Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do to prepare for my tattoo?
Things to do before the appointment:

  • Lotion the area you’re getting tattooed daily

  • Get a full nights sleep.

  • Please be mindful of personal hygiene by taking a shower and brushing your teeth.

  • Eat a hearty, healthy meal at least 4 hours beforehand.

  • Do not drink or do drugs the night before, directly before, or during your appointment.

  • Wear clothing that is comfortable but will allow easy access to the area getting tattooed. I do have room dividers for extra coverage if you want more privacy.

Things to bring to your appointment:

  • A government issued ID with picture (drivers license, state ID, military ID, passport, etc…)

  • Water, or other hydrating drinks, and protein snacks or candy.

  • (Due to COVID-19) A mask to wear during your appointment.

  • (Due to COVID-19) At this time we cannot allow friends/family to join you for appointments.

Things to do during tattoo sessions:

  • Watch a movie/play games on your phone or tablet

  • Read a book

  • Listen to music

  • Sleep

  • Meditate

  • Chat (if I am quiet, please don’t take it personally as I am likely focusing on your tattoo)

Can I use numbing cream or pain killers?

  • Generally no, and no.

    Pain killers like Aspirin and Ibuprofen thin the blood and can lead to increased bleeding which prolongs the tattoo and healing process. If you must take a pain killer due to other ailments, you can take Tylenol.

    As for numbing cream, most topical agents are not effective unless the skin is already broken. It may provide temporary relief but the pain will be much worse when it wears off in the middle of the tattoo as your body wasn’t able to adapt to the pain. The only time I use numbing agents are for tattoos that are large or will exceed 5 hours, and only after the skin has been broken.


I'm sick/have a sunburn, can I still get tattooed?

  • No
    As I am someone who is at high risk for getting sick, I ask that you let me know and reschedule your appointment. It’s also important that your body is healthy so that your tattoo can heal to it’s fullest potential.

    If you have a sun burn, or a skin condition that is is acting up, please let me know so that we can reschedule your appointment. These situations can cause further damage to not only your tattoo but the skin itself.

Is it okay to wear perfume, cologne, essential oils, or body spray?

  • No
    I am severely allergic to perfumes and certain scents (including essential oils, especially lavender) I ask that you please refrain from wearing them.

How long will my session take?

  • This completely depends on a variety of factors such as; size of the tattoo, whether it’s line art or full colour, how your skin reacts to being tattooed, how you personally react, etc..

    I encourage you to give yourself plenty of time to be at the shop and not plan anything with a strict meeting time afterwards so that neither of us feel rushed during the session.

How does the healing process work?

  • Taditional healing - Depending on the scope of your tattoo, 1-4 hours after leaving the shop you will unwrap your tattoo, wash your hands, wash your tattoo with fragrance free liquid soap, and pat dry with a clean paper towel. The morning after your appointment repeat the washing technique, pat dry, and apply a very thin layer of either Aquaphor or Hustle Butter. Do this 2-3 times a day, especially before bed and when you wake up. About 3 days later the tattoo should start to peel, you’ll switch over from Aquaphor/Hustle to a fragrance free lotion and apply whenever it feels dry. When showering you can apply a thin layer of Aquaphor or Hustle Butter just before getting in so that the water won’t have a chance to soak into the tattoo. Once done, rinse off the ointment and apply another thin layer an hour or two later.

  • Saniderm, Recovery Derm, or TatuDerm -Leave the saran wrap on over night, remove it in the morning, wash your hands, and wash the tattoo with fragrance free liquid soap. Wait about 20 minutes to ensure the tattoo is dry and not seeping anymore (if it continues to seep, wash it again and wait another hour). Make sure you’ve cut an extra 1.5 inches or so of the derm around the edges of the tattoo. Leave it on for 5-7 days, taking it off any earlier will result in damage to your skin. Ink, blood, and plasma will continue to seep from the tattoo and may cause the area underneath the derm to look inky and gross. This is completely normal. If a large amount of liquid develops under the derm, you may drain it and patch it back up with another smaller piece of derm. I encourage you to buy any of these derms off of Amazon so you have extra on hand.

    *DO NOT*

    • Scratch or pick at the tattoo

    • Soak your tattoo in a bath or hot tub

    • Go swimming in pools, lakes, ponds, oceans, etc..

    • Go tanning in the sun or at a salon

    • Use sunblock. Instead keep the tattoo covered with loose fitting clothing

    • Let your pet lick/touch the tattoo

    • Listen to your friends. Contact me before taking their advice

Do you tattoo seniors/BIPOC/plus size clients, or clients with skin conditions?

  • Absolutely! I have the pleasure of tattooing a wide variety of clients and thus have experience with all skin tones and types. This includes people with scars, excess skin, moles, and other skin conditions.

I found this exact tattoo that I want, can you duplicate it?

  • As a curtesy to the artist that created the original design and the client whom it was created for, I do not copy other tattoo’s or artwork. Going to an artist for a custom design, and then finding someone else tattooed with that piece would be pretty devastating as you thought it was something unique to you. Keep this in mind when you’re looking at other pieces and coming up with something for yourself. That being said I’m happy to work with you and come up with something that contains similar elements that you’ll be satisfied with.

What's the best time of year to get tattooed?

  • Any time of the year is a great time to get a tattoo! If you’re someone who loves to sunbathe and show off your tattoo, then I would recommend Winter as it gives your tattoo plenty of time to fully heal.

Do you offer free touchups?

  • Once you’ve received a tattoo from me, I offer free touch ups within the first 6 months as long as you agree to use the Saniderm second skin healing bandage that I provide. Failure to use Saniderm or follow care instructions will result in forfeit of a free touch up. Adhesive allergies will be taken into account, please chat with me if you have concerns.

    Touchups are only scheduled on weekdays as I prioritize large block sessions for weekends.

Should I tip?

  • Tipping is not required but is deeply appreciated. Just like any other service industry, tattooing is a service and that should be taken into account when considering whether or not to tip. A tip can show an artist how much you appreciate their time, effort, and expertise. While the general consensus is 20%, like any service industry, the experience should warrant a tip. Artists put a lot of time and effort into your design, and should also ensure that your in shop experience is comfortable and safe.

    If you choose to tip, cash is preferred.

    If you’re unable to tip, other great ways to show appreciation to your artist is social media shout-outs and 5 star reviews on Google or Yelp.

Why didn't you post my tattoo on Instagram?

  • It’s certainly nothing personal and does not mean I don’t absolutely love the tattoo I gave you! My social media is also my art portfolio so it’s important that I curate it to show more pieces I want to do in the future and ones that I know will get a lot of attention from potential new clients.