Sometimes the answers aren’t always obvious. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the topmost asked questions, and we’re glad to help. Give us a call if your question didn’t make the list!
TATTOO QUESTIONS
HOW DO I CHOOSE A TATTOO DESIGN?
For those that just know what they like, this is the easy part. For others, it can be a long process. Do some research, find images that you gravitate towards, save those and over time you will find that these images usually have a similar theme. If you find yourself liking lots of different things, that’s okay! Sounds like multiple tattoos are in order. After researching, the next step is to have a consultation. Working with your chosen artist is one of the most important parts of choosing a tattoo.
HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR MY TATTOO SESSION?
Make sure you are well rested, well hydrated, and have eaten recently. Aside from that, take a shower, charge your phone or tablet up to full, and don’t bring in your 50 closest friends (1-2 are fine).
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR FOR MY TATTOO SESSION?
It’s more important to be comfortable than to be fashionable. Looser is better than tighter, and keep in mind you want to be able to cover up certain places that might show, depending on where you’re getting your tattoo.
HOW SHOULD I PLAN FOR A LARGE TATTOO (ARM/LEG/BACK/ETC)?
First thing come talk to us. The very first step to planning a sleeve is researching and then deciding what style you want your tattoos to be in. There are countless styles to choose from, whether you’re leaning toward realism or traditional, and it’s up to you to decide. We can do a sleeve or back piece with existing work in place, but it will always look better when you come in with a plan and allow the same artist to help bring that plan to fruition for you. Along those same lines, it’s going to take multiple sessions and cost you $1,000 or more dollars to even come close to doing a sleeve. So, plan ahead and save your money so that you can tackle these large pieces as they are investments and commitments.
WHAT ARE SOME THINGS I MAY NOT THINK OF BEFORE I COME IN?
- Take a shower
- Don’t bring your kids. No really, don’t bring them.
- Bring all of the necessary documentation
- Good work costs money – so bring it!
- Eat before you come in!
- If you’re diabetic plan for a crash (and prepare yourself!)
- Your idea may not be able to be tattooed
- Just because you saw it on Pinterest doesn’t make it a good tattoo
- Don’t put words with pictures – we’re going to try to talk you out of it because of that whole “a picture is worth 1000 words” thing
WHEN SHOULD I NOT GET TATTOOED?
- You should not get tattooed when:
- Drunk
- High
- Pregnant
- Pre-Surgery
- When you don’t know what you want
- When you can’t afford it
- When you’re sunburned
- When you haven’t showered
- When you have your kids with you
- If you don’t have an ID
- Being pressured into it
- When you’ve been told by us that your idea is bad
WHAT IS THE PAIN LEVEL FOR A TATTOO?
WILL IT HURT?
Yes! But in a good way. The brain releases endorphins when your body is in pain for you to keep going. The secret is this: our bodies love endorphins, so you’ll actually kind of love it..
A tattoo is probably a 3/10. The best comparison would be getting a scratch on a sunburn or to having someone draw on you with a ball-point pen on a sunburn. It doesn’t feel good, but it’s more of an intermittent irritation than a constant pain. Remember, a tattoo has more in common with an abrasion than it does with a hypodermic needle shot from the doctor.
CARING FOR A TATTOO
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO HEAL AFTER A TATTOO/PIERCING?
It takes 2-3 weeks for a tattoo to heal completely. During that time, your skin does a lot of things to heal your tattoo
WHY DO TATTOOS START TO ITCH WHILE HEALING?
It is normal to experience mild itching after getting a tattoo. Because a tattoo involves breaking the skin, the body must repair the wound in the same way it would for a cut or scratch. While the skin is healing, itching will often occur. Good moisturizers will help immensely with this but DO NOT SCRATCH IT!
PRICING QUESTIONS
WHY DO YOU REQUIRE DEPOSITS?
Often, we will have hours of work in drawing and preparing for a tattoo before you sit down in our chair. Deposits help to ensure you make it to your appointment and that we haven’t done hours of work for nothing. DEPOSITS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE FOR ANY REASON. IF YOU LEAVE A DEPOSIT, YOU WILL NOT GET IT BACK
WHAT IS YOUR SHOP MINIMUM FOR TATTOOS?
Our shop minimum is $125. You might not realize it, but we go through nearly the same amount of very expensive supplies to do a tattoo the size of a quarter as we do for a tattoo the size of a softball. Everything must be sterilized, before and after.
SHOULD I TIP?
You should ALWAYS tip those who provide services for you. Whether it’s your barber/hairstylist, waiter, or the kids with a lemonade stand down the street, if they provide you a service you should tip them. This includes your tattoo artist.
POLICY QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE AGE REQUIREMENT FOR GETTING PIERCED OR TATTOOED?
Florida Department of Health determines the ages we are able to work on. We can tattoo minors age 16+ with a parent present and the proper identification (birth certificate with both names as well as photo IDs for child and parent – these are required for anything we do on a minor).
SHOULD I WALK IN OR BOOK AN APPOINTMENT?
We always encourage people to book an appointment for tattoos of any size. First, this guarantees you will get in at a certain time without potentially waiting for hours. Second, it gives our artists the chance to draw your new tattoo so that it’s 100% unique to you. Book an Appointment
WHAT HAPPENS IF I’M LATE TO MY APPOINTMENT?
Don’t be. Seriously, if you’re late to your appointment it will throw our schedule off for the day.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I NO-SHOW DURING MY APPOINTMENT?
We’ve only ever had a few people do this and it’s a terrible idea. If you no-show, we will keep your deposit. That means your tattoo, if you do get it, will cost you 150% of what it should have cost