AFTERCARE & FAQ

Appointments and Deposits. A $50 minimum non-refundable deposit is required for all tattoos. This is to ensure your commitment to getting the tattoo and to reserve the artists time and services. Deposits will be applied to the cost of your tattoo. $50 dollar deposits are non-refundable...period. We may ask for more than the minimum amount depending on the artwork and time involved. If you need to reschedule your appointment 72 hours notice is required. We will hold your deposit and apply it towards your next appointment date. New appointments must be rescheduled within 3 months of the original appointment date. If you don't show for your scheduled appointment we will withhold all deposits.

How old do I have to be to get a tattoo? For a tattoo you need to be 18. If you are 16 and up you may get a tattoo with your parents permission. Parent must be with you and everyone must have proper identification. NO EXCEPTIONS.

How old do I have to be to get a piercing? For a piercing you must be 16 to sign for yourself. If you are under 16 you must have your parents permission. A parent must be with you and everyone must have proper identification.

No piercings will be preformed on children under 12 years old unless it is earlobes. If it is earlobes only we will do it at 10 years old. No babies please.

You must be 18 for genital and nipple piercings; you must be 16 for a tongue piercing, NO EXCEPTIONS.

We will pierce noses if you are 12 with parental permission and proper identification. We do reserve the right to not pierce minors even with proper identification. One possible reason for refusal is if the piercer feels that the minor is not finished growing. The reason for this is that it is possible that a growth spurt may cause someone to overgrow a piercing which may cause the piercing to grow out, for example belly buttons. In this case we may suggest waiting until the minor is finished growing and suggesting a more appropriate piercing at that time.

What is proper identification? Proper identification consists of a birth certificate with a photo card such as school card or CAC card,valid drivers license, green OHIP card, or Age of Majority card, valid Passport.

Where are you located? We are located in Downtown Pembroke, Ontario, Canada. Specifically 96 Pembroke Street. We are directly across the street from ScotiaBank and beside Ateyos Dance Studio.

Do you take credit or debit cards? At this time we do not accept credit or debit cards. We will do a PayPal invoice for large transactions such as laser tattoo removal and large tattoos.

NOTE: As of July 1, 2010 we will be charging HST for tattooing, laser tattoo removal and piercing. The new tax rate will be 13% on top of the price of the service price. Up until now we have been paying the 5% tax for you. However, with the new tax rates imposed by our government we will not be able to do this anymore. We appreciate your understanding.

Piercing Prices:
Navel, Ears, Nose, Nipple, Eyebrow, etc $50
Industrial, Double piercings (both nipples for example) $75
Dermal Implants $100 for 1, $150 for 2
Skin Divers $75 for 1, $125 for 2
Genital $100
Surface Piercings $75

Laser Tattoo Removal Prices: The prices for this is determined by square inch. Please come by the shop for a proper quote as it will have to be assessed by either of our qualified Laser Tattoo Removal Technicians.

Tattoo Prices: If you are getting a small piece done then we charge by the piece. If you are getting huge piece done, we charge by the hour. The hourly rate is $120. We will not give out tattoo price quotes over the phone or by email. You must come into the shop for this.

Can I get a tattoo or piercing if I am pregnant or nursing? Absolutely NOT! While you are pregnant everything that goes into your body can affect the baby. Why risk it? No reputable studio would tattoo or pierce you. If they will you should seriously question their professionalism and stay away. They obviously do not care about yours or your baby's health and well being.

TATTOOING QUESTIONS:

I forgot how to take care of my tattoo. When you get home, remove bandage and wash tattoo in hot shower with soap and water. This will open the pores and allow all the debris to wash away. Rinse clean. Pat dry with clean towel and apply aftercare lotion as recommended by Dog House Ink. Wash your tattoo 3-5 times a day as recommended and apply aftercare lotion with clean hands. A tattoo will completely heal in about 3 weeks if taken care of properly.

My tattoo seems to be flaking off. This is a natural step in the first week of healing. Make sure to apply lotion and to wash your tattoo thoroughly to remove the loose, flaky skin. Do not pull any skin off that is still attached as this could also remove some of your tattoo and cause damage to your artwork.

I think that I may have an infection, what do I do? Come in to have the situation assessed and so that we can give you specific aftercare instructions. If you are not able to stop in you should seek medical attention. An infection can be serious and needs to be assessed. In the meantime, hot compresses can help draw out the infection and an antibacterial ointment may be applied.

Does getting a tattoo hurt? This depends on the size, placement and the person getting tattooed. Some people find that it feels like having a sunburn and a cat scratches it. It can be more annoying than painful for most people. There are things that we can do to make getting a tattoo more comfortable for you if you are having a hard time getting through it.

Can I email an idea and get my tattoo designed? While we can do this we do prefer to work with clients face to face to design a custom piece for them. We do require a small deposit for larger or more intricate pieces or artwork. Of course, this deposit comes off the price of the tattoo. See section on Appointments and Deposits.

Can I book an appointment by email? It is preferable for new clients to come in and book their tattoo at the shop if at all possible. This gives us time to assess the amount of time that you will need for your specific piece. If it is your first tattoo we like to book some extra time to go over sterilization procedures and to make sure that you completely understand the process. Tattoos can be booked by email or phone for ongoing tattoo appointments or touch ups. A small deposit is required to book your tattoo, this usually is only $50 and is taken off the price of the tattoo. This deposit ensures that you will remember your appointment with us.

Do you tattoo hands and feet? Yes we do.

What happens if my tattoo needs a touch up? If you think that you may need a touch up come into the shop so that we can see it. No touch up appointments will be booked by email or by phone.

A wise person once said, "Good tattoos aren't cheap, and cheap tattoos are not good." TEXT-DECORATION: underline"

PIERCING QUESTIONS:

I forgot how to take care of my piercing. Piercings on the body (ear, eyebrow, belly button, nose, nipple, etc). Wash new piercing 3-5 times a day with antibacterial soap. Rinse soap completely from piercing. Pat dry with clean towel. Remove any visible softened "crusties" with clean cotton swabs. Apply recommended aftercare solution of either H2Ocean aftercare spray or mixture of 1/4 tsp Epsom salts mixed with 1/2 cup of boiled water. Continue with aftercare for a minimum of 8 weeks. Piercings in the mouth (tongue) Rinse your mouth with 50/50 Listerine and water for 2 weeks. Do not eat anything spicy, difficult to chew (steak) or too hot. Eat food that is warm and easily chewed. Chewing on ice chips may help with the swelling that your tongue will go through for the first 3-4 days, it will recede after this time back down to the original size after a couple of weeks. Drinking may cause an injury to your tongue if you bite it. Be responsible. If there is anything in your mouth other than water rinse your mouth. No oral sex for the first 2 weeks and preferably not until your tongue is completely healed. Change out the long bar after 8 weeks to a shorter bar. You may find this a little more comfortable.

I think my piercing is infected. If your piercing is hot, red, painful and pussing green ooze you should see a medical professional as you will probably require a course of antibiotics. If your piercing is different than this following the recommended aftercare will likely take care of your problem. If you would like a consultation about your piercing we will assess it for you at the studio. I think that my piercing is healed and it has only been a couple of weeks. Stopping your aftercare routine at this point to cause your new piercing to become problematic as infections and can happen seemingly overnight. It is essential to follow the recommended aftercare instructions for the full 8 weeks and in some cases even longer to ensure that the tissue is healed and stable.

Do piercings hurt? This depends on your own pain tolerance and whether or not you are relaxed at the time of the piercing. The piercing itself takes about a second to do from start to finish. Breathing regularly and deeply will help to relax you and make your piercing experience a positive one.
Can I bring a friend in with me? Yes, you may bring a friend in with you when you get your piercing. However, if your friend is being disruptive and is not helping you to remain relaxed they will be asked to leave. Your piercing experience should be positive and this can only happen in a relaxed environment.
Do you pierce with a piercing gun? No,we never use a gun. Under Health Board Regulations concerning infection control (Vol 25S8 dated July 1999) "The ear piercing gun should only be used for the fleshy part of the ear lobes. The gun is not suitable for piercing other parts of the body such as navel, the nasal cartilage (nostril), or the cartilage areas of the ear. The action of an ear piercings gun can damage tissue and crate a risk of later infection." Professional piercers use a sterilized hollow needle which is extremely sharp. It safely pushes aside the tissue making room for the sterile jewelry. This is a much safer process and is done in a sterile environment by a professionally trained piercer.

Do I need an appointment for a piercing? Appointments are preferred but not always necessary. Call ahead for our piercers schedule as it does change from time to time with family obligations.

Your Q-Switch Nd:YAG Laser laser Tattoo Removal Treatment...what you need to know.

How does it work? Q-Switch Nd:YAG Laser delivers very high power but very short pulses of laser light. These pulses pass through the skin and break up particles of tattoo pigment which are then destroyed by the body by cells called Macrophages and the lymphatic system. This is usually the reason why tattoos usually fade over time. Q-Switch Nd:YAG Laser treatments make the pigment particles small enough to be destroyed much faster.

How often can I get a treatment? Multiple treatments given about a month to six weeks apart are necessary for best results.

What are the possible side effects from Q-Switch Nd:YAG Laser treatments? Possible side effects include blistering and crusting after the treatment and possible scarring.

Are there any pretreatment procedures? The skin being treated must not be tanned. If the client has a history of cold sores in the area to be treated an prescription for an anti-viral medication must be prescribed by a physician to be started the day before the laser treatments and taken for a few days after treatment. Patients who have had Accutane treatment for Acne may not be able to have the laser for at least six months after stopping Accutane. No treatments will be performed on anyone who is pregnant, or patients that have a history of hypertension or heart disease.

How long is each treatment? The length of each treatment will depend on the size and detail of the area being treated.

How much does laser tattoo removal cost? The cost depends on the size of the tattoo being removed and the detail in the tattoo.

Do I have to pay for my entire treatment in advance? No. However, we do offer discounts if you do. You can pay for one treatment at a time. We do provide discount packages for multiple treatments.

How many treatments will I need? Light pigmentation like freckles and age spots may disappear after a single treatment. Most pigment will disappear after 2 treatments. Full tattoo removal will require 2-5 treatments depending on the size of the tattoo and the different colors removed. It has been observed in about 20% of cases that a dark spot appears once the scab has fallen off after treatment. Normal pigmentation of the skin should be achieved within 2-3 months.The amount of treatments will also depend on the type of tattoo, whether it is a professional tattoo, amateur or pin and ink.

How will it look after the treatment? The treated skin becomes red immediately after the procedure. Sometimes there is some blood, this is normal.

Are tattoos completely removed with the Q-Switch Nd:YAG Laser? The Q-Switch Nd: YAG laser is the newest system in this class of lasers and particularly advanced in the removal of red, blue and black inks which have traditionally been the most problematic. Most tattoos are considerably improved and many are completely removed. Some areas may show a shadow of the former tattoo, which gradually clears. Some tattoo pigment colors are more easily removed than other colors.

Post treatment procedures. Avoid removing bandage until the next morning. Wash treated area gently with antibacterial soap 3 times a day. Apply Webers Vitamin E Cream (not ointment) or Polysporin Cream (not ointment) 3 times a day for 7 - 14 days. Bandage for the first week of healing to keep out dirt and help cut down on the risk of infection. Do not pick scabs or pop blisters while healing. Healing can take between 5-25 days depending on the size of the tattoo being removed. Emu oil can also be used after the skin is healed. Emu oil helps the body to repair itself as it has anti-inflammatory properties, will not promote the growth of bacteria, does not clog pores, and is very effective in hydrating dry skin and nails.

Is it true that Chris is a pro fighter? Yes it is true. Chris has been training in mixed martial arts since he was 9 years old. He fought in Japan for 6 months before joining the infantry. Since his retirement from the Canadian Armed Forces he has been able to train consistently again and has been fighting professionally since 2006. He now holds 3 black belts. He is the only Certified Dux Ryu Ninjitsu blackbelt in Canada. He has his second degree black belt in Dux Ryu Ninjitsu and another black belt in Koppojitsu. He is also the only Canadian trained in the FAAST-Dux TM system.