POLICIES

Please read below for important information on booking and appointments. By booking an appt. with me you are agreeing to abide by these policies.

HOW TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT: I take appts. through Instagram (I respond fastest through Instagram) and my email (gracedoestattoos@gmail.com). In order to provide a quote and book a time, I need the idea (with any and all references) and the size and placement for your tattoo. If you are not sure about these details, please wait to book as I need these details to make an appt.

Appts. are not made until I have all of the appt. details, I've provided a quote, and I have sent you a "You've Made An Appointment" message which will include all relevant appt. information.

I will not work with racist, homophobic, or sexiest clients or content. I will not work with clients who insult, threaten, or harass me. I do not tattoo clients under 18 years of age, regardless of parental permission.

CONSULTATIONS: Consultations or discussions about tattoos and tattoo details are not offers to be tattooed. Offers are only made real once you arrive at your appt., I have verified that you are over 18 years old, and you have signed the consent form provided to you at the appt.

ARTISTIC DIRECTION: I am a custom artist and draw all of my designs myself with the exception of fonts and handwriting and some designs that are used with artist's' permission. I ask clients to provide plenty of artistic references so I can get a good visual idea of what clients are looking for. That being said, I DO NOT copy other artists' original artworks or other artists' tattoos. I source fonts that have open commercial licenses or those that I've bought the commercial license to use.

I am currently most interested in illustrative work with a focus on natural subjects (except human subjects) such as plants, flowers, botanicals, insects, fruits, vegetables, and some animals (except snakes and koi fish). I am also a big fan of some ornamental style pieces, script, lettering, and bold blackwork designs. I like to work with primarily black and some black and grey. I am currently taking on color projects and am interested in the same subject matter listed above for color work.

DESIGN IDEAS: please be specific and detailed when describing design ideas. You can send me anything you'd like that will help you explain your design idea including images, sketches, artworks, etc.

SKIN TONE: If you have a deeper skin tone and are curious about how color will interact with your skin, I am more than happy to discuss this with you and set up a free color test. This would involve taking some colors you're interested in using in a tattoo, picking a discrete place on the body, and tattooing small lines or dots of color in that area.

PRONOUNS: Please feel free to give me your pronouns and also to correct me if I misuse them.

COMMUNICATION: I speak Korean and English fluently. If you are Deaf, hard of hearing, etc. please feel free to let me know and we can work through text, writing, or another preferred method. If you need the help of a translator, I am more than willing to work with one whether it be someone you hire or someone you know.

I do not, under any circumstances, tolerate rudeness or meanness from potential clients, clients, or their guests. If you are rude to me, I will not provide you with my services. This includes making inappropriate personal comments towards me, insulting me or my work ethic/business, haggling, and arguing with me. You are free to ask me questions, and I understand we may have disagreements, but that can all be done professionally and politely.

PHYSICAL AND OTHER DISABILITIES: I would like to remain transparent and inform anyone with physical disabilities that tattooing for clients with certain physical disabilities can be impractical. I am still in the process of learning about this industry as it relates to disabilities and hope to bring more and better insight into this issue. I apologize if any of these limitations on my end makes it difficult to get tattooed by me. If you would still like to work with me by having me work on your design, please let me know. You will get a 20% discount on any design work I do for you.

Studio space and measurements: There is a curb leading up to the building I’m in that has sloped areas for easier access. The doorway to my building has double doors and both doors can be opened simultaneously. The doorways to my studio and the bathrooms in the building all measure 31 inches across.

SELF-HARM SCARS: Please inform me (if you're comfortable) when you are getting a tattoo to cover self-harm scars. You will get a 15% discount.

MILITARY PERSONNEL: If you are a veteran or an active service member in the military, please let me know and you will get a 15% discount on your tattoo.

STUDIO DETAILS: My studio is located on the ground floor of the building once you come in. For those who need assistance walking or sitting, please note that the studio has one chair for one guest and has carpeted and concrete floors throughout the building. My tattoo chair has an approximate weight capacity of 250 pounds and my tattoo bed has an approximate working weight capacity of 400 pounds.

TATTOO CONTENT: I will not tattoo any content I consider racist, sexist, homophobic, derogatory, or otherwise harmful or offensive. I do not discuss or debate this policy.

I do not copy existing tattoos or other artists' original artworks. The exception to this is if the work is in the public domain or I will tattoo an original artwork if you (the client) are able to provide me with the artist's express consent to tattoo the piece via a photo or email.

Although I may reject certain tattoo subjects (i.e. those I find offensive or am not comfortable tattooing) please note that I will never turn away a client due to their ethnicity, race, skin color, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

COVER-UPS AND RE-WORKS: I do not take cover-up and re-work projects. I will not tattoo over or add to an existing tattoo. Cover-ups and re-works are a specialized area of tattooing that I do not specialize in. I have little experience doing cover-ups and always recommend finding an artist who specializes in this type of work if you are seeking a cover-up or re-work.

SINGLE NEEDLE TATTOOS: I do not do single needle work.

PRICING: I usually provide my clients with an exact quote (i.e. $140), and sometimes I provide a price quote range (i.e. $120-150) which represents the lowest and highest amount a client will be charged for a tattoo based on the level of detail, size, and placement of the tattoo that the client and I have agreed on in the consultation.

My minimum is $80 and my deposit amounts are $50 or $100 depending on the total amount for the piece.

If you have any additional questions about how I charge or why I charge a certain way, please feel free to ask me.

CANCELLATIONS AND RESCHEDULING: I will charge a deposit to reschedule any appt (whether your initial appt. required a deposit or not) and if your initial appt. required a deposit I will charge an additional deposit to make the reschedule. I charge this rescheduling deposit for FREE first time touch-ups as well. This means that the free touch-up will no longer be free if you schedule it and then reschedule. The amount of the deposit varies depending on the piece, and goes towards the total for your tattoo. If you have already left a deposit, you will be charged an additional deposit for rescheduling.

Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable and count towards the total for your tattoo unless you forfeit the deposit. A deposit can be used for one reschedule, given the reschedule was made with 48 hours notice of the original appt. time.

You forfeit your deposit if you cancel the appt., reschedule last minute (within 48 hours of the appt), or don't show up for your appt. without any notice (no-show). Reschedules made after timely cancellations (appts. cancelled more than 48 hours prior to the appt time) must be made within 2 days after the cancellation to have deposits count toward a timely first reschedule, otherwise the deposit is forfeited.

Depending on the circumstances, I may refuse to work with clients who no-call, no-show for their appts.

DEPOSIT OBJECTIVE: Deposits are meant to provide me with security in the case of cancellations and excessive reschedules. I have, thankfully, had the opportunity to work with a lot of different clients over a long period of time, and have a general understanding of how people approach appts.

I charge additional deposits for reschedules and for changes to appts. because both of these things can often indicate an unreliable client. Deposits are intended to provide me with security, because if clients show up to their appts. as they intend to, then no one loses anything. However, if clients do not show up to their appts. without telling me or with very little notice, I am left with an open spot and potentially having already worked on a design for a client who isn't showing up. Deposits pay me for that time and that work.

This area of my policies is where I experience the highest amount of contention. Please be mindful that this is my policy and it has been reviewed and written this way after extensive thought. I do not enforce these policies haphazardly, so please note that if we encounter any of these circumstances, I will be enforcing my policies.

CONFIRMATION MESSAGES: I will send out confirmation messages two days prior to your appt. Responses are REQUIRED to confirm appts., otherwise they may be cancelled. If I do not receive a response by 1pm the day before your appt. time, your appt. will be cancelled and any and all deposits will be forfeited (as per the late cancellation policy).

CHANGES TO AN EXISTING APPT: I will only confirm an appt. and write it in when you have sent your tattoo idea, size, and placement and I have sent you a quote or discussed the quote with you. If you are unsure about any of these appt details, please wait to make your appt until you are sure. Without these details, it is very difficult to plan for your tattoo.

Any requests to change an appt. after the appt. is confirmed is subject to my discretion, and requests for changes made within 24 hours of the appt. will likely not be accommodated. I may not be able to accommodate changes to an appt., and this may require you to reschedule or cancel your appt., which is why I request that clients book with their details ready to go. Changes in idea, size, and placement are all considered changes made to the appt.

Any changes made after an appt. is confirmed that is approved by me is subject to a deposit or additional deposit.

APPT GUESTS: You are permitted to bring one guest to your appt. with you. Children, babies, and animals are not allowed in the studio. You are responsible for your guest during the appt time. If they interfere with my ability to conduct the appt., they will be asked to leave. If the behavior is egregious, your appt. may be subject to cancellation.

Guests are not permitted during group appts. due to limited space.

IN-APPT PARTIAL CANCELLATIONS: If you book for multiple pieces during an appt. time and cancel one of those pieces, you are responsible for the entire amount of the appt. If I make a suggestion not to do a certain piece, you do not need to pay for that piece and I will adjust your total to take out that piece.

WHEN DO YOU SEE THE DESIGN? I do not send designs prior to appts. you will see your design at your appt. time and have a chance to make minor changes or adjustments then.

ILLNESS: If you are feeling sick or unwell before your appt. time or day, please let me know and we can reschedule your appt. (a second deposit may be required but both will apply to the rescheduled appt.). If you come to your appt. showing signs of illness or being sick, your appt. will be cancelled or rescheduled, your initial deposit will be forfeited, and a new deposit will be required.

If you start to feel light-headed, nauseous, or dizzy at any point in your appt., please let me know. I always want to be sure you're feeling well because tattoos can take a toll on the body. You are not inconveniencing me or making me uncomfortable, your comfort and safety are my priority.

PREPARING FOR YOUR APPT: It's best to get a good night's sleep before your appt day. Please eat a solid meal at least two hours before your appt time and try to stay well hydrated. Avoiding excessive alcohol or caffeine the night before and day of are a good idea.

DRESSING FOR YOUR APPT: Please come dressed prepared to expose the area we are tattooing. You are welcome to expose or cover any part of your body as necessary for the tattoo (nakedness does not offend me and covering the body is done for your comfort and benefit). I have disposable sheets available for clients who may need to cover some awkward spots for their tattoos, and I can tape some parts of clothing off of skin, but it is best to think of clothes prior to the appts. There is a bathroom where you can change, but to get there you may run into other people.

For back tattoos its best to avoid bras, binders, and corsets and to wear or bring a zip up hoodie or button up cardigan (or anything that can be turned around and undone to expose the back).

For shoulder, upper arm, and chest tattoos it is best to wear clothing that is strapless or where the straps are easily adjustable.

For leg tattoos, it's best to go as loose and flowy as possible with clothes. looser cotton or soft pants, skirts, dresses, or loose shorts are appropriate depending the area to be tattooed. It's best to avoid very tight pants or jeans.

For hip and butt tattoos, looser shorts with adjustable bikini bottoms or moveable underwear is best. It's best to avoid very tight pants or jeans.

It's always best to reduce jewelry around areas that will be tattooed.

SUNBURNS: If you have sunburned skin prior to your appt., please reschedule your appt. I cannot tattoo on sunburned skin. Please do not sunbathe before or after your tattoo as it's bad for your skin and therefore bad for your tattoo.

PHOTOS: I often photograph my work once I'm done tattooing. If you don't want to be photographed for any reason, please feel free to let me know! I'm fairly camera shy so I completely understand if you don't want to be photographed (don't feel bad!). If you don't want to be tagged or mentioned on social media that's fine too, please let me know!

TIPS: Tips are always appreciated but never required. I will not think of you any differently if you don't tip!

NUMBING CREAMS: I allow clients to decide for themselves if they want to use numbing creams prior to appts. but I do not recommend it because numbing creams can come with a number of risks. Many numbing creams are unregulated or improperly regulated so it's hard to know how safe or reliable a numbing cream is. Many cause clients to have swollen, red, or white skin and can even affect the healing process. If you decide to use a numbing cream, please do your research and patch test the cream. Please also let me know in advance of your appt. that you are using a numbing cream. If you do have a reaction prior to the appt or during the appt., I may have to stop the tattoo.

ALLERGENS: I use latex gloves to tattoo, set up, and break down. If you are allergic to latex, or even have a sensitivity to it, please let me know and I will use nitrile gloves instead. Please note that I often use Bactine, which contains an anesthetic, Lidocaine. If you are allergic to anesthetics or Lidocaine, please let me know.

Please review this list of common ingredients used in tattoo products that may cause allergic reactions (some information provided by https://www.healthline.com/health/tattoo-allergy#see-a-professional):

aluminum
aminoazobenzene
brazilwood
cadmium sulfide
carbon (also called “India ink”)
chromic oxide
cobalt aluminate
cobalt chloride
ferric hydrate
ferric oxide
iron oxide
lead chromate
manganese
mercury sulfide
phthalocyanine dyes
sandalwood
titanium oxide
zinc oxide
tea tree oil
vegetable oil
Vaseline
Madacide

TOUCH UPS: As a courtesy to all of my clients I offer the first touch up to any tattoo I've done for free. I do not touch-up other artist's pieces. This courtesy is subject to available times and appointments. You must contact me to schedule an appointment for a touch-up, I will not contact you about a touch-up. Rescheduling a first touch up incurs a $50 fee. I charge a fee for any subsequent touch-ups.

RELEASE FORM: I require all of my clients to fill out and sign a digital release form. I ID all my clients with a valid government-issued photo ID, and you MUST be 18 or over to receive a tattoo. If you are under 18 years of age, your parent cannot consent to you getting a tattoo. I do not solicit to or offer to tattoo anyone under 18 years old in the state of California. I make absolutely no exceptions to this law. If you come to your appt. without a valid government-issued photo ID, your appt. will be cancelled or rescheduled (with a new deposit, and any prior deposits paid will be forfeited).

GUESTS: I typically allow one guest at each client's appt. Under no circumstances are children or infants allowed in the tattoo studio.

TATTOO LICENSE: I and my studio are licensed for tattooing in the State of California in Kern County.