PREPARING FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT:

• Please don’t drink heavily the night before your tattoo appointment. Even if it’s not enough to make you hung over, it could still thin your blood the next day. Although hangovers and lack of sleep will lower your pain tolerance and is definitely not advised
  

• Get to bed on time and make sure to get plenty of sleep. Sure you may feel some anticipation surrounding your appointment and be hard for you to get to sleep, but getting plenty of rest tends to make it easier to sit calmly the following day.
  

• Check to make sure you have enough money to cover the cost of the tattoo, I accept payment via Venmo, Zelle and Cash for US clients and Bank Transfer or Cash for AUS clients.

• Always eat a full meal before heading in to get tattooed! Eating carb-heavy and filling foods helps in particular because they tend to last longer. Not being hungry will make it easier for you to sit calmly.
  

• Bring bottled water, juice, or other sugary/salty snacks you might want either while or after you get tattooed. It helps to keep your blood sugar regulated and is essential during long sessions to get you through.
  

• If you have an appointment, but are unsure about anything please contact me.
  Make sure you know exactly when to be there and how much it will cost. All this information will be in your confirmation email and the Inquiry Form originally sent to you.
  

• Bring your phone charger and headphones if you wish to listen to your own music or play games (we may not have a charger available for you). Please note sometimes it will be impossible to play with your phone whilst being tattooed due to the placement or nature of the tattoo, and please don’t be offended if I ask you not to, it’s only to enable me to do the best work on you.
  

• It might seem to go without saying, but please make sure you shower or bathe beforehand. Unless you’re getting an armpit tattoo, please also wear deodorant.
  

• Bring appropriate clothing to make access to the area you are being tattooed easy.
  You should consider wearing clothes that it won’t matter if you get ink stains on them (black is best!). Even in the summer, it’s a good idea to bring a sweatshirt or something warm because getting tattooed can sometimes make you feel cold.
  If your tattoo placement goes over the rib/chest or hip area and you are unsure of how to dress for this, my best advice is to bring a tie-up bikini and a towel. I can be creative with clothing and will use tape and other cover methods to make sure you are most comfortable during your session.
  

• The area to be tattooed, and usually a large space surrounding it, will need to be shaved to prepare your skin for the tattoo. Some clients prefer to shave the area themselves beforehand and are welcome to do so, so long as they know that if for any reason it is not done well enough I may need to redo it myself. Tattoo artists are used to shaving people for tattoo preparation so you don’t worry about being shy or embarrassed.
  

• Please be careful of tanning. You do not want your skin to be sunburnt before or directly after a tattoo. If you spray tan, do not do it before. Not only will you have a big spot scrubbed clean when we prep the area, but the chemicals used in fake tans can affect the skin adversely also.
  

• Following the directions/warnings on the bottle and taking a small amount of Ibuprofen, Panadol, Codeine or other similar products is usually fine. You may want to bring a supply with you to top up during your session if it is going to be a long one.
  

• You always need to show up on time. If you are running late due to traffic or an unexpected event, please email me an update on your arrival time.
  

• If you’re getting sick, or are outright sick, and cannot make your appointment, please email me ahead of time to reschedule, my deposit policy is also stated in the FAQs section of the website.
  

• Plan to rest after getting tattooed. Taking time afterward to relax and clean up your new artwork can help with healing. It’s surprising how much energy even a medium-sized tattoo can take out of you.
  

• Yes, it will hurt, but probably not nearly as bad as you think it will. Tattoos have been described as feeling somewhat like a “cat scratch on sunburn”; hot and sharp at the same time.
  You will want to prepare yourself to endure pain for several hours, without moving around. You’ll have to keep yourself calm and will perhaps want to practice breathing through the pain. If you’ve taken classes or practiced any yoga or meditation you’ll benefit from the breathing exercises you learned.
  

• Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance if you are nauseous, dizzy, or feel confused about anything. Sometimes people feel faint when getting tattooed, particularly during the first few minutes, (sometimes even if it’s not their first time!) There’s no need to be embarrassed or afraid. Let me know if you are feeling anything unusual besides the tattoo itself.
  

• Lastly, ask for a break if you need one! I don’t smoke or take breaks usually myself and so I will keep working through unless you need to stop. Obviously, this is within limits, and the more breaks or the longer you take the longer the tattoo will take and may affect timing, pricing, and pain management. So just keep this in mind and work with me and I’ll do my very best for you!
  

• See the FAQs section of the website for any other questions you may have or flick me an email if your answer isn’t there :)