faq

My studio building is equipped with a ramp and elevator.

If you have specific accessibility requirements please email me at paxhandpokes@gmail.com.

I usually do 3–5 guest spots outside of NYC a year. I’m always looking for new places to go, so if you want me to come to your city let me know by putting yourself on my Travel Waitlist.

Brooklyn, NY.

There are a few things you should do leading up to, during, and after your appointment to make sure you are prepared and that you get the best tattoo possible.

Leading up to your appointment:

• Make sure you are exfoliating and moisturizing the area that you will be getting tattooed for two weeks before your appointment. Healthy and moisturized skin will lead to a tattoo that heals better!
• Avoid direct sun exposure and sunburns on the area that you will be getting tattooed. Sunburnt skin is not ideal for tattooing and if you have a visible burn at your appointment I may not be able to tattoo you.
• Let me know if you get any cuts, scrapes, or rashes on the area you want tattooed before your appointment. This might mean we can’t tattoo that area.
• On the day of your appointment, make sure you are well nourished and hydrated! Do not drink alcohol in excess the night before or after getting your tattoo.
• Make sure you have reviewed all the information in your confirmation email and that you know where you are going for your appointment!

During your appointment:

• We will go over all design options, placement, and pricing when you arrive. This is the time to make edits and play around with your design. Make sure you are vocalizing any changes you want to make or questions you may have.
• I do my best to make you feel as comfortable as possible throughout the whole process. I will always listen to you and do my best to accommodate your needs, so please feel free to speak up if anything comes to mind.
• Keep checking in with yourself! If you need a break, let me know!

After your appointment:

• Make sure to rest and hydrate, tattooing can be a tiring experience for your body.
• Follow the aftercare instructions provided to you at the end of your appointment.

I prefer not to send custom designs before your appointment (see the ‘customs’ page for more information), but I can sometimes send designs early if requested.

I try to get back to booking requests as soon as possible, but you should expect to receive an email after submitting a booking request 1 to 4 days after submitting it!

I typically book one or two months in advance, opening my books for the following month around the 10th of each month.

Mostly no. I occasionally take cover up / blast over projects on a case by case basis. However, “coverups” done by hand poking will rarely ever be able to fully cover a pre-existing tattoo unless it is heavily faded or lasered off.

Hand poke “cover ups” are good for people looking to distract from or add to a pre-existing tattoo that is already light and delicate.

Yes! While I work mostly in black and grey I love to add pops of color to my pieces. I sometimes include colored versions of my flash, and I’m open to accepting color additions to flash and color custom tattoos on a case by case basis. Please submit your idea for your color tattoo via a booking form.

Hand Poke tattooing does not involve any powered devices to deposit ink into the skin. Machine tattooing uses a mechanism that pushes a needle in and out automatically. Hand Poke tattooing uses the same motion as a tattoo machine, done manually by hand.

Hand Poke tattooing is a method of tattooing without a machine. A tattoo needle is held by hand and the tattoo artist carefully pushes the needle into the skin to deposit ink at the appropriate depth. Hand Poke tattoos are made one dot at a time, usually creating a gentler and more stippled effect.

Hand Poking, also known as ‘stick and poke’ tattooing, is popular in part because of its accessibility as a DIY tattooing method, allowing artists to learn how to tattoo without the barrier of expensive tools. Many people have come across ‘stick and poke’ tattooing done by amateur tattoo artists, and because of this may have the misconception that handpoked tattoos are more painful and not as “good” or as “real” as machine tattoos. However, hand poking is indeed a valid method of tattooing.

Professional hand poking is (usually) a more gentle process than machine tattooing, making for a less painful experience and faster healing. Hand Poking offers the capability to create different textures and a more ‘imperfect’ look. Many professional tattoo artists opt for this method because of the stylistic opportunities the technique offers. And yes, hand poke tattoos are 100% permanent, despite what some people may believe. When applied professionally, hand poke tattoos will heal beautifully and last a lifetime!