Tough Luck

Est. 2005 Lewes, Delaware

Welcome to Tough Luck

We hope you love your time here as much as we do. Down below is Our Story, General Information, our Artists, and some Frequently Asked Questions. Don’t forget to click on the “Read Bio” button under each artists’ name to see their personal page with work included!

We currently offer both tattoo and piercing services

We look forward to working with you!

Our Story

Tough Luck was established 2005 by owner Kristopher Dilworth, and remains one of the longest standing tattoo shops in the area. We are a proud winner of Best of Delaware downstate tattoo shop for 2015, 2018 and 2023.

General Information

Scheduling Process

We always encourage all of our clients to research both tattoo shops and artists before deciding to get a tattoo/piercing!

Yes, we take walk-ins, on a first come first served basis. If you want to ensure you have a spot, we suggest that clients schedule an appointment. You can either click that contact us button, give us an email at toughlucklewes@gmail.com or give us a call at (302) 644 -8001.

We ask that all clients provide us with the name of the piercing they want to get or some general information about the tattoo they are looking to get, including approximate size and location of the tattoo as well as a reference picture (if applicable). Please also include if this will be in black and grey or in color and if you have a preferred artist.

Don’t forget you phone number so we can give you a call!

Once we get all of that information, we will go forward with the scheduling process. Here we will ask you what your availability looks like - we are closed Mondays and Tuesdays (with appointment by request on Tuesdays with some artists) and take appointments at either 12:30 or 4:30 Wednesday - Sunday. Our piercer Olivia is here Tuesdays & Thursdays taking appointments/walk-ins from 12-7.

Once we lock in a date and time we take down a non-refundable $50(+) deposit (for tattoos ONLY) to hold your spot for the appointment. This can be over the phone, in person, or via email.

Appointments CANNOT be made without a deposit.

As simple as that - you have an appointment! Do not hesitate to give us a call or email with any questions prior to an appointment.

Frist Timer?

We love doing first time tattoos! Welcome to the club!

Simply follow the instructions with the scheduling process and include any questions you may have specific to you! (This may include health related questions i.e. if you have diabetes, are pregnant or breast feeding)

General advise for EVERYONE - eat at least a couple of hours before your tattoo, stay hydrated, and get plenty of sleep! Treat your body right, just as we hope you do any other day. Please show up clean and sober for your appointment, as doing otherwise can affect your tattoo and tattoo experience.

If you are a first timer, who is a little nervous, and would like to be walked through the experience, let us know! We often take our time to bring the client with us as we set up for the appointment, walking them through exactly what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. Something we don’t usually do for “normal” appointments or seasoned veterans, but will absolutely do for anyone who is nervous or curious!

We want all of our clients at Tough Luck to have a wonderful experience to keep them coming back for more!

At the end of the day, regardless of how you feel about us, we want you to love tattooing just as much as we do.

If you are a first timer and have anymore questions or would like anymore clarification, please let us know when you contact us for a walk-in or to schedule an appointment!

Meet the Artists

Frequently Asked Questions

Whats the shop minimum?

Our shop minimum is $100.

Do we accept cash or card?

Simple answer; both! But cash is king, and we do have a Square swipe fee of 2.75%. If you want to save your ass, bring some cash!

Do you take walk-ins?

All day everyday! Walk-ins are welcome on a first come first served basis. We recommend that clients schedule an appointment if they want to be certain they will have a spot for the day!

Do we offer piercing services?

Yes, we do! We do NOT preform piercings on anyone under the age of 16. Please checkout our booking page for all inquires, or give us a call with any questions!

Our piercer is ONLY available Tuesdays and Thursdays

How does pricing work?

Great question! Since every piece is created differently, we don’t generally like to give estimates over the phone. There is a lot to consider when determining the price of a tattoo. With that being said; we usually price by the piece, and do not charge by the hour. However, in the case of a sleeve or a back piece, our artists are $150/hr.

How old do I have to be to get tattooed/ pierced at Tough Luck?

Our absolute minimum age is 16 years old. Please email or call us and we can give you the run down. Notarized Paperwork will be required, so we will send that over to you as well!

Can I bring people with me?

Yes! Absolutely! We do ask that each client brings a maximum of two emotional support people along with them. This allows everyone in the shop to have a comfortable experience.

What about “Deposits” ???

We ask that ALL clients leave a non-refundable $50 deposit (or more) when scheduling an appointment. This will come off of the final price of the tattoo. Again, this is NON-REFUNDABLE. It is transferable as long as you call within 24 hours of your appointment to let us know that you won’t be able to make it. Our artist’s depend on your appointment to put food on the table for themselves, their kids, and their cats. Thats why they are important!

How much are sleeves of bigger pieces ?

Full on sleeves or larger pieces, such as back pieces, we generally tell people to at least have close to $1,000 ready. Our artists work hard, please keep our hourly rate of $150 in mind! We always recommend asking us how many sessions it might take, this can give you a better idea at ball park ranges.

Are books open?

Yes! We will always try our absolute best to fit you in our schedule, as soon as possible!

Do we offer tattoo removal services?

We do not currently offer any removal services.

Can I bring my dog or child with me?

Per Delaware law, we are not allowed to have children or animals in the establishment. Thank you!

Touch-ups?

As long as you got your tattoo here, we offer free touch-ups. Please contact the shop and we will set something up for you!