frequently
asked
questions
how do i get a tattoo appointment with vitriol? what’s the booking process like?
I am currently working on a block schedule, and open my books at staggered intervals throughout the year. Before my books open, I will be posting announcements on my Instagram and via my newsletter, so the best way to stay in the loop is to enable post notifications on Instagram or to sign up for my newsletter!
When my books open, I will post a link to an online form for you to fill out. The form will ask some basic questions about you and what you’d like to get tattooed - be ready with a rough idea of the subject matter, size, placement and your budget if you have one. I leave this form up for a day or so to give everyone time to respond, then I’ll sort through the requests, select the projects that line up with my style the best, and schedule those projects for the upcoming months. It is not first-come first-served, and filling out the form isn’t a guarantee I’ll be able to tattoo you - but it is the only way for new projects to get on my books, and I do close the form when I get to a certain level of responses, so filling it out as soon as its posted is a good idea!
what information do I need to fill out a booking request?
I try to keep my booking request forms pretty straightforward! I’ll need your basic info such as name and email address, as well as a rough idea for your budget (if you don’t know, that’s okay too!), a brief description of your idea (seriously, please be succinct - I usually end up reading 200-300 individual requests each booking cycle!), any scheduling restrictions you have, any accommodations you’d need for your appointment (this does not impact whether I choose your project or not - just lets us know how best to make you comfortable in our studio!), and any other information you’d like me to have.
i’ve got more than one idea, is that okay?
YES! If you’ve got more than one idea, just put them all in the same request form - I love it when we’ve got options!
i’ve submitted my tattooo request, what’s next?
Hang tight! If I’m able to accommodate your request, you will receive an email from me with booking instructions and we’ll get you scheduled. Unfortunately, I am only one human and am unable to tattoo everyone who submits a request - if you don’t hear from me, that doesn’t mean I don’t like your idea! Please feel free to resubmit during the next round of booking, or check out any of my incredibly talented colleagues at Unkindness Art.
do you offer consultations?
Yes! I understand that getting a tattoo is a huge leap of faith (pun totally intended), and sometimes it’s easier to explain an idea face to face instead of through email. If your project is selected, I offer video consultations through Zoom for us to chat about your idea in-depth, make sure we’re on the same page, and get your appointment scheduled on the spot. This is totally optional! If you don’t need a consultation, you can skip straight to scheduling, and get the first pick of my available dates.
is there a way to improve my chances of getting an appointment?
Yes! The best way to improve your chances of getting a tattoo appointment are by being open to allowing artistic freedom with subject matter, size, placement, and budgeting. Having a general concept with broad design parameters tends to yield much better results than having a strict, set-in-stone tattoo idea. Before my books open, I will usually post a list of design ideas or predrawn designs that I’d like to do, and choosing one of those is an almost surefire way to get onto my calendar!
how much does it cost to get tattooed by vitriol?
I currently offer flat rates for half day and full day appointments. Half days start at $800 for sessions up to 4 hours, and my full day rate is $1500 and will cover anywhere from 5-7 hours of tattoo time.
Travel rates for international and domestic conventions and guest spots may vary.
how does the design process work? will i see a drawing before my appointment?
I do my best work when given a general concept by the client, and then artistic freedom to run with it from there. Getting tattooed is a trust exercise! I do not send out drawings ahead of time, and the first time you see it will be the day of your appointment. I only tattoo one client per day, so there will be plenty of opportunity to make minor adjustments at your appointment if necessary.
where is vitriol tattoo located?
my home base is Unkindness Art in the Northside/Brookland Park neighborhood of beautiful Richmond, Virginia.
how do i prepare for getting tattooed?
Get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthy breakfast beforehand. Drink plenty of water - the better you treat your body, the easier it will be for you to get tattooed! Bring snacks, headphones, a phone charger, a book to read, anything you might need to stay entertained during the process. Wear loose, comfortable clothing that will allow us easy access to the area where you’ll be getting tattooed. Bring a hoodie or small blanket in case you get cold. Make sure the area you’ll be getting tattooed is clean and free of any major cuts, scrapes, or sunburn. Prepare your best animal facts and dad jokes - we love ‘em.
what’s the deal with numbing creams?
I’ve had a lot of folks ask me about numbing creams! The short version is, they’re not for everybody, and please always discuss their use in advance with your tattoo artist and doctor before trying them.
The long version: Numbing creams work by applying a topical anaesthetic, most often lidocaine but often a combination of several other ingredients such as tetracaine or benzocaine, to an area of the skin for 30-60 minutes before a procedure. These products block nerve conduction where applied, resulting in localized numbness for anywhere from 30min-3 hours (Carterall, 2001). This is where my first critique of them comes in: The numbing effects are very temporary, and numbing creams cannot be reapplied once the skin is broken! While they may be helpful for smaller tattoos in sensitive areas, they don’t make a long tattoo session any easier to get through - in fact, they can make it more difficult to sit for longer periods of time. Once the numbing cream wears off, you’ll begin to feel all of the pain from the tattoo at once, and it can feel more intense because your body hasn’t built up the endorphins or adrenaline to help you through it.
Speaking of adrenaline, that brings me to my next concern with numbing creams - some of them contain other ingredients such as epinephrine or phenylephrine, which are vasoconstrictive additives to reduce bleeding and prolong the duration of the numbing effect. While these ingredients can be very helpful in a clinical setting, when used incorrectly or without physician supervision they can cause seizures (Young, 2005) and even death (Marra et al., 2006). Furthermore, the vasoconstrictive effects work to reduce blood flow to the area, which can cause extending healing times or rougher heals for tattoos (Kimmel et al., 2016).
In the United States, topical lidocaine formulations above 5% require physician supervision and a prescription, as described by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA, 2023). Unfortunately, the wide availability of products on the internet without oversight means that prescription-strength topical anesthetics can be purchased by consumers who may be unaware of how to properly apply them or the dangers associated with lidocaine toxicity.
As with any other medical condition or medication, please discuss the use of topical anesthetics with your artist ahead of time! Not only can these products affect healing your tattoo, but they can result in serious medical emergencies during the tattoo itself. If you show up with numbing cream on and haven’t discussed it with me first, I’ll be rescheduling your appointment for another day.
what other pain management options are available aside from numbing creams?
Look, I’ll be the first to tell you - tattoos can hurt! I would never judge anyone for being concerned about the pain involved with getting a tattoo; there’s no Tough Guy Awards from me. While I am extremely cautious about the use of numbing creams, I do my best to offer pain management in as many safe ways as I can. Aside from making sure you’re well-rested and well-fed before your tattoo, once the tattoo is underway we’re able to use lower-dose OTC topical lidocaine sprays such as Bactine to help you through the worst of it. I try my best to offer a comfortable, low-stress environment during your tattoo, with as many breaks as you need and absolutely no pressure to finish the tattoo all at once if you’re having a tough time with the pain. I’ll work with you to figure out the best and easiest way to get the tattoo you want with as little suffering as possible - hurting people is my least favorite part of the job!
do you do cover-ups?
Occasionally, yes! It totally depends on the piece being covered and on what you’re looking to cover it with. Generally, cover-up designs will need to be larger and more complex than the original tattoo, and the end goal is usually to distract from the old tattoo rather than block it out completely. That being said, I do not specialize in cover-ups, and may recommend your project to someone who does or suggest that you get a session or two of laser removal first to lighten the old tattoo.
what are your COVID-19 policies?
While our studio policies are continuously being adjusted due to the changing nature of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, at this time our studio is “mask-preferred” for vaccinated clients. Unvaccinated clients are requested to keep an N95 or equivalent mask on at all times while inside the studio.
As I am immune-compromised and medically at risk, I am personally requiring my clients to wear an N95 or equivalent mask at all times while I’m tattooing you. Thank you for your understanding!