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Your appointment
Please arrive at the agreed time, and wait at the entrance of the building where I'll meet you and guide you in. Please bring photographic ID - we'll take a copy to hold securely with your information. I'll ask you to have a seat in the waiting area and give you a consent form to fill in - KTrew's consent form is here if you'd like to review it in advance.
Friends and family
Unfortunately we can only allow one customer into the studio for each appointment. If you do need to bring a friend or family member for support, let me know when enquiring and I'll book an alternative venue (there's a section on my enquiry form for you to request this). The studio's terms & conditions can be found here.
The process
After your consent form is completed, I'll go through it and check for contraindications or allergies I need to be aware of. Then we'll confirm the placement, size and design for your tattoo, and make any changes necessary. I'll check that the design will work at the size we've chosen. I might discuss making it larger or slightly repositioning to make sure the detail won't be lost as the tattoo ages, and we'll make sure you're 100% happy before moving forward.
Preparation
We'll shave the area to be tattooed for hygiene reasons, disinfect it, and apply the stencil. I'll ask you to check it in the mirror, and to look at it from different angles and in different positions. We can remove and reapply the stencil as many times as is necessary to get it right - please don't be afraid to ask to move it or to make a change. Then we'll let it dry, and I'll usually have some more setting up to do around my station before we start anyway.
Getting Comfortable
We have cushions and blankets - please ask for more if that would be helpful. We also have hot water bottles if you get cold, and can adjust the heating for you. If you need to stop and move around or stretch, let me know, that's fine! We also have stim toys, and usually snacks and drinks. Maintaining blood sugar levels is helpful for dealing with pain and discomfort, so bring any snacks that will be helpful for you, or ask me if you feel you need anything.
Talking and headphones
I'll usually follow your lead on conversation. I'm happy to chat or not (though remember that talking can cause your body to move, so I might ask you to try not to talk while I'm tattooing certain areas). We usually have music on in the studio, but not always, so if you'd much prefer I put some on (or turn it off), feel free to ask. You are very welcome to wear headphones if that works better for you, I won't be offended!
Taking breaks
If you need a break, let me know - there will probably be natural breaks if we're working on a larger piece, as I'll need to top up my supplies, or take breaks myself. It's important to take comfort breaks, to eat and drink regularly, and to stop if you're having difficulty dealing with the pain or feel lightheaded or unwell. I try not to take long breaks whilst working on an area, as it can get more sore if we leave it and then come back to it, but you don't need to try to power through if you're really struggling, either. Let me know if you're having any difficulties and we'll see what we can do - I won't penalise you for asking. I'll sometimes take breaks just to rest my eyes or to reset my concentration, as it can be a very demanding task.
Questions
If there's anything else you'd like to know, please feel free to ask. I'm also happy to answer questions about the process while we're working, and if you have any concerns about how the tattoo will look or feel, or about anything that's happening, I will do my best to give you honest and accurate information, and hopefully reassure you. I love my work, and look forward to meeting you and collaborating with you. Email me if there's anything else you need to know.
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