Tattoo FAQ and Care
If you’re looking for a way to express yourself, tattoos from Time Bomb Tattoos & Curiosities in Frederick, MD, will help you use your body as a medium to show people who you really are. We’re a locally owned and operated business, and our award-winning artists can provide you with the design you’ve been looking for.
We understand that each of our clients is different, and we’ll take the time to discuss your options and find the right image and colors to make the statement you want to show the world. We want you to feel safe and comfortable when you visit us, and we’ll do whatever we can to ensure you feel great about your experience when you leave.
At Time Bomb Tattoos & Curiosities, we serve the Greater Frederick area, and we’re open 7 days/week. If you’re interested in tattoos, call or email us today for more information or to set up an appointment.
Style Reference
Basic Tattoo Aftercare
Guidelines for Tattoos until Fully Healed ~2-4weeks
Only touch with clean hands, and only for cleaning purposes
Don’t submerge in any body of water -NO bath, lake, ocean, pool, hot tub *NO Chlorine*; take *quick* showers instead
Don’t expose to sunlight or animal anything (no fur, paws, claws, tongues) directly or indirectly (bedding/couch cuddles)
Don’t use sunscreen until fully healed, then use 50+SPF for life
Don’t pick, scratch, or apply friction (no tight/rough clothing, elastic bands, bag straps, watches)
Keep your tattoo moisturized, but allow it to breathe
*NO GYMS OR LOCKER ROOMS* Fresh tattoos are open wounds and not only are gyms filled with other people’s sweat and germs, the cleaning products used to combat those germs are too harsh for an open wound.
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Instructions for use of Self-Adhering Transparent Bandages **1-7days**
If your tattoo is smaller scale and/or linework, it may not weep, and if so, the film can be left on your tattoo for *up to* 7days
If your tattoo weeps overnight (which is totally normal), you can come in for a removal, cleaning, and second application
If your bandage weeps or peels enough to expose your tattoo or leak in any way OR seems overly full of fluid, remove it and clean your tattoo
If something can get out of the bandage, then something else (potentially contaminating) can get in
Self-Adhering Transparent Bandage Removal:
(This can be done in the shower to loosen it, if so, do it at the *end* of your shower as the last thing before you get out)
- Wash your hands
- Gently lift the edges/border of bandage around the tattoo
- *Slowly* peel the bandage backward while gently stretching the skin in the opposite direction Try to *avoid* pulling the bandage upward/perpendicular to the skin
- Gently wash the tattoo with warm water and lathered fingertips, rinse thoroughly with cold water – Don’t rub. Use a mild soap (Dove, Ivory, Dr. Bronner’s – Don’t use antibacterial or scented). Pat dry with clean paper towel.
- If you had the bandage on for close to a week, just wash it 3 times daily and use a *thin* layer of Cocoa Butter or a plain, unscented, white lotion to keep your tattoo clean and moisturized, but allow it to breathe. If still in the first 1-3days, we can re-apply a new Bandage or you can switch to traditional cleaning&mositurizing
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Traditional Cleaning & Moisturizing
3 Times Daily : WASH YOUR HANDS
➜Use a mild soap (Dove, Ivory, Dr. Bronner’s – Don’t use antibacterial or scented). Gently wash with warm water and lathered fingertips, rinse thoroughly with cold water – Don’t rub. If showering, do this last. Pat dry with clean paper towel.
➜Use an ointment your body likes (Vitalitree or Aquaphor?). Gently massage a thin layer into the tattoo, blot dry with a clean paper towel – Don’t wipe. Check it after 10-15minutes, if it appears shiny/slimy/glossy, blot again.
As it begins to peel : Stop using the ointment and switch to Cocoa Butter or a plain, unscented, white lotion.
Tattoo FAQs
CAN I WALK IN OR DO I NEED AN APPOINTMENT?
We are only booking by appointment at the moment.
Do you accept Credit/Debit Card payments?
Yes, we accept Credit & Debit Card payments on the Square Platform.
There is a 3% Processing Fee for all Credit/Debit transactions. If you bring sufficient cash, we can all avoid this fee 
What is your shop minimum?
Our shop minimum is $80, if the tattoo takes 30mins or less with certain artists.
CAN I GET A TATTOO IF I AM UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE?
Tattoos done before the age of 18 tend to become blurry, hazy, and stretched over time as the body continues to grow. We here at Time Bomb Tattoos & Curiosities do NOT tattoo individuals under 18 years of age. There is no federal law or regulation concerning the age limit for tattooing in the United States, so individual states set their own standards. In the state of Maryland there are no laws concerning the age limit for tattooing, it is left to the discretion of individual professionals/business owner.
WHAT IF I AM UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE AND HAVE PARENTAL CONSENT?
We here at Time Bomb Tattoos do NOT tattoo individuals under 18 years of age, even with parental consent. We will however allow some body piercings for minors with parental consent.
I’VE NEVER GOTTEN A TATTOO BEFORE, WHAT SHOULD I DO/NOT DO BEFORE I COME IN TO HAVE WORK DONE?
PLEASE DO:
Be sure to have your state or federally issued photo ID. Wear comfy clothes that offer easy access to the area you would like tattooed. Bathe/shower/brush your teeth. You are potentially going to be in close proximity with your tattoo artist for a prolonged length of time, good personal hygiene is greatly appreciated. Have a good meal. Be well hydrated. If possible, conserve endorphins the day(s) before by chilling out instead of going to the gym or other heavy activity.
PLEASE DON’T:
Consume drugs or alcohol, or have consumed alcohol any time in the past 12 hours.
Take any painkillers, no aspirin or aspirin derivatives, they will thin your blood.
Bring children without another adult to care for them.
Does it hurt?
Everyone has a different threshold for pain and certain areas of the body are more sensitive than others. You shouldn’t let that stop you from getting what you want, where you want it. Yes, tattoos can be painful but generally the sensation isn’t as bad as you are expecting. People frequently say it is more annoying than painful or compare the feeling to a cat scratch on a sunburn.
WHAT WILL MY TATTOO COST? IS IT CUSTOMARY TO TIP MY TATTOO ARTIST?
The elements of your design that affect the cost of your tattoo are amount of detail, coloration, size, and placement on the body. Once we have those details and therefore have an understanding of what you want your tattoo to look like, our artists will be able to estimate the amount of time required and we multiply that by their respective hourly rate for your price quote. The consultation process to figure out what you want is free. The shop minimum is $50, basically anything that takes our tattoo artists 15 min or less. Tipping is not required but always appreciated for exceptional service.
I WOULD LIKE TO WORK ON A LARGE PIECE (SLEEVE, FULL BACK, CHEST PANEL ETC.), WHAT IS THE PLANNING PROCESS LIKE?
Once you have an idea of the design you would like, the first step is deciding which artist you would like to work with. Everyone’s portfolio is right here on our website, and you can also check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for some more recent work that hasn’t been posted here yet. Next thing you need to do is set up a free in-person consultation with that artist. Give the shop a call and we will go over the schedule with you to try and find the most convenient time. When you come in for your consultation be sure to have all your reference images. Throw them in an email, put them on a thumb drive, or print them out and bring them with you. The more information you come prepared with the quicker the process will be. After you’ve had your consultation the artist may need some time to draw. They may set up an appointment with you the same day as your consultation or they may correspond with you via e-mail during the design process and set up an appointment with you via e-mail.
CAN I GET TATTOOED IF I AM PREGNANT?
No. We feel causing undue stress and physical trauma to your body isn’t worth the risk of miscarriage during pregnancy. Come back and see us once you have delivered and recovered.
CAN I BRING MY KID(S) WITH ME WHEN I COME TO GET A TATTOO?
While we have nothing against children (some of us are parents ourselves) we would appreciate it if you didn’t bring yours. We cater to a clientèle that is (for the most part) 18 and older, we are not equipped to deal with children in a potentially hazardous environment. If it is unavoidable and you absolutely have to bring your child/children, they must be accompanied and supervised by another adult. They may or may not be allowed in the tattooing/piercing areas according to your artist’s discretion.
DO YOU DO TOUCH UPS?
Yes. Your artist will touch up your piece for no charge within the first year of having the tattoo if necessary. After that time period you will be charged in accordance with your artist’s rates.
DO YOU DO COVER UPS?
Yes, the owner has some awards for them and all of our artists do them regularly. Some cover ups can be more involved than others but our artists enjoy a challenge! As a starting point, we recommend that you think of a tattoo you’ve always wanted to get and bring it to us to discuss it’s “tattooability”. When planning a cover up you may need to be flexible with the design depending on what you would like to cover up and what you would like to cover it up with. As soon as we see your existing tattoo, or other scar, we can assess all of your options(For the rest of the planning process please read the above FAQ about planning for large pieces).
ARE THERE ANY TATTOOS YOU WILL NOT DO OR WOULD RECOMMEND AGAINST?
We will NOT tattoo anything hate group or gang related. Period.
Anything below the wrist, on the side of the neck, throat and face are things we recommend against (for various reasons) unless you are already heavily visibly modified and have solid job security. Underside of the foot and inner lips are also discouraged. We also recommend against spouses/lovers/significant others names, they are the #1 cause for cover ups. Our artists reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason.
If you are considering anything below the wrist, on the side of the neck, throat and face, please read the following:
Do you already have hand, finger, face, or neck tattoos? Or have you ever seen healed finger tattoos? If not, please google ‘healed finger tattoos’. The reason we ask is that we discourage them for multiple reasons, especially for people that haven’t already taken that step. For finger tattoos specifically, that skin does not hold ink well at all. When we do agree to do finger tattoos, we will not touch them up for free because we know that they are going to fade/fall out fast. Basically, that skin is very different from the majority of the rest of the body and lacks the layering that helps maintain tattoos. You also wash/abrade your hands way more than almost any other body part which means that that skin is constantly shedding and renewing.
We like for our customers to be happy with their tattoos forever, not just the day that they get them. And in the case of finger tattoos, we don’t believe that faded/patchy designs will make people happy. They ultimately end up making your fingers just look dirty. You can pay to have them touched up a couple of times, but there is a point of diminishing returns where you are just beating up that skin. Not to mention the fact that they are particularly uncomfortable to receive.
And, even though tattoos have become more accepted and popularized, there is still a lot of stigma that comes with having hand, finger, face, or neck tattoos. So unless you are very set in your career situation, it could affect your future job opportunities.
So, we would be happy to tattoo you, but would encourage you to think about another placement…we suggest small places for small tattoos, such as behind the ear, the wrist, the ankle…
