Tattoo Appointment Info

Getting tattooed:

  • My hourly tattoo rate is $200/hour, with a minimum charge of $200. I do not charge for drawing time, just tattoo time.

  • Acceptable forms of payment are CREDIT CARD (Visa, Mastercard, Amex), VENMO, CASH APP and CASH.

  • I take a $200 deposit for new projects, which will be deducted from your final tattoo session. *If you decide that you no longer wish to get tattooed and you wish to cancel your appointment, the deposit is 50% REFUNDABLE UP UNTIL 48 HOURS BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT. If work has been started on your project, whether drawing or tattooing, then the deposit is NON REFUNDABLE. Deposit will be deducted on your final (or only) appointment.

  • Beginning large tattoo work, the first hour or two is usually taken up with me preparing the skin (shaving and disinfecting), then stenciling and drawing the design onto your skin. After that process is completed then we usually take a break for a snack and beverage, bathroom break etc. Then after that we start tattooing, so normally the first appointment lasts most of the day, if not all day.

  • I try to be as gentle and efficient as possible, but tattoo work can be uncomfortable and painful. It is best to come rested and hydrated to your tattoo appointments, please bring water/beverages and snacks with you to the studio to keep your spirits up during the appointment. I do provide water/tea/coffee. Remember tattooing is a dual effort, so good preparation on your part both physically and mentally will help make the process as smooth as possible.

Numbing Creams:

Yes, I do allow the use of numbing creams and I recommend it for clients who have a difficult time with the sensation of getting tattooed (THE PAIN).

  • I DO NOT PROVIDE ANY CREAM. Please purchase some for yourself, there are many options on the market (They are all about 5% Lidocaine) and I recommend a product called Zensa, click here to get some of it! Some clients have also had good luck with this Mad Rabbit brand cream, click here to get some.

  • Numbing cream can not be used for outlining sessions as it will interfere with stenciling and drawing. Numbing cream is best for shading and colour sessions. Please do not apply cream without checking in with me beforehand.

Here is best how to apply it:

  • Wash skin and gently exfoliate
    Use soap, hot water and an exfoliator (for example: facecloth or sponge) to gently but thoroughly wash any dirt or flaky, dead skin from the tattoo area.

  • Apply thoroughly with a glove (if available)
    Apply at least 60-90 minutes before your tattoo appointment. Apply a thick amount of numbing cream (about 3mm) to the area. It should be thick enough to see on your skin, not rubbed in like lotion or sunscreen. I recommend covering the entire area plus an extra inch on each side to be sure the entire area is numbed properly.

  • Cover with plastic wrap
    Cover the entire tattoo area with saran or plastic wrap. The wrap prevents the numbing cream from drying out and any debris from entering the area. if possible, tape the wrap in place. Leave the wrap on until I take it off.

Side effects and risk: Mild redness and swelling is a common side effect of topical anesthetics. Side effects resulting from too much absorption of the medication into the body OR a Vasa-Vagal response (over-stimulation of the Vagal nerve) could include: burning, stinging, tenderness, fatigue, paleness, anxiety, troubled breathing, irregular heartbeat, shivering, trembling and ringing in the ear, increased perspiration, and headaches. Signs of overdose include hypotension, reduced breathing rate, low heart rate, irregular heart rate, coma and death.

Consultation: FREE

A consultation appointment is set so that we can meet chat about your tattoo idea. Here are some of the things to consider if you are thinking about getting tattooed:

  • Scope of the tattoo:
    This is the size of the tattoo. For example: Do you want a full-sleeve (full limb, like an arm or leg), half-sleeve, full back or just a smaller tattoo, hand sized or smaller?
    Smaller hand or palm sized (or even smaller) tattoos can usually be completed with one appointment.
    Larger work, like sleeves or backs are completed over multiple ‘sessions’.

  • Subject matter - Typically I prefer to do larger sized Japanese style tattoos, for example Dragons, Snakes, Koi fish, Tigers etc. I really like to tattoo natural subjects in a Japanese style, which also included flowers like Peonies, Cherry Blossom, Chrysanthemums, Lotus. However, I do make lots of exceptions especially for existing clients or any projects that I think would be interesting or very fun to do.

  • Colour or Black and grey? For Japanese work, normally the foreground subject (dragon, tiger etc) is in colour while all the background (eg water, clouds, wind) is in black and grey. This is less important to know right away because we can almost always make a decision on colours as we start the tattoo, or during the process.

THANK YOU! I look forward to meeting and working with you!