Where are you located?

What is your deposit policy?

I take a $100 deposit that goes towards the total cost of the tattoo
The deposit serves as both a drawing fee and a way to reserve your appointment.

Deposits are non-refundable.

If you cancel or need to reschedule your appointment, it must be done 72 hours (3 days) before your appointment, otherwise your deposit will be forfeit and you will need to send another deposit to be rescheduled. This covers lost wages and time that could have gone towards another client.

• If you cancel or reschedule before the 3 day cutoff, I will keep your deposit, but it will be used for the new date, so you won't need to send another one.

• If you no-show, I keep the deposit and it isn't credited towards a future appointment. You also probably won't ever have a future appointment with me again, because it's just rude to do that.

• If you cancel/reschedule more than once, even if both times are before 72 hours, I will keep the deposit and to schedule again will require a second deposit.

• If I have to cancel and can’t reschedule, I will refund your deposit.

Do you do consultations?

I prefer to do my communication about your design and appointment over email, unless it’s absolutely necessary to do it in person. This is why it’s very important to be as descriptive as you can when telling me about your design when you fill out the booking form. I always sit down with clients before the tattoo to go over the design and make any changes.

What is your touch-up policy?

Touch-ups are always free!

I do take a $50 deposit when we book the touch-up, but I will refund it if you show up to your appointment.
I have had a lot of people booking touch-ups and then not showing up, which is why I have started taking the $50 deposit for these.

If you need a touch up, please email me with the subject “touch-up” and include your availability as well as a healed photo (so I have an idea of how long it might take).

You don’t have to wait until my books are open unless you’re wanting a new tattoo at the same time.

If you’re not sure if you need a touch up, look at your tattoo! If there are some lines that look much lighter than the rest of it, that probably means it needs one. If you’re not sure, email me a healed photo of your tattoo and I’ll tell you

How much do you charge?

My hourly rate is $200, but I usually charge based on the design.
Most of the tattoos I do are around $250-$450
Size, placement and the amount of detail are all factors that go into how much I charge for your tattoo.

I will give you an estimate of how much your tattoo costs when I contact you after you fill out the booking form!

There is a $100 deposit to book your appointment, but that fee is included in the total cost. (ex. If your tattoo ends up being $250, you will only need to pay me $150 at the appointment)

If I have to completely redraw a design before your appointment, there is an extra $50 drawing fee.
What you want should be communicated to me in detail when you fill out the form and anything else you want to add should be discussed over email before your appointment. Having to redraw a design because I wasn’t told what you wanted costs me extra time and can cause me to have to push back other appointments, which is why I’ve decided to start taking a drawing fee for those situations.
This doesn’t include minor adjustments, however! I don’t mind changing small things to make it perfect, but having to completely redraw a design is a bit different.

What should I do to prepare before my tattoo?

• It can be very helpful to make sure to exfoliate and moisturize the skin where you are getting the tattoo for at least a week before your appointment! Dry and rough skin can be more difficult to tattoo.

• Try to be clean before coming in for your appointment, so no going to the beach or going on a big hike and then coming straight to the studio. I will clean and sanitize your skin no matter what, but just in general it’s probably better for you not to be stinky and sweaty for your appointment!

• Make sure to eat a big and full meal before coming in! Going to a tattoo appointment without eating beforehand can really increase your changes of feeling sick and passing out during or after your tattoo! Don’t risk it.

• Wear appropriate clothes for where you are planning on getting the tattoo! So don’t wear really tight skinny jeans if you’re getting a tattoo on your thigh (unless you’re ok with being in your underwear in front of me and the other people in the shop)

This will be my first tattoo! What should I expect?

When you first walk into the studio, you will take a seat in the waiting area and fill out a consent form.
After that, I will come over with my iPad to show you the design I have drawn and we can make any small adjustments to the design then.
I will then print out several sizes of the design to make sure we pick right size for the spot you’re wanting.

After we have the design and size all sorted, I will set up my station (if it’s not already set up) and then call you over to put the stencil on!
I will first shave the area where you want the tattoo with a disposable razor. Then I will sterilize your skin with alcohol.
After your skin is prepped, I will rub a thin layer of “Stencil Stuff” onto your skin, which will make the stencil transfer to your skin.
If we need to adjust the placement of the stencil, don’t be afraid to ask! I just wipe it off with alcohol and start over.

Once the stencil is where you want it, you will either lay down or sit however I need you to for me to be able to do the tattoo. If you need to adjust or move, don’t hesitate to ask! I want you to be as comfortable as you can be, as long as I can still do the tattoo

If you move too much while you are getting the tattoo, I might have to ask you to try to be more focused on being still and I can help you with guided breathing to try to make it easier for you! I will be open with what I need from you, so please feel okay with talking to me if you are in pain or need a break.

After the tattoo we will take a picture and then I will wrap it up. I usually use Second Skin or Saniderm to bandage your tattoo, but if you are sensitive to adhesives, have had a bad reaction to those bandages before or just want a regular bandage, I will use a soaker pad and athletic tape.

Your books are closed! When will they be open?

I usually open my books for 2 days at a time every 1-2 months. I always post on my instagram and instagram story before they open and when they are open.
It’s NOT first come first serve, I choose designs based on my interest in them and if I can fit them in my schedule! There is a much lower chance of getting chosen if you are only available on a Saturday vs being available on a Wednesday.

Please don’t try to email or DM me to book an appointment when my books are closed, it will be ignored most of the time. I try to update my instagram as much as I can with when they will open again!

I do sometimes have openings due to cancellations, I always post about these on my story or as a post.

Your booking form is intimidating, why can’t I just email?

I use a booking form because on my own I am not an organized person. It’s easy for me to lose track of emails and what people want unless it’s all in one spot. This is why I don’t accept DMs about tattoo things, it’s too hard to keep track of.

I don’t have an assistant to help me with booking and this process takes hours of my time, even with the form!

There is no rush to fill out the form, as it is not first come first serve. So please take your time and don’t be overwhelmed! Just answer the questions to the best of your ability.

Another reason I use it is so that I can have all of the information about the design you’re wanting rather than having to keep emailing back and forth if all of the questions aren’t answered in the first email

Will it hurt?

In most cases, yes! Tattooing hurts. I personally hate getting tattooed (but I still do it, of course).

Usually after the first 10-15 minutes, your body will get used to the pain and it will get easier to deal with. If you are having a really hard time, please let me know so we can take breaks.

If you know that you have a low pain tolerance, you should consider not getting a tattoo in a spot that is known to be very painful (like the ribs, for example)

Am I supposed to tip?

Jun Osaki (@ajunkysock) wrote about tipping on their website, and with their permission I’ve included that below:

Tipping is a traditional thing in tattoo culture, a lot of artists will appreciate it considering over half the $$ you give your artist will go towards shop fees/taxes! Some artists factor it into their hourly rate and do not rely on tips (they are often very clear abt this, if you don’t know - ask!)
Generally speaking the average tip for a tattoo is about the standard tipping percentage of 15-20%. Some people tip a lot, some people don't tip at all. Everyone is in different financial positions and have different perspectives on a value of a tattoo.

If an artist did a lot of work for you as far as being in good communication and drafting a custom design for you, your artist will definitely appreciate something extra for their effort/time/energy. It's good to practice awareness around how people treat you and how you could be treating others as well.

Why do tattoos cost so much?

Jun Osaki (@ajunkysock) wrote about this on their website, and with their permission I’ve included that below:

Generally speaking, tattoos aren’t cheap, art can have varying degrees of accessibility. Most shops have a minimum of around 50$ or so, that would probably cover a very small tattoo. On average in the U.S., hourly rates currently range from 100-250$. Demand and geographical location may effect the cost of a tattoo. There are some “high-profile” artists who charge an hourly rate of 500-750$ or more. If you have a budget and can only spend so much, it’s important to be upfront with your artist about it so they can give you some options. Some artists will tell you to come back when you've saved up and I think it’s important to respect that. There are some artists who are willing to be flexible. Remember it is not owed and it doesn’t hurt to ask! It may mean splitting up the tattoo into smaller sessions or less detail in the design.

Here’s a general explanation of a tattoo artist’s expenses and what your money is going towards:

+A large portion of the money you give to your artist will be for shop fees/rent alone. This averages anywhere between 50-30%.
+Most tattoo artists are self employed, which means we pay in our taxes (literally an extra HUGE bill every month/quarter/year to keep track of). That’s about 10-20% of the total.
+Tattoo equipment can cost anywhere from 200$ for a cheap setup and upwards from there depending on the quality
+Education for tattooing can cost anywhere from 5k-15k on average, even without a formal apprenticeship is takes a lot of $$ to build up your equipment and it takes time for education.
+Art materials are quite expensive! Technology like computer/phone/internet that we use to communicate with clients and the printers, papers, machines, sterilizing equipment, and utilities we use for the process.
+It takes time/energy to conjure a new and unique design from the imagination, then place it on paper in a communicable way. Email and communication takes up a LOT of time. Organization takes a LOT of time. Maintaining a business takes A LOT OF TIME! Most of running a business and organizing is unseen and under-appreciated labor, ESPECIALLY in the self-employed world. Never underestimate what kind of time things take if you yourself do not have similar kind of experience.

+Remember that you are working and FAIRLY paying a human being, which is unfortunately rare in consumerism of the world. Think about how most of our clothes, technology, food, and tools are created by poor labor standards in other countries. It’s an unfortunate condition that we can only begin to reverse by paying attention to where something is made and by whom. Money very unfortunately controls the world and it is important to remember that where we put our dollars is where we are enabling power.

**This is not to say that tattoo artists don’t get paid well** It’s one of the more profitable jobs in the creative field. Some artists get paid better than others, expenses will vary from artist to artist, life situations and geographical location factor in as well Some people are encouraged to be greedy without consequence, many people have complicated relationships to currency, and other people use it as a tool for positive change. It is important to be aware of these facts when choosing and working with your artist. Transparency is everything in my opinion, trust your instincts!

Do you have any flash?

When I have flash drawn, it is usually on my instagram story highlights “Flash”
I am okay with making custom designs based on my flash designs, so if you are interested in that rather than one of the designs unchanged, just let me know! Saying you want a flash design but then changing it until it’s not the same design means that you actually don’t want that design..

Do you do cover-ups?

I have done a couple cover-ups, but the most important thing for clients to know regarding this is that it can be a little difficult for designs to be covered up if it’s not black fill or colour.
The easiest thing that I personally do to cover-up old tattoos is using the linework hair to go over something. However, this can take several sessions.

If I don’t feel like I would be a good match for doing your cover-up, I will tell you.