[Supernummy]

1. Does it hurt?

Why, yes, it does. Not as much as you'd expect though. While some spots are, indeed, painful, getting a tattoo is tolerable. Ever had a bad sunburn? It feels more like that than anything.

2. How much does it cost?

We cannot price a tattoo without seeing the finished design. Our minimum is $50. That is more for small stars, small butterflies, and generally, small tattoos. Expect to pay more for larger and more intricate backpieces, leg pieces, chest pieces, ect. For instance, a full backpiece can cost thousands of dollars. We generally look at the design, and decide how much time it's going to take, and figure in supplies. Some shops will charge you by the hour, we charge by the piece. A good way to look at how much you're paying, however, is to see it like this. Say you are an 18 year old coming in for your very first tattoo. We tell you the tattoo is going to be $250. Now, say you live to be sixty years old......that's about $4 a year.

3. Can I take a painkiller beforehand, or drink?

No. It is against Texas law for an artist to tattoo anyone under the influence of alcohol. Even if it were not illegal, we still would not do it. Alcohol is a blood thinner, therefore you bleed more. If you are bleeding too heavily it can keep your tattoo from looking as good as if you were sober. We also discourage the use of aspirin beforehand for this reason. We also discourage piankillers, because people who are semi sedated tend to move more, even if they don't know it. Same with alcohol. Anyways, it doesn't really help the pain as much as you might think. The best time to get a tattoo is when you are sober.

4. What should I do to prepare for a tattoo?

Preparing for a tattoo begins the night before. Don't drink (again, alcohol is a blood thinner), eat a good dinner, and get a good night's sleep. From my experience, people who don't have enough rest before getting a tattoo tend to find that it hurts more. On the day you are getting a tattoo, eat a good meal an hour or two before getting your tattoo. It doesn't hurt to bring a candy bar, or a sugary drink either. If you do not normally drink caffienated drinks, don't drink coffee, soda, or an energy drink before getting tattooed. It may make you antsy. If you, like me, drink caffienated drinks 24/7, you should be fine.

The reason we ask you to eat is that anxiety, adreniline, and endorphines can skyrocket at the beginning of the tattooing process, and when those subside, so does your blood sugar. If it drops enough, you can pass out.

5. How do I take care of my tattoo?

At Freak Show, we give you everything you need to take care of it. From the aftercare, to the lotion and soap. We will explain everything to you after your tattoo (even give you a bit of shwag!) and give you both oral and written instructions.

6. How do I keep my tattoo from getting infected?

All of our equipment and tattooing areas are sterilized after every use (except needles, which are single use only). We maintain hospital grade sanitary procedures, and follow the heath department codes to the letter. Most infections are due to customer error. Did you know that right now you have staph bacteria on you? Antibacterial soap is your friend. Did you know that your used sheets are crawling with bacteria? Make sure that you sleep on clean sheets every night until your tattoo is healed. Make sure you are wearing clean clothes, and wash yourself. Wash your hands before touching your tattoo, even in the shower.

7. Will my tattoo fade?

Yes, but how quickly depends on how you take care of it. All tattoos, no matter how well done, will need a touchup at some point to keep them looking as crisp as possible. Here's what you can do to ensure that the length of time between touchups is a long time.
a. Try to keep your tattoos out of the sun as much as possible. Tanning will kill your tattoo faster than anything. Laser tattoo removal is just high powered UV rays blasting your tattoo away. The sun does the same thing, just slower.
b. If you DO, have to go out in the sun, use the highest sfp sunblock on your tattoos as possible.
c. Take care of your skin. The faster your collagen breaks down (wrinkles, and such) the faster your tattoos will break down. Guess what? the sun damages skin more than anything....

8. Can I tip my artist?

Yes, definitely. We do NOT think that tips are expected. A tip is something from customer to artist, showing appreciation for a job well done, much as you would tip a waitress, or a pizza guy. If you feel like your artist deserves a tip, tip them. Tips don't need to be monetary either. If you have been going to the same artist for a while, find out what kind of reference books they like. Find out if they collect something specific, or hell, bring em cookies.