Prep & FAQ
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Preparation
In the weeks leading up to your session, keep the area that will be getting tattooed out of the sun. Keep the area protected from any element/product that may cause any sort of flare up or skin damage. If your skin is damaged in any way (sunburn, allergy breakout, healing or fresh cuts/scrapes) I will have to reschedule you. Keep the area moisturized and drink lots of water.
The day before your session, make sure to continue drinking lots of water. Do NOT shave the area I will be tattooing; I will shave you at the beginning of your session. Try to steer clear of blood thinners (including caffeine). Avoid any alcohol at least 24 hours before your session. Get a full night of sleep. It is important to be well rested before a tattoo.
Eat a big meal at least two hours before your session. It is extremely important to have food in your system. Come into your session freshly showered; keep in mind the area I will be tattooing and dress accordingly. Try to avoid tight fitting clothing that will be hard to readjust if needed. If you will be getting tattooed in an area where you will be more exposed than usual, flannel shirts or zip up jackets are a great option as they can be worn backwards or tied in different ways. I also provide nipple covers. If you have any concerns on what you should wear to your session, please don't hesitate to send me an email.
I do provide snacks and drinks, but feel free to bring your own. You can also bring books, headphones, or any other item you may want for entertainment.
Please arrive ON TIME to your appointment. If you are early, please do not enter my studio more than 5 minutes before our agreed start time. If you are running late, please email me to let me know. No call no show, or arriving 15+ minutes late with no communication will result in me no longer accepting you as a client.
FAQ
Where are you located?
Indie Studio Suites
567 W 2600 S
Ste 210
Bountiful UT
I will send you this address as well as instructions on how to get to my suite when I book you.
Do you require a deposit?
Yes. I require a $100 non refundable deposit to book any design with me (flash or custom). Your deposit will always go towards the final price of your tattoo. I accept deposits through Venmo (@tattooedbyles).
What should I bring to my session?
Always bring a VALID ID. You will be required to take a picture of it for my consent form. As mentioned above, bring anything you'd like for entertainment (book, headphones, etc.) and any snacks or drinks. My suite can sometimes be very chilly so I suggest bringing a jacket or blanket. Don't forget to bring the rest of your payment. Cash is PREFERRED but I also accept Venmo payments.
How do you charge?
I charge by the piece rather than hourly. Price will be determined by size, style, color/black and grey, and placement. My minimum is $175 unless the tattoo takes less than 30 minutes to complete (price will range between $100-175 in this case). My full day price is $700. I will schedule someone for a full day if the tattoo will take me 4+ hours to complete. I do not work longer than 6 hours in a day.
You can expect your session to be between $175-700.
When do I get to see my design?
You will see your design at the beginning of your session. I DO NOT share designs beforehand. Please keep this in mind and please do not ask to see it before your session. I do not share designs to avoid plagiarism and added stress on my end. I often don't start designs until 3-7 days before the session, so most of the time I don't have anything to share anyway.
We can make changes to your design at the beginning of your session. I prefer to make changes in person so we can have optimal communication. If you end up wanting a full redesign, you will have to be rescheduled.
What if I need to reschedule?
You can reschedule with me once for free (emergencies happen!). Send me an email letting me know you need to reschedule. If possible, please let me know at least 24 hours before your scheduled session.
If you need to reschedule a second time, you will forfeit your original deposit and a new deposit will be required.
Please keep in mind that you will be at the mercy of my schedule if you're looking to get rescheduled -- I may have to book you pretty far out from your original appointment.
What days/times do you work?
I work Monday through Thursday and occasionally Friday. I do NOT work weekends.
I only schedule 1-2 people a day. My first appointment of the day starts at 10am. If I am scheduling a second client, start times can vary between 11:30am-1pm. One pm is the latest time I will start a tattoo.
If you are booked for a full day session with me, your start time will be 10am to ensure we have plenty of time to finish your tattoo.
Do you offer touch ups?
Yes! I offer one free touch up for every tattoo I do. If you'd like to schedule a touchup, please send me an email with a picture of the tattoo and a description of what you'd like done. I ask that you wait at least one month from our original appointment to schedule a touch up so your tattoo has enough time to heal.
If you are wanting more of a rework on your tattoo (such as adding a new element) this will not be free and you will need to wait to schedule a custom tattoo with me.
I also offer touch ups on tattoos not done by me at a price (typically $100-175) as long as I feel the style is one I'm comfortable in recreating. These touch ups will also need to be scheduled through my custom booking.
What style(s) do you do?
I offer a wide range of styles (please view my portfolio located on the home page to get an idea of styles I do often). I enjoy working with all sorts of subject matters and I love working with color and black and grey!
Even though I do offer a range of styles, I am not afraid to turn away subject matter/styles that I feel may not be the right fit for me.
Are there styles/subject matter you WON'T tattoo?
I will NOT tattoo patriotic, religious, bigoted, or racist imagery.
I will not tattoo Harry Potter imagery.
I do not tattoo dragons.
I do not do geometric tattoos, tiny/single needle tattoos, or realism* (this includes portraits!).
*I do tattoo realistic flowers/plants/bugs, although with my style these subject matters are never fully realism. They will always have a slight painterly look. I have many examples of this style on my home page.
Are there placements you won't do?
As I progress in my skill level I may open up some of these placements as options, but for now I will not tattoo:
Throat/side of neck
Ear
Face
Genitals
*I PREFER to not tattoo fingers*
Can I bring a guest with me to my session?
Yes, but only one guest per client is allowed. Since my studio is quite small, it gets very squishy trying to fit more than three people in it.
Please let me know before your session if you will be bringing a guest.
Do you tattoo minors?
NO. Under no circumstances will I tattoo a minor. You must be 18+ to get tattooed by me.
Are you comfortable doing someone's first tattoo?
Yes! I love getting to do someone's first tattoo. I will make sure to walk you through the whole process and you are free to ask any questions during our session. I strive to help all of my clients feel as comfortable as possible, and I will allow you the space to advocate for yourself in any way you may need.
I will walk you through aftercare in person, and please refer to my aftercare section if you need any reminders of what to do during your healing process.
Do you do coverups?
It's a case by case basis. Due to my limited skill in doing coverups, I am very picky about the ones I accept. Usually if it's something relatively small (1-2") I can cover it. If you are looking to book a coverup, please just keep in mind that there's a high chance I will turn you down.
If I do decide that I am comfortable doing your coverup, I may ask you to come in for a quick consultation so I can see what I will be working with in person.
Would you take on an apprentice?
Not right now. I am unsure if I will ever take on an apprentice, but if I do I would like to have at least 10 years experience before teaching someone.
Can I ask for a quiet session?
Absolutely! I am always happy to do quiet sessions. If you plan on having headphones in, please just make sure you can still hear me in case I need to communicate with you at any point during our session. I also have a TV in my studio with a few streaming services -- a great option if you need a distraction that's not talking.
Do you tattoo over scars?
Yes. I've done many tattoos over scars (including SH scars and top surgery scars). I prefer scar(s) to be at least one year healed before I tattoo over them.
Similar to coverups, I may ask you to come in for a quick consultation so I can see the scar(s) in person before our session.
Do you provide aftercare?
Yes. I provide a little aftercare pack for every new client. The pack included antibacterial soap (Dial Gold), ointment (Hustle Butter), and an extra piece of second skin (Recovery Derm Shield) if you've chosen to use it.
Do you allow the use of numbing cream?
You are fine to use numbing cream for your session AS LONG AS you let me know beforehand. I prefer clients to use Mad Rabbit numbing cream -- if you'd like to use a different brand please let me know. Whatever numbing cream you choose must contain only 5% lidocaine or I will not allow you to use it.
Numbing cream can affect the way a tattoo heals, especially color tattoos -- they can become patchy and heal inconsistently. Please keep this in mind if you've ultimately decided that numbing cream is right for you. I cannot guarantee how your tattoo will heal with numbing cream.
I offer bactine for every client. I would prefer going this route instead of numbing cream if possible.
Am I required to use second skin?
No, it's completely up to you! Second skin is more of a luxury rather than a requirement. I use a brand that is latex free (Recovery Derm Shield) so it's safe for most skin types. If your skin typically reacts negatively to adhesives I would recommend avoiding second skin.
If you'd like to bring in your own second skin to use, you're welcome to!