FAQs
Do I need to come in for a consultation before scheduling an appointment?
Yes! In person consultations are the best way for me to get to know you and your project. It allows us to discuss your vision in depth, get an accurate idea of the shape and size of the tattoo, as well as discuss information like pricing and availability.
What can I do to prepare for the appointment?
Getting a great nights sleep, drinking lots of water, and having a hearty breakfast before you come in for your appointment makes all the difference! It is also very helpful to moisturize and exfoliate the skin where you will be getting tattooed for a few days or weeks leading up to your appointment.
Be sure to avoid getting sunburned before your session and don’t worry about putting any lotions or perfumes on the morning of your appointment.
You are welcome to bring a lunch, snacks, or drinks to your appointment. A jacket or a small blanket would be a good idea for my folks who get cold easily!
Bringing (Bluetooth) headphones are great if you want to listen to your music or connect to my TV to watch a movie.
What do I have to do for aftercare?
Keep it clean! It is an open wound for the first several days so treat it as such! 2-3 times a day you will wash the entire area with clean hands, pat dry, and then lightly moisturize. Continue this regimen for 2 weeks.
Be sure to use a fragrance free antibacterial soap. Liquid soaps are more ideal than bars of soap. One that I recommend is Dial Gold.
For moisturizer, there are many great tattoo aftercare ointments that help to heal the skin very nicely. A few reputable brands would be Redemption, Mad Rabbit, Hustle Butter, H20cean. A drugstore alternative would be aquaphor. Be sure to use all of these ointments sparingly and rub them into the skin completely. If you’d like to switch to a plain, unscented body lotion during the second week of healing, that is also a great option.
Avoid soaking/submerging the tattoo in water during the 2 week healing period. Also avoid direct sunlight for the first 3-4 weeks after receiving your tattoo . Sunscreen is key to good longevity when your tattoo is fully healed.
How long do I have to wait before going in the sun and swimming?
Until the top surface of the tattoo is fully healed! Usually 2.5-3 weeks after receiving the tattoo is when it is safe to go swimming or let the tattooed area be exposed to prolonged direct sunlight.
If the tattoo is still peeling, be sure to avoid direct sun and swimming until it’s smooth.
At this point it is very important to keep sunscreen over your tattoo when exposed to sunlight for a prolonged period of time. That is crucial for protecting the longevity of your tattoo.
Can I workout after getting the tattoo?
Depends on your workout. A light exercise that does not cause too much strain to the tattooed area, and does not make you sweat excessively would be better during the first 1-2 weeks after getting your new tattoo.
If you are a gym goer, an at home workout would be more ideal during the first 1-2 weeks as well. You want to avoid any kind of bacteria getting on your new tattoo and also be considerate of others by not having an exposed wound in a public place.
Are your designs custom drawn?
Yes, definitely! My favorite part of the tattoo process is creating a custom drawn/designed piece of art uniquely for you. Using inspiration photos from other art pieces, tattoos, or designs can be helpful for you to communicate your ideas but ideally our goal is to create a one of a kind piece that represents us both! I also strive to have artistic integrity and not copy other artists designs.
How many hours do you work in a single session?
My full day appointments are from 11am to 5:30pm. This is a great amount of time to get a lot of work done without overextending ourselves.
We can take a lunch or snack break whenever needed, as well as bathroom breaks of course. Otherwise I try to avoid taking too many breaks that way I can work hard and get as much done as possible during our scheduled time.
What styles do you specialize in?
Realism and illustrative, also known as neotraditional styles! I love using realistic elements to make my tattoos appear 3D and have lots of detail. I also have fun incorporating illustrative elements that give it a very one of a kind look. Some tattoos that I do lean more in one direction or the other and some tattoos are a perfect blend of both.