FAQ

Why Vegan Ink?

Did you know animals are a main ingredient in tattoo ink? Many people never think about what actually goes into making tattoo ink, but at Sanctum tattoos we care about what we put into your body! While the products put into tattoo inks varies the vast majority are not vegan.

At Sanctum Tattoos, we don’t believe in harming animals for the joy of creating body art and that's why we exclusively use vegan tattoo ink. By choosing to use vegan ink the chances of getting an infection or having an allergic reaction are much lower, giving our clients the safest experience possible.

Am I Supposed to Tip My Artist?

Tattooing is a service provided to you by someone.

You should strive to tip your tattoo artist 15-20% just as you would your waiter or hair stylist.

All tattoo artist set their own rates but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are making 100% profit off of what they charge you. Tattoo artist only make a portion of what they charge plus they have to cover the cost of all their materials that they use.

What If I’m Late Or I Don’t Show Up?

We understand life happens. If you are going to be late for your appointment or are not going to be able to make it you MUST let us know ahead of time. Depending on the length of your appointment time we may or may not be able to still do your tattoo. We are very understanding when it comes to things popping up last minute and good communication is key. Any last minute cancelations (less than 48 hours before appointment) and or "no shows" will result in a loss of your deposit and then a new deposit will be required to reschedule your tattoo.

Does Getting A Tattoo Hurt?

To put it simply - Yes.

Getting a tattoo isn’t necessarily the most painful experience but it isn’t exactly painless either. The best way to explain the feeling is like scratching a fresh sunburn. The response we normally get from someone who has never experienced it before is “Oh, its not that bad”. There are some artist out there that are very "heavy handed" which can induce more pain than necessary. Sanctum Tattoos owner Kesley is very light handed artist and strives to give each client the best experience possible.

Everyone's pain intolerance is different. But some spots can hurt more than others. It is typically more painful to get tattooed in areas that are naturally tender or where there is little muscle. Feel free to use the basic pain level chart below is started point.

How Should I Prepare For My Appointment?

SHOWER! Please.
BRING YOUR ID! Everyone is required to bring a form of identification. If you do not have this then you can not get your tattoo.
HYDRATE! Drinking water is important, without it you may feel lightheaded.
FOOD! Be sure have eaten something at least 2 hours prior to your appointment. Again, without this you may feel lightheaded and could increases your chances for passing out.
SLEEP! Make sure to get a good nights sleep before your tattoo appointment.
We understand that you’re excited, but please don't bring a large group of friends to your appointments. Please limit your support system at 1-2 people. Sanctum Tattoos is a private tattoo studio so too many people can create issues like heat, noise, and cramped space.

What Should I NOT Do The Day Before My Appointment?

NO ALCOHOL. Having alcohol in your system increases your chances of bleeding.
NO DRUGS. If you are under the influence of any drugs you will not be getting tattooed.
NO SUNBURNS. Please use sun protection when doing outdoor activities. We don't tattoo lobsters.
NO Lotion/Spraytan. Try to avoid placing anything on the tattoo area at least 24 hours prior. The area needs to be clean and fresh. If you fail and do this it can increase your chances of infection.

Getting A Tattoo In The Summer.

Make sure you keep your new tattoo out of the sun and any bodies of water. This means for the full 3 - 8 weeks of healing time you will need to be safe from the sun under an umbrella and outside all pools/hot tubs/oceans/lakes etc.

Once your tattoo has stopped scabbing and is fully healed, you are safe to apply sunscreen and swim again.

Can You Fix My Old Tattoo?

Sanctum Tattoos would be happy to help rework your old tattoos!

However, we are a small private studio and cannot work miracles. Many factors go into tattoo coverups and reworks, so the best thing to do is submit a consultation request with us.