Frequently Asked Questions
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The following is a list of questions we are asked on a regular basis regarding tattoos and our business. We hope you find it helpful.
- What can I expect when I come in for my tattoo?
- Can I drink tequila with my buddies while i’m getting my tattoo?
- How bad is the pain?
- Do you have temporary tattoos or henna tattoos?
- Do you take credit cards?
- How much is a tattoo?
- I found the tattoo that I want, but you said you can’t do it, why?
- Do I have to make an appointment or can I just walk in?
- When on my vacation should I get my tattoo?
- Do you have air conditioning?
- Can you change my old tattoo?
- Will I have privacy when you are tattooing me?
- How old do I have to be to get a tattoo?
1. What can I expect when I come in for my tattoo?
When you come in for your appointment, we will, if we have not already, show you the final design and give you the opportunity to change it. Once the design is finalized, we will shave the area of your body where you are placing your tattoo and then we will perform the transfer. The “transfer” is the outline of your tattoo design on a paper that transfers the ink to your skin when applied with pressure. What remains is the outline of your design, from which the artists will work.
After the transfer is placed you will check it out in the mirror to make sure it is where and how you want it. Now is the time to make changes. When you are ready, we will place you on a tattoo bed/Dr’s table or chair in the most comfortable position possible. The artist will prepare to tattoo. He will tell you when he is ready to begin and then he will do one line and check to make sure you are fine. Please inform us if you do not feel well. If you feel faint or light headed, please tell us.
When we are doing our work, we appreciate the least movement possible so that we can give you the best result. Please tell us whenever you feel you need to take a break. We understand that some people feel pain more than others. Pony works with vaseline to lubricate and to help with any bleeding and surgical soap to continually clean the surface.
When your tattoo is finished, you will get to see it for the first time. Let us know if you want to add anything. Then we will wrap your tattoo to protect it and contain any bleeding. Then we give you your instructions on how you need to take care of your tattoo. If you have the opportunity, we love to have our clients come back to visit and show us how their tattoos are doing!
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2. Can I drink tequila with my buddies while i’m getting my tattoo?
We know that many come to beautiful Playa for the party as much as for the beach. So, many of us drink while we are in town. But, if you are going to get a tattoo while you are here, it is best not to drink or be hung over before hand and during your session. The reason is that the experience will be more difficult for you in the end. If you are intoxicated or hung over during you session, you are likely to bleed more (which can affect the look of your tattoo) and you could become dehydrated. Also, if you are hung over, the experience may be more painful. The day after your tattoo you are likely to feel some pain, and that pain will be more significant if you were drinking during your session (which may have dulled the pain at the time). In addition, it is a good idea to have some food in your stomach and be well rested. For these reasons, we discourage drinking in the shop.
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3. How bad is the pain?
Chances are you will feel some pain. People feel pain in different ways and in different areas, so it really depends of your threshold for pain and the area on your body where you are placing the tattoo. We have had different people get a tattoo in the exact same spot and one person thought it was a calming and almost massaging experience and the other felt moderate to significant pain for several minutes of the tattoo session. So it sort of depends on you.
In general, most people agree that the closer to the bone a tattoo is, the more pain you are likely to feel. The chest, ribcage, head and tops of feet are considered painful areas.
Even though most people feel pain, they also consider it bearable and worth it. The best thing to do is come in healthy and feeling good and rested and try to relax through your session and, (that is if you are not somebody who enjoys the pain), try to think of something other than the pain you feel. If your tattoo is small, it is usually over faster than you think it will be. Treating yourself well before your session can also make the experience less painful.
Just remember, the pain will end, but your tattoo is forever.
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4. Do you have temporary tattoos or henna tattoos?
No, we only do permanent tattoos, but you can find people selling henna tattoos in many locations on fifth avenue.
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5. Do you take credit cards?
Sorry, we do not. We are starting to work on that. We hope that in the near future we will accept credit cards.
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6. How much is a tattoo?
The price of our tattoos vary depending on size, colors/black and white, level of detail, etc. Before we can give you an estimate of the cost of your tattoo, we need to see the exact design and size of what you want. What may look simple to you on paper may be a bit more difficult to do on the skin.
The minimum price of a tattoo at ScreamInk is $400 pesos, which is about $40 U.S.D. -- That is for a small, simple design. This cost covers the price of the materials used for your tattoo. The prices go up from there. We usually do not charge by the hour unless you are doing a tattoo that needs to be completed in sessions. Then, the price per hour is $900 pesos or $90 U.S.D. per hour.
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7. I found the tattoo that I want, but you said you can’t do it, why?
One inhibition of the tattoo arts is that it is more difficult to do on skin, what is easy on paper. Over time, the lines of ink in your tattoo may bleed. If there is too much detail placed in a small space on your skin, in the future, the lines can bleed together and make your tattoo indiscernible. When you show us your design and tell us where you want your tattoo and in what size, we evaluate whether we can put all of the detail of the image you have into the space where you want it. Sometimes we will tell you that you will have to make the tattoo bigger to have all of the detail, or you we will not put in all of the detail into the tattoo. We do not want to give you a tattoo that will not look good in the future. Will are usually able to arrive at a design that we feel confident about and that you will like.
There may be shops that are willing to give you the design you want and in the size you want even if it will not look very good for very long. But we want you to enjoy your tattoo for as long as possible and we want you to walk out the door with a quality piece of artwork.
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8. Do I have to make an appointment or can I just walk in?
We work by appointment because that way we can make sure we have all of the materials that we need for your tattoo and we do not feel rushed and can do the best job possible. But we also do a lot of walk-in business.
When you make an appointment, we ask for a deposit of $300 pesos or $30 dollars. The reason for this is that we often have walk-ins and if we save the time frame for your session, we have to turn away other clients. If you change your mind about your tattoo before your appointment, we are happy to return your deposit. If you call us to change your appointment before your appointment time, then we still put your deposit toward the price of your tattoo.
If you do decide to walk in, we have to give our clients with appointments priority. If your tattoo and tattoo design cannot be completed with the times between appointments and it is the last day you have in Playa we simply won’t be able to help you.
With that in mind, see the following question.
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9. When on my vacation should I get my tattoo?
We recommend that if are thinking of getting a tattoo on your vacation that you come into the studio as early as possible in your visit to discuss your design. We always recommend that you get your tattoo on your final day in Playa. You should not expose your new tattoo to sun, ocean or the pool for at least 10 days. Unless you are willing to forego sun & fun, wait until your last day and make an appointment in advance so you get your spot nailed down.
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10. Do you have air conditioning?
Yes
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11. Can you change my old tattoo?
We can cover-up your old tattoo with another tattoo if the new tattoo fits properly to cover the old one. Cover-up tattoos are an art form in and of themselves and require a careful custom design based on the contours, shape and colors of your old tattoo. If you want to cover your old tattoo, let us see it and we will work with you to find an appropriate design.
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12. Will I have privacy when you are tattooing me?
We have a separate room for tattooing in our studio. There is a window between the lounge/reception area and the tattoo room and we close the curtain if you prefer to have privacy. Additionally we close the door and we can place a do not place sign outside the entrance to notify employees and clients that privacy has been requested. A loved one or friend is permitted in the tattoo room with you upon your request.
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13. How old do I have to be to get a tattoo?
At least 18 (proof of age required if asked). If you are under 18, you must have a guardian present when you are getting your tattoo -- a letter of permission will not be accepted.
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Disclaimer
The information provided on this website is for informational purposes only. We are not Doctors and we are not giving medical advice. We are sharing our knowledge, which is based on our personal experience in this profession. If you have a problem with your tattoo, we are happy to share our knowledge, but you should also seek the advice of a medical professional.
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