FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Hey, getting a tattoo is a big deal and we understand that people have questions. To help, we have curated some of the most frequent questions we are asked! While this list is pretty comprehensive we know it doesn’t cover all the bases. If you need to know something that isn’t on this page, don’t hesitate to reach out!

ARE YOU HEALTH BOARD APPROVED? 

Of course we are! We are here to provide a clean, safe environment for you and ourselves, which means following the guidelines set out by British Columbia’s Ministry of Health.  Want to know more? Reach out!

DO TATTOOS HURT?

Yes, but there is no reason to be afraid. It is a completely bearable pain. Think of all the people you know with tattoos, if it was way too painful there would be far fewer in the world. Everyone deals with pain differently but we work hard to make you as comfortable and relaxed as possible. 

IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO MAKE IT HURT LESS?

Do you know the anti-pain spell from Harry Potter? No? There are still a couple non-wizarding things you can do to ease the pain. Always ensure to have a good night sleep, eat before you come, bring water to stay hydrated, and dress in layers so you can regulate your body temperature. Also, if you are feeling sick or under the weather, be sure to reschedule. Getting a tattoo can lower your immune system, which won’t be great if you’re heath is already compromised. 

WILL TATTOOS MAKE ME COOL? 

A resounding ‘yes’ on this one! Not only will you get all the dates, you’ll become the captain of the football team or cheer leading squad. Woo-hoo!

SO, I’M NOT EIGHTEEN YET, WILL YOU TATTOO ME? 

No, we don’t tattoo anyone under the age of 18.

MY MOTHER SAYS SHE WILL GIVE YOU PERMISSION, DOES THIS CHANGE THINGS?

No, we don’t tattoo anyone under the age of 18.

WHAT IF MY BIRTHDAY IS IN A MONTH AND HALF?

Then we will tattoo you in a month and a half. We don’t tattoo anyone under the age of 18. 

WHY DON’T YOU TATTOO ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 18? 

Because some things are worth waiting for. You can’t vote, smoke,  drink or gamble, which means you aren’t an adult, and we firmly believe getting a permanent piece of artwork on your body is an adult decision. We aren’t unsympathetic to you wanting a tattoo and not being able to have one, but 18 will come fast and you can come spend time with us.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A TATTOO?

It depends on the size of the piece, really. Some tattoos take fifteen minutes and others take hours. When you have a consultation the tattoo artist will be able to give you an approximation for time. 

HOW MUCH DO YOU CHARGE?

Our shop has an hourly rate of $190 with a shop minimum of $150

WHY ARE TATTOOS SO EXPENSIVE?

They aren’t, really. Not considering they are a permanent decision. Think about going to a salon for hair colour, you could spend nearly the same amount for a temporary service. We take tattooing seriously and running a high calibre shop can be expensive. Our tattoo shop is a professional business and we price our services on the work we do, meanwhile ensuring our establishment meets government health regulations, while pricing competitively with other reputable shops. 

WHAT PAYMENT OPTIONS DO YOU OFFER?

Cash, Mastercard, Visa, and Debit. 

DO YOU TAKE A DEPOSIT?

We  request our clients give a non-refundable deposit of $150. The deposit is then taken off the final total of the tattoo, which you will pay at the end of your appointment. Deposits are non-refundable but can be transferred to another client if you’d like.

CAN I CANCEL MY APPOINTMENT?

Of course, you can. We are reasonable people and understand sometimes life gets in the way of what we really want to be doing. On the other hand, we are a business, so we do require at least 48 hours notice for any cancellations. If you give the proper amount of notice, we will happily rebook the appointment and you retain your deposit. If not, you will forfeit the deposit and will need to put down a new deposit in order to book another appointment or keep any future appointments.

IS IT OKAY FOR ME TO BRING IN MY OWN DESIGN?

This one is a bit trickier to answer. Our number one goal is to give the client what they want, unfortunately there are rules and guidelines we must follow in order to ensure the integrity of our artwork and the longevity of a tattoo. While we love it when clients bring in references for us, we need them to keep an open mind. We will not duplicate another person’s work because we want each piece to be one of a kind. So, if you find something on Pinterest you absolutely love, bring it in and we will create something unique just for you. 

We also often have clients bringing in artwork a friend or child has drawn for them. Sometimes these can translate into tattoos, other times they can’t. Keep in mind it is our job to ensure the artwork actually works as a tattoo and we will have to redraw it. 

IS THERE ANY DESIGNS YOU WON’T TATTOO?

We consider everyone a potential friend, so in order for everyone to feel comfortable and cultivate a positive energy in our shop we will not tattoo anything that is sexist, racist or homophobic. 

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO HEAL AND WHAT PRECAUTIONS SHOULD I TAKE? 

It will take around two weeks to heal your tattoo. In this time, don’t swim or take baths, no sunbathing, and refrain from scratching and picking. Ideally you want a nice clean heal, if you are experiencing any issue, please contact us. 

MY FRIEND KNOWS A GUY WHO TATTOOS OUT OF HIS HOUSE, IS IT SAFE TO LET HIM TATTOO ME?

If your friend knew a guy who was performing dentistry out of his house, or surgery, would you let them pull a tooth or cut you open? Nope. Same answer applies. 

WILL YOU TATTOO MY HANDS OR FACE?

This is a maybe. Hands, faces, and necks are handled differently than other tattoos. For one, they require an in person consultation. We generally reserve these very visible tattoos for people who are heavily tattooed (think two sleeves).

HELP, I HAVE A QUESTION THAT’S NOT ANSWERED HERE, WHAT DO I DO? 

You contact us HERE.


WHO QUESTIONS MUCH, SHALL LEARN MUCH, AND RETAIN MUCH. ~ FRANCIS BACON