IMPORTANT STUFF.
Please check my books are open and read this before making an enquiry.
When your tattoo is finished I will wrap it up with either clingfilm or a sticky film called "second skin".
It is likely that your fresh tattoo will seep a little blood / ink / plasma so to protect both the open skin and your clothing keep the clingfilm wrap on for roughly 3-5 hours - so long as you are safely home in a clean environment when removing it.
OR, if you have been given a second skin wrap I would recommend leaving it on overnight. Avoid having a shower until the following day and take the second skin layer off in the shower.
Wash your hands prior to taking the wrap off and then give your tattoo a clean under warm (not hot!) water; ensuring you remove any excess ink/blood etc. You can use NON-SCENTED natural soap when you wash your tattoo. Do not use any scented soaps or body washes. Do not scrub hard, scratch at the fresh tattoo while washing it , or let it soak in the water for an an extended period of time.
Once you have washed the excess debris off pat the area dry with a clean towel/ paper towel (no toilet roll) and leave it uncovered to breath for up to a few hours. Overnight is also fine providing you are not going out anywhere.
When this time has passed wash your hands again and apply a small amount of aftercare cream.
You don’t need loads, just a thin sheen that covers the whole area but doesn't layer on thick and gloopy. I recommend “Hustle Butter”, “Dream Cream” by Lush or CoCo Butter Formula by Palmers (as long as it’s the fragrance free version).
Follow this procedure for roughly 2-3 weeks. You should wash & dry your tattoo as explained 2/3 times per day and apply cream 2/3 times per day after wash/drying it. (You don’t need to leave it to breath for an hour every time after washing it- just on the first day.)
During the 2-3 week healing process it’s essential that you avoid direct sunlight, sunbathing/beds, any fake tans or moisturisers on the area around the tattoo (other than the one you’re using specifically for healing). Do NOT submerge your tattoo in water . No swimming, no baths, no beach holidays!
It’s possible your tattoo will get a bit itchy as it heals; NO picking or scratching!
If you can avoid very strenuous exercise for as long as possible this is also recommended. If you absolutely have to work out make sure you give the tattoo an extra wash and dry straight after to avoid the bacteria and moisture from your sweat settling into the open skin. Think about your clothing choices when exercising with your fresh tattoo. Be careful of fabrics that might irritate the skin/ cause any chaffing etc.
Once the 2-3 week healing time is up - send me a picture so I can see how it’s looking!
If you have followed your aftercare routine vigilantly and it still looks like your tattoo could need a bit of a touch up, don’t hesitate to let me know. Touch up’s are free unless it is very obvious the tattoo has been neglected during the healing process .
Generally speaking I try to book up in 2 month groupings.
E.G : - JAN & FEB / MARCH & APRIL / MAY & JUNE / JULY & AUG / SEPT & OCT / NOV & DEC.
Bookings for each grouping will open 1-2 months in advance.
Sometimes this will vary a bit depending on any travel plans I have etc.
As soon as I have set a date for my "books opening" you will be able to find it in my Instagram bio, with a countdown and more details in a highlight reel. If this information is not available it's because my books are closed and I have not set a date to re-open them yet.
My books tend to open on Monday evening and close on Sunday night.
I choose my appointments according to which designs inspire me the most and/or what I believe I am capable of doing a great job at - which means nothing is first come first serve and you can email any time during the books open session to be considered.
Once my books have closed again please expect to wait up to 14 days for a response/confirmation email.
I read everything at least 4 or 5 times over, do not have an assistant to help with this part of the job and get hundreds of enquiries that I work through so it can take a little while for me to get to you!
Bank Transfer is ideal but I can take cash or paypal payments too.
Unfortunately this is not possible due to a bunch of copyrighty issues among other things.
On the day of your appointment however I will have an idea/ some ideas ready drawn for you and then there will be plenty of time for us to sit down together and make any changes or adjustments necessary until your design is totally 100% perfect!
Once your tattoo idea has been cleared and confirmed I will need to take a deposit via bank transfer to finalise your appointment.
Without a deposit I cannot hold your date so please have this ready when you make your enquiry.
Deposits are usually £70-100 for custom work and £50-70 for flash (sometimes more for bigger designs) and go towards the final price of your tattoo. They are not an added cost!
(E.G if the total price of your custom tattoo is £200. You pay £100 upfront and just the remaining £100 on the day.)
Your deposit can be withheld in the following instances:
You cancel your appointment at any time.
You reschedule your appointment with less than 72 hours notice.
You reschedule your appointment for a second time.
You are 30+ minutes late.
You change your custom idea.
My working hours are Monday - Thursday with my first appointment usually at 10-11am and my last at 4pm. (Depending on the sizes etc of the tattoos I have scheduled each day.)
On the day of your appointment please make sure to eat a proper meal in advance.
It is important that your blood sugar levels are nice and high so if you want to also bring a pack of sweets or a can of coca-cola that’s a good idea too.
Clothing wise , wearing something loose and soft on the area you’re getting tattooed is advisable and if we are tattooing in an awkward area and you’re not comfortable taking your clothes off perhaps bring a couple of options in your bag that we can choose from. For example for backs, a button up shirt you can wear back to front, or for hips, side tie bikini's are a smart idea.
If you have any special requirements or requests for ways I can make your tattooing experience the best possible, please let me know in advance so that I can do my best to accommodate you. We have privacy dividers in the studio that can be put up.
aftercare
deposits
how do bookings work?
what is your availability?
cash / card ?
can i see my design before my appointment?
how do I prepare for a tattoo?
what is flash?
“Flash” designs are the pre-drawn designs you can find on my instagram highlight reels.
Even though they are not custom drawn specifically for you, each and every one is still uniquely yours and will only be tattooed once unless clearly stated otherwise !
If you see a flash design you like but it’s no longer available I am generally happy to draw up something similar but not exactly the same for you.
Can I bring a friend/parent/partner to my appointment?
Sorry, no! We don't allow plus ones in the studio for a number of reasons.
There is a great little cafe around the corner called the common E2 if you want someone to drop you off/pick you up before/after your appointment.
We promise you're in safe hands with all of us at Ottilie !
scars
I am happy to tattoo over/around scars as long as they are fully healed.
My work is not suited to fully covering things up however as it uses a great deal of negative space to make it what it is. Baring in mind you will still be able to see the scarring under the tattoo, If you are still happy to go ahead you can send a photo of the area in your enquiry (If you’re comfortable with this) to help me get an idea of how to design your tattoo around or over your scars depending on the desired outcome.
is your ink vegan?
how much is a tattoo?
My minimum is generally £150 but my tattoos are priced according to a bunch of different factors including design, placement, size etc etc- so this is an impossible question to answer without knowing what you want.
If you would like to enquire about a pricing quote please fill in one of my bookings forms (when my books are open).
colour
yes it is
tipping
Tipping for tattoos works like any other service. If you have had a really great experience and want to give a little extra it’s always appreciated, weather this be in money, flowers, food or something you’ve crafted or created yourself.
Of course, tipping is certainly not expected and you will not look bad if you don’t!
i'm not in your city. can i get someone else to tattoo your design on me?
I am working on expanding my portfolio to incorporate more colour so please keep an eye on my instagram for anything new and exciting in regards to this! If I have done something before it is likely I will be open to doing it again and it's always worth asking for new fun ideas just incase. I mostly work with blue, red and brown inks (Aside from black) but will consider other colours.
No, unfortunately this is not something i’m comfortable with at this point in time.
I hope to travel as much as I can during my career so feel free to drop me a message or comment letting me know what city you are in so that I can make a note of it and try to visit you one day!
In the meantime, If you like my work and want to own it somehow you can check out my online shop to see if I have any tee’s or prints available.
can I get more than one tattoo in the same sitting?
would you tattoo mine/my friends drawing on me?
I will never do an exact replica of someone else's work but I definitely consider interpretations of other pieces of art - so long as they are adapted into my own style etc!
Yes! As long as you let me know when you make your initial enquiry so that I can ensure I have enough time for everything.
I generally do good deal prices on getting multiple tattoos at the same time so this is a better option if you’re on a tighter budget but want lots of stuff from me.
do I need to shave?
No. I will do this for you if necessary.
cover ups
I do not do cover ups.