Appointment Information

Before you book an appointment, please ensure you have fully read, understand, and agree to all of the terms and information provided in the ‘General Information’, ‘Appointment Information’, and ‘Aftercare’ pages. Your agreement to these terms and information is assumed upon booking. If you need clarification or have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out via email.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding, which facilitates a smooth and enjoyable experience for both of us.

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Client Responsibilities

Your general responsibilities:

  • set reminders in your phone and/or calendar for the appointment date/time to avoid any scheduling conflicts

  • make necessary arrangements for transport, childcare, time off work, etc

  • flag our email thread in case you need to follow up with any other questions or advise me of any changes, to prevent starting a new thread

  • look after your skin and health prior to the appointment, as the condition of your skin and health play a crucial role in the tattoo and healing process. At the very least please:

    • avoid direct sunlight, as it reduces the quality of your skin

    • use and reapply SPF50+ sunscreen daily whenever exposed to sunlight (e.g. going outside, driving to/from work, walking to get lunch, sitting by a window)

    • moisturise once or twice a day to improve your skins barrier and maintain its hydration

    • exfoliate once or twice a week with a liquid or chemical exfoliant to remove dead skin cells

    • keep your body hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout each day

    • understand that arriving with sunburn, wounds, or scrapes in the tattoo area may forfeit your deposit and appointment

The night before your appointment:

  • do not consume alcohol, as it may make you bleed more at your appointment, which could result in your appointment having to be prematurely stopped and rescheduled

  • ensure you get adequate sleep

  • carefully shave the area if possible, although I can do this on the day if you are unable to or have concerns about cutting yourself 

The day of your appointment:

  • ensure you have packed the following essentials:

    • your wallet, including your payment method and valid photo ID (e.g. drivers licence, passport, etc)

    • headphones, phone, music device, tablet, book, etc to help you zone out

    • any required chargers for your devices

    • water and a sugary snack or drink in case you start to feel faint

    • any required medication (e.g. oral painkillers)

  • eat a substantial meal

  • shower, put on deodorant, and change into appropriate clothing (see below)

  • check your emails regularly as I may request you to come early

  • remind your friends/family/etc not to drop by

 Following your appointment:

  • look after your tattoo by following the written aftercare instructions provided on this page

  • send updates throughout the healing process and once fully healed

Clothing Choices

The clothing you wear to your appointment must be clean, comfortable, and loose enough to provide clear, easy access to the area. Consider the area you're getting tattooed, and whether an item of clothing will need to be held away from the area. If it has to be held, it may not be suitable and may need to be removed during the appointment.

Please also consider that the shop has an open layout with no dividers or screens, and it is important to maintain a comfortable environment for everyone. Under no circumstances do I want you to be uncomfortable by having to be partially nude in the shop. Similarly, just because you may be comfortable being partially nude doesn't mean myself or the other artists or clients are comfortable with it.

You must also keep in mind the high likelihood of your clothing being stained with blood, ink, and stencil. While blood can easily come out in the wash, tattoo ink often will not. Please take this into consideration when choosing what to wear, particularly the type of fabric and colour. For example, a white silk top that you'd like to wear to dinner is probably not a good option if you're getting your back, shoulder cap, neck, or chest tattooed.  

General clothing choices for most areas:

  • Chest (full, including pec) - no shirt, no bra (may wear nipple covers)

  • Sternum - loose t-shirt (alt. button up shirt, zip up jumper), no bra (may wear nipple covers)

  • Ribs (armpit to hip) - loose t-shirt, no bra (may wear stick-on bra or nipple covers); loose pants (sweatpants or other elastic waistband pants)

  • Back - button up shirt or zip up jumper (to wear backwards), no bra (may wear stick-on bra or nipple covers); loose pants (sweatpants or other elastic waistband pants)

  • Hip / glute - loose t-shirt and loose pants (sweatpants or other elastic waistband pants) or dress or skirt; underwear that does not obstruct the area (e.g. thong or none)

  • Leg (upper) - loose shorts

  • Leg (lower) - any pants that finish above the knee; bare feet (bring clean shoes to wear to/from the appointment, preferably ones that will not touch the lowest tattoo point) 

Personal comfort items:

You are welcome to bring your own towel or blanket for coverage or warmth, along with your own pillow for comfort. All personal items must also be clean, and the high likelihood of being stained with blood, ink, and stencil should be considered.

If you do not already own appropriate clothing for the area, please invest in an affordable option. For tattoo areas not listed above or if you are still unsure, please ask.

Movement

The risk of needlestick injury and potential errors increases with unexpected movement, both voluntary and involuntary. For these reasons, I cannot tattoo you while you are moving, and it is important that you try to remain still during the tattoo process.

While involuntary movements such as muscle twitches are unavoidable and can be more common in certain areas, voluntary movements often result from boredom, restlessness, discomfort, or lack of awareness of your body.

Being mindful of your movements and communicating your needs helps me tattoo you more safely, and faster, and it is your responsibility to:

  • ask for breaks if you feel restless or uncomfortable

  • bring headphones to zone out to a movie or tv show to distract yourself from the pain

  • be conscious of your body and the way you move during the session, understanding that different body parts are connected and moving one seemingly unrelated part may affect the area being tattooed

What To Expect

At the appointment:

  • you will be asked to fill out the consent/waiver form and present your photo ID for confirmation

  • you will be asked to approve the design that has been prepared in advance, and given the opportunity to request any necessary changes

  • once the design has been approved we will confirm sizing for the stencils, which will have been prepared in advance unless you have requested design changes

  • once the sizing has been confirmed I will run the stencil through the thermal copier

  • once the stencil is ready, you will be invited into my work area where the stencil will be applied until you are satisfied

  • once the stencil is on you, you will be given the opportunity to look at it in the mirror, or photos will be shown to you if it is in a location you cannot see

    • for small pieces, the time between choosing a design and the stencil being placed on you is generally between 5-15 minutes

    • for large or complex stencils the time between choosing a design and the stencil being placed on you may take up to an hour

  • once we are both satisfied with the stencil placement I will need it to dry for 10-15 minutes, during which time I will finalise my setup

  • the tattoo process begins, and for the majority of placements you will be lying on the bed for the duration of the appointment

During the appointment:

  • please remember that your tattoo is an open wound and be conscious of the way you interact with it and your environment during the appointment

    • do not touch your tattoo at any point unless you have first washed your hands with soap and dried them with paper towel

    • be mindful of all the communal areas you touch that multiple other people have touched throughout the day (e.g. door handles, counter tops, etc)

    • be mindful of the hygiene of any item you bring with you (e.g. bags, phones, etc)

  • feel free to wear headphones to be able to zone out to your own music, movies, or other entertainment

  • I generally choose to wear headphones while tattooing so that I can focus more clearly on your tattoo without distraction, as I tend to experience a lot of sensory overload from the many distractions present in the shop. If you prefer conversation, I am more than happy to engage, understanding that the tattoo process will be a little slower

  • throughout the appointment I will take small breaks to use the bathroom, drink water, and stretch, you are welcome to ask for any breaks you need yourself. For longer appointments, a 20-30 minute break will occur for lunch.

  • at the end of your appointment I will run you through the aftercare again, answer any questions you may have, clean your tattoo thoroughly, and take photos of the tattoo

It's important that both of us are comfortable and satisfied with the process, please be honest and advocate for your needs during the appointment and let me know if you need any breaks, have questions, or anything else.