Physical contact is a necessary aspect of tattooing. Your comfort and safety is our top priority. Here are behaviors that can be reasonably expected during your tattoo visit:
During Consultations-
-The artist may ask to see the body part that you would like tattooed. If it is a private body part, or if you need to expose undergarments to show the body part, you should be escorted to a more private place in the studio.
-The artist may ask with your consent to take a photograph of the body part. This is useful because many artists like to draw directly on to the image of the body part so that your design is custom to your anatomy.
-The artist may ask to draw directly on your skin with markers during consultation, and then often photograph the results. This is another useful tool in customizing the design. This should be with your consent. (This is more common with larger projects).
-You should never feel pressured into getting a tattoo that you are not happy with. Often, the artist may make suggestions regarding the content, color, size, and complexity of your idea. At Parasol Tattoo Co., this is only ever to ensure the longevity, readability/legibility, and overall beauty of your tattoo. We reserve the right to decline making a tattoo that is not tattooable in our opinion (ie will not hold up over time), and you have the right to decline a design that you feel is ultimately not what you want.
During the Tattoo Session-
-You are allowed to request privacy screens at any time. For non-private body part tattoos it is not standard to set up privacy screens, but they should be available should you prefer them.
-Under normal circumstances you are typically allowed to bring one chaperone/friend if you feel more comfortable with one. This is currently not allowed at Parasol due to Covid guidelines/recommendations. You are allowed to reschedule your appointment if you would prefer to wait until a time that we can allow you to bring a chaperone.
-During skin prep, the artist must have physical contact to clean and shave the area being tattooed.
-During stencil application, the artist must have physical contact to apply and/or move the stencil. There may be placement recommendations made by the artist that might be more favorable for the shape or design of the tattoo, but you should never be pressured into getting a tattoo in a more intimate area.
-The artist may prefer to do a freehand drawing directly on your skin, in which case the artist may occasionally place both hands on the area being drawn on.
-You must expressly confirm the stencil/drawing before actual tattooing begins. You are allowed to get up and look at it in the mirror and then consent or not consent to the design.
Physical contact/behaviors you can reasonably expect....
-The artist to use both hands on the area being tattooed.
-Minor clothing adjustments. Occasionally the artist will need to move a piece of clothing out of the way, especially if it slips during the tattoo. If a larger adjustment is needed the artist should ask you to do it yourself (ie pull your waistband down, move a bra strap, etc).
-You may be be asked to remove entire articles of clothing depending on tattoo placement (such as bra removal for back pieces, sternum, etc., and underwear for upper thigh and hip, etc). Often bra removal, but not shirt removal, is sufficient, as long as the clothing is loose enough to allow access to the area being tattooed. You should be allowed to cover parts of yourself not being tattooed (such as with an unzipped hoodie, flannel, etc, or with a blanket or towel you bring with you).
-Some tattoos, like on the sternum and chest, may ultimately not allow for covering with clothing, particularly during stencil placement. The artist needs to visually ensure the stencil is even in relation to your anatomy. If your tattoo requires you to be nude or half-nude, the artist should inform you of this before your appointment and allow you time to prepare. In this instance nipple pasties are often worn to minimize full chest exposure.
-We provide complimentary nipple pasties at Parasol Tattoo for your comfort, or you can bring your own (many are available on Amazon.com or sometimes even at Target).
-Occasionally the artist will want to protect your clothing from ink, and therefore ask if you or they can fold a paper towel or other barrier into a location such as a waistband or bra band. There should be verbal consent to this. You should NEVER be asked to remove entire pieces of clothing that do not cover the area being tattooed.
-The artist may lean on the bed or areas of the body briefly for stability. The artist should NEVER need to be on top of the bed with you.
Photography
-Artists photograph tattoos for their portfolio. It is common for those photos to be shown on social media.
-You should never be asked to pose in a revealing manner.
-You should never be asked to expose other parts of your body for the photo.
Post tattoo
-The artist will wipe down, apply ointment and may wrap your tattoo at the end of the session.
-It is inappropriate for the artist to contact you for things unrelated to your tattoo afterward.
-It is unusual for an artist to ask you to come in after hours when no one else is around
-Free tattoos happen occasionally in the industry. This should be appropriate to the situation (a customer service correction, touch ups, birthday gift to a friend, etc). A gift is a gift. No one should leave feeling like they “owe” an artist any favor or otherwise.
-At any point during the tattoo process the client and artist are allowed to withdrawl consent from the tattoo session if they are feeling uncomfortable with the artist’s/client’s behavior.