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COST/FAQ
Where do you work?
I tattoo out of Ninth Life Studio, in Lakewood, Colorado.
What is your rate?
I charge $200 per hour and require a $100 non-refundable deposit to schedule appointments.
What are your hours?
I usually start at 9:00am for three to six hour morning appointments or 1:00 pm for (max) three hour afternoon appointments.
My days off are Sunday, Monday, and Thursday.
I generally prefer to use my days off for my family, however at an increased rate of $250 I will schedule an appointment on an off day.
How far in advance do you schedule?
It varies, but I usually book anywhere from 3 to 6 months in advance. If my schedule fills past 6 months, I close my books for a short period of time to let things catch up. Reopening of the books is announced through social media.
Will my old tattoo show through?
Honestly, it is possible. Of all the cover-ups I've completed in my time as an artist I would estimate that:
60% of them cover fully. No show through.
20% of them cover well, but have a little show through. Usually coverable with a touch-up.
15% of them cover moderately. It looks better than before, but the coverup is semi-noticeable and will require several touch-ups. Laser removal prior to attempting the cover-up is a strong suggestion for this type of tattoo.
5% of them cover poorly. Should have listened when I suggested initial laser removal. This cover-up isn’t fooling anybody.
The good news here is that 80% of old tattoos cover well and only 5% cover poorly. The only way to ensure a very dark tattoo will cover fully is to lighten with laser removal.
Touch up Policy:
Due to the increased potential for touch ups that are inherent to cover-ups, regular hourly rates apply.
For non-coverup tattoos, touch-ups are free within 1 year of the original tattoo appointment. After 1 year, regular rates apply.
Do I need laser removal?
Every cover-up is different. Laser lightening is an option that consists of lightening the darkest parts of your tattoo using laser removal. The advantage of laser lightening is it increases the chance of success for a fully-coverable tattoo. Although it does takes months and multiple treatments to see results, I recommend laser lightening in extreme cases.
What about scarring?
If your original tattoo had scarring, it will still show through, even if the ink itself is covered well. Applying Vitamin E gel can help reduce the raised scar tissue.
Are cover-ups more painful?
Full disclosure, yes: they hurt a little bit more. Tattoos damage the skin tissue, and going over already damaged tissue hurts more. Damn science!
Is it true that color fades faster than black and grey?
That is true. Color tattoo ink fades faster than black, however full color cover-ups usually work better than black and grey. The reason for this is that to get different tones in black, we have to water the ink down, making it transparent and allowing the old tattoo to show through more. Color ink, however, is more opaque, so even if it fades faster than black, it covers the old tattoo more successfully. Touch-ups are necessary for any color tattoo, so plan for maintenance.
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AFTERCARE
CLING WRAP METHOD
Your new tattoo is permanent, therefore you should take every precaution to ensure a healthy healing. Always wash your hands thoroughly before handling, cleaning, and caring for your tattoo. A tattoo is an open wound and should be touched with clean hands to avoid infection. Proper hand washing includes using hot water and anti-bacterial soap, as well as always using clean bed linens and bath towels throughout the healing period. Leave your bandage on for at least 2 hours, then proceed to take your bandage off and wash with warm soapy water. A clear antimicrobial liquid hand soap is best and make sure to work up a lather. Wash using the lather until any excess blood and plasma are removed. Rinse with warm water until all the soap is removed. PAT DRY with a new paper towel and let air dry for 10 minutes. Apply AQUAPHOR ointment lightly to your tattoo 3 times/day for 3 days, using a pea sized amount or smaller. It is possible to suffocate your skin by using too much ointment; this can cause infection, rejection, rash, and skin irritation, so always use the lightest amount possible. Rub the ointment into your tattoo using only clean fingertips, then blot any excess with a clean, dry, paper towel. After 3 days, switch to unscented hand lotion. Apply a small amount and rub it in, reapplying as needed (when your tattoo looks dry). Around day 4, your tattoo will begin to itch and peel like a sunburn. -DO NOT pick, rub, scratch, shave over, or exfoliate your tattoo for at least 2 weeks. -DO NOT soak or submerge your tattoo in water outside of normal showering for at least 2 weeks. No swimming, baths, or sauna and showers should be brief for at least 2 weeks. -DO NOT: expose your tattoo to sun or UV (tanning beds) for at least 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, use SPF 50 or higher on your tattoo if it will be exposed to the sun. The sun will dull your tattoo making it look older, faster. -DO NOT get any hair products, cosmetics, fragrance lotions / sprays, cleaning products, or bodily fluids on your tattoo for at least 2 weeks. -DO NOT re-bandage your tattoo for any reason. The bandage may be stuck to your tattoo -do not tear it off. Instead, get the bandage wet with cold water until it comes off easily. Restrict physical activity i.e. sports, weight lifting, etc. during the first 2 weeks. Your tattoo should take about a month to heal completely and return to normal skin. Please contact your artist with any questions or concerns regarding healing, complications, infections, or disease. Your body artist is required by law to report any conditions to the Health Department within 24 hours of discovery. Please contact a physician at the first sign of any adverse reaction including, but not limited to: persistent swelling, fever, redness, rash development, allergic reaction,infection, or illness.
SANIDERM METHOD
Saniderm is a breathable, adhesive bandage that resembles cling wrap, but sticks to the body without needing to be removed right away. When used correctly, the bandage will seal in the body’s natural fluids and plasma to keep the cells hydrated so that they can break down the dead tissue and remove it more efficiently. Once the Saniderm bandage is placed on your new tattoo, leave it on for 3 days. You may shower as normal with the bandage on. You should be able to notice a build up of plasma and ink trapped under the surface; as mentioned earlier, this is completely normal for the Saniderm aftercare process. On the third day, remove the bandage slowly in the shower and proceed to clean the tattoo as you would with the cling wrap aftercare process. Once the tattoo is clean of all build up, use a clean paper towel to pat dry it. Let it air dry for 10 minutes following the pat dry. Proceed to use an unscented lotion for the remainder of the healing time, 2-3 times a day, as needed. All limitations from the cling wrap aftercare instructions also apply to the Saniderm instructions.