THINGS TO CONSIDER :
+Emails sometimes take time to respond to. I’m just one guy! I do try to respond quickly, but if you don’t hear from me right away it’s not because I hate you I swear.
+Pre-Drawn Tattoo designs and my artwork are always available to get tattooed, and I'm more willing to give deals on those designs. These designs can be seen in the "Available" tab here on my website, Story Highlight on my Instagram profile @willxgraves, or by request.
+If you are bringing me a specific design or artwork as reference from another artist, please understand that by copying it exactly I would be stealing from and plagiarizing another artist. For this reason, I will gladly accept and use a reference, but all artwork is drawn in my style and the way that I know how to approach things.
+The minimum for all tattoos is $175 (1 hour), so make it count. If you've got some small tattoo ideas, get them all at once for your time or along with a bigger piece during your session.
+I do cover ups depending on the project. I DO NOT touch up, or "fix" other artists work.
RATES AND PRICING
Deposit - $175 USD, $350 USD for larger work like Sleeves, Backpieces, Torsos, etc.
Hourly Rate - $175 USD per. Hour
Half Day Session - $700 USD (4 Hours)
Full Day Session - $1200 USD (7 Hours)
+Larger projects require a lot of time and effort. It is especially hard to give estimates on some work like this because of the lengthy amount of time and many factors happening with a big tattoo including aging, varying skin textures in different parts of the body, healing times, aftercare, preparation, complexity of the design, skin type, and height/weight/size of the person getting tattooed.
Because of this, I offer day session rates to give a clearer estimate of how much something might cost. In the event that the tattoo is finished before the full time of the day rate, I simply charge by the hour for the time that we tattooed.
+My work is guaranteed meaning all touch ups are 100% free!
+Deposits are voided upon cancellation without 48 hrs. notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Preparation
-Always make sure to eat and rest properly before getting tattooed. Do not use any products before getting your tattoo such as numbing creams, or tattoo products without first consulting your artist.
-Make sure you are not taking any blood thinners or medication that may effect your skin or bleeding.
-Alcohol effects the tattoo process, so please do not drink heavily the night before and definitely not immediately before your session.
-Notify me of any allergies you have, especially to cocoa, coconut, shellfish, lidocaine, bactine, or Saniderm, Tegiderm, Recovery Derm etc.
-Moisturizing the area you're getting tattooed with lotion in the days before the tattoo always helps, but never the day of or right before a session, we need clean dry and healthy skin when it comes time to tattoo.
-I will still have to spot check either way, but shaving the area you want tattooed before coming in always saves time. Just don’t nick yourself.
-If you are feeling ill, keep in mind your immune system effects your recovery, so your tattoo may not heal well if you already fighting some other symptoms. In the case that you don’t feel well please notify me and I will reschedule your appointment. Rescheduling due to illness will never lose you your deposit, but you may be asked to prove you were sick with a note or something because some people are out here being shady.
-Please do not wear extreme body fragrances, and please make sure you have cleaned the area before coming in.
-Sunglasses, headphones, and bringing your own pillow can make the process more comfortable.
Aftercare
-Avoid sunlight and soaking the tattoo in water during the healing process. This includes baths(Showers are fine), swimming pools, beaches, as well as tanning etc. Do not itch or scratch your tattoo.
-I recommend healing with Recovery Derm, Tegiderm, or Second Skin which is a clear bandage I provide in most cases where applicable. The bandage remains on for 3 days before being removed. Once removed the tattoo should be mostly healed, only requiring moisturizing with lotion or recommended tattoo balms for the rest of the process (usually 2-4 weeks).
-Always make sure to regularly wash exposed/unbandaged tattoos with antibacterial, unscented, dye-free soap (Dial White Anti-Bacterial for example) during healing. If healing with plastic wrap, replace the wrapping with fresh plastic after every wash, using a thin layer of Aquaphor after drying, but before rewrapping.
-In the weeks following of healing after the Saniderm or Plastic Wrap, moisturize your tattooed skin with either Lubriderm unscented, Aveeno unscented, Palmers Cocoa Butter, or Aquaphor.
-Weight gain and weight loss including muscle rarely effect the sizing of the tattoo unless extremely dramatic, also being more effected in areas like the stomach than the arms or legs for example.
Rescheduling and Other Questions
-Deposits are non refundable if a client does not give proper notice within 48 hours of the appointment before cancelling, and are always void in the case of a no show without notice.
In the case of a cancellation with proper notice, the deposit can be used for 1 reschedule of the appointment. In the event of a second reschedule for the same appointment, at that time a Rescheduling Fee of $175 will be required to book again.
-I am not looking for apprentices at this time and do not know of anyone who is. If you want an apprenticeship my advice to you is to build a strong art portfolio and seek out interviews with a professional tattoo studio or artists whose work you respect. Talk to friends, and most importantly, get tattooed!
Just never tattoo out of your home!