What days are you open?
We are open to the public on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
We open at 11am.
Closing time varies as it depends on the artist’s schedules for the day. If you would like to come look at our portfolios and discuss options in person, please call ahead to check times!
Some artists work by appointment-only on other days of the week. If our regular hours do not match up with your schedule, feel free call us at 816 216 2893 to see if one of our artists has availability on specific days. You can also come in on one of our scheduled walk-in days! Our full walk-in schedule can be viewed on our website. Updates to our walk-in schedule and last minute walk-in availability is always posted on our Instagram and Facebook
What does a tattoo cost?
Whew, loaded question!
How much does a trip to the grocery store cost? (well, too much in this economy am I right? Ba da bing🥁!)
Just like the grocery store, your tattoo price will vary.
Which store are you going to? (Which Artist are you getting tattooed by?)
What are you putting in your cart? (How much detail? Are you getting color? What size is your tattoo? Etc.)
Is this a quick trip for a couple things, or are you filling up the deep freeze? (Are you getting a small tattoo or a back piece?)
We can’t answer these questions until we have received more information from you. That’s why we always suggest looking at portfolios, choosing your artist, and then scheduling a consult with them so they can know all of the details before pricing their work.
How do I get a price quote?
Each artist will price their own work after discussing your ideas with you during a consultation. A consult allows us to have a better idea of what you are wanting so that we can provide you with a more accurate price quote. For more information on how to book a consultation you can read through the rest of our FAQs or give us a call!
Each artist at Black Atlas is an independent contractor. Some artists rates are higher because they have been tattooing a longer amount of time. While some artists have a lower hourly rate because they tattoo at a slower pace, etc.
What matters most is that you like the artist’s work, and you want to have it on your body for literallllly your whole life. If you are working with a budget, don’t be afraid to talk to your artist about what your expectations are.
This is my first tattoo, what do I do first?
Congrats on deciding to take the permanent plunge!
We always recommend looking at portfolios as your first action. Once you’ve looked through everyone’s work, you can decide which person’s artwork and style resonates with how you envision your tattoo. We encourage you to check their personal pages for their booking information and email. If all else fails, feel free to call the shop for more information.
How do I view portfolios
We have a quick view of artists portfolios here on our website! Just click each artist’s name to view some of their work.
Wanna see more? Each artist’s Instagram is listed on their page with more updated work. If you want to do it old school, feel free to pop by the shop to view portfolios and talk to our super knowledgeable and cool manager, Asia, for more info!
What’s up with deposits?
Look, we are fortunate enough to love our jobs more than the average Joanna.
However, our artists have a life outside of tattooing. (A large portion of that life is also social media, consultations, responding to messages, designing tattoos, etc.)
Deposits insure that you will show up to your scheduled appointment on time.
When you don’t show up, we don’t get paid.
When you’re late, we run behind schedule or lose valuable time with our families, pets, or even time we could be spending preparing for other clients.
Hence why deposits are required and non refundable.
What’s the cancellation/reschedule policy?
Each artist has their own policy for cancellations and reschedules, for more specifics please contact your artist directly or give us a call or email to ask about a specific artists policy.
All deposits are non refundable for any reason. If you choose to cancel your appointment, you are agreeing to forfeit your deposit. However, most of our artists do allow your deposit to be transferred if you need to reschedule and you give us enough notice.
Can I see my design beforehand?
Ask your artist! On some occasions we will send designs out to trusted clients prior to the appointment to make sure we are on the right track.
However there are multiple reasons why we don’t like to do so
Such as:
-We spend a lot of time designing, sometimes even more time designing than we do on the actual tattoo, to ensure that it’s perfect. Unfortunately there are always gonna be people out there that like the art we spend 10 hours on and take it to their cousin who will do that tattoo (badly) for a bag of Cheetos and a bottle of booze in their basement.
Or
Sometimes explaining our line-work drawings through text is a bit confusing and we would rather make changes, and discuss how it will look completed with you in person.
Where do I park?
Pending the current construction, we have a parking lot to the side of the building that is shared with other businesses. We also frequently park across the street in the CVS parking lot on the end closest to the shop.
Handicap accessibility?
Our tattoo stations and restroom are handicap accessible. If you need any extra accommodations that we are able to help with, just ask!
How should I prepare for getting a tattoo?
So you’ve picked an artist, had a consult, and booked an appointment? Now what should you do night before or day off?!
Make sure you do not drink alcohol the night before, get plenty of rest, hydrate, and eat a full meal before your tattoo to ensure your blood sugar is good to go! You are always welcome to bring snacks and water/sodas or other non alcoholic beverages with you!
Can I bring a friend? Or other items?
Yes! If you need an emotional support human, we do allow guests, but we prefer to keep it to one extra person. No children under the age of 18 are allowed in the tattoo stations.
Clients regularly ask if they can bring different items to make the session more comfortable. Feel free to bring snacks, drinks, slippers, headphones, iPads, laptops, phone chargers, books, etc.
Can I drink alcohol/ smoke marijuana or do other drugs before my appointment?
Bruh. You know better. No you cannot.
Legally, we cannot tattoo anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The only exceptions are doctor prescribed medications and doses.
What clothing should I wear?
Wear comfortable clothing, you are going to be sitting awhile! Avoid light colors or clothing that you don’t want to get ink on, it will stain and won’t come out.
Here are a few ideas for specific body placements:
For a sleeve: loose fitting Tank Tops are perfect! If you get cold easily, bring a zip up hoodie to wear on the other arm.
Leg sleeve or upper thigh: baggy or stretchy shorts that can be moved away from the area easily
Ribs or stomach: pretty much any baggy shirt we can move out of the way.
Under-breast/sternum: If your piece is going in between the breasts, pasties are your best bet, we do have some in shop if you forget and have curtains we can close to give you privacy during your tattoo.
Back piece: a back less top that you don’t mind getting ink on, or a zip up hoodie you can wear backwards
Upper thigh/hip: a loose high waisted skirt if you would like to be more covered up during the tattoo, and a stretchy bikini bottom or one with a hip tie, or stretchy bikini style underwear or thong if the piece wraps onto the back.
What do I need on my appointment day?
A strong will to add to your aesthetic, and a current state or federal I.d showing that you are above the age of 18.
I’m nervous, what questions do I ask?
Ask whatever you need to! We are all just as awkward and anxious about new things as your are!
Wanna move you stencil 2mm to the left and 1mm up? Curious what the needle sizes or the numbers on our power supply mean? Why in the world are we shaving your body? Can it be made smaller? Can we adjust this one small part because it’s kind of phallic looking? Just ask! We got you 😘
What if my tattoo is in a private area?
No worries, we have privacy curtains in every station. If you need to undress to any extent for your tattoo, or simply don’t want people to see your face, we can close them before your session or anytime during!
Can I use numbing cream?
If you plan to use numbing cream please talk to your artist first. Some allow it, some don’t. Always be sure to do a test patch before using. While numbing cream use for tattooing has become more popular and safer in recent years, there is always a risk of reaction or trouble healing. If you decide to use numbing cream you are doing so at your own risk.
How do I take care of a tattoo?
The main things to remember are to keep it clean and lightly moisturized but also, check out our full after care list on our website, and don’t be afraid to ask your artist for advice.
Why does it take so long for a response from the artist?
Our artists do their absolute best to get back with you in a timely manner while balancing their day to day home life, already booked clients, and designs for each week. To make this balance sustainable, sometimes we only check our inquiries (texts, emails) every few days or couple of weeks. Please be patient with us. We will get back to you! Sometimes it just takes a moment.
Why are some artists books closed and how do I book with them?
Like any industry, we deal with supply and demand. Some of us have been at this a while and have quite a bit more demand than we have of supply. Please remember, each artist is only one person. One person who creates content, responds to messages, does their booking, designs for multiple appointments each week, and then also tattoos them! When we get overwhelmed. The best thing for our mental health and home life is to temporarily close our books.
Follow each artist you are interested in for specific details on what to do when their books open! And as always, if you need more info on a specific artist, you can always call or text the shop to talk to our shop manager Asia to walk you through the process
Can I get color tattoos if I have a darker skin tone?
Yes! You absolutely can. All of our artists who practice color tattooing are trained in matching colors to skin tone and proper contrast on deeper tones. Ask your artist which colors are best suited for you, or request a color test (a small tattoo that has multiple colors so you can see how each color heals on your skin)
Do you have a piercer?
No, we do not have a piercer on staff. However, there are many very talented piercers in the area, as well as piercing only shops and we will be happy to give you a recommendation if you ask!
Will anyone in the shop add ashes to a tattoo?
We do not have anyone who specializes in adding your loved one or pets ashes to your tattoo, but we would be happy to help with a meaningful memorial with good ol’ normal ink and needles!
Can I get a tattoo over scars?
In most cases, yes you can! Our artists are trained in working with many different skin types including surgery scarring, personal scarring and stretch marks. However, just like all you beautiful humans out there, each scar is unique and may require different skill sets or specific designs to get the job done! Don’t be afraid to ask your artist what your options are, or for a recommendation if they aren’t comfortable doing so
How do walk in days work
Walk in days are scheduled and can be viewed on our website, and occasional changes are always updated on social medias the day before or morning of. Walk ins are on a first come first serve basis. Designs are generally more simplistic and smaller than hand size. We do limit to 2 per person to make sure we get to everyone. To ensure you get tattooed that day, show up at opening, 11am, to get on our list. After you are in line you are welcome to go out and wander and our front person will provide you with updates on timing.
Will you finish/add to or cover up another artists work
Made a rough decision in your early adult hood? We do have multiple artists who do coverups! When looking through portfolios, take note of the before and after photos to get an idea of what can be done on an artist by artist basis. You can also email or text us a photo of what you would like to cover and we can recommend the best person for the job!
When touching up or finishing a tattoo, we always recommend, when possible, to go back to the artists who started the piece (some even offer free touch ups on their own work)
However, we do know that that is not always possible, if your artist is no longer tattooing, you are unable to travel to them, or has made you uncomfortable going back to them, send us a photo of the piece and we will see what we can do!
Do you do tap out sessions?
We do not offer tap out sessions.
Some artists price by the piece and some price their work hourly. We believe that the comfort of the client is important and do not wish to put you in a position where you feel you cannot stop for the day once your body has hit its limit.
Will you tattoo under the age of 18?
No. In Kansas City limits we cannot, for any reason, tattoo someone under the age of 18. Nope, not even with parental consent.
However, if you are under the age of 18 during, you can book a consultation and appointment as long as your appointment date is after or on your 18th birthday 🥳
How can I get an apprenticeship
We do not currently have the space or time to take on an apprentice, on the rare occasion that we do, we will make a post with an in-depth application process. However, the first advice we give to anyone who is seeking out tattooing as a life long profession is to start at the basics, study tattoo art, historically and recent. Begin working on a portfolio of water color, or digital American traditional tattoo art.