Now What?
So, you’ve sent in a request and got a reply offering you an appointment. You replied saying you do want that appointment and posted your deposit.
What are the next steps?
Nothing, actually!
I know it may seem like there should be some more steps of preparation or confirmation here but really I just write your name down in my book and we wait for the day! (I also use a fair bit of mental space over the weeks leading to it to create it but that’s a hard thing to share or show or measure)
JUMP TO:
Confirmations / Contacting ✦ Numbing Cream ✦ Your Design ✦ Miscellaneous
About Confirmations & Contacting —
“I have follow up questions”
You can send me your questions! Please check our FAQs and the rest of this page first for an answer (it’ll probably be faster for you) but if not, you may of course send an email with your questions!
Please — do not be discouraged if you do not get a reply in a timely manner. I typically do messages in bulk, meaning I set aside time to send as many replies as I can in one sitting. Usually 1-3 weeks apart.
I don’t have the availability to send replies everyday or as they come in. I’d be on my phone constantly and I am never on my phone while tattooing or sleeping, so there goes 18hrs - 20hrs of available time a day already.
Please do not take it personally and please do not let it create doubts for your appointment!
I will occasionally have people say because I didn’t answer their most recent question, they thought they no longer had an appointment with me.
This is not the case! I was just too busy for emails at that time.
I will never cancel your appointment without contacting you and being sure you received that communication. I know it would feel awful to arrive for your appointment and I’m not even there, or I’m tattooing someone else. I will not do that!
Same thing goes for confirming — I try to be available to confirm with but if I don’t respond to a confirmation message please don’t be discouraged!
Which leads me to…
Confirmations!
You can send me a confirmation email or text at my personal business number (the shop phone is purely ornamental at this point) and I will usually respond. If I don’t, do not worry and know that I am sorry! I really hate when I bum people out from a lack of communication, I’m just one person and I’m doing what I can.
I generally do not send out a confirmation unless I need it for some reason. If I told you that you are booked for a time & date, then you are!
“Should I just not talk to you then?”
No! You can talk to me, I don’t mind at all — I just want you to know I am not intentionally ignoring you if you don’t hear back from me quickly.
I’m writing this info to make you feel more comfortable, not to keep you from communicating with me!
“I just want a quote, surely that’s reasonable.”
All of it is reasonable!
Getting a tattoo is kind of a big deal! And you can ask for a quote of course!
My response will likely be something along the lines of “It’s hard to say” (not helpful, I know).
It will depend on the size, amount of detail, the placement — all information I get from the Appointment Request form which is needed for a quote / estimate, but skin reception, and how well you ’sit’, etc. can also be a factor.
I draw your design the week or morning of your appointment and it can be hard to say before the design is complete. It’s an hourly charge so the ball park will be a bit of a wide range as a tattoo can take an hour shorter or longer than expected rather easily, although it’s usually the latter. Sometimes we even end up adding on another session.
As a general rule, I charge $120 hr. And I usually book in 4hr sessions or full days (7-8hrs).
I don’t accept most small requests so it’s unlikely your appointment will be less than 3hrs. But usually I book appointments for 4hrs.
You can still ask me for a quote but since I sometimes don’t get to emails for a few weeks at a time, I’m hoping this little bit of info will help you prepare before I get back to you!
About Numbing Cream —
“Can I use numbing cream?”
Yes and no… it’s complicated.
I’m not against the use of numbing cream, we even sell some at the shop. There is a right way and a wrong way to use it and certain types, certain brands, and even how you apply it can create issues.
First and most importantly, numbing cream is not bulletproof.
It’s a little different for everyone — for some people it only takes the edge off, but they can still feel the tattoo sensations. For some people, it works great and they’re completely numb but for others, it does not work at all!
There is no way to know which person you will be ahead of time — you just have to test the numbing cream first.
We recommend testing numbing cream at least a week before your appointment and IN A SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT PLACE than where you are hoping to get tattooed.
If you have a reaction to the cream / get a rash, you cannot get tattooed in that spot until it is fully healed.
Most people think having the numbing cream on longer = more numb, which is not necessarily true.
Having too much numbing cream on for too long (hours and hours) beforehand can make the skin too “soft” and “spongey” which makes your skin easier to scar and your tattoo light and even patchy when healed. The skin is harder to work with and that effects healing.
There is also a window for optimal numbing once the cream is applied. Having it on for “too long” can make it so the numbing wears off as you’re starting the tattoo!
Honestly, you probably don’t need numbing cream unless it’s a particularly bad spot — ribs / ribcage, foot, armpit, back of knee bend, elbow, elbow “ditch”, inner bicep, etc.
The average spots on arms and legs aren’t bad!
If you really want to use numbing cream…
I recommend using the kind we have the shop, “Painless Tattoo” which you can order several places online or come purchase in store ahead of time or during your appointment.
Apply just 20 - 30 minutes before we start tattooing (yes, it will be numb). If it’s the first session (or only session) of your project you could put it on once you’re at the shop.
Let us know as soon as you come in and we’ll get it on you! Set up, stenciling, paperwork can easily take another 20-30 minutes, which should be enough time.
HOWEVER —
My most preferred method would be to wait! After we’ve done the lines, we can put numbing cream on for ~10 minutes. It works very fast on open skin so it doesn’t sit long enough to change your skin texture but is still very effective.
This method is great since I cannot reapply a numbing agent indefinitely.
After a certain point, the skin cannot absorb anymore and instead becomes OVERLY sensitive, and everything hurts more.
If you are hoping to use numbing cream because it’s a long session then I definitely don’t recommend using it beforehand. Wait until we’ve been in the tattoo for a while or you need the relief to finish — this will have the better effect on healing and your experience!
If it’s your first tattoo and you want to use numbing cream because you’ve heard it hurts — well, it does hurt, but it’s not really painful... most clients describe it as “an annoying stinging sensation” but it’s mostly very tolerable.
The rest of the world isn’t any tougher than you are, you can do it!
It is part of the experience of getting tattooed, which is a special thing — you should try it before going straight to numbing cream!
Try to take comfort in knowing that I care about your experience! If you try it without numbing cream first and you really can’t handle the feeling, I will break out the numbing cream for you for the rest of your tattoo. Promise!
About Your Design —
“Will you send me the design ahead of time?”
Unfortunately, no.
I draw my tattoo designs the night before or the morning-of your appointment, which means there really isn’t anything for me to show you beforehand.
I know it might seem like seeing the design would soothe your nerves or increase your excitement, but it does more harm than good. This is why sending me enough details and reference images so we are on the same is so crucial! If it makes you feel better — I’ve never had an issue with anyone seeing the design at their appointment.
This is also pretty standard for the industry.
Not to worry, though!
When you arrive for your appointment, we are going to go over the design and I will hear any notes you have!
I usually have to make adjustments for it to fit your body and make it perfect. Sometimes I even need to draw parts of the design freehand to get it all just right. These are things I can’t know ahead of time and things only I will be able to see.
You having the design early without any guidance from me about it could just send your decision making in the wrong direction. Communicating in person will be much more effective but unfortunately, I do not have the time available for consulting about this.
I would need as many consult appointments as I have tattoo appointments and I already work a good 60hrs a week. Not to mention this would easily double the price of your tattoo.
HOWEVER!
I am not going to tattoo you until we are both confident with the design at your appointment!
We have all heard horror stories about people ending up with a tattoo they don’t love because their artist wouldn’t listen, would not consider what the client wants, and forcing something else on them.
This will never happen to you with me — this will never happen at my shop!
Your tattoo is half your vision and half my expertise. We are collaborating on this together to make your tattoo the best it can possibly be!
“Can I make a change to my design?”
Yes!
Slight tweaks or additions are usually doable, especially if discussed ahead of time, and not sprung on me at your appointment.
Sometimes that change might not work but you can still ask! I will try my best to make it work and I will discuss the pros and cons so you can be a part of figuring it out.
Big changes, like a different subject matter altogether, might be a firm “no” though.
I don’t accept all requests I get. If you change it to something I don’t typically do, then you can either keep to the original idea, change it to something I will accept (which we can discuss!), or you could cancel your appointment.
But, of course you can of ask! I prefer you discuss changes you’re thinking about ahead of time rather than at your appointment.
If you want to change your design to something I don’t do, you are essentially cancelling your appointment. If this happens 24hrs or less before your scheduled appointment, you will likely be charged a late-cancellation fee since I will likely not have time to rebook that appointment slot.
Miscellaneous Questions —
“Can I make a change to my appointment?”
Example: “I’m booked for 4hrs but now I want to do 2hrs today instead.”
Nope.
I can try to accommodate you but there probably isn’t a good half way point in which we can leave your tattoo — I booked you for a certain amount of time for a reason.
In this case, it is likely we may need to cancel if you can no longer do the 4hrs we originally agreed to. I will never trade convenience or money over the quality of the tattoo.
“Can I prepay?”
No. I don’t offer pre-payment and I do not offer gift certificates.
“What happens if I need to reschedule?”
Life happens — I generally understand the need to reschedule every once in a while. I will likely be able to accommodate you but there is a high chance you will not be able to get back in quickly. I am usually pretty booked out!
If you are constantly cancelling or rescheduling, especially consecutively, I will just stop booking you.
“Do you even like me?”
Yes, I love you! We make each others dreams come true!
I am very excited to meet you and create your tattoo. I am so happy you booked with me, and I am looking forward to your appointment!
I love my job. Tattooing consumes my entire life and being and I love it!