FAQS
HOW OLD DO I HAVE TO BE TO GET A PIERCING OR TATTOO AT TRX? WHAT IS YOUR MINORS POLICY?
In the state of Missouri, the law allows us to pierce and tattoo at any age assuming there is appropriate parental consent, and we don’t come in contact with inappropriate body parts during the procedure.
We are going to repeat this twice because we do not want you to waste a trip! We do not allow minors in the store unless accompanied by their parent or guardian specifically to have the minor pierced or tattooed. However, our current shop policy is:
TATTOOS: We require you to be AT LEAST 16 years old. Keep in mind, not all of our artists tattoo people under 18, and the ones that do usually require an in depth consultation beforehand.
To get a tattoo, you (the minor) need to have a government issued ID such as a permit, drivers license, passport, state ID, military ID, etc. You must also have your parent or legal guardian present during the entire consultation and procedure. They must bring a valid government issued ID as well. In the event that you have different last names, we will need your birth certificate, legal guardianship papers, or similar paperwork that proves your relation in addition.
PIERCING: You (the minor) needs a bona fide form of photo ID, which includes the previously listed forms of ID, as well as school ID’s and similar forms that contains the minors first and last name as well as a photo of the minor within the last 2 years (if you aren’t sure, please give us a call and ask!). You will also need to have your parent/legal guardian present with their government issued photo ID and other needed documents (see previous paragraph). The age at which we will pierce minors depends on your age (5 is the minimum age we will pierce). If you have any questions, send us an email, give us a call, or stop by the shop with your parent or legal guardian. We require the same thing for jewelry changing, stretching, and all other contact involving minors.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND…
We WILL NOT under any circumstances:
1. Tattoo the hands/neck/face/”bikini zone” of a minor.
2. Pierce the nipples or genitals of those under the age of 18
3. Pierce/discuss/change jewelry in your nipples/genitals, with ANYONE under 18 in the room, even your own child.
4. Pierce or tattoo ANYONE without the proper ID present, no matter how old you are, if we know you, or if you’ve been worked on at TRX before. BRING YOUR APPROPRIATE ID EVERY SINGLE TIME.
Please also remember, we do not allow minors in the store unless accompanied by their parent or guardian specifically to have the minor pierced or tattooed. We would appreciate it if you leave all other minors at home when you visit our shop!
HOW MUCH WILL MY TATTOO COST?
This question is generally followed with a response of “Come in, and we will have you talk to an artist.” Tattoo pricing is dependent on many details (eg: size, location, detail, coloring, and artist). Our shop minimum is $50, and all of our artists pricing varies.
CAN I SET UP A TATTOO APPOINTMENT OVER THE PHONE/INTERNET?
At the moment the counter staff does not set up any appointments for our tattoo artists unless you have already reached out to the artists to secure a date and time. You can contact our artists directly using their email addresses found on their portfolio page or via social media! You can also stop by the studio to speak with an artist in person.
DO YOU OFFER DISCOUNTS ON MULTIPLE PIERCINGS?
Yes, we certainly do. Multiple piercings on the same individual will guarantee you a discount. The discount for getting more than one piercing in a single sitting is $5 off for each additional piercing up to 4 in a session.
DO YOU HAVE ANY PRICE SPECIALS ON TATTOOS/PIERCINGS?
We do not generally put our tattoos (or piercings) on sale. The reason for this? Our work is priced reasonably in the first place, and we stand behind the quality of work. We will not back down on quality to get you in/out and just take your money!
WHAT IS THE ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL PIERCERS?
You can find out what the A.P.P. is – and why it is a vital organization in the industry -by checking out www.safepiercing.org.
I WAS TOLD I DON'T HAVE THE ANATOMY FOR A PIERCING I WANT. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
There are many piercings that go through a part of the body that can be shaped very differently from person to person. A great example is the navel (belly button). We have all seen how different those can be! If the area to be pierced isn’t shaped in a way that will allow for jewelry to heal there, then we will decline to pierce you. It is very important to us that we only do piercings we believe have a reasonable chance of success. Piercing inappropriate anatomy generally results in migration or rejection, which leaves unsightly scaring. There are also instances, like some tongue and industrial piercings, where you would be able to heal, but the jewelry will put constant pressure on the structures inside your mouth. If a piercing will cause inevitable damage to your body because of the shape of your anatomy, we will also decline. If you have any questions about being suited to the piercing you want, our piercers will be happy to evaluate the area and explain your options any time.
Piercings we will always require anatomy checks for are: bridge, industrial, tongue, navel, and genitals.
CAN I REUSE A PIECE OF JEWELRY THAT I BOUGHT AT TRX FOR A NEW PIERCING?
Absolutely! If you bring your jewelry to us, we can sterilize your pieces and reuse them for a fresh piercings. It will take about and hour to process and run our autoclave to properly sterilize your jewelry. We recommend coming in the day before you intend to get pierced to give ample time for your jewelry to be processed.
WHAT DOES ANODIZING MY JEWELRY MEAN?
Titanium jewelry can be anodized to change its color. Common colors are yellow, blue, purple, green, pink, and rainbow. We can do this in-store for you on any of our titanium jewelry. If you would like a piece you purchase to be anodized, please keep in mind it takes time and specialized professionals to do it. This process is not only super cool, it is free for our amazing customers!
WHAT ARE “CONSULTATIONS”?
A consultation is a time slot set to sit one on one and discuss your ideas and reference material for your new tattoo or piercing. There is no charge for this. Feel free to call the shop to set up a consultation with any of the artists.
I CAN’T MAKE MY APPOINTMENT TIME FOR MY TATTOO. WILL I LOSE MY DEPOSIT?
Deposits are non-refundable but are however, transferable. This means, as long as you give us 24 hours notice, we can transfer your deposit to the next time you can schedule an appointment. No call no shows will lose their deposits.
DO YOU DO COVER-UPS?
We can definitely help you out when it comes to a cover up tattoo! Not every artists at our shop offers them, so we recommend you come on by the shop so we can take a look at what you have and you can talk to an artists. Then we can assess what your options are for a new piece you enjoy more.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I TIP MY ARTIST/PIERCER?
I think the best way to answer this is to say, nothing is expected, and anything is appreciated. Its not like the restaurant biz where there is a standard percentage. Do what you feel comfortable with, and don’t forget: If you WANT to tip, but you don’t have the funds, it will always put a smile on their face to make them something as a gift. We like baked goods…
DOES TRX OFFER BLACKLIGHT TATTOOS?
As of right now, that is not a service any of our tattoo artists offer.
DOES TRX OFFER WHITE INK TATTOOS?
Yes, we do white ink tattoos. Not all tattooers here use white ink so a consultation is necessary to see if its possible. Without seeing your skin tone, we cannot tell you whether or not the white will show up well. Basically, the lighter your skin is the better it shows up. Also, white ink is not actually white. As it heals under the skin it shows up just a shade lighter than your skin tone. This is why many people choose not do it as it can hardly be seen. After healing it generally resembles a scar. There are some other options an artist could talk about doing with you in place of white ink.
DO YOU CARRY VEGAN INK?
Tattoo ink is one of the many products on the market that, while there isn’t a company that really goes out of it’s way to make a vegan product, there are some that just “happen” to be vegan. Several of the brands of inks our artists use are vegan. Whenever you make your appointment to get tattooed, just let them know that you want vegan ink only. That way if they happen to want a certain color for your tattoo that they don’t have from a brand that is vegan, they can make sure to borrow some from one of the artists, or plan to mix the color from some of the other vegan inks they DO have.
ARE YOU HIRING, OR DO YOU TAKE ON APPRENTICES?
We always accept resumes sent to our email! We will keep them on file and call for interviews if the need arises.
We are not currently accepting apprentices for tattooing or piercing. Check out the Missouri state regulations on www.mo.gov and look at the next steps to take. There are guidelines for tattoo/piercing apprenticeships in order to get your professional license. A huge part of this will be finding an artist who is willing to take on that responsibility. We recommend staying away from those places/artists who would charge you thousands of dollars for an apprenticeship.