1) Does getting a tattoo hurt?
    A. Getting a tattoo isn't the most comfortable experience. Everybody's pain threshold is different. It also depends on where the tattoo will go. Wherever there is skin close to bones like elbows, shins, hands, and feet, it's a bit more lively than say a shoulder, calf, or thigh. But if you're in the right mind-set and prepare for you tattoo, and SIT STILL, we can usually complete a tattoo in one session, (except larger works of art that may require more than one setting).
     Talk to your artist. He'll be able to give you a good idea of what to expect and how long it'll take to apply your tattoo.

2) Is there anything I should do to prepare for getting a tattoo?
    A. As with all tattoo procedures, (and I think many professional tattoo artist would agree), take a shower just before going in for your tattoo. Having a clean area helps us tattoo artists more than you know. You can also shave the area that you want your tattoo applied, but we'll shave it again before the procedure. Eat something an hour before you get your tattoo and bring some water in with you. Power drinks and drinks with sugar will tend to make you jumpy and the last thing you need is getting jumpy half-way through the procedure.

3) How much will it cost?
     A. One thing that's nice about tattoo shops is that you can barter for price. You can't do that with your doctor or at Wal-mart. Still, the price will revolve around size and detail.
     Talk to the artist and get a quote on paper, but remember, if things change after the quote or while the tattoo is being applied, (for example, you want to add or subtract from your design), the price will change too.
     A good artist will be straight up with you and work with you so you get what you really want.
     As artists doing custom work, we work hard on your design before you even come into the shop for your appointment. So before you set your appointment to have the tattoo applied, make sure you know what you want and give us as much reference material ahead of time.
     Here at Wolf Creek Tattoos, we want you to have a great work of art, and we're willing to design it to your specifications.

4) I want a tattoo with a lot of detail but really small. Can you do that?
    A. We can, but you should know that small, detailed tattoos may lose some detail over time. Our rule of thumb is, "Keep It Simple." The smaller the tattoo, the less detail. The bigger the tattoo, the greater the detail.

5) How can I keep the color in my new tattoo from fading?
    A. This is a great question. Keeping the color in your tattoo is really up to the vigilance of the individual. Stay out of swimming pools, Jacuzzis, rivers, or any water where you may submerge your tattoo for long periods of time. This does not mean you can't take showers.
     Cleanse a fresh, new tattoo daily, but don't pick or wash off the scabs in the shower. Let them fall off on their own.
     Cover a new tattoo to keep it from the sun for at least one month after getting it. UV rays cause the tattoo to dull and lose its vibrancy. If you must be in the sun apply an SPF 25-50 on your tattoo but it will only slow the damage that the sun will do. This also means tanning beds. Our advise is to cover your tattoo with clothing all the time and stay in the shade… all the cool kids are doing it.

6) My friend got a tattoo kit and gave me a tat for free in his basement. It looks terrible. Can it be fixed?
    A. We regret an amateur did your first tattoo.
     Several things went wrong here. You wanted to have a tattoo but didn't want to pay a lot of money. And your friend, if he's still your friend, hurt the industry.
     Generally, we get what we pay for. Unfortunately, that means you sit with a scratcher job on you that was not only bad art, but it was applied in an non-sterile environment.
     Cover-ups can be costly, but having them hidden is easier than having them removed.
     Check with your local tattoo artist or travel to a professional artist and see if they can help you. The artist may have to be super creative to get the job done, and it could also be a few sessions to make it complete, but that's the price you pay and we apologize that there is no easier way to put it.
     You can send the picture to our shop and we would be more than glad to help you out. Or come in and have a consultation to see what we can do. You may also want to suggest to your friend that he get an apprenticeship at a professional tattoo shop.
     As a footnote, we'd like to say that we work hard in this industry to give awesome tattoos and to protect our good reputations. Scratchers make the most painful tattoos, and unfortunately, after you tell people how painful it was, they're left with the wrong idea. They'll never know a tattoo from a licensed, state-inspected shop would be less painful and heal-up nicely, (provided, of course, that they follow the suggestions on the after-care sheet provided to them).

7) I'm only 16 and I really want to get a tattoo. Will your shop do it?
    A. NO. In Iowa, you have to be 18 years old to get a tattoo. So our suggestion to you is to take your time. Be patient, but in the meantime, look for a shop and an artist. Gather ideas for your design; then, when you turn 18, you'll be ready to get an awesome tattoo that you can live with.
     Two years will go by pretty fast… And "Only fools rush in." So don't put yourself in jeopardy because you can't wait for a tattoo, letting an unlicensed armature do your first tattoo. You'll have several cars, houses, and significant others, but tattoos are FOREVER.

8) Do I have to tip my tattoo artist? And if so, how much??
    A. Tips rock! They're the best complement you could give your tattoo artist! But having said that, no, they're not required.
     How much? Unlike restaurants where there's a customary 15% of a meal ticket you should tip your waitress, there are no set guidelines for tipping a tattoo artist. But you can be the judge… Were you given the attention you deserved as a customer? Were you made to feel as comfortable as possible?  Was the shop clean? and the tattoo given in a sterile environment? And did you walk out with an awesome tattoo?