FAQ

Dressing care:

Inspect the tattoo site at least once a day without removing the dressing. Tegaderm dressing can be left in place for up to 7 days. Change the dressing if:

It begins to leak

It is no longer sticking to the skin

It contains holes

Skin is red and itchy

It is normal for yellow or brown fluid to appear under the Tegaderm dressing. However, a strong odour is a sign of possible infection and should be reported to your healthcare provider.

Remove the Tegaderm Dressing:

The easiest way to remove tegaderm dressing is in a warm shower. Start by allowing the water to spray gently on the skin to help loosen the adhesive, then with one hand stabilizing the skin next to the dressing, slowly peel the dressing back over itself, “low and slow”, in the direction of hair growth. As the dressing is removed, continue moving the stabilizing hand to support the newly exposed skin.

If you have trouble removing any adhesive remaining on the skin, coconut oil can be used to help break it down.

Basic Tattoo Care:

After removing your bandage, you should gently wash your new tattoo with fragrance-free antibacterial soap & hot water. When you exit the shower, make sure not to rub your tattoo with a towel. Let it dry on its own.

After about an hour of air drying, apply some water-based, fragrance-free lotion to the area. Try not to slather on more than the recommended amount. Avoid ointments like Vaseline and A&D which can suffocate the pores, making it hard for the skin to breathe. Your skin needs to breathe to promote and speed up the healing process - which is why we recommend fragrance-free lotions or butters such as Lubriderm, Aveeno, Cetaphil or Unrefined, Cold-Pressed Coconut Oil for sensitive skin types. The more organic & natural, the better for your skin.

Sleeping on top of your Tattoo:

Try your best to not sleep on your fresh tattoo. If you can sleep with your tattoo exposed, that would be best. If not, you can place a clean thin towel between you and the sheets. If, in the morning, your sheets are stuck to you, don’t peel the sheet off! Instead, take the sheet with you to the shower and wet it off with cool or lukewarm water.

Touching:

Our hands and the hands of our friends, family, lovers, and children are all equally filthy. Only touch your tattoo if you have freshly washed your hands. Keeping your tattoo clean is rule #1 in the healing process and washing your tattoo a few times a day will help to avoid a potential infection.

Submerging:

During this two-week healing process, you will also want to avoid prolonged water contact. Yes, of course, you can shower, and washing your tattoo a few times a day is encouraged - but you shouldn't submerge your tattoo in baths, hot tubs, swimming pools, or salt water. Standing water = unhealthy bacteria & irritants. Icky! You'll want to avoid all of that during your first 2-3 weeks with a tattoo.

Sun Exposure:

Over the first month or so, your skin is going to be extremely sensitive to sunlight and UV rays. You must keep the tattoo out of the sun until healing is complete. 

Sunscreen is a bad idea during this healing phase as the ingredients included in most sunscreens and creams will be too harsh for the sensitive area. It could cause irritation and other unwanted side effects, including prolonged healing times. After the tattoo has completely scabbed and peeled, you should be able to apply sunscreen to the area and expose the tattoo to the sun. It’s recommended to wait at least 3-4 weeks.

Picking & Scratching:

Your tattoo isn't falling out and there is no cause for alarm! Peeling and scabbing are a very normal part of the tattoo healing process. DO NOT PICK THE SKIN. Don't scratch it either. Scabbing and peeling skin will typically be the same color as the pigment that was used. If you pick or scratch your scab, you risk pulling out the color or causing hypertrophic scarring. Let the tattoo heal by itself.

When to Contact a Doctor:

A skin infection may be present if you experience any of the following symptoms a few days to a week after having a tattoo:

Increased pain, swelling, redness, heat, or tenderness around the tattoo site

Red streaks extending from the tattoo site

Puss coming from the tattoo site

Swollen or tender lymph nodes

Fever

Infection may start at the tattoo site on the surface of the skin. The normal clear or clear-yellow fluid drains from a tattoo site may change to creamy yellow, brown, or red or look or smell like puss.

If you experience any of these symptoms, please contact a doctor immediately.

What are handpoke tattoos?

Handpoke tattoos are machine-free. The artist deposits ink into the skin manually one dot at a time. This method of tattooing still uses industry standard tattooing needles and ink.

Are handpoked tattoos permanent?

Yes, they are tattoos! As with any tattoo, ink is deposited into the second layer of skin (the dermis) where it stays put!

With variations in healing and with time, some tattoos may heal incorrectly or begin to fade. If this is the case, please reach out for a touchup!

How long do they take to heal?

Generally, handpoke tattoos heal faster than machine tattoos because there is less trauma to the skin. You can expect your handpoke to be fully healed in around 2 weeks. With that being said, everyone is different, so no worries if yours takes a bit longer!

Are all designs suitable for handpoke?

Sorry, but no. Please don't expect any realism portraits of your grandma or heavy trad styles to happen!

The handpoke method lends itself well to stipple shading/dotwork, as well as linework.

How long do handpokes take?

Patience, please!

Handpokes take longer than machine tattoos overall. Although we have put time into becoming faster and more skilled at our work, you can still expect our appointments to take a bit longer. Some designs may require multiple appointments.

Are handpokes cheaper?

Handpokes can be expected to be priced within the industry average. There is a lot of time and effort put into tattooing (drawing, consultation, marketing, etc. etc.), which reflects in any artists' pricing. If you're curious about how much a piece will cost, please don't hesitate to reach out!

Do handpoke tattoos hurt more?

Not necessarily. Of course it depends on each individual, but due to its lack of vibration most people tend to report it hurting the same or less as a machine tattoo.

Is it safe?

This ain't the handpoke going down in your buddies basement on a Friday night.

We follow all standard tattooing sanitation and cleaning practices. Of course, as with all tattoos, there are still risks. However, we ensure that all of our materials are handled in a sanitary manner to minimize the risk of infection for our clients during the tattoo process. We work in a recognized, clean and insured studio with regular sanitation practices.

Most of our artists charge by the hour with rates ranging from $120-$200/hr. Artists can typically give you an estimate for the project at the time of booking.

Pre-drawn designs/ flash pieces are typically priced at a pre-determined flat rate. Minimum charges range from $100-$150.

Please note, that you will be expected to put down a deposit at the time of booking. This will be taken off the final cost of your tattoo.

Most of our artists are by appointment only. However, we do often have artists offering walk-ins on but not limited to Wednesdays. If you are interested in a walk-in appointment we recommend calling the shop to check availability at 306-665-0306.

We also regularly host walk-in events. Follow us on Instagram for updates!

All of our artists handle their own bookings, if you know which artist you are interested in booking with please contact them directly. You can find artists’ individual booking information here.

If you do not have a preferred artist, you can fill out our general submission form found here.

Have an idea of what you want in advance, and be prepared with reference images or inspiration for your design. If you plan on booking, expect to make a $60-$120 non-refundable deposit.

Other things that you might want to consider are the size and placement of the design as well as your availability and budget. If you are taking prescription drugs or have any medical conditions please consult your doctor prior to your appointment.

You need to be 18 years or older to get tattooed, please be prepared with a photo ID on the day of your appointment.

Artists typically have the design finished the night before your appointment. In some cases, you might not see the design until the day. If you have specific expectations or requests please bring it up to your artist directly.  

Maintain your hygiene, the tattoo is a very up close and personal procedure! Dress appropriately, please wear loose clothing that can easily reveal the area being tattooed. Eat and stay hydrated prior to your appointment. Do not drink alcohol or take any other blood thinners the night before or the day of your appointment. 

We recommend bringing a water bottle, snack, headphones, and blanket. As well as anything that will make you feel comfortable during your appointment!

Yes, most artists allow you to bring one other person to the appointment. Please let your artist know ahead of time.

We accept debit, credit (subject to a 2.75% charge), and e-transfer. We also accept cash, however, we do not keep a cash float or change on the premise so please keep that in mind.

We accept all appointments on a case-to-case basis. Certain artists will not accept projects including cover-ups, finger and face tattoos, etc. However, if you have an inquiry it never hurts to reach out and ask.

Please do not book a tattoo if you know you will be doing any extreme activities or exposing the skin to bodies of water or other harmful elements (including dirt/dust, sun, etc.) Within the following couple of weeks. Treat your tattoo like it’s an open wound until it is 100% healed. The typical healing time for a tattoo is 2-3 weeks, any exposure during this period of time will increase your risk of infection. Any sun exposure or trauma to the area can also irritate the tattoo and be detrimental to the healing process.