Questions, answered.

Beyond clean. Tattoo needles are sterile and single-use — thrown away after each client into a sharps container for disposal. Ink, ointment, shavers, paper towels and any other materials used on a client are all thrown out after each tattoo and picked up by a medical waste company that comes to the studio every week. Nothing that can cause cross-contamination is reused. Work surfaces and equipment like tattoo machines are all fully covered with single-use disposable material and fully cleaned after tattooing. We pride ourselves on our cleanliness.

All of our tattoo artists are licensed as required by law with the City of New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Our apprentices are also fully licensed. Documentation is not only carried by each artist — licenses are hung in plain sight with verifiable license numbers.

We are in an old NYC building and the main entrance is down a small set of stairs from the sidewalk. We are here to help — please notify your artist in advance of your appointment and we will do our best to help you enter and exit if you need any assistance.

The simplest answer is: yes. If you have ever had a rug, grass, sun burn or shallow scrape, you have experienced the same general feeling. A tattoo is not unbearable pain, but it does cause minimal to mild discomfort. Typically the longer the session, the more sensitive the skin becomes.

The more complicated answer is that it fully depends on the person. Everyone has a different tolerance to pain, and even a small change in placement by an inch can change how it feels. Mind over matter goes a long way. If you are nervous, think of it like this: if they were truly that painful, not so many people would have them. We are happy to talk you through it and help you feel comfortable.

You can use numbing cream, but there are some things to be aware of. It needs to be applied several hours before you sit for your tattoo and only lasts for around thirty to forty-five minutes — sometimes up to a few hours depending on the brand. It can cause allergic reactions in some people, or cause irritation, swelling and tightness of the skin which can affect the final tattoo and the healing. In some cases it makes sense to use the cream for people with increased sensitivity to pain and we will not tell you no, but we do not supply or sell it ourselves because of the potential complications. Please speak to one of our artists directly to figure out if it might be right for you — we are happy to guide you towards a reputable manufacturer and instruct you on how to apply it correctly prior to your appointment.

Pain killers can also cause a problem. Anything that thins the blood and reduces clotting will cause excessive bleeding during your tattoo, which will affect the quality of the finished work. They will also extend healing time, so we do not recommend anything that thins the blood. Read warning labels and ask your doctor if you are unsure.

You must be at least 18 years old in the State of New York to receive a tattoo. There are no exceptions to this law and parental consent is not accepted. This age restriction varies by state — so if you absolutely cannot wait, you would need to travel to a different state.

Our artists all offer different styles, but there is not a single style we cannot provide through at least one of our artists. The only thing we will not tattoo is anything we deem hateful.

Tattoos are for life — for that reason we recommend taking your time deciding. Spend some time looking at tattoos online or browsing the artist portfolios on our website. Literally anything can be a tattoo or spark your inspiration. You are welcome to discuss with an artist who can help you decide, but ultimately it is your body and your choice. Having a concept at the least gives the artist creative direction. Some artists do offer deals for complete creative freedom if you like their work. We create complete custom pieces all the time and always prefer to do so.

We only offer tattoos and have no piercers at our studio. We are currently unable to separate "tattoo and piercing" on Google, though we hope they allow us to eventually. Sorry for any confusion.

We are primarily an appointment tattoo studio and always have been. While we do take walk-ins and same-day appointments when we have the time, we can only do so between scheduled appointments or when we have reschedules — walk-ins are never guaranteed. We highly suggest making an inquiry through our online TatQuest form, or text/calling us if you are on a tight schedule to check for same-day availability. Please keep in mind that last-minute availability is usually limited to simpler tattoos that do not take much planning or prior drawing on our part.

Each artist has a different response time and availability. While we try to get back to everyone as quickly as possible, to be fair to everyone we answer messages in the order we receive them. Since the volume can vary greatly depending on how many people are inquiring, responses can take anywhere from a single day to a few weeks. Largely this depends on the artist you would like to work with — some have a long wait list stretching months, others are available within the week or even the day. General inquiries are usually answered within a few days if you choose "Any artist is fine."

Of course — there is an upload option on our TatQuest inquiry form.

You can look through our artists' pages and Instagrams to find which artist might suit you best, then inquire using the TatQuest form. If you are still unsure or do not want to take the time to look — no worries. Fill out the form to the best of your ability and we will pick an artist for you that makes the most sense for the request.

Each of our artists prices differently. You would discuss with your chosen artist to receive a quote. A tattoo price has many variables — sizing, placement, the amount of detail, and the artist's experience and workload. The majority of our artists charge hourly for detailed or large projects, and give flat prices for more simple tattoos. As an example: some of our artists charge $200 an hour or more, while others charge $150 an hour or even less for apprentices. Minimums range as well — some are $250, others $150, depending on the artist.

We suggest looking through an artist's work to choose. If budget is more of a concern, fill out the form and enter your price range in the budget question — we can usually connect you with someone who may be able to work with you. The reason we do not have a set shop minimum is because each artist is at a different point in their career and each prices what they feel is fair. We provide the environment — the artists give you the art.

Hourly pricing exists because it is hard to tell exactly how long a tattoo may take. Just as many variables affect the time estimate, just as many affect how long it actually takes — the condition of your skin, how a client sits for the duration (still vs. moving around a lot), the exact area of the body, etc. By pricing hourly, an artist knows they will be able to provide their highest quality of work.

If something is priced flatly but takes longer than the artist thought it would, being human, they may rush the process to get it done faster and sacrifice quality. At the same time, if they expect it to take a long time and quote a high price but get it done faster, the client loses out on money they could have saved. Hourly is the fairest way to receive quality work for both artist and client — as long as you work with honest people, which we try to make sure are the only artists at our studio. Hourly rates reflect each artist's experience, style and demand. You can always be honest with your artist about budget and they should be able to work with you. If they cannot, they will say so honestly and refer you to someone who can.

A minimum price covers the basic cost of supplies, overhead, and of course profit for the artist and shop — what an artist makes is split with the studio. It also reflects an artist's individual workload and time value. We try to provide the highest quality, modern materials and equipment, and a professional experience at fair pricing. Our artists prioritize fairness and love staying busy.

Our artists require non-refundable deposits for their appointments. The deposit price varies based on the artist, the time needed for the prep work that goes into the design process, and the time blocked out in their schedule for the actual tattoo. You will receive a single set deposit price after discussing your ideas with your artist, payable online or in the studio.

The deposit comes out of the final total tattoo price — it is not an additional charge. However, a deposit will be forfeited as a fee if you fail to show up or reschedule within the cut-off window. A new deposit will be required for another appointment, and the original will not be taken out of the final price. The reason: if a slot is booked and you do not show, the artist loses out on money they could have made in that time with another client. Tattooing is how our artists pay their bills and make a living — deposits are simply to protect their time. (See our Cancellation & Deposit Policy for full terms.)

Usually our artists show their design when you arrive for your appointment. If seeing it before the day of is important to you, please discuss it with your artist during the free online consultation after filling out our TatQuest form. Most of the time our artists will not be willing to show you beforehand because they design things in the order they have appointments and finishing touches are often added the days before. None of our artists like to rush their designs — which is also why we work primarily by appointment.

There are also other reasons: not everyone fully understands how things look on the stencil vs. how they will look as the finished tattoo, which is usually better discussed in person. Our artists are happy to sit down with you before any tattooing to go over the design and make sure you understand how the finished product will look. Minor revisions are always welcome during this time. Because artists charge for their tattooing time and not for the artwork (which is created at no additional charge), they often will not send a design prior unless it is a commissioned art piece, which would be priced separately. Feel free to talk to your artist to better understand this — and ask for examples of stencils vs. finished tattoos.

Tips are always appreciated but never necessary. What an artist charges you for a tattoo is split based on a percentage with the studio — what they receive as a tip is fully theirs. If you feel your artist went above and beyond, they will always appreciate a tip.

Your artist will explain everything you need to know before, during and after. We are also working on a dedicated page explaining everything you need to know for quick reference.

Unfortunately we do not usually allow minors due to the nature of the business, the distractions they may cause to you or your artist, and safety hazards. We do have an outdoor seating area where they may sit accompanied by another adult — but during winter months it can be cold and during summer months it can be hot.

Some exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis to allow them to wait inside in the normal waiting area — for example if you are traveling and cannot find childcare. You will be asked to remove them if issues arise that cannot be corrected, such as non-stop crying or yelling, or destruction of property. Please remember our artists are trying to focus on technical application — this is a professional environment that is not set up for children. If exceptions are made, they must stay in the designated waiting area.

You are absolutely welcome to bring a friend — moral support is always helpful. We are a small studio so if we get full we may have to ask them to wait in our outside area. Most of the time there should not be a problem with them waiting next to you as you get tattooed, and they are welcome to take photos and videos.

Feel free to contact us, or an artist specifically. Use our TatQuest form for specific tattoo questions and our contact form for general or business inquiries.