Pre-Appointment FAQ

  • No, I do not send designs beforehand, which is a common industry standard.

    This is why submitting a complete and thorough inquiry email is important. If you have any strong design preferences, PLEASE be sure to articulate that clearly and send reference photos. It is helpful when clients indicate what they like/dislike about a certain reference photo and what elements they definitely want me to include.

    The more the merrier! I will NOT get offended if you send other peoples’ work as inspiration (just please do not expect me to copy existing designs verbatim).

    At the end of the day, I am trying to tap into the mind of someone I’ve never met before to bring their vision to life. For that reason, if there are strong design preferences, please let me know! We can always schedule a free consultation to discuss an idea further.

    If an email inquiry is broad and general, I will assume I have artistic freedom based on my portfolio of work. If this is not the case and we have to make substantial changes to the design, we will have to reschedule.

  • No, I will not tattoo existing tattoos or designs.

    Please keep in mind that when I ask for reference photos, it’s with the anticipation that I will use them solely as references. I will not tattoo the exact design so as to be respectful of my own artistry in addition to the works of others.

  • YES!

    On the day of your appointment, I will present your design to you. You are more than welcome to let me know if there are any changes you’d like to make. I do not take offense to this at all, as I want to ensure you feel 100% comfortable and confident with the tattoo.

    If there are minor changes, I can quickly tweak them during your appointment.

    If there are major changes, we will have to reschedule for another time, which will require a new deposit. Usually major changes arise when there was not clear communication about design preferences during the booking stage, which is why it is very important to provide all that information in the beginning.

    Despite this, I would much rather reschedule and rework a design after discussing it further than give a client a tattoo they are not happy with.

Appointment FAQ

  • Due to the size of our space, guests are not permitted inside of the studio unless they are also getting tattooed.

    Guests are welcome to hang out in the lounge space outside or the coffee shop downstairs during your tattoo.

  • The week before your appointment:

    • Moisturize the area(s) you are looking to get tattooed. If the skin is too dry to tattoo, we will have to reschedule and a new deposit will have to be put down. Dry skin makes every step of the process harder, from placing a clean stencil, getting ink well-saturated in the skin, and even having a worse heal. Tattooing dry skin oftentimes results in more trauma on the surface of the skin.

    • No excessive sun exposure. If the skin has been burned by the sun, we will have to reschedule and a new deposit will be required.

    • Notify Grey. If your desired area is experiencing any abnormalities, such as an eczema outbreak, sunburn, severe acne flare up, etc., please notify Grey ASAP. We will have to push the appointment to whenever the skin clears up. With adequate notice, a new deposit will not be required to reschedule.

    The day of your appointment:

    • No alcohol or take blood-thinners. Do not consume any blood-thinning agents 24 hours before your tattoo (e.g. alcohol or Aspirin). Excessive bleeding makes it harder to put pigment into the skin, which does not make for the most ideal tattoo.

    • Eat & hydrate. Make sure you eat a hearty meal and drink lots of water before your appointment.

    • Moisturize your skin.

    During your appointment:

    • Dress comfortably and practically. Please wear clothing that is comfortable to be in for several hours in different positions and allows easy access to the tattooed area.

    • Plan ahead. Bring whatever you may need during your appointment, such as a water bottle, snacks, a sweater in case you get cold, headphones, a book, etc.

  • The time it takes to complete a tattoo appointments varies significantly and is contingent on many factors:

    • the design (some designs have a longer stenciling process)

    • sizing

    • placement

    • the quality of the skin (everyone’s skin is different—some are rubbery, soft, scarred, dry, etc.—and this can sometimes double the time it takes to tattoo)

    • individual pain tolerance and positioning comfort

    Grey can give a rough estimate for how long she thinks an appointment will take, but please keep in mind that it is merely an estimate.

    Please do not plan anything time-sensitive after your appointment, as there is no guarantee you will be done by that time.

  • I want to ensure you are happy with your tattoo, so I offer one free touch-up with every tattoo within six months of your initial appointment.

    If you are requesting a touch-up outside of the 6-month timeframe, a $100 deposit will be required to cover the cost of time and supplies.

    If you would like to schedule a touch-up appointment, please click the link under the “Booking Forms” tab.

  • YES! I offer free in-person and virtual consultations that usually take no longer than 15 minutes.

    Consultations are helpful for larger-scale project, such as a sleeve or back piece, and for fleshing out ideas verbally.

    If you would like a consultation, please email me your general ideas and indicate that you’d like to talk more about the project during a consultation.

Pricing & Payment

    • Minimum: My minimum is $200, no matter the size or design.

    • Pricing Estimates: Please review my pricing guide here.

    • Budget: Please let me know in your booking form if you have a specific budget for your tattoo. I will try my best to accommodate by adjusting the size, complexity, and/or placement of the tattoo.

    • Deposit Info: To secure an appointment with me, you must pay a non-refundable deposit of $100. Please note that your appointment is NOT guaranteed unless this deposit is paid.

    • Non-Refundable: This is a non-refundable fee that will go towards the overall cost of the tattoo.

    • Forfeiting Your Deposit: If you fail to show up to your appointment, or if you do not give at least 48 hours’ notice of your intent to reschedule, you will automatically forfeit your deposit. Being late by over 10 minutes (unless otherwise agreed upon by me) will constitute a no-show. If you want to book a new appointment, you will have to pay the deposit again.

  • Payment Method: I prefer cash, but I also accept card as well.

    Tipping Etiquette: Tips are always appreciated but never expected! Grey sets her own prices, so please never feel obligated to add gratuity.