Communication
Please only DM for emergency purposes i.e. questions/concerns about aftercare or if you’re running late to our appointment. All other questions should be emailed to contact@ratqueenink.com
Custom and Flash requests should be made via the Custom Request Form/Flash Request Form that can be found on this website.
Signup for newsletter is required to book with me. This is how I will share important updates, policies, books opening dates and details for flash designs. It will only be sent prior to books opening (usually every 2-4 months).
Appointments/Rescheduling
Please notify me if you are running late for your appointment. I will text you at ten minutes past, and if I do not hear from you by twenty minutes past I will assume you are not coming and I will leave. The clock starts 30 minutes after your appointment time (unless there are extenuating circumstances on my end), whether you’re on time or late.
I’m happy to reschedule appointments at any time, but appointments rescheduled with less than 48 hours notice will be charged a second deposit fee.
No call/no shows and day-of cancellations will be automatically charged a $100 fee via Vagaro. Exceptions will be made in the event of an emergency, per my discretion. Please email if something happens- I’m very accommodating, so long as there is communication and respect for me, my time and supplies. No call/no shows will also be required to pay a second deposit fee if they desire to reschedule. Unless there is communication, a no call/no shows will result in no future bookings with me. This is the only thing that really grinds my gears. So again, communication is key! Even if your phone died and you got stuck at a bus stop and whatever else and you had no way to let me know until way later, that’s ok! Just say something. I know it can be embarrassing, but it’s scary for me when someone just disappears and a simple email/DM is all it takes. If you let me know something has come up and we can figure it out together.
Flash
My current rate for flash tattoos is $160/hour, with a $320 minimum (2 hours). All of my flash designs are intended to take at least 2 hours, so if a design is modified to and takes less than 2 hours, please be aware that it will not cost you less than the minimum. Deposits for flash appointments are $100.
Adding/Removing black fill or color pops from flash is always ok. I’m also fine with making minor alterations to flash designs in order to make it fit better in a particular spot. Sometimes removing detail is needed if you’re wanting to do the design small. Any edits of this sort will be done at your appointment and will be included in the total cost. If you would like to make major edits to a flash design, I consider that custom and ask that you submit a Custom Request Form.
If you live far away and can’t travel here, that’s ok! You can purchase a Tattoo Pass from my online store, which can be found here. Email me after purchase with the design you’re wanting and the order # and I’ll send you the stencil and a signed pass.
Customs
My rate for customs is $180/hour, which slightly higher than my rate for flash. This is to cover the additional time spent consulting, booking and drawing a custom tattoo. I do not charge a separate drawing fee. I have a $400 minimum for custom work.
Deposits for custom work are $100. For large-scale, multisession pieces, I charge a $250 deposit, which will be deducted from your final appointment.
I do not provide designs prior to appointments. Very rarely I may send them if I need clarification or if we’re designing something custom and you live out of town.
I factor plenty of time into the beginning of all custom appointments for edits. It’s much easier for me to make alterations in person when we can discuss it in real time. I’m happy to make multiple edits to designs, that can be completed in a reasonable about of time. We will not begin until you’re fully satisfied.
If you’re unsatisfied and want a complete redraw or want edits that cannot be made within roughly 30 minutes, the appointment will need to be rescheduled and a $50-100 redraw fee will be charged (depending on design complexity). This has never happened to date; my style is very clear on Instagram, and I take a lot of time to make sure I have a clear understanding of what you’re wanting prior to booking your appointment.
While I love doing customs and working collaboratively, I work best when I am given the trust and freedom to design without micromanagement. If you are someone that desires a high level of control and involvement in the design process, that’s totally ok! But I may not be the best artist for you.
If you live far away and cannot travel, but would like a custom design from me, please submit a Custom Request Form and specify that you’d like to purchase a design. Price for a fully completed design and stencil (with a reasonable number of edits) will vary based on complexity, but will range between $50-$200.
MISC
How do I pay?
Just bring cash! Most payment processing apps charge me a significant amount, and I don’t want to pay them and I also don’t want to pass that fee to you. Please just bring cash and plan to have a little extra just in case things take longer than expected. I do my best to quote as accurately as possible, but I’m only human and sometimes get it wrong or the plan changes and sometimes people decide to go bigger or add to the design. So just bring some extra cash.
Can I bring a friend?
No, unless traveling or discussed prior via email. There are several artists in the studio and if we’re all working, it can get tight. Please don’t bring other people unless we discuss it prior.
Can I use numbing cream?
The short answer is yes, but with caution. If you are genuinely concerned about the pain and want to use numbing, please say so in your appointment request so we can discuss. If you use it, please make sure you test it prior to your appointment day to ensure there is no redness or swelling that occurs. On the day of, use it minimally and only where needed. I give more details during the booking process about the risks/dangers of bad numbing products, as well as what ingredients to avoid.
What should I do to prepare for my appointment?
Please avoid sun on the area getting tattooed in the week(s) prior. Sunburns will result in us not being able to complete your tattoo in your desired location. Sunburns are not a valid reason for a waiver of the reschedule/cancellation policy.
Unless medically necessary, please avoid taking
HYDRATE, but not excessively on the day of! Instead, hydrate in the weeks prior. Drinking a ton of water on the morning of will only result in lots of bathroom breaks.
Eat a good meal, and bring snacks! We usually have some, but it can’t hurt to bring your own, especially if you have dietary restrictions.
Avoid drinking tons of caffeine on the day of your appointment. This thins the blood and makes most people fidgety, which isn’t helpful.
If getting a flash tattoo, please have an idea of where you’re wanting the tattoo to go. You can do this by printing out the design and playing with placement at home. As noted previously, I start the clock 30 minutes after your appointment time. I’m happy to give lots of suggestions and input regarding placement, but if you spend 45 minutes moving the design back and forth a quarter inch (yes, this has happened many times), expect that to increase your total price. Being prepared will save us both time (and you money!).
At the appointment?
I understand it’s hard to sit still for long periods of time, but please refrain from playing on your phone during our appointment. It might not seem like it, but texting/scrolling etc can create so much movement that it can make my job very difficult. I want to give you the best tattoo I can, but if you’re on your phone or reading a book or knitting or whatever else, you’re moving way more than you realize. Instead, be prepared with an audiobook, music, podcast etc. if you want to zone out. I also love to chat! If you need to answer a call or send a text, let me know and we can take a break.
