These are some of our most frequently asked questions so please take a minute to read them over...

​Do you require a deposit to book?

  • When booking, we do ask for a deposit. The amount will be determined by the length of time you're booking off. That deposit will come off price of your final tattoo session.
  • If 48 hrs notice is not give given to cancel, or re-book, you will  lose your deposit. If you want to re-book, another deposit will be required. ALL Deposits are: NON-REFUNDABLE.
  • If you no show your appointment, you will lose your deposit.

Do you offer Gift Certificates?

  • Yes we do! We carry gift certificates all year round, and they can be purchased in any amount.
  • Our gift certificates are non-refundable, have no cash value themselves, and are non-transferable.
  • All gift certificate purchases are deemed final sale

Do you do piercing?

  • Unfortunately at the present time NO we do not. When looking for a piercer ask to see their portfolio of piercings done, (if they look off-center or crooked, find someone else) look for autoclave's & ultrasonic machines (needed to properly clean & sterilize), how long have they been piercing and finally feel comfortable with who ever you choose.
  • We love Jaggers and Skin Decision, both are highly reputable studios with trained professionals to help you out!

Can Medications affect your heal time or ability to get tattooed?

  • Yes they can!!!
  • It's up to you to check with your Dr and tattoo artist about any medications you're on to ensure they don't react with your tattoo, affect your ability to have one, the healing time or final result. Common medications issues are caused by Blood thinners, certain hormone treatments, Accutane, Minomycin (or any other Tetracycline-related medication), or any other prescription drug for acne.. Prescription drugs for acne can cause skin to be hyper-sensitive. Getting a tattoo could be disastrous and lead to severe pain and scarring.
  • DO YOUR RESEARCH before any procedure!!!!

Can you tattoo over moles?

Do you use Glow in the dark or Black light ink? "NO" and here's why...

  • www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/contact-dermatitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20352742
  • The concern for any reputable studio is the fact these inks have only been around for approximately 10 years or so, not enough time to see how it's going to our clients health & well-being.  Many of these inks can contain phosphorus which is extremely harmful and is considered a cancer causing agent by many.  While the cancerous part has yet to be documented, we feel strongly about the dangers of these types of products and refuse to expose our clients to unnecessary risk.
  • Proven side effects have included Contact Dermatitis also see second link: Dermatitis,  extreme cases of prolonged itching, as well as the feeling that "this stuff should NOT be in me. The black light inks have an extremely high rate of issue/rejection by the client, many feel as if there's "something wrong" or the tattoo may get very agitated & swollen.  Many heavily tattooed people have had their black light ink tats removed due to complications with the inks.
  • Black-light inks are light reactive  and until recently, they were  also made with a type of Phosphorus,  a material that's florescent, but will only glow under a black light source, see link:  Tattoos - Glow in the Dark
  •  Glow in the Dark inks are usually made with phosphorus which glows in the dark without any help from an outside light source. 

Does the ink fade over time?

  • ​Tattoos can fade due to a number of reasons. Your bodies lymphatic system in constantly flushing your skin to remove toxins in the body; this can cause fading over the long term as well as natural fading over time due to age. Some of the main reasons tattoos fade are, exposure to the sun, tattoo has not been taken care of properly during the healing process, and if a tattoo is too close to a joint on the body they tend to fade faster.  Hand and foot tattoos will also fade due to the constant shedding of the skin in those areas.

What areas hurt the most?

  • ​Areas that are bony, like feet and ribs, would top the list.  Ribs being one of the most painful spots you can go ~ however~ we've had clients come in, sit for hours and never say a word.  It depends a lot on how well you tolerate pain, how much you really want the tattoo (meaning/feeling behind it) and you're overall health; if you're run down, sick or hungover you may find the experience to be much more intense.  I find the more you want a tattoo the less it really bothers you, all you focus on is seeing your piece of art finished. To be honest everyone deals with the tattoo experience differently, however tattoos that have meaning, are worn as a badge of honor, have a story, or a strong emotion connected to them, are the ones that hurt the least ~ the more you want something the easier it is to achieve it.

Can I go swimming?

  • We ask you wait 2 weeks before swimming again.  A new tattoo can become water logged easily, chlorine in the pools will burn, cause color loss and really damage a fresh tattoo, it's a very harsh chemical.
  •  If you're going into the lakes it can be even worse ~ you should be aware of bacteria levels in the water which will get into your fresh tattoo.  Depending on the bacteria type you could run the risk of infection and/or damage.  We have hot/humid summer weather that causes our bacteria levels to skyrocket in the local lakes and beaches.
  • NO SALT water pools or water either!! Both will dry out your new ink and cause premature damage. Both can leach or pull ink from a tattoo, making the color less vibrant/dull. Swimming can also dry out your skin and prolong healing, which can lead to more itching, flaking, and scabbing = damage. This can also cause fading, patchiness in the ink, and blurred lines.

Can I tan?

  • We suggest waiting 3-4 weeks before tanning, sometimes longer depending on size.
  •  If you tan too soon you run the risk of getting a bad burn and doing damage to the tattoo itself. After a tattoo is done, that area will hold excessive amounts of heat that can last for days, to go tanning would build up enough heat give you a bad burn, damaging your tattoo.
  • Wait until all "shine" is gone, there's no more flaking of the skin and the area is smooth to the touch.

 What about travel down south?

  • If you have recently had a tattoo we ask you to wait a minimum of 4 weeks before exposing it to the sun. You must wear sun block or risk damaging and fading your new work.
  • We do not guarantee against self induced fading or damage to your artwork.

Can I shave over the area?

  • We suggest waiting until the tattooed area has become flat and smooth to the touch and has lost any of the "shine" it had (when the skin is healing it gets a "shine" to it). Usually it's between 1.5-2 weeks but it's a little different for everyone based on location, your heal time, and how well you care for it.

How long before I can exercise again?

  • You want to ensure you give the tattooed area the rest it needs to heal the skin.  If you just had your shoulder tattooed we would suggest waiting a week or so before you would start to work out that particular area again, so you 'd be fine to work on abs, legs, cardio, etc.. just leave the shoulder area alone until it has some time to heal.  Always making sure to keep it clean after a workout to prevent any irritation.

How old do you have to be to get tattooed?

  • ​In our studio you must be 18 years old to be tattooed without parental consent.

Is it easy to get a tattoo infected?

  • ​​​We give you an aftercare sheet with very specific instructions on aftercare to ensure the best heal time possible for your tattoo.  There are specific moisturizers, soaps and ointments we advise you to use;  we also give you the healing ointment we want you to use for the first few days. It's designed to heal from the cellular level up, to ensure for a quick heal time.  Also it doesn't remove any of the ink from your new tattoo, which many products on the market do.  Anything with Vitamin E removes impurities from the skin, to your body that ink is an impurity, so it can fade the color, produce spotty color loss and leave you with a damaged tattoo.
  • Unfortunately it depends on many factors like; Cleanliness of the shop, Do they reuse needles? What does their main ink source come into contact with? Do they use barrier control? Do they have the proper medical equipment needed for sterilization?  If you don't get a good "vibe" from the studio or the artists it's better to keep looking until you do.
  • Many tattoos people think are infected are not.  Sometimes artists do something we call "burgering/mashing the skin", it's when the artist goes too deep and actually causes a rippling like affect to the skin, resembling hamburger meat.  It looks bad and most times will heal badly, losing color and definition, healing with a lumpy texture.
  • We give you an aftercare sheet with very specific instructions on aftercare to ensure the best heal time possible for your tattoo.  There are specific moisturizers, soaps and ointments we advise you to use;  we also give you the healing ointment we want you to use for the first few days. It's designed to heal from the cellular level up, to ensure for a quick heal time.  Also it doesn't remove any of the ink from your new tattoo, which many products on the market do.  Anything with Vitamin E removes impurities from the skin, to your body that ink is an impurity, so it can fade the color, produce spotty color loss and leave you with a damaged tattoo.
  • Unfortunately it depends on many factors like; Cleanliness of the shop, Do they reuse needles? What does their main ink source come into contact with? Do they use barrier control? Do they have the proper medical equipment needed for sterilization?  If you don't get a good "vibe" from the studio or the artists it's better to keep looking until you do.
  • Many tattoos people think are infected are not.  Sometimes artists do something we call "burgering/mashing the skin", it's when the artist goes too deep and actually causes a hamburger like affect to the skin.  It looks bad and most times will heal badly, losing color and definition, healing with a lumpy texture.

 I have little bumps around my tattoo, it almost looks like a pimple?

  • We would recommend you use less of the suggested moisturizer or A&D.  Many times if little bumps appear around your tattoo it's due to the pores becoming plugged up and then irritated by too much moisture.  We have 2 brands to choose from, 1 is a very thin moisturizer great for summer time use, while the other is a much thicker lotion and works best in the winter months when your skin is in need of a heavy moisturizer.  If ever in doubt always remember you can come down and get an artist to take a look to reassure you.

Is there anywhere you won't tattoo & why?

​(Please read our "Non Guaranteed tattoo locations" page for more information)
  • We will not tattoo the palm of your hand ~The skin in this area is different from the rest of the body and it tends to blow out and shed off in time, due to the fact your hands shed constantly through out your life.
  • Bottoms of the feet ~ The skin in this area is different then the rest of the body, your feet shed skin constantly through out your life so you can literally shed all of or portions of your tattoo off.
  • Inner lip will not be done ~ the skin in this area is a mucous membrane, meaning the tattoo could, over time, become visible on the outer side of your lip (your face).  
  • Each artist has the ability to refuse a spot they feel will be an issue.

Why are foot/hand tattoos not guaranteed?

  • The skin on the feet/hands is the most abused and it sheds constantly causing color loss, definition loss, and a "blow" out effect of the remaining ink.  Although this is not always the case you assume all liability when these areas are chosen.
  • Healing depends on how well you care for it and the abuse you subject it to (ex. you use your hands for everything!).
  • Foot tattoos~ the shoes you wear after the tattoo can effect how well it heals (anything that might chafe the skin)
  • Hand Tattoos~ healing is effected because you use your hands daily for everything. It's the reason we do not recommend this area for tattooing, the end result isn't always what you expect or want. 
Tip of the Day...
  • If you're going to get a foot/hand tattoo you should always exfoliate first, removing all dead skin cells and leaving smooth, fresh skin to be tattooed.

Do you require a deposit to book?

  • ​Yes, we ask for a deposit, this IS NOT an additional fee, it will be taken off the final tattoo price at time of  appointment. 
  • If you do not give 2 days notice we will not  move your deposit to another date and you will lose your deposit.
  • If you do not show up for your appointment then you lose your deposit
  • Deposits CAN NOT be transferred to another client.
  • You can use your gift certificates as a deposit to hold an appointment, but if you no show or do not give proper notice (5) you will lose that amount off your gift certificate.
  • You will be required to leave another deposit to re-book if you no show, or proper notice isn't given.
  • If you no show an appointment you may be required to pay for your tattoo or a portion of, up front before re booking.
  • If you show up without proper ID or prepared, and this causes us to have to re-book your appointment, you may be responsible for paying for your next tattoo appointment up front.

Will you fix another artist work or complete it?

  • We will always help a client in need, by fixing or finishing a tattoo if possible.  Sometimes to complete work and have it blend, it may require redoing the entire tattoo to ensure colors match properly.  The quality of previous inks used and quality of the work done will determine what we will have to do to finish it, all of which will be discussed at time of consultation.

​What determines the final price of a tattoo?

We give you an estimate at time of consultation/appointment based on what we guess time frame & equipment use will be, unfortunately there are things that affect the time:                                     
  • Skin Type ~ watery skin, stretchy skin, fatty skin, dimpled skin, dry skin, muscular skin all react differently to tattooing                                                                                
  • Location of Tattoo ~ feet and ribs especially~ can take longer due to the pain factor.  We don't know yours until we get started
  • How well you tolerate annoying pain ~ most tattoos compare to cat scratch or rug burn, but depending on chosen location it can be much more then annoying.

Can I use "Emla Cream" to numb the skin before being tattooed?

  • ​No, we can't tattoo over any skin that has had "Emla Cream" applied on it; after application it causes an uneven swelling in the skin.  If we tattoo over an uneven surface once the "freezing" effect has worn off you'll notice the unevenness in the tattoo as your skin returns to normal. It's also not mean to be forced under the skin as a needle would cause it to be, but to be used topically.

What forms of payment are accepted?

  • WE HAVE AN ATM ON SITE for convenience.
  • In order to keep our overall costs down we e-transfers for some transactions and we accept Cash (but no plastic at present time) 
  • There are numerous ATM`s surrounding SIN ON SKIN  located at; Sicilian Pizza, Pizza Girls and Johnny K's. 
  • By not accepting Debit or Visa our prices have remained the same for over 10 years, we apologize for any inconvenience but it has kept our prices from inflating along with everything else over the years.
  • If sitting for larger pieces you may be required to do it in sessions, you are responsible for paying for each session at time of appointment.

Can I get tattooed if I've recently had chicken pox?

Absolutely not!
  • Varicella spreads from person to person by direct contact or through the air by coughing or sneezing. It is highly contagious. It can also be spread through direct contact with fluid from a blister of a person infected with Varicella, or from direct contact with a skin lesion from a person with zoster (shingles).
    People with Varicella are infectious for 4 to 7 days after the appearance of skin lesions and until all lesions are crusted over.     Once the blisters of the chickenpox rash have dried out and crusted over, there should be no risk of the infection being passed on to someone else.
  • The infectious stage of chickenpox usually lasts between five to ten days.
  • Shingles is a form of adult Pox, and as such is contagious before and during its outbreak on the skin. It's not a good idea to even be in public with it. 
  • It's irresponsible to advise anyone with a blood and air carried skin infection to go into a tattoo studio.

Wait until it has healed up fully before being tattooed, you'd be fine getting it done on a none effected area of skin, but think about everyone else who has to come into contact with you, especially in a studio where people have open wounds.

Do you recommend Henna tattoos as an alternative?

I don't recommend them due to the potential issues a client may experience with Henna use.  We had a client in a few years ago and I noticed a scar in the shape of a design on his back calf; when I asked him about it, he told me he had a Henna tattoo done a few years back and after it disappeared he was left with a burn like mark in the shape of the Henna tattoo. No one had warned him of any potential issues and he was shocked at the (permanent) mark it left behind.

  • Black henna often contains the chemical p-Phenylenediamine (PPD), which gives the natural reddish-brown dye a black tint. It is also the main component in most hair dyes.
  • Once the body's immune system has triggered an allergic reaction to PPD, such as after having a black henna tattoo, further exposure can be fatal. If you then dye your hair, it could cause an acute reaction, which can make you go into anaphylactic shock. This can cause abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, dizziness and, in extreme cases, even death.