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. 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. It is generally safe to take a little bit of ibuprofen or other pain relievers before receiving a tattoo as long as they are not antiplatelets or anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as aspirin. Ibuprofen also aids in lessening swelling during and after the tattoo. Some people cannot take pain medication such as ibuprofen so always ask your doctor before taking any medications, especially if you take other medications or have a medical condition that could prevent you from taking such medication.
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.
If using the traditional method of aftercare:
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 an ointment such as A&D or Aquaphor in thin coats for the first 3-5 days. DO NOT use antibiotic ointment like Neosporin, it will pull out the ink. During the first few 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 during the second faze of healing when the skin begins to get itchy, flaky, and dry. This can vary from person to person depending on how quickly their body heals but in general is between 3-7 days after receiving the tattoo. During the time you can expect the tattoo to look flaky like a sunburn and you may have some light scabbing in some areas. DO NOT pick at the scabs or scratch at the tattoo! It will be itchy, lotion helps! If you pick at your tattoo before the flakes are ready to come off naturally, you could risk pulling ink out of your tattoo.
If the tattoo becomes hot to the touch or begins to emit a yellow substance, and is more painful than when you originally got the tattoo, contact us right away as this could be a sign of a bacterial infection.
During the first two weeks of healing, 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.
If using a second skin bandage for aftercare:
Ultimately follow your artist's recommendations for how long to wear your bandage as this can vary depending on the tattoo, but here are the general guidelines.
To prevent infection, ALWAYS wash your hands before handling a fresh tattoo.
Wear the initial bandage for 24-48 hours. During these first couple of days the tattoo may weep ink, blood, and plasma into the bandage. This is normal and helps aid in the healing of your tattoo. Your body's plasma contains white blood cells and other healing enzymes that help speed the healing process. This bandage should remain SEALED and retain any fluids. If the bandage leaks it is no longer sealed and needs to be removed as soon as possible, however, do not remove the bandage until you can adequately clean it with soap and clean water.
Upon removing the bandage, wash the tattoo thoroughly with a fragrance free antibacterial soap. At this point you have two options, you can heal your tattoo the traditional method (listed above), or you can replace the second skin bandage with a fresh one that can last the remainder of the healing time.
If you choose to replace the bandage, replace the bandage immediately. If you let your tattoo sit in the open air for any amount of time you risk exposing the tattoo to bacteria and then locking that bacteria underneath the new bandage. This can lead to infections.
To apply the new bandage, be sure that the skin is completely dry by using a clean paper towel. Avoid using a cloth towel as this could cause lent to get stuck on the tattoo or expose the tattoo to potential bacteria. Remove the paper backing from the bandage and place the bandage sticky side down over the tattoo. Do not stretch the bandage, place it lightly so that it goes on comfortably and does not pull at your skin. Gently press the bandage onto the skin as you remove the top clear layer from the bandage and work your way from the center of the tattoo to the edges. If you get a bubble in the bandage this is ok and will not hurt the tattoo.
You can wear the new bandage for up to two weeks. If you experience any discomfort or irritation you may remove the bandage and defer to the traditional aftercare instructions.
While wearing the bandage do not submerge your tattoo under water. This could cause water to push its way into the bandage and break the seal that protects the tattoo from bacteria. Exposure to water during the healing phase could cause permanent ink loss or fading.
If the tattoo becomes hot to the touch or begins to emit a yellow substance, and is more painful than when you originally got the tattoo, contact us right away as this could be a sign of a bacterial infection.
During the first two weeks of healing, 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.
If you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to contact us,
our team is always happy to help! 678-353-6241 or bluesirentattoos@gmail.com
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) $120.00 (Shop Minimum)
B) $120.00-$150.00
C) $150.00-$200.00
D) $200.00-$350.00
E) $350.00-$500.00
F) $500.00-1,000.00 *
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.