Commonly asked Questions
What tattoo style do you specialize in?
I specialize in ornamental and illustrative blackwork.
Please no micro fine line tattoos, and touch ups (done by other artists).
I highly recommend shopping around the city to find the right artist that can help you make your vision come true.
Hashtags on Instagram, joining “Chicago Tattoos” on Facebook, or simply doing research is a good way to narrow down the right artist for you.
If you prefer a female artist, check out the account Chicago Female Tattoo Artists.
What other tattoo styles am I interested in?
On a small scale, I would love to try Neo-traditional and floral realism. Designs I would like to tattoo are under my “Available Arts” page.
Book by Appointment
Ready to book?
I will review your form and send you my deposit information & booking process if this is a project I can take on.
Be patient, it can take up to two weeks to receive a reply. Due to the large volume of requests only a limited number of projects are taken on each month.
I book three months out.
All requests that fall in my specialized wheelhouse or styles I would like to try will receive top priority.
Do you accept walk-ins?
I currently work by appointment only. Check my Instagram for last minute cancellations and availability.
Pricing & Design Concerns
How much will my tattoo cost?
The cost depends on different factors including size, color, time required, and placement.
I require a $300 nonrefundable deposit to secure your appointment date and start your design.
My full day rate is $1600 for 7.5 hours. I am prioritizing larger than hand size projects and pieces from my “available” page.
How many sessions will my project take?
For large scale projects, I may require two consecutive days for the first session to complete a basic ghost line or faint line of the stencil.
I prefer this process so we can avoid having to resize and realign the large stencil in the future sessions.
If your project requires two consecutive days for the first session, a $600 nonrefundable deposit is required to secure the two days.
The total amount of sessions depend on placement, detail of the project, your pain tolerance and scheduling.
It is best to have a minimum of 4 sessions within the same year of your first session. This ensures commitment between client to artist and a steady progress on your aging project. In other words, the longer you wait to finish your project, the lower the quality of the end result.
Although full days per session are preferred, scheduling half days, during the shading phase, is okay with me. As long as we are making steady progress on your project, I am happy!
It is important to consider upcoming vacations or trips and budget accordingly.
Will I get to see my design before the appointment?
Your design will be available the day of your appointment. If there are too many design adjustments the day of your appointment, a reschedule may be needed.
Please check out my Instagram and expect your design to fall in my style of illustrative blackwork.
How long will my tattoo take?
I start my appointments as early as 11 am and do not go past 7:00 p.m.
I always suggest choosing a day off that you have no responsibilities or obligations.
Appointments include paperwork, design adjustments, stencil application, the actual tattooing process, pictures, bandaging and aftercare instructions. Therefore, the duration of your appointment may vary.
Preparation & Aftercare
How should I prepare for my tattoo appointment?
Please be well rested, eat one meal, and stay hydrated.
No extra guests allowed.
Bring your I.D for paperwork.
Wear all black comfortable clothing for photos.
How should I prepare for a large scale tattoo appointment?
For large scale pieces, I highly suggest exfoliating and moisturizing the area a week or two prior to your appointment to prep your skin.
Below are Vegan products I recommend.
If you are interested in numbing cream, the one I recommend is listed below.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Apply an hour or two before your appointment on clean skin. Wrap in saran wrap. The longer the wait time, the more effective.
For the large scale pieces, please bring a drink, snacks/lunch, headphones, a sweater, an extra pillow and blanket. You want to be comfortable!
How do I take care of my new tattoo?
I will walk you step by step on my specific aftercare during your tattoo appointment. Aftercare Instructions are also found in my “Aftercare” tab on my website.