FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT SHOULD I EAT?
I recommend eating a solid meal for breakfast especially something with carbs. Always bring water with you and snacks if you plan to get tattooed for more than a few hours. I offer protein bars and liquid death to any clients that want either of them.
HOW DO I TAKE CARE OF MY TATTOO?
Option 1: keep your tattoo wrapped with plastic for the first night and lay a towel on your bed to prevent getting blood or plasma on it. The next morning, wash your hands with soap and warm water then apply hustle butter foam soap to your tattoo and lather thoroughly. You want to make sure to get off any excess plasma (clear sticky liquid)as this will harden and scab up if not washed. I would recommend washing 3x daily for the first week and pat dry with a paper towel. Apply a very thin and small amount of hustle butter balm to your tattoo and rub it in like lotion. Often people put way too much ointment on you just need a small amount. It is common for some people to break out in a small rash or pimples from the oils in the balm. If this happens just continue to wash with soap and let it dry heal. After one week of washing 3x daily and applying ointment you can just shower daily and apply unscented lotion. After 2 full weeks your tattoo should be pretty much healed unless you have scabbing or get an infection which is rare but does happen especially depending on how you care for it. Keep it out of direct sunlight, pools and jacuzzis, away from pets or anything that can contaminate or irritate your tattoo. Be sure to wear loose comfortable clothing to avoid irritation. After your tattoo is full healed (2-3 weeks) you can swim or be in the sun and sunblock is recommended to avoid fading. If you have a lot of swelling in the first 1-3 days you can take ibuprofen and try to keep your tattoo elevated when you can. If you have any questions during the tattoo you can message me via Instagram and I will get right back to you. Please consult me before getting opinions from others.
Option 2: Derm Shield bandaging. This is a clear water resistant bandage that you wear for 5-7 days. It will fill with blood, plasma and ink which is normal. It keeps the area clean and if you wear it for a full week, it eliminates having to use ointment of any kind. In some cases people are allergic to the adhesives on the bandaging and if this happens you simply take it off and clean it as you would in option 1. Taking it off before 5 days defeats the purpose of using it so I highly recommend keeping it on for at least that. You can shower or exercise and the bandaging will be fine. If you sweat it will add more liquid inside the bandage which is fine. After one week of wearing it, take it off in the shower and then just use unscented lotion for the remainder of the healing process. If you have any questions simply message me on Instagram.
CAN I USE NUMBING CREAM
Most artists including myself prefer to not using numbing cream for a few reasons. For starters it can change the texture of the skin and make it harder to apply the ink into the skin. Some clients get a negative reaction to the cream or break out in a rash. Often times when the cream wears off it hurts worse than if you didn’t use it at all. I do offer numbing spray for large scale work but I try to tell clients to use it only if they feel they can’t get through the last remaining part of the tattoo. Using it too often lowers your tolerance for regular tattoo pain and can in some cases, make the tattoo heal poorly. I keep it as an emergency only tool.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
I recommend wearing clothes you will be comfortable in. If you are getting tattooed in an area that clothing will get in the way be sure to wear something loose that you can either hold up or tuck in while being tattooed and still be comfortable. Also bring a hoodie or sweatshirt in case you are cold as customers often get cold during their appointment
CAN I DRINK OR SMOKE WEED BEFORE?
No. A lot of people drink alcohol to calm their nerves or in hopes it will ease the pain. Same goes for marijuana, in most cases it often makes people more restless and uneasy. I also recommend not drinking the night before and being hydrated the day of your appointment. Anything that will impair your senses is not recommended as it can worsen the tattoo experience for you.
WHATS THE PRICING LIKE?
I simply charge either a half day or full day rate. A half day session is $1,200 and a full day session is $2,400. I have each client leave a $100 deposit that goes towards the tattoo on the day of your appointment.
HOWS THE BOOKING PROCESS?
I typically book every 6-7 months. I will post on my Instagram bio when the next open booking is. On the morning of the day of opening my books I will post an email booking link that morning on Instagram. It will be a simple form you will need to fill out and submit via email. I am not able to book every single person but I do my best to get as many as I can. After a few days I close the bookings and call each person back that I am able to book. I will post the days I’ll be doing callbacks on my Instagram so you know when to expect the call. If you don’t get booked I will send a follow up email letting you know so you’re not left guessing. When I do call backs I will ask each person to leave their deposit via Zelle/apple pay while on the phone to ensure deposit is made. The phone call will be an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have about your tattoo, traveling, aftercare etc.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I TIP?
This is a question I get asked a lot. The answer is there’s no amount. Some clients don’t tip and some do. Theirs is no magic number or %. I know tattoos are costly so tips are never expected but always appreciated. I do tell clients who are getting multiple sessions done to wait til the last session to tip because if you’re tipping every session over 5 sessions that adds up quick. I charge what my work is worth so I don’t expect anything beyond that and am just thankful to make the tattoo for you.
Best form of payment?
For all tattoos I accept cash or Zelle.
CAN I WORK OUT WITH A HEALING TATTOO?
Yes, so long as you are taking precautions to not contaminate public areas or pick up germs from workout equipment. Never put an open tattoo on any sort of gym equipment. Things like running, lifting weights or yoga are all fine so long as you’re keeping it covered during your workout and not touching it on anything. Sweating is fine just make sure to shower right after your workout. Also be sure not to touch your tattoo and then touch any sort of public equipment as this is cross contamination, the goal is to protect your tattoo and not spread germs to anyone or anything.
CAN I BRING A FRIEND?
Yes, however we ask you only bring one person. We do this to keep it professional for the entire shop. No kids under 18 are allowed in the shop at all. Some clients prefer bringing someone to keep them distracted and talkative and some prefer to come solo, both are fine. I do my best to make every client very comfortable and talk to them during their tattoo unless they prefer to wear headphones or tune out. I respect each persons preference.
WHERE DO I STAY IF TRAVELING?
Simply click on the lodging section on my home page. I have partnered with a local air bnb that is very affordable and comfortable. If you prefer a hotel I recommend The Courtyard Marriott off Madison Ave in murrieta. They are very nice rooms and very budget friendly.
ANY FOOD PLACES OR LOCAL SPOTS TO SEE?
Here’s a list of food/drink places I recommend in the area:
Stadium Pizza, 8-bit brewing, Solaris brewery, Banana Boy sandwiches and smoothies, Goat and Vine, Lucille’s BBQ, Swing Inn Cafe, Texas Roadhouse. There is also many food options next to the Temecula promenade which is close by
Things to do: There are several breweries nearby. We are close to Old Town Temecula which has several shops, restaurants and boutiques. We are near the Temecula Promenade Mall as well which has a movie theater, restaurants and a large arcade. We are near the Temecula Wine country which has lots of wineries and wine tours and has lots of beautiful scenery. There is also hot air balloon rides in Temecula as well. All of the places I mentioned are family friendly as well.