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Frequently Asked Questions
here you will find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the tattoo process
How do I prepare for my tattoo appointment?
Being in the best possible state of being helps make the tattoo process easier.
It is important to be well rested, so get a good night's sleep the night prior to your appointment.
Always eat a significant meal before getting a tattoo.
Stay hydrated! Drink plenty of water before and during your tattoo.
Sometimes with the nerves and circumstances of getting a new tattoo, people feel sick or pass out. This is usually preventable, and making sure you have eaten a substantial meal and are hydrated makes the chance of this happening very slim.
If you have a longer session scheduled, be sure to bring water and snacks or a meal with you.We will take a break for you to stretch, drink water, and get something to eat in your system.
Sometimes drinking coffee before a tattoo can increase heart rate, cause anxiety and make you jumpy. Try switching to tea for a lower caffeine dose. If you are a regular coffee-drinker, please just consume a couple hours in advance to avoid jitters.
Do not consume alcohol at least 24 hours before the appointment.
You will need to bring a photo-ID with you for the shop's tattoo waiver. In Oregon, you must be at least 18 years old to get a tattoo.
What should I bring with me to my appointment?
Bring whatever makes you most comfortable! Some people choose to bring blankets and pillows, or fidget toys.
As for entertainment, you may bring a book, laptop, or device to listen to music or watch your favorite show or movie on. If you plan on watching something or listening to music, please also bring headphones with you.
Can I bring guests with me?
You may bring guests with you to your appointment if you would like.
To prevent overcrowding in the tattoo space, we please ask that you only bring one guest to sit alongside you as you get your tattoo. You are welcome to bring more than one guest, but they will need to sit in our waiting area.
I'm not sure what I want yet-
Can I still book an appointment?
If you aren't sure of exactly what you want yet, we can set up a consultation to discuss your ideas and placements.
Tattoos are a permanent commitment, so it is important to be sure of what you want to get before moving forward. I want to make sure you love your tattoo forever.
I would highly recommend waiting until you have a clear idea in mind before booking an appointment. I would also consider future placement plans when deciding where you'd like to get it, to ensure you have adequate room for other ideas.
If you have an idea in mind and are unsure about some details or looks, let's set up a consultation and we can talk it through together.
If you're open to different ideas, I have a book of pre-drawn flash designs you can choose from! You can look at these at the shop in the waiting area.
Where is a good place to get my first tattoo?
I recommend getting your first tattoo somewhere on your arms or legs.
Each person's pain tolerance differs, so it is not something we can accurately predict.
Through most of my experience, my clients usually have an easier time with the arms or legs than anywhere on the torso.
Some placements I would recommend for beginners would be inner/outer forearm, outer bicep, side of calf, and top of thigh.
What if I really want my first tattoo on the torso?
I am happy to do this for you if you've done research and decided on this placement.
The chest, collarbone, ribs, back and stomach are generally known as more painful spots to get tattooed.
Something I might consider is using a numbing cream to minimize the pain during this tattoo, because the first tattoo is always nerve-wracking, and taking a bit of fear out of it can be helpful.
Numbing creams are not all created equal, and I have a few brands I know and trust that you can purchase. If you plan on using numbing cream, please let me know prior to the appointment so I can plan accordingly.
I am curious about using a numbing cream.
What kind do you recommend?
If you are interested in using numbing cream for your tattoo, please discuss this with me when booking. DO NOT show up to your appointment with a mystery numbing cream on your body without notifying me, as not all numbing creams are recommended and I need to plan accordingly for your appointment beforehand if you plan to use one.
Please note that numbing cream is not a quick fix to a completely painless tattoo. I only recommend using a numbing cream if you will not be able to get the tattoo without it. Your body will naturally go through a slight numbing when recieving a tattoo after you have been tattooed for a while. When you use a numbing cream, your body does not have the same chemical reaction to the first parts of the tattoo as it is already numb, so once the cream wears off, it may be harder than it would be without using the cream at all.
I have used three brands that I trust on numerous occasions, and I would recommend them to anyone wanting to try numbing cream. Please inquire first for a list.
I do not provide numbing cream, and you will need to purchase any of these yourself.
Most of the brands that I recommend can be found on Amazon. I would purchase them as soon as you decide on using them, so you have enough time for shipping and to do a patch test. It is important to do a patch test beforehand so we know that you will not have a negative reaction to the cream.
Everyone reacts differently to numbing creams, due to differences in ingredients and chemicals. I have never had an issue with allergic reactions from any clients who have used these brands.
While no numbing creams on the market are FDA approved yet, there are some that follow FDA guidelines about the percentage of numbing agents in them. It is unsafe to use a numbing cream that has over 5% Lidocaine.
I will instruct you on how to properly apply the numbing cream both with the patch test and the day of the appointment. You will need to do this beforehand, as numbing cream needs to heat up to activate and work properly.
When the time comes to use the numbing cream before your tattoo, I recommend applying it about an hour before your appointment.
I will take the cream off of you when it has set in and we will continue the tattoo process as normal. You cannot re-apply cream once the tattoo has begun, and numbing cream usually has about 1-3 hours of effectiveness before it wears off.
Please note that numbing cream does not necessarily remove all of the pain that will occur during your tattoo. Usually clients describe feeling pressure but not the same sting that a tattoo gives. If applied incorrectly or unevenly, some areas may be numb while others may not.
Again, please DO NOT use numbing cream without first telling me about your intention to use it. If you show up to your appointment with a numbing cream on that I don't feel comfortable using, you may be asked to reschedule.
It is important to recognize the pros and cons of using a numbing cream before choosing to do so. I often recommend going without it for most tattoos, and only choosing to use it for a last resort if the tattoo pain is likely to be unbearable for you.
I really want my hands/ fingers/ face tattooed but I don't have any tattoos yet.
Will you do this?
I do not recommend getting your hands, fingers, or face tattooed before knowing what life is like as a tattooed person.
As tattoos grow in popularity, it can be shocking that some people and places still hold judgement towards tattoos. Though most workplaces are friendly towards tattoos and piercings, the hands and face are still very stigmatized.
I always recommend getting visible tattoos before going for those placements. When you have arm tattoos, and people see you with them every day, it can become easier to get comfortable with the judgement that comes along with having tattoos (negative or positive).
We are lucky to live in a time where most jobs are supportive of most placements, and hands and faces are sometimes still known as 'job-stoppers'. Be sure to discuss your plans with a potential employer or do research into the career path you are in and whether they are allowed or not before making this decision.
What is the healing process like?
You can find my aftercare page here, where I discuss what you'll need to purchase for your heal, and what to expect from the first couple days to months and years.
When can I see my tattoo design?
I understand that you will be anxious to see your design, as it is going to be on you for the rest of your life, and you are excited to see what it will look like.
However, I am not able to send a final design before our appointment date.
During my work schedule, I am tattooing all day during business hours, and I spend a considerable amount of time outside those hours working on designs, answering emails/ inquiries, keeping my social media up to date, and working on other things to keep my business running.
I usually am able to start working on designs no sooner than a week before the appointment date, and sometimes finish the night before the appointment.
This does not mean that I do not put lots of care and effort into each design. Giving my clients a custom piece that they adore for the rest of my life is my top priority.
Getting a custom tattoo requires a great deal of trust in your artist. I will aways make sure we are on the same page when brainstorming a design, and check in with you if I have any questions about the composition or details. If you do your research into which artist best fits your tattoo and give them the trust to execute the design to the best of their ability, you will be rewarded with a great tattoo.
That is why when you send your references and tattoo information in the booking form, it is important to be as detailed as possible.
I will have your completed design ready for you to see and approve the day of our appointment.
When you come in, we will discuss any changes you'd like to make to the design, and work on producing the best possible final product together. I find it easiest to discuss changes in person. It is going to be on you forever, and I want to make sure you are in love with what I come up with.
If there are major changes that need to be made to the design, requiring a re-design, you may be asked to reschedule. I would rather wait and give you exactly what you want than have you unsatisfied with the final product.
How do you accept payments?
For deposits, I accept payments online with Square. You can use a debit or credit card or Cash App to drop a deposit.
For the final payment after our appointment, I can accept either cash, card, and Apple Pay at checkout. Tips are never expected but always appreciated.
I do not accept payments from digital platforms like CashApp, Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, etc. for final payment, Please plan accordingly.
I do not accept pre-payment (other than the deposit) for tattoos. Please put the money aside until our appointment.
I have concerns about how color will heal on me because of my skin tone, or allergies.
Can you help me figure out how I can still get the tattoo I want?
I am more than happy to offer free color tests to individuals who are worried about how certain colors will heal on them, either due to their skin tone or allergies. We will need to have already scheduled an appointment first, and we will make sure to schedule 3-6 weeks out so your test can fully heal before the appointment.
For people of color, certain undertones in the skin may play into what colors will look best and heal well in the skin. If there are certain colors you're interested in getting, please let me know and we can test certain tones of each to make sure you get something that will heal beautifully.
For those concerned about allergies, we can also do a color test to see which pigments or brands will work best for you. It is rare to have an allergy to ink, as all of the products I use are vegan. When tattooing first came about, heavy metals were used in ink pigments, and caused a lot of healing complications over the years. Tattooing has come a long way since then, and most products are vegan and hypoallergenic.
However, there are rare circumstances where someone may have had an allergic reaction to the pigments or dyes used in an ink color. If there is a color that you've gotten in the past that has caused such a reaction, please let me know and we can test different tones or brands, to see what the issue is and move forward. The most common pigment that causes irritation tends to be red.
Once we have discussed the circumstances of your color test, and scheduled your tattoo appointment, we will set you up with a free appointment.
We can do the tattoo in a series of dots or smaller shapes such as hearts, usually in a line so we can compare each.
We will wait for it to heal at least a 3-6 weeks so the colors can heal before your tattoo appointment, and determine what to do from there. We may need to try different colors after the color test and reschedule the appointment, depending on how the heal goes.
Sometimes clients decide to cover the test with a tattoo, and others like to keep it visible for reference to other artists.
I saw this design and fell in love with it. I want it exactly the same, will you do this for me?
I do not copy other artist's designs. Each artist has a unique art style and if you see another artist's work that you want replicated, I would recommend making the journey to see them! No one is going to be able to replicate exactly how they do their work and have a good end result, not to mention that stealing art is never okay.
It is important to find an artist whose style you love and fits well with what you want. If that's not me, that's okay!
I am happy to create pieces of art that are completely custom and unique to the individual you are.
If you see something you really love the subject matter of, and would like me to draw my own rendition of that theme, I would be happy to. There are so many ways of drawing the same thing, and taking ideas and inspiration from someone else is perfectly fine, just not taking a design completely.
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