FAQ

Can I bring you my ideas and have you draw them? What's the process?

If you need a custom drawing done, you'll need to schedule a consultation. This is a free, 10-30-minute appointment where you'll meet with the artist and discuss your ideas and plans for your tattoo. It is a good idea to bring drawings, sketches, photographs, notes, etc. to help illustrate your ideas. Don't worry if you can't draw! Even stick-figures help us visualize what you want for your tattoo.
At the end of your consult there is no obligation to continue, but if you and the artist both decide to go forward and start working on a drawing, you will be required to pay a draw fee and/or a deposit. These fees are non-refundable.
The Deposit holds your appointment and is applied to your bill for tattoo time. It is not refundable under any circumstance, but you are allowed to reschedule your appointment if needed. As long as you call to reschedule 48 hours in advance we will still honor your deposit. If you decide not to do the tattoo, if you don't show up for your appointment, or are more than 30 minutes late for your appointment YOU WILL LOSE YOUR DEPOSIT.
The artist will then add you to their schedule, and give you an estimate as to how long it might take to do the drawing. It's important to remember that your artist may have several other clients that they are drawing for, so you may have to wait a while to see your artwork. After some time your artist will contact you to let you know your artwork is finished. You can work with the artist to change your drawing until it's perfect for you.


Do you take Walk Ins?

Walk-ins are welcome when we are available. It's best to call ahead to check availability, especially on weekends as we tend to be pretty busy. If you need a custom drawing, it's best to schedule a consult first


How much are tattoos and How to Pay

There is a time and place for bargain hunting, but making a permanent modification to your body is not one of those times. A low price can often be an indication of poor quality and/or less than desirable health and safety precautions. You don’t want to spend all that money you saved getting tattooed on medical bills and/or laser removal. It helps to get over the sticker shock if you consider your tattoo as a lifelong investment –costing mere pennies a day

tattoos are roughly $150-200 per hour (industry standard) and have a $100 minimum.
small work is usually done priced by the piece and larger work is hourly .

Artists prefer payment in cash. We also accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and debit cards and Venmo.

Once we have a drawing, a size and location we can give you a price quote. A quote dictates a price range based on the amount of time/effort we expect your tattoo to take. Quotes are done in studio, not over the phone or email. Rough estimate quotes may be done by email, but the final quote will still need to be done in house. When determining whether to get a tattoo at one studio or another,the quality of work, artist , cleanliness and professionalism of the shop should all be considered. Good tattoos are are rarely cheap and cheap tattoos are rarely good

For specific pricing, we need to know exactly what you want before we can provide an estimate.This is best done in Person and with a consult. If you would like to email us for a very rough ballpark quote, please provide the following information :
Brief description of the subject matter, or attach photos if you have them. Also If there's lettering involved, describe the font (typewriter, script, etc.)
Approximate size - either use inches or compare to a common object (ie: palm-sized, quarter-sized, etc.)
Will it be in color or black & gray?
Where is it going to be placed?
One free touch-up is included in all pricing within one year of the tattoo being completed. (except for hand & foot tattoos).


Hourly rates vary based on the experience level and talent of the artist and local standards. The price of a tattoo is a combined reflection of the value of the artist’s time, the cost of supplies, and equipment and the investment in both time and money on sterilization practices. (Tattooists see only a percentage of this fee, making anywhere from 30-50% after cost of supplies and shop fees.)
New artists and apprentices may charge less. This can either be a reflection of their skill and/or simply an enticement to gain experience and build up a portfolio. It is very important to look at portfolios before choosing any artist, but scrutinize portfolios especially closely when the deal seems to good to be true.

The price of your tattoo is sure to be forgotten in time, but you have to look at the resulting artwork on your body for the rest of your life.
Any decent artist will want you to have an amazing tattoo that will look great both now and in the future. If they have suggestions on size, placement or composition it makes sense for you to consider their thoughts and expertise. They are not simply trying to bump up your cost or take over your image. If you are concerned with the price or are on a budget simply say something and your artist may be able to redesign or simplify the tattoo design to cut down on the overall cost. Or you can wait an extra month or more to save up and get something that will be a pleasure to behold many years later.
Considering that most tattooists only receive a fraction of the cost of the tattoo, tipping is greatly appreciated. Tips typically range from 10-30%. They should be based on how happy you are with the overall tattoo and the experience. A large and/or difficult piece that was done with a smile and charm while you squirmed and twitched through it would be a good example of a time to tip generously. If you changed your mind/design a dozen times and had your artist redraw for you then homemade cookies in addition to a fat cash tip is the way to go!

Tip Tor Tat

First of all, your artist will never expect you to tip, but they appreciate it when you do. This article should make the entire experience a little less painful by simplifying the tipping situation. Many details factor into the cost of your tattoo and the same goes for your tip. A basic rule of thumb to follow is 10%-30% per piece ($10-$30 per hour).
Here are some things to keep in mind:
• Your tip should reflect your experience. Was your artist totally awesome, informative and attentive? Did they take your vision and turn it into something magical? Then perhaps you may feel like tipping on the higher end of the scale.
• Was your piece super complicated? Did you really put their skills to work? Did you make a lot of changes to the original design? In the end, did they take the time with you to make sure everything was perfect and gave you that crazy awesome piece you always dreamed about? A nice tip says “Thanks for putting up with me.”
• Getting a tattoo can be a special experience. Your artist can make it even more meaningful. Most tattooists really enjoy learning about your tattoo’s story and it can help them breathe more life into the composition. If your artist went above and beyond the technical and helped to give you a real heartening moment, return the love. It makes them feel awesome.
• Conversely, if your artist did not seem enthusiastic about your ideas, gave you minimal effort or attention and the work turned out mediocre then tip accordingly and find another artist!
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• You should always feel good about tipping your artist – never obligated.
• You don’t always have to just give cash! Homemade gifts and/or a great review on Yelp! go a long way to express appreciation.
• Thank you for allowing us to do what we love. We are grateful for your support.

Can I get tattooed while pregnant or breast-feeding?
No. Your body is going through tremendous changes and stress. Getting tattooed while pregnant or breast-feeding can negatively impact either/or your health and that of your baby. It’s simply not worth the risk.


Should I eat before I get tattooed?
It is ideal to eat a healthy portioned meal within four hours of being tattooed. You don’t want to be starving or stuffed. Having stable blood sugar bolsters your immune system and helps the body deal with the fluctuation of endorphins, which are released during the tattoo process. For long tattoo sessions bring some fruit / juice and trail mix. Avoid caffeine, alcohol and aspirin.


Can you tattoo over a scar?
It depends on the severity and maturity of the scar. This is judged on a case-by-case basis; in general, a scar should be at least one year old. Come in to discuss your options.


What is the most painful place to be tattooed?
Again, pain is subjective and varies from person to person. Do not choose an area or a size based on the pain factor. The beauty of the tattoo will last for decades longer than the brief period of discomfort it takes to complete the tattoo.

How should I prepare for getting a tattoo?
The day of your tattoo appointment be sure to arrive promptly. Be well-rested, fed, and hydrated. Dress appropriately: wear something comfortable that gives easy access to the area to be tattooed and that you don't mind getting ink on (things can get a bit messy in the tattoo area). Feel free to bring in some sort of entertainment: an MP3 player, a good book, a friend for conversation, etc. to help pass the time. Before you start, you will fill out a release form (you'll need your ID), and your artist will make a stencil of your design. Your artist will place the stencil on you and the two of you will decide exactly where it should be placed and how big it will be. Then the tattoo will begin! . After your tattoo session is done, the artist will bandage you and send you home with aftercare instructions

Do you do cover-ups?
Yes, we actually do a lot of cover ups, and they make up a large portion of the work i do . What is a cover-up? This is when you have an existing tattoo - maybe something that is older, and the wearer no longer likes the tattoo for one reason or another and has a tattoo artist design something to go over it with a new design. The goal is to completely cover the old tattoo so that you cannot see the old one underneath it.
Many people think that a coverup has to involve a lot of solid black ink. While that is a very sure-fire way to cover something, it's not the only answer. Colored inks are actually transparent - so you cannot cover a black tattoo with just pink or white - it just doesn't work. Cover-up designs that are at least twice the size of the original tattoo, and that involve lots of darker colors, shading, and detail are good for cover ups. Sometimes our artists will suggest laser tattoo removal to lighten an existing tattoo to aide in the cover-up process. The design is strategically planned to distract your eye from what lies beneath. The old tattoo is still there, you just can't see it anymore. Browse the portfolios and see if you can spot the cover-ups. If you think you need a cover-up, call to schedule a consultation appointment.

Do you do White ink tattoos?
I do white tattoos on a case by case basis and always go over the issues that affect them. We always want our customers to be informed about the limitations of white ink before proceeding. The biggest problem with using just white ink for a tattoo is that the results are unpredictable. Once white ink is in a healed tattoo, it does not look pure bright white because you're looking at it through the pigment of your own skin. Generally it will show as a few shades lighter than your skin tone, but skin tones can vary from spot to spot on your body so it may heal in a splotchy, uneven tone (especially if used as a solid fill). Also, white works better as a highlight color with contrast, rather than a solid fill. When against a dark color, white will look brighter than if it is on its own.
White ink tattoos tend to be very subtle, very faint, and after 5 years or so (depending on how much sun exposure it gets), might hardly be visible at all. Because of this we will NOT guarantee one free touch up on any white ink tattoo. You would have to continue to get the tattoo retouched at your expense much more frequently to keep it looking fresh. White ink designs need to be fairly simplistic linework designs, using thicker lines (things like small lettering are not advisable).
Images of amazing white tattoos on Pinterest have been very popular lately. However, many of the images do not show what happens when the tattoo is healed, they don't show when a tattoo goes unexpectedly wrong, and many of them are even photoshopped! White ink tattoos can backfire fairly often- a client's skin tone will tint the ink a strange color, which is impossible to predict, and the reason why many of our artists have decided to not offer them. It is always our #1 goal to give you the best looking tattoo possible and if we ever feel that can't be achieved we will advise against it.


Do you do finger tattoos?
Finger tattoos are tricky - the underside of your finger, the side of the finger, the wrinkly part of the knuckle, are all places that don't take tattoos very well. The skin is either very thin or is constantly sloughing off so you might get a tattoo that looks cool at first but after a very short period of time you end up with something blurry looking or parts of it will be missing entirely, shown in the photo below:

Because of this, we generally will not do tattoos on the side of the finger ( but we will do them), and suggest thinking about alternate placement. they do partially come off even under the best of circumstances. For the most part we don't do finger or hand tattoos unless the client is already heavily tattooed or already has a hand tattoo.
We will, on occasion do Wedding Ring Tattoos: again, because tattoos do not stay on the underside of the finger, we suggest doing a half-ring tattoo or a simple design on the back of the knuckle. The design has to be very simple since details will be prone to blurring together. Names, monograms, or celtic designs are not suggested for a finger or knuckle tattoo. A single letter, a plain band, small character or symbol, heart, star, moon or other very simple shapes or patterns in black ink are the best kinds of things to put on the knuckle as they will be most likely to last a long time before having to get it re-touched. We do not guarantee free touch ups on finger or hand tattoos because they are so prone to blurring and falling out. After knowing all of this if you are still willing to get one, we will do finger tattoos.

Does it Hurt?
Well of course, but how much it hurts really depends on the tattoo and placement and your own tolerance level. The important thing to remember is, the pain is usually very minor (not as bad as you'd think) and the pain is only temporary. The tattoo is forever.

Do you allow kids or dogs in your shop?
We love animals, but we absolutely cannot allow them inside the shop, for sanitary reasons.
We strongly advise not bringing young children or infants into a tattoo shop. We are constantly cleaning here, but one never knows what a child can pick up by crawling around the floor, or just being near someone getting a tattoo. Also, young children tend to get very bored and its extremely disruptive to other clients if children are running around the studio. As long as they are with a parent or guardian, minors between the ages of 12-18 may be allowed to watch or sit quietly during your session.

Can I bring a friend?
You can certainly bring a friend to your tattoo appointment. Sometimes it helps to have a friend to chat with during the tattoo. But when you bring 3 or more people with you, it gets too crowded in the tattoo artist's area, and can be very distracting to your tattoo artist. Please be respectful of other clients and the artists by not bringing a crowd of people with you.

Do you sell Gift Certificates?
Yes! You can come to the shop in person, or you can call us on the phone and give us your Visa or Master Card information. You can buy a Gift Certificate for any amount, and they do not expire. We can even mail them to your friends or family if you are not able to give it to them yourself.