How do I prepare for my appointment?
Stay hydrated for 24hrs beforehand and moisturise your skin after you shower. This legitimately makes a a huge difference to the healing and the detail I can achieve. When you choose your clothes consider flexibility, comfort, whether they will rub on your fresh tattoo, my ability to access your tattoo (ideally without you getting nude), and ink splatter. We have places to change and nipple covers, however the shop is a public place. Some tattoos (especially all torso/hip) will require you to take off bra/binder/tight crop/tight pants while you’re being stencilled. I highly recommend wearing a loose button-up shirt/shorts/skirts for these areas - in most cases you’ll be able to leave in on throughout the entire process.
Make sure you eat a big meal and plenty of water before you arrive, and if you have a longer session please bring along snacks or a packed meal and a water bottle. You’re also always welcome to zone out with headphones or a book. I won’t be offended! Be prepared for your appointment to take multiple hours.
DON’T: shave the area for 3 days before your appointment, be hungover, intoxicated, sunburned, or sleep deprived!
Also, the skin around your joints and hands experiences more movement and exposure than other skin. In any case, you may require a break from your usual activities in the first week of healing. Consider how this may affect your work/life beforehand.
Where are you located?
I am working out of Little Planet Tattoo, located at 55 Pyrmont Bridge Road, Pyrmont. The entrance is a huge white building on a corner with the sign “WOTSO”. Come through the main entrance on Pyrmont Bridge Road and speak to the lovely man at the front desk and tell him you’re expected on Level 3 and he’ll swipe you through. Once you reach the 3rd floor, turn right out of the lift and enter through the glass doors into a waiting room. I’ll come collect you from there. You’ll know it’s the right place if you see Little Planet cards on the front desk. If you have any issues on the day, please DM me (not email) and I will come find you. If, as part of your accessibility requirements, you cannot speak to a strange man, please let me know and I’ll come collect you from the ground floor.
WEEKEND CLIENTS: You will have to buzz into the main entrance on weekends. Please wait in the Ground Floor foyer and I will come down to collect you on the ground floor at your appointed time.
I am working and living on unceded Gadigal Land.
What are your rates?
I charge roughly $230 per hour with a $350 minimum cost. A full day booking is 11:30AM-6:00PM - this is roughly $1300-$1500 depending on breaks. I do not have a capped daily rate, so appointments that run past 6:00pm will still be charged by the hour. Similarly, if your appointment ends early then you will still only be charged hourly. I only give timing estimates to people who’ve completed a booking request form (not to be difficult - I can only quote once I know all that info).
CASH OR CARD?
I accept transfer or cash. If you’re booked for a weekend session, please consider bringing cash (turns out standard banking laws means transfers can only be received between 10am-10pm Mon-Fri so weekend payments are delayed until Monday - this isn’t your responsibility, but if you can manage to get cash for me then yay!) Otherwise, if you save my bank details during the deposit process it’ll be nice and easy to pay that way on the day.
What should I expect on the consent form?
Every person who gets tattooed in NSW must fill in a consent form every time they get tattooed (by the same or different artists). You must:
Bring a physical copy of your valid photo ID (you will need to write down the name on this ID, but I will call you whatever you ask me to)
Be 18 or more years old.
Have your COVID-19 vaccination
You must complete a checklist that includes a declaration of your health status (specifically regarding blood-borne illnesses). This information is private and is only for my safety in the case of an accidental needle stick. Please feel free to simply disclose the details privately to me if this makes you more comfortable. Tattoo procedure is always done to prevent all cross-contamination, and therefore your health status won’t exclude you from being tattooed.
Everything on your consent form is a legal requirement of NSW tattoo shops, and your information will be kept confidential.
How do I look after my tattoo once we’re done?
I’ll wrap your tattoo with a medical adhesive dressing (Second Skin). This should stay on for 3-5 days with little to no attention. If it gets punctured, begins to leak out of the dressing, or irritates your skin, remove it immediately. Don’t peel or lift up the second skin - instead, stretch the edges outwards, away from the centre of the tattoo. As you pull outwards keep it parallel/flat to your body, the plastic will stretch and the adhesive will break. If it helps, imagine those command strips used to hang hooks on walls. If its peeled off it can often leave all the adhesive behind and you’ll have to gently rub eucalyptus/citrus/teatree oil over the adhesive until you dissolve it all. Remember, stretch it, dont peel!
Wash it gently with water and pat dry with a clean towel. Apply a thin layer of aftercare cream. I recommend Inky Salve, a vegan aftercare balm based out of Melbourne. I can also recommend Bepanthen, which you can find in the baby aisles of the supermarket or chemists. You can shower with or without the adhesive dressing, but don’t soak, swim, or bathe until it’s fully healed (2-4 weeks). In the case of finger/hand/wrist tattoos this includes doing the dishes, gardening, etc.
I have a quick how-to video of removing the dressing in the “Second Skin!” highlight on my Instagram.
Avoid direct sunlight on your tattoo for a month, then use a high SPF sunblock whenever exposed. Tattoo ink breaks down when exposed to the UV wavelengths in sunlight and ink will appear to “spread”. Avoiding sun exposure really improves your tattoos’ longevity.
Do you send previews of designs?
I do not. I always leave enough time in appointments to change small things. If you’re nervous leaving the design up to me, make sure you send me plenty of references and detailed descriptions of the poses/species etc so I’m fully on the same page as you. More detail is better that too little! We’re working together, so we gotta trust each other! I understand if this makes you nervous, but I will never put you in a position where you don’t feel you can change your mind.
What’s your cancellation policy?
Your deposit is non-refundable. However, if you need to reschedule please contact me ASAP (Instagram DMs are preferred for last minute rescheduling) and I’ll find you a new time. I work very flexibly, so I’m open to rescheduling once or twice; our time is precious and tattooing is done best if everyone is at their best. This means that I also may reschedule your appointment if I’m not capable of doing my best work that day for whatever reason.
Keep in mind, every reschedule requires additional admin from me, so please don’t take the piss. You will often be rescheduled to the end of my booking period. It’s not a punishment, I just don’t have enough spare appointments.
If you no-show with no explanation, we will not work together again. I am a huge proponent for open and honest communication, so if you keep me in the loop with whatever your issue is I’ll do my best to help!
Can I use numbing cream?
Numbing cream is fine with me, but please let me know when you’re submitting your booking form so I can leave extra time for your piece (the cream affects the skin and it takes longer to tattoo). I can use also numbing spray as the tattoo progresses, which can take the edge off. Please also be aware that numbing creams are your responsibility and you need to be aware of the effect it has on the healing of your tattoo - do a little research before you decide.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAY YOUR BUSINESS IS A “SAFE SPACE’?
A safe space is one where everyone should feel as comfortable as possible. This means that I will always strive to make you feel accepted and safe regardless of your sexuality, gender, size, race, gender expression, health status, job, or ability. I will always advocate for my clients’ safety and comfort, and I ask that you do the same for me and everyone else in the shop!
PLEASE KNOW: Both you and I reserve the right to say we’re uncomfortable and stop at any time! Your informed consent is central to your tattooing experience (and mine) so I won’t take it personally if you’d like to stop at any point. We can have breaks whenever you need, and we can take multiple sessions. Everyone deserves an chill and happy tattoo experience! I urge you to hold all tattooers to this standard.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY
If you have any accessibility requests at all, please message me before your appointment (there’s a form just below, if you like!). I always try to accommodate everyone’s needs but, regrettably, sometimes I’m not able to do so. Here are some accessibility features that I currently have available:
Stepping stool to reach the beds
Wheelchair access via elevators (3rd floor)
Private room, upon request (I share a room with Kristen @krispy_ink and we are flexible with work days)
Accessibility bathroom (right-handed) on the ground floor
Quiet tattoo machines (I can’t guarantee the volume of other artists’ machines or general noise, but I encourage earplugs if you’d like)
Wide bed with a ~200kg capacity and chairs.
Latex-free gloves and equipment
If there’s anything here you think I should add, amend, or correct, please let me know! I am always ready to listen, learn, adapt, and apologise.
HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME?
My first name is Zhana; pronounced like “parmigiana” if you’re a dirty Aussie. The “Zh” is like the J in Jean-Paul Gaultier. Olivia is my middle name. I’m not gonna be mad if you can’t pronounce it, but just don’t call me Olivia because I won’t answer lol