
- Can I book at a shop that is not on InkLink? — No. InkLink bookings are only available for shops and artists registered on the platform.
- What happens if an artist does not show up? — Contact the shop through messaging. If the appointment cannot be fulfilled, the shop should cancel the booking and you will receive a full deposit refund to your wallet.
- Can I pay in cash? — Deposits and event tickets must be paid through the app. The remaining balance after a tattoo session can be paid in person at the shop, depending on the shop's policies.
- Is my payment information secure? — Yes. InkLink does not store your card details. All payments are processed through Stripe, a PCI-compliant payment processor trusted by millions of businesses worldwide.