Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make an appointment?
Fill out the booking form for your artist on the booking page to get started. Please keep in mind that tattoo artists are not always available for scheduling. Each artist opens their books every couple of months to book the next few months out at a time; this booking system prevents scheduling out too far in advance. If your artist’s books are closed, you will simply have to wait until they re-open their books before you can make a new appointment. Follow the shop on social media and subscribe to the monthly newsletter to stay up to date on booking information.
When filling out the appointment application, keep in mind that email is the preferred way to communicate so you can send reference images and write out exactly what you are looking for. Make sure to include as much detail as possible about what you are wanting in terms of composition, size, style, placement, etc. Including reference images of other relevant tattoos/drawings that you like gives your artist a good idea of your taste. Please do not send direct messages on social media to communicate or send reference material.
A non-refundable deposit of $80* (shop minimum) is required to make an appointment. Cash, card, and Venmo are accepted; this deposit goes towards the total cost of your tattoo. It will come off the total at the end of your last session. Please do not attempt to pay a deposit without confirmation of an appointment.
Please keep in mind that appointments are not booked on a first-come, first-serve basis; each artist schedules their appointments based on their own style, needs, and availability.
*For those that have been no-shows or have canceled an appointment the day-of two or more times in the past, your new deposit rate will be substantially higher (up to 2 hours’ worth, to be determined by your artist). It is not refundable.
What if need to cancel or reschedule my appointment?
It is perfectly fine to reschedule or cancel your appointment for any reason as long as you give plenty of notice, just keep in mind that your deposit is non-refundable.* If you give at least 72 hours notice to reschedule, your deposit will be transferred to your new appointment date; however, any less notice than that and you will be required to put down a new deposit. Your deposit rate jumps up to 1 hour if you give less than 12 hours notice. Please give as much notice as possible if you need to reschedule your appointment(s).
You will need to put down a new deposit if you give reschedule the same appointment for a third time.
Cancellations or no-shows result in a forfeiture of your deposit. You as the client are responsible for keeping track of your appointment(s) and showing up on time.
*Some exceptions apply at the artist’s discretion. A deposit may be refunded if your artist needs to cancel your appointment.
What if I have been exposed to COVID or another illness?
You should reschedule your appointment as soon as you can. All staff are vaccinated and boosted against COVID, but we do not want to risk exposure, potentially putting others at risk and having to reschedule or cancel multiple appointments.
The cancellation/rescheduling policy is in effect even for sickness. Providing at least 72 hours notice gives your artist time to fill your spot and prevent loss of income. Any less notice than that and you will need to put down a new deposit. Canceling your appointment also results in a forfeiture of your deposit. See the cancellation/rescheduling section in the shop policies page for more information.
How do I prepare for my tattoo session?
Please arrive to your appointment in a timely manner - preferably no more than 10 minutes before your scheduled time - so that you can get checked in. Please notify your artist as soon as you can if you are running late. Bring a valid ID with you. It cannot be expired and you must be at least 18 years of age.
Make sure that you drink plenty of water in the days leading up to your appointment.
You should eat before your tattoo. For larger pieces, bringing a snack is recommended. Water bottles, LaCroix, and snacks are stocked for anyone who needs or wants it. There is also a café in the same shopping center (they close at 2 pm, however).
Please bring or wear clothing that will make the area you are getting tattooed more accessible (pasties are provided if wanted or needed). You may want to bring an extra sweater with you just in case; there are also blankets provided for anyone who wants to use one.
Please shower before your appointment. You do not have to pre-shave the area where you are getting tattooed.
Absolutely do NOT bring your children in. A tattoo shop is not a child-friendly environment and having children in the shop is very distracting.
Avoid alcohol before and after your tattoo session. Alcohol decreases your blood’s clotting abilities which can affect the tattooing AND healing processes. Excessive bleeding can thin the pigment and result in fading/splotchiness. Try to abstain in the 48 hours surrounding your appointment.
What will my tattoo cost?
The shop minimum is $80, regardless of how small the tattoo is. You can email to check on the current hourly rate of each artist. The price of a tattoo largely depends on the size, location, color/shading, amount of detail, etc. as all of these factor into how long a tattoo will take to complete. All tattoos (with the exception of flash) are charged at an hourly rate for tattooing time only. Both cash and card are accepted. Payment is due at the end of your appointment even if you have booked multiple sessions. The deposit will come off the total at the end of the final appointment.
Can I see the design before my appointment?
Designs are never sent out under any circumstance. You can email your artist to ask about seeing the design in person ahead of time, and they might be able to accommodate you a week or so ahead of your appointment. This largely depends on the artist’s schedule. Keep in mind that they have many other appointments ahead of yours and may not be able to start your design early enough for this. They can also make some alterations at the time of your appointment if need be.
Can I make changes to the design at the start of my appointment?
Minor changes to the design are acceptable, but any substantial changes may result in a reschedule. You should be 100% happy with your design before it is on your body permanently!
I saw that your books are closed. Can I get on your waitlist for when you reopen your books?
No, there is no waitlist. Having a long list of people to contact when the artist reopens their books puts an unnecessary amount of pressure and labor on the artist and defeats the purpose of closing their books in the first place. Each artist has their own reasoning and methodology for closing/reopening their schedule, but the main goal is to regain their own personal time and peace of mind back from work.
That being said, you will simply have to wait for the artist of your choosing to reopen their books like everyone else.
What is a flash day?
Traditionally, tattoo flash refers to pre-drawn designs rather than custom artwork. Flash is usually displayed on a sheet of multiple designs that are available as-is. About once a month, we hold a flash day where the artists tattoo designs from their own (usually themed) flash sheet at a discounted flat rate. The designs are posted on social media a day or two before the event. Flash tattoos are only available at that specific one-day-only flash day.
If you are interested in getting a tattoo at the next flash event, here’s how it works:
Show up early to put your name on the waiting list (or get a tattoo if you’re early enough). Provide your name, phone number, and - if you know what you want - which design you’d like to get to be put on the waitlist. You will be given a call when it’s almost your turn. And then you get a tattoo!
You must be at least 18 years of age with a valid photo ID to get a tattoo. Flash tattoos are available for arms and legs only and must be paid for in cash. No alterations. First-come, first-serve. Walk-in only (no appointments).
If you would like to get a custom piece, please visit the Booking page to see the current booking status.
Can I use numbing cream or painkillers?
Numbing cream is not recommended for tattooing. Do not use it.
Presently, there are no tattoo-specific numbing creams with a safe level of lidocaine or combination of pain-relieving chemicals as per the FDA. Your appointment will be rescheduled if your show up with numbing cream already applied. Please notify your tattoo artist if you are concerned about the pain level of your tattoo. We do use Bactine, which is a first-aid analgesic spray with 4% lidocaine.
Additionally, numbing cream would need to be applied several hours before your tattoo, and the effects last for a very short time. If your tattoo is not done before the numbing cream wears off, the pain can come back with a vengeance as your body has not been able to properly prepare itself by producing adrenaline. Additionally, from your artist’s perspective, some numbing creams can make the skin more difficult to work with, which can extend tattooing time and affect the final product.
Some blood-thinning pain killers like ibuprofen can cause excessive bleeding during the tattooing process and minorly affect the final product; however, acetaminophen-based painkillers are fine as they can give minor pain relief and reduce localized swelling without thinning the blood. Make sure to check in with your artist if you have any questions about using painkillers or numbing creams.
Consult with your doctor first if you are taking any sort of blood thinning medication to ensure that you can safely get tattooed.
How do I take care of my new tattoo?
Please refer to the aftercare page for a more in-depth look at how to care for your new tattoo. The most important things you can do are keep it clean, keep it moisturized, and keep it out of the sun. All three of these are not suggestions but requirements to ensure that your tattoo heals properly.
I recently got a tattoo from you. How do I go about scheduling a touch-up?
Send an email to schedule a touch-up. You do not have to wait for books to open. Please keep in mind that the only person who will touch up your tattoo is the artist who did the actual tattoo. Include a photo of your newly healed tattoo and inform your artist of your healing regimen. You will be scheduled in as soon as your artist has availability. You get one free* touch-up within 12 months of your original appointment as long as you have clearly taken care of your tattoo.
*Note: your free touch-up may be forfeited at your artist’s discretion if you have obviously and visibly not followed aftercare instructions. This includes neglecting to clean your new tattoo 2-3 times per day, failure to regularly moisturize as needed, and/or extensive exposure to direct sunlight. Going over your entire tattoo or adding to it is more than a touch-up and will count as an actual appointment. Disorderly clients may have their touch-up privileges revoked. Flash tattoos do not come with a free touch-up. Tattoos on the hands or feet are subject to a $20 touch-up fee.
Do you do cover-ups?
Some tattoos are easier to cover than others. Some may be too dark and could require a pass of laser removal first. Please keep in mind that cover-ups do not always perfectly hide the old tattoo but rather distract from it, especially with a significant amount of line work or color/shading. Our goal with cover-ups is for the piece to not look like a cover-up if possible!
Do you do piercings?
No, there is no piercer here. Social media lumps tattoos in with piercings, so the Facebook and Instagram pages label this as a “tattoo and piercing shop,” which can be confusing; Spotted Fox is just a tattoo shop. Anchorage would be your best bet to get a piercing and/or jewelry.
Can you add ashes to my tattoo?
No, we do not add any foreign substances to our tattoos.
Can I get a tattoo if I am a minor?
No.
Some states allow minors to get a tattoo with parental consent, but Alaska is not one of them. You must be at least 18 years old with a valid photo ID to get a tattoo.
Where can I go to view artist portfolios?
Instagram is the best place to see the full scope of the artists’ work. Digital portfolios are kept in the shop and are available for viewing anytime during business hours. Viewing portfolios can be a good way to ensure that your taste aligns with your artist’s preferred subject matter and style.
