Last updated September 14, 2026
Cancellation / Reschedules
Currently, I am asking for 48 hours notice to reschedule your appointment if you want your deposit to go toward your rescheduled appointment. If you get sick with covid, or something more severe happens, of course I can be flexible with this timeframe, but please communicate with me asap. I do not offer refunds on deposits, so please be sure you want to get a tattoo by me and can afford to do so before booking a slot that could be someone else’s! If you reschedule more than twice, I will ask for a second deposit and the first will no longer count toward your total.
Why do you no longer offer deposit refunds on cancellations?
I no longer offer deposit refunds for cancellations because often I am unable to find someone to fill that appointment slot in time and it can financially put me out. A deposit shows your commitment to showing up for the tattoo. Of course things come up, so if you need to reschedule we can work something out and your deposit will be saved for that new appt! However, if you have to reschedule multiple times, I will have to ask for a second deposit because you will have cost me money I was expecting to make for rent.
Pricing
For custom work, my rate is $140-170/hr sliding scale. Flash and Proposed Projects all have preset prices attached to them so you can find those prices there. I have an appointment minimum of $180 to meet shop requirements. If the flash you want is less than that, I would advise you to get more than one flash or ask for slight customization to make it worth the $180! This minimum doesn’t apply to appointments for tattoos that are in progress. My deposits are $75.
Custom Work
I loving collaborating on custom pieces! Please use the booking form to describe what you want and I will follow up. If you would like to set up a quick call because it’s hard to describe your idea, don’t hesitate to email me to set that up or add that you want to do that in the notes section of the booking form. My rate for custom work is $140-170/hr (hours that I am tattooing). If I find that I am having to rework your design a lot more than usual (i.e. redrawing your entire design more than twice), I will ask that you pay a flat rate of $50 for that extra work. I will give you a heads up if we are entering that territory though!
Sketches for Custom Work
I like to send sketches in advance of our appointment as a way to give you an idea of some options. I will sketch a few options loosely to see which shape you like best and then I will create a more detailed sketch for the day of your appointment. I work many jobs, so the initial sketches will likely get to you 2-3 days before your appointment. Once received, you can send edits and preferences, which I will apply and create a final sketch with. I will send the final sketch a day before your appointment or bring it to your appointment. And we will spend the first half of your appointment solidifying any last edits or details. Some of which may need to be hand drawn.
Paid drawing sessions
If you know you are the type of person who needs more time to sit with a design, I recommend you book a drawing session with me. It is $100 for one hour of work together. This looks like me sitting with you before your tattoo appointment during the sketching process. It is an opportunity to collaborate more in the drawing process than a regular session and it is a gaurantee to see a more detailed sketch in advance of your appointment. If you are someone who struggles with decision making / edits on the spot or maybe you need more space and time to know what you want, I suggest this add-on! You must have a tattoo appointment scheduled to get this add-on. I suggest you select dates for your appointment farther in the future, so you can have ample time between the drawing session and appointment. I will reach out via email to schedule the drawing session.
Sliding Scale rates for Custom Work
My regular rate is $140-170/hr sliding scale. I do offer deeper sliding scales of $80-170/hr sliding scale to QTBIPOC folks and/or low income folks for larger custom pieces (4+ hours). We can also split up larger pieces over a few sessions to help act as a payment plan. Just make a note in your booking form if you want to be considered for any of these options. Sliding scale means you can choose what rate feels best for you within the given range. I offer sliding scale options because although I offer a luxury service, I value being able to make those services a bit more available to everyone.
Free Slots
Most booking periods, I offer 3 free slots for different communities/folks. I have a variety of reasons why I do this, so it’s not really a one size fits all explanation. But the best way I can explain it is: I want to be able to make some slots very accessible as my rates increase. My policy around free slots is that it is a free tattoo session of 3 hours. If the design goes past 3 hours, then my regular rates will start to apply. I will tell the client interested in getting a free slot if their design will go past the 3 hour mark so they can decide if it’s worth it for them or in their budget. Raising my rates in general helps me to be able to continue to offer this service <3 If you are interested in a free slot, but don’t see it in my booking form, feel free to add it in a note (however I do prioritize BIPOC and low income folks, so specify this). Some months I offer the slots to ppl in community, so I already book them in advance, but I may have one more slot available.
Masking Policy
As of April 2026, Thorns has adopted a new mask policy. We are no longer requiring wearing masks in the studio. Some artists may remain wearing masks and you are of course welcome to wear a mask. We still want to accommodate everyone needs, so if you need a masked space let me know in your booking form in response to the question about accessibility needs. We can make the day of your appointment a masked day for all clients and artists in the space.
Touch-Ups
As of 2026, touch ups are free and welcomed for up to one year after your appointment! If after one year, you will be charged a materials fee of $50. Please email me at tobefreetattoos@gmail.com with a photo of your healed tattoo to schedule a touch up.