Frequently Asked Questions
STUDIO GUIDELINES:
- WE REQUEST THAT NO ONE UNDER THE AGE OF 16 ENTERS THE PREMISES. THIS INCLUDES INFANTS.
- NO ANIMALS ARE ALLOWED INTO THE BUSINESS.
- NO MORE THAN ONE ACQUAINTANCE WILL BE ALLOWED INTO THE ROOM DURING YOUR TATTOO. WE UNDERSTAND THAT INDIVIDUALS MAY LIKE COMPANY/SUPPORT, BUT PLEASE UNDERSTAND TOO MANY PEOPLE CAN BE DISTRACTING TO THE ARTIST.
- WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE TO ANYONE.
DO YOU SELL GIFT CERTIFICATES?
Yes, we have gift certificates available in any amount.
DO YOU DO PIERCINGS AS WELL?
We do not do piercings yet, however we do plan to offer them in the future.
DO YOU TATTOO PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 18?
For persons between the age of 16 and 18, photo identification is required. Parent/legal guardian must be present. Parents/legal guardians must also provide valid photo identification with a last name that matches the client’s, and sign the consent and release form. If the guardian is not the birth parent of the client, we will also require proof of guardianship in the form of Adoption papers, Foster Care papers, etc. Guardians must be present for procedures on minors.
WILL YOU FIX ANOTHER ARTIST’S WORK OR COMPLETE IT?
Yes, our goal is to make you love your tattoo. If you have a tattoo that you are unhappy with, we are glad to help you find a way to fall in love with your art again.
WHAT ARE YOUR STERILIZATION PROCESSES?
We are inspected by and fully in compliance of Interior Health Authority's Guidelines for Personal Service Establishments. Gloves are used at all times and are latex-free for those with allergies and are replaced every time the artist walks away or reaches for non-disposable items to prevent cross-contamination. Needles are single use and come sterilized and individually sealed from the manufacturer. Tubes and ink cap holders are cleaned by ultrasonic and sterilized in our autoclave which is monitored and audited by Autoclave Testing Service Inc. Non-disposable items used are covered with plastic and then disinfected and sterilized after the tattoo. The tattoo room and equipment is taken apart and cleaned before and after each client. Pre and post cleaning of the tattoo area and equipment is done with hospital-grade procedures and cleaners that eradicate infectious diseases such as: HIV, Hepatitis C, Herpes, Tuberculosis, Staphylococcus, E Coli, MRSA, Salmonella and many more. Proof of sterilization is always shown prior to the tattoo in order to be approved by the client. Disposable ink caps are used to ensure no cross-contamination and are discarded after the tattoo. After the tattoo, the client will have an antibacterial ointment applied and then patched with a non-stick bandage in order to keep it clean when leaving the studio.
*Click here to view our inspection reports*
DO YOU ACCEPT WALK-INS OR IS IT APPOINTMENT ONLY?
We unfortunately no longer accept walk-ins and are currently appointment only.
HOW DO I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
You can contact us by phone, email, Facebook or stop by the studio. You can then set up a consultation to discuss the details and book your appointment with a deposit.
WHAT IS A TATTOO CONSULTATION?
A consultation appointment is a conversation with your artist. During this time you can get any questions answered, explain your ideas and get a quote of the price your tattoo will come to. Make sure to bring any reference pictures or quotations along. If the tattoo requires the artist to draw your design up, an $80 deposit will be needed before artwork can be done. The deposit goes toward the final cost of the tattoo. Once the artwork is approved by you, an appointment can be set up for your tattoo.
HOW MUCH DOES A TATTOO COST?
That depends on what exactly you are looking for. The studio’s rate is $160 per hour with an $80 minimum plus GST. In order to know precisely how long your tattoo will take we advise a free consultation appointment.
WHAT FORM OF PAYMENT DO YOU ACCEPT?
We accept cash, Visa, MasterCard, Interac debit and E-transfer.
IS THERE A DEPOSIT REQUIRED?
Yes. The artist’s time is valuable and limited, please respect that. If artwork needs to be prepared prior to your appointment, the deposit will also cover the artist’s drawing time.
WHAT ABOUT CANCELLATIONS?
If you are late for your appointment you will be required to reschedule. We require 48 hours of notice to cancel your appointment and for you to keep your deposit. This is to make sure we have enough time to fill your spot as we count on our clients showing up. Cancelling more than two times in a row, regardless of notice will require you to place another deposit for your next appointment. If you are more than 30 minutes late without calling ahead of time you will be considered a no-call no-show and you will lose your appointment and your deposit.
THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF SUGGESTIONS TO MAKE YOUR TATTOO MORE COMFORTABLE AND ENJOYABLE:
HOW DOES A TATTOO WORK?
“The tattoo machine moves a solid needle up and down between 50 to 3,000 times per minute. The needle penetrates a millimeter into the skin’s dermis, which is the second, deeper layer of the skin. No ink is deposited into the uppermost layer of skin, known as the epidermis. This is the layer you scrub every day in the shower and sheds 40,000 cells per hour. Not only does the tattoo's placement make it permanently locked beneath the skin’s layer, but it also inflicts damage into the dermis, which includes collagen, pigment, glands, and of course, nerves. The body reacts to the perceived pain by sending immune system cells to the wound site to begin repair and decrease inflammation. Specialized cells called macrophages eat the ink in order to clean up and decrease the inflammation, and the cells travel back into the lymph nodes, which act as filters or traps in the body for foreign particles. Not all of the ink is removed, and those left behind remain in the dermis cells, known as fibroblasts, and remain visible on the skin. They’re cyclically absorbed by newer fibroblasts, which would be why tattoos fade naturally over time.” – Samantha Olsen, MedicalDaily.com
Neuroscientist Claudia Aguirre created this video explaining the process *Warning if you have a fear of needles*:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMuBif1mJz0 – DoctorClaudia.com
DOES GETTING A TATTOO HURT?
Yes, it does hurt. There are a lot of factors that come into play to determine how much pain is involved. The pain will vary by person and how much each person can tolerate it.
WHAT ARE THE MOST AND LEAST PAINFUL AREAS OF THE BODY TO GET TATTOOED?
Tattoos in areas with softer skin or over bones will have more pain than others. Clients have remarked that some places affect them more. Ribs, feet and chest being mentioned the most. Areas that seem to hurt the least would be the back, arms and legs.
DOES THE INK FADE OVER TIME?
It can, depending on a lot of factors. Since we are constantly replacing skin cells over our lifetime the ink can slowly become lighter. (See the above Tattoo Process for details)
CAN I GET A TATTOO IF I’VE BEEN DRINKING?
No. Alcohol thins your blood causing you to bleed more during the tattoo procedure which can end up pushing the ink out of your body before it gets a chance to start healing.
CAN I GET A TATTOO IF I’M PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING?
While pregnant we will not tattoo you. While breastfeeding we would advise against it and suggest waiting until afterwards. There is no direct reason to believe that ink may travel through to breast milk, but certain pigments have a higher chance of possibly being passed through.
CAN I USE A NUMBING CREAM OR ANESTHETIC?
No. The numbing creams may help slightly with the pain, but they cause minor inflammation that can drastically affect the way the skin will take the ink.
WHAT ABOUT AFTERCARE?
Aftercare instructions can be found here.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO HEAL?
Generally a tattoo will take about 2 weeks to heal. Some people heal a bit faster or slower depending on their immune systems. A well taken care of tattoo will heal faster than one that is not kept clean.
WHAT IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO GET A TATTOO?
Most people think about their tattoo ideas during the summer when they bare more skin. However, fall and winter are the best time of year to get a tattoo. The reason being that keeping the tattoo covered and protected while healing is easier when it is cold out. It is also easier to keep sunlight away from it during healing. The cooler months are generally slower times for tattoo studios, so getting an appointment when you want it might be easier.
CAN I GO SWIMMING, TAN, OR SHAVE OVER THE AREA?
No. You cannot immerse the tattoo in water, expose it to the sun or shave the area until healing has completed and all scabs have come off naturally.
HOW LONG BEFORE I CAN EXERCISE AGAIN?
It is okay to exercise after getting a new tattoo, but you should avoid sun, soaking, stretches and sweat to allow it to heal properly. Try to avoid exercises that squish, pull or stretch your newly tattooed skin. As long as your tattoo doesn't come in contact with any of the equipment at the gym you should be fine. If you are exercising outdoors, wear a clothing item to cover up the area. Shower right after your workout so you can wash off any sweat and salt that can be potentially irritating. Finally, avoid contact sports if possible until you are fully healed to reduce the risk of skin abrasion.
DO YOU DO COVER UPS?
Yes! If you find yourself with a tattoo you now regret and no longer want to have, or maybe you have a well-done tattoo that's of something you no longer love, getting a cover up may be the perfect solution. There are basically two types of tattoo cover ups. Rejuvenation is reworking an old or badly done tattoo. The artist will take the existing design and improve it with better lines and color work and turn it into an attractive design. The other type of cover up dispenses with the old design by completely disguising and covering it up with a brand new one.
DO YOU DO WHITE ONLY TATTOOS?
Yes. We do white only tattoos, but you need to be aware of certain details and risks regarding white ink. While they are great for making an understated or subtle design, white ink tattoos can look spotty or blemished on anyone with tan, dark, or freckled skin. White is a translucent pigment, not opaque. Not only that, white inks turn yellow when the skin is in constant exposure to sunlight, or simply because the client has unhealthy skin and didn’t heal well. There could be a lot of factors.
WHAT ABOUT ULTRAVIOLET OR BLACK LIGHT TATTOOS?
No. We do not believe enough research has been done to assure us that the ink is safe for our clients.
"Dr. Will Kirby, Dermatologist, doesn’t recommend getting a black light tattoo because he says some of the ink could cause adverse reactions, or worse be cancerous. UV ink doesn’t contain phosphorous, the carcinogenic ingredient that may cause cancer. However, glow in the dark tattoos, tattoos that only show in complete darkness but not in UV or black light, do contain phosphorous. Whether the phosphorous in glow-in-the-dark inks is cancerous is still unknown. UV tattoos may be less prominent in normal light, but are much harder to remove off the skin with laser removal.” – Natalie, genyu.net
CAN YOU TATTOO OVER MOLES?
No. It's advisable to design the tattoo around a mole or discolouration of the skin. Moles always have a chance of being an area for melanoma skin cancer to occur. It is harder to do visual observations on moles that are covered by tattoos, as the tattoo ink camouflages the mole and sometimes interferes with some of the tools doctors use for detection.
IS THERE ANY PART OF THE BODY THAT YOU WILL NOT TATTOO?
We will not tattoo:
CAN I GET TATTOOED IF I’VE RECENTLY HAD CHICKEN POX OR SHINGLES?
No, people are infectious up to 10 days after the appearance of skin lesions. Shingles is a form of adult pox, and is contagious before and during outbreak. It is not a good idea to expose these skin diseases to possible contamination.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL WE PERFORM PROCEDURES ON ANYONE WHO IS:
Yes, we have gift certificates available in any amount.
DO YOU DO PIERCINGS AS WELL?
We do not do piercings yet, however we do plan to offer them in the future.
DO YOU TATTOO PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 18?
For persons between the age of 16 and 18, photo identification is required. Parent/legal guardian must be present. Parents/legal guardians must also provide valid photo identification with a last name that matches the client’s, and sign the consent and release form. If the guardian is not the birth parent of the client, we will also require proof of guardianship in the form of Adoption papers, Foster Care papers, etc. Guardians must be present for procedures on minors.
WILL YOU FIX ANOTHER ARTIST’S WORK OR COMPLETE IT?
Yes, our goal is to make you love your tattoo. If you have a tattoo that you are unhappy with, we are glad to help you find a way to fall in love with your art again.
WHAT ARE YOUR STERILIZATION PROCESSES?
We are inspected by and fully in compliance of Interior Health Authority's Guidelines for Personal Service Establishments. Gloves are used at all times and are latex-free for those with allergies and are replaced every time the artist walks away or reaches for non-disposable items to prevent cross-contamination. Needles are single use and come sterilized and individually sealed from the manufacturer. Tubes and ink cap holders are cleaned by ultrasonic and sterilized in our autoclave which is monitored and audited by Autoclave Testing Service Inc. Non-disposable items used are covered with plastic and then disinfected and sterilized after the tattoo. The tattoo room and equipment is taken apart and cleaned before and after each client. Pre and post cleaning of the tattoo area and equipment is done with hospital-grade procedures and cleaners that eradicate infectious diseases such as: HIV, Hepatitis C, Herpes, Tuberculosis, Staphylococcus, E Coli, MRSA, Salmonella and many more. Proof of sterilization is always shown prior to the tattoo in order to be approved by the client. Disposable ink caps are used to ensure no cross-contamination and are discarded after the tattoo. After the tattoo, the client will have an antibacterial ointment applied and then patched with a non-stick bandage in order to keep it clean when leaving the studio.
*Click here to view our inspection reports*
DO YOU ACCEPT WALK-INS OR IS IT APPOINTMENT ONLY?
We unfortunately no longer accept walk-ins and are currently appointment only.
HOW DO I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
You can contact us by phone, email, Facebook or stop by the studio. You can then set up a consultation to discuss the details and book your appointment with a deposit.
WHAT IS A TATTOO CONSULTATION?
A consultation appointment is a conversation with your artist. During this time you can get any questions answered, explain your ideas and get a quote of the price your tattoo will come to. Make sure to bring any reference pictures or quotations along. If the tattoo requires the artist to draw your design up, an $80 deposit will be needed before artwork can be done. The deposit goes toward the final cost of the tattoo. Once the artwork is approved by you, an appointment can be set up for your tattoo.
HOW MUCH DOES A TATTOO COST?
That depends on what exactly you are looking for. The studio’s rate is $160 per hour with an $80 minimum plus GST. In order to know precisely how long your tattoo will take we advise a free consultation appointment.
WHAT FORM OF PAYMENT DO YOU ACCEPT?
We accept cash, Visa, MasterCard, Interac debit and E-transfer.
IS THERE A DEPOSIT REQUIRED?
Yes. The artist’s time is valuable and limited, please respect that. If artwork needs to be prepared prior to your appointment, the deposit will also cover the artist’s drawing time.
WHAT ABOUT CANCELLATIONS?
If you are late for your appointment you will be required to reschedule. We require 48 hours of notice to cancel your appointment and for you to keep your deposit. This is to make sure we have enough time to fill your spot as we count on our clients showing up. Cancelling more than two times in a row, regardless of notice will require you to place another deposit for your next appointment. If you are more than 30 minutes late without calling ahead of time you will be considered a no-call no-show and you will lose your appointment and your deposit.
THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF SUGGESTIONS TO MAKE YOUR TATTOO MORE COMFORTABLE AND ENJOYABLE:
- Make sure to eat a few hours before your appointment. Some people get light headed or faint if they have NOT eaten before getting a tattoo.
- Make sure to drink plenty of water the day before and day of your tattoo.
- Give yourself enough time for your appointment. Feeling rushed tends to add to the anxiety.
- Wear clothing that can easily be removed from the part of the body that is going to be tattooed. For example; you might want to wear sweat pants for a lower back tattoo or something strapless for a shoulder blade.
- Do not drink alcoholic beverages or caffeine the day of and the day prior to your tattoo.
- Try to keep the area that you are having tattooed out of the sun for a few days preceding your appointment.
- If you take aspirin or blood thinners please check with your doctor prior to your appointment. They can interfere with your body’s ability to clot which is important to the healing of your tattoo.
- Bring a valid photo ID. Valid forms of identification are:
- Driver’s Licence
- Passport
- BCID Card
- Birth Certificate AND Student Card
- Legal guardians must also provide one of the above forms of identification and sign a consent and release form. If the guardian is not the birth parent of the client, we will also require proof of guardianship in the form of Adoption papers, Foster Care papers, etc.
- Guardians must be present for procedures on minors.
HOW DOES A TATTOO WORK?
“The tattoo machine moves a solid needle up and down between 50 to 3,000 times per minute. The needle penetrates a millimeter into the skin’s dermis, which is the second, deeper layer of the skin. No ink is deposited into the uppermost layer of skin, known as the epidermis. This is the layer you scrub every day in the shower and sheds 40,000 cells per hour. Not only does the tattoo's placement make it permanently locked beneath the skin’s layer, but it also inflicts damage into the dermis, which includes collagen, pigment, glands, and of course, nerves. The body reacts to the perceived pain by sending immune system cells to the wound site to begin repair and decrease inflammation. Specialized cells called macrophages eat the ink in order to clean up and decrease the inflammation, and the cells travel back into the lymph nodes, which act as filters or traps in the body for foreign particles. Not all of the ink is removed, and those left behind remain in the dermis cells, known as fibroblasts, and remain visible on the skin. They’re cyclically absorbed by newer fibroblasts, which would be why tattoos fade naturally over time.” – Samantha Olsen, MedicalDaily.com
Neuroscientist Claudia Aguirre created this video explaining the process *Warning if you have a fear of needles*:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMuBif1mJz0 – DoctorClaudia.com
DOES GETTING A TATTOO HURT?
Yes, it does hurt. There are a lot of factors that come into play to determine how much pain is involved. The pain will vary by person and how much each person can tolerate it.
WHAT ARE THE MOST AND LEAST PAINFUL AREAS OF THE BODY TO GET TATTOOED?
Tattoos in areas with softer skin or over bones will have more pain than others. Clients have remarked that some places affect them more. Ribs, feet and chest being mentioned the most. Areas that seem to hurt the least would be the back, arms and legs.
DOES THE INK FADE OVER TIME?
It can, depending on a lot of factors. Since we are constantly replacing skin cells over our lifetime the ink can slowly become lighter. (See the above Tattoo Process for details)
CAN I GET A TATTOO IF I’VE BEEN DRINKING?
No. Alcohol thins your blood causing you to bleed more during the tattoo procedure which can end up pushing the ink out of your body before it gets a chance to start healing.
CAN I GET A TATTOO IF I’M PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING?
While pregnant we will not tattoo you. While breastfeeding we would advise against it and suggest waiting until afterwards. There is no direct reason to believe that ink may travel through to breast milk, but certain pigments have a higher chance of possibly being passed through.
CAN I USE A NUMBING CREAM OR ANESTHETIC?
No. The numbing creams may help slightly with the pain, but they cause minor inflammation that can drastically affect the way the skin will take the ink.
WHAT ABOUT AFTERCARE?
Aftercare instructions can be found here.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO HEAL?
Generally a tattoo will take about 2 weeks to heal. Some people heal a bit faster or slower depending on their immune systems. A well taken care of tattoo will heal faster than one that is not kept clean.
WHAT IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO GET A TATTOO?
Most people think about their tattoo ideas during the summer when they bare more skin. However, fall and winter are the best time of year to get a tattoo. The reason being that keeping the tattoo covered and protected while healing is easier when it is cold out. It is also easier to keep sunlight away from it during healing. The cooler months are generally slower times for tattoo studios, so getting an appointment when you want it might be easier.
CAN I GO SWIMMING, TAN, OR SHAVE OVER THE AREA?
No. You cannot immerse the tattoo in water, expose it to the sun or shave the area until healing has completed and all scabs have come off naturally.
HOW LONG BEFORE I CAN EXERCISE AGAIN?
It is okay to exercise after getting a new tattoo, but you should avoid sun, soaking, stretches and sweat to allow it to heal properly. Try to avoid exercises that squish, pull or stretch your newly tattooed skin. As long as your tattoo doesn't come in contact with any of the equipment at the gym you should be fine. If you are exercising outdoors, wear a clothing item to cover up the area. Shower right after your workout so you can wash off any sweat and salt that can be potentially irritating. Finally, avoid contact sports if possible until you are fully healed to reduce the risk of skin abrasion.
DO YOU DO COVER UPS?
Yes! If you find yourself with a tattoo you now regret and no longer want to have, or maybe you have a well-done tattoo that's of something you no longer love, getting a cover up may be the perfect solution. There are basically two types of tattoo cover ups. Rejuvenation is reworking an old or badly done tattoo. The artist will take the existing design and improve it with better lines and color work and turn it into an attractive design. The other type of cover up dispenses with the old design by completely disguising and covering it up with a brand new one.
DO YOU DO WHITE ONLY TATTOOS?
Yes. We do white only tattoos, but you need to be aware of certain details and risks regarding white ink. While they are great for making an understated or subtle design, white ink tattoos can look spotty or blemished on anyone with tan, dark, or freckled skin. White is a translucent pigment, not opaque. Not only that, white inks turn yellow when the skin is in constant exposure to sunlight, or simply because the client has unhealthy skin and didn’t heal well. There could be a lot of factors.
WHAT ABOUT ULTRAVIOLET OR BLACK LIGHT TATTOOS?
No. We do not believe enough research has been done to assure us that the ink is safe for our clients.
"Dr. Will Kirby, Dermatologist, doesn’t recommend getting a black light tattoo because he says some of the ink could cause adverse reactions, or worse be cancerous. UV ink doesn’t contain phosphorous, the carcinogenic ingredient that may cause cancer. However, glow in the dark tattoos, tattoos that only show in complete darkness but not in UV or black light, do contain phosphorous. Whether the phosphorous in glow-in-the-dark inks is cancerous is still unknown. UV tattoos may be less prominent in normal light, but are much harder to remove off the skin with laser removal.” – Natalie, genyu.net
CAN YOU TATTOO OVER MOLES?
No. It's advisable to design the tattoo around a mole or discolouration of the skin. Moles always have a chance of being an area for melanoma skin cancer to occur. It is harder to do visual observations on moles that are covered by tattoos, as the tattoo ink camouflages the mole and sometimes interferes with some of the tools doctors use for detection.
IS THERE ANY PART OF THE BODY THAT YOU WILL NOT TATTOO?
We will not tattoo:
- Face – Tattoos are getting more and more accepted, but we're not there yet. Societal repercussions are still there, especially with highly visible tattoos on the face. People will start treating you differently once you become a heavily tattooed person. The artist will gladly meet with you to ensure you have a clear understanding of the societal risks and why we will not tattoo a face.
- Bottoms of the feet and palms of the hand – The skin in these areas shed much faster than the rest of the body and even if healed perfectly, there is a high chance you will shed the entire tattoo over many years.
- Inner Lip – The skin in this area is very soft and could, over time, become visible on the outside of your lip.
CAN I GET TATTOOED IF I’VE RECENTLY HAD CHICKEN POX OR SHINGLES?
No, people are infectious up to 10 days after the appearance of skin lesions. Shingles is a form of adult pox, and is contagious before and during outbreak. It is not a good idea to expose these skin diseases to possible contamination.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL WE PERFORM PROCEDURES ON ANYONE WHO IS:
- Pregnant
- Suffering from any abnormality or infection at site of tattoo including, warts or open skin areas
- Currently infected with jaundice
- Under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Unable to provide photo identification