TATTOO FAQ
Q: I cannot get tattooed by you for whatever reason – can I commission you to design me a tattoo or take an existing design from you to be tattooed by another artist?
A: No – I appreciate that you want my work on you but it is important to me to be able to tattoo the designs that I draw myself. I do not make any exceptions to this policy.
Q: What kind of custom projects do you take on?
A: When taking on custom projects, I generally enjoy doing imagery including but not necessarily limited to:
leafy botanicals
lucky knotwork with customized charms, especially at a larger scale (can be designed to work around existing tattoos and/or leave space for future tattoos; a great way to tie together patchwork sleeves!)
bugs (beetles, moths, butterflies, etc.), especially involving symmetry
cultural & nostalgic iconography, particularly objects and patternwork (please do not ask me to appropriate imagery from or imitate the aesthetics of a culture that neither of us are a part of)
decorative/ornamental patternwork (can also be incorporated into other designs)
Please look carefully through my portfolio and available flash designs to get an idea of the style I generally work in. I do not do fineline or micro tattoos. If you are interested in getting custom work from me but not entirely sure what you’d like out of a design I am happy to do a consultation to brainstorm ideas with you, however, I will ultimately turn down projects that I feel don’t have a clear vision or concept for me to follow at the point of putting down a deposit.
Q: Do you tattoo designs drawn by other artists?
A: Yes, if it is within my stylistic capabilities! In most cases, I ask that you provide proof that the original artist has consented to this (and encourage you to compensate them for their work as well) - exceptions include things like well-known cartoons, famous artworks, things in pop culture, etc. Please keep in mind that, depending on the design, some modifications may need to be made in order to make the design suited to being a tattoo. Please do not bring me images of existing tattoos from Pinterest, Google, etc. and ask me to tattoo them on you.
Q: Is there anything that I can do in the days/weeks ahead of my appointment in order to prepare for it better?
A: If you have a tattoo booked with me, you will receive an email reminder 48 hours before your appointment with a link that includes instructions on short term preparation for getting a tattoo.
The most significant longer term thing that you can do to prepare for your appointment, aside from maintaining your general health, would be to start a regular exfolation and moisturization routine. While this is helpful to do with any placement, it is especially important for rougher areas of skin like elbows, knees, wrists, ankles, hands, feet, etc. When the area to be tattooed isn’t exfoliated and moisturized, the dead and dry skin on the surface can impede with the tattoo process - there are more layers of skin to break through, the needle frequently gets clogged with dead skin, etc. This typically will translate into a longer tattoo session, having to go over areas multiple times, and generally worse ink retention i.e. more money, pain, and time!
Q: Do you still do handpoked tattoos?
A: I am not currently taking on new clients for handpoked work! Please select the 'Machine' option when filling out my submission form, unless you are an existing client with handpoked work from me that you're looking to expand. I may still opt to handpoke at my own discretion depending on the project, but it is rare and will be discussed with you ahead of time.
Q: What’s a handpoked tattoo?
A: Handpoking just means that I hold the needle bar directly with my hand and tattoo each dot individually as opposed to using a machine with an electric motor. I only use pre-sterilized professional tattoo equipment and always dispose of any contaminated items after each appointment. I do not use sewing needles, unsterilized ink/ink not made specifically for tattooing, etc.
Q: Are you willing to modify your flash designs?
A: I’m usually okay with making small modifications to my existing flash designs (i.e. changing colours, changing/removing an element, and other minor adjustments). I am very open to modifying any of the figures that I draw to be more aligned with your own personal identity or look more like a loved-one. Please include any modifications you’d like made in your booking form submission or email me directly if you’re concerned about whether or not the modifications you’d like to make are feasible. If there are many or large modifications you’d like to make, please consider getting a custom design instead and include the original flash piece as inspiration!
Q: I’m interested in getting a colour tattoo, but am concerned about how it will heal in my skin tone. Do you do colour tests?
A: If you are concerned about how different colours will heal in your skin tone, please feel free to reach out for a consultation! I am happy to go over examples either from my own portfolio or from other artists with you, create digital mock-ups to give you an idea of what certain colours or combinations in a design might look like on you, and/or do a free colour test where I tattoo a small swatch of dots/lines/etc in colours that you are interested in on you so that we can see how they heal. Colour tests do not need to be highly visible and can be arranged in such a way that they are easy to cover up, if desired.
Due to the rising popularity of colour tests on social media, I feel that it is important to remind prospective clients that colour tests are somewhat limited in the generalized information they can provide - they will be most useful if you get them from the artist you are planning to get tattooed by and have a simple, limited colour palette in mind. A colour test done by me will only tell you how the specific inks that I used for the test will heal, and there are so many different brands and a nearly infinite range of variations in hues, tones, opacity, etc. that can be bought or mixed to suit your undertones. Furthermore, the way that we perceive colour can be heavily influenced by factors like how large of an area it covers and what colours surround it. Some colours can often look nearly imperceptible (e.g. yellows, oranges) or grey-ish (e.g. blues and purples) as a small dot/line viewed in isolation, but can be much more dynamic and vibrant when contrasted with other colours.
If you are still interested in chatting about doing a colour test, please email me directly to inquire. Please note that this service is reserved for clients who are not adequately represented in my portfolio - I do not offer it as a way to generally experiment with colour choices.
Q: I am interested in getting a colour tattoo, but am concerned about pigment allergies/sensitivities.
A: Pigment allergies are rare, but unfortunately cannot be predicted ahead of time by a tattoo artist - the only way to know for sure is to try it. If you have a booked appointment, I am happy to tattoo a test swatch of the colour(s) you are interested in free of charge. Colour tests do not need to be highly visible and can be arranged in such a way that they are easy to cover up, if desired. While pigment allergies/sensitivities can happen with any colour, they occur most commonly with red. For this reason, I would highly recommend getting a test swatch done if you are getting a design with large amounts of red in it and do not already have other tattoos containing red ink. In the case that you do have a reaction and wish not to proceed with the design you had in mind, you may put your deposit towards another design to be done within a year.
Please note that this service is free for regularly priced booked appointments only. If you have booked a design at a discounted rate or are interested in a swatch test without another appointment for a tattoo, I charge a fee of $50CAD (+tax) to cover my time and materials. Please keep in mind that these tests will only inform you about any potential sensitivities to the specific pigments in the inks that I use - not having a reaction to a test that I have done does not preclude you from having sensitivities to other pigments that may be used to create similar colours and vice versa.
Q: How well does colour ink last?
A: With all tattoos, the longevity will depend on a combination of your skin, lifestyle, and expectations! Some people retain certain colours better than others, and the colours that stick aren’t always consistent across different people. All colours will lose vibrancy as they age and UV exposure will speed up the process significantly as well as break down the pigments over time, causing the tattoo to look faded and/or blurry. While choosing a colour with a higher tonal contrast can help the linework stay more visible over time, either choosing a placement that gets very little sun or being strict about sun protection will be your best bet at keeping the colour look brighter for longer, if that is your goal. Generally speaking, colour tattoos will need more frequent touch ups over time than black ink tattoos.
Q: Do you do coverups?
A: Yes, if it is within my style and capabilities! Feel free to book an in-person consultation to discuss details - even if I don’t feel like I’m suited to do the piece, I can often suggest someone who would be a better fit based on what you’re looking for.
Q: Will you touch up or rework tattoos done by other artists?
A: I generally recommend going to see your original artist for touch ups, but I assume you’re asking me because you can’t or don’t want to go back to them for whatever reason! If this is the case, I usually don’t have an issue with doing touch ups or reworking pieces done by other artists.
Q: I’m not Asian - is it appropriate for me to get one of your tattoo designs that’s inspired your culture?
A: I truly cannot overstate how much I hate getting this question :) If I do not specify that a design is for a closed set of people, then it is available for anyone to get.
I am not here to give you permission with regards to whether or not you should feel okay about getting a tattoo that draws elements from different aspects of a culture that’s not your own. Pretty much all of my work is informed by my cultural background to some degree. If you are having concerns about whether or not getting a certain design from me is cultural appropriation, please evaluate your relationship to the design, why you want it, and your feelings about it before contacting me - this is something that you need to decide on your own. A good starting point is to ask yourself how you would feel if someone
Q: What shop/studio do you tattoo out of?
A: I currently work out of Baohaus Collective, a licensed private studio in the Chinatown neighbourhood of Vancouver, BC.
Q: What types of payment do you accept at the studio?
A: Payments at the studio can be made, in order of preference, with cash, debit, or credit/other contactless payment methods (e.g. Apple Pay, Google Pay)
Q: Do you tattoo people under the age of 18?
A: I will not tattoo anyone younger than 18 years old under any circumstances. I don’t care if you parent/guardian is willing to cosign a consent form, if you already have tattoos, or if you have any other reason you think I should make an exception to this policy – I will not tattoo you if you cannot prove you are 18+.
Q: Should I tip? What is the standard rate that people tip?
A: Tipping is courteous and very appreciated, but not required. Most people tip ~10-20% on the pre-tax total, but there are no expectations from me for the amount you tip if you choose to do so - it totally depends on your own circumstances and what you feel comfortable doing. I will also gladly accept non-monetary tips such as snacks (I have no dietary restrictions), art supplies, handmade gifts, and any other neat things that you think I’d be into 🙂
Q: Do you want healed photos? Where should I send them?
A: I want healed photos! Email them to nik.tattoo.booking@gmail.com please!
Q: Will you be travelling to my city to do a guest spot any time soon?
A: Any upcoming guest spots will be listed on the front page of my website and announced on my Instagram when they are confirmed. I am not actively taking requests for cities to visit at the moment and rarely travel for work.
Q: I have a question that isn’t addressed anywhere on your website – how can I contact you?
A: Questions and other inquiries can be sent to nik.tattoo.booking@gmail.com. I typically respond to emails within 2 weeks.