Q: Where is the studio located and what are the hours?
A: 251 Crown St, Surry Hills, Sydney. Open 7 days a week. 11am – 7pm.
Q: Do I need an appointment?
A: Yes. If you already have the artwork, which requires no changes, or you have chosen a pre-drawn design from the studio. An appointment can be made without a preliminary consultation. Appointments to get tattooed can only be made for weekdays and have to be made in person with a minimum cash deposit of $100 for small custom/pre-drawn designs, and $400 for large pre-drawn / custom work. This deposit contributes to your final tattoo payment. Postal money orders are accepted for interstate or out of town clientele with a minimum of four weeks notice.
PLEASE NOTE: Cash deposits are required to secure your appointment time and are non-refundable. Deposits are valid for three months and can be transferred to a new appointment time, If a minimum of 48 hours notice is given. Without this notice, the deposit will be forfeited. NO EXCEPTIONS! Also, if you decide to change your initial design concept, you will be required to leave another deposit. Please note that the deposit you leave does not entitle you to any rights of the drawings the artist prepares for you. Your deposit carries over until your final session, securing your appointments.
Q: Can I bring my own design or idea?
A: Yes. Being tattooed is all about self- expression, but make sure you have a firm idea or a selection of reference images for the artist. It allows you to articulate your vision clearly and makes for a productive consultation.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: Cost is dependent on a number of factors- size, placement, complexity and style all contribute to the final price. For smaller designs, we start at a minimum price of $150. Please drop into the studio anytime for an accurate price estimate.
Q: Does it hurt?
A: The level of discomfort varies tremendously and depends on each individual and placement. To ensure your experience is as comfortable as possible, make sure you are well fed, rested and feeling good naturally. This is the best state of mind to experience the tattoo process.
Q: Can I get a tattoo if I am under 18 years of age?
A: NO. It is illegal to tattoo a person under 18 years of age, in the state of N.S.W. Even with parental consent, It is still illegal.
Having a tattoo done properly by a professional, talented and hygienic tattooist is half the work, the rest is up to you. By simply not following one or two of the listed instructions, you could ruin or mar an otherwise beautiful piece of tattoo art.
AFTER CARE PROCEDURES
Please take the time to read this carefully all the way through before you start the aftercare procedures.
There is no one “right” way to heal the tattoo as defined by the industry, but there are several things that everyone agrees on. From years of experience all over the world and from working with a number of other tattoo artists, I have found that following these procedures will produce a nice and healthy healed tattoo. If you have been told something else by another artist, shop or friend, please keep in mind that if you trusted us to tattoo you in the first place, then it is probably best if you trust our directions to heal your tattoo.
1. Remove the dressing in 3-6 hours.
The purpose of the dressing is to protect your new tattoo from filth, dirty hands, airborne bacteria and other infectious things that we come into contact with every day. The other reason is to keep the small amount of blood and lymph fluid that will seep, from dripping on your clothes. A freshly done tattoo will seep fluid for about 30 minutes after the procedure, this is normal and with a plastic wrapping it does not get absorbed into the bandage, it remains locked in. Do not be alarmed. On larger tattoos, you may wish to leave the bandage on for longer to give the entire area a period of time to seal up and be ready to face the outside world. The dressing should remain on for at least 3 hours, but no longer than 12 hours. Unless told otherwise by the tattoo artist, DO NOT RE-BANDAGE.
2. Wash your tattoo with soap and water, but wash your hands first.
This is one of the most important steps in the care of your tattoo. As soon as you remove the dressing you must wash the tattoo thoroughly with warm water and mild soap. The area will be tender, but it is important to remove all the dry blood, ink and fluid. When the tattoo has been thoroughly cleaned, pat dry with a clean towel.
3. Keep your tattoo clean.
For the first 36 – 48 houing tour tattoo, all you need to do is wash it morning and night very gently with a mild soap, warm water and your finger tips. No wash clothes. Also, keep it out of harm’s way. No bodily fluids or other possibly infectious things should ever come in contact with a healing tattoo.
It is not necessary at this point to apply any creams or lotions. Wear loose cotton clothing when possible and keep your tattoo out of direct sunlight at all times for the first 30 days. It is perfectly normal for your new tattoo to seep and push out ink and leave marks on sheets and clothes. So be careful, but don’t panic.
NEVER apply alcohol, peroxide, polysporin, Vaseline, savlon, vitamin E cream or any other type of ointment without first consulting your tattoo artist, friends may mean well, but they can cause more harm than good when it comes to tattoo advise. Do not listen to any advice from experts in bars or on the street for at least one month after getting you tattoo.
4. Wash you tattoo daily and keep it moist
After the second day of washing and patting dry your tattoo, it will start to feel a little dry and tight as it heals naturally. This is good. At this point you can apply and rub into the skin a small amount of bepanthen cream available from the front counter of the shop or pharmacy.
10 minutes after applying the cream, take a new piece of paper towel and dab off all the extra cream that was not absorbed into your skin/tattoo. This will ensure a quick natural healing process and prevent you from unnecessarily drowning your tattoo in cream, resulting in colour loss. Natural healing is good and healthy, the cream keeps the tattoo moist and supple and it’s antiseptic qualities fight infection. Repeat this exact process 1-3 times a day, or as needed. Don’t over-do it!
5. If a scab does form, DO NOT pick at it.
Most tattoo’s heal in 3-10 days. When properly cared for by a healthy individual, most tattoo’s are healed with only a light flaking, in about 5-7 days. Occasionally a scab will form. If a scab should form, DO NOT PICK OR SCRATCH AT IT OR HELP IT TO FALL OFF. When a scab does form, the itching that accompanies it is normal. A thin application of cream will generally ease the itching, making sure to remove the excess. If you do pick at the scab, a new one will form and you will probably suffer from colour loss. After your initial flake falls off, some people experience a secondary flake, known as milky skin. If after healing, your colour seems to be cloudy, but brightens up when wet or when lotion is applied, then you have milky skin. This will go away in a few days to a week with regular application of cream and the avoidance of sunlight.
6. Avoid excessive water and direct sunlight.
You may bath or shower with your new tattoo. If you bath, do not allow your new tattoo to remain submerged for more than a few moments. Do not allow the shower to beat on a fresh or healing tattoo. This may prematurely release any flaking that you may have, resulting in colour loss. Always pat your tattoo dry. Do not be alarmed if some of the flake should happen to fall off. This is normal after 3-5 days. Do not expose your new tattoo to direct sunlight ever. A new tattoo has no sun blocking capabilities and will sunburn in as little as 3 minutes in direct sun light. Sunburn will result in prolonged healing time, excessive scabbing and certainly some colour loss. Do not take fully submerged baths, swim in the sea (or any fresh water) until all flakiness has stopped and is fully healed. And for chlorine pools, give it about 3 extra days to avoid burns. Chlorine is bleach!
7. Avoid tight clothing and go easy
Avoid wearing exotic materials, tight, new or restrictive clothing in the area of your new tattoo. New clothes from the factory carry lots of infectious materials and toxic chemicals. Wash those new clothes first. Tight clothing, nylons and polyesters can rub and wear off the protective coating on your tattoo. This increases healing time, cause colour loss and infection. For the first week take it easy at the gym. Avoid physical activities that can cause excess perspiration and let your tattoo heal. It’s only a week, a nice tattoo lasts a lifetime, just like a blotchy one. It is solely up to you!
Your new tattoo has been applied under the strictest guidelines. All needles are new and sterilised in a hospital type steam and pressure steriliser known as an autoclave. All tubes are sterilised in the same manner and packaged in separate bags. The tube assemblies used for each client remain in a sealed, sterile bag until they are removed in front of the client. Pigment receptacles, excess pigments, rinse cups and any other items used are single service and are disposed of after use. Latex gloves are worn at all times. These to, are disposed after each use. There is no possible way that any bacteria or communicable disease can be transmitted while you receive a tattoo following these standards.
Finally, I urge you not to listen to the advice of others. They did not apply your tattoo and therefore cannot know how to heal it. Follow these instructions carefully and you will have a crisp, bright tattoo for the rest of your life. Disregard them and you will go through life wondering why your friends tattoo looks better than yours.
Can I have my tattoo removed?
If you are considering this question, DO NOT GET A TATTOO. You must be 100% sure that you want to be tattooed. Laser or surgery removal is expensive and not guaranteed to remove all of the tattoo without scarring. Please be sure of your decision. Laser is best used to lighten an existing tattoo, for successful cover-ups.
To get a quote on a design or make a booking for a tattoo, drop into our studio any time Mon-Sun. From 11 am – 7pm.
As it has been the case, no appointments or quotes over the phone. All of this must be done in the studio. We will accept money orders made out to inner vision tattoo for long distance bookings, but you must be very specific as to exactly what style of tattoo you are after. You must post us the design, in the size you would like and state placement. We will not start designing custom work on the day you arrive for your appointment.
Please note: I do not charge for design work. This is incorporated into the final price, or hourly rate.