first timer’s guide

thank you for choosing us!

Welcome to the “we have more time to sleep in” club!
We’re looking forward to working with you to create the perfect adornment for your unique features.
First, we have a few tips on how to best prepare and care for your tattoo(s), below.
If you have any questions or have support / sensory needs, don’t hesitate to reach out to your artist via email any time.

• Bookings with Montana Inez —
  Can be made via email for returning and new clients, or online via our booking website. If no times are available online, bookings are full and more times will be available soon.
  Bookings for restorative tattoos can be made via email only ~ hello@ineztattoo.com.
  To join Montana’s waiting list, please send us an email.
  

• Bookings with Jess (@ziggycosmetictattoo) —
  Please forward all booking inquiries with Jess to her direct email > ziggycosmetictattoo@gmail.com
  
  Touch-up appointments can be scheduled by emailing us, or in the studio on the day of your session.

  A non–refundable deposit is required to schedule and secure your appointment and is applied to your total on the day of your booking. If you cancel or miss your appointment, your deposit will be forfeited and you may be subject to a cancellation fee.

• Please email your artist directly if you need to reschedule your appointment or need help making an appointment.

• Before your appointment, it is imperative to read through the relevant before + after-care info, to ensure we achieve the best outcome and results with your tattoo. This part is super important!

• Do not consume alcohol or blood thinners (CAFFEINE, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Niacin) for 24 hours before getting tattooed.

• Caffeine should be had no sooner than 4 hours before your appointment time.

  • This means NO COFFEE / TEA / ENERGY DRINKS for at least 4 hours before your appointment!
    Caffeine is a stimulant and increases your heart rate, causing bleeding, bruising and swelling of the tattooed area. This can also cause clients to struggle to sit through their session. Thank you for taking your pre and post care seriously!

• For all LIP BLUSH tattoo sessions, if you experience COLD SORES/HSV, (even if only once) you MUST take the necessary antiviral treatment 1 day prior to and/or 1 day after being tattooed to prevent an outbreak. Not taking these steps can risk an outbreak that may affect the healed result. Consult your GP/doctor first!

• Cease using any active skincare ingredients, skin/blood thinners (Vitamin A, Glycolic Acid, Retinol, Tretinoin ect) on the area of your tattoo 2 weeks prior to your appointment.

• Do not apply any topical anaesthetic/numbing cream to yourself.

• INJECTABLES should be done 4 weeks prior to or 4 weeks after your appointment (only necessary in the same area as your tattoo).

• It is always helpful to bring along reference photos of similar tattoos/styles/colours/shapes that you like to your appointment as guidance, this is really helpful for your artist and ensures great communication and results are achieved!

• You may experience hypersensitivity and more discomfort around or during your menstrual cycle, or if you are lethargic or healing/recovering in another area of your body.

• We are unable to tattoo over blemishes, sores or moles/raised spots, though your artist will do their best to camouflage/work around these things where possible.

• ARRIVING/PARKING:
  Please allow extra time before your appointment to find adequate parking with a suitable time allowance for your session. You can find parking recommendations here. There is free parking at our studio doorstep and surrounding our space - availability varies.
  We are easily accessible from the Collingwood and Victoria Park train stations, the 86 tramline (stop 18) and multiple bus lines.

Party time!

You will have the undivided attention of your artist and are in safe, loving hands. Inez Tattoo is a safe space for every one, please let us know if there is any extra ways can accommodate your needs.

Here are some tips to prepare:

• Get a good nights sleep before your appointment.

• Have a full, nutritious breakfast. Eat a light snack around 1 hour before arriving and feel free to bring some snacks and water along with you, remember strictly no caffeine or alcohol pre tattoo.

• Wear relaxed (preferably dark) clothing, that you can sit and lay down in for an extended period of time and be comfortable.

• Ensure to bring some reference photos or colour examples for your artist along with you!

• Feel free to bring headphones.

While we always love to chat, some clients like to bring headphones along and listen to a podcast/music during their session. This can be helpful if you’re feeling anxious, or if you’re getting your lips tattooed - since we wont be able to chat too much! We like to focus on you while we work, so feel free to bring these along if you wish.

What to expect upon your arrival:

• Greetings from the happy faces of our team! Soft moody lighting, chilled mellow music, the aromas of our favourite scents filling our space. We will ask you to fill out a consent form and we will be on our way shortly.

• Consultation & in-depth Design : (30-90 minutes)
  This is where yourself and your artist will create a plan for your session(s) and discuss your goals!
  It’s a great idea and really helpful to bring along any reference photos/examples of styles that are similar to the results you’re hoping to achieve to streamline communication during this process.
  As artists, we love to work collaboratively with our clients to design a custom adornment to highlight your natural features rather than dictating the outcome. Our designing process is inclusive of working with all discussed factors, and most importantly YOU to create the perfect tattoo for you that you love. From here, we’ll choose some colour matches based on your skin tone and natural colour palette, always starting off a little more conservatively to ensure results stay as natural as possible.
  We’ll also discuss care and healing during this time.

• Tattoo time! : (duration depends on service + artist)
  Your artist will carefully implant pigment to mimic the appearance of natural hair, lip colour or areola detail within the designed shape. Timing will vary depending on your session/artist. Your wellbeing and comfort throughout the session are always top priority.

• Aftercare :
  To read up on your aftercare, view our before + after-care page. Your artist will send you home prepped with a hard copy of aftercare information and your very own take home pot of natural tattoo after care balm.
  Lucky you! We use the amazing Inky Tattoo Salve, find it here > https://www.inkytattoosalve.com