Fixed Price Tattoos

Why am I offering fixed price tattoos?

_____I offered completely FREE tattoos from November 2022 through May 2025. I bought my first tattoo machine in January 2021. I got my tattoo artist’s license in November 2022. My free tattoos offer ends June 1, 2025, because I am going back to college and will not have any available time for that. I already have a degree. I enjoy learning and want to be in a structured environment where my time is valued.
_____It took many hours of study to get to where I am today. I worked in tattoo shops as a body piercer since I was a teenager. Even though I wasn’t an apprentice back then, I did learn how to run an autoclave, stencil copier, and solder needles onto bars with dental floss and razor blades to make magnums or seed beads for liners. I have never used those skills at all in recent years, because I now use rotary pen machines and pre-packaged factory-made needle bar groupings and cartridges.
_____I watched countless hours of videos, read books, magazines, bugged my tattoo artist friends with endless questions, invested money in equipment and supplies, finally got an apprenticeship and jobs as a Shop Manager and Shop Assistant, and waited weeks for my paperwork to be processed to get my Tattoo Artist’s License. But since I did not want to perform body art procedures without a license, I do not have enough practice nor portfolio examples on human skin.
_____Tattoo supplies and tattoo shop rent costs money. My supplies (ink, ointments, paper towel, diluents, cleansers, sterilizers, sterilizer testing strips, cellulose wraps, medical tape, tongue depressors, ink caps, tattoo needles, furniture wraps, tattoo machine bags, ibuprofen, printer ink, stencil paper, etc.) get used up or expire and need to be replaced regularly. I also have to pay minimum taxes, even if I don’t make any money. I pay for my license and my Blood Borne Pathogens Certificate every year, even if I don’t charge or earn any money.
_____I “won” a grant to provide Free Tattoos to Native Americans in San Francisco, administrated by the American Indian Cultural Center (AICCSF) and San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC), but it never paid out a penny. They wasted all of our (Native artists’) time, forced us to do unpaid work, attend events, etc., but due to administrative and government embezzlement, the San Francisco resident Native artists were never paid and the hotel tax money and advertising campaigns that was intended for us were instead given to non-Native fraudsters who never lived in San Francisco. This was extremely disheartening, but symptomatic of years-long racist corruption at the SFAC.
_____Despite all of this, and my time for designing custom work, people were still no-showing on their appointments or “cancelling” at 2:30 am for a noon appointment and still expecting to be immediately rescheduled for free. By offering something at no cost to the clients, people were not appreciating my time and work. Therefore, I have to charge something minimal to offset my costs and weed out the flakes and unappreciative people.

Which designs are available as fixed price tattoos?

_____Mostly black, black & grey, minimal (1 – 2) accent colors (red, green, turquoise, yellow, or blue). Anime, Manga, tribal, Indian (subcontinent), Abya Yalan (indigenous “Amerikkkan”), Asian, Mexican (Maya, Aztec).
_____Most of my smaller (less than 3 x 3 inches or 7.6 x 7.6 centimeters) black linework or black & grey original or traditional flash tattoo designs are available as fixed price tattoos.
_____Check my Instagram @tattoos_by_ximenazhao for additional designs.

Placement: What body parts can I get fixed price tattoos on?

_____Arms and legs preferred. Specifically:
_____Upper Arms: front, back, & outer sides. (No upper inner arms, near the armpit, if you are not a seasoned tattoo collector already).
_____Forearms: Outer forearms preferred. Be aware that the inner wrist, inner elbow “ditch,” and outer elbow are spicy for most people and not recommended for novices.)
_____Thighs: front, back, & outer sides. (No inner thighs, near the groin).
_____Lower leg: shin, calf, & outer sides. Not recommended for Type I Diabetics & requires special tattoo preparation requirements that will be e-mailed before scheduling (i.e. wash your feet, wear clean socks, and bring an extra pair of clean socks to wear during your appointment. If you forget your extra socks, we may provide you with a pair for $5.00, if we have them in-stock.)
_____Ankles: can be spicy. Not recommended for novices & requires same appointment prep as any other lower leg tattoos.
_____No Zones: Fixed price tattoos on the ribs, stomach, hands, feet, face, scalp, neck, chest, sternum, underboob, elbow, elbow ditch, armpit, knees, backs of knees, heels, achilles tendon, or talus slope will only be offered at my discretion, based on the complexity of the design and condition of the skin surface. I may decline that placement or upcharge and additional fee for harder-to-tattoo body areas.
_____I prefer to *not* do small tattoos on backs nor shoulders. Unless you already have a bunch of small tattoos, I encourage you to save your back and shoulders for a backpiece or larger work.

Can I get them in color?

_____Some Black & White or Greyscale designs are available in full color for $50.00 – 100.00 extra.

This is a fee for the additional color and will not be refunded. Ask about it in your tattoo request e-mail or booking form.

How do I get a $30 discount refund?

_____You can request a refund of $30.00 back when you allow me to finish the tattoo on you and take a photo of it:

1) Send me via e-mail a high-resolution (at least 300 dots per inch at full size), well-lit, and in-focus photo of your healed and moisturized tattoo 4 – 6 weeks after your final appointment, or

2) Allow me to take my own high-resolution, well-lit, and in-focus photo of your healed and moisturized tattoo 4 – 6 weeks after your final appointment.

Why do you charge $75.00 deposit to schedule?

_____I still have to pay rent (in addition to supplies, equipment, and transportation) to do these low cost tattoos (whether you show up on time for your appointment or not) and I have found that when you offer anything without a monetary pricetag, people will tend to take advantage or take it for granted and waste your time and work..
_____The shop minimum at most of the shops I work at is $125-150/session or per hour. I am an independent contractor, not an employee, so I have to pay my shop rent and expenses for all appointments/days that I book.
_____Thank you for taking the time to read all of this and for your time and trust in co-creating your next body art masterpiece with me. It’s an honor to get to tattoo you.

How do I request Fixed Price Tattoo?

_____Please see these webpages:

Available Fixed Price Tattoo Art Gallery

How to Book (a Tattoo Request)

and e-mail me with any questions at ciaoximenazhao @ gmail dot com