JESS’S POLICIES & FAQs:
Booking fees:
All booking fees are non-refundable.
All booking is done via a booking app called Venue Ink. The booking link is available on this page when Jess is accepting inquiries.
Once an inquiry is accepted by Jess, a deposit request will be sent via the booking app for easy payment and scheduling. Deposits are due within 48 hours of the invoice being sent. If you are not ready to pay your booking fee, your appointment date & time will not be held.
This booking fee secures your appointment date, time and tattoo design.
Your booking fee will be void/lost if:
You do not show up to your scheduled appointment (no call, no show).
You are more than 30 minutes late without warning.
You cancel/reschedule with less than 5 days notice.
After you reschedule 2 times.
You change your desired tattoo concept after booking.
If you decide to cancel your appointment altogether, your booking fee is NON-REFUNDABLE.
Booking fees are not transferable to any other artists working at Mesmer Tattoo.
PAYMENT METHOD At Appointment:
At your tattoo appointment cash is preferred for the remaining balance but card payments are also accepted. A card processing fee + tax will be applied to all card transactions.
RESCHEDULE/Cancellation/late POLICY:
As a business, part of our success depends on mutual respect of time. Remembering and respecting the appointment date and time is your responsibility.
Please give at least 5 days notice if you need to reschedule for any reason — with adequate notice, you will be able to carry your booking fee with you to your rescheduled date in the event that you need to move your appointment.
If you are going to be late or cannot make your appointment due to unforeseen circumstances, please contact Jess via email or the booking app as soon as possible. We get it, things happen - just let us know.
If you are 15 mins late with no notice we will contact you, if you are 30 mins late with no notice you will be marked as a no show and sacrifice both your appointment and booking fee.
Consultation/Design Process:
Jess requires consultations for most tattoo appointments — these are done either in person or over Zoom video chat. During consultations, Jess and her client discuss the design in detail and get clarity on the project they will be working on. From there, if Jess has any questions about the design after meeting with a client for their consultation, she will reach out with questions for more clarification.
The design process is based a lot on the trust her clients have in her style and her ability to listen to their input to create a unique design for them to the best of her ability. Any minor changes to designs can be made the day of the appointment. Jess does not send photos of drawings to clients before their scheduled appointments.
Touch ups:
Touch ups can be scheduled through email anytime within a year of getting tattooed. If you are a client needing a touch up, please email jessftattoos@gmail.com and include a photo of your healed tattoo along with your availability. She is more than happy to get you in for a touch up if needed! Don’t be afraid to reach out.
NUMBING POLICY:
You will NOT use any pre-numbing creams on the area to be tattooed without prior consulting with your artist. Jess will provide Bactine numbing spray (if/when needed) during the tattoo session. Please do not buy any numbing products off Amazon.
Does jess do coverups?
Cover up projects are taken on a case by case basis depending on a variety of factors: the existing tattoo you want covered, the subject matter you want tattooed, budget and timeline. Any cover up projects that Jess may take on will require an in person consultation. These cover up consultations typically take about 20-30 minutes or more to discuss the tattoo process and potential cover up ideas in detail. Not all cover up projects are taken on after consultations. If Jess does not feel comfortable or confident in her ability to execute a well done cover-up tattoo, she may recommend another artist or tattoo removal.
When inquiring about cover up projects please include the following:
well-lit straight on photos of your existing tattoo (it helps to have someone else take these photos)
any reference photos of tattoos or subject matter that you would ideally like tattooed
clarification if you would like for this project to be a full cover-up or a “blast-over” — full cover-up will completely hide the existing tattoo whereas a blast-over will still show the existing tattoo through the new tattoo
Can I get a tattoo if I am under the age of 18?
No. The state of New York prohibits tattooing a person under 18 years of age, regardless of parental consent.
A valid I.D. is always required for proof of age at your tattoo appointment.
Can I get a tattoo if I am pregnant or breast feeding?
No, we will not tattoo you if you are currently pregnant or breastfeeding due to increased risk of infection.
How long does it take to heal?
It typically takes about 10-14 days for your tattoo to appear healed. However, it may take about 4-8 weeks for your skin to be fully healed. This is why your touch up session, if needed, is recommended no earlier than 4 weeks after your initial session.
Please keep in mind that you cannot submerge your tattoo in water (meaning no swimming, no pools, hot tubs, ocean, lake, etc.) for a minimum of 10-14 days.
Click here to read our tattoo aftercare instructions.
Is the studio and equipment safe?
Tattoo services at Mesmer Tattoo are completed at the highest standard of safety and cleanliness in accordance with the health department. All equipment is single-use and disposable, and a new 'set-up' is used for each client. All tattoo stations are disinfected daily and cleaned between each client appointment.
Are there any pre-appointment restrictions?
To ensure your skin is in the best possible condition for tattooing, please avoid heavy sunlight and especially sunburn 3 days before your tattoo appointment. Your skin should not be in the process of healing before your appointment.
Please do not come in intoxicated or under the influence for your tattoo appointment. It is our right to refuse service if you show up intoxicated or under the influence.
If you are currently on antibiotics, it is best not to get tattooed. This is because your body is already healing from something so your body does not need additional stress and the antibiotics may impact the healing process of your new tattoo. The same goes for acne medications.
You should not have had any surgeries or have any surgeries scheduled within 2 weeks of getting tattooed. Your body needs time to heal and getting tattooed is an additional and unnecessary stress that should be avoided.
If you are on blood thinners, please consult with your artist and doctor to come up with a plan for getting tattooed. Being on blood thinners can make you bleed more throughout the tattoo process, making it harder to tattoo and may impact healing causing delayed and/or rough healing and a higher risk of infection.
If you have diabetes, an autoimmune disease, heart disease, etc. please consult with your doctor before getting tattooed and make sure to communicate with your tattoo artist about your health and any necessary accommodations that may need to be made for you.
If you are on any prescribed medications, please consult with your doctor before getting tattooed. It is not your tattoo artists job to decide if you can or should get tattooed while taking any medications as they are not a doctor or pharmacist.
If you have any questions about these restrictions, please do not hesitate to contact your artist.
How can I best prepare for my tattoo appointment?
Our biggest tip to best prepare yourself for your tattoo appointment is to 1. make sure to get a full nights sleep, 2. eat a meal before coming to your appointment and 3. make sure to stay hydrated and to moisturize your skin daily. Most people are chronically dehydrated and this effects the skin as it is our body’s largest organ…so the better hydrated you are before your appointment, the healthier your skin will be which will be extremely beneficial for not only the tattoo process itself, but how well your skin will heal afterwards.
We also highly recommend making sure to eat healthy and take any vitamins or supplements that will help boost your immune system. When you get tattooed, your body is undergoing trauma and will have to heal from this. The healthier you are, the better you will heal.
What should I wear to my tattoo appointment?
Wear comfortable clothing. Inks may stain so darker clothing is recommended. You’ll be sitting still for a while depending on the size of your tattoo so dress comfortably.
If you’re getting a tattoo on your arm, bring a zip up hoodie or cardigan so you can cover up the other side of your body and stay warm (you may feel cold throughout your tattoo appointment so be prepared).
LADIES: if you are getting a tattoo on your upper leg or hip, please make sure to wear comfortable clothing and if you have a bikini that ties on the side, that is extremely helpful so you can keep your intimate parts covered during your tattoo. We also recommend bringing a towel you don’t mind getting dirty to cover up with for comfort during your tattoo.
If you are getting your sternum, chest, ribs, or back tattooed, please wear the appropriate clothing. You don’t want to wear a tight bra with an underwire that will rub on your fresh tattoo - ouch! We recommend a bralette or no bra for a day or two to avoid irritation on or around your fresh tattoo.
Shower first (please). Getting a tattoo does require your artist to be in your personal space so please make it a pleasant experience for everyone all around. Please keep colognes and perfumes to a minimum as courtesy to not only your artist but those around you in the tattoo space. This ensures a pleasant experience for everyone all around. Ensuring that you are clean is important to the tattoo healing process as well. As always, we will return the favor and make sure we’re not smelling funky either.
What should I bring to my tattoo appointment?
We recommend eating 1-2 hours before your appointment to avoid any blood sugar crashes during your appointment which may cause you to feel light headed and unable to finish the tattoo. We encourage you to bring snacks make sure to bring water to stay hydrated as your tattoo may take quite some time.
You’re welcome to bring your own headphones to listen to your own music or to binge watch your favorite Netflix show while you get tattooed. It is recommended to wear comfortable clothing and to dress in layers as you may experience being hot and/or cold throughout your tattoo appointment.
If you need a break during your tattoo appointment, just ask! It may seem like a pain to take a break, but we would prefer that to you passing out! If we are in a position where taking a break may be difficult, we can know to give you some time at the next possible stopping point.
Can my friends or family come with me to my appointment?
Due to the limited space in our private studio and we ask that our clients please do not bring more than one guest with them to their appointment. Any additional guests will be required to wait in the waiting room. Please keep in mind that tattoo appointments can last for hours and can actually be very boring for those who accompany you.
For safety and liability purposes, please leave small children at home.
Children and those under the age of 18 are not allowed into the tattoo studio.
How much should I tip? Do I need to tip?
We often get asked this a lot and it can be awkward on both ends.
There is a lot of great advice when it comes to tipping but what is the standard?
Like other services, 20% is the standard (most average between 20-30%), but there is wiggle room. This 20% guideline is typically used when paying an artist an hourly rate. When paying larger transactions (ie: paying a full day rate), a 20% tip may be quite a bit extra money — in these cases, tips usually range from about $50-$200.
Tattooers are not relying on tips for their income — generally they are charging what they expect to make in order to run their business and make a living.
Tipping is appreciated in other forms outside of money. Sometimes clients enjoy tipping in other forms such as gifting handmade items/art, plants, coffee, etc.
All in all, a tip is a great way to show your appreciation for excellent service, especially when your artist goes above and beyond to make you feel comfortable throughout the tattoo process. Tipping is not required and is not always expected but definitely valued! It really comes down to what you feel is an adequate tip for your overall experience with your artist and your tattoo.
A note from Jess on tips:
“I LOVE LOVE LOVE anything handmade or thoughtful. I have received framed insects, artwork, bird houses/bird seed, cookies, coffee, hats, goodie bags full of various items from local businesses, etc. I love when my clients get creative on tips. And I just wanted to say that I will NEVER be upset if you do not or cannot tip. I know that you work hard for your money and took the time to save it up specifically to get tattooed by me and there may not be more than that in your budget and I sincerely appreciate that you chose to fit me into your budget and took the time to come work with me!”
Special Advice from Jess:
In order for me to work at my best, I need you to be at your best!
Here’s the top 10 most important tips that will help you with your session:
Get a full nights rest the night before.
Do not consume excessive amounts of alcohol the night prior and limit caffeine the morning of.
Eat some food before your session, especially something high protein and/or high carb.
Bring snacks and water for stretch breaks. We have a fridge you can keep your food in during your appointment. We have water and snacks available in our studio for you during your appointment but you may want more sustenance if you have a longer session booked. If you have any food allergies, please let me know.
Dress appropriately for me to be able to access the area that you will have tattooed. If you have any questions on what to wear, please don’t hesitate to ask.
If you are prone to being cold, bring an extra layer of clothing or a blanket you don’t mind potentially getting a bit dirty.
If you like to listen to your own music or watch anything on your phone/iPad, please bring headphones.
We appreciate you being mindful of the shop by taking phone calls on breaks and in the waiting room or outside.
The less you move and the less you talk, the quicker your tattoo process will be and the more efficiently I will be able to tattoo my best possible work on you. Remember, you wear your wiggles!
Unless you’ve done it before and it actually helps you, please avoid smoking or consuming cannabis before or during your tattoo appointment. This often enhances pain during the tattoo process. Smoking is not prohibited in our studio or on the premises unless in designated smoking area.