AFTERCARE

Downtown Toronto, Canada. Location provided once booking is confirmed. All my upcoming tattoo tours as guest, will be listed in the section: TRAVEL

You can request a custom project by filling out my ONLINE FORM or claim a pre-drawn design from my FLASHBOOK. If you're getting matching tattoos (identical) with someone, please only send one entry and let me know how many of you there will be in the comments section. Be prepared to pay a deposit to secure your spot, we’ll hold it till you fulfill it or up to 48hs once you get the instructions to pay it. Without it, you cannot finish the process. Deposits are non-refundable, read payments and cancellations for more info.

Normally 3 months at a time. If you have specific travel plans during a certain period of time or for a further date, please mention it in the optional comments box in the form. I can't guarantee I will be able to accommodate, but I'll try my best. For anywhere but Toronto, dates will be posted as they become available in the TRAVEL section. Make sure to book with time, as these spots tend to run out quickly and are very limited as I'll be visiting for a short time.

Yes, they’re online and in-person and they last between 15 to 25 min I will request one if I need to discuss further details, although they're not necessary for all the projects as I book extra time on the day of your appointment to finalize details. If you want to ask me something or need to talk to shape your idea better, etc. You can mention this in the optional comments box in the booking form.

No, although I'm very versatile and love to get creative with my clients’ ideas, all proposals will be subjected to review. In order to give you the best tattoo possible, the projects I'll take on will be within my style and interpretation. If your idea is not compatible with my technique, style or current artistic direction , I won't accept the proposal. Please don't take it personal, this is just because you deserve an amazing tattoo and an artist that specializes in that particular thing you're looking for!

Once we review the projects, my assistant will get back to you over email from "gianinatattooer@hotmail.com" in the following days with all the instructions to book, including an estimated quote for your project. We'll also let you know if I can't take the project for whatever reason. Make sure to check your emails during this time and pay attention to the spam folder, too, just in case. Any general announcements will be posted on Instagram stories or feed. Make sure to check them out frequently or activate stories and post notifications so you don’t miss out on anything!

Nope, I don't send designs in advance. I've found that working face to face with my client gives the whole experience a fresh perspective and a clean exchange of thoughts and feedback. By the time I accept your project, I'm already thinking of ideas and possibilities for your particular piece. From my experience, making adjustments back and forward online only creates more confusion and alters the communication. Please know that every artist is different and what works for me might not work for others. Thank you for respecting my creative process ♥ If you're feeling unsure or want to discuss your project in depth, you can request a consultation prior to your appointment in the optional comments section in my booking form as well. I will normally ask for a consultation for bigger and complex projects, but everyone is welcome to one if you feel you need it! The most important thing for me is that you're 100% happy with your tattoo and I will take the time if something needs to be adjusted. We can discuss all the details the same day you come to get the tattoo. If minor changes are necessary, I'll do them with you during our appointment to review them together. If those changes mean a completely different idea of what we previously discussed/agreed on or notorious differences, extra drawing time might be added to your final rate. If they are so significant to the point of having to reschedule your appointment due to lack of time to complete it, your deposit will be taken and you will have to pay a new one for the future appointment.

TORONTO: Each project is evaluated individually based on details, sizing and placement, I quote by piece and not by the hour, my minimum price in Toronto is $250 CAD (+hst) Some areas could affect the pricing depending on the amount of time/skills/technique needed to complete the piece. I will give you a small discount if you're getting more than one tattoo within the same session, yet I appreciate that you don't try to bargain for a deal, please be respectful of my time and services. When I reply to your proposal, you'll be given an estimated price range so you can evaluate and decide if you want to go ahead, so there's no surprises on the day of the appointment. If there happens to be significant changes to your design during that day that involves either a change of size, details, subject matter or something that implies for me to spend more time than estimated making these adjustments, this will be reflected in the final price. To complete the formal booking, you'll be asked to pay a deposit ($150+hst or $300+hst for 3+hs appointments) ELSEWHERE: For the rest of Canada and other countries, prices will vary and adjust to the local currency and costs. You'll be given an estimate in advance. Take into consideration that as guest artists we need to cover the traveling and staying expenses, transport equipment and also be able to make an income out of our job so the prices might be different from one location to another. They might or might not include local taxes, this is something I have no control over and it will depend on how the local shop I'm visiting operates.

Nope. All appointments require a deposit, no exceptions. It's a commitment between the client and the artist, for the time we dedicate to you within and outside the appointment, and for designing a unique piece especially for you. This is our job and we take it seriously, we hope you do the same.

If you need to change the date or cancel, email me at gianinatattooer@hotmail.com asap to let me know. You can only be rescheduled once, with a 5 days notice prior to the day of your appointment, any changes past this point will be considered last-minute cancellations and result in your deposit being lost. So please, if you don't have a date in mind for a new appointment, wait to request a new one until you're sure and we'll leave your deposit on hold. If you don’t want to reschedule, and wish to completely cancel the appointment, your deposit will be lost. Deposits are non-refundable. In the event of an emergency, please let me know and we can discuss it further.

Mostly e-transfer and cash. But it will vary from shop to shop, depending on where you're booking.

I understand that tattoos are an investment and I'm already grateful of you choosing me for something so special, tips are of course optional, yet very much appreciated and welcomed :) ♥

You must be +18 in Canada or whatever the legal age is in the country I'm visiting. I will not tattoo minors, not even with a parent or guardian, sorry.

If pregnant. If there's a sunburn or the area to be tattooed was exposed to sun damage in the previous 2 weeks of your appointment. If I have a vacation booked right after which will involve fun in the sun or water or some sort of rubbing in the area caused by any gear, accessories, special clothes (e.g. backpacking, certain sports, diving, excessive sweating or bodywork etc...) It's recommended to plan these things 2/3 weeks after you get your tattoo at least. If you are experiencing any medical/skin condition in the area to be tattooed. You can always ask me, or the shop if you have any doubts, but of course don't hesitate to ask your doctor, as they will provide you with professional and more accurate advice.

Anyone who feels ready for it! Tattoos are for everybody to enjoy! I want you to feel safe and know that everyone is welcome in my chair! However, don't forget to read the previous two questions to make sure you meet the safety and age criteria.

Sometimes! But I do not specialize in color tattoos.

Anything related to violent/hateful topics. Inner lip, eyes, eyelids, genitals/private areas. (butt cheeks and pelvis are ok) Anything outside my portfolio style, although I'm open to incorporating different elements, always feel free to ask, don't be shy!

Yes, maybe, yes and yes. It all depends on case-by-case basis. These areas are more limited to work on and have a higher cost than other areas of the body due to the specialty, precision, time and different techniques required.

No. (only/maybe if its a VERY minor coverage) But here are some free tips to keep in mind while you continue searching for the right artist: Consider that the new tattoo will, in most cases, need to be 2/3 times bigger than the piece you're trying to cover. Not always, but talk to your artist about it and contemplate the possibility. That being said, think if the tattoo bothers you so much that you want to end up with a bigger piece or if you rather leave it as it is. You don't want the cure to be worse than the disease, you know? Not all designs work as cover-ups, so you're a bit more limited when it comes to choices and you need to keep an open mind and listen to your artist. DO YOUR RESEARCH, don't go with the first person that crosses your path, make sure the person knows what they're doing and you feel comfortable. Another option is to do laser removal. Either completely or partially to "lighten" the tattoo and be able to have more options when it comes to picking a design. Please think this through. Your skin is already affected by the existing tattoo, regardless of the state of it or the reason why you want to cover it. You shouldn't go trying luck here and there and then regretting it a second time and adding more trauma to your skin. Good luck!

A good mindset is key! It will help tons, especially if it's your first time or you normally get nervous when getting tattooed. If you’re nervous, try to practice some guided meditations the previous days and the day of your appointment. It will calm your mind, help to set your body and put you in a better mood! Feel free to ask me anything when you come to the appointment. If possible/reachable, shave the area to be tattooed that will make us save time on your appointment and help reduce waste we all love some eco-friendliness ;) Maintain good hygiene! Whatever helps to make you feel and smell clean. Please avoid anything that could cause unpleasant scents, either certain food that you know will upset your stomach (plus you don't want to feel sick), very, very strong perfumes or smoking excessively. Performing a tattoo requires us to be up close and in a personal space with our clients, and we certainly don't want to have a bad experience or be distracted from our task, let's minimize those chances. Try to get a good sleep and definitely get something to eat and hydrate before your tattoo, no matter how small this one is. Dress appropriately. Wear loose clothes that can easily expose the area to be tattooed. I’ll do my best to protect your clothes, but it is better to avoid bringing your best and newest outfit or something that is super tight and will cause discomfort/will make it difficult for me to reach the area to tattoo. For arms and forearms it's usually ok as long as you can roll up your sleeve without being too tight, so this area doesn't require a lot of preparation. Tattoos on the torso/ribs sometimes require you to be shirtless or stretch in specific ways. So make sure to wear something that can serve the purpose and is not super tight, especially when it comes to bras or certain tops, and that they will make you feel comfortable while laying down. Do not consume alcohol or drugs 24hs prior to your appointment, this could result in excessive bleeding and give me a hard time performing the tattoo. Bring snacks and a water bottle! If it’s a long session, you’re welcome to bring your own pillow and a blanket or whatever brings you comfort to be sitting for a long period of time :)

No bud, if you are or you're starting to feel ill the days prior to your appointment, please be mindful about this and don't put you or anyone else at risk. Let us know asap by emailing to gianinatattooer@gmail.com so I can reschedule or put your appointment on hold. Also, even if it's not something contagious, you don't wanna push your body limits by adding the stress of a tattoo.

Ideally we try to keep it to the person getting tattooed and the artist only. However, if you need any special assistance or support system, please let me know.

Most of our supplies as tattoo artists are one-time use and disposable. By exception of machines/power supplies/cords. I use vegan inks. Everything I use is from top brands’ quality to ensure the best performance and deliver a great tattoo to my amazing clients! If you can, shave the area prior to your appointment to help us reduce waste ♥

I don’t post ALL the projects, mostly because of time and that I'm a bit bad keeping my feed updated, please don't take this personally :( I normally post the day to day projects in stories tho! I curate my feed/portfolio every now and then, so for this reason, some pictures might disappear or be re-posted as well.

If you have special needs for your skin, such as diabetes, eczema, etc., that might need a different cream. Always ask your doctor to see what they recommend and let me know, so I'm aware of it. Remember that if, prior to getting your tattoo, the specific area is affected by any sort of dermatitis/damage/irritation/sunburn, I won't be able to perform my work. Always ask if you have doubts.

Everyone's pain tolerance is different. Factors such as skin sensitivity, pre-existing conditions, area to be tattooed, amount of session time, techniques used and so, will affect the sort of feeling you'll experience from the tattoo. It's not particularly "painful", in general, more like an annoying sensation that feels a bit sharp and builds up the longer the session lasts. Some people don't experience much discomfort. Meanwhile, for others, it could be a bit more challenging to deal with. The most common comparisons to the feeling are cat scratches (sometimes a kitty, sometimes an angry one :P ) or sunburns (more for bigger covered areas and longer sessions). The good news is that as soon as the needle is up, there's no more pain! Only soreness, of course, and it will get better and better as the days go by! At the end of the day,you won’t remember the pain, and the beautiful tattoo will be totally worth it!

Yes, but they have to be 1 year old at least, and depending on the case.

Check AFTERCARE :)

They are rare and a lower percentage of people develop some, but yet possible. Use your criteria if you feel your skin is becoming too irritated, consult with your doctor, or don't hesitate to send me a quick dm to show me the state of it. Extremely rare skin reactions can occur due to the second skin type bandages we use to cover the tattoo, as they have an adhesive. These are medical-grade materials; however, some people have very sensitive skin or allergies to certain components. If you get easily irritated by bandages, band-aids or medical tapes, please inform me, and I'll use the proper alternative for covering your tattoo. Please note that in most cases, there's no reaction; only a small percentage of people reject the bandage.However, even if you don't have any issues, you might still expect a bit of redness. If you discover halfway through that your skin doesn't react well to it, you can skip the second application and if anything, the redness will go away with time. The other reaction could be to inks, which is also rare. If you happen to be allergic to them, I advise you to contact your healthcare provider to ask for the proper medical advice and treatment. They normally don’t present big complications, but can turn the healing process into a more tedious one. Sometimes, even if you didn’t develop any allergies while healing the tattoo, some itchiness in the area can occur randomly months after. These types of reactions are normally easily treated and don’t present serious issues. However, I recommend you keep track of this and mention it to your artist for future tattoos. It will all depend on your skin, and it is really hard to tell in advance how it will react unless you already have tattoos and know how your skin reacts to them, and even so, the ink used from one artist to another could be different and not necessarily cause the same problems.

Very rare, but yes. So this is a 50/50 job. On my part, I take all the precautions necessary to ensure your safety and mine at the time of tattooing. However, once you step out that door, I'm no longer in control of what you do with your fresh and open tissue tattoo. Remember it's a wound and needs to heal nicely and safely. If you follow the aftercare procedures properly and use good criteria to keep the tattoo safe, you shouldn't experience an infection. Don’t stop living, just be mindful and not put the skin in touch with anything that could have bacteria or irritate the skin. (like chemicals, cleaning products, pets or dirt in general, to name a few) A little redness is ok, it's normal, it's a tattoo, it's fresh, but if it persists, feels hot after a few days or it's suspiciously itchy/burns or just looks bad, let me know and keep an eye on it. Some people might have a harder time healing than others or the skin could be over-irritated or the area can hold more moisture and take a while longer to heal, or form a thicker scab, but that doesn't mean it is infected.

Around 4 weeks later, your tattoo should be fully healed, and you'll notice if you need one. Tattoos will never look as fresh and intense as the first day. The ink tends to fade and tone down a bit; this is normal, as the tattoo settles on the second layer of the skin and the outer layer regenerates over, similar to a photo filter effect, that's why you will have a before and after, but this is completely normal. That's how tattoos heal. But sometimes, you might notice that a line might be disconnected or interrupted unless that was intentional. Or in some parts, it is notoriously more faded than others, for example. Those are signs for a touch-up. It's important that you don't pick the scab! This could lead to ink loss :/

If you're in Toronto, you have one complimentary touch-up within the year of getting your tattoo. If you think you need one, please send me a picture over dms on Instagram or email me, so I can evaluate if a touch-up is necessary and book a date. Free touch-ups do not apply for hands, fingers and feet due to the different nature of healing of these areas, although I can charge you a moderate rate to touch them up instead of the full minimum. For my worldwide friends, unfortunately, for obvious reasons, I can't offer you this service unless you’re visiting where I’m working in the future, or I go back to your city.