08/18/2026
Why do I require a deposit? 💸
I actually try really hard to keep my deposits as low as possible. I know life is expensive, and I don't want booking a tattoo to feel like a huge financial hurdle.
But here's what people sometimes don't realize about tattoo appointments:
I've already started working for you before you ever sit in my chair.
For larger projects, I can spend hours and hours designing—drawing, planning, working out placement and sizing, and preparing everything for your appointment. I may also special-order supplies specifically for your project.
Then I reserve those hours—or sometimes my entire workday—just for you.
So a last-minute cancellation or no-show isn't really like your boss saying Tuesday morning, "Ope, never mind, no work today."
It's more like you already worked half of Tuesday, and then your boss walks in and says:
"Ope, sorry. We're actually not going to pay you for the work you already did today... AND you don't get to work the rest of your shift either." 🤷♀️
That's much closer to what happens.
I've already put hours into your artwork, and now I've also lost the hours I reserved to tattoo it.
And the deposit I kept? It usually covers only a tiny fraction of what I actually lost.
Deposits aren't a punishment. They aren't an extra fee. They're a commitment, and they go toward the cost of your tattoo.
And as always, deposits are non-refundable.
I've intentionally kept my deposits pretty low, but as I take on more large and full-day projects, I may eventually require up to a 50% non-refundable deposit for those appointments.
Because when I've already invested hours of work AND blocked off an entire day, I need to protect at least some of that time.
I completely understand that emergencies happen. Life happens. But I'm also a very small business, and my time, artwork, preparation and workday have value too. 🖤
