OPEN DAILY * WALK-INS WELCOME * MASTERFUL TATTOOS * PROFESSIONAL BODY PIERCING * PERMENANT MAKE-UP * OPEN DAILY * WALK-INS WELCOME * MASTERFUL TATTOOS * PROFESSIONAL BODY PIERCING * PERMENANT MAKE-UP * OPEN DAILY * WALK-INS WELCOME * MASTERFUL TATTOOS * PROFESSIONAL BODY PIERCING * PERMENANT MAKE-UP

Norfolk

Virginia Beach

Frequently Asked Questions
and client testimonials
make an appointment now
Frequently Asked Questions
and client testimonials
make an appointment now
Frequently Asked Questions
and client testimonials
make an appointment now

Frequently Asked

Questions

We understand that when it comes to body piercing and tattoos, you may have questions. To provide you with the best possible experience, we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ’s) to address your concerns and help you navigate your journey with us. If you don’t find the answers you’re looking for, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly. Your comfort and confidence in our services are our top priorities, and we’re here to assist you every step of the way.

We apologize, but at Artisan Body Piercing & Tattoo, we do not offer Henna Tattoos. However, we specialize in a wide range of permanent tattoo and body piercing services to help you express your unique style.

If you have any questions or need further information about our services, please feel free to contact us.

Yes! At both of our locations we have professional piercers that can accommodate your requests! 

For children 8-14 we only pierce ears. 

At 15 + we offer navel piercings and above the neck only.

This is shop policy and we do require proper identification for all ages. We do not allow children in the shop unless they are the ones receiving the piercing.


For those under the age of 18 we can accept:

– Your DMV Issued ID card, parent’s ID, and birth certificate

– Student ID with birth certificate and parent’s id

– Current Passport with birth certificate and parent’s ID

It MUST be your parent. Siblings, friends and family CANNOT sign for you unless they have legal guardianship papers, in which case guardianship papers must be in hand.

We cannot take copies or emails, original forms must be present. This is a state law, not our rule.

To be pierced or tattooed here at Artisan we do require I.D. The acceptable forms we can accept are listed below.

For adults over 18:

– DMV issued drivers license, permit, or identification card.

– Birth certificate with Student ID or worker ID

– Military ID

– Current Passport

For those under the age of 18 we can accept:

– Your DMV Issued ID card, parent’s ID, and birth certificate

– Student ID with birth certificate and parent’s id

– Current Passport with birth certificate and parent’s ID

It MUST be your parent. Siblings, friends and family CANNOT sign for you unless they have legal guardianship papers, in which case guardianship papers must be in hand.

We cannot take copies or emails, original forms must be present. This is a state law, not our rule.

PLEASE NOTE : Cracked, Expired, or Broken ID’s are NOT ACCEPTABLE

External threads

Externally threaded jewelry has been around for a very long time, it’s the most common type of jewelry on the market and is readily available and cheaply priced. This type of jewelry is often made from steel, plastic or an unknown base metal plated with heavily alloyed (diluted) gold. This type of jewelry is considered low quality and professional piercing organizations usually recommend it be avoided. The reason for this is as follows:

Threads

External threads are spiral markings on the end of the post, these come in direct contact with the client, these are often sharp, jagged and sometimes unpolished which means the surface is covered in micro pores and scratches that can harbour harmful bacteria and create micro tears and scratches inside the piercing if extreme care and sanitaion practices are not followed.

Polish

To allow your body a sufficiently smooth surface to heal against, the polish has to be mirror smooth so that the surface is free of pores, scratches or dents. Even the tiniest imperfection can ruin a perfect piercing by causing a sandpaper effect to the wound site. A poor surface finish causes irritation and can scratch at the inside of the fistula, this can delay healing or prevent it all together as well as cause excessive fluid build up and even promote excess tissue growth around the outside of the piercing.

Material

Usually, externally threaded jewelry is made from 316L steel this is often referred to as “surgical steel” because it’s used in the manufacture of surgical instruments such as clamps and scissors. It’s important to note 316l is neither implant grade nor nickel free and widely regarded as not suitable for initial use in a piercing. Commonly, external threaded jewelry can even be a mixture of mystery metals that can’t be identified.

Internally threaded jewelry

Internally threaded jewelry does not have any visible threading on the shaft that passes through the piercing channel. This allows for jewelry to be gently inserted in both fresh and healed piercings with much less risk of tissue damage on insertion.

Although internally threaded is a much better option than externally threaded jewelry, you should still pay attention to both the polish and the material to make sure it meets implant grade safety standards. We recommend using an APP approved vender.

Implant grade is a type of jewelry that ticks a number of boxes. Broadly speaking it refers to the alloy, quality of finish and construction as well as the manufacturing process of the metal. Jewelry made from ASTM F-136 titanium is considered implant grade, as long as the polish also is mirror-smooth. A mill certificate from the jewelry company should show its ASTM grade.

Threadless Jewelry

Threadless jewelry is considered to be one of the most secure and easiest types of jewelry to use and wear. No threads at all make this style safe for insertion and with proper use, less likely to come apart and therefore become lost.

Each threadless attachment has a straight pin on the back, the piercer then creates a small bend in the pin, this then causes the pin to lock into place when it’s pressed into the threadless labret or barbell shaft. Our latest jewelry lines and all jewelry moving forward, have pins that are pre-bent. It’s worth checking every pierce for fit though as a matter of course.

What makes threadless jewelry unique is that the tops are not gauge specific.

“Stainless steel (specifically surgical-grade or implant-grade) and titanium are high-quality metals that are used for making body jewelry. The difference between stainless steel and titanium jewelry is based on the difference in compositions of the metals themselves. Otherwise, both stainless steel and titanium jewelry are recommended for use in body piercings. Additionally, they are both safe to wear in new/healing piercings or healed piercings.

STAINLESS STEEL JEWELRY

Surgical-grade stainless steel and implant-grade stainless steel are the two types of steel used for body jewelry. Surgical-grade stainless steel (or 316L stainless steel) is the most commonly used steel and it typically doesn’t cause any complications for most people. Steel is a metal alloy, so surgical-grade stainless steel body jewelry contains a small amount of nickel. Even this small amount can cause irritation or even an allergic reaction in people who are very sensitive to it. Implant-grade stainless steel (ASTM F138 compliant) is a higher grade of steel, and it has a much lower level of nickel in it. The lower level of nickel makes it a better choice of steel, but it can still pose a problem for those who are really sensitive to metals or have a metal allergy. In that case, titanium jewelry is a great option.

TITANIUM BODY JEWELRY

Titanium is an even higher grade of metal than implant-grade stainless steel. It is not an alloy, so it does not have any nickel in it at all. This makes titanium jewelry the best option for people that react to stainless steel. Titanium jewelry happens to be lighter than stainless steel jewelry, and some people choose titanium for that reason alone.

A unique feature about titanium and titanium body jewelry is that it can be anodized to make the metal a different color. Pretty much every color of the rainbow is an option, and then some. Titanium jewelry does cost more than stainless steel jewelry, but it has the added value of having a high level of quality and the assurance that the healing tissue won’t get irritated.”

General aftercare instructions :

1.Wash your hands thoroughly for 30 seconds before cleaning your piercing ​

2.Use an antibacterial soap to thoroughly clean around the piercing, make sure rinse ALL lather off completely. Wash with soap once in the morning and at night in the shower. Rinse throughly!

3.Then use a sterile sea salt solution such as H2Ocean or Neilmed 3-6 times everyday.

4.Do NOT play with, rotate, or take out your jewelry before you are done healing.

Remember :

1. Take ibuprofen or motrin as prescribed on the bottle to avoid swelling or pain.​

2.Do NOT USE alcohol, peroxide, neosporin, bactine, bacitracin, ear care solutions, or anything with benzalkonium chloride (BZK)

Tattoo aftercare instructions : Initial healing

1. First thoroughly wash your hands for 30 seconds before removing bandage

2. Remove the bandage 2 hours after the finish of the tattoo, you can ice for 30 minutes on and 15 off if needed.

3. Wash your tattoo well (multiple times a day) with a mild, fragrance-free, antibacterial soap

4. Afterwards let air-dry then apply a SMALL amount of ointment and massage in. We recommend Aquaphor, raw coconut oil or any other artist recommended ointment for 1 week ONLY. then switch to a fragrant free lotion for the duration.

Continued healing:

1. Around the 5th to 7th day start using a water based lotion as a moisturizer on the tattoo 3-5 times daily.

While the tattoo is healing:

1. Avoid soaking in water (no pools, ocean, hot tubs, or baths)​

2. Avoid prolonged sunlight exposure and use sunscreen if you will be in the sun

3. Do NOT touch or allow others to touch your tattoo unless you are cleaning it.

4. Opt for loose clothing

5. Peeling or flaking IS normal, however if you have a question or concern please contact us or come in

6. Avoid the temptation to pick at your tattoo. Picking degrades the quality of your tattoo

Consultations for piercings or tattoos do not include time for the artist to perform services.

Consultations for tattoos allow the artist to understand your preferences and begin the process of a customizing a tattoo for you. Its important for artists to speak directly with you so they can grasp the style you want as well as look at the canvas that you have.

Piercing consultations do not include actual piercing time, however since most piercings are fairly quick we are most often able to accommodate you same day.

Deposits for tattoos secure your time with an artist. Without a deposit we cannot guarantee the time you would like with an artist.

Deposits ensure your seriousness about a tattoo and allows our artists to confidently create custom designs for you.

Deposits also go toward the total price of the tattoo. Our deposit minimum is $50.

To ensure precise and personalized service, we don’t provide tattoo quotes or pricing via phone or internet. This approach helps us avoid any miscommunication regarding tattoo size, color, and placement.

We invite you to complete our Virtual Tattoo Consultation Form, where our skilled artists or receptionists will carefully review your inquiry and promptly get in touch with potential appointment options.

Click below for Release Forms & Scheduling an appointment

client

testimonials

At Artisan Body Piercing & Tattoo, we take immense pride in our craft and customer service. But don’t just take our word for it – hear what our valued clients have to say.

These testimonials reflect not only the quality of our work but also the dedication of our team to making each client’s visit an unforgettable one. Read on to discover the Artisan experience through the eyes of our wonderful clients.

Mirta
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Super friendly and comfy. I walked in with a simple design and walked out with a sweet tattoo. Shawn is confident and fun! His area is very clean and COOL decor.
Danyelle
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walked into this shop on Monday in need of a tattoo symbolizing my love for the gym and Kelly worked diligently to not only meet my needs but exceeded them! She was able to capture my vision effortlessly and I will definitely be returning! The staff was inviting and everyone displayed great cohesion!
Weston
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A very welcoming and comfortable environment. Talented and knowledgeable artists specializing in every style imaginable. Extremely clean and very affordable. 5 stars!!!.
Danielle
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10/10 recommended, amazing staff great atmosphere and my artist, Nitty, was amazing. I love my new tattoo and I highly appreciate the hospitality and quality!!
Marie
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I was a little nervous coming into a new shop as I was used to BHS but Artisan has gained a new customer! The new renovations give the shop a cleaner and classier feel, and they have wayy more titanium options! I am so excited to come back and get pierced by Kat :))
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Click below for our tattoo quote form / Virtual Consultation

Contact Us today

We love hearing from you! If you have any additional questions or special requests, or if you want to book an appointment, feel free to reach out to us using the contact details provided below. Our friendly team is always ready to assist you.

Notice of Waiver (s) Below are the terms of the release form for Artisan Body Piercing and Tattoo

Release form Terms No persons under the age 18 can receive a body piercing, except those under 18 years of age with the expressed written consent of the signing guardian’s signature and match last names and addresses on id cards and birth certificate. All clients with intent of receiving a body piercing must have a government issued photo identification card. No person shall perform a body piercing on any client unless he/she complies with all CDC laws and Prevention’s guidelines for “Universal Blood and Body Fluid Precautions” and provides client with the following disclosure: Body piercing is an invasive procedure in which skin is penetrated by a foreign object. There is a risk of exposure to hepatitis B and C and HIV if not proper sterilization techniques are not used. Body piercing may cause allergic reactions to people with sensitivities to metals. Body piercing may involve discomfort or pain for which appropriate anesthesia cannot be legal made available by the person performing the piercing unless the are licensed by the Virginia Health Regulatory Board. Some of the possible risk includes: discomfort, pain, scarring, bleeding, swelling, infection, nerve damage and there is an increased risk for adolescents during certain stages of development. By Signing below clients hereby release Artisan Body Piercing from any damages to property or body, have read the information above, been informed of all risk and dangers, and has the opportunity to have a third party present. All clients will be pierced with sterile single use disposable needles and clean sterile equipment.