FAQ | Creative Tattoo Service

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you offer piercings?

We currently don’t offer piercing services, but we wholeheartedly recommend all staff members at Clarity Piercing in Durham! Visit their website here for general info, booking appointments, and service prices. Say hi for us!

How do I get tattooed?

Some of our artists choose to open and close their booking availability to only accept new submissions on specific days, while others prefer to keep their books open and schedule on a continual basis. You can browse all artists that are open for scheduling here! Sofia also currently offers tattooing by walk in basis, and we recommend calling or texting the shop at (919) 430-1115 to check on daily availabilities or to see if your idea is suitable for a walk-in.

Do I need a consultation?

When reviewing your submission, your artist may request to set up a consult in advance to clarify details, dial in a time/price estimate, or if a project is larger and more complex! Sometimes a submission is straightforward and detailed enough to not require a consultation, but if you would prefer to have one for any reason whatsoever, we are more than happy to set one up for you no questions asked.

Do you take walk ins?

Sofia currently offers walk in tattooing Wednesday-Saturday, 12-6pm, around her existing appointments! We always advise to text or call the shop to check daily walk-in availability.

How long do I have to wait to get tattooed?

Our artists all book out varying amounts of time. For the artists that keep their books open, expect a wait ranging from a couple weeks to a couple months depending on availability - weekends also always book out further than weekdays! For our artists that intermittently open their schedules, expect a wait of 4-6 months for Ariel or up to a year for Samantha’s availability. Updates on their booking dates can be found on the appointments section, our Instagram, or email newsletter.

What will my tattoo cost?

First, consider how much are you comfortable spending. We’re always happy to go over a budget for every tattoo and explore all our options. We’ll quote your details as they were submitted, and if it seems like the time estimate would exceed your listed budget, we’ll let you know our estimate and go over some options to fit within your budget if possible.

What should I consider after I get tattooed?

Consider your plans for at least two weeks after your sessions - will your job or other plans allow your tattoo to stay clean and protected or do they pose risks to the healing process? (Ex. Wearing gloves or washing hands frequently after hand/finger tattoos, working outside/sun exposure, or likely contact with unclean or abrasive surfaces) Do you have any plans that may interfere with your ability to care for a healing tattoo? (Ex. Beach)

When will I see my design?

We don’t show final designs prior to the appointment, but always build in time to all appointments in case changes need to be made! If extensive redesigning is necessary, we will reschedule your appointment and roll your deposit to your new appointment date.

Can I bring guests to my appointment?

You are welcome to bring one guest to your appointment! Reserve seating in our shop is somewhat limited, so we are unable to accommodate groups of guests unless multiple people are getting tattooed.

Can I bring children?

Per Durham County Health Department regulation and permitting requirements, no children under the age of 18+ are allowed in the shop.

Do you do cover ups?

All of our artists are willing to consider cover ups on a case by case basis! Cover ups require more flexibility than your average design, and some of our artists styles are better suited for covering existing work than others which can affect the likelihood of your concept being taken on by a specific artist depending on the complexity of the project, but you’re more than welcome to get in touch with your ideas and we’ll take a look and go from there.

Can I use Numbing Cream?

We aren’t against numbing cream, but there are multiple factors to consider in your decision whether to use it or not. As numbing creams have gained popularity, there are plenty of manufacturers with questionable ingredients or counterfeits of legitimate brands on the market. It is your responsibility to conduct your own research, we highly recommend reading reviews and being sure to only purchase from authorized, legitimate sellers. Everyone’s skin is different, as is every product. Numbing cream can also wear off mid session depending on its effective length, potentially increasing discomfort. Adverse skin reactions can occur, such as rashes, swelling, or changing texture of skin making the tattoo more difficult to apply, which can affect the outcome of healing your tattoo and will not be covered under our free-touch up policy. If your skin is reacting poorly as a result of a numbing product, we will not tattoo over it and a new deposit will be required to reschedule. We always recommend conducting a patch test on an area other than your desired tattoo placement. We do offer bactine, a topical antiseptic containing lidocaine which works once the skin is open, usually applied between linework and shading.

What types of payment are accepted?

Our shop is cash only as of 2025, and we have an ATM with a flat $4 fee here in shop to make that easier on everyone! If for some reason paying in cash isn’t possible, we can run a card as a last resort with a 4% fee.

Do you offer touch ups?

Every tattoo we do is guaranteed a free touch up within the first year if needed! For healing inconsistencies caused by aftercare negligence, touch ups on another artist’s work, or touch ups after 1 year from the appointment date, standard shop minimums/hourly rates apply.