Can one who is under 18 get a tattoo?

Not by NYARTMAN! You MUST be at least 18 years old with proper I.D. (drivers license or passport). It is against NYS Law to tattoo minors, with or without parental consent. Jeremy Garrett firmly believes in this law and was practicing it before tattooing was made legal in February 1997.  NYARTMAN is a professional and respectable tattoo artist and will not tattoo minors.  No exceptions in regard to this matter, so please do not send email about it. It will be deleted.

Will it hurt?

Usually, depending on the individual. The most sensitive places tend to be on the inside of your arms and legs as well as the stomach area.  If you have a low pain tolerance speak to your doctor about getting a pain killer to help you deal with the pain; however, NYARTMAN will not tattoo anyone under the influence of illicit drugs.  Do not use any type of topical anesthesia on your skin before getting tattooed, these can effect the healing process and final appearance of the tattoo.

How much does it cost?

Every tattoo is different and the prices vary. There is a minimum charge of $200 that covers the basic setup of equipment, sterilization and most small i.e. 2"x2", single color tattoos. All other designs will be charged an hourly rate.  NYARTMAN does not negotiate his rates.  If you are not able to afford the tattoo you want he recommends that you wait until you can, instead of settling for something less than you had in mind. Reducing the size or quality, or trying to rush the process will only disappoint you in the end. A tattoo is a lifetime investment, get the one that will make you happy in the long run.

Do I need to make an appointment?

Yes. NYARTMAN works by appointment only. It is recommended to set up a free consultation appointment to go over your piece and discuss the fee.  If you have sketches, photos of objects or designs that you like please bring them with you to the consultation appointment.

Can you design my tattoo or do I have to bring in my own design?

NYARTMAN specializes in custom work and greatly prefers it. It is his opinion that the whole tattooing process is a deeply personal experience and most work should be customized to some degree. That being said there are some designs that are either classic or special to the client and it is no problem at all to have them done in an exact fashion in order to meet your needs and expectations.

Does NYARTMAN charge a fee to design a custom tattoo?

Yes, NYARTMAN charges a minimum design fee to do one detailed sketch with one possible revision (a complete do-over or other revisions can be made once an additional minimum fee is secured). This will be discussed in more detail during the consultation appointment.  It is not an illustration fee to purchase renderings or designs and it does not go towards the actually cost of getting the tattoo. It is specifically used to compensate him for time spent drawing.

Is this fee completely separate from the actual tattoo? In other words if I get the tattoo would there be any discount because of the design fee or would some of it go towards my actual tattoo? Also if I like the design but want a few changes could I see this or are we talking another design fee.  Would you be able to make any adjustments if needed?

NYARTMAN will draw up a detailed design for you based on your written description, which will give you a clear representation of what you'll be getting tattooed. If there is something that you would like altered he will do that for you. An example of what a revision is would be adding horns to a demon that has none or changing a sword that it's carrying to a mace. Based on this example he would not have to redraw the illustration only make minor changes to it. On the other hand, if you look at the design and say “I don't like the way the demon looks, instead of having him standing I want him seated”. This would not be consider a revision but instead a do-over because he would have to draw the whole thing over, instead of just revising an element of the drawing. For a do-over or more than one revision, NYARTMAN would have to charge another design fee. For this reason he will need you to write down specifically what you want during the consultation appointment. Even if you are willing to give NYARTMAN complete freedom with the design, it is recommended that you at least write down a list of things you like or wouldn't mind having in the design and things you don't like or absolutely wouldn't want in the design. It is not a cost effective situation when he has clients describe what they want and he creates a design based on their description; for want ever reason, they don't like the drawing and want him to do other versions until they're happy. This would be extremely time consuming for NYARTMAN with possibly little or no returns on his time invested.

How long does it take?

Tattooing is a slow tedious process where there is no room for mistakes. There is no absolute time frame; however, most tattoos the size of a playing card can be done within a two hour session.  Backs and full sleeves in most cases take at least 30 hours to complete.  There are many factors involved in getting tattooed and it is impossible for NYARTMAN to give an exact time frame.

Is there anything I can do to prepare for my new tattoo?

One very important thing you can do is not drink alcohol at least 24 hours before or after you get tattooed.  Alcohol can cause you to bleed heavily while getting tattooed and even afterwards thus flushing the ink from the skin.  This results in light spots throughout the tattoo.  Wear loose fitting clothing, ones that you do not mind possibility getting stained with ink.  Eating well and having juice or other drinks with a high sugar content before getting tattooed will help you with the pain and from becoming light headed during the tattooing process.

How long does it take to heal?

The surface of a fresh tattoo with proper care usually takes only two weeks to heal. Sometimes the new tattoo may have a hazy look around the two week period, this will go away after about week. Also for some people there may be slight bruising or sensitivity around the general area of the new tattoo, especially in sensitive areas and may take a few days after being tattooed for this to subside.

How should I take care of my tattoo?

A comprehensive care sheet will be provided to all new customers and it can also  be found here. Generally caring for a tattoo is easy. After first receiving a new tattoo one should keep the tattoo covered for about three hours. Then the bandage should be carefully removed and the area gently cleaned with soap and water. Immediately afterward, a thin layer of triple antibiotic ointment or Aquaphor healing ointment (if you are allergic to triple antibiotic ointment) should be applied and reapplied as needed to keep the area from becoming infected or dry for two complete weeks. One should avoid swimming or immersing the tattoo in water for any prolonged period of time. New tattoos often itch and sometimes may develop a scab; however, it is imperative that one should refrain from scratching, picking, rubbing or wearing anything that may continually rub the tattoo. All of these could damage the tattoo at best and scar the area at worst. The tattoo needs a two week undisturbed healing period to properly set. If the itching is unbearable ice can be applied to the area for relief. Exposing the tattoo to the sun without sun block is never a good idea, no matter how old it is. The sun can and will slowly fade your tattoo.

I was told by another tattoo artist that after getting tattooed I should first use a triple antibiotic ointment on the area and then after three days switch to lotion, is this okay?

NYARTMAN recommends using a triple antibiotic ointment or Aquaphor healing ointment because the tattoo is in the healing stage from day one until about two weeks. The worst  thing that could happen to a new tattoo is the possibility of it getting infected.  A triple antibiotic ointment will help to keep this from occurring. Lotions do not help in fighting infection and can actually harbor bacteria.  Switching to lotion after a few days of getting a new tattoo is not a good idea and it does not affect the appearance of the tattoo after it is totally healed.

It is true that red ink causes an allergic reaction?

All inks can potentially cause allergic reactions depending on the person. It is probably true to say that warmer colors are usually responsible for this occurrence; however, it is extremely rare. The vast majority of tattooing inks are made from non-toxic pigments. NYARTMAN uses the highest quality, reputable, time tested inks available. If you are prone to allergic reactions, perhaps consider starting with a very small tattoo to gauge your body's response. If you do develop an allergic reaction or any other type of infection, you should visit your doctor immediately. While allergic reactions to tattoo inks are very rare, if it happens and is left untreated it can damage the tattoo, lead to infection and or greatly increase the healing process.

What you can expect by choosing NYARTMAN as your tattoo artist:

• NYARTMAN is a licensed tattoo artist who has been trained by the NYC Department of Health as well as by the CDC in proper sterilization techniques and infectious diseases.
  
  
• You can trust that you will be worked on in a clean environment using only sterile equipment and of course single use needles and ink cups. Why? It is not only for your protection but for the artist's as well.
  
  
  
• Confidence that you will receive a tattoo beyond your expectation from an artist who is setting the standard in custom tattooing.
  
  
  
• As the customer you will be treated with the utmost respect in a relaxed, non-pretentious, private environment.
  
  
  
• Your project will receive 100% personal attention from the artist to insure your vision will be met.
  
  
• You will be tattooed by an award winning artist with over a decade and a half of professional tattooing experience (not simply a tattooist whose worth is based on how many tattoos they have).