Policies
Client Eligibility
While I am passionate about the art of tattooing and relish sharing that passion with the world, tattoos may not be appropriate for everyone. Certain skin conditions, recent operations, open wounds, previous tattoos, and other factors may affect a person’s eligibility to be tattooed. The care timeline on my Tattoo Care page goes into many of these details, such as skin care products that must have been discontinued for a certain length of time before a tattoo appointment. If you feel you may have a limiting or disqualifying factor but aren’t certain, I highly encourage you to contact me directly so we can discuss your personal situation!
The most important considerations for prospective tattoo clients are as follows.
Clients must:
be at least 18 years of age to receive a tattoo.
have a valid photo ID, which must not be expired.
have read and complied with the pre-care timeline on my Tattoo Care page.
have contacted me for consultation if the area to be tattooed has been tattooed in the past, or is the site of past tattoo removal.
not be pregnant or breastfeeding.
Tattoos are not recommended for people who have:
an autoimmune disorder.
psoriasis in the treatment area.
disease of the thyroid, such as Graves’ disease (some medication prescribed for thyroid disease may affect the skin’s ability to retain pigment).
anemia.
diabetes (due to slow healing, risk of infection, and risk of poor pigment retention).
a history of keloid or hypertrophic scarring.
a history of MRSA infection.
cancer or another condition being actively treated with chemotherapy.
Rescheduling and Cancelations
I understand that unexpected events are inevitable in life, and I wish to be as flexible as possible with my clients. To ensure my clients the greatest amount of flexibility while also safeguarding my business and my time, I require a deposit at the time of scheduling (around 25% of the total service cost). This deposit goes towards the final price of the service. If you need to cancel your appointment, you may do so with at least 48 hours’ notice, in which case your deposit will be refunded. If you cancel with insufficient notice, I will retain the deposit.
You may instead prefer to reschedule your appointment for a more convenient time. I still ask for 48 hours’ notice as a courtesy, but there is no penalty for last minute rescheduling. Please note that if an appointment must be rescheduled two or more times, the 48-hour cancelation grace period is no longer in effect, and any cancelation will result in the retention of your deposit.
As always, clients are encouraged to reach out to me directly with any questions or concerns. I am happy to work with you on a case-by-case basis!
Final Considerations
As with any cosmetic procedure, every client is different and every tattoo is unique. Some people are more suited to certain tattoos than others. Skin type (dry, average, oily), maturity, sensitivity, and pigmentation all play a role in ink retention, and thus tattoo appearance and longevity. Some clients have a more pronounced healing response than others, with increased swelling and redness. Some clients may be more prone to infection than others, depending on their immune system. There is no one-size-fits-all guide to how your body will respond to tattoos.
The vast majority of my clients report low pain, smooth healing and high satisfaction, and if you follow the pre-care and aftercare guidelines, it is very likely that your experience will be similar. However, I cannot guarantee this outcome, and I ask that clients temper their expectations and understand the risks associated with the reward. Give yourself plenty of time to heal. Be aware that you may have to make brief lifestyle changes, such as spending less time outdoors or at the gym. I believe that the finished result will be well worth your patience!
