Frequently Asked Questions
and some honest answers

A word about names...

Rule # 1-Be absolutely sure !!!! Forever is a long time,and despite what you've heard...there is no safe, easy, inexpensive method of removal.....period....

If you absolutely insist..choose your lettering styles well. The tattoo on the left was done at Rosebud Tattoo recently. The one on the right was done by another area tattooist. The customer chose the font, but the tattooist used all upper case letters, and in doing so, made it illegible forever. As you can see, not all fonts work well in all upper case. She will spend the rest of her life answering the question..."What does it say"????

Choose your fonts wisely...and your tattooists even more wisely!

Q: Does it hurt ?????
A: Make no mistake about it, we're not working with crayons here, but needles and ink. How much it hurts is the question. It depends on many factors: size, placement, but most of all your sensitivity to pain. The general rule is the closer it comes to the bone, the more it hurts. But the insides of arms, legs, thighs, are also very sensitive. The initial 5 minutes or so can be rugged, then the body reacts physiologically by releasing endorphins and the remainder gets somewhat (some say considerably) easier.

Q: How long does it take???
A: Depending upon the size, position, and complexity, it can be anywhere from 5 minutes to 5 hours, (or more).

Q: What should I get for a tattoo.???
A: That's an entirely up to you, tattoos are a form of self expression, only you know what you want to project. I do reserve the right to refuse certain tattoos in certain areas. No hate symbols, nothing outrageously stupid in highly visible places.

Sometimes, the customer isn't always right. A fuel delivery guy won't put gasoline in a kerosene tank just because the customer wants it and has the money, I won't do a pot leaf on an 18-year-olds neck !!!!!..Does he have the right to do so ? Absolutely, so sue me !!!!!

Q: What do I do after it's done ?
A: Click on to the Aftercare page.

Q: I saw a pair of full back angel wings on a Tattoo show...Can I get them ????
A: The recent surge in Tattoo reality shows has been a double edged sword for the biz. On the plus side, it's bringing business in, but on the other hand, the viewer gets a disproportionate sense of the real world. Those wings you saw in a half hour show may have taken two or three sittings of two or three hours each....upwards of $500-800........it may not be a good choice for your first tattoo. In a world where everything is instant.....I find most customers have trouble sitting for 30 minutes, let alone 5 or 6 hours !!!!!

Q: How about the ink used ???

A: As also required by State law, I use individual ink cups for every tattoo. Although everyone and their mother is out there selling Tattoo ink these days...I stick to the "tried and true" I've been with for many years...My customer's safety is high on my list of priorities, and some of this stuff just hasn't been around long enough for the test of time.

I avoid "trendy' inks, like "black light" ink that you don't see at all under normal light, but under a black light at the clubs, your tattoo glows.....sounds kind of cool, but God only knows what's in this stuff, it has to be some kind of metallic substance, and despite what they say, I wouldn't trust it as far as I can throw it !!!!

Q: I really want a tattoo, but I have a sunburn. Can I still get one ????

A: Sad to say, but I'm about to pronounce the most offensive obscenity known to man.. (Close your eyes ,kiddies)...are you ready ?????...NO !!!!!!!!..I've had people storm out in a fit of rage at the dispelling of the word !!!! But think about it, sun-burnt skin is damaged skin.. You're already in pain with the burn, do you truly want to jab needles in there ????.The technical problems would be bleeding profusely, almost guaranteed difficulty with ink retention, and healing issues.

Q: I really want a tattoo, but I'm on vacation, and I'm planning on going to the beach every day. Can  I still lay out in the sun and go swimming ?????

A: Refer to that swear word again !!!!! Sad to say, the sun and salt water are a healing tattoos worst enemies, and the long term success of your tattoo is directly related to how well you care for it...see Aftercare page..

Q: Do you do your own Tattoos ?????

A: The Tattooing procedure requires the use of both hands and one foot (foot switch). It's vital to hold the skin as tight as possible with one hand, and the other holds the machine. It's therefore quite possible for a tattooist to tattoo his own legs.. (as did most of us while training).. but his own arms would be difficult to say the least. Not impossible, just highly unlikely.

If a tattooist has killer work on his own arms, and he says he did it himself, you have good reason to seriously doubt his truthfulness. I had a customer once that told me he knew a tattooist that tattooed his own back, and when I suggested that it may not be true, he strongly defended the story !!!..I can't even scratch my own back, let alone tattoo it !!!

For more info, go to the "Ask the Tattooist" page.