1. Please arrive to your appointment on time and no more than 10 minutes early. I use the time before scheduled appointment to clean-up, sanitize and/or prep.  If you are going to be late, please be courteous and call or send a text to let me know. In most cases being a few minutes late will not be a problem.  If you will be 15 minutes late or more, your appointment may need to be rescheduled or canceled, and you will lose your deposit. Please plan ahead.

2. It saddens me that this section is necessary. Please arrive to your tattoo appointment clean.  Same day bath or shower is appropriate. Please wear deodorant and/or antiperspirant.  If you are arriving after a job where you get excessively dirty or sweaty please shower before your appointment. We will be in very close proximity and it's important that we are both as comfortable as possible. Wear clean, comfortable clothing. Remember to wear clothing that allows easy access to the area to be tattooed. 

3. It helps save a step, if you carefully shave the area to be tattooed prior to arriving. Also exfoliate the area, GENTLY to remove dead skin.  Don't scrub hard, we don't want the skin to be irritated. 

4. Children are not permitted in the studio.  At best, they are a distraction, at worst they may get into something that is unsafe.  The tattoo studio is NOT a child friendly environment. Please arrange for a sitter during your appointment.

5. You are welcome to bring one adult guest with you to your tattoo appointment.  The studio is small and the less crowding, the better. (This policy may vary if two or more in your group are scheduled for appointments) Guests are held to the same standards as clients.  Be respectful. Do your best to not cause distractions. Never stand behind an artist who is actively working on a tattoo.

I reserve the right to stop any tattoo procedure and ask a guest or client to leave if the client or guest becomes aggressive, verbally abusive, or makes any inappropriate sexual actions or comments. I'm nice. Please, don't make me be not nice.  

6. I do have numbing creams and spray available here at the studio for purchase.  Please let me know ASAP if you plan to purchase and use these products at your appointment.  The creams require at least 30 minutes to provide the numbing effect, and I will need to take that time into account for scheduling purposes. You may purchase the products at the studio prior to your appointment as well, to save time.  You are also welcome to use your own product, purchased elsewhere.  Please follow the label instructions carefully, for the best results. * Keep in mind some numbing creams will alter the texture of the skin, which may affect the final result of the tattoo and/ or make the tattoo procedure take longer to complete.

7. Please do not drink alcohol or take aspirin or aspirin containing products within 24 hours before your appointment.  Also, be well hydrated!

8. You cannot be tattooed if you are currently undergoing cancer treatment. You cannot be tattooed if you are blood thinning medications. You cannot be tattooed if you are currently pregnant or breastfeeding. You cannot be tattooed if you have insulin dependent diabetes that is not well controlled. Diabetes may affect the healing process and make you more susceptible to infection.  If you are unsure about the status of your diabetes, please consult your doctor to ask if a tattoo is safe for you, prior to making an appointment. You also should ask your doctor prior to getting a tattoo if you are currently being treated for any other illness, disease, condition or disorder and/or you take prescription medications.

9. You must be at least 18 years old with a VALID photo ID to receive tattoo services. Bring your ID to your appointment. I am required by law to obtain a photocopy for my records.  The state of Iowa does not allow tattoo services for anyone under the age of 18, not even with written parental consent. There are no exceptions.

10. You will be required to read and sign a tattoo procedure consent/ legal waiver, prior to receiving tattoo services.  If you don't agree with any of the provisions within the waiver, you will not receive services at this studio. If you wish to review the waiver prior to making an appointment, please click the link at the bottom of this page to download the waiver agreement. 

11. I have a few strict policies regarding tattoo designs and placement. I will not provide face tattoos.  I will not tattoo genitals, male or female.  If you need to remove your underwear, I probably won't do it.  Buttock and upper thigh tattoos are ok. I will not tattoo racist or sexist designs. Tasteful nudity is acceptable, if properly located on the body where it can be covered, if needed.  If you bring me a design to tattoo that is in a foreign language (example: Chinese characters), it is your responsibility to know what it means and that the spelling is accurate. I can do a google search in some instances to check, but not all internet sources are exactly accurate.

12. You will be provided with printed aftercare instructions.  Please follow the instructions completely to assist your tattoo to heal properly and prevent infection.  There is a link at the bottom of this page where you can download the aftercare instructions to review.

13.  All tattoo procedure appointments include one free touch-up session, if needed. Free touch- up appointments must be booked within 12 weeks of receiving your tattoo. These can be booked online.  After 12 weeks You are welcome to schedule a touch-up, but you will be charged a $30 touch-up fee. (More work will be necessary to ensure the new ink matches due to the natural changes that occur to the pigments over time.) If you No-show a scheduled touch-up appointment, you will be charged a $30 fee upfront to reschedule.

14. I am willing to provide TLC to older tattoos that were completed by another artist if you are unable to book an appointment with the original artist. You don't necessarily have to cover an aged tattoo that isn't looking the best.  It is possible to rework or refresh an old design to make it look new again. 

15. It is against Iowa law to perform a tattoo procedure on any person who is intoxicated. Do not show up to your appointment intoxicated. I will send you away and you will lose your deposit.