Studio Policies & Booking Information

The WitchInk Hour | Tattoos & Piercings

Welcome to The WitchInk Hour! ♡

As a small independent tattoo and piercing studio, we strive to provide a safe, comfortable and welcoming environment where creativity, individuality and self-expression are celebrated.

Before booking an appointment, please take a moment to familiarise yourself with our studio policies. These guidelines help us provide the best possible experience for every client while protecting the time and care dedicated to each appointment.

1. Bookings & Booking Fees

Securing Your Appointment

A booking fee is required to secure your tattoo appointment. Your appointment is not confirmed until your booking fee has been received.

Booking Fee Policy

Booking fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, except where required by law or where our rescheduling policy allows your booking fee to be carried forward to a new date.

Please ensure you're happy with your appointment details before making payment.

Remaining Balance

Your booking fee will be deducted from the total cost of your tattoo.

Payment Methods

Booking fees can be paid in person or via bank transfer. Payment details will be provided when arranging your appointment.

Cash Payments

The remaining balance of your tattoo must be paid in cash on the day of your appointment.

Please ensure you have the appropriate payment method available before attending.

2. Consent Forms & Identification

Consent Forms

All tattoo and piercing appointments require a completed consent form, which can be submitted before your appointment or on arrival at the studio.

A New Form for Every Appointment

A separate consent form must be completed for each service, even if you've visited us previously. This ensures all information remains accurate and up to date, including any changes to your medical history.

Digital Consent Forms

Our consent forms are completed digitally using Google Forms. Depending on the form provided, you may need a Google account to upload identification or supporting information.

Tattoo Age Requirements

You must be 18 years of age or older to receive a tattoo.

Valid photographic identification must be presented on the day of your appointment, even if your consent form has already been completed.

We cannot tattoo anyone under 18, even with parental consent.

Piercing Age Requirements

Our minimum piercing age is 12 years old, although certain piercing placements have higher age restrictions.

For clients under 18:

• A parent or legal guardian must attend the appointment.

• They must provide consent and sign the relevant documentation.

• Appropriate identification may be requested.

All piercings are subject to an individual anatomy assessment to ensure they can be performed safely.

3. Cancellations, Rescheduling & Lateness

We completely understand that unexpected circumstances can arise. However, as a small independent studio, last-minute changes and missed appointments can significantly affect our schedule.

Rescheduling Your Appointment

We require at least 24 hours' notice if you need to reschedule.

With sufficient notice, your booking fee can be carried over to a new appointment date on a maximum of two occasions.

Additional Reschedules

If you need to reschedule the same appointment more than twice, a new booking fee will be required.

Late Cancellations

Cancellations or requests to reschedule with less than 24 hours' notice will normally result in your booking fee being retained towards the studio's reasonable losses, where permitted by law.

A new booking fee may be required for any future appointment.

No-Shows

Failure to attend your appointment without prior notice will result in your booking fee being handled in accordance with our cancellation policy.

Repeated no-shows or continued lack of communication may result in future booking requests being declined.

Running Late

Please contact us as soon as possible if you're running behind. We understand that delays happen, but lateness can affect other clients' appointments.

15-Minute Lateness Policy

Arriving 15 minutes or more after your scheduled appointment time may result in your appointment being cancelled.

If your appointment cannot proceed, your booking fee will be handled in accordance with our cancellation terms and applicable consumer law.

Studio Cancellations

In the unlikely event that we need to cancel your appointment, we will contact you as soon as possible to discuss alternative arrangements or an appropriate refund.

Thank you for respecting our time and the appointments of other clients.

4. Design Process & Communication

Every custom tattoo is thoughtfully created with your ideas, preferences and individual style in mind.

Design Preparation

Custom tattoo designs are typically created the day before your appointment. Please don't worry if you haven't received a design preview beforehand.

Design Previews

In most cases, you'll see your completed design on the day of your appointment.

For larger or more complex pieces, designs may occasionally be shared 1–2 days in advance.

Adjustments & Changes

Time is allocated during your appointment to discuss your design and make reasonable adjustments where necessary.

Significant changes to the original concept may require additional design time, an adjusted quote or a rescheduled appointment.

Size & Placement

We'll work together to ensure you're completely happy with the size, positioning and overall appearance of your tattoo before we begin.

Your Input Matters

This is artwork you'll carry with you, so please never feel uncomfortable speaking up.

Whether you'd like to adjust the placement, resize the stencil or discuss a small detail, your feedback is always welcome.

Choosing the Right Artist

Before booking, please familiarise yourself with your artist's portfolio and preferred tattoo styles.

If a request falls outside their specialism, we may recommend another artist better suited to your vision.

5. In-Studio Guidelines

Children in the Studio

For health, safety and comfort reasons, children are not permitted in the studio unless they are attending a booked piercing appointment with their parent or legal guardian.

Additional Guests

You're welcome to bring one support person to your appointment.

However, as we're a small studio with limited space and seating, we cannot accommodate additional visitors or groups.

Group Appointments

If you're attending a group booking, such as matching tattoos, we kindly ask that those not currently being tattooed wait elsewhere where possible.

Illness & Appointments

Please do not attend your appointment if you're feeling unwell or experiencing symptoms of a contagious illness.

If you're unwell, contact us as soon as possible to discuss rescheduling. Our usual cancellation policies apply, although exceptional circumstances may be considered individually.

Arriving Unwell

We reserve the right to postpone or refuse a service if you arrive visibly unwell or it would be unsafe to proceed.

Any booking fee or refund arrangements will be handled fairly according to the circumstances.

Numbing Products

We do not permit the use of numbing creams, sprays or other topical anaesthetic products before tattoo appointments.

Please do not apply any numbing products to your skin before attending.

Respecting Our Workspace

Please be mindful of our equipment, hygiene procedures and other clients' privacy while visiting the studio.

6. Mutual Respect & Studio Values

The WitchInk Hour is more than just a tattoo and piercing studio. It's a creative, welcoming space where individuality and self-expression are celebrated.

A Safe & Inclusive Environment

We are proud to provide a welcoming, body-positive and inclusive space where everyone deserves to feel comfortable, accepted and respected.

Zero Tolerance for Inappropriate Behaviour

Discrimination, harassment, aggression, intimidation or disrespectful behaviour towards our artists or other clients will not be tolerated.

Anyone behaving inappropriately may be refused service or asked to leave.

Personal Boundaries & Consent

Your comfort and wellbeing are incredibly important to us. We encourage open communication and will always respect your personal boundaries throughout your appointment.

Respect Goes Both Ways

We kindly ask clients to treat our artists, studio and fellow visitors with the same kindness and respect they can expect to receive in return.

7. Preparing for Your Appointment

To help your appointment run as smoothly as possible, we recommend:

• Getting a good night's sleep before your appointment.

• Eating a substantial meal beforehand and staying hydrated.

• Wearing comfortable clothing that allows easy access to the area being tattooed or pierced.

• Bringing valid photographic identification.

• Avoiding alcohol or recreational drugs before your appointment.

• Not arriving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• Avoiding numbing creams or sprays.

• Informing us of any medical conditions, medications, allergies or concerns that may affect your appointment.

• Bringing your remaining tattoo balance in cash.

We reserve the right to postpone or refuse a procedure where proceeding would be unsafe.

8. A Final Note

By proceeding with a booking, you confirm that you have had the opportunity to read and understand our studio policies.

Your statutory consumer rights are unaffected by these terms.

We truly appreciate every client who chooses to support our small independent studio.

Thank you for trusting us with your ideas, your artwork and your self-expression.

We look forward to welcoming you to The WitchInk Hour! ♡