F.A.Q.
What type of appointments are there? What should I book?
Free Consultation ★ (15–30 min) A casual in-person meeting to discuss your ideas, references, and budget. These are held at 9:30 AM daily. If 9:30 AM isn’t suitable for you, please email to arrange an alternative time.
1 Hour Booking ★ Reserved for small tattoos or touch-up sessions for existing pieces.
Half Day Booking ★ (3–4 hours) Suitable for medium-sized projects as discussed in our consult.
Full Day Booking ★ (7 hours) Required for large-scale work or intensive sessions.
How do I get in contact with you and how long will it take to hear back?
"I have sent an enquiry and I haven’t heard back yet, am I being ignored?"
I try my best to reply to everyone as quickly as I can. If it is taking a little while to receive a reply from me, it is because I am currently occupied with other work.
I handle all my own admin, social media and must do drawings from home too!
It can take some time to get through my inbox and I will try to make sure the responses are specific and informative.
Please check your SPAM as well because there have been times where my emails to clients have gone to the spam folder!
If you need to let me know something urgent for an upcoming appointment, feel free to contact the Tattoo Power studio mobile and they should be able to let me know fast. Feel free to send a follow up email if you have not heard back from me if it has been a week or two since sending.
I appreciate your patience and will get back to you as soon as I can. Please know I appreciate your interest and support! Feel free to send a follow up email if you are concerned I haven't seen it.
How much does a tattoo cost?
How do you price?
Pricing tattoos is quite tricky and it can be hard to give an exact answer for a quote. Small tattoos start from $150. The more time a piece takes, the more it will cost (depends on size, detail and placement). I typically will aim to charge $100/hour. Full days will be roughly $1000 (depending on how long the day session is. if it is an ongoing project etc)
Why are quotes only estimates?
By email or consultation, I can provide an estimated cost for the tattoo but I cannot predict the exact final cost. This is because I aim to price by the amount of time a tattoo takes and do so fairly.
Some factors that effect tattoo time:
- Different parts of the body are more difficult to work with (the exact same design on a forearm could take twice as long on the ribs
- Linework vs shading vs colour (different skills and techniques are involved to execute different styles and if we want to make sure that it is done well, sometimes colour or shading will take longer than expected)
- If you are needing a lot of breaks or are anxious or unsure of anything it is totally fine! Most of the time I will do my best to not include placement in time taken to tattoo, however if in some instances my time is not being respected, this may account to total time taken.
Why do I need to pay a deposit?
Every appointment requires a deposit to be paid to secure a booking. A deposit of $100 is required for standard bookings and $200 for Saturday and Sunday appointments.
Why must you pay a deposit?
A deposit must be made to secure an appointment and will be deducted from the final payment of the tattoo on the day. Deposits are non-refundable and can be forfeited if you do not show up for your appointment. If you do not give 24 hours notice before cancelling an appointment, I may have to take the deposit and a new one must be paid to reschedule. It can be very difficult for me to get work for the next day or rely on a walk-in, so the deposit is essential for me.
Payment on the Day
Deposits can be paid online via bank transfer however, cash is required for the final payment on the day of your appointment. There are ATMs located nearby in Mitchell for your convenience, but please be aware that bringing cash in advance is recommended.
Can I see the design before my appointment?
I will design your tattoo based on the information you provide. Give me as much information you can about the vision you have, with any specific details I need to know. I am always happy to make small changes or adjustments to the design at the start of the appointment.
If there is a complete change of design and I need to redraw most of your tattoo, your appointment may need to be rescheduled. If I didn't receive the right information from you or you changed what you want and don’t inform me ahead of time there may be an additional drawing fee added to your total.
I know that getting a tattoo can be exciting and sometimes a bit scary. It is important that you trust me with your vision, so please make sure you explain as well as you can. We can always have an in-person consult where we can scribble things down too so that we are on the same page.
Why won't you send the design to me earlier?
I do not typically send out completed designs prior to appointments. Unfortunately, I have had negative experiences in the past with spending hours on designs and having people taking them elsewhere. Some designs can actually take many hours of designing and drawing while I am at home outside of work, this isn't included in the hours I have spent tattooing. I hope you can respect this and keep in mind that I only want to tattoo you if you are 100% happy with what you are getting!
What is the Tattoo Aftercare process?
While every person and every tattoo heals at a slightly different pace, the entire process generally takes around 3 weeks. To ensure your new ink heals as well as possible and stays infection-free, please stick closely to the following instructions.
For Second Skin (Clear Adhesive Film)
Leave the second skin on for anywhere between 24 hours and 3 days. *** It is normal for some liquid to pool in the film so don’t worry if it fills up a bit.
The easiest way to take it off is in the shower. Peel it slowly under running cool/lukewarm water and use mild, unscented soap to remove any leftover ink and plasma. Once the skin is rinsed and clean, gently pat the area dry with a completely clean paper towel or let air dry.
After this, you may proceed with applying balm as needed. Start 2-3 times a day for the next week or so. Your tattoo must be CLEAN and DRY. Apply a very thin layer of balm**** covering the surface of the tattoo. Do not coat the tattoo in a thick layer of balm, it needs to be thin enough for it to breathe.
*** Warning: If you notice any skin irritation or redness around the film at any point, take it off immediately. You may be having a mild reaction to the adhesive (similar to a band-aid or sports bandage).
For Cling Wrap (Gladwrap):
Keep the wrap on for no longer than 2 hours, and remove it permanently. Do NOT wrap up the tattoo again or cover it with anything. We want the fresh tattoo to breathe and stay clean.
Once you remove the cling wrap, gently wash the tattoo with lukewarm water and a mild, unscented soap to remove any leftover ink and plasma. After the skin is rinsed and clean, gently pat the area dry with a completely clean paper towel or let air dry.
Do not apply any balm the day of getting your tattoo. Do not wrap/cover the tattoo again. Make sure that your bedsheets are clean and if you have white sheets you may want to change them or put a clean towel down so they don’t get stained.
THE NEXT DAY
Gently wash your tattoo with soap and water, making sure you get all the gunk off and have clean skin. Dry with a clean paper towel or let air-dry. You will want to do this 2-3 times a day depending on how dirty/sweaty you get during the day.
When your tattoo is CLEAN and DRY, apply a very thin layer of balm**** covering the surface of the tattoo. Do not coat the tattoo in a thick layer of balm, it needs to be thin enough for it to breathe.
**** I suggest Dr Pickles Tattoo Balm (sold in the studio or available at Woolworths and some pharmacies). If you are just getting smaller black/grey fineline tattoos, Lucas Paw Paw can also work well if you have a clean fresh tube.
I will provide full aftercare instructions and answer any questions you have on completion of your tattoo.
Do you do free touch ups?
Yes, I will do a touch-up session for free on a tattoo done by me.
If you have done something which has compromised the tattoo / you have not followed aftercare instructions properly, please let me know because this will help me understand what needs to be done. If we have done a touch-up already, please be aware there may be additional charges depending on the circumstances. If you have gotten a finger/hand/foot tattoo and require a touch up, it depends case by case on whether you will have to pay. Feel free to reach out and ask!
Before asking for a touch-up please make sure the tattoo is fully healed and it has been at least 2 months since the appointment. E-mail a photo of the tattoo now and what you think needs to be touched up.
If you would like a touch-up of a tattoo someone else has done on you, please reach out and we can discuss.
Can you do cover-ups, rework an existing tattoo I have, or touch up other people's work?
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Will you do tattoo some else’s design or drawing? What if I want a tattoo I have seen online?
I am confident with designing tattoos that are inspired by different art, tattoos, media etc. I will not tattoo another artist’s work without their permission in most cases.
My process when designing a tattoo depends on what the piece is and how much creative freedom you give me and what you want. For example, script work will generally be fine to tattoo as is. Photos you have taken, pictures you have drawn yourself etc are completely fine as well. Always happy to do pop culture characters, album covers, video game art, books and other references etc.
Sometimes people come to me with designs that are created by a visual artist who doesn’t tattoo, or an artist overseas who they can’t be tattooed by.
If you want the exact design you have found, I will ask you to provide consent from the original artist that it is ok for me to tattoo it.
Some artists make flash sheets and designs they post online which you can purchase a “tattoo ticket” for. Some artists will not mind as long as they are credited for it. This is on a case-to-case basis and I will need proof that the artist has allowed me to do it. If you are unsure how to go about seeking permissions, let me know and I will try to assist.
It is important to note that not all designs will translate well as a tattoo. A drawing, photo or design you see online may need to be altered before tattooing. I will do my best to create a piece for you which includes all the elements you want and also ages well in the skin.
If you send me a photo of a tattoo you would like done, I will do my best to recreate a similar piece but make small changes / redesign depending on how unique the piece is and what you are specifically wanting.
If there are any particular elements you want included, let me know so that these details can be incorporated in the design process. Elements include things like; colours, the way the tattoo is arranged or negative spaces.
How can I prepare for my tattoo?
Please make sure you are well rested, eat something before the appointment, and do not drink alcohol the day before.
Wear comfortable clothing which allows for easy access to the area you are getting tattooed. If you are getting an area tattooed which might need more privacy, I can put privacy screens up because there may be other artists/clients in the studio.
You do not need to shave before your tattoo. I will shave the area and clean the skin before we begin the tattoo as per my standard practice.
If you have any bruising or sunburn, you will not be able to get tattooed in that spot so please let me know as soon as you can if you need to change your appointment date, or consider alternative placements.
Feel free to bring snacks, drinks, earphones or any other entertainment that can help you be distracted (nothing that will make you move around too much though)!
How much do tattoos hurt? What can i do if im anxious?
Every person will experience different levels of pain when getting tattooed. Generally speaking, it depends on the placement of the tattoo, the type of tattoo and individual pain tolerance. The same tattoo could be very painful to one person and not at all to another.
If you prepare well for your tattoo then you will be able to sit through the tattoo and the pain should be more bearable. If you have specific concerns regarding pain, let me know and we can have a chat about it.
Can I use numbing cream?
If you have not had a tattoo before, I would prefer you do not use numbing cream. If you do, please use Numit (5%) which can be bought at a chemist. Please do a patch test on a different area of you skin up to 2 nights before, to ensure you are not allergic.
Numbing cream must be applied before you come in to the studio and you must apply it as the directions state otherwise it will not work. Please shave the area, clean the skin, apply a thick amount of cream and cover with cling film. This should stay on the skin around 30min before you arrive at your appointment. Tattoo artists are not legally allowed to provide any numbing cream, so you must supply it if you want to use it.
Please make sure to tell me before the appointment that you will be using numbing cream.
Can I bring someone to my appointment with me?
In the studio it can be very busy some days, so we try to limit too many visitors. We can normally try to make space and accommodate for someone to sit with you for the appointment. This might not always be possible if it is very busy. I typically don’t mind if you bring someone with you as long as it is not disruptive to the others in the studio or makes it difficult to tattoo (e.g. laughing and moving around, being too loud).
What brand of second skin do you use?
I use Saniderm and Dermshield and will apply it for you at the end of the appointment if we decide to use it. Some people may have reactions to using a second skin, however a lot of the time this can be due to how it is applied.
If you have used second skin before and you would like to use your own, feel free to bring it in.
If you are booked in / have been tattooed by me before, feel free to ask me for a small piece to patch-test on you.
Will I be tattooed in a clean environment? Is it safe for me to get tattooed?
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Do you tattoo people under the age of 18?
I strictly will NOT tattoo anyone under the age of 18, even with parental permission.
