FAQ

Our shop has an hourly rate of $150, with a shop minimum of $75. These fees are non negotiable.

We take our craft seriously at Vancouver Island Tattoo and pride ourselves in running a top notch shop. Like the old adage, “You Get What You Pay For”, your tattoo will be a walking and breathing example of our high standards. Our tattoo shop is a professional business and we price our services accordingly to the work we do. Our artists do more than just tattoo. There is a lot of time and effort that happens behind the scenes to ensure our clients are satisified with their art work.

The time it will take to complete a tattoo depends on the size and design of the tattoo. Some tattoo's can take twenty minutes to complete, others take hours, while some may  require multiple sessions. Each tattoo, big or small, does require the same amount of time to setup and sterilize for each session, which is why we have a minimum charge of $75. During your consultation, the tattoo artist will be able to give you an approximate time, and therefore cost, to complete your tattoo. 

Currently we only accept cash. We are in the process of considering PayPal and E-Transfer for payment. If your tattoo will require multiple appointments, you are required to pay for each session as they occur.  We only take a deposit at the time of booking, with remainder of payment being due at scheduled appointment. Come in and talk to us about these options, we are always willing to work with our clients to make the process as easy as possible.

Yes, we request that all clients submit a deposit of $75, our minimum shop fee. This deposit will then be subtracted from the final total of your tattoo session. Deposits are non-refundable.

At Vancouver Island Tattoo, we understand that life happens and sometimes things come up that suddenly change schedules. We get it. 

However, we are a professional business and respectfully request a MINIMUM of 24 hours notice for any cancellation. Given proper notice, we will rebook the appointment and you will retain your deposit. 

*PLEASE NOTE*- where proper notice has not been given, or a ‘no-show’ occurs, the minimum shop fee of $75 will be forfeited and a new deposit will be required in order to book another appointment.  Please remember that your artist would have prepared for the appointment appropriately and will not be able to fill that appointment time, therefore they are entitled to the compensation for their time and materials. 

Tattoos take time to heal and the after-care is very important.  It will take about two weeks to heal your tattoo. During this time, we suggest that you do not fully submerge your new tattoo in liquid, (i.e., pool or bath) give it no excessive, direct sunlight, and suggest you refrain from scratching and picking at your tattoo during the healing process. 

Your new tattoo will most likely scab over. Respect the process and be patient. Ideally you want a nice clean heal, much like any minor skin irritation. If you are experiencing any issues, please contact us immediatley. 

Yes, both our tattoo and body piercing facilities have been fully certified for operation in the Province of British Columbia.

At Vancouver Island Tattoo, client satisfaction is our top priority. We strive to give our clients exactly what they want, everytime. (go read our reviews!) However, there are certain guidelines an artist must follow in order to ensure the quality of the artwork and the longevity of a tattoo. If you have a specific design, picture, person, etc. that you want for your tattoo, bring us the image(s) and we will draw up a stencil and tattoo it on you; if it will work artistically. If you find something online or elsewhere you want as your tattoo, bring it to us and we will create something unique just for you. We will always work with you to create exactly what you want before it becomes a permanent fixture on your body. 

Subject matter and refusal to tattoo a particular design, we leave to the artist discretion. That being said, we are fairly tolerant of most subject matters. 

This is an area that common sense should prevail. Would you really want a tattoo from an artist who disliked what they were tattooing?

Yes, getting a tattoo will most likely be accompanied with some discomfort. Every client will deal with this discomfort in dIfferent ways. And that’s ok. It is our goal at Vancouver Island Tattoo to make your experience as comfortable as possible.  Remember, if it was too painful, would so many people have amazing tattoos? You can do it.  We can help.

We prefer not to tattoo anyone under 19 years of age. There are currently no laws in the Province of British Columbia that state a minimum age for tattooing, but our shop policy is a minimum of 19 years of age, which is in line with Ministry of Health recommendations.

We understand that there may be special circumstances that would warrant accepting a client under the age of 19. We are reasonable people and are always willing to discuss special curcumtaces. With parental consent, we would consdier being lenient on this policy.  Plaease contact us directly to discuss.