Frequently Asked Questions - Tattoos:
What’s your shop minimum?
Just $100 😃 (Typically that would be something small, like around 2” or so, like a symbol or word, and just line work)
How old do you have to be to get tattooed?
You must be at least 18 years old in order to get professionally tattooed in the state of TN. (And no, we can not do it any younger, even if you have parental consent.)
Do I need to have an appointment to get tattooed?
No, you certainly don’t! We accept walk-in's all the time! As long as what you want is not too custom and detailed, and as long as we have an Artist that has the appropriate time-frame available, then you should be able to get tattooed right then!
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If you’d rather have an idea before you head out to us, just send a text (615-800-2425) with a photo of what you’re wanting to get, and we can look at it and see how we might be able to fit you into our day! (If you don’t hear from us within the hour, then try calling. If you don’t hear from us still, then either try later in the day, or else know we are slammed & can’t get to the phone lol.)
How can I go about inquiring about a tattoo that I want?
One way is if you just swing by & talk to one of our Artists about your idea! Be sure to bring reference photos of what you are thinking so that they don’t have to wait for you to search for things. This way the Artist can physically see you in person, discuss the best placement, and you guys can verbally talk about what your best design would consist of. You can also compare schedules and pay your deposit right then and there!
The other way would be to simply fill out the step-by-step Tattoo Request Form on our website https://www.TheBodyOdysseyArts.com/TattooRequestForm. This way you can answer the simple questions, explain what you are wanting, and upload references and body photos. Our team regularly goes through the forms and will contact you back as soon as they can!
I submitted a Tattoo Request Form, but haven’t heard back from anyone.
If you successfully submitted the form and have not heard from us within at least 3 of *our* business days (Wedns-Sundays), then first be sure to double check the SPAM folder of the email address you put in the form. Sometimes we can’t help that our responses go there instead of the inbox. If you still don’t see anything, then please feel free to reach out to us through phone or text! (615-800-2425)
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We are in the process of setting up SMS text messaging though, so once that is fully set up this will be updated, and that way you can hear from us through text as well as email!
How much do you charge for tattoos?
Welp, that depends on a massive variety of things, such as:
The artist you would like to do it, what it is you want, the style you want it done in, the type of detail, if it’s color or black/grey, how big your body part is, if you have any other tattoos/scars/markings to work around, how well you sit, how many sessions it will take, etc.
Sometimes it is more cost-effective for you if we charge by the hour, but sometimes it is more cost-effective for us to give you a flat price on the piece you want.
That’s why the best thing to do is fill out our Tattoo Request Form, answer the questions & upload your photos so that way we can at least get the ball rolling!
How much do you charge for big pieces?
For something big like sleeves, half sleeves, legs, full chest pieces and back pieces, more than likely we will ask that you come in for a FREE in-person consultation. That way the Artists can speak with you in person and eliminate a lot of the back & forth and possible confusion on what your vision is. So, either walk in during business hours, or fill out the Tattoo Request Form, either way, we’re here for ya!
Why can’t I see the design before my appointment?
There are many reasons as to the why behind it, some being that our Artists typically wait to design your piece until right before your session so that way everything is fresh in their minds, and so they have a game plan together on what they plan on doing.
You gotta think, this is their job, they work 5-7 days a week, doing all sorts of tattoos and drawings every single day, multiple times a day! Would you rather have a massive task like creating something PERMANENT at your job that you mapped out weeks ago, or would you rather have it be fresh in your mind?
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Not to mention, the other main reason is due to other people stealing our work. Even though it might just be a sketch to you, it takes a LOT of time, energy, brain power & effort from our Artists to create a one-of-a-kind piece just for you. And we don’t even charge you for allllllll the time it takes them to invent your tattoo design. We only charge you for the time it takes them to tattoo it!
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You may think nothing of sending it to your cousin in another state to ask their opinion, just for them to share it with someone else, and now you’ve got another person walking around with the same tattoo as you. And you may not have the intention of taking the custom artwork, making copies & selling it, or even taking it to a low-ball offer you got from another shop, so now there’s someone else posing as the artist when it wasn’t even their work; but, sadly, there’s plenty of people out there that would, so across the board we have this policy in place to protect ourselves, and you, from lawsuits.
How long will my tattoo take?
Assuming the Artist knows just what you want, they can usually give you a rough ballpark timeframe when you ask! (Just to give you an idea, something small, like our shop minimum, typically takes about 30minutes from set up to break down. *As long as what you want is100% ready to go!*)
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The “average” tattoo takes at least 3+ hours though, and it’s obviously not possible for us to predict how long things will take, but we can usually come up with a very rough ballpark timeframe if you let us know from the jump you’ve got other places more important to be 😉
Do I have to pay a Deposit to schedule an appointment?
Yes, for tattoos, we require at least a $50 deposit (sometimes $100 if it’s a big piece). This is NON-REFUNDABLE. It is used to lock in your requested date and time with the Artist that you selected, shows us that you’re serious, and gives the Artist the green light to start planning out what they want to do with your piece. The deposit amount does go toward the cost of your tattoo when you show up to your appointment.
I don’t know what I want. Do you have any flash sheets that I can look at?
Absolutely! We have a tab under “Tattoos” on our website called “Tattoo Flash” www.TheBodyOdysseyArts.com/Tattoos/TattooFlash that you can scroll through and look at some different categories of tattoo examples. In person, we also have the old timey flash racks that you never see in shops anymore! Some of it is the old school original flash, and some of it is starting to get filled up with the flash tattoos that our team personally creates.
I have a really low pain tolerance, what if I can't make it through my session?
Trust us, we know how this goes! If you feel like the pain might be too much for you, then our best advice is to start off with something really small, really simple, and in a less tender-for-you spot. The shorter you sit for, usually the more tolerable tattoos are.
Can I use numbing cream?
Unfortunately, the reviews are so mixed with numbing creams. The vast majority of them simply do not work, or create adverse skin reactions that will actually harm your tattoo session. With everyone’s skin, pain tolerance, and reactions to numbing cream being so widely varied from person to person, we cannot comfortably suggest one for everyone.
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We do, however, carry a product called Numb Skull that is a numbing spray. It has to be used once the skin is opened, so as long as you can sit through your outline it can be sprayed on in between breaks!
Is there anything I should do before, or bring, to my appointment?
Definitely be sure you’ve had a good meal and are fully hydrated right before you walk through the door. Bring snacks/food and Powerade/Gatorade with you so you can replenish your body throughout your session! (We do have a hot and cold water dispenser, so we’ve got you covered on water)
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Also, feel free to bring a blanket, earbuds, phone charger, comfy change of clothes, heck some people even bring their own pillow! Just whatever you think you need to feel more comfortable.
Can I bring someone with me that isn’t having a service done?
Absolutely! We’ve got a bunch of chairs we can pull up so they can sit with you during your session!
We kindly ask that you not bring children if you can help it though, especially if there is no other adult to be in charge of them. Just bc no matter how well behaved you think they might be, it is a huge distraction to the Artist trying to focus on delivering your perfect piece, and usually it’s distracting to the rest of the team trying to work as well.
How should I care for my new tattoo?
We’ve got helpful info under the tab “Tattoos” and then “Tattoo Aftercare” on www.TheBodyOdysseyArts.com/Tattoos/TattooAftercare