F.A.Qs and Policies
What if I need to cancel or reschedule?
COVID-19 UPDATE: If you need to reschedule due to COVID-19 symptoms, contact with a known COVID-19 carrier, or positive test, you will NOT forfeit your deposit. It is best for your safety, and ours, if you contact us to reschedule. All deposits are non-refundable. With at least one week’s notice, your deposit may be used to reschedule to another date in the next round of booking (or be added to cancellation waitlist). If you cancel your appointment, you are forfeiting your deposit.
How long does a tattoo takes?
How long will my tattoo take? What does my budget tell you? It's a complicated question, and it's tough to give an estimate until the drawing is done and sized on the body. Factors on how long a tattoo takes include the size, the level of detail, the size of the line, and the placement on the body. Thicker lines tend to go faster than finer lines. More detail/texture/stippling takes longer. Solid black and starry skies take longer than just lines. Color or full shading takes longer than just lines. What does your budget tell us? If your budget is larger in relation to the size of your design, we can use finer lines, more detail, stippling, solid black, etc. If you are hoping for a piece with a smaller budget, we’ll gravitate towards thicker lines, less detail, less stippling/black fill.” We can come up with a version of your piece within the ranges to match your budget, but for the best possible version of your piece a flexible budget will help. Some extremely basic estimates for a blackwork tattoo: Forearm single side: 2-5+ hours Forearm complete wrap: 4-6+ hours Upper arm outer arm “half sleeve”: 3-6+ hours Upper arm full wrap half sleeve: 5-9+ hours Full sleeve: 12-16+ hours Inner upper arm: 1.5-3 hours Back of upper arm: 1.5-4 hours Shoulder cap: 3-5+ hours Upper back: 2-8+ hours Large back: 4-12+ hours Full back: 12-20+ hours Chest: 4-6+ hours Full front torso: 8-20+ hours Sternum: 2-4 hours Stomach: 2-4 hours Thigh single side: 3-5+ hours Thigh partial wrap: 6-12+ hours Thigh full wrap: 9-15+ hours Calf or shin: 2-4+ hours Lower leg full-wrap: 6-12+ hours For heavy blackfill, be prepared to add significant additional time.
Can you tattoo over scars?
Yes! Scars are able to be tattooed over successfully, and we are happy to do these cover-ups or adornments. Each scar has its own healing process that makes them unique in thickness and composition. Because of this, we do advise scars are more likely than non-scarred skin to require a touch-up. Touch-ups are free, but we like you to be prepared for this possibility. Scars should be at least one year old to successfully tattoo. If you have concerns about the age of your scar, contact a dermatologist or your tattoo artist prior to scheduling.
What will the tattoo look like with my skin tone?
There have historically been some misconceptions in the tattoo industry about how skin tone effects what’s possible to achieve with your tattoo. The short answer is - these tattoos will look amazing with your skin tone! Ever Duque is trained to work with all types of skin in full color or blackwork - which look excellent on all skin types and skin tones.
What kind of ink do you use? Is it vegan?
The resident artists use Eternal Ink for colors and Kuro Sumi for blacks. Both are vegan made with plant based glycerin! As an added plus, they are far less likely than non-vegan or chemical based inks to cause an allergic reaction. Other brands may include animal-based glycerin, animal-based dyes, or harsh chemicals and metals.
When will I see sketches and the finalized drawing?
One week prior to your appointment is your deadline to send all relevant information about your design! This includes any specific reference material, or relevant information about the placement. This will be the last chance to get any changes or details to your artist before they start working on your piece! This could be an element changing, scale or placement. Any large changes to your concept will have your proposal reassessed for approval. One to two days before your appointment, artists will be in touch via e-mail to discuss sketch or a mock-up! Mock ups will include elements of your design, reference materials the artists intend to use, and any specific info that will be relevant for your piece (ie, texture, placement, value). Please be expecting this email - and ensure you are available for this back and forth. If you will be in a place without internet prior to appointment please make arrangements a week prior with your artist to let them know! It will be imperative to get your approval on the mock up phase so they can begin inking and finalizing your piece. At this point you can tell the artist any additional thoughts about the design and any needed tweaks can be tweaked. Once you have approved the mock up the artist will create a final drawing. The day of your appointment will be when you see the final inked design! All edits at this time will be based on placement and scale - and ensuring it fits perfectly on you!
Can I change the design after I see the mock-up or drawing?
Of course! It's going on your body forever - we want you to be happy. One drawing (sketch/mock-up and inked version) is included in your appointment. Altering the size of the design is always free. Minor changes may be accommodated at the artists’ discretion. If the change requires more than one third of the drawing to be re-drawn after inking, or excessive revisions during the sketching/mock-up process, there will be an additional drawing fee. It's important to thoroughly consider your design before beginning the design process!
Can I commission a drawing to have tattooed by someone else?
Not only Ever esteemed in his artistic talent, but also in their craftsmanship. Ever Duque is the expert at what he do, and we recommend always receiving tattoos from the artist that created the drawing, as you will get the best results this way! All designs you see are original designs for clients and are strictly not to be reproduced.
How should I prepare for my appointment?
The Week Before: Stay hydrated, eat well, get lots of rest! Take care of yourself the week before getting a tattoo, the day of, and throughout the healing process. Make sure you have checked in with your artist and given them any references prior to this, and look out for e-mails regarding mock-ups, drawings, or questions. The Night Before: Limit alcohol consumption. Avoid coming in hungover - it will hurt more during the process and won't heal as well afterward. The Day Of: Make sure you eat a good breakfast/lunch, and bring some snacks. You’re always welcome to take a break to order a meal during long sessions, and we will have small snacks available for you as well! Avoid alcohol and blood-thinning medications, and limit caffeine consumption. You do not need to arrive early, but please be on time! Often artists are working on more than one client per day, and if you are late, it may shift the entire schedule. Bring your ID, vaccine card, and a mask. You may bring only one guest at this time.