Tattoo FAQ's

The first thing you should do is fill out the contact form to schedule a consultation appointment. Click to go to the contact page.

Sorry, no walk-ins at this time.

Everyone has a different level of pain tolerance. Where you want the tattoo on your body is a factor as some areas are more sensitive than others. We provide a comfortable environment in order to help get you through the process.

At the consultation you'll meet with an artist. This takes ~30 minutes and is free of charge. The artist will listen to your ideas and customize a design to make it unique and one of a kind. You may bring in your own drawings, prints, or photos to use as a reference for your design, or you may simply describe your vision to the artist and he will work to create an idea that matches your vision. If at the end of your consultation you and the artist both decide to go forward with the design, you will leave a deposit ($100-$200) to secure the date that your artist schedules for you. The deposit amount is based on the size of the work to be done and will be put towards your overall tattoo payment. This is non-refundable. You'll have time on the day of the session to go over the design with the artist  and make any modifications that you'd like. You may also come into the shop at any time prior to your appointment to make modifications to the design. It's our policy that we do not send out any of our designs in a digital format, therefore all modifications will need to be done in person.

There are several factors involved with the pricing of a tattoo (detail, placement, size, etc).  For small to medium sized tattoos we can give you a set price. For more detailed work that requires multiple sessions the rate ranges from $100-300 an hour, or a price per session set by the artist. It can depend on the style of the tattoo and the artist.  If you have a limited budget we'll set a flat price by the piece or session so you know ahead of time how much it will cost. Design and consultation services are included in the cost of your tattoo. We do not charge extra for these services. We want to ensure that each design is exactly as you envision it, and often times our artists will spend more time crafting a design than doing the actual tattoo.

Yes. In that case we require $100 deposit to secure your spot. This deposit is then deducted from the price of your tattoo on your appointment date.  If you miss your appointment, or fail to provide 24 hours notice of cancellation, you may lose your deposit. The deposit must be paid through our payment page.

Tips are always appreciated, but are never mandatory. If you do decide to tip your artist, give them an amount that you can comfortably afford. For all tips, please give those directly to the artist.

We have a $150 shop minimum. This is the base price. Watercolor tattoos by Daniel Natural start at $300.

No. Under Minnesota law, we are not permitted to tattoo anyone under the age of 18

This depends on a few factors (size, detail, color or black/gray, skin condition, etc). Once the design is finalized we can estimate a general time frame.

Working out within 48 hours is not recommended.

Do not drink alcohol or take any medication that will thin out your blood 24 hours before your tattoo.  Keep skin moisturized prior to your session as this helps the skin to heal and more easily receive ink.  Eat and drink water before your session! It helps with pain and prevents dizziness/nausea during your session. Wear loose, comfortable clothing. You don’t need to shave the tattoo area prior to getting a tattoo. You can trim the hair but leave the shaving to the artist who can avoid accidental cuts/razor burn.  Make sure you have plenty of recovery time immediately after your session. The artist will take whatever time is needed to bring your tattoo to life on your body.

We are inspected and certified by the City of Bloomington Health Dept. and meet or exceed all Minnesota standards. Every artist has blood borne pathogen training and is licensed by the state of Minnesota.

We at Ocean Blue Tattoo take your health and safety seriously. We are a fully disposable shop, meaning that all items that come into contact with bodily fluids are disposed of and replaced with brand new materials for each and every client. This includes new single-use needles, disposable grips, disposable ink holders, disposable razors, and disposable barriers covering everything that is used during the tattoo procedure. We prefer disposable materials as it is the most effective and efficient way to keep everything safe and sanitary.

There are several conditions that may prevent you from getting a tattoo, or would require permission from a licensed medical doctor.If you are/have:Pregnant or nursingUnder the influence of alcohol or drugsDiabetic, have hemophilia, skin diseases, lesions, staph, H1N1, ebola or any communicable diseasesSkin sensitivities to soaps, disinfectants etc.Allergies or reactions to pigments or dyesEpilepsy, seizures, fainting, or narcolepsy.Currently using  medications which thin the blood or interfere with blood clottingHepatitis or HIV infectionTested positive for COVID-19 or contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19

We offer a free touch-up of your tattoo for the 12 month period after the work has been completed. It should be noted that touch-ups are rarely necessary if you follow our tattoo aftercare procedures. Additionally, we look over all of our previous tattoos, on returning customers visiting for a new tattoo, and perform any necessary touch-ups free of charge.

if you poke the tattoo area and you no longer feel any pain, that is a good indication that the tattoo is mostly healed. You'll usually see surface healing within 5-14 days and normally the tattoo will be fully healed within 30 days.

Yes. There may be limitations as to what you can cover it with, based on the size, style, or darkness of the old tattoo. In your consultation the artist will go over what is and isn't possible.