Frequently asked questions
Do you have a waitlist?
Yes. Appointments are booked no more than 8 weeks in advance. If you submit a form and my schedule is full, you may be added to a waitlist to be contacted for booking when more appointments become available. For opportunities to skip the waitlist, sign up for my Cancellation E-mail List.
How can I contact you?
For appointment booking, fill out the Booking Request Form.
For general inquiries, e-mail booking@lorindevine.com
I do not open DMs on Instagram. If you have an appointment, please e-mail within your appointment thread.
Please review the FAQ section before sending an e-mail.
Can I see your available flash designs ahead of my appointment?
There are previews of available designs on my Instagram highlights. Design availability is constantly changing as I add new ones and remove others.
Are flash designs repeatable?
Yes. I often “retire” them after a few times, but flash is always repeatable. This helps to keep my creative process manageable and my work accessible. If it is important to you to have a one-of-a-kind design, you’ll want to book a custom appointment.
If I book an appointment for flash and don't find anything in your books that I want, what happens?
There are over 80 designs in my book! I’m confident you will find something you love. However, on the off chance you don’t, you do not have to get tattooed. In this case, your deposit will be forfeited to make up for the reserved appointment time. We can potentially schedule a new date for a custom design.
Can I see a custom design ahead of my appointment?
Each appointment has time allotted to review designs and make small changes in person. I don't send photos of drawings ahead of appointments. I understand that some people would prefer to see ahead of time, but this policy exists with good reason:
It's more effective to communicate in person
Back and forth email communication about drawing/design changes tends to be inefficient and unsustainable for tattooers and results in considerable unpaid labor
More on my custom design process:
•When you book a custom tattoo with me, there is ample opportunity to provide me with direction for your design, including an optional in-person consultation.
When you arrive for your tattoo appointment, you will be given time to review the drawing and give feedback. In some cases, drawing will be done at the appointment. (a tricky area to fill with surrounding work, or if I need ongoing feedback from you)
•If the changes are reasonable and minor, it's no problem to make adjustments on the spot.
•If the changes required are substantial or need a full re-draw, a new appointment with a new deposit is required. The deposit covers the cost of the time already spent on drawing/design time. This is very rare! 9 times out of 10, no adjustments or only minor ones are needed. As long as you have provided me with clarity in what you're looking for, I'm confident I can create a design you will love.
Can I get a large tattoo finished in one day?
Regular flash and custom appointments include 3 hours of tattooing. We will discuss expectations for your design ahead of time. If multiple sessions are required your second session can be scheduled in person. You will not have to submit a form to finish a piece.
For those who’d like to accomplish a larger custom project in one day or choose multiple flash designs, I offer a full day booking option which consists of two 3 hour tattoo sessions with a lunch break between.
Full day flash session
Flat rate $1000, $200 nonrefundable deposit to book.
Full day custom session
Flat rate $1200, $200 nonrefundable deposit to book.
How long will my tattoo take?
It can be very difficult to provide an accurate time estimate for a tattoo, as there are many variables beyond size including level of detail, placement, skin condition, etc.
For general reference; a 3x4" tattoo could take from 1.5-3 hours. A 4x6" tattoo could take around 3-4 hours. Larger scale projects are more difficult to estimate and naturally require more budget flexibility.
Can I bring a guest to my appointment?
I permit guests in the case of disability accommodations and anxiety, but I otherwise prefer that no one else be in the tattoo area. There are multiple tattooers in the studio so if everyone brings a guest, it can become crowded and hectic which can make for a very distracting work environment. If you need support, please let me know.
Why don’t you accept digital payments like Venmo, PayPal, Square, CashApp, etc?
I do take deposits digitally. For day-of tattoo payments, it’s cash only at Icon Tattoo. Cash is preferred at Tattoo DeGink, but I can accept Venmo if needed.
Please consider that I must pay fees on digital transactions. These aren’t sustainable for me to absorb as a self-employed person the way retail or larger scale businesses are able to.
I think most people aren’t aware just how much it costs to be self-employed! A basic breakdown:
Start with artist’s hourly rate or total cost of tattoo:
$200.00
-30% state, local, federal taxes
-studio rent or commission, anywhere from 20-50% of customer price
-cost of purchasing individual healthcare insurance
-business insurance
-licensing fees
-supplies
__________
=$ take home pay
…There aren’t a lot of percents left here to subtract fees from!
For business transactions, Venmo charges 1.9%+10¢/transaction, PayPal 2.70-3.5%, Square 2.6-3.5%+10¢.
1.9-3.5% may not sound like a lot, but when I experimented with accepting digital payments, most people utilized that option and it *really* adds up. I know it’s a pain to hit the bank or ATM to get cash, but I’m a working artist in a capitalist society and I can’t afford to pay fees for every customer, I.e., give my rent money to giant financial service corporations.
Thank you for understanding!
How does tipping work? Is 20% the standard?
Tipping is always optional, and I encourage you to do what is in the comfort of your own budget. There will be no expectations, criticism, or consequences of any kind regarding a tip or lack thereof.
How do touch-ups work?
I offer one free touch-up within one year of the original tattoo application. As a tattoo settles into your skin, it will naturally age and fade. If you wait longer than one year, additional retouching is required to maintain a consistent appearance throughout the tattoo. After a year has elapsed, it is no longer considered a touch-up and my hourly rate applies to re-work the tattoo.
Touch-ups are not always required. Over the healing process, sometimes scabbing will occur and you will lose bits of the tattoo. This is sometimes due to poor choices such as swimming, sun exposure, or failing to care for it properly. Other times it’s incidental-meaning you didn’t necessarily do anything wrong! Bodies are tricky and tattooers aren’t able to insure a perfect heal every single tattoo.
If you think you could use a touch up, reach out ASAP and we’ll get you scheduled!
Can I get my deposit back if I have to cancel for a reason beyond my control?
A deposit acts as a down payment, and also reserves my time for your appointment. If the appointment is missed for any reason… I'm not earning income, so the deposit is nonrefundable.
If you need to reschedule, try to give as much notice as possible. This gives me more opportunity to fill the gap in my schedule, and I really appreciate it.
With 72 hours or more, we can reschedule with no deposit penalty. If less than 72 hours' notice, I understand that things come up, and we can absolutely reschedule, but you will need to pay a new deposit.
If you are not feeling well, whatever your symptoms, it is best for both of us that you do not get tattooed. At the same time, if the amount of notice is insufficient for whatever reason, as a working artist, I still have to have some income security.
More than 2 reschedules with any amount of notice, for any reason, will require a new deposit.
Do you do cover-ups?
Very seldom. My technique doesn't usually work well for this purpose unless the existing tattoo is small and light. Often just a few sessions of laser treatment can open your options for cover-up work.