Here are some of the most commonly asked questions people ask before they get their tattoo or piercing done. For commonly asked questions about tattoo and piercing aftercare check out the Healing section.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Tattoos
1. Does it hurt?
Unfortunately no tattoo is painless. All tattoos hurt to some degree, but that degree really depends on the person getting it. More likely then not, you'll just feel an annoying pain. A type of pain that you know is there but it's bearable and your not going to jump up and run out after that first line. Most people come into a tattoo thinking it’s going to be the worst pain they ever felt and realize shortly after that it was not even close to what they were thinking. After about 5 minutes or so you start to get used to it and the tattoo becomes even more bearable.
2. How old do I have to be to get tattooed?
At our shop you need to be 18 years of age or older, no exceptions. We require proof of age in the form of a state issued photo ID for every customer that walks through our doors.
3. How much does it cost?
Size, detail, and placement on the body are the main factors that determine a cost of a tattoo. For smaller pieces that are done in one sitting, we give a flat rate for. You would have to come in and show us what you are looking to get and we would be able to give a price from there, or if needed, we would draw what you are looking to get and then give you a price. We cannot give out a price without seeing the art, we need to see the work involved. We cannot go by a description because most of the time what you're thinking isn't what we're thinking.
When it comes to larger tattoos that take more then one sitting, we go on an hourly rate. We charge between $125 to $150 per hour and most of the time it’s a 4-hour session. Again, once the drawing is done, we give an estimate on the time it will take.
4. How long does it take?
Again size and detail are the main factors in how long a certain tattoo takes. Just because a tattoo is small doesn’t mean it will be done in a few minutes. The same goes for larger tattoos. The more lines, color or shading that goes into a tattoo, the longer it takes. Placement on the body as well as a person's skin can effect time, some people’s skin just takes in the pigment faster and easier then others.
5. Is everything sterile?
We use single use disposable inks and needles. Anything that is to be touched during the tattoo process is covered in disposable plastic bags or film. After each tattoo everything is disposed of and our workstations and machines are thoroughly cleaned with germicidal wipes. The grips and tubes are cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner, placed in sterile pouches and steam sterilized using an autoclave.
6. Can I have something drawn up?
To have a tattoo drawn up for you, you'll have to come into the shop to have it done. There you can give us your ideas on the tattoo your looking for and we can set it up for you. There is a $25-$50 drawing fee ($25 for small art and $50 large art). Once this drawing is started, there is no refund and it also does not go toward the final price of the tattoo. Most of the time your tattoo can be drawn up while you wait but sometimes, depending on the tattoo, it could take a few days to draw. Your finished art will be a tattoo ready outline, not a full color design. Colors are discussed when the work begins. We do not draw tattoos that we are not going to tattoo. We do not send out our artwork or allow it to leave the shop.
You may also bring in your own design. Anything you wish to be tattooed can be done.
7. How do I make an appointment?
To make an appointment you must come into the shop, show us what you're planning to get (so we know how much time to set aside for you) and also you must leave a deposit. Deposits are refundable only if you call and cancel your appointment at least 24 hours before your scheduled time.
If you are out of town, you can call to make an appointment at least 2-3 weeks prior to the date you would like. Then we require that you mail in a deposit. Again deposits are refundable only if you call and cancel your appointment at least 24 hours before your scheduled time.
8. How do I find a good tattoo artist to do my tattoo?
Just because you have a great tattoo design or see a great design on the wall of a shop, it doesn’t mean that every tattoo artist can do that design. Take your time when looking for an artist. Go to their shop and look around. Make sure it is clean. Look at pictures of their work. Make sure the outlines are clean and straight, not jagged and inconsistent. Is the color solid and nicely done, or spotty and randomly mashed in? One thing to note is just because someone has been tattooing for 20 years doesn’t mean they have been producing great tattoos for 20 years. Ask around, if an artist's name keeps popping up then that person probably has a good reputation.
Good work is not cheap and cheap work is not good! A tattoo is going to be on your body forever so this isn’t the time to be cheap.
Good Tattoo
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Bad Tattoo
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Frequently Asked Questions About Piercing
1. How old must I be to get a piercing?
At our shop no one under the age of 14 will be pierced, no exceptions. For ages 14-17 we require state issued photo ID from both you and your parent or legal guardian, as well as a notarized consent form. The parent or legal guardian must be present during the procedure. Nipple, genital, tongue and surface piercings will not be performed on anyone under the age of 18. Anyone 18 and above must have proof of age in the form of a state issued photo ID to get pierced.
2. Does it hurt?
Unfortunately like a tattoo, no piercing is painless. All piercings hurt to some degree, but that degree really depends on the person getting it. The pain of a piercing comes from the needle being pushed through your skin, which is over within seconds. You may experience some soreness afterwards but overall it is very tolerable. More likely then not most people come into a piercing thinking its going to hurt a lot more then it actually does.
3. How much does it cost?
Piercings range from $30 and up depending on the piercing procedure and the jewlery used for the piercing.
4. How long does it take?
Depending on the procedure a piercing can take about 15-20 minutes for the complete process. By that we mean setting up, explaining the process, the piercing itself, and the explanation of aftercare. The actual piercing only takes a few seconds.
4. Is everything sterile?
All needles are single use disposable needles. Anything that is to be touched during the piercing process is covered in disposable plastic bags or film. After each piercing everything is disposed of and our workstations are thoroughly cleaned with germicidal wipes. The clamps and tools used in the procedure are cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner, placed in sterile pouches and steam sterilized using an autoclave.
5. Can I bring in my own jewelry?
No. Using jewelry that we know nothing about is a liability that can jeopardize the piercing and possibly your health. Not knowing what your jewelry is made of can affect your body if you are allergic to certain metals. There may even be cross contamination issues if you took the jewelry from someone that had it in there body. We have no way of knowing any of these concerns and therefore will not use any jewelry but our own.
6. Can I make an appointment?
There is no need to make an appointment for a piercing procedure. The small amount of time involved to do a piercing makes it unnecessary. Walk ins are always welcomed for any piercing.
7. Am I going to bleed?
Normally there is very little bleeding during a piercing procedure. But bleeding, like pain, differs from person to person and some areas of the body may bleed more then others. Also blood thinners like aspirin and alcohol can cause you to bleed more.
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Looking for a new tattoo design? Check out the links below.
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