Tala Tattoo
Frequently Asked Questions Menu...

This is my first tattoo, what do I do?

I want a tattoo, now what?

I book appointments all day, every day 9AM to 9PM.
Please call now to schedule an appointment.
A consultation or an appointment REQUIRES a deposit.
Minimum deposit is $100.00 for the consultation.
If you are calling me I'll take your credit card information
over the phone and charge your account for the minimum deposit.
(415) 902-4794 in San Francisco

Your deposit, as stated elsewhere, is non-refundable for any reason.
The deposit goes to pay for your tattoo and is rolled into payment for
the last tattoo session of your new tattoo. If we complete your tattoo
in one sitting, the deposit is applied to the full cost of the tattoo.
(i.e. if we work an hour on your tattoo and you made a deposit of
$100.00 you'll pay another $60.00 for a total of $150.00 for the one
hour of tattooing.) If we still have work to complete your tattoo and
you need to come back at a later date, the deposit will be carried over
to the final session.

Small tattoos are a pretty simple process, but there are other
considerations when we're doing a larger piece which involves multiple
sessions to complete... Small tattoos which are fairly simple in
scope/complexity can be sussed out and agreed upon at the initial
consultation.

When we've completed your initial consultation, we'll review the scope
and time required to draw and complete your tattoo. If the
artwork/design/drawing are extensive I may require more of a deposit.
This all depends on the size of the tattoo, time to create artwork, and
if we have an ongoing well-heeled client/artist relationship.

We may need to meet again to review/approve the design, and/or place
artwork on the body and make modifications to the artwork based on
drawings and shape of the body and/or flow of the design on your body.

• Extra-extra or extensive drawing on the body
• Extensive artwork
• Re-revised-revised artwork
• Late Arrival/s
• Missed appointment/s

What do I do the day of my tattoo?
Or...how to get a REALLY GREAT Tattoo.

• Get a good night's sleep before the tattoo. Well rested is well prepared.
• Eat a good healthy meal before arriving for your appointment.
• Make sure your health is good. (Your tattoo will thank you!)
• Be in good spirits. (Relaxed, happy, calm...)
• Do NOT drink alcoholl. (Alcohol will make you bleed!)
• Do NOT take aspirin. (Aspirin will make you bleed!)
• Wear loose clothing in and near the tattoo area.
• Wear loose and comfortable clothing in any case.
• If this is a foot tattoo, wear slip on shoes that are roomy.
• Wear old clothing you no longer care about. My pigments STAIN!
• Be ready for a truly delightful experience. I like to have fun tattooing.
• Getting a tattoo can be one of the most interesting experiences of your life.

Will I need a touch-up on my tattoo after it heals?

Is tattooing safe?

Does it hurt?

What does it cost?

• the area of the body
• the size of the tattoo
• tattoo complexity
• tattoo density
• your skin
• how long it takes to place the stencil
• how long it takes to draw the design on your body
• how well your particular skin takes the ink

What's happening to Tala's Rate and Availability?

Link to Cost page

Frequently Asked Questions Menu... click here to return to menu

Cash or credit cards?

Your deposit will go toward your last session, and you pay for each
session when it's finished. I prefer... CA$H.

Here's how to pay for your tattoo...
CASH is the BEST way to pay for your tattoo.
Use your ATM or Credit Card, But First...
Go to an ATM machine and withdraw the cash.
Then, please come on down to the shop with cash in hand...
Cash makes the transaction so much easier and, it's personal.
Especially if you're using an ATM/Credit Card anyway.
Really, CA$H IS KING!
Thanks for understanding this issue...


Frequently Asked Questions Menu... click here to return to menu

Should you tip me? (Or any tattoo artist...)

How do I take care of my tattoo?

Please click on the "Aftercare" link and read the instructions.

Link to After Care Page

Frequently Asked Questions Menu... click here to return to menu

What are some of the possible complications of tattooing?

Can I bring a friend with me?

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

Can you make this tattoo smaller?

The Short answer: NO... NO... NO... no...
A good tattoo looks good across the room, across the street and over significant time.
What that means is; the smaller the tattoo, the less likely it will look good.
Good looking tattoos are recognizable from a distance and they still look good years later.
Making it small may please your mother, grandmother, father, sister, girlfriend, lover, husband, wife, etc...
BUT... it will still look like crap.
Plan for a great tattoo that IS a tattoo.
If you want something small and detailed, change your mind.
Get a real tattoo and be proud!
Remember, small tattoos are NOT cute. And... in a short time they'll just be unrecognizable blobs...
A good tattoo is bold, has high contrast, fits the area of the body well,
and has good design/composition.
Your Tattoo Artist can guide your choice to a better tattoo.
So... please yourself, get the best tattoo you can.
In this case... bigger really is better!

Frequently Asked Questions Menu... click here to return to menu

I hate my old tattoo...
What's the best way to cover this tattoo?

Covering a tattoo requires a consultation.
I need to see the tattoo you want covered and photograph it.
You can email a good, detailed, high contrast photo of the existing tattoo to me.
Call for my email address. 415 902-4794
The good news is: WE CAN COVER YOUR OLD TATTOO!

Many folks think they can cover old unwanted tattoos with black work/tribal.
Well... perhaps, and... more often, and... in fact... really; NO!
If you cover an existing tattoo with black/tribal, you'll still see the tattoo under the black.
You'll see the outline of the old tattoo, there's just no getting around it.

Some folks think you can cover dark tattoos with a lighter color.
A qualified answer to that question would be: NOPE!
Qualified because... using lighter colors to cover darker colors is useful when
the cover design allows for a greying of color over existing darker colors using a light color.

A good cover design will be one that pulls interest away from the existing old
tattoo in the process of creating the new tattoo.
To do this a few design elements are necessary...
First there must be a new area or, better yet, new areas of dark to offset the existing dark tattoo area.
Secondly there must be a new center/area of interest/contrast/detail that effectively pulls
the eye away from the current dark tattoo area. And... the covering tattoo needs detail!!!
Thirdly; and here's what is true for ALL covers...
The covering tattoo MUST be significantly LARGER...

Frequently Asked Questions Menu... click here to return to menu

Can I change my mind? -- Time considerations -- Deposits

• Deposit fees are non-refundable for any reason.
• Deposit fees are non-refundable for any reason.
• Deposit fees are non-refundable for any reason.
• Deposit fees are non-refundable for any reason.
• I really hate having to state that, but there it is...
• Be sure you want your tattoo with me...
• You can re-schedule for up to three months, up to 48 hours before your appointment start time.
• Last minute re-schedules are subject to loss of deposit.
• A new deposit WILL be required for last minute rebooking/rescheduling.
• If you want a major change in your art work, your deposit may be used to pay for completed art work.
• A new deposit may be required for new art work
• If you miss your appointment... a new deposit will be REQUIRED to book a new appointment.
• If you are significntly late for your session you may pay a fee for my time and trouble.
• Arrive early and save money.
• Remember, you are parking in San Francisco, in the Mission District. That means limited parking at best and you'll probably need 15-30 minutes JUST to find parking! Arrive Early... Take Bart to 16th and Mission. Park in a Bart Parking Garage and save time!
• Your tattoo work takes a finite period of time, which we've booked with a consideration for the time it takes to tattoo all subsequent clients that day...
• Late customers push back my scheduled appointments with subsequent clients. (who wants unhappy people/clients? Keep your fun factor high, arrive early! Save Money!)
• (If you arrive on time and I'm running late it's probably because an earlier client was LATE!)
• If you are late and in consideration of subsequent clients I may choose to have you pay another deposit and reschedule.
• If you are really late or miss your appointment I may charge you for the full time we booked... (2, 3, 4, 5 hours?) PLUS a new LARGER deposit!!!
• Arrive early!
• No, Really... Arrive early!

What if I have schedule conflicts?

What happens if I'm late or I don't show up?

• Our policy on late arrivals is based on a fifteen minute grace period.
• Clients arriving more than 15 minutes late to an appointment, may rebook for a later appointment
  and may lose their deposit and may be required to pay another deposit.
• Clients who are consistently late will be charged for the time. (It's only fair to all my clients.)
• Please review the information in this FAQ regarding Deposits.
• No-Shows lose their deposit and will pay another deposit when rebooking.

Where is your studio?

I work at Black & Blue Tattoo.
381 Guerrero Street
San Francisco, Ca 94103-3331
415 626-0770
Call me at 415 902-4794 to make an appointment...

Link to Shop-Contact Page

Frequently Asked Questions Menu... click here to return to menu

What is your mailing address?

Can I bring my own tattoo inks/pigments or tattoo needles?