Your interest in my work is so appreciated! This page is to help new clients know what to expect and how to best prepare for their tattoo appointments.
Please come with your own boundaries and intentions and feel welcome to freely communicate them. I want us both to have a great experience and being transparent about our expectations makes that possible. Please message me with any questions you may have (though please grant me at least five businesses days to respond). I look forward to working with you!
Before your session:
In the days leading up to your session, moisturize and wash your skin daily. I will not be able to tattoo over a cut, sunburn, or breakout, so be mindful of your skin. Leave the shaving to me unless you’re getting tattooed on a spot you shave regularly.
Do not drink any alcohol, caffeine, or take ibuprofen in the 24 hours before your appointment as these thin the blood. Stay well hydrated before, during, and after your appointment and you will be much more comfortable.
Some contraindications for tattooing includes taking oral acne medications within a month before and after your tattoo session (isotretinion, minocycline, and topicals like retinol and tretinion on the part of the body to be tattooed). I cannot tattoo anyone nursing or pregnant. I cannot tattoo anyone taking antibiotics, or recovering from any illness or major medical procedure. If you have diabetes, your tattoo may need to be broken up into smaller sessions to achieve the best healing. If you have heart disease, or are an organ transplant recipient I will need confirmation from your doctor that your are able to get a tattoo safely. If you are sick, it is in your best interest to reschedule.
Bring cash to your appointment.
Eat a big meal beforehand. I provide some snacks, but feel free to bring your own if you have certain dietary needs or preferences. If you did not eat a meal before a long tattoo I may insist on rescheduling for the sake of your wellness.
Wear something clean, loose, and that you don't mind potentially getting ink on (black is best). If your tattoo is in a location that is usually covered by clothes, find something that leaves that spot open, or is loose enough to be moved out of the way. Do not wear sports bras for rib or sternum pieces, as they are hard to move out of the way and cause a lot of friction on the new tattoo. Wearing a button up shirt or jacket backwards works great for back pieces. For hip pieces, swimsuit bottoms and a skirt or dress. I provide nipple covers and a private room for tattooing intimate locations—please ask if you’d like to utilize the privacy room for your session. All tattoos in the common area have privacy screens.
If you’d like to use numbing cream you are welcome to use your own— I highly encourage you purchase the brand Pure Numb, as it has been effective for my clients and kept the skin’s texture more consistent than other brands which cause the pores to expand and the skin to puff up.
DISCLAIMER: Please keep in mind that numbing cream isn’t always an infallible way to avoid tattoo pain, especially for long sessions. The best numbing creams generally only work for about 3-4 hours. If you’re concerned about tattoo pain, keep in mind you are welcome to tap out or take breaks at any time, and I only charge for the amount of work finished. I also frequently use lidocaine numbing spray throughout the process that works for roughly 10 minutes at a time. You are always welcome to ask for numbing spray to be reapplied.
When using numbing cream you must wait until it has worn off before applying a Saniderm type bandage for healing.
If your tattoo is larger than hand size, or your session is 4+ hours, I do advise you have someone help drive you if you can. It is common to feel a little weak and drowsy, and possible to pass out after a strenuous procedure like a tattoo. I like to keep my clients around for 15 minutes following their procedure for this reason, but it is good to be extra precautious.
The day of:
You will see your design when you arrive to your appointment. Small changes to the design are welcome the day of. If placement changes and/or major revisions are required your appointment may be pushed back a few hours, or rescheduled at my discretion. I understand that getting a tattoo can be nerve wracking, therefore if a larger deposit is placed, I’m open to having a scheduled design review a few days sooner. A new deposit will not be required for design changes (see full deposit policy on the ‘Policy’ page of this website).
I am generally pretty quiet and I can get very ‘in the zone’. If you’re one to appreciate conversations when getting tattooed consider bringing up to one friend (ages 18+) to accompany you.
Feel free to bring entertainment (iPad, headphones, laptop, book, etc). I provide a vinyl pillow with a sterile pillow case, but you are also welcome to bring a blanket of your own for comfort.
If your tattoo is 5+ hours long, we will take a meal break about halfway through. Lunch breaks are generally up to 45min-1hr long. My studio is right next to several restaurants, and a market/pharmacy. Eating snacks is not optional for tattoos 5+ hours long— your body needs fuel to get through a long tattoo.
You will be asked to remove your shoes, or put on shoe covers upon entering the studio. This helps keep the studio floor very clean and is greatly appreciated. I wear house shoes at work for comfort—feel free to bring some too. If you have any difficulty walking especially without shoes, or have pain when walking on tile, you are not expected to abide by this policy.
I will provide you with everything you need for your aftercare including ointment, soap, and a healing bandage if your skin is compatible.
Questions are welcome, but please grant me a few days to get back to you! Text only: 307 888 7682
If I don’t respond within a few days please send your message again so it moves to my top of my inbox. I am unable to take phone calls. Thank you!