tattoo prep
preparing for your upcoming tattoo session:
In the weeks leading up to your appointment, you should prepare the skin in the area of the tattoo. If you are undecided on body placement or torn between multiple locations, prep the areas you are considering so that the skin is tattoo-ready.
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If it is summertime, limit your exposure to the sun in the area you wish to be tattooed. Unfortunately, your artist will not tattoo sunburned or damaged skin. If you show up to your appointment and your skin is sunburned or damaged, by artist discretion you will either have to choose a different location for your tattoo (depending on the design), or you will forfeit your deposit and have to reschedule with a new deposit.
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If you are planning a trip where sun exposure is likely, please plan your tattoo session accordingly. It is better to reschedule your session around your trip than to receive a tattoo without ample healing time prior to or ample recovery from sun exposure afterwards. If you have questions, just ask!
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how to prep the skin:
When bathing or showering, gently exfoliate the skin in the area you wish to be tattooed. This will help remove dead skin cells and help the skin absorb moisture. Once the skin is dry, lightly moisturize the area with your preferred moisturizer (coconut oil is great!).
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24 hours before your appointment:
If you are able to, shave the area you wish to be tattooed. Your artist can go over any area missed or shave for you if you are unable, but if you have the ability to shave ahead of time it helps us out.
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DO NOT moisturize the skin the night before or the day of your appointment as this will prevent the stencil from sticking well. Leave your skin dry!
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Do not consume alcohol and limit your caffeine intake leading up to your appointment as this can thin the blood. Alcohol can affect your immune system and therefore make your skin more prone to irritation, pain and redness. Some painkillers can have the same affect, so please message us or your artist if you have any questions!
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before your appointment:
Make sure to eat a decent meal at least one hour before your appointment and make sure you are hydrated. Low blood sugar during a tattoo session can induce nausea, light-headedness, dizziness, and/or fainting. We do provide snacks, candy, juice boxes, water and other beverage options, but if you have preferred snacks/drinks, please bring them.
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If you have a lengthy session booked, you and your artist can take a break and you are more than welcome to order food delivery to the studio.
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if you are using a numbing cream:
Make sure your skin is cleaned with soap and water, and dried with a clean towel. If you have an alcohol-based cleaner, like isopropyl alcohol spray or wipes or a non-moisturizer hand sanitizer, clean the area with that as well as it will help open your pores which will help absorb the numbing cream. With clean hands or an applicator, evenly apply the numbing cream to the area. You want it thick enough that the area is decently covered, about the thickness of a nickel.
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Once the cream is applied, cover the area with press n seal or plastic wrap. It is best if you can cut it to cover about one inch around where the numbing cream is and then completely seal the area with tape. Then wrap the area multiple times with plastic wrap to secure it.
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Please note: some numbing creams are better than others, so if you have questions about which types are best and where to purchase them, contact us or your artist!
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during your appointment:
Once your skin is prepped for stencil placement, your artist will apply the stencil and then have you check it for approval. If you would like the stencil moved, your artist will be happy to do so. This is the time to move it and they will not be offended if you'd like it moved.
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If your artist is freehand drawing the stencil, your artist will check in with for approval during their process. This type of stencil is a lot harder to easily move, but again, this is the time for adjustments so be sure to communicate!
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Your artist will not begin tattooing until the stencil is 100% approved. If, after the tattoo is completed, you decide you are unhappy with an element not easily remedied, remember that your artist did not begin until you approved both the design and the final stencil so before you start is the time to express any concerns you may have.
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Should you need it, your artist may have a numbing spray that they can use to help you get through the remainder of your appointment if you start to get to the point of pain intolerance. This spray only works on broken-open skin and should be used sparingly (usually for final details and/or white highlights) as excessive use of numbing can cause the tattoo to heal poorly.
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additional notes:
Most of our artists will have either music playing or the option to view streaming from a tv, but feel free to bring a book or device for distraction/entertainment. If you bring something that keeps your hands busy (like knitting) please only use if the area being tattooed will not be affected by that type of movement (such as your lower legs). The more still you are, the faster your artist can work;)
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If you need any breaks at any time for stretching, moving around, bathroom or snacks, let your artist know! We can always use a break to stretch our own bodies so we usually don't mind. Please limit your cigarette/vape breaks as much as you can, though!
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If you require privacy or a low-contact/no talking session, please let your artist know ahead of time so that they can accommodate. Our studio is very sociable, so if it is busy there will likely be a lot of noise and people coming and going, so to accommodate a quiet stress-free session your artist will have to book around the schedule of others or ensure the studio has adequate quiet and privacy for your session.
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If you would like to bring a friend or partner to your session, please let your artist know ahead of time as our rooms are either small or shared.
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after your appointment:
Your artist will have you hang out for around 15 minutes after your session is completed to allow the tattooed area to settle and to make sure you are good to go. During this time your artist will verbally go over aftercare with you and you can ask any questions you may have.
Once your tattoo has settled, your artist will clean the tattooed area once more and apply bandaging. Most of our artists use second skin bandaging, but we do have alternative bandaging available.
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We also have aftercare ointments available for purchase at the studio, but otherwise you can follow the aftercare instructions here.​
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questions or concerns:
If you have any questions that are not covered above, please do not hesitate to contact us or your artist directly:)
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