FAQ


How do I book a consultation?

  • Interested in getting a tattoo? Checking out the artists portfolios is a great place to start. You're also welcome to give us a call or come into the shop to ask any questions you may have about finding the best artist for you.

  • Once you know who you'd like to work with, it's time to schedule a consultation with your preferred artist. A consultation is for talking about your ideas and will often include a price estimate. Consultations are free and generally last about 30 minutes. Bring any reference materials you may have collected - drawings, photographs of other tattoos, and your ideas to the appointment. 

  • Be prepared to pay a deposit when scheduling your tattoo appointment. Deposits range from $75 to a full hour of tattoo time. This lets the artist know that you're serious about the project, and the price of the deposit will be deducted from the cost of the tattoo at your last session.


What should I do on the day of my tattoo appointment?

  • DO take care of yourself the night prior to and the day of your appointment. Drink plenty of water, and limit alcohol intake before and after your session. Make sure to get plenty of rest, too. A lack of sleep can really affect your comfort level. 

  • DO be sure to eat something within 4 hours before your appointment. 

  • DO wear appropriate clothing for your tattoo placement. Shorts, tank tops, and loose-fitting clothing make the area easier to access and to bandage. 

  • DO show up a few minutes early to give yourself time to fill out the required paperwork. Be sure to bring a valid ID with you.

  • DON'T be hungry, hungover, sunburnt, or in a hurry.

  • DON'T take a blood thinner like Tylenol or Advil before, during, or after your session.

  • Tipping your artist is appropriate if you enjoyed working with them and enjoy your new tattoo


How do I care for my new tattoo?

  • Keep it clean, keep it moisturized, and be gentle.

  • Leave your bandage on for at least 8 hours. Preferably, overnight.

  • Wash your hands before removing the bandage and gently wash the tattoo with soap and water.

  • Apply lotion or tattoo salve to the tattoo a few times daily.

  • Avoid tight fitting clothing on the area. 

  • Until healing is complete, avoid soaking, hot tubs, swimming, saunas, or physical activities like hot yoga. Showers are fine, but try to be brief. 

  • Avoid direct sunlight and tanning beds. Sunscreen should only be applied to fully healed tattoos.

  • Some scabbing, flaking and peeling is normal. If you tattoo produces scabs, DO NOT pick them. This can damage the tattoo.


Can I make an online deposit?

  • Click the Purchase link in the main navigation or on individual artist page.


How old do I have to be to get a tattoo?

  • You must be 18 or older. State law in Washington says that we cannot make exceptions, even with parental permission. You can schedule a consultation before your 18th birthday … but we will not be able to perform the actual tattoo until on or after your birthday.


Will you tattoo my hands/fingers?

  • Possibly. Let’s talk.

  • We will consider doing highly-visible designs on customers who already have several tattoos. We want to make sure that you understand the potential impact that these types of tattoos may have before you make a decision that is very difficult to reverse.

  • We also think it’s important to inform you that finger tattoos do not hold as consistently as tattoos on other parts of the body. Finger tattoos almost always require at least one touch-up after they are healed.


How much will my tattoo cost?

  • An estimated price range can often be given for smaller single-session tattoos.

  • Larger, multiple-session projects are priced at an hourly rate.

  • There are a lot of factors that determine how much your tattoo will cost. Most of all, the price of your tattoo is determined by how long it takes to complete the project. Much of that can be determined during a free consultation.


Can I get a tattoo right now?

  • We are working by appointment-only at this time and are not doing walk-ins.

  • Feel free to call us at (206) 227-3572 or email us at info@trueloveart.com to ask what our current availability is. Same day appointments may or may not be available.


If I decide not to get my tattoo, can I get my deposit back?

  • All deposits are non-refundable.

  • Once you make a deposit, the artists at True Love will work hard to provide you with a design that reflects the direction that you provide for them. They will usually be happy to edit a design to your specifications or even start over completely so that you will be pleased with the final tattoo.

  • If you still choose not to get your tattoo, the artist will retain your deposit to compensate for the time spent consulting, corresponding, and working on your design.


What does a tattoo feel like?
Will it hurt?
Will it hurt a lot?

  • Tattoos hurt. There’s no way around it.

  • Some parts of the body are more sensitive than others, so some tattoos will only hurt a bit while others will hurt quite a bit.

  • We will do our best to make you as comfortable as possible, but discuss with your artist if you have concerns about pain tolerance.