Frequently Asked Questions

To The Grave Tattoo Co. is a professional tattoo and piercing studio that offers a wide range of body art services. Our team of experienced artists is dedicated to providing high-quality work in a safe and clean environment.  With our award winning artists we have been voted one of Lexington’s top 3 rated tattoo shops 4 years running!

We are open 7 days a week from 11am to 7pm.  We accept walk-in’s 7 days a week or you can schedule your appointment by speaking to one of our artists directly by either stopping by for a consult at anytime or by contacting them through their social media.  

There are a few ways to get your tattoo at our shop, we do offer walk-in availability 7 days a week and in most cases are able to get you with an artist immediately as a walk-in.  You can also come by the shop anytime during our operation hours and speak to an artist as a consult to get pricing and To schedule your appointment.  Lastly, you can go to our gallery page and look at each artists work and select an artist, click on their profile and it will take you directly to their Instagram where you are able to message them directly to work out the details regarding your tattoo including pricing and availability.  Generally to schedule an appointment there will be a deposit to be paid directly to the artist at the time of booking.  This will guarantee you spot for the selected day and time.

We offer a wide range of tattoo styles, including traditional, realism, black and grey, and more. Our experienced artists are able to accommodate any style or size of tattoo and are happy to work with you to create a custom design that meets your individual preferences and needs.

There are certain medical conditions and medications that you may need to get approval from your doctor prior to getting your tattoo.  Heart conditions and  blood thinners are a couple of examples you want to speak with your physician first for approval, however if you are concerned about any other medical reason we suggest you speak with your doctor prior to your appointment.  If you are pregnant this does disqualify you from being able to get a tattoo.  If you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol we are not allowed to tattoo you at that time as well.

Our artists will work with you to develop the design you want and ensure that it translates to a tattoo that will look just as good the day you get it as it will 10 years later.  Our artists will take all of your design suggestions and aspects of what you want from the design and give you suggestions as how to make your vision come to life while maintaining it’s integrity for years to come.

Each artist prices their own work.  To get an accurate price for the design you wish to have it is important to speak to the artist who will be tattooing  you directly.  You can either come to the shop in person and speak with them in person an any time, no appointment necessary, or you can contact them through their social media to discuss design details.  Links to their social media is located on our website’s gallery page.

When buying aftercare or jewelry you will pay the shop directly and can use either cash or card.  When paying for a tattoo you will need to speak to the artist who you are working with.  Each artist takes different forms of payment ranging from cash, card, Venmo, PayPal, and Cashapp.  The artist will discuss with you prior to your tattoo as to what form of payment they accept.  For your convenience our shop has an ATM that you can use as well.

 This is determined by the individual artist and the the design that you are requesting.  During your consult with our artists they will explain the method they will use for your specific tattoo

When you arrive at our shop you should expect to be greeted by one of our staff at the front desk.  We will find out how we can assist you and get you connected with an artist or our piercer to further discuss the details of what service you are looking for.

In Kentucky the minimum age to receive a tattoo is 16, however there are several additional pieces of information that will need to be provided for the minor to receive a tattoo.  The parent or legal guardian must be present during the entire process, they must have their government issued ID.  The minor will need to have their government issued ID.  You will also need to bring in a copy of the minor’s birth certificate and there is a form that will need to be notarized.  We have an in house notary, the fee is $15 for the notary service or you can print off the form from our forms page and get it notarized at another location and bring it with you for your appointment.

In the state of Kentucky to receive a tattoo or piercing you must provide a government issued identification, this includes a Drivers License, Drivers Permit, State ID, Passport, Permanent Resident Card, or a Military ID.  Passports and Licenses from outside of the United States can also be accepted.  If the ID is expired for more than 90 days we can no longer accept that as valid identification.  No other form of ID will be accepted, this Includes but is not limited to school id, birth certificates, proof of birth forms.

Generally speaking you can bring some friends or family with you, however based upon the accommodations of the artists room you may only be able to have 1 or 2 people in the room with you during your tattoo.  Unfortunately, Kentucky law prevents young children from being in the tattoo booth with you while you are receiving your tattoo, please make sure you have other accommodations for small minor children or unfortunately you may have to reschedule your appointment.

Kentucky laws dictate that neither you or the artist is allowed to have food or drink in the tattoo booth.

This is a question that the answer is different for each person.  A person‘s pain tolerance as well as the location of the tattoo can have an effect on the level of pain our clients feel when they receive their tattoo.  Generally speaking tattoos are not very painful and are similar to scratching a sunburn.

This is a conversation that should be had with your artist prior to beginning your tattoo.  Some artists prefer that you do not use numbing cream while others do not mind, furthermore in many cases the tattoo can be completed quickly therefore it isn’t necessary.

Scars can be tattooed over, however they may need to be touched up as scar tissue may not absorb the ink as well with the first pass.

To help prepare yourself for the best experience while getting tattooed you should make sure you have a good meal within 4 hours of your appointment, wear comfortable clothes that provide easy access to the part of your body you are getting tattooed.  Make sure you are hydrated before your appointment.  Don’t take ibuprofen prior to your appointment as it can increase any bleeding that comes from the process.

In accordance with Kentucky laws we provide the most sterile environment possible.  We do this by using approved chemicals for cleaning all surfaces in the room daily and in between each tattoo that we do.  Every set up is new and prepped right before your appointment.  We use single use needle bars or cartridges that are opened in front of you and disposed of properly after each use.  We make sure to clean between each tattoo and completely sterilize the working environment.

Everyone’s skin heals uniquely, in some instances small areas may fade faster as the skin regenerates.  This is not a reflection of the artists skill but part of your bodies natural healing.  Touchups are used to bring your piece of art back to its intended  crispness.  Touchups are used to rework small details or to embolden colors and increase the vibrancy of your piece.  Touchups, if necessary, are usually done between 4-8 weeks after the initial tattoo.  Touchups are a natural part of maintaining the vibrancy of your piece.

There are a couple different ways to go about the aftercare for your tattoo.  You can either use a saniderm type product, which may have an extra charge.  This product goes directly on your skin covering the tattoo and provides a safe barrier over your tattoo that allows it to still breathe and your skin to get oxygen while keeping out any environmental factors.  You leave this product on for 3-5 days if possible and remove it in the shower when necessary.  The bandage may fill with some fluid during this process which is completely normal.  The bandage should only be removed earlier if  there is an excessive fluid build up, this is rare.  After removing the bandage you will use an unscented lotion a few times per day to ensure that the tattoo doesn’t dry out.  You will also gently wash the tattoo a couple times a day with an unscented antibacterial soap and dab dry with a clean paper towel.  The other method is that our artist will wrap your tattooed area with a non adhesive plastic wrap that will be kept on between an hour to 3 hours.  When removed you will the washing and lotion instructions as previously listed.  If you are allergic to adhesives you may want to go with the second option listed.

You should make sure to not scratch or pick at any scabbing that may form, this may reduce the color that remains when the tattoo heals.  For the first month you should avoid direct sunlight to the tattoo as well as soaking your tattoo in water.  Regular showering is still suggested, however make sure you do not soak the tattoo in a bath, go swimming, or going to hot tubs.

Over time it is normal for the colors in the tattoo to fade slightly.  Sunlight exposure as well as exposure to other environmental factors may age the tattoo quicker.  If you ever wish to get the tattoo touched up or reworked it is something we can help you with, however our artists design and execute the tattoo in a manner to help your piece age beautifully and look just as amazing from the day you get it to 10 years into the future!