Frequently Asked Questions
HOW OLD DO I HAVE TO BE TO GET A TATTOO?
In the state of North Carolina you must be 18 years old to get tattooed, and must have a valid photo ID (drivers license, state issued id, passports). No ID, no tattoo. There is no parental consent for minors, so see you on your birthday; it’s worth the wait. We will be happy to discuss tattoo ideas with you in the meantime so you will have plenty of time to make a good decision. Body piercing can be done on clients under 18, but you must also have picture identification with name and birthdate. A parent or guardian must accompany you with a valid ID with matching names. Guardians must provide proof of guardianship.
DOES IT HURT?
Yes. Of course tattooing and body piercing have their moments of discomfort, but many will tell you that it is not as bad as you anticipate. Different areas and art styles lend themselves to different sensations. Our artists’ experience means that the process will be done as efficiently as possible. This will translate to less time in the chair and quicker healing times!
ARE TATTOOS ADDICTIVE?
No. Most people will acquire more tattoos throughout their lives simply because once they have the experience of receiving and wearing professional tattoos all of their fears and anxieties are replaced with the excitement of their body art.
ARE ALL OF THE NEEDLES NEW/SINGLE USE?
Yes. Both tattoo and piercing needles are single use and put into a sharps container after each use. All ink is poured into a single use container and disposed of after each tattoo. We use only the best quality inks and needles. Many other implements in the tattoo and piercing process are single use and disposed of as well. Tools like grips, forceps, and receiving tubes are autoclaved in the same way as doctors and dentists’ stainless steel tools are. We exceed heat, pressure, and time requirements and do monthly spore testing. We practice cross contamination prevention techniques to ensure your and our safety. Surfaces like chairs, tables, and spray bottles are cleaned with hospital grade decontaminating cleaners. They neutralize blood borne pathogens in they drying time. Bleach does not kill HIV, TB, Hep, etc. There has never been a reported case of disease transmission due to tattooing in tattoo shops that follow these procedures.
WILL MY TATTOO FADE?
With high quality inks and proper tattooing and aftercare your tattoo will last for many years. Lighter colors will fade with exposure to the sun. Using plenty of sunblock when you plan on being outdoors will ensure that your tattoo stands the test of time. Tattooing techniques, tools, and inks have come a long way in the last few decades and tattoos are staying bright for longer than ever before, but with that being said our skin does deteriorate and tattoos inevitably will show their age.
HOW DO I PREPARE FOR A TATTOO
Get plenty of rest, drink water, and eat. Bring or wear clothing that will allow you to be comfortable for your tattoo, and feel free to bring music and headphones. Be on time and sober.
ARE THE ARTISTS LICENSED?
Yes. Each artist is licensed inspected and licensed by the Forsyth County Health Department. We take great pride in our cleanliness and sterilization processes.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
Tattoos are a professional service and are priced according to the amount of time it will require, difficulty of the design, and placement, and other factors. How long any tattoo takes to do is dependent on several variables including size, complexity, location, color, and how well the client "sits". Until we have a very good idea of exactly what it is that you want it is impossible for us to estimate the cost of a particular tattoo. It becomes even more difficult for larger pieces that take more than 2-3 hours and may be done over multiple sessions. We do our best to give ballpark estimates when discussing a tattoo, but cannot give accurate prices until designs are completed and sized. Hourly rates will be discussed and agreed upon before tattoos that require longer sittings or multiple sessions.
Minimum Price: No matter the size or amount of time that it takes to do any particular tattoo, there is a minimum charge of $50.00. Even for the smallest tattoo we still have set-up costs just to prep to do the tattoo and materials such as individual needles, inks, sterilization equipment, etc.
Average Price: The majority of tattoos that we do are in the range of $150 - $300. Large, complex pieces like sleeves, a back piece, that cover significant portions of the body can cost many thousands of dollars and require many sittings. We do keep our prices as affordable as possible, and you can pay by the session.
Beware Of Cheap Tattoos! “Cheap tattoos are not good and good tattoos are not cheap!” Too many people shop based on price alone. Tattooing is not the same in every tattoo studio. Just because someone says they’re a tattoo artist does not mean they can put on a good tattoo. Because of the explosion in the popularity of tattooing, many, many new artists have entered the field in the past 5 - 10 years and many have no business tattooing people. The cost of getting a bad tattoo can be much greater than you think. Lasering off an unwanted tattoo does not return the skin to pristine condition (although it is good for “lightening” work so that a cover-up tattoo can be successfully applied), and it can be very painful and expensive. The best policy is to find a good, reputable artist and get the tattoo you really want in the first place. If someone is highly skilled they won’t give away their time and work cheaply. Tattooers who quote cheap prices are usually inexperienced and cutting corners with sterilization, etc, and even when you get a “deal”, a cheap price leaves the artist less motivated to do their best work on you. That’s human nature and tattoo artists are not averse to the subconscious impact of working for less than what they are worth.
CAN I BRING A FRIEND?
Sure! The more the merrier, as long as no one interferes with the process. Kids are welcome, but screaming and squirming ones are quite a distraction and probably shouldn’t come along.
HOW DO I SET UP AN APPOINTMENT?
First, determine which artist you would like to do your tattoo by viewing portfolios online or at the shop. Call or stop by to set up a consultation. Bring your ideas and references and we will discuss your tattoo. Set an appointment with a $50 deposit, which will be applied to the cost of your tattoo. Larger tattoos may require a larger deposit.
ARE DEPOSITS REFUNDABLE?
Deposits are non refundable. They cover the artist’s drawing time and the time that you have scheduled. If you need to reschedule, please give us as much notice as possible and your deposit will be applied to the new appointment. Your deposit does not entitle you to ownership of the design.
HOW DO I CARE FOR MY TATTOO
Click Here See our aftercare pages.
CAN YOU TATTOO OVER SCARS OR STRETCH MARKS?
Scars and stretch marks can be tattooed, but the skin is more sensitive and difficult to tattoo. Please come in for a consultation to discuss your options with one of our artists.
DO YOU TAKE WALK INS?
Yes. We will do our best to help everyone we can on any given day. Some days we are booked up and cannot take a walk in. Call ahead and let us know when you would like to come in so we can allot enough time for your tattoo. Body piercing is done on a first come, first serve basis, and usually the wait is no longer than 20 minutes if our piercer is with someone when you arrive.
CAN I GET TATTOOED IF I AM PREGNANT?
No. We don’t want to put any unnecessary strain on you or your baby. Let’s play it safe.
CAN A TATTOO BE COVERED OR REMOVED?
Yes. We can cover your old tattoo with a new one or rework it. Cover ups are larger than the original tattoo in order to properly hide the older design. Serious thought and sometimes multiple consultations are required to make sure you will be happy with your cover up. We do not offer laser tattoo removal. As with getting a tattoo, we recommend visiting specialists, looking at their work and asking them plenty of questions.
IS THERE PRIVACY AVAILABLE?
Yes. All of our tattoo and piercing rooms are private for your comfort.
IS THERE PARKING?
Yes. There is plenty of parking lot.
WHAT TYPES OF PAYMENT DO YOU ACCEPT
We accept Cash, Visa & Master Cards.
DO YOU ACCEPT TIPS?
Tipping is a standard practice when it comes to getting tattooed. Your artist will always appreciate your tip. There is no set amount that is right or wrong and your gesture is always appreciated.