Studio Guidelines:

  • We will not tattoo anyone under the age of 18. Take your time to think and plan this very permanent change to your skin and body - it bears serious consideration. 
  • No animals are allowed in the tattooing area, except for certified service animals.
  • One person will be allowed to accompany the subject into the tattooing room, provided they do not distract or disturb the process. 
  • We will not tattoo persons who have been drinking, or under the influence of any drugs.
  • We reserve the right to refuse or discontinue service at our discretion.
  • If you can't make it during our regular business hours, reach out via email or phone and we'll make arrangements to accommodate you.

What to know - our evolving FAQ:

  • ​It hurts. A lot. The skin is our largest organ and is filled with innumerable nerve endings. Areas with thicker skin hurt less, but it is still a journey through pain. You will need to focus on the reasons for your tattoo and the reasons for your journey. Breathing exercises are helpful. We encourage you to bring your favorite and most inspiring music to play on our Bluetooth speaker during the process. Art inspires art.
  • Preparation is important. Keep your skin moisturized daily with a non-petroleum lotion or cream such as Nivea cream (it's been around for decades for a reason). Stop moisturising 24 hours before your tattooing session. Tanned skin does not accept ink well, because it is literally damaged ,and the epithelial cells need to grow out - we will do our best.
  • Do not drink within 24 hours of the session. Alcohol causes us to bleed more freely, and this will negatively affect the longevity of your tattoo, as well as leaving you more open to infection.
  • We do not recommend tattoo numbing creams. They only work for short periods of time (under 2 hours), and they have two negative side effects: the cream lessens the skin's ability to accept ink (like moisturizing too much), and the lidocaine often causes edema in the skin, which actually increases the pain when it wears off. There is no free ride.
  • We will do touch-ups on the work of other artists if it lies within our scope and skill set. All tattoos fade over time. Ink falls out for different reasons. The cost will be calculated based on our hourly rate. Please book a consultation to review and discuss!
  • We offer one free touch-up session on our tattoos, at 6+ months after healing (make an appointment, as with other sessions). All skin heals at different rates, and the healing of tattoos, even with the best of self-care, can result in premature loss of color or detail.
  • We tattoo people of any age from 18 to 100+. There is a lot of age-discrimination in this industry. Sure, we older folks have looser, thinner skin, but there is no reason you cannot get a tattoo at any age. I'm 62 myself - you deserve awesome art, just like everyone else. Live life to the fullest, mark your talismans, milestones, and memories!
  • The longest-lasting colors are black, red, and dark blue, which also stand out best on darker skin. The least-persistent colors are white, yellows, and pastel shades. Plan accordingly.
  • Due to the pain, some people may "tap out," and require a second booking to complete the tattoo. There is no shame in this; it's a very painful experience for a good cause. We will request payment for the time spent on the current progress, and will gladly book a follow-up session when you feel up for it. If you are getting a tattoo with both outline and color, we suggest it be done across two or more sessions, and we can plan for that in advance. If you are one of those rare folks who can handle it all in one go, booyah, we'll do it!
  • What about all-white tattoos? They look cool when fresh, but there are drawbacks: they tend to fade quickly, and, especially if exposed to the sun, they have a disconcerting tendency to turn yellow. White highlights, with extremely high quality inks, are often applied to tattoos in small areas for maximum impact, and need to be applied with a short, stout needle - more painful than the long taper needles we usually use. A price to be paid for the dramatic effect.
  • How about glow-in-the-dark or neon tattoos? See the above; it all applies to these ephemeral inks as well. We use ONLY the best inks, and there is a reason these manufacturers don't dabble in glow-in-the-dark or neon colors. We ain't there yet. UV tattoo ink contains phosphorus, which is a known carcinogen. We only use US and Canadian-made inks (with transparent component lists), and none of these incorporate carcinogens. Death comes soon enough for all; let's not give it a leg-up, hmm?
  • We will not tattoo over moles. We can tattoo around them. Please keep an eye on all moles with raised surfaces due to the risk of skin cancer.
  • We will tattoo over scars, keeping in mind that it is not normal skin tissue and may take ink differently and may require more than one session to seat the ink properly (see free touchups, above). 
  • Areas we will not tattoo: face, genitals, inner lip, palms of hands, and bottoms of feet.
  • Don't be late for your appointment. We may have to reschedule, which inconveniences everyone. Plan well!

    Any questions I didn't address? Drop us a note, all contact information is below!
    ~Linda
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