About Me & FAQs

Yes. Cash is preferred. A $5 processing fee is required to run a credit or debit card. Payment can also be accepted through Cash app or Venmo.

Deposits are required before booking an appointment and before I will draw anything. Deposits are non-refundable. If you need to reschedule, deposits can be carried over to a different date if I am notified within 24 hours of the scheduled appointment. If not, you will be required to pay another deposit to reschedule.

It all depends on the project. Quality pieces take time. If you have a set budget or can only tolerate a few hours at a time, please let me know in advance. Larger pieces with detail and high color saturation will take longer.

If you’re not sure, let me know in advance so we can schedule accordingly. If you tap early during the session the full amount will still be paid that day and moving forward, you will be charged the standard rate.

It depends on where it is on the body and how gentle you are on your tattoo during the healing process. Areas on or near joints (think wrists and insides of elbows) take longer. In general line work or black and grey will heal quickly, in about a week and half or so. Color takes the longest, around two weeks, sometimes more. Bear in mind, everyone is different and generally it takes about a month to completely settle into the skin.

Keep out of direct sunlight and no submerging your work in water for 3 weeks. Showers are totally fine, but no baths, hot tubs, pools, or saunas.

Yes. However, to make the best use of my time and yours, scheduling is recommended.

Before removing your bandage, thoroughly wash your hands. Once your hands are clean and your bandage is removed, wet your tattoo with water as warm as you can stand (not scalding.) Use liquid antibacterial hand soap (I would recommend Dial gold) and small circular motions with your fingertips to remove all the Vaseline and any blood or plasma build up. You’ll know you’ve gotten everything off when the skin feels “squeaky clean” or smooth. Use a paper towel or clean cloth towel and blot or dab it dry, never brush or scrape your new tattoo. Aside from being uncomfortable it can potentially cause damage. Let it air out the first day and overnight, don’t apply any Aquaphor or lotion. DO NOT let others touch your tattoo, or slap it to “set” it, as this can also cause damage.

For the next week and half wash it 2 to 3 times daily with liquid antibacterial soap and warm water. Wait 15 to 20 minutes after washing, then apply a very thin layer of Aquaphor−just enough to have a sheen over the tattoo. DO NOT over apply−this can cause improper healing or infection. Because Aquaphor is a petroleum-based product it does not absorb into the skin the same way a water-based lotion does. Less is more!

After 3 to 5 days your tattoo should begin to peel or flake. This is normal, and a sign that the wound is closing. Continue to use circular motions with your fingertips when washing to help the flaking process. You may see ink running from the tattoo the first few days−again, completely normal.

Once the wound is completely closed you can go down to washing once a day. This takes approximately a week and a half. You know the wound is closed when the tattoo looks and feels like a scab with minimal or no flaking. At this point, switch to an unscented water-based lotion (I recommend Cetaphil.) Areas on or near joints may take longer to close. If this happens, take a little extra time to gently massage lotion into the area, softening it. You can stop washing your tattoo once it’s completely healed. You’ll know it’s healed once the scabbing is done and your skin feels smooth again. Depending on the person, this can take anywhere from two and a half to three and a half weeks. Apply unscented lotion daily for an additional two weeks.

Touch-ups are free for the first year after completion of each tattoo and are meant to fix areas where pigment hasn’t healed consistently. After a year or more it is considered a refresh/rework, and cost will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Yes. Please remember that covering darker colors with lighter ones will likely take more than one session. Heavily shaded designs with blues/purples/greens are generally better for cover-ups than hard-lined images with lots of open space. For example, mandala-like designs do not work well for cover-ups.

Yes, but the state of Oregon requires that they be healed for a minimum of two years. There is a lot of individual variation, but keep in mind that they will likely be a bit more sensitive to tattoo over. Depending on the type of scarring, they may not retain a lot of little details, so, like cover-ups, something with heavier shading is best.

This is a myth−no color hurts worse than any other. However, due to the application technique, color tattoos are a little more painful than black and gray. If white or lighter colors seem to hurt more, it’s because they are the last colors being applied and the skin is more sensitive from prolonged trauma.

Whether to touch-up or not is at the discretion of the client. Touch-ups are for bits of color, shading, or line work that have healed inconsistently. Beyond that is a refresh or rework−essentially going over the whole design with a fresh coat of pigment. Refreshing tattoos isn’t necessary, but, if you want it done, I recommend refreshing every five years or so. Remember, always wear sunscreen to increase the longevity of your body art.

There isn’t a standard amount for tipping your artist, nor do I expect it. If you do feel inclined, I am always grateful.

Yes. I strongly discourage drinking alcohol in the 24 hours prior to your appointment. Being hungover can amplify the discomfort and make it more difficult to saturate pigment into the skin. I recommend being well hydrated before coming in and using an unscented lotion on the area the night before the appointment. If you would like a beer after your appointment, you’ve earned it, but it may hit you a little harder than normal because your body will be worn out. Don’t forget to adequately clean your tattoo when you get home!

The bandage is there for you to get from the shop to where you live. Do not wear it all day or overnight. Tattoos are large open wounds and leaving it wrapped up for a prolonged period creates a breeding ground for bacteria. The sooner you can remove the bandage, wash it, and let it air out and begin to heal, the better.