Frequently Asked Questions
Bookings
How do I make a booking?
All bookings and inquiries to the studio are made via email or our booking form. Please allow up to two weeks for a response as our artists have a busy schedule and may not be able to reply right away.
Each of our artists have different booking procedures and some may close their books when appointments are full. Please be sure to check your preferred artists Instagram or website for more details before sending your inquiry.
If the artist requires a consultation to discuss your tattoo further an appointment can be organised with them. Due to COVID restrictions, consultations may be done online.
Do I need to pay a deposit?
A $100 deposit is required to secure all bookings.
If a deposit is not paid within 72 hours of receiving the confirmation email, the appointment may be cancelled. Deposits are non-refundable, non-transferable and may be used to cover the drawing fee at the artists discretion. Deposits will be kept in the system and carried on until the final appointment of the tattoo.
After the design has been discussed and a date decided you will be sent an email with the appointment details, a link to pay the deposit and our terms and conditions. Please do not pay a deposit until your artists sends you this email.
The deposit is not refundable in the event of our artists being prevented, by illness or injury, from working on the day of the booking, but your deposit will be rolled over until a later appointment date.
What if I need to reschedule?
We require a minimum 72 hours’ notice to reschedule an appointment or the deposit will be forfeited and subsequent appointments will be cancelled. If you reschedule your appointment, please be aware that we will only hold your deposit in the system for 6 months and you can reschedule your appointment once before your deposit is lost.
If you need to reschedule, please give your artist as much notice as possible. We understand that things can come up that prevent you from attending your appointment and we are happy to discuss your situation. But as this is a business, we do need uphold our policies, terms and conditions in most cases.
PLEASE NOTE: If you or a person you live with suspects you may have COVID-19, please reschedule your appointment. You will be emailed our COVID cancellation procedure when you book in.
What if I change my mind about what I want?
We understand that sometimes you can have a change of mind with the design, but to avoid inconvenience and disappointment, we ask that you be firm on the design idea as discussed with your artst before booking.
If you change your mind about the design after your appointment is booked, you may be required to pay a drawing fee if the artist has already begun work on the design. If you change your mind about the design within 72 hours of your appointment, the deposit may be lost. This is to allow artists sufficient time to plan and draw. The appointment may need to be rescheduled if it can not be done in the same amount of time as the original idea.
If you arrive at your appointment and decide not to go through with getting tattooed or are late you will forfeit your deposit, and may be charged a drawing fee, set up fee or for time lost at the artists discretion. We do not want anyone to get a design they are not happy with and understand if you decide not to get tattooed, but our artists still deserve to be paid for their time and hardwork.
When can I see my tattoo design?
You will see your design when you arrive at your appointment. Final designs will be drawn on the day of the appointment and our artists do original work in their own styles only. We do not send out designs prior to the appointment.
We ask that our clients trust the artists process and give them creative freedom with the designs. While some of our artists start working on designs a week or so before the appointment, we do not send any designs out in advance.
However, it is important that you are happy with the design, so if there are any changes needed on the day, we can change the design within reason. Multiple changes or complete redraws may require a rescheduled appointment and or a drawing fee. Our artists will not tattoo any design that they feel will not make a successful tattoo.
I haven't had a reply to my email?
We endeavor to reply to every email within two weeks of its receipt, however, as our artists are very busy, this time may vary. Please do not send follow up emails and be sure to check your junk mail for a response.
If it has been 3 weeks or more and you have not heard back from your artist, please feel free to email again, as we may not have recieved it or it may have been missed in the junk folder.
DO NOT contact the artist or studio via social media to follow up on emails. We arrange all bookings and inquiries via EMAIL ONLY.
Am I guaranteed an appointment?
Our artists tattoo custom pieces of their own design and in their individual style only. As we tattoo within particular styles, we cannot accomodate every tattoo request, this is not personal. We all strive to deliver the highest quality work for our clients and it is important to create work we believe in. To see our artists styles and get an idea of the kind of work they do, please visit their Instagram, website or other social media.
If we feel that a design or idea is not suited to our artists style or focus, we will refer you to other artists or studios who we feel may be better suited. There are many amazing artists and each of them will have their own personal style and preferences for subject matter, so there is an artist for everyone.
How do I prepare for an appointment?
To ensure your comfort during the tattoo procedure consider wearing loose clothing, layers are especially good (keep in mind you may get ink on your clothes). If you can, get plenty of rest the night before and eat a healthy well balanced meal before your appointment.
A well hydrated body tends to handle trauma better, so it’s a good idea to drink plenty of water in the lead up to your appointment and on the day. Healthy snacks like muesli bars and bananas are great for blood sugar levels during the tattoo. You’re welcome to bring headphones to listen to your own music if it helps you relax.
Studio
Is your studio accessible for people with disabilities?
The studio is located on the first floor of a building with a staircase in the entrance. As a result, the studio is not easily accessible for some people with illness or disability. However, our friend Dane at Downunder Tattoo in Maryville is kindly letting us use their ground floor space for any clients who find the stairs difficult to access.
If you would like us to organise an appointment for you in an alternate space, if you need assistance or have any questions please don't hesitate to email us. It is important to FLT that we be as inclusive and accessible as possible.
What's your address?
FLT is located in the Newcastle suburb of Hamilton NSW, we do not advertise our address as we do not take walk-in appointments. You will receive the address in the automated booking confirmation and reminder emails from our Setmore calendar system (be sure to check your junk mail so you don't miss it).
I am under 18, can I get tattooed with parental consent?
You must be over 18 years of age to be tattooed at FLT, no exceptions.
Our artists will not tattoo an underage person for any reason. It is our opinion that a young person cannot fully consent and we do not feel comfortable tattooing them. To our knowledge, a tattoo studio in Australia cannot be licenced or insured to tattoo an underage person and the laws surrounding it indicate that it is potentially illegal, or at least a grey area. Our artists reserve the right to refuse work.
Do you tattoo pregnant or breastfeeding people?
Our artists will not tattoo a pregnant person as we feel it places unnecessary risk on the body and foetus. When you get tattooed there is a risk of infection, allergy or other reaction and it can put the body into shock. For this reason it is best to avoid getting tattooed while breastfeeding as well, though most of our artists are happy to after 6 months, as long at you are aware of the risks involved. We suggest speaking with your doctor before getting in touch.
Do you use vegan products?
At FLT we use vegan and cruelty free products wherever possible and all products used in the tattoo process are vegan friendly.
We try to recycle non-contaminated waste and do everything possible to minimise our footprint, while offering a high standard, safe and hygienic service.
Can I bring someone while I get tattooed?
At FLT we prefer that you come alone to ensure that our studio environment does not get crowded or noisy. We cannot accommodate children and babies in the studio for health and safety reasons.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to COVID restrictions we ask that all clients come alone to their appointment, wearing a mask and observing physical distancing.
Is your studio clean and safe?
FLT has strict hygiene procedures in accordance with NSW Heath Department regulations. All needles and tubes are single use and disposed of correctly according to the government standards. We take the utmost care to prevent cross-contamination and have adjusted our procedures to be COVID safe.
Is your studio legal?
FLT and its artists are licensed under NSW state law. The studio operator licence number is 010570.
FLT is fully insured and council approved.
Can anyone get tattooed at FLT?
We welcome all people to get tattooed at FLT. Exceptions include underage and pregnant people and people who are under the influence, under duress or unable to give consent.
Please keep in mind that at FLT we strive towards creating a safe and inclusive feminist space. Our artists are required to treat everyone with respect and kindness and we expect the same from our clients and visitors to the studio.
We DO NOT tolerate any inappropriate behaviour in the studio and we DO NOT tolerate sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia or ableism at any time.
Tattoos
Do you do touch-ups?
Yes, we do touch-ups. We will do one touch-up for free within six months of the completion of the tattoo, if needed.
If the tattoo has healed badly as a result of poor aftercare we reserve the right to charge a fee for the touch-up. There will be a fee for touch-ups on hands, feet and head due to the difficulty these areas can have with healing and aging. Please be sure to follow our aftercare instructions to avoid issues with healing.
A touch up does not include any changes or additions to the existing tattoo.
How do I look after my tattoo?
Aftercare is the most important part of the tattoo process and it is crucial that you follow only the artists directions as each artist will have different aftercare techniques according to how their work heals. If you have any questions or concerns contact your artist immediately.
Aftercare instructions will be sent to you when you fill in the release form at your appointment and can be found on this website.
At FLT we recommend two different healing techniques based on the individual tattoo. Sometimes we may use a transparent wound dressing for which you will be given a specific set of instructions (leave on for 2-4 days but remove earlier if the dressing leaks or causes irritation). Alternatively we recommend a more traditional aftercare routine. Both methods are detailed on this website.
Will you tattoo my design or another tattoo?
Our artists are happy to use your design/reference images as inspiration, however, they only do original tattoos of their own design.
We will not copy a piece that has already been tattooed on someone or that has been designed by another artist as this is considered unethical and a breech of copyright.
Please check with your artist before commisioning another person to do the design or purchasing the rights for the design from another artist, as they most likely will not feel comfortable tattooing someone elses design. A successful tattoo design requires an understanding of the techiniques of tattooing and each artists designs their work to suit they way they tattoo.
Our artists have spent many years developing their style and they constantly work to improve it, by doing work of their own design and style/s they can ensure they're doing the best work for you.
Do you do micro-tattoos?
We do not do micro tattoos or any tattoo smaller than we feel is necessary for longevity. It is extremely important that our work is done to the highest quality possible for our clients and a successful tattoo is made to stand the test of time. We understand this style is popular but many of the micro tattoos you see online are photoshopped or temporary and in our opinion are not able to be replicated successfully even by highly skilled artists.
Do you do cover-ups?
Some of our artists are happy to do cover-ups, while others are not, depending on if it is suitable to the work they do. We prefer that the existing tattoo is faded or has had laser removal treatments to expand the possibilites for the tattoo. Cover-ups generally need to be much larger than the existing tattoo and contain a lot of black to ensure the best results. If you would like a cover-up, please feel free to email us with clear photos of the tattoo and we can assess if it’s possible.
Please keep in mind that some blackwork designs like etching and dotwork and soft black and grey rely on areas of open skin to be successful and generally do not work as cover-ups.
Can you tattoo over scars?
We can tattoo over scars that are fully healed. The design style and details may vary depending on the condition of the scar, for example, we cannot put alot of detailed lines over scars as they may spread more over time. To ensure the best results, we prefer that the scar be at least 3-5 years old. Deeper scars may require more time. This is important to give the skin a chance to regenerate and settle before being tattooed.
Do you tattoo darker skin?
Absolutely, tattoos look great on everyone and having darker skin does not limit what you can get tattooed. Our artists may adjust the amount of detail in the design, the colour palette and the tonal value to ensure the best results on any skin tone, tattoo size or the body placement of the tattoo.
Payment
Do you take EFTPOS?
We are a cash only studio and the amount determined by the artist must be paid in full at the end of the appointment. There are ATMs available near the studio for your convenience.
What is your minimum price?
The shop minimum starts at $200 and may vary depending on the artist.
What is your hourly rate?
The hourly rate starts at $180 and may vary depending on the artist.
There may be a set up fee of $50 or the artist may charge a one-off drawing fee of $50-$100 for larger or more detailed work, however this is up to the individual artist.
Prices have been set to cover the costs of high quality supplies, a safe and hygienic studio, the time our artists spend emailing, researching, drawing and preparing for the tattoo, as well as the time spent tattooing and our years of professional experience. Prices are non-negotiable but fair and our artists will charge at their own discretion.
Do you sell gift vouchers?
We no longer sell gift vouchers.
For customers with an existing gift voucher, they are non-refundable, non-transferrable and are valid for 12 months. Our artists may have long wait times for an appointment, so please contact them as soon as possible to arrange an appointment before your voucher expires. If your gift voucher is about to expire please contact your artist.
Please keep in mind that all our artists do original work in their own styles only and reserve the right to refuse a tattoo, even if you have a gift voucher. If our artists aren't able to accomodate your tattoo idea, the gift voucher can be used on prints or merch.
Instead of a gift voucher, you could gift the person money for a tattoo fund. Alternatively, the studio and each of our artists generally have merchandise or prints avaiable for purchase (please see their Instagram for details). Some of our artists also offer commissions for original artworks.
Do you offer payment plans, discounts or day rates?
FLT does NOT offer payment services or plans for tattoos. We do not offer discounts, specials or day rates as we are providing a high quality service. With every tattoo there are many unseen hours of work that go into the design process such as the running of the business and years of experience and skill.
Please keep in mind that a tattoo is a luxury service and that we are professional artists who have spent many years honing our craft. Tattoos are an investment in yourself, they can change how you feel about your body and it’s important to prioritise quality.
DO NOT purchase multiple deposits in an attempt to pre-pay your tattoo.
Can I get a quote?
At FLT we charge by the hour, unless otherwise stated by the artist. We generally do not give exact quotes in advance as there are many variables that will effect the time the procedure takes, such as the complexity of the design or body placement. Once the design has been discussed with your artist, they may be able to give you a very rough estimate on the cost or a rough idea of the time the tattoo could take to help you budget.