Graphic Tribe Tattoos

About the pain
About the skin
About hygiene
About appointments
About prices
About tattoos
About the aftercare
Miscellaneous topics
About this website
Lexicon

Questions

What does “kenspeckle amphigory” mean? [I won’t actually tell you what it means, but I’ll explain some of the tattoo-related terminology I use throughout this website ;)]

Answers

It’s my first time…

How does this work?: It’s my first time too… I haven’t got the slightest clue :) Just kidding. Here’s a quick rundown. Basically, there is no defined flow or process one needs to go through in order to get a tattoo, there are only advices and a little bit of guidance I can give you. First and most important, you need to think this through and be sure you really want to do it. Then you’ll need to be sure that I’m the one you would entrust your body for a permanent marking. To help you get an idea about who I am and what I can do for you, have a look at my profile and my photo gallery, or simply send me an e-mail and ask me whatever you need to know. After that, make sure that I can do the kind of tattoo you would like to get; again, browsing through the galleries should give you a pretty good idea about what styles and types of designs I do. Once you have decided you’d want to have me work for you —and you have all the information you need— you can either call or e-mail me in order to set up a meeting, so we can sit and talk about your tattoo. I think that’s about it; once you come over, I’ll be sure to let you know everything you need to know in order to make this a satisfactory experience for you. While you’re here anyway, please continue to read these answers to the most frequently asked questions; there’s a lot of information and I am sure it will be very useful to you, so take your time ;)

Answers About the Pain

Does it hurt? • How bad does it hurt?: Yes, it does hurt. Tattoos are permanent markings that need to be put into the skin in order to ensure they last for a long, long time. But it definitely hurts a lot less than you imagine right now, that’s for sure; it might be a little annoying, but it’s not unbearable. The needles —which are very thin and sharp— only go about .5mm–1mm into the skin and never deeper; the pain is actually more of a sting —it sometimes feels like a superficial burn— and it doesn’t persist for more than a couple of seconds at a time.
What kind of pain? • By comparison, what does it hurt like?: It is a sharp, superficial pain, very similar to a sting or a soft burn; rather annoying than unbearable. Very hard to compare it with another sensation, because there isn’t anything quite similar. Most of the time, girls tend to find a resemblance between it and the sensation of removing body hair with an electrical depilator. Men oftenly find it similar to the sensation of wearing a denim shirt on sunburnt skin.
Has anybody ever quit because of the pain?: No, never. On the contrary, people who were extremelly afraid of the pain when they came in for the first time, eventually come for more once they realize that the actual pain is far from what they first imagined.
Where does it hurt the most? • Where does it hurt the least?: As a rule of thumb, where it tickles, it hurts. The more sensitive an area is, the more it hurts. Basically, the inside part of the arms and thighs, the abdomen, the rib cage, the lateral sides of the lower back and the chest are known to hurt the most. The exterior part of the arms and calves, the upper side and the shoulders hurt the least.
If I get drunk before getting tattooed, would it hurt less?: No, it would actually hurt more than usual and it would bleed excessively. Besides, I will refuse access to the studio to any person under the influence of alcohol.; Related: Guide : House “Rules”
Does it hurt more when one doesn’t feel well (e.g. during a hangover, during the menstruation period, or during an illness such as cold)?: It is true that, during illness or periods of physical weakness, the pain threshold is lower than usual, thus it becomes harder to go through the process of being tattooed. Generally, when the body is weakened by an illness, getting a tattoo might be the last thing it needs and, if possible, this should be avoided until complete recovery.
Does it still hurt after it’s done? • How long does the pain persist?: No, the pain is not persistent; it ends when the tattoing is done. For a couple of days following the tattooing session, a slight discomfort might be present, but it’s nothing serious; think of a light sunburn and wearing a denim shirt over it… quite similar.

Answers About the Skin

Is it possible for someone suffering of atopy to get tattooed?: Yes, of course. However, it depends on the skin state at that particular moment; if the affection is very proeminent, we’ll need to postpone the tattooing session until it calms down.; Related: Guide : Miscellaneous Topics
Is it possible to tattoo over burns or scars?: It depends —and I’ll be able to give you an accurate answer only when you come over for a consultation meeting which, in this case, is required prior to the tattooing session. Basically, if the scar is not proeminent or swollen and the skin texture is not badly damaged, tattooing will be possible.; Related: Guide : Miscellaneous Topics
Is it possible to tattoo over moles or beauty marks?: No, it is not possible. Certain moles and beauty marks carry cancerigene cells that must not be subjected to wounds or bleeding, therefore tattooing directly over them would most likely endanger your health.; Related: Guide : Miscellaneous Topics
Is it possible to tattoo on the nipples or the inside part of the lips?: Yes, it’s possible but I don’t do it. The quality of a tattoo done on such areas is very poor and far below the standards I attempt to maintain in my work.; Related: Guide : Miscellaneous Topics
My skin is very delicate… Is it possible to be tattooed?: Most of the time, a “delicate” or “weak” skin is just a complex one has —or subconsciously creates— without being based on true facts, most likely because of the anguish of having to decide whether to go through the experience of getting tattooed or not. Meaning that, most likely, your skin is fine and it’s just you trying to frighten yourself away from the thought of getting a tattoo :) However, it is possible to get a tattoo, no matter how delicate your skin is.
Is it possible to tattoo on sunburnt tanned skin?: Most likely, we’ll have to postpone the tattooing session until complete recovery. When the skin is tanned or sunburnt, besides being very painful, small pieces of peeling skin will constantly be picked by the tattoo needles, stopping the ink from flowing properly and thus making the tattooing process almost impossible. In order to avoid something like this, please discontinue your tanning at least two–three weeks prior to your appointment.; Related: Guide : Miscellaneous Topics

Answers About Hygiene

Are the needles disposable? • Are the needles sterilized before use?: Yes, the needles are single-use and are sterilized before use and before disposal.; Related: Guide : Hygiene Methods
Are the inks disposable? • Are the tools and other items disposable?: Yes, all items —including inks, surgical gloves, ointments, bandages, packages, razors and stencils— are single-use. The only non-disposable items are the electrical tools, including the tattoo machines and their accessories (grips, extension bars, clipcords) and the tools that don’t come —at any time— in contact with blood, sweat or skin grease.; Related: Guide : Hygiene Methods
Do you use a sterilizer? • Do you do a proper sterilization of the tools?: Yes, I use a steam autoclave and an ultraviolet shower container. The sterilization process consists in a double-cycle —high temperature • high atmospheric pressure— sterilization: 60 minutes in the steam autoclave, at 140°C / 300kPa and at least 120 minutes under the ultraviolet shower. The needles go through this process before use and before disposal; the extension bars and the tubes go through this process before use and after cleaning.; Related: Guide : Hygiene Methods

Answers About Appointments

Is it necessary to make an appointment? • Are walk-ins OK?: Yes, it is necessary to make an appointment and no, walk-ins are not accepted. The schedule is very tight and my approach toward tattooing requires me to give full attention to each and every client; therefore, it is not possible to overlap appointments or simply allow visits without me being present to offer full support and guidance in the process of searching and deciding for a tattoo.; Related: Guide : Appointments
What do I need to do to make an appointment?: If it’s your first time at Graphic Tribe Tattoos, e-mail me and I’ll take it from there.; Related: Guide : Appointments, Contact Information
How long does it take to get an appointment? • How long before the desired date would it be a good idea to make the appointment?: For a consultation meeting, the usual waiting period is of approximately 2 months for the weekdays and up to 4 months for the weekends. For a tattooing session appointment, the usual waiting period is of approximately 3–4 months for the weekdays and approximately 4–6 months for the weekends. The Japanese national holidays are also very likely to become booked up faster than the weekdays. To ensure you will be able to pick the exact day and time you wish, contacting me well in advance would be a good idea.; Related: Guide : Appointments
Is there a waiting list?: Yes, it is possible to request to be put on a waiting-for-openings list. However, in order to be on the waiting list, you will need to already have an appointment.; Related: Guide : Appointments
Is it preferable to make a consultation meeting appointment before a tattooing session appointment?: It’s not absolutely necessary, but is preferable, especially when you are planning to get a large, complex tattoo (such as a full back composition or a portrait), in order to ensure that we have all the details set before the day of the first session, so I can prepare the best design for you. Also, if you are planning to get a cover-up or touch-up, a consultation meeting is required, given that there are some cases where cover-ups or touch-ups cannot be done.; Related: Guide : Appointments
Is it necessary to make a deposit in advance?: No, a deposit won’t be necessary.; Related: Guide : Pricing and Methods of Payment
What do I need to to in order to cancel or postpone an appointment?: An e-mail will do, as long as you contact me at least one week prior to the date of the appointment. Please note that failing to contact me in order to cancel an appointment will result in refusal of future appointments.; Related: Guide : Appointments
How much is the cancellation fee?: There is no cancellation fee.; Related: Guide : Appointments
Is it possible to watch while someone else is being tattooed?: It is possible only when the person being tattooed is a relative or close friend of yours and only when they have specifically allowed —in my presence— you to do so. Otherwise, I will not —under any circumstances— allow access in the tattooing area to any other person than the one being tattooed.; Related: Guide : House “Rules”
May I bring a friend along?: I’d rather you come alone. However, if you do have to bring someone along, please don’t bring more than one person. The studio is not that big and the presence of other people in the room might break my concentration.; Related: Guide : House “Rules”
How many people may I bring along when I visit?: Maximum one. In any case, please don’t bring along children.; Related: Guide : House “Rules”

Answers About Prices

How much does it cost? • What would be an approximate price for a tattoo?: Tattoos are works of art, they don’t really have a price. Usually, you pay me for the work I do, so it’s pretty difficult to round it up in a few words. However, as a rough idea, for tattoos doable in a single session, the pricees start at 21,000 Japanese yen (tax included) and go up to 60,000 Japanese yen (tax included). For large tattoos that require several sessions to be completed, the pricing is set by hour, at a fixed rate of 15,000 Japanese yen (tax included) per hour. For example, a tattoo the size of a regular business card (or smaller) will cost approximately 21,000–31,500 Japanese yen (tax included), a tattoo the size of a regular pack of cigarettes will cost between 25,000 and 35,000 Japanese yen (tax included) and a tattoo the size of a regular greeting card will cost approximately 45,000–60,000 Japanese yen (tax included) —depending on the complexity and estimated duration. A large tattoo —requiring more than one session to be done— completed in 4 hours will cost 60,000 Japanese yen (tax included) and a tattoo completed in 10 hours will cost 150,000 Japanese yen (tax included).; Related: Guide : Pricing and Methods of Payment
How much does a small tattoo cost? • How much does a tattoo, doable in one session, cost?: A small tattoo —doable in a single session— will cost between 21,000 and 60,000 Japanese yen (tax included), depending on its size, complexity and estimated duration. The prices for small tattoos will be decided in a subjective manner, based on complexity, duration and my experience with similar designs.; Related: Guide : Pricing and Methods of Payment
How much does a large tattoo cost? • How much does a full back (full sleeve, full leg) piece cost?: A large tattoo —requiring several sessions— will cost more than 60.000 Japanese yen (tax included), but I can only give you an approximate number. The prices for large tattoos are decided in an objective manner, at a fixed rate of 15,000 Japanese yen (tax included) per hour, but they can only be approximated based on an estimated duration until completion. Therefore, you won’t need to pay the entire amount in advance, but only the price for the respective session [e.g. 5 hours will cost 75,000 Japanese yen (tax included), 6 hours will cost 90,000 Japanese yen (tax included) and so on…]; Related: Guide : Pricing and Methods of Payment
How much does an arm (arm, wrist) band or a leg (thigh, ankle) ring cost?: Usually, an arm band costs between 42,000 and 60,000 Japanese yen (tax included) for a regular width and up to 60,000–70,000 Japanese yen (tax included) for wider designs. For a wrist band, an approximate price would be of 25,000 to 42,000 Japanese yen (tax included), depending on the design’s width and complexity. For an ankle ring, an approximated price would be 31,000–42,000 Japanese yen (tax included). For a thigh ring, a minimum price would be of approximately 42,000–52,500 Japanese yen (tax included) and it can go up to 70,000–90,000 Japanese yen (tax included) for more complex and large designs.; Related: Guide : Pricing and Methods of Payment
What’s the difference between the per-hour prices and the set prices?: The prices per hour are set in an objective manner, taking in consideration only the duration of the tattoo, priced at a fix rate of 15,000 Japanese yen (tax included) per hour; only large tattoos, requiring several sessions to be completed, are priced by hour. On the other hand, the set prices are decided in a subjective manner, based on my experience with similar designs, the complexity, size and estimated duration of the respective tattoo; only small tattoos, doable in a single session, are priced using this method.; Related: Guide : Pricing and Methods of Payment
How much is the tax added to the price?: The tax added to the prices is a fixed rate of 5%. For the per-hour prices, the tax is included (most of the time, I discount the tax for prices of large tattoos).; Related: Guide : Pricing and Methods of Payment
Would offers like “I’ll introduce a lot of my friends to you” have any effect on the prices?: No. I don’t sell tattoos and trying to negotiate a price for my work might be seen as disrespectful and inappropriate.; Related: Guide : Pricing and Methods of Payment
Can I pay in cash or with a credit card?: Cash only, in Japanese currency.; Related: Guide : Pricing and Methods of Payment
Is it possible to split the payment in several times? • Do I need to pay the entire amount in one time?: You will need to pay the entire amount in one time only for small tattoos, doable in a single session. For large tattoos, requiring several sessions to be completed, the payment will be split in several times and you will only need to pay the equivalent —at a fixed rate of 15,000 Japanese yen (tax included) per hour— for the respective session.; Related: Guide : Pricing and Methods of Payment
Does the health ensurance discount apply to tattoing prices?: No, it does not. According to the Japanese so-called laws, tattooing is considered a cosmetical service, therefore not covered by the health ensurance.
Is it true that, after I get a tattoo, the cancer ensurance becomes ineffective?: This is one of the layman’s myths, not based on real facts but on false assumptions. As far as I know getting tattooed doesn’t affect any of the ensurance policies. However, I suggest that you consult your ensurance agency before you make the decision of getting tattooed, to avoid any wrong conclusions or misunderstanding. The laws might change and it is a known fact that the lawmakers don’t really care if we know about this overnight changes.

Answers About Tattoos

Can you do any kind of design? • Can you do any style?: Yes, I can. However, I am specialized in black and gray only, fine-lined, realistic designs, such as portraits, biomechanics, kitsch art, lifelike designs of living beings and modern Japanese body art. I also do tribal ornaments and letterings. The styles that I don’t do are the American old school, the Japanese traditional and all the other styles requiring colours other than black.; Related: Gallery
Can you do multicoloured tattoos? • What colours can you use?: No. I use only black and gray.; Related: Photo Gallery
Can you imitate or replicate a tattoo done by another artist? • Can you replicate tattoos of famous figures (such as musicians)?: No. My work is based on unique, original, custom designs and I am totally against the idea of copying someone else’s tattoo. However, for portraits, emblem and family crests, logos, symbols and letterings I will attempt to replicate the sample images you bring in, as long as the images are not photos of other people’s tattoos.; Related: Photo Gallery, Portraits, Letterings
Do you use flash? • Do you have a design catalog?: No, I do not use flash nor design catalogs. All tattoos are based on unique, original, custom designs drawn from scratch for each and every client.
Is it possible to bring a design drawn by myself? • Can I bring my own design?: Yes, it is possible to create a tattoo design based on your own drawings. However, in order to ensure the best quality for your tattoo, I will probably redo it from scratch —following, of course, the shapes and ideas in your drawing— in order to give it a proper balance and tracing. For portraits I will replicate the drawing you bring in, as long as it’s realistic and properly drawn.; Related: Photo Gallery, Portraits, Weblog entry: “The Thing That Shouldn’t Be”
Do you use machines or are you doing it by hand (Japanese style)?: Yes, I use machines. My tattooing style requires intricate details and precise execution, things that cannot be done by hand.
Can you do Japanese traditional style? • Can you do the traditional style (by hand)?: No. Except for the modern Japanese body art —which is an adaptation of the traditional Japanese style to the modern ways of artistic expression— consisting in dragons and mythological scenery executed in my own style, I don’t have much in common with the traditional Japanese tattooing.; Related: Photo Gallery,Dragons
What’s the difference between the Japanese traditional style and the occidental style?: The most noticeable difference is the execution technique; the Japanese traditional style is done mostly by hand, using machines only for the outline, whereas the occidental style is done entirely using machines. Another noticeable difference is the motif; the Japanese traditional motifs are passed from generation to generation and rarely modified or improved, whereas the occidental tattooing consists —or should consist— mostly in original, unique designs. A very visible difference would be also in the design itself; the Japanese traditional designs are very large and colorful, drawn in a certain manner which is rather strict and, although not realistic and sometimes very unbalanced, has its own charm, whereas the occidental designs are mostly small, sometimes colorful and sometimes monochrome, drawn in a very free and innovative manner, most of the time attempting photo-realistic representations of the respective motifs.
Is it possible to do white tattoos? • Is it possible to do skin-colour tattoos?: Another layman’s myth, not based on true facts but on false assumption and ignorance regarding the process of tattooing. While it is possible to use white —or “skin” colour, for that matter— in tattooing, the resulting tattoo is most of the time of a very poor quality, if not invisible. The white ink is not meant to be used like the other colours, but only for small areas and in small quantities. I only use it for accents and highlighted spots (such as eyes or metallic objects). As for the “skin” colour thing… *yawn*
Is it possible to tattoo on nipples, belly button, front of the neck, soles, palm of the hands, ears, face, lips, penis, anus, clitoris?: No. Or at least, I don’t do it. Certain areas of the body —soles, palm of the hands, nipples, lips or anus— are covered with a different type of skin, which is not of an appropriate quality for tattooing. Other areas —belly button, ears, penis, clitoris— do not allow proper conditions for tattooing, thus being very difficult, if not impossible, to be worked on in good conditions. Therefore, instead of just doing it for the sake of getting paid, I’d rather not do it at all.; Related: Guide : House “Rules”
Does the colour fade away or dissapear in time? • If the colour happened to fade away or dissapear, is it possible to retouch it?: If the aftercare measures are thoroughly followed, once the healing period is through, the tattoo will last forever. Of course, with the aging of the skin, the colours will get a “polished” look and won’t look as bright as in the first years, but they will not fade away. However, light colours like white, yellow or light blue might become very faint or even dissapear after several years, but this is not something that necessarily happens; it varies from person to person and depends, most of the time, on the way it’s being protected during the healing period. But if the colour happens to fade away, yes, it can be retouched and brought back to its initial brightness.
In how many years will the tattoo fade away or dissapear?: The tattoo will last forever, as long as the aftercare rules are respected during the healing period. Some of the colours (especially the light ones such as white or yellow) might fade away and dissapear after several years, but strong colours, such as black or red, will always be as bright and sharp as in the first years.
Can you do retouch jobs of tattoos done by other artists? • Can you fix bad tattoos done by other artists?: Most of the time, yes. However, it depends on the design itself so, in this particular case, a consultation meeting is required prior to the tattooing session appointment, in order to allow me to see it and decide whether a retouch can be done or not. Sometimes, the quality is so poor and the damage to the skin is so extensive, that there is nothing we can do about it.
Can you cover up tattoos done by other artists? • I have a bad tattoo that I really hate and I’d like to cover it up with another tattoo… is it possible?: Most of the time, yes. However, it depends on the design itself so, in this particular case, a consultation meeting is required prior to the tattooing session appointment, in order to allow me to see it and decide whether a cover-up can be done or not. Sometimes, when the size of the initial tattoo is quite large or its colours are very bold and dark, a cover-up is very difficult, if not impossible.
Can you finish a tattoo started by other artist? • Is it possible to continue another artist’s work?: Most of the time, no, especially when the incomplete tattoo is done in a style that I don’t do —such as Japanese traditional or American old school— or when the quality is so poor that, whatever I’d do, the outcome would still be a poor tattoo. However, in this particular case, a consultation meeting is required prior to the tattooing session appointment, in order to allow me to see it and decide whether I can work on it or not. I value too much the quality of the result and doing it just so I can get some money for it is not my approach towards the art of tattooing.
Is it possible to add something to a tattoo that I already have?: Most of the time, yes. However, it depends on the design itself so, in this particular case, a consultation meeting is required prior to the tattooing session appointment, in order to allow me to see it and decide whether the result will be a good one or not. Sometimes, when the quality of the initial tattoo is very poor, or it is done in a style that I don’t do —such as Japanese traditional or American old school— I believe that the result will be an unbalanced mixture of motifs or styles that won’t look good, therefore I will not do something that will, most likely, be of poor quality.
Up to how many hours can a tattooing session be? • Can you book me in for a certain number of hours, at my request?: Currently, the longest session can be up to 4 hours at a time. If the day’ schedule allows it, yes, it is possible to request an appointment for up to 4 hours.
I’d like to get a large tattoo done as quickly as possible… what do I need to do?: Usually, for tattoos requiring several sessions to be completed, there is a 2 week period between the sessions, in order to allow the skin to heal before being able to work on it again. However, for large tattoos —once the outline is done— it is possible to group the sessions in 2 or 3 successive days, thus shortening the overall duration of the process.
Can I book in for tattoo sessions on several succesive days?: Yes, if you are planning to get several small tattoos on different areas of the body, far from each other. No, if you are planning to get a large tattoo that requires several sessions to be completed. In this case, we will need to wait for at least 2 weeks between sessions, in order to allow the skin to heal so we can work on it again. However, for large tattoos —once the outline is done— it is possible to group the sessions in 2 or 3 successive days.
I have a rough idea of what kind of tattoo I want to get, but can’t decide on the details… what do I need to do?: No problem. All you need to do is contact me in order to get a consultation meeting appointment. I am a good designer and I draw very fast; when you come to visit, we’ll sit and talk about your design and then I’ll sketch for you several designs, until we get it right. Between your ideas and my experience, I’m 100% confident we’ll figure out the best design for you.

Answers About the Aftercare

What does “aftercare” mean, when it comes to tattooing?: The aftercare is a set of rules that need to be respected during the healing period after the tattooing session. The quality of the tattoo depends very much on whether you follow these rules or not, therefore they need to be taken seriously.
What do I need to do during the healing period? • Is there anything I have to do during the healing period?: Basically, the rules vary from person to person and depend on the type of the tattoo. I will make sure to explain to you —once the tattoing session ends— in detail, all you need to do in order to get the best results for your tattoo. However, as a general rule, you will have to avoid submerging the tattooed area under water, avoid picking the scabs and use an ointment, twice a day, for as long as you have the scabs.
What’s the duration of the healing period? • How long does it take for the tattoo to heal?: For the scab to fall —and the aftercare period to end— it usually takes between 3–4 days and one week–one week and a half. The complete healing —regeneration of the skin— takes up to 2 months, depending on age and general state of health. However, the difficult part is the first week, when you need to follow certain rules that ensure a proper healing of the tattoo. After that, even if the skin is not completely healed, you won’t need to do anything special, just wait it out.
How long does it take for the tattoo to look good? • How long does it take for the skin to regenerate?: Depending on age and general state of health, it might take up to 2 months until the skin regenerates and its texture turns back to normal. And this is how long it will take until the tattoo will look good, free of the wound marks and semi-transparent, dry layers of dead skin. For very small tattoos and shading-only tattoos, this period is shorter; in some cases, the tattoo will look good even after the first week.
Can I go to the beach (swimming pool, spa) right after I get tattooed?: No. During the healing period —which might last up to one week–one week and a half— you will need to keep the tattoo (and the scab it forms) away from water. As a rule of thumb —and this is not only tattoo-related— it is a good idea to avoid public places, such as swimming pools or spas, when you have a fresh wound, to avoid infections or being contaminated by viruses that cause skin or blood diseases.
Would it help if I’d drink vitamins and supplements during the heling period?: Well, this is only if you really believe it would help :) Fact is, there is no specific need to drink any vitamins or supplements for this particular purpose; the wound itself is very superficial and will heal pretty fast, no real damage is done to the skin. But if you ask me, I do eat a lot of honey (the natural stuff, no sugar or preservatives in it) ;)
Is it true that it’s better to avoid getting tattooed during the summer? • Is it true that it’s better to avoid getting tattooed in a very hot season?: Just another layman’s myth, based not on real facts but on what “I’ve heard from a friend of a friend of a friend”… The truth is that, during the summer (or hot seasons), the healing period might be a little bit longer than usual, because the sweat wets the scab and keeps it from falling. The itching is also harder to bear and sometimes, because of the sweat, it even stings. But that’s about it, a little bit more discomfort created by the high temperatures and by the sweating. The tattoo is not affected directly, in any way.
Does the healing period become longer if I suffer of atopy or if I have a delicate skin?: Not really. The most noticeable differences in the healing period are given by the position of the tattoo (e.g. a tattoo on the foot might take longer to loose the scab than one on the shoulder) and the tattoo itself (e.g. a large tribal tattoo will take longer to lose the scab than a small, fine-lined butterfly), but very rarely by the quality of the skin or its general state of health. However, I have noticed that younger people tend to heal faster ;)
Would it be better if I’d take the day off when I get tattooed? • Would it be better if I went home to rest after I get tattooed?: Depending on the size of the tattoo and its duration, the stamina is “consumed” differently and the levels of fatigue differ; a small tattoo, doable in an hour —for example— will get you a lot less tired than a large tattoo, requiring 4 hours to be completed. Either way, the pain not being such a big deal, you won’t be tired to the point you’d need to take the day off and go to bed. Basically, if you feel like it’s the right thing to do, you can take the day off, but it’s not mandatory. Simply allowing yourself to rest for an hour or two after getting tattoed, will be enough. Unless you’re looking for a good reason to skip work, in which case, by all means, do take the day off :)
Would it be better if I’d stop going to the gym for a while, after I get tattooed?: It would be —indeed— a good idea, especially if you get a large tattoo on an area in the vicinity of member articulations or areas easily subjected to wounds during physical training. You won’t be able to use the pools nor showers either so, in my opinion, taking a few days off from the gym would be preferable.
What happens if I don’t follow the aftercare rules?: Worst case scenario, the tattoo will loose (some of) the colour and will look faded and dirty. During the healing period, as a natural reaction, the body is trying to get rid of the ink I put in; the aftercare measures are meant to work against this natural rejection and if they’re not done properly, you will have a tattoo which hasn’t kept enough of the initial amount of colour; it won’t look good, believe me. Besides, I’m gonna be very pissed if I hear you didn’t take care of your tattoo.
Your aftercare methods are different from other artists’… why is that?: Every tattoo artist creats the set of aftercare rules that gave best results in his or her experience and rarely adopts a certain set of rules from another artist. That’s why there are so many different ways to protect your tattoo during the healing period. However, it is important to follow the rules which have been explained to you by the artist who had done the respective tattoo, as opossite to doing what you hear from a friend of a friend of a friend, who got a tattoo 15 years ago in Hawaii… Basically, if you can trust a tattooist enough to let hir work on your skin, you will also have to trust hir judgement regarding the measures you need to take while the tattoo is healing.

Miscellaneous Answers

Do you sell needles?: No, I don’t sell any tattoo supplies. If you’re looking for needles —or any other tattoo supplies— have a look at my links page, where my suppliers are listed. Or give Google a try… ;); Related: Links
Do you sell flash or design catalogs?: No, I don’t sell any tattoo supplies, especially flash catalogs which I consider the lowest, most unprofessional, most irresponsible thing a tattooist can do. But if you have to, give Google a try or have a look at my suppliers’ online shops…
Is it possible to get only a drawing (on paper), without getting tattooed?: For simple designs, such as Japanese kanji or Chinese hanzi, symbols, letterings, small tribals, yes, it is possible, both on paper —if you can come over for a consultation meeting— and via e-mail, if you live outside Japan. A generic price would be the equivalent of 30 to 50 Euros for the smaller ones and up to 100–150 Euros for the larger, more complex designs, payable through PayPal. I won’t be able to help you with very complex designs that span on several parts of the body, because I only do freehand work for large tattoos and stencils that big can’t be used. But I’ll probably be able to help you out with ideas and rough sketches, for which I charge a lot less.; Send me an e-mail and ask me about it. I’ll get back to you with the rest of the details and we’ll take it from there.
Do you do body painting or “Henna tattoos”?: No, only permanent tattooing.
Do you do cosmetic tattoos (eyebrows, lips outline)?: No, no cosmetic tattooing. I only do decorative tattoos and, regarding this particular case, I also don’t tattoo on face, amongst others.
Do you do body piercing as well?: No, only tattoos.
How many tattooists are there in your studio? • Is it possible to do two or more people simultaneously?: Only one, me. We’ll only be able to tattoo one at a time.
Will I be seen by other people while getting tattooed?: No, I will not allow —under any circumstances— other persons to access the studio while you are getting tattooed. However, if you specifically allow a friend to watch while your tattoo is being done, I have no problem with that. But please ask me beforehand.
Is it possible to get tattooed if I’m underage but I have (written) parental consent?: No. Underage is underage, with or without parental consent; parents cannot assume this responsibility.; Related: Guide : House “Rules”
Is it possible for my underage child to be tattooed if I escort hir to the studio?: No. Underage is underage and you, as a parent, cannot assume this responsibility for your child.; Related: Guide : House “Rules”
I don’t have an identification document (driver’s license, passport)… what do I need to do?: The sole purpose for which I request an identification document is to verify the date of birth (the age) so I can make sure you are above 20. It is hard to believe that you don’t already have any type of identification document and it will make it even harder for me to believe that you are not underage but, basically, I won’t be able to work for you if you can’t prove your age.; Related: Guide : House “Rules”
Do you have a parking area at the studio?: No, I’m sorry, there’s no parking area near the studio. However, there are two parking lots not really far from here: one close to the Ebisu station (5 minutes to the studio) and one behind the Zest cantina (2 minute to the studio); both open all day long and not very expensive. Have a look at the map, I marked their locations there, so you can find them easily.; Related: Contact info, Area map, GoogleMaps page

Answers About This Website

Who made this website?

I made it. The bad spelling, weird grammar and funny HTML is all mine, can’t blame anybody for it… And, if you don’t want any headaches today, steer clear of the CSS files too :)

The site looks weird, like it’s broken… Why is that?

It’s because you’re using Mi¢ro$oft Int€rn€t €xp£or€r —not because there’s anything wrong with the website— and, what’s worse, you’re using version and cannot possibly keep up with what the web has become in the last years. What you need to do is go get a real browser, like Firefox, Safari or Opera and then come back and see the website is not broken at all and it looks quite good actually. However, if you aren’t using Mi¢ro$oft’s crapware but the site still looks weird, I might’ve fucked something up, in which case it’s my bad. Please let me know about it and I’ll fix it immediately.

Related: Firefox, Safari, Opera

Why does it take so long for the pages to load? • The downloads are very slow… why is that?

It is a temporary situation, probably created by the amount of traffic at this hour. Sometimes the number of users accessing the internet is so overwhelming that the servers can’t keep up with it and go numb… Please try again later, these situations don’t last for longer than a couple of hours. Apologies for the inconvenience though, I’m continuously trying to make the pages as light as possible, but it’s not always in my power to ensure the site can be viewed in proper conditions.

I can’t find a page I previously bookmarked… where did it go? • My bookmarks point to a “Not Found” error page… why is that?

During the renewal of the site, I tweaked the overall structure in order to make it more compact and usable, so the information can be easier to find. Because of this, some of the pages have been removed entirely or moved to other locations. I took a great deal of care in making sure that all the previous addresses are seamlessly redirected to the current ones, but I might’ve overlooked one or two of them. I apologize for the inconvenience. Please have a look at the sitemap; you should find what you were looking for in no time.

Related: Sitemap

May I link to this website? • Is it OK to exchange links?

Yes, of course. And thank you very much! If you need help, please have a look at the link exchange section, where I prepared a few code snippets for your convenience, or drop me a line.

Is there a banner for this website? • Where is the link banner for this website?

Yes, I have two banners:

• width: 80px / height: 15px • file size: 4Kb (484 bytes) • PNG format • opaque;
• width: 88px / height: 31px • file size: 8Kb (5,438 bytes) • PNG format • semi-transparent.

Feel free to use whichever you wish.

Are the images on this website protected by copyright? • I’d like to use some of the images from this website on my own website… do I need to ask for permission?

Yes, all images contained in this website —including the tattoo photos in the galleries and the photo archives— are protected by copyright, all rights belonging to Dali Rău. You may however use them on your own website, provided that they are clearly and visibly marked or described as being creations of Dali Rau or Graphic Tribe Tattoos. Also, asking permission would be nice ;)

Is the code used on this website protected by copyright? • Do I need to ask for permission in order to be able to use some of the code from this website on my own website?

No, of course, it’s just a bunch of code, you can inspire yourself in any way you need. However, please don’t copy it as is —especially, don’t copy the website design— because that, the whole product, is my own creation and the copyrights belong to me. Also, the TribalXML NameSpace, the TribalXML Name Space DTD, the Graphic Tribe XHTML Meta Data Profile and the Graphic Tribe XHTML Meta Data Profile DTD were created for my personal use inside the Graphic Tribe domains (.com, .jp, .net, .info, .org) and thus they are protected by copyright belonging to Dali Rău and the Graphic Tribe; therefore, if you wish to use any of them, please contact me prior to linking to them in your documents or modifying any of their contents.

Lexicon

Aftercare: A set of rules and methods that must be respected during the healing period of a tattoo, in order to ensure its good quality and pleasant exterior aspect and, of course, to protect the wound against infections. Depending on the size, location and type of the tattoo, this set of rules vary, therefore I won’t list them here. Instead, I will explain them to you, in detail, when the first session of your tattoo is completed.
Black & gray: Also known as “black shading”, is a tattooing technique —and form of artistic expression— where no colour other than black and/or gray is used. It is the only syle I do at the moment, besides the full-black technique used for tribals. To see samples of it, have a look at the galleries.
Consultation: Also known as “counseling”, is what I call the meeting where we talk about the tattoo you want, draw a couple of sketches and share some ideas, in order to help you figure out the best design, decide the details regarding duration, price, dates for the appointments and so on. At Graphic Tribe Tattoos, the consultation meetings have a duration of up to one hour at a time and are free of charge.
Cover-up: It’s a tattooing technique used to hide a bad tattoo —or one which, for any reason, is not desirable anymore— with a new design. Most of the time, the new tattoo needs to be larger, more intricate and darker than the initial one, in order to completely hide any of the previous lines and colours. Sometimes, covering up a tattoo —especially when it’s a large or very dark design or when it had been done by a professional— is very difficult, if not impossible, in which case a remake (see below) would do a better job.
Flash: Also referred to as “design catalog”, is in fact a collection of ready-made tattoo designs, from which the client chooses the one they like. It is, in my opinion, the lowest, cheapest, most unprofessional way of doing tattoos and, unfortunately, it is also very popular, despite the fact that it only shows a troublesome lack of skills on the part of the tattooist. However, do not be worried, there is no flash at Graphic Tribe Tattoos; all designs are original and unique, based on custom drawings made from scratch just for you.
Layman’s myth: A combination of the “layman’s terms” and the “urban myth” notion, to define —obviously, in a way too polite manner— the bullshit some people talk about tattoos, without having the tiniest clue. They are usually created by people who try to scare themselves —and others— away from the idea of getting tattooed (from various reasons but most likely, because of the fear of needles or what’s mommy gonna say) and spread through the popular method of “heard from a friend of a friend of a friend”. 99% of the time, these myths are false, not based on true facts but rather on clueless assumptions, so they shouldn’t be taken seriously. When you hear about “white tattoos”, “using skin colour ink to hide a tattoo” or “the health ensurance becoming void after getting tattooed”, well, those are layman’s myths. Ask a tattooist when you need an opinion about tattooing. We’ve seen and heard it all; our opinions are based on facts and experience, not on Fa¢€book rumors ;)
Remake: Also known as “retouch” or “touch-up”, is a tattooing technique used to repair bad tattoos. Most of the time, a remake consists in re-drawing the outlines, refreshing the colours and inking again the areas where the colours have faded away. Sometimes, besides fixing the bad parts of a tattoo, the remake also consists in covering up the worst portions with new designs and adding new elements to the initial tattoo, in order to equilibrate and complete it.
Trigon [traɪgən]: An abbreviation (technically, a contraction) for “tribal dragon”, describing tribal-like stylized dragons.

Frequently Asked Questions

Table of Contents

Questions

It’s my first time…

Questions About the Pain

Questions About the Skin

Questions About Hygiene

Questions About Appointments

Questions About Prices

Questions About Tattoos

Questions About the Aftercare

Miscellaneous Questions

Questions About this Website

Answers

It’s my first time…

Answers About the Pain

Answers About the Skin

Answers About Hygiene

Answers About Appointments

Answers About Prices

Answers About Tattoos

Answers About the Aftercare

Miscellaneous Answers

Answers About This Website

Lexicon