Please take note, my tattoo guidelines are as follows -

1. Things we will NOT tattoo;

- Head, face, genitalia, eyes, or mouth
- Breast tattoos (unless, it's apart of a connecting chest piece)
- Copyrighted / trademarked works of art
- Gang symbols or prison lettering
- Nude characters or sex silhouettes
- Relationships (past or present)
- Dr*gs, alcohol, or weapons
- Hateful symbols like swastikas
- Violent depictions (s*icide, m*rder, r*pe, etc.)

2. Tattoos we specialize in;

- Floral
- Tropical related
- Butterflies, moths, and bees
- Celestial tattoos
- Island tribal (Hawaiian / Polynesian)
- Religious writings (ancient or modern)
- Peaceful religious symbols (crosses / pentagrams)
- Dark tribal (witch / night camouflage)
- Hybrid black-out tattoos (geometric)
- Japanese traditional (non-yakuza)

Owner's Style: All my tattoos are done in high-contrast, carbon black ink with high degrees of manual shade work (whipping and stippling) rather than using grey wash. This style is meant to be more time resistant, to look it's best even after decades of skin regeneration. While I encourage this style to be used by my other artists, they are free to use which ever technique they prefer to create the piece.

3. What are Colorado requirements for getting tattoos?

You must be 18 years of age or older, no exceptions. we do NOT tattoo underage people for various different reasons. Most importantly of which, serious ethical concerns regarding such physical contact with minors, regardless of parental consent or state exceptions. Just because it's technically legal, that doesn't mean it's appropriate.

We will also require client signed consent forms and a PHYSICAL Colorado I.D. or passport (we must be able to physically scan it in our scanner to maintain legal state records, we cannot accept digital I.D. per state regulations, there are no exceptions). If these requirements are not met, we are prohibited under Colorado state law from performing the procedure. (Please don't attempt to use a fake I.D. either, I'm a tattoo artist not a porale officer; blacklights don't lie and I don't like reporting people.)

4. What forms of payment do you take?

We take good ol' cash (15% cash discount for no card fees), almost any credit / debit card, and CashApp. No checks, money orders, or wires please, our company bank won't take them for security reasons. Payment is due once the tattoo session has concluded and you are satisfied with the work. Tips are always appreciated but not expected.

5. Should I use anesthetic / numbing cream?

No. During the tattooing process, we all use lidocaine infused antiseptic called 'Bactine' to help with both the pain and reduce chances of infection. This also helps with inflammation, keeping the skin from swelling too much. To avoid overexposure to lidocaine, I always advise clients NOT to put anything on the skin before the tattoo procedure. This lessens the chances of medical complications during the session, allowing for more consistent healing.

6. Do you have a 'touch-up' policy?

Yes. During a period of 6 months from the date of finishing your tattoo, We provide 'maintenance' sessions with discretion to see to it that your tattoo turns out the best it can. This is only provided if you follow the aftercare instructions and your tattoos aren't on the hands or feet. Also, you will need to allow 1 month of healing time in-between sessions for follow-ups to avoid scaring.

7. Should I eat anything or bring something to drink before the procedure?

I strongly advise eating a small meal between 1.5 - 2 hours before coming to your session. This helps with not passing out while also not feeling uncomfortable from having just eaten. As for bringing something to drink, you should bring something non-carbonated to avoid bloating while lying down during the tattoo process. Caffeine should also be avoided as this may induce unnecessary anxiety and frequent restroom interruptions during the appointment. The idea is that we want you to retain your strength, stay comfortable, and try not to pass out. Another key point, if during the session you feel nauseous, do NOT stand up; we don't want you to fall back down and crack your head open on the floor. Just let the artist know you're not feeling so good, we'll get you a bag to throw up in. You can feel free to barf your brain's out as much as you need. Trust me, as a nurse I've seen it all, you don't need to feel embarrassed.

8. Will I bleed and do I need to worry about anemia?

Small amounts of bleeding is normal and shouldn't be a cause for concern. Significant bleeding, which is rare, usually is indicative of a serious underlying health issue. Unless it's a prescription, please don't take anything that might thin out your blood like NSAID medication or alcoholic beverages. Rx blood thinners shouldn't be an issue, however, we do require a medical clearance note from your doctor. This is required due to possible complications that could happen during the procedure as a result of these medications.

9. Should I shave the area before my session?

Yes. That would be much appreciated, however, we do stock shavers just in case. Not only does shaving before the appointment save time, it also cuts down on cleaning up for the artist. However, try to avoid any heavy lotions or pain creams before your arrival. This includes things like arthritis cream on the desired tattoo area or stuff like compression bandages that leave impressions on the skin. Also, you don't have to shave every micron of hair, just a good, light shave does it. As long as I'm not trying to tattoo through a miniature jungle, we're good.

10. What about showering before getting my tattoos?

Absolutely! If you have time BEFORE your appointment, please make it a point to do so as this greatly reduces the chances of infection. However, please avoid using any harsh soaps like chemical skin exfoliation products. These can cause inflammation and make the skin harder to work on during the session. Also, do keep in mind that often times when tattoos are finished, it's not usually a good idea to shower immediately AFTER the procedure due to natural skin bacteria potentially being washed into the fresh tattoo. So the more you can prepare your body for the appointment, the better the experience your going to have and the faster you are going to heal.

11. Can I bring friends or family to the session?

You can, but they should NOT be the ones dictating your tattoo placement, that is for YOU to decide. It's your body and you're the one who has to live with the tattoo. As for kids, please leave the kids at home with a babysitter, in this way you can focus on your tattoo design without the distraction. Remember, tattoos are permanent, I can't stress how important it is that you pay attention to the process. Also, tattooing can be a bit inappropriate for children to witness, I doubt they want to sit there watching Mom get inked on her uncovered thigh with an audience... Just saying. Not only that but having other people in the studio who are not there for support, puts a lot of extra pressure on both you as a client and on the artist. If you need someone there like a spouse for support, by all means, bring them along, but let's keep the crowds to a minimum.

12. How do I know if the tattoo design is right for me?

I look at it this way, will you still admire it 20 years from now? If you can confidently say yes without hesitation, I'd say that's a good sign. But please for the love of all that is Holy, DO NOT tattoo your face. Most people will regret their face tattoos at some point in their life. Your identity in society is important, please don't ruin it with a face tattoo. Sure, laser removal is an option but be prepared to fork over about 10 times the cost of the artwork and months of pain to get it removed. We don't want to discourage getting tattoos but you need to make sure you aren't just getting tattoos for the heck of it. They need to mean something important or at very least be good artwork that you appreciate.

13. How 'painful' is a tattoo?

This heavily depends on where exactly you decide to get your tattoo placed. However, I would not place a tattoo based on pain level as the pain is temporary but the artwork is permanent. Also, if you placed a bad-ass tattoo on your shoulder instead of the ribs like you wanted, just to find out it's not that painful... How disappointed would you be? You might as well get it done the way you intended it in the first place. If you want that 'wow' factor to your tattoo, you gotta 'earn' it with pain. You might have heard of some craziness about people going through anesthesia for tattoo work, but I will say this; if you cannot handle it, you shouldn't be getting a tattoo. Plus, anesthesia can be fatal if done incorrectly, no tattoo in the world is worth your life. If you want the fine art, stick it out, get through the pain, and enjoy victory.

14. Should I add color to my tattoo?

Personally, I do not incorporate color into my artwork for two main reasons. One, various color ink can cause skin reactions depending on your body. Having permanent eczema due to such a reaction is hell, even if you get it lasered, particles will still be permanently in there causing unpleasant side effects. xXx black liner ink is unique in that during the manufacturing process, a pigment called 'carbon black' is almost always used. This is a naturally bio-compatible substance that will not cause allergic reactions, plus it's generally considered non-toxic and organically inert.

The second reason is longevity, or lack thereof when it comes to color ink. Colors almost never stay the same as they originally were at the time of the procedure. They dull out very quickly and this highly depends on the biology of the individual. On the other hand, I personally have tattoos done in straight carbon black ink that are over 14 years old that look as good as the day they were inked. While the chemistry of some people can perfectly preserve color ink, most people end up with heavy discoloration due to the body attacking the pigment. This 'discoloration' doesn't happen with true carbon black ink mainly because no matter how much the body attacks it, it stays inert. Take it from a hospice nurse who knows a thing or two about aging skin.

15. Do you ever refuse clients that don't vibe well?

I will always try to accommodate everyone I can, even if we have our differences. If there's one thing I'm pretty good at, I'd say 'breaking the ice' with new clients is one of my strengths. You could be a straight up satanist and I'll still show love towards you as a human being, what you believe is your business and not for me to judge. I treat everyone with dignity and respect as I would like to be treated. Also, if you are into dirty jokes or throw out the occasional f-bomb, I'm cool with that. I mean, it's tattoo studio, not a church. As long as you respect me as a human being, we're good.

What I will NOT tolerate however, are any clients who touch me or my artists inappropriately, become verbally or physically violent, or threaten us with violence, ESPECIALLY anything sexual. I'm a survivor of r*pe and absolutely no amount of money in this world is worth me wrecking my health over a client hurting me or my artists. So if you're the type that has a tendency to lose your sh*t when you're in pain or you've got serious anger issues, don't even bother asking for a tattoo. Just because you're paying for our services, that doesn't mean any of us are your sex doll for abuse.

But if you can behave yourself like most people can, we can be friends. If you gotta literally cry through the tattoo pain or beat up a stress ball for a few minutes after being at work all day, do what you gotta do. Just be nice and we'll make you amazing fine art that you'll appreciate for years to come. I mean, I don't even care if you're an ex-con murderer, I'll still tattoo you if you treat me right. My past trauma can make it a bit challenging taking on new clients, but having some respect goes a long way with me trusting you.

Another thing is, we all have bad days, so if you need to reschedule, just tell me. As long as you let me know at least 48 hours before your appointment, I can transfer your deposit to the new appointment time. Please don't come to your tattoo session if you're dealing with something heavy that's going to affect your ability to make a decision on your tattoo design. I really don't want something like a client who just got into a fight with their spouse coming into the studio mentally unstable.

Try to be positive, this is a time of transformation, let's celebrate your life with an amazing tattoo.

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