The process of getting tattooed with us!
Start here:
Thank you for your interest in Private Stock. First, please check out the Artists' portfolios to find who you'd like to work with. This can be done by looking at online portfolios, Instagram, FaceBook as well as stopping in the shop to look at printed portfolios. If you are unsure of who would be the best Artist for your type of tattoo, please feel free to fill out the form here and we can help you.
Consultation:
The next step is to reach out directly to the Artist that you are interested in working with to set up a consultation. This can be done by filling out the form on the bottom of each individual portfolio page. He or she will get back to you to set up a time to meet and go over all of your ideas as well as answer any questions. The consultation is no charge, however, if you decide to proceed with booking an appointment to get the tattoo there is a non-refundable $100-150 cash deposit that will be required. This holds your appointment time and goes toward the cost of your tattoo.
Pricing:
Each artist works on an hourly rate of $150-$180 per hour. We take into consideration the size, detail and placement of your tattoo to determine cost. Small single-session tattoos can be given a flat price; large-scale multiple-session tattoos will be priced by the hourly rate. It can be difficult to determine an exact amount of hours that go into large-scale work such as sleeves, chest panels and back panels so we do our best to give you an estimate of how long or how many sessions it might take. Usually, the amount of time between sessions can be anywhere between 4-6 weeks depending on your budget and schedule. Please be aware that the time it takes to complete your tattoo is affected by overall body health, skin health, placement and ability to withstand the discomfort of a tattoo.
large-scale work:
If you are interested in seeking out a large-scale tattoo such as a sleeve, chest panel, back panel, etc., please read this section.
Collecting this type of work is a commitment for both Artist and Collector. The time-frame in which your large-scale tattoo is completed depends on your ability to commit to the project. It can be an expensive, time-consuming and physically uncomfortable process. It is very important to take care of you health, diet and water intake while you are working on a project like this to keep your body healthy and healing quickly. If these things are ignored the project will inevitably take longer to complete. To give a rough example- depending on style and detail of the tattoo and size of your arm, a sleeve can range anywhere from 25-100 hours or more. The financial and time commitments can be challenging for many people.
skin prep before tattoo:
This is a very important step that you do not want to skip. The condition of your skin directly affects how your tattoo looks permanently. If your skin is really rough and dry the tattoo will also look that way. Here is a a rough example most people can relate to- a pen/pencil/marker/paint on a smooth surface such as paper or primed canvas produces a cleaner overall look vs. that same pen/pencil/marker/paint on an un-sanded woodblock looks choppy and irregular.
Follow these steps for the best tattoo:
Gently exfoliate the area to be tattooed with a washcloth or shower sponge during your normal shower routine at least a week before your tattoo appointment. Complete this step by applying lotion to the area to hydrate and soften. This prep will also speed up your healing time because the skin will be less traumatized/stressed during the tattoo process.
Your Appointment Day:
On the day of you appointment you will want to make sure that you eat a meal 1-2 hours before coming in, especially if you have a long appointment. This will stabilize your blood sugar and keep you feeling well during the process. Please bring a sugary beverage with you that has a lid or a small snack such as a granola bar if you have not eaten a meal or have issues regulating your blood sugar. Fruit juice or non-caffeinated soda work well. If you are getting large-scale work done, it can make the process more comfortable to take a short break to have a snack.
Please come in wearing clean, comfortable, loose-fitting clothing in the area that will be tattooed as well as something that you are OK with possibly staining with ink.
Please do not come in after sweating or working-out without showering.
Please bring headphones, a book or something to entertain or distract yourself during your tattoo, especially for large-scale work.
Please bring your I.D. as we will not be able to do any tattooing without it.
Only you and the Artist will be allowed in the tattoo area. If you would like to bring a support person or a friend, please be advised that they will have to stay in the lobby. Limiting distractions allows us to focus and create the best possible tattoo for you.
payment:
Each session is paid for when it has concluded for the day. Your deposit will transfer to any remaining appointments or used toward your current session. Another deposit will be required to book any additional appointments. We are only able to accept cash at this time.