FAQs

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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FAQs • FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS •

General Tattoo Q’s

  • Yes, though the amount of pain you experience will depend on a lot of factors. Most tattoo pain is very manageable. But it will depend a lot on the placement and style of the tattoo as well as your personal pain tolerance. Many people describe the sensation of a tattoo as a cat scratch, or someone scratching a sunburn.

  • Actually yes! A lot of clients don’t realize this, but there are factors that you can personally control that will help the pain you experience be more manageable:

    • Get a good night’s sleep

      1. Being well rested can help your body deal with pain better. Studies show that a lack of sleep can actually increase pain perception + sensitivity (aka the pain will be more painful if you’re tired)

    • Reschedule your tattoo if you’re sick

      1. Being sick can not only make your tattoo take longer to heal, but it can also increase your pain sensitivity

    • Avoid aspirin or ibuprofen 24hr before your tattoo

      1. While it might make sense to take pain relievers to help deal with the pain of a tattoo, because of their blood-thinning properties, these can actually make the tattooing process take longer, and thus prolong the pain you experience. Tylenol is ok to take

    • Eat a good meal an hour or two before your tattoo

      • Studies show that hunger and food deprivation also increase our perception of and sensitivity to pain. Getting a tattoo on an empty stomach not only raises your risk of fainting while getting tattooed, but it also may make the whole process more painful

  • As long as you go to a reputable artist who is following proper safety protocols, then yes!

    I go through a yearly certification in bloodborne pathogens training and have done extensive training in tattoo safety and cleaning procedures. All materials used are either single-use + disposable or properly wrapped and disinfected post-procedure.

    I use reputable and safe name-brand tattoo inks, like Dynamic and Eternal. I use new, single-use needle cartridges for every new tattoo I perform. I routinely disinfect all surfaces used in the procedure area before and after every tattoo.

  • Yes. California law requires you to be 18 years of age or older to get a tattoo, regardless of if you have permission from a parent or guardian.

  • Besides looking ⋆｡°✩ way cooler ✩°｡⋆ than you did before, there aren’t typically any noticeable side effects.

    That being said, some people do experience temporary flu-like symptoms (aka “tattoo flu”) after getting tattooed. When you get a tattoo, your body sees the ink in your skin as a foreign invader, activating your immune system to fight it off. If you do experience these symptoms, they should subside fairly quickly and aren’t anything to be worried about. If you’re concerned, feel free to reach out to me or contact your doctor.

  • Although you can get a tattoo any time of the year, generally speaking, winter is the best and summer is the worst. While this may not be true for everyone, your skin typically gets a lot more abuse and exposure to the elements during the summer. When healing a tattoo, for the first 2-3 weeks it’s crucial to avoid things like swimming, direct sun exposure, tanning, sweating, etc. — all of which can be much harder to avoid during the summer.

    On the other hand, in the winter months, people tend to wear clothing that better covers and protects their skin from the elements, helping their tattoos heal more easily. Another plus side to getting tattooed in the winter is that it tends to be slow season for tattoo artists, so we often have more availability then as well!

  • Probably yes, but it may depend on the severity of your condition + if you have any active flare-ups at the time of the tattoo appointment.

    If you are experiencing a flare-up in the area you want tattooed, please wait until it has subsided. I am happy to reschedule your appointment if we’ve booked something and an unexpected flare-up arises close to the appointment date. Please let me know as far in advance as you can.

    In some (and I think rare) cases, getting a tattoo may also trigger an eczema flare up. If you have eczema and get a tattoo, just keep an eye on it and let me/your artist know if any issues arise.

    If you have further questions or concerns, you’re welcome to message me! Though I do also recommend you speak with a dermatologist as they have way more in-depth knowledge and training as far as skin conditions are concerned.

Pricing

How does pricing work?

I price my pieces depending on the project. For larger scale or especially complicated pieces, I charge hourly at $120/hr; for smaller designs, I charge roughly $60/inch. Depending on the style, complexity, and dimensions of these smaller pieces, this pricing may go slightly up or down. Minimum price is $120.

To book an appointment, I require a $100 non-refundable deposit that goes towards (read: gets subtracted from) the total cost of your tattoo.

Will I get charged for time spent stenciling or taking breaks during the tattoo?

No. When I charge a piece by hour, the time tracked to determine the cost is only the time spent actively tattooing. I do not count time spent going over the design, stenciling, breaks, etc.

How do tips work?

Tips are always appreciated but never expected or required! If you do want to tip, there is no set amount for tips—that part is up to you, but know that any amount will be deeply appreciated. Cash is preferred, but you can also pay tips to my personal Venmo or Zelle account. Some clients will bring food/drinks or their own art as tips and I always love that. <3

Why is a deposit required?

There is a lot of time and work that I put into designing and preparing for a tattoo. The deposit acts to compensate for and protect my time and effort. I don’t start working on a design until I receive a deposit, and I do not reserve an appointment date until I receive a deposit.

Last-minute rescheduling can affect tattoo artists’ livelihoods, so if you do need to reschedule, please be sure to do so at least 48 hours before your appointment! A week in advance is preferred.

Any last-minute cancellations or rescheduling will require another non-refundable deposit to move forward with the appointment. (I do make exceptions for emergencies or unexpected sickness. I want to make sure you are feeling healthy, safe, and in a calm headspace when we do your tattoo.)

Appointments + designs

  • Yes! Consultations allow me to get a better sense of what you want out of your tattoo, or if what you have in mind is possible. There are some cases such as cover-ups for scars or old tattoos that may require me to see the existing piece/scar in person to make sure that I can confidently execute the design you want. I also recommend consultations for bigger, more complex, or very anatomy-specific pieces. If you’re unsure as to whether or not you should book a consultation, just shoot me an email or message on Instagram.

    To book a consultation, just go to my booking form, fill it out, and make sure to click the option for either a physical or virtual consultation option at the end of the form.

  • While it is pretty standard in the industry not to share designs until the day of your appointment, I find that this creates a lot of unnecessary anxiety for my clients. Starting in March 2025, I am trying out a new policy where I will send clients their designs a day or two before the appointment. This ensures that you get a chance to see the design and let me know what changes, if any, you’d like me to make to the piece before your appointment. For some larger, more complex projects, I may send concept sketches ahead of time to make sure I’m going in the right direction. Otherwise, as long as you are specific, detailed, and clear in your booking request, I find that sharing the design one to two days before gives us both enough time to comfortably discuss and make edits as needed.

    Please keep in mind:
    Designs can take a long time to put together, and I am often juggling multiple designs at any given time. If I were to try to start designing every piece that I currently have booked right now, none of them would get the attention that I need to give each and every one of them. I know it can be hard, but I really appreciate your patience in waiting to see your design. I promise to put all my love and care into your tattoo and make it something we are both proud to show off.

  • It’s best to have some tangible concept before submitting a request, but you’re welcome to send me your rough ideas and we can figure it out together!

  • Yes! As long as the placement still works with the design without significant modification. If the change in placement causes us to have to rework the design a significant amount, we may have to reschedule. (See “can I request edits to my design” below for more info.)

  • Yes of course! While my goal is to bring exactly what you have in mind to life every time, I can’t see inside your brain. Because of this, there’s always a chance that the design isn’t 100% exactly what you envisioned. If that’s the case, I want to do whatever I can to make it perfect for you!

    This being said, there are some limitations on edits:
    ☆ Some design elements may simply not translate well to a tattoo. If I’m worried that the edits you want to make are not tattooable/will not hold up well over time, I will recommend we try something else. If, even after hearing me out as to why your idea won’t translate well to a tattoo, you are still 100% set on the edits you want, I will do what I can to make it happen.
    ☆ If the edits you want made require the design to be significantly modified/fully redrawn, I may require a reschedule with an additional redraw fee. This is both to compensate for my time as well as to encourage you to be clear and specific in your request. The more information you can send me (eg: references/examples, descriptions, explanations of what you like/don’t like, etc.), the better I will be able to execute the design to match what you’re looking for.

  • You can bring guests with you, but no more than two please!

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My practices

Do you work with numbing creams or sprays?

I have numbing spray (Bactine) that I can use while tattooing if a client requests/if I see that they’re experiencing a lot of pain. This spray only works once the skin is already broken though, so I can only use it after we have already begun the tattoo.

While I don’t provide numbing cream, I am happy to accommodate if a client wants to bring and use their own. If it is your first time using numbing cream, make sure you do your research and perform a test patch well before your appointment on the off-chance that you have a reaction to it.

Please inform me before your appointment if you would like to use numbing cream for your tattoo.

Do you tattoo over scars?

Yep! I love doing scar cover-ups/scar beautification pieces. I find they can be incredibly healing and special projects.

There are some limitations to tattooing over scars that you should keep in mind:

  • The scar must be healed for at least one year (or more for deeper or more intense wounds).

  • Especially raised or textured scars may not be suitable for tattooing. Some scars such as keloid scars may not react well to being tattooed, and doing so may cause further damage. With this type of scarring, I may require that we work around the scar, incorporating it into the design instead of going directly on top of it.

    • SH scars are frequently very tattooable as long as they have been given time to heal properly.

  • Certain designs may not work well as scar cover-ups. Some scars can make it difficult to achieve intricate details or very smooth shading.

I always request to see a picture of the scar/s before I commit to a project. If you’re unsure about whether your scar is tattooable or not, feel free to email me with a picture of the scar (well-lit and clear photos are best), and I’ll let you know. I may require an in-person consultation so I can get a better idea of what we’re working with.

Do you use second skin?

Yes, I use Recovery brand Derm Shield. If you’ve had issues with second skin in the past or just prefer not to use it, I also offer using saran wrap to wrap your tattoo. If it’s your first tattoo or you have sensitive skin, I will sometimes do a test patch before we start just to ensure that your skin won’t have a reaction to it if we use it on your tattoo.

Are you a licensed artist?

Yes. I take health and safety very seriously and have proper training to ensure the safety of my clients and myself.

Do you do trades?

I love trades but sadly can only do partial trades at the moment. Please message me if you have an inquiry regarding art or service trades!