Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you must be at least 18 years old and provide legal ID proof of age to get a tattoo at Astra Tattoo. There is no parental consent law for minors.

Getting a tattoo can be uncomfortable, but the level of pain varies depending on the individual and the location of the tattoo. Our artists use techniques to minimize discomfort, and we can provide guidance on how to care for your tattoo after the appointment to minimize any pain or discomfort.

No, but we can suggest a piercer upon request. 

 We are now offering walk-ins Fridays and Saturdays 12pm-5pm, with occasional walk-in Flash events (follow us on Instagram to get more information as those are scheduled). The rest of the week we  operate by appointment only. Please fill out your artists' booking request form to start the booking process!  

You don't need to put down a deposit for a consultation, however you will need to pay a deposit to book a tattoo appointment. Each artist varies, but typically $100 - 300 is common for a deposit. The deposit reserves your appointment time and is applied to the tattoo balance at the end of your appointment. 

If you don't show up for your appointment, or are more than 30 minutes late, the deposit goes to the artist for their loss of time. 

There is no penalty for rescheduling as long as you give your artist ample notice time (72 hours in advance is preferred). If you no call/no show or reschedule last minute your deposit will be used to recover the lost time for the artist and a new one will be required to rebook. 

We do not ever email artwork, but we always want our clients to feel comfortable giving feedback on tattoo designs and we will never pressure you into getting a design you don't agree too. Each artist has a different process, but generally will either have an art check appointment in advance of the tattoo day, or if you're seeing the artwork the day of your tattoo, we always allow extra time at the beginning of your tattoo appointment to make revisions to the drawing if necessary.  

Remember that the more specific information you can give your artist during the consultation process will help the whole drawing process go more smoothly. And as always we will give the best advice we can based on our experiences and what we feel will work best for you. We also understand that you're excited to show your friends and family and partners your design, but keep in mind the tattoo is FOR YOU and YOU ALONE - they can see it when it's on your body.  

Artists carry their own payment systems:

Suzy: Cash  - Venmo - Paypal

Dax: Cash - Venmo

Cailin - Cash, Venmo, Paypal, Credit cards

The most important thing is to get a good night's sleep, drink plenty of water and have a nice big meal before your tattoo starts. Dehydration, exhaustion, and hunger will make the tattoo session worse for you, and could cause light-headedness or even fainting. 

Please show up on time, ready to fill out paperwork with your state-issued ID. 

Wear something comfortable & stretchy that allows easy access to the area to be tattooed, and preferably black (tattoo inks will not wash out of clothing so wear something you don't care about).

Do not shave or wax the hair on your skin. We will shave it for you (using gentle techniques to prevent ingrown hairs). 

It's not entirely necessary but it's very helpful to us if you can gently exfoliate and hydrate the skin to be tattooed, this helps the stencil stick to your skin better. 

Make sure you don't have any of the following skin issues going on in the area to be tattooed:

sunburn

unusual skin sensitivity (could be caused by injury or antibiotics)

bruises

rashes

folliculitis or other skin infections

The healing time for a tattoo varies depending on the individual and the location of the tattoo. Generally, tattoos take 2-4 weeks to heal. Our artists will provide you with detailed aftercare instructions to help the healing process go as smoothly as possible.

Adhesive Film bandage: Wear the film bandage provided for about 24-36 hours (or according to your artist's instructions). Remove the film slowly and carefully . Running warm water over the area, soaping the edges and gently pulling it with your hand against your skin is the most comfortable way to do this. Run some hot water over the whole tattoo to help open your pores and loosen the surface residue.  With clean hands and liquid soap wash the tattoo thoroughly or until all of the surface residue is gone. Rinse with cool water and pat dry with a clean towel. You may start moisturizing right away or whenever your tattoo starts to feel tight or dry (usually by the 3rd day).  Several times a day you may apply sparingly a fragrance free sensitive skin lotion (such as Aveeno, Lubriderm, Cetaphyl, Eucerine, Gold Bond, Coconut oil, etc). Over the next couple of weeks light flaking with a few scabs is normal and should take about a week or two to slough off. While there are scabs on the tattoo don't soak the tattoo in a tub or go swimming. Do not scratch or pick the tattoo. Should be fully healed in 4 weeks. 

Standard bandaging, Day 1: If you can, leave the bandage provided on for the first night. After removing bandage the next day, with clean hands, wash with mild liquid soap and hot water for at least 1 minute. 

      Days 2-4:  Continue to clean tattoo with soap & water about 2-3 times a day for the next 3 days. Avoid heavy exercising during this time. Keep your tattoo clean & lightly moisturized and avoid sweat and dirt. Don't swim or tub soak (short showers are OK). Only apply moisturizer if tattoo feels tight or dry. 

    Days 4-14: After a few days the tattoo will start to get dry and flaky.  Several times a day you may apply sparingly a fragrance free sensitive skin lotion (such as Aveeno, Lubriderm, Cetaphyl, Eucerine, Gold Bond, Coconut oil, etc). Over the next couple of weeks light flaking with a few scabs is normal and should take about a week or two to slough off. While there are scabs on the tattoo don't soak the tattoo in a tub or go swimming. Do not scratch or pick the tattoo. Should be fully healed in 4 weeks. 

For the next 2 weeks your tattoo will be dry, flaky, and itchy and may have small scabs attached to it. Do not scratch or pick at the scabs or soak them in water (short showers are OK). If the tattoo itches, it's a sign it needs moisture. It's okay to slap or pat the tattoo to relieve the itching as well. Also do not let constrictive clothing rub against or irritate the tattoo. Do not expose it to sunlight, tanning beds, or chlorine water for 3 weeks.

For the life of your tattoo, keeping it out of sunlight will prolong it's brightness. Sunlight can fade colors, blur lines, and generally remove details from tattoos. The best defense is covering up, but a mineral based sunblock with a high SPF is a good second. Look for Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide as the main ingredient. This blocks UVB and UVA rays from the surface of your skin, and generally work better than chemical based sunscreens.

We do not offer this service at this time.

 We love kids & dogs but they are just not allowed in a tattoo studio for health and safety reasons! Please find childcare for your little ones or leave your pets or ESA (Emotional Support Animal) at home. 

Our private rooms have limited space and our artists do best when working one on one. We prefer that you come alone to your appointment, or ask your guests to stay in the lobby.

No, this is not a service we offer. We feel that the risks involved are far too many, and advise anyone not to do this.

We suggest that if you want to memorialize a loved one with a tattoo, we can design your tattoo using symbols and imagery that remind you of them. This will be much safer and you will have a much nicer looking tattoo in the long run.