FAQs

 

In regards to pricing

The shop is set at $150 an hour, with a minimum charge of $100 for tattoos taking less than one hour to complete. Most larger pieces will require multiple sessions, ranging from 2 to 4 hours each, typically once or twice a month till completion.

what is required to set up an appointment

In order to set up an appointment, a $100 deposit is required. The deposit is non-refundable, and carries through for the duration of your appointments. It is then applied to the balance of the last session. The only way to lose your deposit, is to no contact/no show for your scheduled appointment. Give the artist as much notice as you have in order to maintain your deposit.

How do I choose a tattoo?

It all begins with an idea. Then finding imagery that best represents what it is you are hoping to achieve in your tattoo. Remembering that it does not first have to be a tattoo, in order to become a tattoo. There are a wide range of imagery available to us, from books to paintings, to Pinterest and beyond. Its best to leave the word tattoo out of your search, and just search for the subject itself. Try helpful words like, illustration, or art, or photography, for a variety of styles till you find the one that best suits you! Be sure to give a detailed, yet brief, description of what it is you are wanting to have done when contacting the artist. Including a brief description, any accompanying imagery, size, and placement on the body.

how do i choose an artist?

Now that you know what you are looking to get, the next step is to find an artist. Most capable artists are able to do a wide range of styles, but some may choose to specialize in a specific style depending on their artistic direction. The best thing is to look at past works by the artist, and see if it matches what you are wanting to have done. Don’t see the exact thing? Not to worry! Feel free to contact the artist, with your idea (outlined in the section above) and see if it is a right fit. If not, most artists are more than happy to steer you in the right direction!

what should i expect the day of my appointment?

It is important to get a good nights sleep the night before your appointment. Avoid any drugs or alcohol 24 hours leading up to your appointment, because this may lead to extra discomfort during your session. Be sure to eat a good hearty meal prior to your appointment, and come prepared with snacks for longer sessions if you know your blood sugar is prone to sudden drops. Please dress comfortably, and take into consideration the area of the body that you will need to have exposed during you session. Is it easy to access? Can I cover the rest of my self comfortably?

tattoo Aftercare

 

Now that you’ve got an awesome, brand new tattoo, what comes next? Taking good care of it for the years to come.

You might be surprised to know that aftercare is the most important part of getting a tattoo.

Although a tattoo is just a cosmetic procedure, its effects go much deeper than your skin. For this reason, aftercare is essential not only for keeping your tattoo looking fabulous, but also for your overall health.

How fast your tattoo heals depends on your age, health, hygiene, and where on your body you get it.

There is a lot of misleading information out there about tattoos and aftercare, so we’ll go through what is true and false.


TATTOO AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS (DAY BY DAY) 

Your tattoo artist will provide you with exact instructions about how to care for your tattoo. They are the experts, and you should always listen to them when it comes to caring for your new tattoo.

These tattoo aftercare instructions are for your own good and will keep your new piece of art clean and looking radiant.

Here are the basics, day-by-day tattoo aftercare instructions: 

DAY 1 

  • 3-4 hours after leaving the tattoo shop, gently remove the bandage your tattoo artist put on. Your new tattoo needs to breathe.

  • If you are using cling film -which we don't recommend-, have it on 3-4h after getting the tattoo. Before going to sleep, take it off and put a new one after washing it properly.

  • If your artist used specialized tattoo film, keep it on for the first 24h.


When changing bandages, wash gently only with water and tattoo cleanser or neutral soap.
The main reason some artists might recommend you keep the initial bandage on for the first night is to prevent rubbing or leaking.
If you plan to have your tattoo covered, just be sure that you use tattoo film that is breathable.

TIP 1: Use clean sheets & towels when sleeping

Use clean old sheets you don’t care much about in case you move on your sleep and stain them. For your health and for the sheet’s sake! 

TIP 2: Don't dry your tattoo with a towel -if you do, don't share it!-

It’s also good practice not to dry your tattoo with a shared towel. It's good practice to pat your tattoo dry with kitchen paper. But if you opt for a regular towel, please use only one.

The first 2-3 days the tattooed area should be treated like an open wound, so you have to be extra careful to avoid infection.

DAY 2

  • If using a plastic bandage, remove it and don't use it anymore. At this point, you can start with the washing and moisturizing routine.

  • If using protective tattoo film: remove the bandage, clean the area, apply a thin layer of moisturizer and put a new layer of protective film on for the next 2-3 days.

WASHING & MOISTURIZING ROUTINE: wash 2-3 times a day, and apply moisturizer on the tattooed area when it's completely dry.

TIP: When washing the tattoo, do it with your hands. Gently, but firmly.

DAY 3

  • Wash the tattoo with water and cleanser or soap 2-3 times a day - depending on your skin. 

  • After your tattoo is clean and dry, moisturize it with regenerative balm. Some people heal faster, and their skin dries rapidly; in that case, you can apply the balm more often. 

We recommend balm with regenerative, protective, and anti-bacterial qualities, and also soothes itchy skin.

 TIP: When applying ointment, don’t use excessive amounts.

A thin, consistent layer should be enough. Rub it in so that it isn’t clumped on; you should have a very thin, even layer on your tattoo.

DAYS 4 TO 15

  • Repeat the same washing routine as the days before. 

  • Keep applying balm after washing the tattooed area. 

NOTE: Bigger tattoos might require longer to heal, therefore increasing the washing routine one week more is recommended.

REMEMBER:   

  • Wash your hands thoroughly before touching your tattoo. You should treat it like an It’s an open wound for the first two days, susceptible to all sorts of germs and bacteria, so you should always practice good hygiene.  

  • Use cold to lukewarm water when washing your tattoo. Hot water could potentially harm the tattooed area.   

  • Use only your hands to wash your tattoo. Towels, washcloths, or loofahs are too harsh and will exfoliate your raw skin. Do not scrub.  

  • If you are going to dry your tattoo, make sure you use kitchen/towel paper.   

  • Use one balm for one tattoo, so there won't be crossed infection between different tattoos.

IMPORTANT: Your tattoo is not safe from germs or bacteria until after it’s scabbed and peeled, and even then, it is still important that you keep up with aftercare. 

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TATTOO AFTERCARE

- YOUR TATTOO MIGHT BE SWOLLEN

When you first remove the bandage your tattoo artist put on, you should expect your new tattoo to look swollen, red, bloody, and sometimes bruised.

These are normal, temporary, bodily reactions to trauma, so don’t worry!

Tattoo machines pierce the skin up to 3,000 times per minute, so yes, a little bit of blood and swelling should be expected.

- EXPECT THE AREA TO GET A BIT MESSY

Your new tattoo will ooze all sorts of fluids the first few days including blood, clear plasma, lymphatic fluid, and ink. These are signs your body recognizes the trauma, and is sending cells to repair it.

Your tattoo might not look so great the first few days, but you’ll have to trust the process.

- EXPECT SCABBING AND ITCHING

Expect scabbing, itching, and flaking. Scabs are a protective layer that covers a wound on your skin, aka, the tattoo. It keeps out debris, bacteria, and germs.

If scabs are forming, that’s a sign that your tattoo is healing properly and your body is doing what it can to repair itself.

The downside to this protective layer is that it may itch a bit, but this should only last a few days.

- YOU MIGHT FEEL UNDER-THE-WEATHER

Your body may feel under-the-weather for a couple days, especially if you got a bigger tattoo. You might even feel like you’ve got a cold, which is surprisingly normal.

The stress that you’ve put your body through can affect your immune system, and increase your chances of getting sick, but in a few days you should be feeling good as new! 

Keep in mind, the more often you get tattooed, the easier the process will be. 

STAGES OF TATTOO HEALING 

Everyone’s healing process looks a little different, depending on their age, hygiene, and tattoo placement. 

Some places like your ribcage, where there isn’t a lot of fat or muscle, might take longer to heal than say, a bicep. Either way, everyone goes through similar healing processes. 

This is an outline of a typical tattoo healing process:

  • Days 1-6: Your fresh tattoo will look red, swollen, and will still be oozing blood, plasma, lymphatic fluid, and ink. This is the messiest time during the healing process, but the oozing should subside after a few days. Scabs will begin to form over your tattoo.  

  • Days 7-14: The scabs might become itchy, and your skin will start to flake off. This is one of the most important parts of the healing process, because scabs and dead skin falling off will reveal new, healthier skin underneath. 

Your tattoo will appear dry and dull during this time. Keep it moisturized.

  • Days 15-30: After the scabs and dead skin have flaked off, your tattoo is now fully healed. You shouldn’t experience any more swelling, bleeding, or ink leaching. 

Don’t fret if your tattoo still doesn’t look very crisp and bright; the deeper layers of your skin still need to repair themselves, which is why aftercare is still important even after your tattoo is healed.

HELP YOUR TATTOO HEAL WITH THESE TIPS  

Here are some tattoo tips you can follow to help your healing process along: 

  • Plasma that oozes from your new tattoo is what causes wounds to scab. Gently pat away wet plasma to keep it from forming big scabs that could dry out and crack. 

  • Use cold to lukewarm water to wash your tattoo. Water that is too hot can open up your pores and cause ink to leach out.   

  • If your skin is extra sensitive and hurts to pat dry after washing, you can use a hair dryer on a cool setting to dry your tattoo instead.  

  • Use old clean bed sheets that you don’t care about the first few nights after getting your tattoo. Your new tattoo will probably leak blood and ink, and stain your sheets.  

  • Make sure your tattoo is completely dry before you apply ointment. If not, it could trap moisture between your skin and the ointment, causing scabs to swell or become gooey.  

  • If your tattoo is really itchy, you can apply a cold compress. It’ll take away the itchiness immediately, without having to scratch. This should only be done after your skin’s top layer has completely healed.  

  • Drink LOTS of water. Your tattoo only looks as good as your skin. The more you hydrate, the better, and more vivid your tattoo will look.