F.A.Q.s
Q. How much do custom tattoos cost?
A. My current rates are:
My hourly rate for custom work is $250-$300/hr, depending on the amount of work required for the design process.
$200 minimum; For small designs the clients provides or that I have to do minimal design for.
$300 minimum; For custom designs.
For more information on the custom design process, follow the CUSTOM TATTOOING link below.
Q. If I have an idea for a tattoo, will you design it for me?
A. Yes, I do custom tattooing. Keep in mind, I work only within a few different styles, so it’s a good idea to have a look at my portfolio here, so that you can get an idea of the kind of work I do. My process for custom tattooing can be found here.
Q. How do I take care of my new tattoo?
A. See my aftercare page here.
Q. Are tattoos safe?
A. Yes. Tattooing has been practiced safely for many thousands of years. It is important to understand that tattooing is a minimally invasive procedure that does involve breaking the skin. When performed by a professional, the process itself is completely safe. Keep in mind, however, that you are leaving the shop with a wound that needs to be cared for. You must follow the aftercare instructions to ensure that the tattoo remains clean and heals properly. There is a possibility for infection if those instructions are not followed carefully.
Q. Why do I have to pay a retainer?
A. Nearly all professionals who provide a service that involves some kind of preparation before the work is done will require a retainer before starting that work. My retainer serves to hold your place on my schedule. That means I cannot work with any other clients at that time. Also, for custom tattoo designs, there is a great deal of work that goes into creating your design. Some times I spend hours just doing research to ensure that the design I create for you is done properly. The retainer covers the time I spend researching and designing your tattoo. This is why the retainer is non-refundable. It pays for the time I lose on my calendar and the time I spend working on your design.
Q. Will you tattoo my design?
Q. What if I bring my own art?
Q. Will you tattoo a drawing my friend did?
Q. Can I get this design I found on the internet/social media?
A. The answer to all of these is basically the same. Yes, in general, you can bring me your own art. There are a few guidelines for this. If the art meets my standards, I will use it. If not; I will want to redraw it to my standards but I will usually follow the same concepts, forms, etc. I will make recommendations for any changes during our consultation. If the artwork is from the internet or social media, there are two possibilities. If you have written permission from the original artist that I can confirm, I will duplicate it faithfully, so long as it meets my standards. Many artists on social media offer some kind of “tattoo pass” that you can purchase. I definitely encourage you to do this, as it helps support the artist. If you do not have this, I will design you something similar. But understand that it will not be exactly the same. There are legal reasons for this, as tattoo artists are subject to copyright law.
Q. How long will the color last?
A. This varies greatly from person to person and involves a lot of variables. If the tattoo is kept out of the sun or protected with sun screen, it can be expected to last for decades.
Q. Are colored inks safe?
A. Yes. The technology of colored tattoo pigments gets better and better all the time. There has been concern recently over some pigments containing certain ingredients possibly linked to cancer or other illnesses. The pigments I use are manufactured in the USA, are made with 100% natural ingredients, are 100% vegan friendly, are regularly evaluated and tested by independent laboratories, and are packaged in medical grade containers and are commercially sterilized.
Q. Do colored tattoo inks cause allergic reactions?
A. It is possible for some colors to cause allergic reactions in some people, though it is extremely rare when using high quality pigments. The most common color tends to be reds, or colors that contain a lot of red, such as some purples and browns. Older red pigments used to be made with mercury sulfides (Vermillion or Cinnabar). While those pigments are no longer used, it is still the case that red pigments, including not just tattoo pigments, but paints and inks too, have a very large molecular makeup. It is still not very well known as to why these pigments can cause reactions in some people but it is advised that if you tend to be very sensitive to other chemicals, you may want to either consider a skin patch test before getting any color tattoos, or just avoid colored pigments.
If there are ANY questions you don’t see here, feel free to contact me here.