Frequently Asked Questions

We're thankful you've come to The Collective Tattoo & Body Piercing as your studio of choice. As a new customer, you probably have some questions about tattoos, piercings, the process and what exactly to expect. We'd be happy to address some of the most commonly asked questions so you're experience with us can be a great one.

  • Does it Hurt?

    Well, it doesn't tickle.

  • How Old Do you Have to be?

    You must be at least 18 yrs of age to receive a tattoo from The Collective Tattoo & Body Piercing. The state of Virginia does not require you to be 18 years old to receive a tattoo as long as a parent or guardian is present and will consent, HOWEVER we will not tattoo under 18, regardless of parental consent. We will pierce under 18 with proper documentation and a parent or legal guardian must be present at the time of service. Click HERE for list of documentation.


  • What Payments Do you Accept?

    Cash is king, but we also accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and AMEX. We have an ATM on premises for your convenience.  Yes, you can leave gratuity for your artist or piercer when you pay with plastic. 

  • Is It Safe And Sterile?

    The Collective Tattoo & Body Piercing employs only the most experienced tattooists and body piercers, who are required to have certifications in First Aid, CPR and Blood Borne Pathogens. The certifications ensure that our staff is knowledgeable in the proper handing and disposal of biomedical waste, blood borne pathogen awareness, sanitation, and sterilization procedures to maintain an aseptic environment for your protection. In addition, all sterilization equipment is maintained in proper working order and tested regularly by an independent 3rd party. We have quarterly inspections with the local Health Department to ensure we are abiding by the guidelines set forth to maintain a license.

  • How Is A Tattoo Done?

    Modern tattooing is performed with specialized electric tattoo machines and pigments. Tattoo artists are trained for years in the technical application skills required to properly apply a tattoo. The tattoo machine pushes pigment just under the surface of the skin with a small grouping of needles. A tattoo is a cosmetic medical procedure that should only be performed by a licensed tattoo artist.

  • What Is THe Shop Minimum?

    $100.00 (it does not matter how small the tattoo is…) The set up and break down to provide a clean and safe tattoo is the same regardless of the size of the tattoo.

  • How Long Before My Tattoo Can Be In The Sun?

    Until the tattoo is healed…anywhere from 10 to 14 days.

  • Can The Tattoo Get Wet?

    You can shower daily (and we hope you do) but do not submerge your tattoo in water such as a hot tub, pool, lake, river or ocean for at least 10-14 days. Do not wear restrictive clothing over the tattoo where it may be wet and sit on the tattoo for any length of time.

  • Can i get tattooed while on vacation?

    Our best suggestion is to get it done close to the last day of your stay. We do not want to impeded upon your vacation time and all the fun in the sun Virginia Beach has to offer. However, be careful as to not get sun burned or even remotely pink….you will be very disappointed when our artist tells you that you cannot get tattooed. So wear lots of sunblock and play to your heart’s content and get your tattoo right before you leave.

  • What about military discounts?

    We are asked often…do you offer military discounts? We always have the urge to spout out all the reasons why the answer is no. We want to address this so that our current clients and future clients understand our position. Many local businesses offer military discounts to show appreciation for our local heroes. At The Collective Tattoo & Body Piercing we define many of our clients as heroes…the single mother, the cancer survivor, the Navy Seal or EOD, the school teacher who so patiently teaches our children. The firefighters and the doctors at our hospitals. The way we pay it forward is by holding charity art shows or food drives. If we offered military discounts then we would not be able to donate the $100, $200, and $300 dollar gift cards for all the local charities requests we receive.  The American Diabetes Assoc., American Cancer Society, MS Foundation, Wounded EOD Warriors…there are so many more that we would have to say no to if we offered discounts on our services. We made this decision in 2010, when we opened, because our values dictate to collectively help our community and not just one individual. The Collective Tattoo & Body Piercing is a service based business. We compensate our artists and staff very well for the services they provide, which leaves little margin for a small business owner, and we would like to continue to donate to many worthy causes in our community.

  • Do you charge by the hour?

    Yes! The pricing of tattoos is highly dependent on the level of detail, time intensity, or size & placement of a piece. A “flat-rate” estimate may be offered when appropriate; an hourly rate is typically designated when planning for larger and/or intricately detailed pieces or tattoos that require multiple appointments to complete. If you find cost, time and budget information essential to confidently progress through the planning process, we invite and encourage you to visit our studio. Consulting with one of our experienced artists is beneficial, informative, and encouraged; offering our clients the chance to express ideas and inspiration directly with an artist while also establishing a collaborative partnership.

  • Fingers, toes & TOUCH-UPS?

    We have a $100 minimum on any tattoos on the fingers. Tattoos on the top, side or inside of the fingers fade quickly. The hands are the most exfoliated part of the body and the finger tattoos do not last over time.  Often, clients want their finger tattoos touched up after a short period of time, you will have to pay to have it redone as we do not offer complimentary touch ups on finger tattoos.


    Speaking of "touch ups"... we do offer one complimentary touch up for our clients within 6 months. Touch ups are NOT re-works or additions. They should take no longer than 15-20 minutes and there is nothing new being added to the tattoo.  A touch up means that during the healing process there may have been a "holiday"  or a line that faded in the healing process etc. A holiday is when there is lighter or missing ink/pigment in a small area. It is natural for that to happen when the body is trying to heal the area and it scabs causing the pigment to come out with the dead tissue.  Please be mindful that improper care of your tattoo during the healing process, sun bathing and the use of tanning beds could require a minimum charge of $100 for a touch up.