FAQ’S

  • Yes!

  • If necessary, you may reschedule your appointment no less than 48 hours notice prior to your tattoo.

    Cancellations or no-shows will forfeit your deposit.

    Email me at barringertattoo@gmail.com with the subject line RESCHEDULE or CANCEL if you have any changes to your ability to make this appointment. Please do not use Instagram DM's.

  • Deposits are Non-refundable but DO count towards the final price of your tattoo. Deposits are collected to protect the time I invest in preparing for each appointment, including designing custom artwork, setting up equipment, and allocating a specific time slot. Deposits help compensate for this time if a client cancels or doesn't show up.

  • Cash preferred but cards are accepted

  • Please do not use numbing cream when booking with me. Many artists will allow numbing cream. I would prefer not to deal with the unpredictability of it. Numbing cream contains ingredients that constricts the cells making it harder for the lidocaine to flow out of the area. It also makes it harder to push ink between those skin cells making it more difficult to saturate. When you apply numbing cream to the skin, it can create a barrier that reduces the skin's permeability. This means that the ink may not penetrate the skin as easily or deeply as it would without the numbing cream. As a result, I haves to work twice as hard to saturate the skin, leading to potentially longer tattoo sessions or the need for more passes over the same area.

  • Yup! Just send an appointment request here to start the process.

  • Of course! For full transparency, my tattoo rates are split on commission with the shop. So tips are always appreciated greatly.

  • Grade A Tattoo at Glenbrook Square

    4201 Coldwater Rd M23, Fort Wayne, IN 46805

  • Everyone’s definition of “hurt” is different because everyone feels pain differently. I promise to do everything I can to make you as comfortable as possible.

  • Tattoo pricing varies depending on the tattoo. My minimum is $100. Tattoos finished in one session are priced outright based on complexity of the design, sizing, placement, etc. Larger multiple session pieces are priced by a session rate. Session rates will be discussed when discussing your design idea.

    Two different tattoos may be the same size and take the same amount of time to complete, but one may require more prep time and higher cost in materials. Sometimes smaller pieces require more time to get the details just right.

  • There is no additional charge for custom drawing. However, you will need to leave a deposit before the I will start on the piece. If I do a drawing and you do not get tattooed, the deposit goes towards the my drawing time. Otherwise, the deposit goes towards the overall total of the tattoo.

  • I do not send designs beforehand. This is to avoid back and forth changes and let's me focus on one tattoo design at a time instead of working on multiple different client's designs playing the "back and forth" game with revisions. I am happy to spend any time the day of your appointment to make changes to the design in person so we can effectively communicate about the changes you'd like to make. This also protects my time and art from being taken to another artist at another shop.

  • I do free touch-ups within the first year of getting the tattoo. I do not offer free touch ups for tattoos on hands, fingers, or feet.

  • Any health problem that weakens your immune system such as diabetes, HIV/AIDS etc. may potentially make your healing much slower or impossible.  Furthermore, if you were to get an infection, it could be much more difficult to deal with.

  • If you are sunburned, I will not be able to tattoo you until it is completely healed.

aftercare

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to tattoo aftercare. Understanding your skin and the healing process will help you figure out what is best for you and your skin. Remember you are not healing your tattoo. Your body is. This may sound confusing, but everything that you do to your tattoo can either enhance your body’s ability to heal a tattoo or worsen it.

  • Tattoos take between 2-4 weeks to fully heal. The first few days your tattoo will be red, irritated, swollen, warm-to-the-touch, and possibly bruised; this is all normal. It is also normal for some of the ink to collect under the bandage or blot off onto your towel after a shower. By the 4th or 5th day into the healing process your tattoo will begin to flake and peel. It is

    very

    important that you do not pick or scratch at it! A light slap will suffice when itching occurs. After the flaking is done the skin will look shiny for a few weeks.

    • Keep your new tattoo covered with the bandage that was initially put on your tattoo for at least an hour

    • Wash your hands before cleaning or touching your tattoo for any reason.

    • Use only fragrance free, antibacterial soap to wash the area. Use lukewarm water and pat it dry with a paper towel or air dry.

    • Moisturize as needed once completely dry. Use only a THIN layer at a time so the tattoo is still able to breathe. I recommend Aquaphor Healing Ointment.

    • Keep it clean and out of contact with contaminants such as pet dander, soiled fabrics, and more. Wash your sheets if necessary.

    • Take cool showers (scalding hot water can fade the ink and it doesn’t feel good on a new tat)

    • After the tattoo has healed you will need to continue taking care of it. Always apply sunscreen on your tattoo, especially in the summer, to keep the colors bright. Choose a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher for best protection.

    • Moisturize your tattoo, especially if it’s on an area of your body, such as your hands, where it can fade quickly.

    • don’t use reusable towels as they could trap germs in their fabric

    • DON’T pick, scratch, or peel your tattoo

    • Avoid swimming and the sun for about 2 weeks. You want to keep your tattoo dry and out of direct sun

    • Avoid wearing tight clothing

    • Avoid products that you are sensitive to and do not over-do it with lotions/creams (any product applied should be used sparingly)

    • void taking advice from anyone other than your tattoo artist

  • Avoid companies that make bold claims about reverse aging, or wound healing miracle cures, they are most likely embellishing what their product can do to increase sales. Science has shown us that our body has a fantastic ability to heal itself, regardless of our interference. Basically there is no special cream that is going to magically heal your tattoo so don’t waste your money or risk putting new products on your skin that your body has not adapted to. ESPECIALLY if you have sensitive skin!

  • Your skin is the largest organ of your body, and it acts as a barrier to the dangerous, pathogenic environment that surrounds us. Getting tattooed damages your skin and therefore damages your skin’s natural ability to hydrate itself. This is why hydration is important in aftercare.

    • if you already moisturize often: no more than 1x-2x daily with a lotion that you already use. Introducing another foreign product into your lifestyle can stress your immune system more than help, especially when you are healing a wound.

    • If you don’t already moisturize often: 2x daily of a fragrance free lotion should be good enough. Don’t exceed 3x daily.

    • Don’t over moisturize! Putting on too much product will increase the cellular turnover rate of your skin. It can also increase the chances of you picking up an infection because you keep touching your tattoo. This will make the healing time extend past what is considered normal. When applying, moisturize the entire body part that has been tattooed, not just the tattoo itself. Example – if you have a tattoo on the inside of your forearm you should moisturize the entire forearm.

  • Occlusives (Aquaphor, A&D Ointment):

    Usually an oil or wax-based moisturizer that is applied to the skin. It acts in a way that stops the skin losing moisture due to evaporation by creating a barrier on the skin. should be used sparingly in THIN layers

    • Pros: beneficial for dry skin, eczema, promoting healing

    • Cons: in humid climates, they may cause excessive scabbing and delayed healing. Oily or combination skin types may be at risk of over-moisturizing and increased infection chances

    Lotions, creams, and gels (Lubriderm, Cetaphil, Vaseline Intensive Care):

    • Pros: Less oil in lotion means less chance of over moisturizing. Single applications are less likely to cause excessive moisturizer buildup.

    • Cons: In dry climates, lotions may struggle to keep skin moist for quick healing. More frequent reapplication may lead to uneven moisture levels on the skin.

    1. Initial Healing (Days 1-10): You will notice the pigment in the skin become less vibrant, swollen, and developing a mild, thin scab over the area that had been tattooed (don’t pick at it). Your skin may ooze exudate for the first 24-48 hours. There may be redness and a feeling of itchiness during this initial stage. The scabs that collect on the skin surface should also fall off, and your skin should have a glossy, thin-looking sheen to it.

    2. Deeper Healing (2 weeks to 6 months): Dermis rebuilds to support tattoo pigment. Begins after natural scab shedding, lasting around two months on average.

    3. Settling (Lifetime): Skin adapts to pigment, adjusting saturation through cell turnover. Tattoo may appear less focused over time as pigment "bleeds out." Continuous process impacting the tattoo throughout its lifetime.

  • Absolutely! Make sure to wear loose fitting clothing over the tattoo and keep it clean. Be especially careful if you workout at a gym.  New tattoos are susceptible to infection and contacting your fresh tattoo to sweaty gym equipment used by numerous people presents a definite risk of infection.