Booking and General Information
Thank you for your interest in my work! To request a quote, ask questions or book in, please email tattoo@launchycat.com, making sure to include the following in your message:
- details of the design: this can mean either indicating the specific piece of flash you would like, or, if you'd like something custom-made, a description of the design you're after and/or some reference pictures detailing the sort of style of artwork you like, any sort of specific symbols/fonts/items you would like included, existing tattoos in the area if we're working around an existing piece, etc. - the more detail you can include at this stage, the better!
- size of the tattoo (in cm or inches)
- placement on your body
Please note:
- Before a booking is secured and any part of the design process can begin, you will need to pay a non-refundable deposit (normally between £40-100 depending on the full price of the tattoo), which can be done either in-person or via emailed invoice.
- After discussing the details with you and securing the deposit, the design stage can begin. The aim will be to send the design to you for approval a minimum of 2-3 days before the appointment, however for particularly short-notice bookings (under 7 days) this may not always be possible. Once you have received the design, if there is anything you would like changed, please communicate this as soon as possible! If your design requires a lot of changes and you do not communicate this ahead of time to allow for scheduling, there may be delays to your booking or you may lose your appointment slot altogether.
- Once the appointment is booked, ensuring you arrive on time is solely your responsibility! If you fail to attend your appointment with less than 48 hours' notice or are more than 30 minutes late (15 minutes for small tattoos), your appointment may be lost and you may be required to pay a new deposit for any subsequent bookings. Similarly, if you fail to attend any free touch-up appointment with less than 48 hours' notice or are more than 15 minutes late, you may lose the free touch-up or be required to leave a deposit before a new booking is made.
-Any exceptions to the terms above are made solely at the artist's discretion.
Getting Ready for Your Appointment
Thanks for your booking! Before your appointment, please:
- Get plenty of rest, and make sure you have something to eat and drink in the 1-2 hours before your appointment. If it is a longer session, consider also bringing a drink with you and having some snacks ready for breaks.
- Avoid any alcohol or other recreational drugs on or the day before your appointment, as these may impact both your judgement and your body's response to the tattooing process, endangering your health and the quality of your tattoo. You may be turned away if there is reason to suspect you are under the influence of any of the above.
Let me know as soon as possible if you:
- Are on blood-thinning medication - depending on the situation it may be preferable to wait until you have finished the course of medication, however we can discuss the specifics and look into whether and how the session can be performed safely.
- Have any blood-borne illnesses (HIV, Hepatitis, etc.), - you will not be turned away on that basis, however it's important to know in case extra precautions are needed.
Email me to reschedule if you:
- Have any symptoms associated with Covid 19, have recently tested positive on a Covid 19 test (PCR, lateral flow, etc.) or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive or exhibited symptoms in the past week.
- Have eczema, psoriasis or other irritations or temporary skin conditions manifesting in the area being tattooed.
- Have scars in the area that are less than a year old (possibly longer; if in doubt, check with your doctor before proceeding): tattooing over more recent scars risks complications such as your scars becoming more pronounced or the tattoo healing poorly or becoming distorted.
- Are taking antibiotics: as these interfere with the healing process and are usually taken at a time when your body is already fighting off infection, your tattoo could be ruined and your health may be endangered due to the potential added strain on your immune system.
- Are/think you might be pregnant or are breastfeeding: getting a tattoo while breastfeeding or pregnant can put you at greater risk of health complications and may impact the long-term health of both you and your child!
Tattoo Aftercare
Congrats on the new tattoo! The tattooing session may be over, but the care you give it over the coming weeks will play just as big a part in keeping it looking its best for years to come.
Remember - your fresh tattoo is an open wound, and proper aftercare and hygiene is critical to avoid infection and ensure good long-term results!
Please read and follow all of the instructions below carefully.
1. In most cases, you will have been sent home with a dressing of adhesive tattoo film. Leave it on for 2 days unless it comes loose on its own or becomes uncomfortable. In some circumstances (usually as a result of allergies), you may be sent home with a (non-adhesive) cling film dressing instead - if this is the case, leave it on for 2-3 hours only, and continue reading from step 5. Once off, do not reapply.
2. During this time, some ink and blood may weep from the tattoo, pooling under the film in a bubble that may obscure the design and skin underneath - this is normal, you do not need to do anything.
3. If the adhesive film dressing leaks, you may wish to remove it early (wait until you are able to do so in a clean environment, then follow step 5).
4. If you notice excess redness or itching occuring around the edges of the film, this may be an allergic reaction to the adhesive - remove the film and continue aftercare as below.
5. After 2 days (or if the tattoo guard comes loose early on its own), it’s time to remove it. Running the area under warm water (consider doing this in the shower), slowly peel the film off the tattoo. Try to take your time - do not rip it off or peel quickly as this can irritate or pull on the still-healing skin and damage your tattoo!
6. Wash gently with soap and warm water and pat dry with a single-use paper towel or allow to air dry - do not use a fabric (bathroom, kitchen, etc.) towel as even clean towels can be home to bacteria! Once dry, apply a very thin layer of tattoo cream - over-creaming can cause issues with healing and affect the long-term appearance of your tattoo, so only use sparingly!
7. (Optional) If you were given extra adhesive film or bought your own, begin peeling away the back of the film and (taking care not to touch the adhesive side) gradually press the film down onto the skin to avoid trapping large air bubbles between the film and the skin. Try to allow for a minimum 4cm/1.5in border of film all around the tattoo. Once the film is fully adhered, peel off the top layer. Leave the film on for up to 3 more days, then repeat steps 5 and 6.
8. 3-4 times daily for the next 2-3 weeks (until the scabs have gone and the skin looks fully healed), wash and cream the tattoo as per step 6.
Things to remember
- Keep the tattoo away from dirt and dirty surfaces (including things such as dust, sweaty clothing, other people's hands, animals, etc.) and generally minimise touching where you can unless your hands are freshly washed; if you suspect the fresh tattoo has been in contact with anything dirty, wash it immediately, then apply a thin layer of cream per the instructions above.
- Avoid tight clothing and jewellery - wear loose or no clothes and no jewellery over the tattooed area until healed.
- Avoid picking at scabs or scratching the area. If itching occurs, a light tap with clean hands should help soothe the sensation.
- Avoid swimming, baths (showers are fine), saunas, or any other situation where your tattoo is submersed for long periods of time.
- Avoid extended exposure of the tattooed area to sunlight while it is healing. Once healed, regularly applying high SPF sun cream before going outside will help reduce fading over time.
- If applicable, avoid overly-exerting the area with exercise - sweat can increase the likelihood of infection, and stretching the skin repeatedly could negatively impact the healing process.
- During the healing process (particularly in the first week), some amount of swelling, redness and irritation is normal. However, if anything seems out of the ordinary or you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!
- Around one month after the initial session (possibly longer if the tattoo has a lot of solid black/colour or if there are any complications), if you feel that your tattoo needs it, please get in touch for a free touch-up appointment!
For queries or follow-up bookings, email tattoo@launchycat.com