Tattoos

First Timers:

Q. What is the legal age to get a tattoo?
A. Washington state law requires that one must be eighteen years of age, regardless of parental consent or accompaniment, to get a tattoo. RCW 26.28.085 [1995 c 373 § 1]

Q. What type of artwork do your artists do?

A. Our artists are well-rounded and are very experienced in all types of artwork, including both custom work and flash. "Flash" is the term used to describe the design sheets that you see on the walls and in racks at tattoo studios. To check out each artist’s individual style we suggest looking at their portfolios either on this site or in each of our shops.

Q. What is a consultation appointment?

A. A consultation is a free-of-charge, scheduled, 15-minute meeting with a tattoo artist. You can discuss your ideas, bring in any reference art you may have, get a price and time estimation, and ask any questions you may have about your tattoo or the tattoo process in general. From there, if you’d like to go forward, the artist and/or counter will put you into the schedule.

Q. I have a picture of what I would like done, how do I get booked with an appointment?

A. First, we will need to see the art/image you have. You can either stop by the shop to show it to us or you can email to us. In your email be sure to include: approximately what size you want the tattoo (ex: “3 inches by 4 inches,” not “medium” or “large”) where on your body you want the tattoo, and if there are any changes you’d like to have made to the image. Our email address is: slavetotheneedle@comcast.net for Ballard, or slaveeast@msn.com for Wallingford. Keep in mind that not all tattoos can be booked without a consultation. If we take a look at your image(s) and decide that you will need a consultation first, we’ll let you know.

Once we receive your email or see it in person we will give you a price and time estimation, and let you know the next available appointment time.

Q. I know what I would like to have done but I need you guys to design/draw it for me.

A. Easy enough! Just give us a call at 206-789-2618 (Ballard) or 206-545-3685 (Wallingford) and we will set you up with a consultation with one of our artists.

Q. Do I need to schedule the consultation with the same artist that I want to do my tattoo?

A. Yes. Each artist’s style, pace, questions, and note-taking is different, so make sure to book your consultation with the artist you want to do your tattoo. This ensures that your artist knows exactly what you want and that you guys are on the same page.

Q. Can I book my appointment by email?

A. We do not book appointments via email. Emailing is great for getting price and time estimations for tattoos, and asking general questions but we do all booking either by phone or in person. If you need a consultation appointment, or once we give you a price and time estimation on your tattoo and you want to book the tattoo appointment, you will need to either call us at (206)789-2618 (Ballard) or (206)545-3685 (Wallingford) and make a deposit by credit card, or stop by the shop to book your appointment.

Q. I am from out of town, need a custom piece, and would like to do a consultation via email or phone.

A. It is often very challenging and sometimes not possible to do consultation appointments via email or phone, but you can go ahead and send us pictures and/or a description of your ideas and we will have one of our artists take a look at them to see if this is something that would be possible to book without an in-person consultation. If you are from out of state, or the country, we will try to accommodate you as best we can, but keep in mind that with custom work, you will have to keep the idea pretty general, and allow plenty of room for artist interpretation.

Q.  Do you take walk-ins for tattoos?

A.  We do take walk-ins if we have the time available. However, due to the busy nature of our shop it is always best to check with us first to assure that your trip to the shop is not in vain.

Q. Is there anything I need to bring with me for my tattoo appointment?
A. Make sure to bring all reference artwork pertaining to your tattoo. Also, make sure that you're well fed and hydrated beforehand, and if not, bring food or water with you.  We will also need a valid form of state or federal ID (Drivers License, Military ID, or Passports are all accepted).

Q. Does it hurt?
A. Everyone's definition of “hurt” is different because everyone feels pain differently. Unfortunately, there is no real gauge for pain that we can give you without being disingenuous. Some people say that it feels like a cat scratch, and afterwards like a sun burn. Different parts of your body will be more sensitive than others, especially bony parts or areas with thin skin.

Q. How much does a tattoo cost?
A. We have a shop minimum of $75 and anything under 2 hours will be bid outright. For any tattoo that will take us more than two hours the shop rate is $150 an hour (with the exception of Aaron, the owner who's hourly is $200.00).  Sales tax is added on to the tattoo total. We require a $50.00 non-refundable deposit in order to hold your appointment ($100 for pieces that will take two hours or over) which will go towards the cost of your tattoo.

Q. Is there a charge for an artist doing a drawing?
A. No, there is no additional charge for custom drawing. The required $50.00 deposit ($100 for pieces that will take over 2 hours) needs to be taken before the artist starts on the piece.

Q. Can I take home a design?
A. All of the artwork available to the public, which is often referred to as “flash” is copy written. Therefore, legally we cannot allow the artwork to be removed from the shop. As for custom pieces our artists take an additional $50 deposit. Custom artwork for tattooing cannot leave the shop either (unless there is an exception granted by the artist).

Q. Can my friends sit with me while I get tattooed?
A. We generally allow one friend back. However, it depends on the day and the amount of people in the shop. Usually on the weekends we have a number of clients being tattooed and most of our artists here, so it tends to get a little crowded. Also, when massage tables are in use, we ask that clients refrain from having a guest back with them; due to limited space. If there are too many people to have a friend back with you, they can always wait in the gallery and take a look every once in a while.

General Tattoo Questions:

Q. What happens if I need to reschedule my tattoo appointment?
A. As long as we get at least 24 hours notice in advance we will simply roll your deposit and set you up with another tattoo appointment.  But if you cancel within 24 hours of the appointment, or simply dont show up, we will subtract $50 off of your deposit. 

Q. What happens if I change my mind about what I want to have tattooed after an artist has done a drawing for me?
A. To start a new drawing, you would loose $50 from your deposit for the artist's time.  And we will take an additional deposit to get you back to either $50 or $100 based on how long the tattoo will take to complete.

Q. What's in the tattoo ink?
A. Alcohol, distilled water, glycerin, and color numbers.

Q. Is it possible to be allergic to the ink?
A. On very rare occasions people experience adverse reactions to the ink. Most commonly people get a little itchier from reds and magentas. The reaction can be similar to that of someone allergic to hair dye and should dissipate over time.

Q. I would like to schedule an appointment with Aaron.

A. Please contact our Wallingford location at 206-545-3685.

Q. Are all of your artists always booked out really, really far?

A. No, we often have openings the same day or within a few days and take walk-in appointments when we have time. But it is always best to call or email first.

Q. What if the artist I want to book with is booked out really far, is there anyway to get in sooner?

A. Unfortunately there is not, but once you’ve booked you're tattoo appointment you can definitely ask to be put on that artist’s cancellation list, and we'll give you a call if anything opens up sooner.

Q. I want an existing tattoo covered up or reworked. What should I do?

A. We require that you come in for a consultaion for any cover-up/rework. As far as choosing an artist, all of our artists are very experienced with cover-ups and do an excellent job. Also it’s always good to have a few ideas of what you want to cover it up with. Once you know what you want to cover it with, the artist will be able to figure out how to cover it or let you know if you need to consider other options.

Q. I want a scar or stretch marks covered with a tattoo. What should I do?

A. We require that you come in for a consultaion for any tattoos that will be going over scars or stretch marks. Many scars can be covered up, but some can not. We will need to have one of our artists take a look at your scar in person to determine whether or not it can be covered with a tattoo. As far as choosing an artist, all of our artists are very experienced with cover-ups and all do an excellent job.

Q. I had a tattoo done by an artist at your shop and would like to get it touched up.

A. We do touch-ups free-of-charge (with the exception of hands and feet) within the first six months of getting the tattoo. We will schedule your touch-up appointment with the same artist who originally did the tattoo. If your original tattoo was done by a guest artist who is no longer in town, we will book you a touch-up appointment with one of our regular artists, and it will still be free-of-charge.

Q. I need a tattoo touched-up but it was not done at your shop.

A. No problem, but we require that you come in a for a consultaiton first! At your consultation the artist will take a look at your tattoo and get you booked with a touch-up appointment.

Q. What is a guest artist?

A. In the tattoo industry it is commonplace for tattoo artists to travel to other cities and work at friends’ shops. This gives you the opportunity to get tattooed by a great artist and gives them the opportunity to see Seattle and tattoo at our shop. A guest artist is not an apprentice. All guest artists at Slave to the Needle are highly competent, well versed in their art form, just as skilled and experienced as our regular artists. You will leave our shop with a top-notch tattoo no matter who tattoos you.

Q. Will your artists do completely white tattoos?

A. All of our artists have a strict policy of not doing all-white tattoos. The only time they will use white is for small highlights in large tattoos. Our artists are very concerned that all tattoo work that leaves our shop is top-notch and that the tattoos are done in a way that maintains this quality over time, for these reasons our artists are not comfortable doing white tattoos. All-white, mostly-white tattoos, and tattoos that are not outlined in black often look like a poorly done tattoo and the design/image/text is indiscernible or becomes indiscernible over time. White ink on its own does not convey detail, serve as a good representation of an artist’s skill and ability, nor does it withstand the test of time or sun exposure.

Q. What other types of tattoos do your artists not do?

A. Facial tattoos, finger bands, genitalia, ears, lips, palms of hands, bottom of feet, and toes. Some of our artists are willing to do tattoos on fingers, hands, necks, and genitalia, but in most cases only on heavily tattooed people and only with a consultation appointment beforehand.

Q. Do you guys do tattoos with ultraviolet/blacklight or “glow in the dark” ink?

A. No, none of our artists use the ultraviolet/blacklight pigments because their safety has not been determined.

Q. Is it customary to tip my artist?

A. Tips are not expected but always appreciated!

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Piercing Questions:

Q. What hours do you pierce?
A. We pierce from 11am to 10:15pm 7 days a week, at the Ballard Shop.

Q. How old do I have to be to get a piercing?
A. Anyone at least 18 years old can get pierced. We will pierce minors starting at 16 years old with parental consent; however certain piercings will not be done on a minor even with parental consent.

Q. Which piercings can I get with parental permission?
A. A 16 or 17-year-old can get a navel, nostril, eyebrow, earlobe or outer ear cartilage piercing.

Q. What do I need to bring with me for my piercing appt.?
A. If you wish to get pierced and are under 18,  the parent must bring a state issued ID with matching last names (Military ID, drivers licenses and Passports). We also REQUIRE a notarized Birth Certificate (no copies or faxes please). If you have any questions, please give us a call and speak to one of our piercers at (206) 789-2618.
Q. How do I take care of my piercing?
A. Upon arrival for your piercing we will give you a card that is labeled either “body aftercare” or “oral aftercare” depending on what kind of piercing you are getting done. This card lists our suggested aftercare for your piercing. Body aftercare involves soaking your piercing 2-4 times daily for 10 minutes with a warm NON-IODIZED sea salt solution (1/4 tsp. salt/8 oz. water or 4 tsp.salt/1 gallon of water). Oral aftercare involves rinsing with the same sea salt solution as body piercing does, but you will need to rinse every time you eat, drink, or smoke anything. The sea salt aftercare needs to be done for the duration of healing time for your piercing.

Q. What is the standard jewelry gauge for most piercings?
A. Between 16 and 12 gauge.

Q. Can I use my own jewelry for a piercing?
A. Certain requirements must be met before we can tell if your jewelry can be used. We will only pierce with internally threaded jewelry and it must be the proper gauge, size, material and in good condition for the piercing. We also require 24 hours to sterilize the jewelry prior to your appointment and there is a $10.00 sterilization fee (Of course if you purchase the jewelry here, this fee is not charged).

Q. How soon can I go in the water after I get pierced?
A. Once your piercing is completely healed. Healing time varies for different kinds of piercings and from person to person.

Q. How much do piercings cost?
A. You can see our pricing chart here.

Q. Does it hurt and do you use any numbing agents?
A. We do not use any kind of numbing agents. Everyone's definition of "hurt" is different because everyone feels pain differently. Unfortunately, there is no real gauge of pain that we can give you without being disingenuous. Piercings are very quick and most people are pleasantly surprised that it was “not that bad”.

Q. Can my friends watch while I get a piercing?
A. One person (must be at least 18-years-old) is allowed in the piercing room with you. If you are a minor, your parent/guardian must accompany you during your piercing.

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