Tattoo Frequently Asked Questions

How old do I have to be to get a tattoo?
Where can I find pictures of tattoo designs for me to decide what type of image I want in my tattoo?
I saw a design online that I like, can you "get" it for me?
How much is customary to tip the tattoo artist?
How do I know the artist will do a good job?
How do I get a discount on the cost of my tattoo?
How can I arrange to have a custom tattoo designed just for me?
I want a custom tattoo, how can I guarantee that no one else will get the same design?
Does it hurt to be tattooed?
Are tattoos permanent?
Will the color fade?
Is it safe to get tattooed?
How do I take care of a new tattoo?
Do I need to make an appointment?
Can you numb the area to be tattooed?
How long does it take a tattoo to heal?
What about infection?
How does the tattoo machine work?
Can I get my new tattoo wet?
How do I prepare for a tattoo?
Can I suntan my tattoo?
Where can I put a tattoo on my body?
Will my tattoo scar?
Can you tattoo over scars to hide the scar?
How much does a tattoo cost?
What colors are best for a tattoo?
What about cover-ups for poorly done tattoos?
Do you sell tattoo supplies?
How do I become a tattoo artist?

Click here for piercing general advice.
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If you have further questions you'd like to see answered here, please email us!

How old do I have to be to get a tattoo?
You must be at least 18 years of age with Government issued ID (drivers license, passport, military ID etc.) to get a tattoo. The exception is if your parents or legal guardian is willing to allow a minor to get a tattoo, they must be at least 16 years old in the State of Florida, and we provide a minor consent form for your convenience. Download it here. This form must be filled out and signed in front of a Notary Public of the State of Florida. The parent or guardian must supply a picture ID and in most cases, so must the minor. If the minor has no ID, this can be obtained for a small fee from a local police department. Call your local police department for details.

Where can I find pictures of tattoo designs for me to decide what type of image I want in my tattoo?
A few spots we’ve found that are good for researching tattoo designs are listed here:

(If you know of other spots online for tattoo design images, please let us know and we’d be happy to add it to this list! Call us at 813-936-8282 and leave a message or email me at: lenny@addicted2tattoos.com )

I saw a design online that I like, can you "get" it for me?
If the design is from a web site that sells tattoo flash (art), we may already have it in our files. If not, please purchase the design from the web site. We will not "steal" artwork from anyone online. These web sites make their livings from selling tattoo flash and it is unethical to take designs without paying for them. Here at Addicted 2 Tattoos we have spent several thousands of dollars purchasing what we believe to be the most popular and best artwork we can find. We have a lot on hand at the shop. Please stop by and take as much time as you want to look through our artwork.

How much is customary to tip the tattoo artist?
A good rule of thumb, is tip as you would for your beautician, massage technician, nail artist, or a good meal. 20% means you love the work and were very pleased with the service you received while in the tattoo shop. 15% means the service was good. 10% means it was OK. 5% means you probably should not tip. And, 0% means you probably will not be coming back to that shop. This is only a rule of thumb. And, it is ok to tip the owner as well as the piercer.

How do I know the artist will do a good job?
First, you should always ask to see the tattoo artist's portfolio before deciding to have that person tattoo you. Second you should try to ascertain whether the tattoo artist is drunk or high. Chances are that the person will not do their best job under the influence. Third, ask your friends for a referral.

How do I get a discount on the cost of my tattoo?
Generally speaking discounts are offered to repeat customers and those that refer others to a tattoo shop. Tattoo shops do not offer 2-for1 specials because all brand new sterile supplies are required to be used on each person. It still costs the tattoo shop the same amount for each person whether they are doing tattoos on one person or several. When you go into a shop and immediately ask for a discount, it tends to tell the artist you are a bargain hunter, not someone who is interested in getting the best work for their money. Save the haggling and discounts for flea markets and garage sales.

How can I arrange to have a custom tattoo designed just for me?
At Addicted 2 Tattoos, we ask for a deposit of $50.00 to cover the time spent drawing custom work and at least 24 - 48 hours to develop the design. Any work that needs to be done to a tattoo design before applying the tattoo is considered "custom". Patience will get you a better design than trying to pressure the tattoo artist. Those that walk into the shop and want an immediate custom design have unrealistic expectations and often cause the artist a lot of frustration because with over 1,000,000 designs, there is quite a bit of research to be done before a custom design can be developed. If you have an existing tattoo and want more added to it, we will take a digital picture and get your ideas for extending the design. We will do our best to develop exactly what you want, but it is very difficult for us to see in our minds what is in you mind. The more details you can reveal, the closer we can get to what you want.

It is also unrealistic to go into a tattoo shop on a Friday or Saturday (their 2 busiest days) and ask for immediate custom work. It's better to approach the artist early in the week with what you want, and then plan to come back at a less busy time to have the work done. This takes a lot of pressure off the tattoo artist and gives you a better chance of getting exactly what you want.

I want a custom tattoo, how can I guarantee that no one else will get the same design?
Unfortunately, there is probably no way to guarantee this. Most artists will take time to add special details or colors to each tattoo they do, thus guaranteeing that no one ever gets the exact design as anyone else. If you bring your own artwork into the shop, make sure it is returned to you before you leave. It is customary for tattoo artists to take pictures of their work and display this artwork in their portfolios and/or on their web site. They are not selling the same design, simply using it to show their talent and skill level.

Does it hurt to be tattooed?
Yes, it does hurt to be tattooed. Everyone’s pain tolerance is different. Everyone’s perception of pain is different. Different parts of the body hurt more or less than others. The pain is not severe, but it can be very uncomfortable. (Women who have had children will usually have a less difficult time of enduring the feeling. Young people generally have a harder time dealing with the pain. It is impossible to describe accurately what the feeling is like. Some say it feels like a bunch of bee stings, others have said it tickles, and still others moan and groan and make it difficult for the artist to do a good job because they will not hold still. My usual comment is this: “If it hurt that bad, do you think so many people would have tattoos?” The pain is generally handled well by most people, as it is not an excruciating pain but more of an irritating pain. The tattoo will feel like a sunburn after it is complete and will feel that way for about 5 to 7 days. After the tattoo is completely healed it will not hurt at all.

Generally speaking, we recommend breaking tattooing sessions up into sittings of about 3 hours each for larger pieces. This makes the most sense because after about 3 hours of the irritating feeling, most people have had enough and because getting a tattoo stresses a person’s body, it becomes more difficult to get the ink into the skin when the skin is leaking a lot of plasma (the clear part of blood). This also helps break up the cost of larger tattoos because we allow our customers to “pay-as-you-go”, paying just for the portion of the tattoo completed at each sitting. Usually we begin with a complete outline of the tattoo in black ink. The next step is shading either done during the first or second sitting. And the last step is the addition of color to the design. We work on an hourly basis of $100 an hour.

Are tattoos permanent?
Yes, tattoos are permanent. They can be lightened by laser treatment, but the laser treatment hurts significantly more than the application of the tattoo, and is very expensive. It also takes several sessions of laser to remove a tattoo and may affect the color of skin in this area. So you should make sure that the design you have chosen is one that you are willing to live with for the rest of your life.

Will the color fade?
The color on your tattoo will fade if it is not properly taken care of as it heals, or if it exposed to the sun or tanning beds. Proper care of your tattoo is vital to its appearance and healing. Exposure to the sun will fade the color just as it fades the paint on a car that sits in the sun. We recommend using a water-based lotion from day one of getting your tattoo. Types like Curel, Keri, Lubriderm and our favorite, Udderly Smooth will lessen scabbing, speed healing and result in a very bright tattoo when healed. Immediately after getting the tattoo, we will sterilize the skin and bandage the tattooed area. We suggest leaving the bandage on for approx. 2 hours, then removing it. Next, using just your hand, wash the tattoo with antibacterial soap and cool water. Pat dry with a clean paper towel. Apply a thin layer of lotion (read the ingredients of what you use to make sure there is no petroleum, no aloe vera, no vitamin E, no cortisone, as these can cause a tattoo to look old, faded, splotchy). Wash your hands thoroughly first, and rinse well. Then, using just your hands, wash the tattoo using a mild soap. Rinse well and pat dry with a clean paper towel each time you wash it. Wash a healing tattoo twice a day, and use lotion on it approx. 4 times a day. Continue this until the tattoo heals completely. A healing tattoo will usually scab. It is important not to pick at the scabs as you can pull out the tattoo! Always wash your hands before touching a healing tattoo. The next stage of a healing tattoo is peeling like a sunburn. This is normal and the peeling may be in the color of the tattoo. The final stage of a healing tattoo is when it looks shiny on the surface. Even though the surface may appear healed, it is probably still healing below the surface and should still be treated as a healing tattoo for several days after it appears shiny on the surface. Once the tattoo is totally healed, continue to moisturize the skin. We recommend a water-based lotion. Always use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 when out in the sun. Do not soak a healing tattoo in water. Do not expose a healing tattoo to sun, salt water, chlorinated water, tanning beds, sweat, hot tubs, saunas, or dirt. Do not allow anyone to slap a new tattoo. If a healing tattoo itches while healing, you can scratch lightly around the tattoo, but not directly on the tattoo.

Is it safe to get tattooed?
In this day and age tattoos are completely safe if done in a clean environment by a professional with sterile instruments. There have never been any cases of AIDS reported due to tattoos. Hepatitis can be contracted through dirty needles in tattooing, but this can be completely avoided by going to a professional who practices sterile/aseptic techniques and never re-uses needles or inks. By all means, avoid homemade tattoos or those tattooing out of their home or apartment. These unskilled “scratchers” are usually not well trained, and do not know the correct methods for preventing the spread of contagious diseases. Cross contamination is a very real danger when going to someone not in a professional tattoo shop. On top of that, the quality of the work is usually very bad and you will end up with something you’ll wish you’d never gotten. We are always amazed when someone will not think twice about spending $100 for a new pair of shoes that they’ll wear for maybe 6 months, but complain about spending $50 for a tattoo that will be with them for the rest of their lives!

How do I take care of a new tattoo?
Your artist will go over the care of your tattoo with you and tell you the proper ointment you should use, you will also receive written care instructions. It is very important that you follow these instructions exactly as they are laid out, this will ensure proper healing and minimal complications. You may download our after care advice for tattoos here. You may also download our after care advice for piercings here.

Do I need to make an appointment?
It is a good idea to make an appointment to get a tattoo. There are several reasons for this. First, this gives your artist time to draw up the design that you want so that he/she is not rushed when you walk through the door. Second, we can allow enough time to complete your tattoo without being rushed. At Addicted 2 Tattoos we welcome walk-ins.

We have over 1,000,000 designs to choose from. We are happy to make alterations to any of our designs to suit your needs. If the piece is something custom, we will ask for a small (usually $25.00) deposit to cover our time spent drawing up a design. This also lets us know you are earnest about getting a tattoo by us. We have a lot of lookie-loos who ask for custom designs, and after several hours are spent developing the design, we never see the person again. The deposit shows us you are serious about getting a tattoo and fully intend to return to our shop to complete the process.

We will gladly schedule an appointment for you, but the tattoo must be paid in full when scheduling the appointment. If you are using our “pay-as-you-go” option, we ask for the cost of the sitting to be paid in full to schedule an appointment. We kindly ask for 24 hours notice if you are unable to keep your appointment. If you fail to show up, we will wait up to 15 minutes past the scheduled appointment. After that, we must take the next customer. If a scheduled appointment fails to show at the requested time, a $25.00 no-show fee will be retained by Addicted 2 Tattoos. We kindly request that you do not ask for an appointment on Friday or Saturday nights, because we are usually very busy and cannot schedule appointments on those two nights. We will gladly schedule appointments any week night, before 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and even Sunday afternoons.

Can you numb the area to be tattooed?
At Addicted 2 Tattoos we offer topical Lidocaine pretreatment crème. This must be applied 30 – 60 minutes before the start of a tattoo. During the tattoo, additional Lidocaine gel can be applied. This additional service does not guarantee no pain, just a lessening of pain to some extent for most users. This additional service costs $10.00 paid at the time the tattoo service is paid.

How long does it take a tattoo to heal?
Initial healing of a tattoo is about 2 to 3 weeks, complete healing of a tattoo is 45 days. This is how long it takes for skin to regenerate itself after being damaged. During this time, it is very important to always wash your hands before touching a healing tattoo or piercing.

What about infection?
If your tattoo was done under the cleanest possible circumstances with sterile instruments, sterile ink, and by a gloved artist, the after care of your tattoo is up to you. The risk of infection is minimal to none if your tattoo is properly taken care of and is not exposed to dirt, pet hair, swimming pools, lake or ocean water, hot tubs, dirty clothes, dirty bed linens, etc. It is important that you keep your tattoo clean at all times while it is healing. (The number one problem we encounter is staph infection. This happens when the healing tattoo is exposed to any of the things listed above or any other dirty environment. It may present as red, painful areas of the tattoo, accompanied by red bumps, or pustules with white heads on or near the tattoo site. This must be treated by a doctor who will most likely prescribe antibiotics.) At Addicted 2 Tattoos we take special care to use only the cleanest instruments, in a disinfected environment, and sterilize the skin before and after the tattoo is applied. We have a hospital-grade autoclave in use on the premises. All our needles are sterilized and used only once, then disposed in a biohazard container.

How does the tattoo machine work?
The machine is hooked up to a power supply that regulates the amount of electrical current going to the machine. The needle is attached to a needle bar that is inserted into a tube and then attached to the machine itself. The electrical current makes the needles move back and forth at a high rate of speed moving in and out of the tube. This movement is turned on and off by a foot pedal on the floor, the whole process is similar to a sewing machine, with the needle moving only when the foot switch is depressed. The needle pushes the ink into the skin about 1/16th of an inch below the surface of the skin. The skin heals up over the ink leaving a permanent mark in the skin.

Can I get my new tattoo wet?
We recommend washing your new tattoo, after first washing your hands with an antibacterial soap. Softly wash the tattoo using just your clean hand. Using cool water, wet the tattoo, wash, then rinse thoroughly. It is ok to wash your tattoo in the shower. We recommend not washing the tattoo during a bath because bathtubs contain a lot of bacteria. Always pat dry with a clean paper towel. Throw the paper towel away after using one time. Apply ointment or lotion lightly. Never re-bandage the tattoo. Wear loose clothing over the tattoo while it is healing. If the tattoo is located near the waist or foot, do not wear anything tight over the tattoo while it is healing. Avoid swimming, strenuous exercise, and dirty environments while the tattoo is healing. Lake and ocean water are teeming with bacteria and could cause an infection. Swimming pool water has chlorine in it that has a bleaching effect on a new tattoo.

How do I prepare for a tattoo?
First, and most important, you should not be under the influence of any drugs or alcohol. Alcohol works against a tattoo in several ways: First it impairs your judgment and you may pick out a tattoo that is silly or not at all what you really want. Second, alcohol thins your blood and makes you bleed more. It causes the ink that we are trying to get into your skin, out of your skin. Third, alcohol can make you flinch or twitch, and we cannot tattoo on someone who is moving around. Drugs are a bad combination with tattoos. They can be a fatal combination in fact, and the adrenaline rush in your body (from getting tattooed) can react with some drugs and can cause respiratory and/or cardiac failure. Some drugs, such as marijuana can cause the pain of a tattoo to be intensified and can make getting tattooed extremely painful. A sober person is the easiest to tattoo, and a sober person can handle a tattoo much better than a person under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It is a good idea to eat a full meal 2-3 hours prior to being tattooed.

Can I suntan my tattoo?
NO! Never ever should you expose your tattoo to the harmful rays of the sun! You wouldn’t put the Mona Lisa in the sun would you? This tattoo is going to be with you for the rest of your life, take care of it! The sun will fade your tattoo even after it is healed, always use a SPF 30 or higher sun block, not sun screen, sun block is the only thing that will block the rays of the sun. Not to mention that the sun is bad for you anyway! Always wear a hat and cover your body when in the sun. Skin cancer is the number 5 largest killer in the country right now!

Where can I put a tattoo on my body?
Normally we will not tattoo the surface of the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet. This skin is especially tough and regenerates so fast, that a tattoo will not “take” well in these areas. If you are a young woman and plan to have children, we strongly suggest not tattooing the front of your torso, belly and breasts. The tattoo will look like an old, deflated balloon after pregnancy. Not very pretty! Everywhere else on your body will generally heal up well, providing that you take proper care of your new tattoo. There are some general things you should know though, if you tattoo your legs you should stay off of them as much as possible so that the tattoo does not swell excessively, working out should be avoided as to not stretch or tear the healing tissue, clothing rubbing on new tattoos can affect the healing process also, bra straps, belts, panty hose, etc, should be taken into consideration when deciding placement of your tattoo. We strongly suggest not putting tattoos on hands, necks, lower arms, unless you can guarantee that you will never, for the rest of your life, have a job that could object to tattoos in these areas. Also, we strongly suggest only going to a certified, professionally trained tattoo artist for permanent makeup.

Will my tattoo scar?
Your tattoo should not scar if it is properly taken care of and it is not picked at! The scab that peels off needs to come off in its own time with no assistance from you. If you do pick at the peeling skin your tattoo will most likely have spots in it with no ink or it will scar. There are a few exceptions to this rule. Keloids are an excessive amount of scar tissue that builds up where skin has been damaged. You are either prone to keloids or you aren’t. If you are, you probably know this by now and should alert your artist prior to being tattooed, special precautions will be taken as to minimize scaring. Keloids are hereditary and are predominately found in dark, olive or African American skin. If you are not sure if you are prone to this skin condition, please discuss it with your artist. Keloids are usually raised, puckered looking scars.

Can you tattoo over scars to hide the scar?
Tattooing over a scar is risky. The problem is that when the skin heals, sometimes it does not remake the layers of skin like the original layers. This sometimes leaves the scar tissue very thin and weak. When tattooing over the scar there is the possibility that the tattoo will spread unevenly or not take at all over a scar. For this reason, we require a special release form to tattoo over scars. You can see a copy of this in our shop. This also applies to stretch marks. We have been successful in reapplying pigment color to areas of the skin that have healed lighter than the surrounding areas thus making the scars less noticeable.

How much does a tattoo cost?
It is very hard to price a tattoo without first going to a shop and picking out a design, or bringing in one of your own. The amount of detail, the size of the tattoo, the placement of the tattoo are all factors that affect the price of a tattoo. At Addicted 2 Tattoos, we generally start at $50.00 for small (less than 1” x 1” square) tattoos, and script (handwriting) style tattoos. Our prices go up from there. We do not charge near as much for a tattoo as you might pay in places like Ybor City because we do not pay the huge rents they pay, and must pass on to the customer. Everyone gets a fair price at our shop. If you are a regular customer who has come back more than twice, and/or refers others to our shop, we will add you to our “Frequent Tattoo” file and give you discounts for each additional visit or referral.

We are now accepting major credit cards, debit cards, as well as cash. We still are unable to take personal checks. We cannot give you a price for a tattoo over the phone. Without being able to see the tattoo design and where it will go on your body, it is impossible for us to give you a firm price. We charge nothing to give you a quote for a tattoo. If it is a custom design, that has not yet been developed, we cannot price it until we can see the actual art. If you have reference images you want to be used in your tattoo, bring these with you to the studio as this will help us design your tattoo to better suit your needs and desires.

What colors are best for a tattoo?
Depend upon your skin color, different colors work better on some than on others. For very dark skin, black and gray shading work best. Some darker colors such as green, purple, maroon can be used. Very small accents of white or yellow will show well. For medium skin, dark and medium colors are best. For light skin, almost any color works. The best way to figure out what colors work best on you, is to get a piece of paper about the color of your skin, and using water-based markers, draw the image you want on it. This will give you a good idea what the finished tattoo will look like on your skin color. It is also a good idea to consult with your tattoo artist, because they are experienced and have tattooed lots of different colored skin and can give you the best advice about what colors will look best on you. Light colors like white and yellow should be used in small spaces, because they tend to fade quicker than other colors and often need yearly touch up.

Below is a chart to show how different colors show up on different colors of skin.

What about cover-ups for poorly done tattoos?
Our biggest problem in creating cover-ups is dealing with black and dark ink colors. No color will cover up black. Dark colors are almost as hard to deal with. Most artists will design a cover up to redirect the focus to another part of the body using dark shading to hide a previously applied tattoo. Cover ups usually cost more because the design has to be specially adjusted to hide the previous tattoo and still end up with a good looking tattoo. Please see us in the shop to discuss designing a cover up. In 3 - 4 weeks we will be offering a tattoo fading ink process that can fade or totally remove old tattoos as well as fix mistakes in tattoos. We hope this will make doing cover ups a more rewarding process.

Do you sell tattoo supplies?
Yes, at Addicted 2 Tattoos we will sell some supplies to other artists. Items such as tattoo machines, power supplies, inks, needles are available at our shop. We also buy used equipment.

How do I become a tattoo artist?
You will need to have a portfolio of samples of what style of artwork you can do. Then, you will need to find an artist or shop that will agree to teach you the trade. This generally takes 9 months to a year of your time. Do not expect to get paid during your training. The cost is somewhere between $1,000 to $10,000. You will generally have to supply your own equipment. Most shops will want to be paid in advance of training you. You must be very determined to succeed and be willing to do whatever is asked of you during your apprenticeship.

Click here for piercing general advice.
Click here for piercing problems.

If you have further questions you'd like to see answered here, please email us!

Some of the Types of Questions we get at our shop:

Caller: I want to get my hood pierced, can you do a pap test while you're down there?
Answer: No, sorry, only your doctor can do that.

Caller: I want gold teeth, can you make me some and put them in today?
Answer: No, sorry, we only provide tattoo and piercing services as well as selling body jewelry.

Caller: My daughter is 15, can you pierce her? Can you tattoo her?
Answer: No, we can only service people over 16. Ages 16 - 17 must have a notarized form from our shop completed and parent must be present for the procedure if this is the first piercing or tattoo for the minor. We cannot accept notarized statements from aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, or anyone else who is not the legal guardian of the minor.

Caller: I want a tattoo, how much will it cost?
Answer: Tattoo prices vary depending upon the complexity of the piece, the size of the piece, how long the tattoo artist estimates it will take to complete the piece, the location of the intended tattoo and how well the client sits. If you can't sit still during the tattoo, chances are that the tattoo will not come out as well as one done on someone who can sit still. Our tattoos start at $50 for 1" x 1", script names, and single Chinese characters. It is very difficult for us to price a tattoo without first seeing the design, so bring your artwork in and we'll be happy to give you an estimate on the price and length of time to complete the piece. We do offer custom designs and ask for a small deposit to assure us that if we draw it up and spend our time doing that, we will get paid for our time. We cannot release the artwork to the client unless the client is prepared to pay $50 per hour for our time to create the custom artwork. If we do the tattoo, we do not charge for the art preparation time. It is built into the cost of the tattoo.

Store Customer: I want a full sleeve tattoo. How much will it cost and how long will it take?
Answer: For large pieces like sleeves and back pieces, it is normal to pay a $100 deposit for the development of the artwork. This is then applied to the cost of the tattoo. It is normal practice to plan these large pieces in several sittings. Most people find that 3 hours of tattooing time on their skin is about all they are comfortable with. So large pieces like a sleeve that takes between 15 to 25 hours might take 4 to 7 sittings to complete with a 3 week healing period between each sitting. The first sitting requires that all the outlines be done in one sitting since the stencil will only last one day. Sometimes this takes several more hours than 3 to complete. After that, clients can plan their sittings around their schedules and plan on approximately 3 hours for each sitting. It helps us tremendously if the client brings in art references for their ideas and help in the planning of large pieces. All times listed here are approximate, and each custom tattoo has its' own unique aspects. These large pieces can also have the total cost broken up over several sittings thus making them more affordable for budgets.

Store Customer: Hi, I'm a grandmother, this is my nine-year-old granddaughter, can you pierce her belly button?
Answer: Sorry, no. Piercing in this state is limited to 14 and older. We do not however recommend piercing anyone under 16 years old. People younger than that tend to not take good care of a fresh, or healing piercing and often experience infections, rejection of the jewelry and usually end up taking the jewelry out even before the piercing is healed. It is important to remember to always wash your hand well before touching a healing piercing or tattoo.

Store Customer: Why are your prices higher than the flea market?
Answer: We have had clients come to us and tell us of having flea market artists reuse needles and other supplies on different clients. This is not a good practice and can spread all types of diseases such as HIV, Hepatitus A-B-C, Meningitus, Herpes, and a whole host of other terrible diseases. We would recommend you go to a licensed and health inspected shop with a clean rating. Our prices tend to be a bit higher because we never reuse needles or any other instrument on more than one client. Our body jewelry is all 316L implantable steel or bio-organic materials of the highest quality possible. We never pierce noses using earrings in the hole. We never put gold or silver in fresh piercings due to the high nickel content that most people are allergic to. We always give complete aftercare instructions verbally and in writing. We have many, many repeat customers due to our high level of expertise in piercing and tattooing.

Store Customer: I bought body jewelry here, can I exchange it for something else?
Answer: No, we cannot exchange or make refunds on body jewelry.

Store Customer: I had a fresh piercing and took my jewelry out. Why can't I get it back in?
Answer: Piercings, especially fresh, still-healing ones, will often close up in just a few minutes if the jewelry is removed. We can help you re-insert it, but if the piercing is truly closed up, it will have to be re-pierced for our normal price. We cannot re-use your jewelry unless it has recently been autoclaved (sterilized - hospital style). This is because the skin cells still cling to the surface of the jewelry can may cause an infection if re-used. We charge a small fee for re-inserting jewelry in a piercing hole that is not closed up entirely.

Store Customer: I bought body jewelry here, why are the ends of it tarnished or the finish wearing off?
Answer: Many styles of body jewelry carried in our store and others is made of 316L steel for the shaft, but not for dangles and ornamental end pieces. If you wear this jewelry all the time, it is normal that the plated finish will wear off. Much of the ornamental body jewelry can only be worn for short periods and should not be worn in a healing piercing. This is because there is usually solder used to hold on the ornamental parts and some ornamental ends are plated with materials that are not suitable for exposure to fresh piercings.

Store Customer: I want a large back piece (tattoo). But, I'm on a budget, can you help me?
Answer: Yes, for larger pieces, it is possible to get just the outline in the first sitting and pay for the just the time it takes to complete that part of the tattoo. We ask you to wait 2 - 3 weeks between sittings, but sometimes outlines will heal faster. Once the outline is completely healed, you can come in and sit for just one hour and pay for that, or however many hours you are comfortable paying for and enduring the tattoo process. We work at a standard $100 per hour on most work. It may end up costing a bit more this way, because once a tattoo artist is in "the groove" working on your tattoo, they can get a lot done but having to stop every hour means they are having to stop and restart many times, and it just takes longer this way. Most people can easily tolerate around 3 hours of tattooing, after that amount of time, their pain tolerance level begins to fall and rather than getting easier, it seems to become more uncomfortable for a lot of people. But, there are clients who have sat in the tattoo chair for up to 12 hours straight for their own personal reasons. We feel that such long sessions creates a great deal of stress on the body and can delay the healing process. But, we are more than willing to work as long as you prefer. By breaking up larger pieces into several shorter sittings, you can pay for just the work you get done and plan your budget to suit your needs. We are happy to work with you in this fashion.

Store Customer: How late are you open?
Answer: We frequently get this question. We think a lot of people call to see how late they can stay out and party and still make it into the studio for a tattoo. We call it "getting liquid courage." Remember, we do not tattoo someone who is obviously under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Also, please realize, we have to get a good night's sleep in order to be at our best to do our best work. When someone comes in at 5 minutes before we are due to close, then wants to spend an hour or more selecting a design, then the tattoo itself can take 1 to 4 hours to complete, we still have to get back to work the next day at our scheduled opening time. When we tattoo with less than adequate sleep, it affects our work. We appreciate it when our clients realize that showing up just before closing and expecting us to stay late, that it is normal for our price to go up if we choose to stay late and do a tattoo after our normal closing hours. Typically, our price doubles after closing hours. Even if you arrive before our closing time. Don't you make overtime when you work past your normal hours?

Store Customer: What are the hours of operation for your studio?
Answer: We open at 2 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We close at 10 pm during the week and at midnight on Friday and Saturday. We are closed Sunday and Wednesday. We will accept private appointments on days we are closed, if the design has already been picked out and the tattoo is paid in full before the scheduled appointment on a day when we are closed.

For further information, contact us at: Addicted 2 Tattoos, 813-936-8282.