Tattoo FAQ
FAQ
I am under 18 but have my parent's consent, or my parent will accompany me. Can I get a tattoo?
Unfortunately no. "Under O.C.G.A. §16-5-71, it is illegal to tattoo anyone under 18 years old unless you are a licensed osteopath or technician acting under the direct supervision of a licensed physician or osteopath. " There is a potential 1000.00 fine and/or jail time for the artist as well as potentially the parent should this come to light.
I hear that tattoos hurt. How bad does it hurt?
Pain can very from person to person, which makes this difficult to answer. If you are concerned about your pain tolerance, make sure to bring that up with your artist during consultation as that may effectively change your tattoo from a single session into multiples over time.
I want to walk in and get a whole sleeve done today, can you do that?
Traditionally, artists require time to properly illustrate your tattoo. The larger the size, the longer they may need to do the illustration to prepare for you. A walk in tattoo should be no more than half an hour for the artist in question, as they make their living on appointments, so be aware that you might be referred to an appointment even if you come in during walk in hours. Should you arrive on a day that an artist has no appointments, you could get lucky. (see size reference guide below)
Do you tattoo hands and faces?
Our artists are more than capable of tattooing both regions, but will always defer to any other skin on the body first as these areas typically limit job possibilities in this current age. Ultimately, they are your choice to have put on your skin, but the artist will have the final say on whether or not they agree to ink the tattoo, or refer you to someone who is willing to.
Is there anything that can help lessen the pain during my tattoo session?
There are several chemicals that are rub in, spray on, or ingested that claim to deaden pain; however, the vast majority of these have side effects that can negatively effect the skins reception of ink long term. It is highly recommended that you speak with your artist who can help keep an eye on you and your pain threshold. Traditionally it is safest to break up your tattoo into multiple sessions.
What can potentially damage my new tattoo?
Direct sun exposure without any form of sun screen can effect negatively effect your healing
Prolonged exposure to any body of water (salt, fresh, bath, hot tub, pool) can dry out the skin, and expose you to bacteria in the water, or worse still, as a freshly open tattoo your ink could actually bleed out and cause line blurring.
Scratching from you, your surroundings, or your pets can effect negatively effect your healing and leave potential scarification.
Over application of any topical healing creams such as Aquaphor, Jergen's, or any other healing ointments can lead to blemishes forming under your tattoo. If in doubt, less is more, with more frequent applications.
Tattoo Aftercare Instructions
To prevent infection, ALWAYS wash your hands before handling a fresh tattoo.
Remove the bandage after 45 minutes to 2 hours. Do NOT re-bandage the tattooed area.
Wash tattoo with lukewarm water and antibacterial soap to remove any dried blood or plasma. Pat dry with a paper towel. Do this 2-3 times a day for the first 2 weeks.
Apply and ointment such as A&D or Aquaphor in thin coats for the first 2 weeks. DO NOT use antibiotic ointment like Neosporin, it will pull out the ink. During the first 4 days of healing the ointment helps to stop the blood and plasma that causes scabbing from drying on the surface of the skin. The ointment also acts as a layer of protection from bacteria.
You may switch to a non-scented lotion after about a week, when the skin begins to get itchy and dry.
A layer of dead skin will grow over the tattoo for about 5-7 days. This layer will then flake off naturally revealing the beautiful tattoo beneath. It is very important not to pick at this layer of skin. If a scab or flake were to be pulled off before it is ready to come off naturally you can pull the ink with it leaving gaps in your new tattoo.
DO NOT expose your tattoo to sunlight, hot water, steam, salt water, chlorinated swimming pools, reclaimed water or natural standing water such as lakes, rivers, or streams
Apply SPF 45 or greater sunscreen to the area after the initial healing period when in the sun to protect the color from fading.
Size Approximation Chart
Please note, that this approximation sheet is in no way a definitive estimate for your tattoo. This will help you begin to narrow down the ideal size of the tattoo you have in mind against any budgetary restrictions you could have. This image is accurate to Blue Siren Tattoos price approximation when printed as a full 8.5" x 11" sheet of printer paper. You can then cut out the various sizes as our chart lists below, to help you find the desired size or price.
Additionally, this chart does not replace a consultation with our artists. This guide is a loose approximation of size and the prices for these sizes are easily changed by the style of the tattoo in question, the addition of color, the amount of detail, and/or the location of the body. These pieces of information, along with the size help our artists determine the ultimate price quote for your tattoo.
A) Shop Minimum/Flashart size : $120.00
B) $120.00-$150.00
C) $150.00-$200.00
D) $200.00-$250.00
E) $250.00-$500.00
F) $500.00-800.00 *
G) ~$1000.00 or higher. *
*- F and G are typically going to charged at the hourly rate of $150.00 per hour, at artists digression, prices will vary more dramatically on these sizes.
Our preferred brand of soap, wash 2-3 times daily.
For use on sensitive skin during the healing process.
For everyday use and final healing stages to ensure your tattoo's longevity.