FAQ
Tattoo Aftercare Instructions
Please know that these are my suggestions for aftercare - you know your body best, so if there is a method that works better for you, please do what works for you. In general, regardless of aftercare method, you need to wait at least 3 weeks before swimming/bathing with your tattoo, and please avoid excessive exercise within the first week of your tattoo. A healing tattoo is an open wound - avoid contact with nasty things such as gym equipment (ew).
If using second skin style adhesive bandage:
- When using adhesive style bandages, especially for the first time or in a particularly sensitive area of skin, always keep an eye on it - if you notice hives or excessive irritation underneath the bandage please take it off (in the shower!) as soon as you notice and switch to following the plastic wrap instructions WITHOUT rewrapping the tattoo
- Keep your adhesive bandage on for 3-5 days. Fluid build up underneath is normal, this is blood, plasma, and ink that’s trying to form a scab. If you notice leakage however, its time to take the bandage off (if liquid can get out then germs can get in)
- When it’s time to take off the bandage, do so in the shower - pull the bandage off like a command strip, slowly, so that you dont rip off any scab that might still be stuck to the bandage.
- While in the shower, wash your tattoo with an unscented soap
- When you get out of the shower, pat your tattoo dry with a paper towel. Let you tattoo air dry for a couple hours before starting to moisturize with a light unscented moisturizer.
- For the next 2-3 days, wash your tattoo morning and evening (and if it gets dirty), and moisturize with a light unscented moisturizer after washing.
- REMINDER - please wait at least 3 weeks before submerging your tattoo in any water (ex: baths + swimming? Please wait until your tattoo is fully healed)
If using plastic wrap:
- Keep the plastic wrap on either until you get home, or keep it on overnight (remember to sleep with clean bedsheets that you don’t mind getting ink/blood on in case the plastic wrap leaks
- When its time to take off the plastic wrap, use unscented soap, lukewarm water, and clean hands to **gently** your new tattoo.
- Pat dry with a piece of paper towel, and then let air dry for a bit
- Using a qtip to take from a tub of vaseline or similar ointment, apply a VERY thin layer of vaseline on your tattoo
- Repeat this wash and ointment process each morning and evening (and if for example a pet licks it, or you get it covered in dirt for some reason etc) for 3-5 days. After 3-5 days your tattoo should start to be entering the flakey phase
- Once your skin is in the flakey phase, moisturize 2-3 times a day with a light, unscented moisturizer
- REMINDER - please wait at least 3 weeks before submerging your tattoo in any water (ex: baths + swimming? Please wait until your tattoo is fully healed)
COVID Information
Many of you know that I'm a person with a very uncooperative immune system, and have been intermittently needing immunosuppressants. This means I take covid/general sickness precautions seriously
- I expect all my clients to arrive wearing a well fitting mask, preferably kn95/n95 or similar, and be prepared to wear it for the entirety of the appointment aside from snack/water breaks, and I’ll be doing the same.
- I expect my clients to reschedule if they’re sick. It doesn’t matter if it's just a cold - being sick sucks! Being self-employed means that I don’t get sick days. Also, getting a tattoo is already hard on your body, it’s better to wait till you’re back to feeling whatever normal and decent is for you.
- Similarly, if you get sick or test positive for covid shortly after our appointment, please let me know so that I can act accordingly.
- I am very open for you to share any additional measures you would need to feel comfortable! I deeply care for the safety and comfort of my clients, and am very open to feedback on whether or not these measures are sufficient
Bookings
Pre-Drawn Flash
To book a pre-drawn flash project, please either use my form, or send me an email with the following info:
- What project you’re interested in specifically, if you’re thinking of any modifications
- What size and placement, colour or black and grey
- Your ideal budget range
- Your general availability (ie what days of the week, general timeframes)
Please know what while I can often make minor adjustments to flash projects, some larger changes would constitute a custom project/may affect the total cost of the project
If there is a flash project that’s been taken, but you’d be interested in a similar custom project, please let me know!
Custom Projects
Custom projects are collaborative! Please send an email with the following information, and in the case that the project is a good fit I'll reach out to discuss further
- For custom projects I ask that you give a clear description of what you have in mind (doesn't have to be fully fleshed out, but ideally having a general sense of content/vibe), including ideas for size and placement, and whether or not you’re thinking black and grey or colour.
- In addition to a description of what you have in mind, it's very helpful to have an idea of what about my work/previous work floats your boat and/or what elements you think work well with your idea. I'm open to receiving things like pinterest boards/collages/a collection of images you feel like communicate some of the vibe you're trying to get across as a compliment to a written description
- Please also include your budget range! Please keep in mind that the cost and time a piece takes depends on several factors like size, level of detail, and placement / I work with sliding scale rates and payment plans are available
Deposits
In order to hold your appointment time and before I start drawing for you, I ask that you make a 50$ deposit via e-transfer (or via paypal for clients coming from outside Canada) - this deposit goes towards the total cost of your tattoo, is non-refundable, but is transferable if ever you need to reschedule. Please wait until I approve your project/booking to send this deposit!
Reschedules
If you need to reschedule, please try to give me at least 24-48 hours notice so I can try and fill your appointment slot. That being said, life happens and I would much rather you reschedule than show up sick.
3 consecutive reschedules will result in your deposit being forfeited, and I will ask you to make a new deposit in order to schedule a new appointment.
Please do NOT no call no show - this is not cool! If you need to cancel last minute, let me know. An emergency happened? Let me know! If you don’t show up to your appointment and do not follow up to let me know what happened, your deposit will be forfeited and I won’t work with you in the future.
Touchups
I don’t charge for touchups within the first 6 months for local clients, or within the first year for out of town clients. Anything beyond these time frames would be considered a refresh, and will be charged according to my hourly rate. Please know that adding to an existing project beyond what was initially discussed at the time of booking is not considered a touch up and will also be charged according to my hourly rate. To book a touchup please reach out via email.
Colour Tests
If you’re thinking about a colour tattoo and aren’t sure about how certain colours might heal on your skin, please feel free to reach out via email about a colour test - I don’t charge for colour tests!
Payment
Costs + Sliding Scale
In general, I usually price by the project - this means I will give you a sliding scale flat cost range, where anything in that range works for me. This is because I tend to work fairly quickly, and I never want having a slower day/needing to take my time with your skin to cost you more than you expected coming into the appointment. This takes the pressure off of me if I feel that your skin needs a different/more time intensive approach, and also lets you have a specifics to plan for your budgeting needs.
For a point of reference, for projects where it makes more sense to go with an hourly rate, I charge sliding scale 100-175$/hour, and projects that take less than an hour will be charged as a 1 hour minimum.
For freehand pieces (where we draw onto your skin the day of the appointment rather than doing a stencil), the time that we spend drawing is not taken into consideration if we’re doing hourly cost - I want you to feel like we can spend as much time as we need perfecting our plan of approach.
If you’re not familiar with the concept of a sliding scale cost, here is a link to a good explainer. Having a sliding scale is important to me because I want my work to be accessible - this also means that I am putting my trust in my clients to know their financial situation best and choose where they fall on the sliding scale. When those who are financially able to pay higher on the sliding scale, this means that I’m able to accommodate more low-cost projects for those who otherwise would not be able to access getting a tattoo.
Payment Options
I am able to accept cash, e-transfer, and paypal. For clients coming from the USA, please know that we don’t have Cashapp/Venmo/Zelle in Canada, and please plan to pay by cash or Paypal.
Payment Plans
Payment plans are something I always offer, I want my work to be accessible. Examples of payment plans proposed by previous clients:
- Half of total payment on the day of the tattoo, followed by biweekly payments spread over weeks for the second half of payment
- Biweekly payment of half the total cost in advance of the day of the tattoo spread over 8 weeks, second half of payment on the day of the tattoo
I am very open to hearing what kind of payment plan might work for you, if this is something you need/want in working with me please just let me know when you send me your submission.
Please know that all payments made through a payment plan, which includes any payments sent before the dates of the appointment, are non-refundable.
Tipping
Tipping is never expected but always appreciated, and tips don’t have to be monetary - I have an absurd amount of food allergies so it's usually safest to assume that I’m not able to eat the yummy snack you brought me unfortunately. I am always appreciative of coffee beans, eucerin moisturizer, cool rocks you found on the ground, and obviously bird related things. Imagine if you were bringing a gift to a weird crow - if the crow would be happy then I will likely be happy