Tattoo FAQS & Aftercare
• Yes! Walk-ins are welcome any day or time, as long as a tattoo artist is available. Please call the shop first to confirm availability.
- Pick your artist. We recommend choosing someone who’s style matches the vision you have for your tattoo. If you are unsure, we are more than happy to recommend an artist based on the design you’d like.
- Book a consultation. A consultation takes approximately 10-20 minutes and involves meeting with the artist and discussing: Placement, Style, & Budget. (Note: There is no fee for a consultation.) The consultation can be done via email but we prefer to do it in person whenever possible.
- Deposits & Appointment Booking. Once the consult is done and both you and your artist decide to start the project, a deposit is required, and it is at this time your appointment will also be booked. The deposit ensures that you are committed to getting a tattoo, and it also holds your appointment time. Please note, DEPOSITS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.
- The deposit is $50/per hour of your appointment. For example: if you’re booked for a 4-hour appointment, the deposit required is $200.
- Your deposit will be applied towards the cost of your tattoo. (if multiple sessions are required it will be applied to the LAST tattoo session).
• Please try to give 72 hours notice to re-schedule an appointment! Maximum re-booking time is within 3 months. Deposits are non-transferable and will be applied to the final session. After one year of inactivity, deposits will be forfeited.
• Touch ups are done at the artists discretion. (Preferably within 6 months)
Please note that not all tattoos require touch ups. In fact, as a rule, if you can’t see the issue from about 5 feet back your tattoo is probably ok. Remember tattoo ink is deposited into a living tissue-some small imperfections are normal. If you are not sure please feel free to stop in and talk to your artist.
• Tattoos are commonly charged by the hour! The hourly rate at Human Kanvas ranges from $160-$200/hr depending on the artist. Sometimes artists may charge a flat-rate for a design, just ask them.
• The only way to receive a quote for your tattoo is to discuss with your artist. Please browse our artists’ work and schedule a consultation with them here.
• A $35 supply fee is added to every tattoo sitting no matter its size. This fee is to recover the costs of disposable materials and barriers
that are used for every tattoo. At Human Kanvas, we believe our customers deserve the highest quality products & we pride ourselves on using only the best products in the tattoo industry.
• Human Kanvas has a minimum charge of $120 – This applies for any tattoo that takes less than one hour to complete and uses only one liner needle. However, if your tattoo requires both a liner and shading needle, the minimum charge is one hour.
• Absolutely! We strongly encourage it. Human Kanvas is a collective of artists, each with their own unique style and work. We recommend you take the time to get inspired by our artists and choose one that suits your style before booking a consultation.
• Photos & Videos – we would love for you to take a photo or video of your new art, and share it on your favourite social media platform! However, we kindly ask that you wait until the piece is fully finished before sharing it. Don’t forget to mention us in your post! #humankanvas
• Friends – We understand that tattoos and piercings are fascinating, however, for many safety and sanitary reasons, we kindly ask that only the client comes into the service area. Friends and family should wait in our comfortable reception lounge! We appreciate your cooperation in helping us keep everyone safe.
- Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable.
- The deposit means you have committed to the tattoo appointment and the design choices discussed during the consultation. Minor changes are accepted, however any major changes to the design will require a new consultation and deposit.
- For multiple sessions the deposit will be carried forward until the last session, and will be applied to the final payment.
- Please try to give 72 hours notice to re-book when possible.
- Maximum re-booking time is 3 months. **Subject to artist availability**
- After one year of no activity, deposit will be considered abandoned.
- Please see the process section of the FAQ’s for more details on deposit costs.
AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS
SANIDERM AFTERCARE
• Saniderm locks in the body’s natural moisture and healing enzymes (called autolysins) allowing the body to heal itself in the most efficient manner possible. It allows the skin to continue to function normally, because the bandage is permeable (breathable) to oxygen and water vapour. Saniderm protects against dirt and germs while eliminating friction and other irritations that might interfere with the healing process.
• Saniderms’ adhesive will not attach to the weeping area of a tattoo, therefore it can never damage or pull out ink. In fact, customers report that the colours of their tattoo remain more vibrant after using Saniderm versus traditional bandages.
• Transparent adhesive dressings like Saniderm have been used in hospitals for abrasions, burns, road rash, cuts, etc. since the 1980s.
• Saniderm can be left on your new tattoo for 5 days. Because everyone heals differently, the length of time will depend on how much fluid your tattoo weeps – which can affect the adhesion of Saniderm. If you notice excessive weeping or fluid under the wrap, visit your tattoo artist to see if a new piece is required.
• Saniderm stays on skin even when immersed in water, so you’re able to bathe, shower, and swim as normal. It is waterproof, however excessive exposure to water should be avoided because it may weaken the adhesion.
• Saniderm does not contain any kind of sun protection, so you should avoid prolonged sun or UV ray exposure. We do not recommend exposing your new tattoo to UV rays, ever – with or without Saniderm. Even after your tattoo is fully healed, continue to use sun protection to maintain the integrity of your tattoo colors.
• Some people find that excessive sweating under Saniderm can lead to a foul odor. It is recommended to avoid activity causing heavy sweating until your Saniderm is removed.
TRADITIONAL AFTERCARE
• A sterile piece of plastic wrap is placed over your new tattoo. This is to help protect the skin from any dust or germs you might encounter throughout the rest of your day and also gives your pores a chance to close up a little. Your artist will give you a suggested time to remove the bandage – anywhere from 3-24 hours.
• Once you have removed the plastic wrap, wash your tattoo with mild soap and warm water, using your fingertips to gently massage any excess Vaseline or ink from the skin. There may also be some dry blood or water excretions – this is completely normal.
• Once you have rinsed off all the soap, pat your tattoo dry using a paper towel as cloth towels can hold bacteria.
• NEVER RE-WRAP YOUR TATTOO.
• During healing your tattoo will flake and peel (similar to a sun burn). This flaking is normal, so allow the dry skin to fall off naturally. Do not pick or pull it off.
• No direct sunlight for 2-3 weeks. The sun is a major cause of new tattoos looking blurred. Use sunblock!
• No soaking in water, no swimming, hot tubs, nor direct shower water beating on it for 2-3 weeks. Of course, you can keep clean, but if the healing skin soaks up water it will be like going swimming with a scab. Ever notice how a waterlogged scab will float away? There goes your new tattoo! Seriously! If it does get wet in the shower, gently pat it dry, but don’t rub at it with a towel. Then, immediately after getting dried off, re-moisturize it.
• If you work out, or do contact sports, take a break. Contact abrasions could knock off the healing skin, or in a gym, over-straining delicate perforated tissue can cause a stretch mark, or even touching a piece of sweat-contaminated workout equipment could cause an infection in the open-wound. It’s best to wait a couple of weeks.
• If your tattoo is itchy, apply ointment or cream. Do not scratch or pick at it as you could tear the new skin which is protecting your ink. Do your best to restrict clothing on your fresh ink. Contact abrasions could knock off the healing skin as well. It is up to you to protect your investment!
• Now that your new tattoo is cleaned up and your pores are settling down, it’s time to take care of your skin and help it heal as quickly as possible.
• Apply a thin layer of tattoo ointment 3-4 times a day. This is a personal preference and differs from person to person. You want to promote healing, and too much ointment will clog pores & could also collect bacteria, while too little ointment will cause your skin to get very dry.*
*Remember to wash your hands before applying the lotion.
• There are many different products you can use to help your skin to heal, ranging from high-tech ointments to simple hand lotions. This is up to personal preference. Just be sure that what ever you use DOES NOT contain antibiotics. These could fade the ink in your new tattoo.
• Human Kanvas recommends H2Ocean and Tattstick aftercare. You might have friends tell you to use Neosporin, Polysporin or Bacitracin – don’t do it! They are antibiotics, and they have no healing value unless there is infection present. You will need them if you introduce dirt or germs into the tattoo, but for normal healing, you want a simple moisturizer.
