What to Expect

Time For Your Next Tattoo!

It’s the day of your tattoo appointment, and we’re so excited to have you with us. Here’s everything you can expect when you arrive at 38 Sheridan Ave, Albany, NY 12210.

Please arrive at the scheduled time for your appointment. Arriving on time helps ensure that we stay on track for the day and allows you to start your tattoo session stress-free.

Parking

When you arrive, you’ll find plenty of street parking available on Sheridan Ave right in front of the Knick. There’s also a convenient garage at Empire Live on Pearl Street, just a short walk from the shop. For a smooth parking experience, we recommend using the Park Albany app to easily find and pay for parking spots in the area.

Accommodations

Our tattoo shop is located on the second floor, and we’re committed to ensuring that everyone feels welcome and comfortable. If you have any accessibility needs or requests, please let your artist know ahead of time so we can do our best to accommodate you. We want to make sure your experience is smooth and enjoyable, so please don’t hesitate to reach out with any concerns. Your comfort is our priority!

Consent

Once you step into the shop, we’ll ask you to complete a consent form while you wait. This is standard for all tattoo appointments, and it ensures that we have all the necessary details to proceed safely with your tattoo. Don’t forget to bring photo ID with you! Albany County requires two forms of identification: a primary ID (such as a driver’s license or passport) and a secondary ID (like an insurance card, bank card, or credit card).

Design Discussion

After the paperwork is sorted, we’ll dive into the fun part—your tattoo design! This is when we’ll discuss the size, placement, and any adjustments you’d like to make to your design. If you’ve already had a consultation or are getting a flash tattoo, you may already have a clear idea of what you want. However, if the design needs some fine-tuning, we’ll make sure to adjust it so that it’s perfect. In some cases, we may even sketch the design directly on your skin to ensure the placement and size are exactly what you envisioned.

Bring a Friend

We understand that getting a tattoo can be a bit nerve-racking, especially if it’s your first one. If you’re feeling anxious, we encourage you to bring along a friend or loved one for support. We have plenty of space for you and one guest to join you during your session. If you’re planning to bring more than one person, just let us know in advance so we can do our best to accommodate everyone. Please keep in mind that our shop is 18 and over, so all guests must be of legal age.

What to Bring:

Water: Staying hydrated before, during, and after your tattoo is key to feeling your best. While we offer water in the shop, we recommend bringing your own water bottle to keep you refreshed throughout the process.
Snacks: Tattoos can take a while, so it’s essential to keep your energy up. Having a snack will help keep your blood sugar stable and prevent you from feeling dizzy, fatigued, or nauseous. Great options include granola bars, fresh fruit, high-protein snacks like nuts, yogurt, or protein bars, and trail mix. Avoid highly processed foods, which can cause a sugar crash and leave you feeling drained.
Comfort Items: We want you to feel as relaxed as possible during your session, so feel free to bring anything that helps you feel comfortable. Whether it’s your favorite blanket, a good book, headphones to listen to music or a podcast, or even a Squishmallow for some extra comfort, bring whatever will help you unwind. Your tattoo session should be a positive experience, and these items can help make it just that.

After Your Tattoo

Congrats, you did it! Once your tattoo is finished, we’ll take extra care to package it up and go over the aftercare instructions with you. Proper aftercare is essential for healing, so we want to make sure you’re fully informed on how to take care of your new tattoo. These instructions will be sent to you after you fill out the consent form, but you can always find them on our website as well for reference.

We recommend following the aftercare instructions closely to ensure the best healing process. If you have any questions or concerns about your tattoo after your appointment, don’t hesitate to reach out to us—we’re here to help!

Payment

We accept both cash and Venmo for tattoo appointments. If you paid a deposit when booking, we’ll subtract that amount from your total cost at the time of your appointment. While we do prefer cash for payments, we understand that it’s not always easy to find an ATM. If you need an alternative payment method, just reach out to your artist, and we’ll be happy to work with you to find a solution.

Shop Around

Don’t forget to browse our shop while you're here! We’re constantly bringing in new and unique items for our oddity collection, so there’s always something fun to check out. Whether you're looking for something to take home as a souvenir or just love quirky finds, our shop is worth a visit.

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