Once you have reviewed our portfolios, you will have an idea whose style you like. Not every provider works every day and you must speak to the artist in person during a consultation before an appointment can be set. This consultation gives you and the artist time to discuss your ideas.
Your artist will ask you exactly how you want your tattoo to look so it is important to have given this permanent change in your appearance lots of thought. If you can’t convey what you like, it’s very difficult for even the most talented tattoo artist to guess correctly, so if you have reference material (images from magazines or the internet), bring it with you so the artist can see what you like.
Once you have consulted an artist in person you may set up an appointment at the time of the consultation. Sometimes detailed custom work must be drawn up prior to getting an accurate quote and a deposit is required before any artist will work on your tattoo design. This ensures artists aren’t wasting their time drawing art for people who are not actually ready to get tattooed.
Minors must be at least 16 years old, bring their legal parent and provide the following:
state ID, driver’s license, or passport
AND
birth certificate
AND
parent’s or legal guardian’s state ID, driver’s license, or passport (parent must be present). In the case of legal guardianship, according to the law, we must see the court documents and cannot accept your word for the relationship.
Also note:
If there has been a name change (ie, child’s name does not match parent’s), you must provide documentation of the name change.
- All appointments (and custom art) require a $50-$200 non-refundable, non-transferable deposit; deposit amounts are based on the size and difficulty of your project. Deposits are always non-refundable under all circumstances even if you decide not to get tattooed or simply do not show up for your appointment for any reason.
- Deposits come off the total cost of your tattoo. In the case of a multi-session tattoo, tattoos are taken off the LAST session.
- Deposit are for a specific design, date and artist, so if you change any of the afore conditions you will lose your initial deposit and will be required to put down a new deposit if the artist put work into custom art based on the original idea you set the appointment for. Appointments can be changed but a minimum of 48 hour hours notice is required so the artist can fill the slot in her or his schedule.
- If you are asked to bring reference material in advance of your appointment so the artist can work on your design and you fail to do so as requested, you can lose your deposit.
- Deposits are for a tattoo not artwork; the artist retains the artwork which was created for the appointment. Artwork cannot be emailed, texted or photographed to protect the artist’s work.
- All deposits expire if work is not under-taken within 6 months of today’s date unless other arrangements are agreed upon in writing.
- We allow TWO reschedules per tattoo because we know things can come up and life is unpredictable. After two reschedules for the same design, you must prepay all future appointments for that design in full prior to arrival.
Our tattoo prices cover one of the very cleanest and safest environment in which you can be tattooed. Regardless of the size of your tattoo, from a full sleeve to a tiny dot, the single use set up costs the artist the same which is why there is no discount for multiple people getting the same design.
For small designs we can usually quote a flat fee for the work. For larger designs, we will quote an hourly fee or a session fee. If your dream tattoo costs more than you expected, it’s best to save your money so you can get what you want rather than compromise your standards because after all, tattoos last a lifetime.
REMEMBER: The sweetness of a cheap price is long forgotten over the lingering bitterness of a bad tattoo.
- Full Back Pieces: 75 hours and up
- Full Arm Sleeve: 25 hours and up
- Half Sleeve: 5 hours and up
- Quarter Sleeve: 3 hours and up
- Forearm Gauntlet: 5 hours and up
- Rib Panel: 5 hours and up
- Chest Plate: 10 hours and up
- Leg Sock: 15 hours and up
Large scale work is paid for over time with payment due at the time of each session rather than beforehand or after it’s finished. It is expensive based on the time, creativity and attention to detail involved but paying as you go helps. Your best bet for an estimate is to consult with an artist so you can discuss your tattoo specifically.
- First be on time. Providers schedule work based on your punctuality; their very livelihoods depend upon it, so please, please, please be on time.
- Get plenty of sleep the night before.
- Drink plenty of fluids the day of your appointment.
- Eat sensibly and eat directly before your appointment. You are less likely to feel faint if your blood sugar level is normal.
- Wear appropriate clothing. We need bare skin to tattoo and we don’t want to mess up fancy clothing. Think ahead about what needs to be exposed and then dress appropriately with something loose-fitting.
- Bring your i-Pod. Music helps. Seriously.
- Do NOT bring a gaggle of friends/family to your appointment; only 1 guest is allowed in the procedure room and that guest must be at least 16 years old. Remember this is permanent and your provider must concentrate.
- Do NOT bring children. Our liability insurance bars them from entering the procedure rooms for everyone’s safety and we regretfully do not provide baby-sitting services.
- Do NOT drink alcohol or take drugs. The law demands we turn you away in such a case and you would lose your deposit. In fact, we prefer you don’t drink the night before either; ANY alcohol thins out the blood resulting in excessive bleeding which can negatively impact your work’s results.
- Do NOT apply Emla cream. The law forbids us to work on you in such a case. Emla & lydocaine creams make your tissue swell and resist the needle. Swelling hinders the needle’s penetration so depositing tattoo pigment doesn’t work well, your tattoo would end up looking faded and old from the get-go.
- Do NOT take painkillers. All OTC and prescription drugs have a blood-thinning agent meant to assist the effect of the drug upon the body. Drugs are not very effective in blocking the pain of tattoos or piercings; tattoos and piercings hurt and that is simply the truth. Bearing the sensation is simply part of the process.
We use the same hospital-grade sterilization as hospitals or dental offices through the use of one of our two new Tuttnaur 1730 autoclave sterilizers. Autoclaves combine extreme pressure and high temperatures to destroy microbial agents (bacteria & viruses) resulting in sterility. Our autoclaves are subject to spore testing by an independent agency to ensure they are properly functioning.
Please do not CALL and ask our opinion on a procedure we are unable to SEE; you must COME IN.
To get a tattoo in Stafford, VA @ Dark Horse Tattoo
Please telephone our receptionist to set up an in person consultation.
(540) 288-8370