Tattoos
HOW OLD DO I HAVE TO BE TO GET A TATTOO?
The minimum age to get a tattoo is 17 with parental consent and 18 without. All individuals over 18 must present a valid photo ID beforehand. As for the individuals who are under 18, you and your parents (or legal guardian) must present us with a photo ID and proper documentation (i.e. birth certificate).
HOW MUCH DOES A TATTOO COST?
At Expressions, our minimum is $100 and our rate varies from $100-175 per hour for tattooing. Pieces are priced according to their complexity and the time required. Quotes are based on the amount of time anticipated for the tattoo’s completion and are mere estimates; prices are therefore subject to change.
Quotes for pieces requiring up to two hours are determined based on expected time, size and complexity. Pieces that are estimated to take longer than two hours are quoted and priced according to time alone.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS WHEN GETTING A TATTOO?
The process begins by finding the right tattoo artist for you; you can do so by looking through their portfolios to find the style you like best. Next, you can come by and meet the artists in order to make sure you are comfortable with them.
Once you have decided on an artist, you will book a consultation with them to go over the details of your future tattoo. Remember it is very important to come prepared for your consultation, you can do so by bringing plenty of references with you and making sure your idea is well thought out.
If you are unsure of the placement, size or design, do not worry, your artist will be able to provide you with great suggestions and recommendations.
DO THE ARTISTS DRAW CUSTOM TATTOOS?
Absolutely, all of our artists can design and draw anything you want based on your specifications.
DO THE ARTISTS DO COVER-UPS?
Absolutely, many of our artists are extremely experienced in cover-ups.
DOES IT HURT?
Yes, it will hurt; sometimes a little, sometimes a lot.
DO I NEED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
We do accept all walk ins upon availability.
As for tattoos, appointments are preferred, but we do accept all walk-ins. Please call or stop by the shop to book a free consultation.
IS A DEPOSIT REQUIRED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A TATTOO?
Yes, deposit is required and will varie from $100 to $500 depending on the project
WHAT IS YOUR DEPOSIT POLICY?
Tattoo appointment deposits are collected to ensure that the studio time is accounted for. Deposits are required for tattoo appointments only and no new drawing is started without both a deposit and a booked appointment. Any deposit paid is non-refundable/non-transferable and will be lost in the event of a no-show for the appointment.
In order to book a new appointment after a no-show, another deposit will be payable. All deposits are deducted from the final amount owed for the tattoo upon completion. In the case of tattoos necessitating multiple sittings, the deposit will be subtracted at the final sitting. You will receive a call one day prior to your appointment in order to confirm your booking and 24 hours’ notice is required for rescheduling and 48 for full cancellation.
In the event that an artist is unable to honour your appointment, due to illness or extenuating circumstances, we reserve the right to reschedule at the earliest mutually convenient time.
WHAT IS THE STERILIZATION PROCEDURE FOR TATTOOING?
All tattooing equipment used by most of Expressions’ artists is purchased pre-sterilized, disposable and one-time use only in order to reduce the risk of infection and cross-contamination. The tube portions of the machines are individually sealed in sterile blister packs, as are the pre-sterilized needles.
LIST OF CHEMICALS & MATERIALS USED FOR STERILIZATION AND SURFACE DISINFECTION
- Prepzyme Multi-Tiered Ezymatic foam spray
- MetriCide
- Strate-Line™ Sterilization Indicator Strips
- Fail/Pass intergrator strips
- Crosstex Efferzyme
- CaviCide (for all surface disinfection in high risk areas, i.e. countertops and sink in sterilization and piercing rooms)
- BioTex Disinfectant (surface disinfectant used in lower risk areas of the shop, mainly for common surfaces such as door knobs, light switches, telephones, etc.)
- Sani-Cloth Plus Germicidal Disposable Clothes (used only to disinfect surfaces in the washroom like the doorknob, sink and faucets)
Piercing
HOW OLD DO I HAVE TO BE TO GET A PIERCING?
The minimum age for a lobe piercing is 3 months, however we recommend piercing a baby at approximately 6 months of age to allow for their immune system and loves to develop fully.
Piercers will use their discretion when applying these rules and a valid piece of ID is always needed to perform ANY piercing regardless of age.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS WHEN GETTING A PIERCING?
A typical piercing appointment starts with a detailed explanation of aftercare related to the specific piercing. Once an adequate understanding of the required aftercare is established, your piercer will present your jewelry options and explain the value of each choice. Feel free to ask any questions you have on the quality or fabrication of your jewelry. It is your right to know what you are putting in your body! Be curious!
Proceeding to the piercing room with proper paperwork now filled out, the area will be cleaned and marked for placement. The placement is dependent on many factors which will be explained throughout the appointment, such as your choice of jewelry, your anatomy and how this will affect healing, along with any pesky issues you may come across with simple solutions. The jewelry for each piercing is specific to your needs and your options will be outlined prior to the appointment. After marking, the area is thoroughly cleaned and your piercer will then implicate the tool they have chosen to properly fit your piercing.
Remember, not every piercing is the same and you deserve an experience unique to your needs. Piercing is never a one rule solves all process. A single use hybrid system is then used to pierce, it is a “gun” and needle in one. This may be done in tandem, both ears at once, by two of our piercers or one ear at a time. The area is cleaned again and the piercing is then completed for your viewing pleasure. The actual piercing time generally lasts no more than a few seconds. The majority of your piercing experience consists of preparing you for your healing time and properly informing you of what to expect when we proceed to our sterile set-up. An optional check-up date will be provided and is often suggested as we love to see the progress of our work and your feedback on the experience.
This completes your piercing journey with us, and we love to capture this moment with a picture to place in your piercer’s portfolio or to update our Facebook page with a smiling face and a high-quality piece of jewelry.
DO I NEED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
All piercings must be booked by appointment only as our piercers are not present every day of the week. Also, we have specific days/times set up for the tandem piercings.
Please call or stop by to book your appointment 450-424-6969.
WHAT JEWELRY DO YOU USE?
For all our ear piercings we use Blomdahl medical grade jewelry. We offer a wide variety of options to choose from in both Titanium and Medical plastic which are both implant grade materials. All our jewelry is purchased pre packed and sterile upon arrival for minimal cross contamination risk.
Microblading
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
For the first Microblading session, the entire procedure should take about 2.5-3 hours. During this session, the brow technician will shape and style the client’s brows for client approval. We then follow with pigment color selection. Once the client is satisfied with the choices, we begin the procedure.
The client is to come in for a follow up visit in order to have necessary touch ups, without this touch up the microblading will not stay as long. The second Microblading session takes place after 4-6 weeks after the initial session. This session will take approximately 1.5-2 hours to complete.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO HEAL?
The eyebrow area will be slightly red after the procedure and color will appear very dark. This is normal for the procedure and part of the healing process. The color will fade by up to 40% as it heals. In the following days, the eyebrows will continue to be dark and you will notice slight scabbing. Do not pick at the scabs as this may damage the skin and the outcome of the microbladed area.
The eyebrows will lighten up in color as it heals. No down time is required after microblading procedure. It takes approximately 7-14 days for the brows to heal over, and about 1 month for the color to fully set in. You’ll notice the color is very light right after the two weeks after healing; the skin will have an opaque milky looking quality to it. This is known as the milk skin and is common in tattooing. This is due to the the tissue still healing from the inside out even though the surface of the skin is healed. True color will reveal itself once healed.
IS IT PAINFUL?
The pain level for the procedure is considered mild. Prior to the procedure your brow technician will apply a topical anesthetic to numb the area, and also reapplied during the procedure. Everyone responds differently to anesthetic; depending on the client, the feeling of the procedure has been described as light cat scratches. Topical anesthetics used may contain lidocaine, prilocaine, benzocaine, tetracaine and epinephrine.
After the procedure, redness and slight swelling in the area is normal. Clients describe the area feeling similar to a light sunburn. Clients can take Tylenol but not aspirin or ibuprofen.
HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?
Since microblading pigments are not implanted into the skin as deep as traditional tattoos, the area will naturally fade overtime. Microblading typically lasts 1-3 years, depending on skin type (normal, oily, dry), age (youthful/mature). Skincare routine will also affect the lasting effect of the pigment: patients who tan, uses products with AHA or Glycolic Acid with fade faster as your skin will resurface faster.
Each individual’s color retention within the skin will vary. To maintain the brows looking fresh, a touch up is suggested every 12-18 months. Clients can let the microbladed area fade over time, but please note a slight shadow may remain.
MICROBLADING IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR ...
- Anyone under 18 years of age
- Using any skin care products that contain any retinol, glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, or alpha hydroxyls (stop use three weeks prior)
- Chemical peels or PRP facial (at least 60 days prior)
- Facial laser treatment (at least 60 days prior)
- Pregnant or nursing (we recommend waiting two months after nursing due to hormonal changes for optimal healed results)
- History of keloids or hypertrophic scarring Epilepsy, MRSA, or lupus
- Chemotherapy (at least a year out and requires doctor’s clearance)
- Diabetic (requires doctor’s clearance)
- Viral infections or diseases
- Pacemaker or major heart problems
- Organ transplant
- Had botox in the last two weeks
- Skin irritations or psoriasis near the treated area (rashes, sunburn, acne, etc.)
- Using Accutane (must be off for one year)
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Poor general health
- Allergy to epinephrine, dermacaine, benzyl alcohol, lidocaine, or tetracaine
- Currently taking antibiotics
PRIOR TO YOUR PROCEDURE, CLIENTS ARE ADVISED OF THE FOLLOWING ...
- Avoid alcohol and aspirin/ibuprofen and any vitamins that may thin your blood for 72 hours.
- Avoid tanning so we can assess your natural skin tone.
- No face scrubs or chemical peels at least two weeks prior.
- Feel free to come in with their brow makeup on so our technician can see your every day look you prefer. Reference pictures of shapes and colors of brows are always welcomed. We will then work together to create the perfect brows!
AFTER YOUR PROCEDURE, CLIENTS MUST FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS ...
- Within 2 hours after the procedure, clean brows using non scented soap gently with water over the microbladed area. Gently wipe away the old healing balm and any lymphatic liquid (clear yellowish liquid) that may have built up. Lightly pat dry with tissue and using a new q-tip, re-apply healing balm to the brows.
- Make sure to apply a light layer of healing balm or Vaseline morning and night to brows for at least 5-7 days.
- Do not over apply healing balm.
- Do not immerse brow area in water for 14 days. When showering, make sure to avoid face area and apply Vaseline every time before going into the shower. When cleaning or washing face, make sure to avoid brows and clean around it.
- Do not put makeup on the brow area for a minimum of 10 days.
- Microbladed area is an open wound, using makeup may cause infections.
- Avoid alcohol and aspirin/ibuprofen and any vitamins that may thin your blood for 24 hours.
- Brow area will feel slightly itchy as it heals and will start to lightly scab over.
- Do not peel or pick at the scabs as this can affect the outcome and pigmentation.
- Do not go swimming, tanning or into saunas for at least 14 days, and do not work out for the first for the first 3-5 days (due to sweat)
- No face scrubs or chemical peels at least 2 weeks after.
DO I NEED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
All piercings are strictly walk-in, except genital piercings which require an appointment.
As for tattoos, appointments are preferred, but we do accept all walk-ins. Please call or stop by the shop to book a free consultation.
