What do I bring to my tattoo appointment?
You need your government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, passport, etc.) This must have your name, your birthdate, and a picture of you present for us to accept it. If you are a minor, there are more things you and your parent must bring (see below).
Please be aware that we will require a photo of the client’s ID for our records.
Will I see my design ahead of time?
Typically, our artist will design your tattoo together with you day-of at the start of your tattoo session. This allows for a more collaborative design process since details can be discussed together as it is sketched, as well as allowing for much faster on-the-fly revisions; doing revisions over messages often takes longer and involves more back-and-forth.
That said! For large or complex custom pieces, we are open to designing your piece ahead of time with some conditions with you to ensure you are comfortable with the end result!
What do I do to get a stencil designed in advance?
To prepare a stencil design ahead of time, we require you to do a face to face consultation to discuss in detail the concept of your design with your artist. In the consultation you will be asked such questions as what you want to get, where you would like your tattoo, what size in inches you want the final piece to be, what style you would like the design to be done in, whether you have any reference pictures, etc. This allows the artist to have a solid idea of what to create.
We strongly suggest doing your consult in-person if possible, because we believe it’s important to make sure you feel out the space ahead of time and make sure you feel comfortable. That said, if logistics are a concern we also offer consults over video call!
We also require a non-refundable $100 deposit towards tattoo appointments that need a stencil drawn in advance. This deposit goes towards the total cost of the tattoo (so if you’re getting a $400 dollar tattoo, with the deposit deducted you would only owe $300 more at the time of the session.)
It also covers the cost of artist labor to create the stencil and design, which is why it is non-refundable: this protects the artist so they aren’t out for their time and effort in case of ghosting, no-shows, and other similar situations. This way, even if the client cancels and takes that custom art somewhere else, the artist is still compensated.
Can I reschedule? Can I edit my design?
You are still welcome to reschedule your appointment (provided 24 hour advance notice!) without needing to make a new deposit. Similarly, you are still able to change and edit your design! We absolutely want to make sure your vision is realized!
If the redesign is a completely different concept, however, it may require a new consultation and potentially a new deposit at the artist digression to cover additional labor (this is usually dependent on just how much time/effort they put into the previous design and how different the new concept is.)
When will I see my stencil?
Typically we try to get stencils out by a week in advance to allow time for review. Revisions can be made remotely or in person at the top of the session depending on how major they are.
Do you take (payment method)?
Most likely! We take card, cash, zelle, venmo, and paypal. There is also an ATM within the shopping center if all else fails! The only thing we don’t accept is personal check.
What is aftercare like for a tattoo?
Check out our aftercare card for an easy overview! If you have more specific questions that are not addressed by the standard review, please feel free to reach out to us. We're more than happy to address your questions and concerns!
Can I get tattooed if I am a minor?
Yes, with parent permission and presence. If you are 15 and over you are able to be tattooed legally in the state of Virginia with parental consent. For this you will need to bring a few things with you to your appointment.
What do I need to bring if I’m a minor?
• You and your parent or legal guardian MUST both be present and sign the waiver in person. It MUST be the parent or legal guardian who signs with the minor.
• Your ID (government issued, like a driver’s license, passport, or learner’s permit.) If the minor hasn’t received a government issued ID, we can potentially accept school IDs paired with a birth certificate. This is because we need a name, a birthdate, and a photo of a client.
• Your parent’s government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, passport)
• If you and your parent/guardian do not have the same last name we will require either a birth certificate to show relationship or other legal proof of custody.
How do I book an appointment?
Shoot us a message on our Instagram page (@needleandmink) or give us an email at needleandminktattoos@gmail.com. We check instagram more often than email but will try to keep an eye out for both! You are also welcome to text the shop number at (703) 539-2507!
We appreciate your consideration that we are a one-artist shop, so it may take us a day or two to see your message sometimes. Please feel free to send us a gentle follow up if it’s been a few and we haven’t seen your message, we appreciate the patience and your kind consideration!
(By that I mean it’s just me! Writing in the plural just sounds a lot more professional in my opinion, and saves me having to rewrite all this from singular to plural if the shop gets more staff friends, but when it comes to all shop operations it’s just me right now! So, I personally appreciate your understanding, and hope that we can work together to make something wonderful!)
Do you take walk-ins?
Our shop is by appointment only since it’s a small private studio, but you can feel free to message us on our instagram page @needleandmink about availability, including potential same-day availability!
What does shop pricing look like?
Our shop minimum is $150.
We typically price by the piece based off of size, placement, and complexity—if you contact us we can give you a more concrete estimate of what you might be looking at price wise! We like to price by the piece because it does not financially penalize a client for taking breaks.
(Pricing by the hour can also lead to some issues with potential exploitation by disreputable service providers taking excessive breaks to pad the price, or on the other hand, can cause artists to feel like they need to rush so they can squeeze as many clients in a day as possible to make their money’s worth.)
However, sometimes it is difficult to guess how long larger tattoos will take, and in the cases of large tattoos, sometimes it is easier to use an hourly model. So our overall model is to price by the piece for tattoos under three hours, and for things above four hours use an hourly rate.
Medical stuff
If you have medical questions or concerns, please talk to us about them! We are happy to discuss with you any worries, and will try our best to accommodate any unique needs that may arise.
Do you offer touch ups?
Yes! On tattoos we have done, the first touch up is free within a year of your session. Things happen, we absolutely never mind touching things up for free if you notice a spot that needs a little tweaking!