Arcane Tattoo & Piercing

Arcane Tattoo & Piercing is an independent tattoo and body piercing studio on the lower ground floor of 28 Exchange Street East, in Liverpool city centre. It is close to Moorfields station and the commercial streets around Dale Street, Castle Street and Old Hall Street. The studio opened in 2021 and is open seven days a week.

Arcane describes itself as a smaller, more personal alternative to a high-volume tattoo shop. It welcomes experienced collectors, and it puts particular weight on making first-time clients comfortable asking questions before anything starts.

Tattoos

The studio works across fine line, realism, portrait work, traditional, blackwork and colour, and takes on custom designs and larger bespoke pieces. Clients do not need a finished design. Arcane accepts anything from detailed references to a rough idea, and develops the concept, style, size and placement with the client before tattooing begins.

The tattoo artist is Leon Mercur, who has 21 years of experience and works in fine line, traditional, watercolour and realism, among other styles.

Consultations can be arranged before committing to a tattoo. They are most useful for larger pieces, detailed custom designs, cover-ups, or anyone who wants to talk through placement and scale first. The studio asks people to send ideas and reference images on WhatsApp.

First tattoos

First-time clients are welcome. Before starting, the artist positions the stencil so you can see the proposed size and placement and check you are happy with it. You can ask for breaks during the session, and aftercare advice is given once the tattoo is finished. The studio suggests eating a proper meal and staying hydrated beforehand, avoiding alcohol the night before, and wearing clothing that gives easy access to the area being tattooed.

Tattoo pricing and touch-ups

There is no single fixed price. The cost depends on size, complexity, placement, design, amount of detail and estimated tattooing time. Arcane says it gives a clear quote once the artist understands what is needed. For an accurate price, send the design or idea, the approximate size and the proposed placement before booking.

Touch-ups needed as part of normal healing can be included with the original booking. The studio asks clients to get in touch after the tattoo has healed if they think an area needs attention, rather than judging the result in the early healing stage.

Body piercing

Piercing is carried out by Denisa Mercur, who has more than six years of professional piercing experience. The studio offers ear piercings (lobe, helix, conch, tragus, daith, rook, snug and other cartilage placements) and facial and body piercings (nostril, septum, lip and oral, navel, surface and advanced piercings). If you want a placement that is not listed, contact the studio first.

Custom ear curation

An ear curation plans several piercings and jewellery placements together, so the layout works as one design rather than a set of separate piercings. Depending on anatomy and the placements involved, several may be possible in one appointment. The piercer advises how many are appropriate at once.

Jewellery

Arcane uses implant-grade titanium jewellery for initial piercings. Clients cannot normally bring their own jewellery for a fresh piercing, because the studio uses its own to control material quality and sterility. Once a piercing has fully healed, you can change the jewellery and ask the studio for advice on alternatives.

Healing times

Arcane gives these approximate guides. They are general estimates, not guaranteed healing times, and the studio gives individual aftercare instructions after each piercing.

Booking, walk-ins and cancellations

The main booking method is WhatsApp. For a tattoo, send your idea, any reference images, the approximate size, where you want it, the style you prefer and any dates you have in mind. For a piercing, say which piercing or placements you are interested in. Tattoo bookings are on 07885 576 240 and piercing bookings on 07360 210 971.

Walk-ins are welcome when there is availability, but appointments take priority. If you are travelling into Liverpool specifically, message first to check whether a tattooist or piercer has space.

If plans change, tell the studio on WhatsApp as early as you can. Arcane asks for at least 48 hours' notice where possible, and says repeated or last-minute cancellations may affect your ability to rebook in busy periods.

Age and ID

You must be 18 or over to be tattooed, and should bring valid photo ID: a passport, a driving licence or a PASS-accredited proof-of-age card. The studio may decline to carry out the procedure if suitable ID cannot be provided.

Piercing age limits depend on the type and location of the piercing. Some may be available under 18 with the appropriate parent or guardian present and consent requirements met. If you are booking for someone under 18, contact Arcane before travelling.

Hygiene and aftercare

Arcane says it is a licensed Liverpool tattoo and piercing studio that follows aseptic working practices, with single-use sterile equipment where appropriate and full sterilisation of reusable equipment between clients. If you have a medical condition, an allergy, a medication issue or a previous piercing complication, discuss it with the studio and take medical advice where appropriate before the procedure.

For tattoos, the studio's general advice is to wash gently with warm water and unscented soap, use only the recommended amount of aftercare product, avoid picking flaking skin or scabs, avoid prolonged soaking, swimming pools and sea water while it heals, keep a fresh tattoo out of strong sunlight, and use sun protection once healed.

For piercings, clean with sterile saline as instructed, avoid alcohol and harsh cleaning products, do not twist or move the jewellery unnecessarily, avoid sleeping on a new piercing where possible, keep cosmetics, perfume and hair products away from it, and do not change the jewellery before it has healed enough. If you see significant or worsening redness, heat, swelling, pain or unusual discharge, get professional or medical advice rather than simply removing the jewellery. Where the instructions you were given at your appointment differ from this general advice, follow the appointment instructions.

Finding the studio

Arcane is at Lower Ground Floor, 28 Exchange Street East, Liverpool L2 3PH, a short walk from Moorfields station in the city centre. Opening hours can change on bank holidays, so check with the studio before making a special journey. Because the studio is on the lower ground floor, contact them before visiting if you have access requirements.