How old do I need to be to get a tattoo?

Age requirements vary from shop to shop, so make sure to do research in your area.  In our studio, you must be 18 years of age. We will not tattoo anyone under the age of 18, even though it is legal in SD with parental consent and proper I.D.

Is getting a tattoo safe?

We are very diligent about sanitation and cleanliness. You will notice our artists use single-use needles, disposable ink cups, razors, etc. Everything the artist touches will have a barrier to protect both you and themselves from cross-contamination.

We work very closely with the City of Sioux Falls health department to make sure that we are using every precaution and procedure necessary to keep our environment very safe and sanitary for all of our clients and staff.

When Will I hear back from you, I sent in my email “X” amount of days ago?

To answer this, our artists do not handle their scheduling. Our administration staff is the rock of Red Arbor and handles all of our artists’ schedules. That means every single inquiry, for every single one of our artists, goes through them.

Once we open the books, we leave them open until all available appointments for the quarter are filled. We prioritize in-progress projects with deposits on file to ensure that designs are done in a timely manner. We want everyone to have a fair chance.

When inquiries come in we first respond to all in-progress clients and then move on to new inquiries for consultation. And as the slots become fewer, fewer projects are able to fit in.

Every email we receive will receive a response at some point.

We book new appointments based on how many slots are available. We don’t send any ‘books closed’ emails until absolutely every slot is filled. We want to be sure we do our best to get everyone in the best we can. This process can take a few weeks to complete, but we work on emails almost every day. We are going as fast and as efficiently as we can and we appreciate your patience.

My design is what you would normally tattoo, why wasn’t I chosen this time around?

The easiest way to explain how we approach things is through this Halloween Candy example (credit to Arlia Tattoo for this great analogy).

“Imagine you head out on Halloween night for a Trick or Treat adventure. You come home and have an entire giant bag of candy and you think to yourself, oh man, I can totally eat all of these! Then your hopes are shattered when your parent says, you can only have 40 pieces of the candy.

Now, are you going to just reach into the bag and eat the first 40 pieces you grab? Probably not. You're going to dump the bag onto the bed and grab all of your favorites!

This is how we approach the booking process. We only have a certain amount of appointment times through each of the scheduling windows. So, it's not always that we do not want to do your tattoo; it's simply that we fill the books quickly with the pieces we are most drawn to at that time.”

Now, that being said, we understand that not everyone wants an entire arm or leg-sleeve tattoo and from time to time our artists will have small gaps available for smaller designs. When artists are drawn to smaller designs we do try to fill those little gaps as well!"

How much is a tattoo?

Many factors can affect the cost of your tattoo that is why our artists go by an hourly rate. The cost of your tattoo varies on the size, the complexity of the design, and where you decide to place it, skin type, color vs. black and gray, and how long you can sit. This applies to all tattoos no matter how small or simple. Each artist in our shop has different rates based on experience and efficiency. 

If you are sticking to a budget, let your artist know so they can book and draw your piece accordingly.

If your tattoo takes less than 1 hour, our shop minimum will apply.  The standard shop minimum is $200.

We prefer cash as a payment method, but take all major forms of credit or debit card.

I want to get a sleeve, how long will that take?

Sleeves and large-scale pieces such as the back are a labor of love. Most sleeves can take 13 - 15 sessions, which is a year or longer process.

As for cost, large projects are paid session by session and are a day rate that can range from $650 - $1500 dollars depending on the artist.

What is a consultation?

A consultation is a scheduled appointment to talk to your artist and discuss the details of your future tattoo. All of our consults are in person (unless previously discussed with the artist) and are held between Monday – Saturday depending on the artist.

How do I set up a consultation?

Once you fill out a contact form we will email you if your design has been chosen to set up a date and a time to meet with an artist.

Can you draw something for me first, before I decide to get it?

No.  Artists require deposits before working on a drawing for your tattoo. If there are any elements of the design that are important to you, be sure to thoroughly communicate that to your artist during your consult.

If you'd like to make any changes to your design after your consult, please be sure to send an update to our email with a minimum of a few days’ advanced notice.

In some cases, mostly for larger pieces/cover-ups, your artist will freehand the tattoo directly onto your skin with a marker.

Do I need to schedule an appointment?

Yes. We accept same-day appointments when we can, however, due to high demand we are now finding it more and more difficult to accommodate walk-ins. It is always best to email your references and give us a call or email as soon as we open to ask about our availability.

For a large custom design, it is required to fill out our contact form and have a consultation before scheduling a tattoo appointment.

When is your next opening?

This is our most asked question and there is never an easy answer. Yes, we take walk-ins but this also depends on what you want, where, and our artist's availability.

Cory and Ryan are usually booked out about 6-8 months or more in advance.

Cody and Solomon are generally booked out 3-4 months in advance.

Payton is usually booked 1- 2 months in advance.

We ask that you fill out and thoroughly read the contact form on our website if you are interested in scheduling with our artists.

How do I schedule an appointment?

Your artist will direct you to email the shop during your consultation if they feel they are the best fit for your design. If you want a simple tattoo that doesn't require a consultation,  our shop coordinator will reach out to you after they get your initial email and will work to book you an appointment. 

All appointments will require a deposit. Failure to pay the deposit within 10 days of the initial invoice will result in the loss of your appointments.

What is your deposit policy?

We require a $100 deposit for all appointments.  Deposits are non-refundable. If you are unable to make it to your scheduled appointment, we require a 48-hour notice to reschedule.  If you cancel your appointment within 48 hours, you will lose your deposit. If you no show, you will also lose your deposit. If you change your mind and decide you don't want a tattoo anymore, you will lose your deposit.

The amount of the deposit will be taken off the final price of the tattoo. If you are scheduled for multiple sessions, your deposit will be taken off the final price on the final session. 

What should I bring to my appointment?

The most important thing you will need to bring is a GOVERNMENT ISSUED OR STATE I.D. as we need to fill out paperwork before your artist works on you. A valid driver’s license, passport, military I.D., or state I.D will also work. If you do not bring your I.D. with you, you will not be getting tattooed, and you will forfeit your deposit. 

You will also need to bring some form of payment for your service. We do not accept checks.

We ask that you come in clean, and in comfortable clothing. Don't wear fancy clothing, as tattooing can be a messy process. Think about the placement of your tattoo and dress accordingly. You can bring along a sweater/sweatshirt in case you get cold while you get tattooed, but we do provide blankets.

We suggest that you eat a good meal prior and bring some snacks and beverages with a little sugar in them to keep your blood sugar steady. We do provide some snacks and beverages if you need them.

We ask that you remain aware of your cellphone usage during your tattoo appointment. Although using your cellphone is fine, please remember that your artist is present and texting and talking causes unnecessary movement when you are being asked to remain as still as possible. You also will likely be one of many clients in the shop and we ask that you respect their experience as they would respect yours.

Can I bring a friend to my appointment?

No. Due to the small and intimate size of our studio, the privacy of our other clients, and in the interest of creating the best possible environment to create the best tattoos possible; we do not allow guests. There are no exceptions to this rule. The only guests allowed are if you are having a group tattoo done and it is scheduled as such.

What if I can't make it to my appointment?

We ask that you give us at least 48 hours’ notice. You will need to email the shop to make any changes to your appointment, keeping in mind that store hours are from 12 pm-8 pm, so any messages left after 8 pm will not be checked until the following day. If we do not hear from you within that time, you will lose your deposit. If there is an emergency, please email us as soon as you can.

Should I tip my tattoo artist?

Yes, if you are happy with your experience with your artist. Tipping is customary in the service industry. This is not stating that you have to tip your artist, however, it is greatly appreciated.

Is it going to hurt?

The short answer, Yes. The long answer: Pain is relative. What might be painful to some, may not be painful to others. Everyone has a different way of dealing with pain. It will be a more painful experience if your system is under any stress (i.e. hungover, really tired, etc.), so make sure to get plenty of rest the night before your tattoo, and make sure to eat a good meal before you come in.

In most cases, the pain is tolerable and you will be just fine.

What if I need a touch-up?

We will happily provide you with one free touch-up appointment within reason. Keep in mind that some restrictions may apply.