✧ POLICIES ✧
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 (NOT EVEN WITH PARENTAL CONSENT), PREGNANT/BREASTFEEDING, DRUNK, OR UNDER THE INFLUENCE, i WILL NOT TATTOO YOU UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
BOOKING INFORMATION:
You can book with me through the link here. When you submit a form, I go through them in order but I do not book in the same order. Appointments are sorted based on matching availability and response time. If you are coming from out of town, whether flying or driving, I will do my best to accommodate you for extended planning. My books are for the most part always open since I only schedule 2-3 months out.
Please allow 2-4 weeks for a response. I do all of my booking by myself. If you have not heard back in that time, please do not send multiple forms or DMs because it clogs up my inboxes and makes it more confusing for me. If you’ve received a submission confirmation, please consider that I already have your form. As I am just one person, sometimes things come up and it takes me a little longer, but no one goes ignored!
RATES:
My minimum is $200. The minimum amount generally applies only to tattoos 2 inches or smaller. Complicated placements such as hand, neck, torso, and face tattoos start at minimum of $250. My hourly rate is $200/hour which begins from the time the designing begins until the end of the session. Please don’t hesitate to ask for a quote. Although it is not always exact, I try my best to give an accurate range. All of my work is custom or drawn freehand, which means that I will not copy another artist’s work.
DEPOSITS:
To secure your appointment, I require a $100 deposit through Zelle or Venmo. The cost of the deposit is taken from the total amount when you check out.
PAYMENT + TIPPING:
For payment on the day of your appointment, I prefer cash but accept Zelle, Venmo, and Apple Pay as well. I do not take card! Tips are always appreciated but not expected. I’ve received snacks, drinks, and even small gifts before which I think is a sweet gesture!
RESCHEDULING, CANCELLATIONS + LATE POLICY:
If for any reason you cannot make your appointment and need to reschedule, I require up to 5 days to reschedule or you will forfeit your deposit. If you are within the 5 days, the deposit can be rolled over one time to a new date. Whether it’s due to illness, financial issues, or family emergencies, please just be honest! If I end up needing to reschedule, your deposit will also be rolled over and applied to a new date at no extra cost. I try to leave room in my schedule the same month to account for any potential reschedules. I book about 2-3 months in advance so if you have limited flexibility with scheduling, I may have to push your appointment out to a later date. Please be serious about getting tattooed and have your deposit ready once we have confirmed a date and time. My policy states the deposit is non-refundable if you decide to cancel your appointment for whatever reason. If you are 15 minutes late to your appointment, you will be required to pay an additional penalty fee of $50. If you are 30 minutes late or more, I will consider you a no-show and if you would like to reschedule, a new deposit will be required. As I try to keep my schedule quite full, it is unfair to my other clients booked that day to take up their appointment time. I recommend that you do not plan anything immediately after your tattoo that you could be late to. I hate making people wait and will never make you sit around unnecessarily. If you fail to show up to your appointment and don’t give any notice, you will not only lose your opportunity to be tattooed by me again, you will also forfeit your deposit completely and be charged for half of the appointment time to account for the time lost.
DESIGNS + CHANGES:
I do not show or send out custom designs beforehand. This is more for insurance purposes to ensure that my artwork is not taken, copied, and/or given to another artist. I believe the tattoo turns out best when it’s a collaborative design between me and the client. I prefer to discuss and draw the design with you before your appointment that way you have some input into what goes into the piece. You’re free to make any changes you see fit and we will finalize the design the day of your appointment. If you decide to change your idea, I require up to one week’s notice via email to account for the placement, size, and complexity. If I have multiple appointments that day, I may need to reschedule you and the deposit will be rolled over to a new date.
✧ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ✧
Do you tattoo all skin tones?
Absolutely! Regarding the photos on my profile, the ring light I use is very bright. With photos I slightly edit the contrast and sharpness, but I do not brighten or desaturate skin tones in any way. I want to keep them as true to real life as I can. Due to the settings of my light, your skin may be slightly washed out because of the glare.
What should I do to prepare for my tattoo?
If you are on immunosuppressant drugs, SSRIS, have cancer, anemia, extreme skin conditions (such as highly inflammatory eczema), or any other type of chronic illness, infection, or disease please consult with your doctor first prior to getting tattooed. Tattooing is an invasive procedure and I would not want to potentially risk infecting myself or exacerbating your existing conditions.
Prior to your appointment, please protect your skin! I cannot tattoo you if you have any fresh cuts or burns on the area. Make sure your skin is completely clean and dry. Exfoliating and moisturizing the area a week before your appointment is preferable. No artificial tanners, thick moisturizers, or oils should be applied before your appointment. The most important thing to do is eat and hydrate beforehand. Be sure to get a good night’s sleep the day before and please shower before coming in. No one wants to tattoo a stinky person, stinky foot, stinky anything! Wear an outfit that will make the area being tattooed easy to access (ex: do not wear tight jeans if you’re getting your legs tattooed, wear open toed shoes without socks if you’re getting a foot or ankle tattoo). It is highly recommended that you do not drink anything with caffeine or alcohol for at least 24 hours prior. Do not apply numbing cream to the area, or take painkillers/blood thinning medications before coming in. All of these can affect the integrity of your skin and make it more difficult to tattoo. You are welcome to bring snacks, water, and something to do or watch during your appointment. I also recommend bringing a jacket or small blanket in case you get cold. It’s always better to be over-prepared than under!
How much time should I block off for my appointment?
On average I have between 2-4 clients per day. If you’re coming later in the day, my appointments before you may run late. I don’t always know exactly how long it will take me per tattoo. I try my best not to make anyone wait for me, but sometimes things happen that are out of my control. Drawing time, set up, stencil placement, breaks, nerves, questions, etc. can extend the appointment time as well. If you are not my first client of the day, I will always let you know beforehand if I am running behind to give you some time to plan or just hang out in the area beforehand.
Why are tattoos so expensive?
As tattooers, we put in a lot of work to get to where we are. Tattoos are considered a luxury item not a necessity. Please do not ask us to do it for cheaper. First, we do not keep all the money we charge. Some of the money we earn goes back into our craft and pay for supplies (this includes machines, needles, inks, PPE, etc.) It is common for most establishments to take out a percentage or charge rent. Since the majority of us are considered self-employed, much of what we earn goes to taxes as well. Outside of tattooing, we also spend time drawing our own flash, preparing for appointments, replying to messages, emails, and booking. All of these things are generally done outside of shop hours.
Can I bring a friend?
YES! Since my space is relatively small, I can only fit you and one other person in the room comfortably. Masks are optional in the space.
Does it hurt?
Everyone’s pain tolerance varies. Certain body parts/areas such as legs, ribs, and inner arms are more sensitive, but chances are you’re probably freaking out more than you need to. Tattoo needles aren’t like typical medical grade needles and they’re generally hidden in the cartridge so you can’t really see them. If you do have a chronic medical condition such as fibromyalgia or any type of chronic pain, please let me know.
Do you provide numbing cream/spray?
YES! I use numbing spray (Bactine and Saint Marq brands). If you’re getting a big piece I don’t recommend applying any sort of numbing cream prior to your tattoo. Some brands are very unpredictable and may cause extreme skin irritation. Applying cream in the beginning usually means you cannot apply it again once it wears off and the pain following can be shocking to your body. I usually use a spray it in the middle of the session/closer to the end because that’s when the pain is most unbearable and you can generally apply as much or as little as you want.
What is the weight limit of your beds and chairs?
The weight limit of the tattoo bed goes up to 450lbs. The capacity of the chair that I provide is up to 350lbs. If you need some extra accommodations, please let me know in advance and I’ll be happy to help!
✧ AFTERCARE ✧
I use a skin shield wrap called Recovery Derm Shield. It is similar to Saniderm but is plant-based with a matte finish. Keep the bandage on for 3-5 days before removal. If you find that your skin is getting irritated from the adhesive, remove it immediately. It may pool up with blood and plasma. That’s normal - DO NOT pop the ink sac! You can shower and sleep with it on. When you take it off, pull upwards. Think of it like removing a Command Strip. Clean the tattoo and additional build-up of ink and plasma off with unscented antibacterial soap (I use Dial Gold Soap). Do not use loofahs, washcloths, or any other exfoliating tools on the tattoo while it is healing. Once clean, pat the tattoo dry with a paper towel. Regular towels breed germs and it’s important to keep the area as clean as possible. Once the bandage is off and the tattoo is clean, do not re-wrap it. Treat your tattoo as you would any open wound. As tempting as it may be, DO NOT SCRATCH IT!!! Wash it 2-3 times a day and keep it moisturized. You can use any generic lotion such as Cetaphil, Aveeno, etc. I don’t personally recommend using Aquaphor, as it is very thick and putting on too much can trap bacteria in the skin and infect the tattoo. Avoid direct sun exposure, rigorous exercise, swimming, and taking baths until your tattoo is completely healed. Once it’s healed, start applying sunscreen daily to maintain the quality of your tattoo.
Two weeks is a rough estimate of the time you need to fully heal, but some people heal quicker or slower than that. As I am always trying to improve my work and skills, I would love to see healed photos following the two-week healing process to see how it settled in your skin. That will give me a better idea on whether you need a touch-up as well. My first touch-ups are free for up to one year post-appointment. More than one touch up will require a fee of $50-100.