FAQ & Aftercare
Booking, appointment preparation, tattoo-day expectations, and straightforward healing information. Your tattoo may need specific instructions depending on placement, size, and the bandage used, so follow the instructions you receive at your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I request an appointment?
Use the tattoo request form and include your idea, subject, placement, approximate size, color or black & grey, and your strongest reference images. For realism and portraits, clear references with useful lighting, texture and fine detail are especially helpful. I’ll review the project and follow up with next steps.Request a Tattoo
What styles do you tattoo?
Realism is a specialty, including black & grey realism, color realism and portraits. I also tattoo horror, wildlife, pop culture, Japanese, traditional, illustrative, watercolor, surrealism, dark art, fine line, cover-ups, sleeves and other custom work across styles.
Do you do cover-ups?
Yes. Cover-ups are evaluated individually because the existing tattoo, pigment density, placement and the new design all affect what is realistically possible. Some pieces may need to be larger or darker, and some may benefit from laser lightening first.
When is an appointment actually booked?
A date is considered booked after the project has been accepted and the required deposit and scheduling details have been completed. Deposit and rescheduling terms will be provided before you commit.
Preparing for Your Appointment
Before your session
Arrive rested, hydrated and having eaten a normal meal. Keep the skin in good condition and avoid arriving with sunburn, significant irritation, cuts or other damage in the area being tattooed.
What should I bring?
Wear comfortable clothing that gives easy access to the tattoo area. For longer sessions, bring whatever you need to stay comfortable, along with a drink, snack, headphones or personal entertainment.
Alcohol, drugs and numbing products
Do not arrive intoxicated. Do not apply a numbing product unless we have discussed it beforehand, because different products and application methods can affect the skin and the tattoo process.
Tattoo Aftercare
Follow the instructions for your bandage
Bandage timing depends on what was used on your tattoo. Keep the covering clean and follow the removal instructions you receive at the appointment. If an adhesive film develops a significant leak, opens enough to expose the tattoo, or causes a concerning skin reaction, contact the studio for guidance.
Keep it clean
Once the bandage is removed, wash your hands before touching the tattoo. Gently clean the tattoo with mild fragrance-free soap and water, rinse it well, and pat it dry with a clean disposable paper towel or allow it to air dry. Do not scrub it.
Moisturizing
Use only a small amount of the aftercare product or fragrance-free moisturizer recommended for your tattoo. The goal is comfortable skin, not a heavy layer that keeps the area excessively wet.
While it heals
Do not pick or scratch peeling skin. Avoid soaking the tattoo in baths, pools, hot tubs or natural bodies of water until the surface has healed. Minimize friction, dirty environments and unnecessary sun exposure while the tattoo is fresh.
When should I get medical help?
Some redness, tenderness and swelling can occur after tattooing. Seek medical care if you develop concerning or worsening symptoms such as spreading redness, increasing heat or pain, pus, foul-smelling drainage, red streaking, fever, or other symptoms that make you concerned about infection or an allergic reaction.
This page is general tattoo-care information and does not replace the specific instructions given for your tattoo or medical care. If something looks or feels wrong, contact the studio and seek appropriate medical care when needed.
