Jess Dunfield
Appointment Prep
What should I bring?
Definitely bring your phone (for pics!) and a piece of picture ID. I love to chat, but don't feel that you have to entertain me if you need to put on headphones and zone out. Drinks and snacks are great, even a packed lunch isn't a terrible idea for a long appointment. Sometimes it's nice to have a gentle painkiller like Tylenol or Advil on hand. And don't forget cash, of course.
What should I wear?
Go for comfort and do be conscious that whatever you wear might get ink splatter. Layers are great. You might even want a security blanket for the colder months. Please be sure we can have unrestricted access to area being tattooed. We can use privacy screens and provide nipple pasties as needed to make sure you feel confident and comfortable.
Can I have a guest?
Most of the shops where I work allow for one guest, but I do recommend checking out their respective webpage to confirm. I'm absolutely fine with it, especially when that person is your ride. Please don't bring the whole family for the whole tattoo. Preferrably no kiddos. I've had some horrifying experiences with kids in tattoo shops.
Designs
Do you have any flash designs available?
I do! I keep my current available designs pinned to the top of my social media accounts, although I am most active on Instagram. These are "wanna-do" and aspirational pieces for me, so I offer them at a slightly lower rate. You may email or DM me at any time to request an appointment for one of these designs. Generally my flash designs are repeatable, which means I will tattoo them on various people. Larger pieces will typically only be repeated two or three times (if at all), while smaller pieces may stay in the rotation a little longer before they are retired.
Do you provide a preview of my sketch/design?
Actually I do! In most cases I will email you a sketch the day before your appointment. I am unable to send anything earlier than that, however, and I don't provide any adjustments to the design before your arrival. But I do really appreciate your feedback as it helps me think it over and maybe I can even start to work on those changes if I have a few free minutes before you show up.
Please keep in mind that your sketch is often just an outline and will inevitably vary a bit from the tattoo once the details are filled in.
Will you tattoo this design I found?
I won't copy another artist's work. I will help extract the essence and certain elements you like from any reference images you provide and form them into something new and uniquely ours. Of course I respect that some things can't be changed, like symbols and logos. I do sometimes tattoo something drawn or gently redraw things drawn by my clients or their loved ones. I will absolutely tattoo your loved one's handwriting on you. I am no calligrapher, so I use dafont.com to find fonts for most of the script work I do.
Money Stuff
What do you charge?
My current hourly rate is $200/hr, tax included. I have a minimum charge of $150 for anything 45 minutes or under. Sometimes my flash is charged at a lower rate and will be clearly priced as applicable.
I only charge for the time that I am tattooing you. There is no set-up fee, I stop the clock for breaks, and in most cases I will not charge for stenciling. I can't provide an exact estimate before your appointment, but I'll give you a pretty accurate price range during the consultation process
What's your cancellation or rescheduling policy?
I need at least 48 hours notice should you need to cancel and/or reschedule an appointment. Obviously I appreciate if you can give as much notice as possible. If less than 48 hours warning is given, your deposit will be forfeited as a cancellation fee. All deposits are not refundable.
For my part, I promise to give you as much notice as I can if I need to cancel or move any of your appointments. Unfortunately, sick days happen.
What payment do you accept?
Cash is always preferred and appreciated. I do accept e-transfer for deposits. I never accept debit or credit. I've actually never worked at a shop that had a debit machine.
Should I tip?
It's up to you! Yes, most people tip and I am so incredibly grateful for that. I really care about creating a good experience for you, tip or no tip. If you choose to give a little extra, use whatever metric you like! 10-20% is common.
Do you have gift certificates?
No, sorry. I tried that and it just doesn't work, even for clients with ongoing work. I always suggest giving your tattoo-loving folk a wad of cash with a note that says "Tattoo Fund". They'll know what to do with it.
Other Policies & Services
Can I get a touch-up?
Of course! If you feel you need one, I will provide a touch-up on any of my tattoos, free of charge, as long you request your touch-up within the 6 months following your tattoo appointment. You do not need to wait until my books open to contact me regarding your touch-up.
I charge my standard hourly rate to touch-up or rework older pieces. I will occasionally work on pieces from other artists on a very select, case-by-case basis. I understand that sometimes you really can't go back to the person who did it. And I would respect your decision if you needed to take my piece to someone else or have them tie their work into some of mine. No one owns your body but you.
Can I be tattooed while I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
I respect that there are varied opinions on this, but I choose to lean towards caution and will not tattoo someone who is pregnant or breastfeeding.
Do you tattoo minors?
At Remedy Tattoo we do not to tattoo anyone under 18. I have tattooed 16 and 17 year olds with a parent present at previous shops.
Do I need to disclose any illnesses or health conditions?
If you're actively sick with a cold or flu, please let me know and do not come in for your scheduled appointment. Other concerns would be conditions or medications that affect your blood or ability to heal, such as diabetes, heart conditions, some skin conditions, and other things like epilepsy. In these cases there is often some grey area, so it's worth it to chat with your healthcare professional. For instance, I've tattooed many people with controlled diabetes.
Can you put my loved one's ashes in the ink?
I truly respect and understand why this might interest you, but I don't feel comfortable providing this service. There are too many unknown and uncontrollable elements that could affect the quality or the safety of the tattoo. Also, as explained by a mortician, the individual particles from the ashes are probably too large to effectively mix with the ink and be injected into the skin.
I do a lot of memorial tattoos however, and that's a service I am always honored to offer. When someone contacts me directly after a significant loss, I often suggest taking at least a few months to process your grief before undertaking anything as permanent as a tattoo.
What about numbing?
I'm actually not against numbing products, but it's an "at your own risk" kind of deal. I do not provide any topical numbing creams, which generally need to be applied to the skin before the tattoo begins. Do not buy anything with higher than 5% lidocaine content; Zensa and Dr. Numb are both brands I trust. I've found best results if I apply the cream about 45 minutes ahead and then reapply 15 or 20 minutes before work begins.
I personally think numbing creams should be reserved for those spots and sessions where you really know you're going to need it - they tend to make the skin a little rubbery, but I haven't seen any drastic affects on the tattoo quality when applied carefully. As with any medication there are risks to using topical numbing agents.
I also regularly use a gentle numbing spray with client consent, which is effective only on open skin. I always have Bactine on hand, it has 1% lidocaine content, which helps soothe and take the edge off.