Questions & Answers
These are the most commonly asked questions I get. If your question is not listed below or if you need more clarification, please send me an email and I'd be more than happy to help!
Can I bring a friend/moral support person? Of course you can! We have plenty of space in the studio for them to relax and enjoy the experience as well. I do ask that you don't bring more than one person though.
Can I get tattooed if I am sunburnt in the area I'm looking to get my tattoo? No, I cannot tattoo over sunburns. Your skin is already damaged, and if I were to tattoo over that it would only damage the skin further. Along with that, I can not guarantee the healing process will go as smoothly/regularly.
What happens if I can't use Dermshield/Saniderm to heal my tattoo? I have a section in my aftercare tab about Dermshield/Saniderm and what to do if you can't use it. Scroll to the top and click on Aftercare and that will answer this for you!
What do I need to bring to my appointment? Your ID, maybe some sugary snacks or lunch if its a full day sitting, a blanket/sweatshirt, layering clothing during the winter time (the studio sometimes gets HOT), a charger, headphones, anything you may want as entertainment to pass the time or to make you more comfortable. We do have a small assortment of snacks and beverages for your enjoyment :)
What if I have a service dog? If you have a service dog, please let me know IMMEDIATELY.
Can I go swimming or tan after I get tattooed? Absolutely NOT! You must protect your tattoos while healing, by staying out of the sun and not submerging it in water.
Is it okay if I have a budget for my tattoo? Absolutely it is! I am always more than happy to work within a budget a client may have. Of course, the client also has to be open as well - if the design requested is a very large design (a sleeve for example) and it doesn't fit within the budget range, we may have to split it up into several sessions in order to complete the piece whilst staying in the budget range. Or we can compromise and do a smaller piece instead.
Why do color tattoos tend to "fade faster" than black & grey? It is a very common misconception that color work fades faster than black & grey work. All inks are made out of elements: black ink is made of carbon, red ink is iron, blue is cobalt, etc.. as we are carbon based lifeforms, black ink tends to stay in our skin better than colored ink does. If you take the proper care (like wearing sunscreen when outside at any times), to protect your tattoos, your color work will last much longer than if you did not care for them properly.
What if my tattoo needs to be touched up? Touch ups are always free within the first 2 months after getting the tattoo, as long as proper aftercare has been followed. If I am unable to get you in my calendar within that 2 month time frame (due to a full schedule), the touch-up policy will still apply.
What should I expect for pricing? My hourly rate is $180, and all tattoos are priced hourly (the time does not start until I am actively tattooing). My minimum is $100. If you have any questions about the length of our session, please don't hesitate to ask!
Can I book an appointment for my significant other/family member/friend? As it is a very nice gesture to book a tattoo appointment for someone you care for, it is very difficult to do so. Unless you know the specific details of the design (such as: size, placement, color/black and grey, style etc). I would prefer to have them reach out to me directly. Instead, I recommend purchasing a gift card (which I always have available!).
Can I get tattooed if I have a surgery coming up? I cannot tattoo you if you have a surgery that falls within the 2 week healing period of the tattoo. This is so that your body is not overworking itself by healing too many things at once.
What forms of payment do you take? I can take credit cards, debit cards, apple pay, or cash. Cash is always preferred though :) I do NOT take checks of any kind.
Can I use a micro needler before putting on numbing cream? NO! Micro needler's cause small wounds in the skin. If an open wound is in the area of your desired placement, I unfortunately can not tattoo over that. These small wounds can effect the way color saturates, cause more skin damage, or effect the overall healing.
What style do I tattoo? My primary focus is on Neo-Traditional and black & grey stipple work. I do NOT tattoo realism (picture-like images without a black outline) or portraits of any kind.
What clothing should I wear to my appointment? Please do not wear an article of clothing that you wouldn't want ruined. Ink DOES stain and usually does not come out. Getting tattooed is a messy process, and I would hate to stain clothing that you care about! Depending on the placement, please wear a garment that gives me full access to the area. For example; legs - wear shorts. Ribs/stomach - wear a bathing suite top or pasties. Back - wear a flannel to turn around or zip up hoodie to turn around.
Do you take walk-in appointments? No, I am appointment only!
How do I purchase a gift certificate? Just send me an email and we will get that squared away :)