Tattoo Appointment Information

What should I expect?

Pre-Appointment

I take my appointments with my clients very seriously and strive for professionalism and compassion in my work. Once you have completed my booking request form, you can expect me to reach out within 5 business days. I will ask clarifying questions, address any concerns, and discuss your budget and availability with you. After we have come to an agreement, I will send you a link to make a nonrefundable $150 or $250 deposit, depending on the appointment length. This deposit will be credited back to your total at the final session we have together. This secures you appointment and covers the cost of my time drawing your design. I suggest lightly exfoliating the area you will be getting tattooed with a mild body scrub or African exfoliating towel 1-2 weeks before your appointment.

The Day of your Appointment

Please wear comfortable clothes that allow the area I am tattooing to be easily accessible. This may include a button down shirt if you are getting your sternum, ribs, or stomach tattooed. You may want to wear shorts or tie swimsuit bottoms if you are receiving work near your hips or thighs. I recommend loose, comfortable clothing that can come off in layers – everyone’s body temperature fluctuates while getting tattooed.

The process of finalizing the drawing (which I will show you at your appointment) and stenciling can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on if changes need to be made. Please feel free to communicate how you feel about the design. We can change it as much as we need to, and I will never pressure you to get a tattoo you’re not 100% in love with. Make sure you’ve eaten a good meal before coming in, but I recommend bringing water, snacks, and a sugary beverage if you’d like. Too much caffeine before a tattoo appointment isn’t a good idea.

I absolutely love chatting and getting to know my clients. I would love to talk and share interests and stories. If you aren’t a big chatter, no problem! Feel free to bring headphones if you want to watch something or listen to your own music. I can read the vibe well, so I certainly won’t force conversation if you prefer comfortable silence. My priority is always client comfort.

With Saniderm

After 3-5 days, clean your hands and unwrap the tattoo in the shower, using warm water and liquid antibacterial soap (I love this antibacterial and sensitive soap) to remove all the gunk on the surface of the tattoo with your hands. It’s just plasma, excess ink, and sweat but it needs to be washed off. Pat dry with a clean paper towel or CLEAN towel and allow to air dry for a couple of minutes.

To moisturize, use unscented lotion ex. cocoa butter, Aveeno, or Lubriderm etc. (no ointments, no A&d or Neosporin) twice a day for a week, then once a day after that. Daily moisturizing helps with longevity. Please clean your tattoo any time your tattoo was exposed to dirt, heavy sweating, or any outside elements.

Without Saniderm

After 12 hours, take off the wrapping your tattoo artist provided you with (wound wrap, plastic wrap, etc) and wash the area with antibacterial soap. Moisturize with an unscented lotion. 

Wash the tattooed area, twice a day (morning and night), using an antibacterial soap (Gold Dial Liquid Soap) with warm water; Dab or blot dry the skin gently. With clean hands, apply a small amount of unscented lotion (Lubriderm, Aveeno, Cerave, Vanicream) to your tattoo, careful not to oversaturate your tattoo.

FYI:

Never allow fresh tattoos to come into contact with pet hair or saliva, tight clothing, or anything that could harbor bacteria. Never swim, soak, go in hot tubs/saunas or get direct sunlight with a fresh or healing tattoo for at least 2 weeks. Tattoos usually take 2-4 weeks to heal fully. They will be red, swollen, and sore for the first couple of days, then they should tighten and dry out, and a thin, flaky scab will form. Never pick scabs/flakes off your tattoo.

Once your tattoo has healed, apply lotion once a day and use at least 30 spf sunblock when exposed to the sun. 

Please reach out to me if you have any questions. I would greatly appreciate it if you sent healed pictures of your tattoo in 2-3 weeks in good lighting (daylight), taken by another person.