Do I need to schedule an appointment or can I do a walk-in? Appointments are recommended however we welcome walk-in clients depending on the availability of our tattoo artists. Walk-ins are all based on “first come, first serve basis” so if you wish to do a walk-in appointment, please be there once we open so that you can reserve a tattoo spot for that day.
How do I make an appointment if I live here on Oahu, HI? Appointments must be made in person with the artist of your choice. You can call ahead to schedule a consultation or just stop by the shop and someone will definitely assist you with setting up a tattoo appointment. If there is a particular artist you are interested in speaking with, check their artist’s page to find out which days they are in the shop. Please bring printed copies of any reference material you may have. You will need to leave a security deposit (cash only) if you are booking an appointment for a NEW TATTOO WORK regardless if you are a returning client. This amount will be deducted from the final price of the tattoo and if you are doing multi-session tattoos, it will come off the price of the final session.
How can I make an appointment if you do not live on Oahu, HI? If you are coming from inner-island or overseas, we highly recommend that you schedule an appointment ahead of time by sending us an email at [email protected] or give us a call at (808) 330-5612 to book a consultation appointment and may also book a tattoo appointment which may be cancelled if we do not receive a security deposit during your consultation appointment. Please let us know the dates of your trip (arrival and departure), what type of tattoo work in which you are planning on getting (brief description, design, placement and size), and if there is a particular artist you want to work with (it is a good idea to pick 2-3, as artists have varying availabilities). Feel free to send any images you would like us to use as reference. You will be required to mail us a money order for your security deposit to our mailing address prior to your arrival or all appointments may be subject to cancellation. We also accept money transactions through western union or money gram. Let us if none of the payment options are available to you and we can always make accommodations.
How much is the security deposit? Security deposit for machine work is $100.00 (U.S Dollars) for each person. Security deposit for tapping work is $100.00 (U.S Dollars) for each person. All security deposits are non-refundable, unless you notify us at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled tattoo appointment that you will need to cancel or reschedule. Security deposits apply to all persons seeking to make an appointment for a NEW TATTOO even if you are a returning client. If you are flying in, please mail security deposits (MONEY ORDER) no cash nor personal checks) to our mailing address and write it out to Soul Signature Tattoo. Please attach a slip with your name, name of your artist and appointment dates for our reference. Once security deposit is received, we will confirm all your bookings and will notify you immediately.
How old do I have to be to get tattooed? Any person who is 18 and over may get a tattoo however please make sure that you bring a valid I.D card. “In the State of Hawaii a minor can be tattooed with the written consent of the parents or legal guardian”**Both parents will need to be present with Valid I.D to sign documents and if you are a legal guardian, you will be required to provide documents to show that you are the legal guardian and we will also need a Valid I.D. All minors must be accompanied by parent or legal guardian at all times while minor is getting tattooed until completion of tattoo. **No children under the age of 16.
How much will my tattoo cost? There is a minimum price of $100.00 that applies to all tattoos no matter how small it will be. Price quotes will be determined depending of the type of work, placement and size of tattoo. We apologize for the inconvenience but we do not give price quotes via email or telephone. You will need to consult with an artist in person to get an estimated price quote. If you have a price range you wish to stick within, please notify us and we can also work within your price range. Multiple sessions may be recommended or requested if you wish to invest in quality work. For larger pieces are usually 4-6 hours long and can be scheduled as far apart as you like, so that the cost of the tattoo is spread out over time Some larger pieces may be broken into multiple sessions of 4-6 hours long and can be scheduled as far apart as you like so that the cost of your tattoo could be spread out. “Quality tattoo is not cheap, cheap tattoo is not quality” Invest in your tattoos because it is the only thing that will stay on you forever!
Traditional Tapping Tattoos: We welcome you ask us of any concerns and/ questions that you may have in regards to getting a tapping tattoo. Many people who are not Polynesian tend to ask the same question, “Can I get a tapping tattoo even though I am not Polynesian?” Yes you may! We believe in sharing our culture with other people ONLY if they will RESPECT the procedure and protocols of traditional tapping! Regarding traditional tatau, as a client you may give us an idea of where you wish to get your tatau and size. Please do not ask about choosing certain designs, dictating and rearranging the patterns to your own wish because it does not work that way. Only a tufunga (artist) himself will design your tattoo and give it to you. If the tufunga draws out the layout and you do not like it because you want a design there instead of here then, obviously you are not ready for one. Traditional tapping may be limited to certain areas of the body so please ask if you wish to get a tapping tattoo at a location you do not see in any of our photos. If you have a story in which you wish to incorporate into your tattoo or for your tattoo to symbolize, please share it with your artist and he will create your tattoo with designs and patterns that relates to legends and metaphors of our islands. Sulu’ape Aisea is very open minded and if you are from a culture that has designs and patterns that you think can be tapped, please let us know. Sulu’ape Aisea has helped other indigenous cultures revive their tattoos using the tapping the method and some examples are arts from Aztec, Nigeria, Mortlocks (Chuuk), Philippines, Rotuma, etc.
Is Soul Signature Tattoo clean? We take every precaution possible to keep our shop clean, sanitized, warm and welcoming. We use sterile, single used needles and disposable gloves. All other supplies are medically sterilized in an autoclave. For tapping tools, all needles are custom made, single used and sterilized for each client.
Once I get tattooed, what am I not allowed to do? For visiting clients, we usually recommend that you schedule your tattoo appointment towards the ending of your trip. Once you get tattooed, you are not allowed to swim in the ocean or swimming pool and no direct sunlight, basically banning you from doing any outdoor activities. This is why it is very important that you plan ahead and reserve a tattoo appointment so that you can enjoy all outdoor activities. Please treat your tattoo as if it is an open wound.
Can you draw out the artwork for my tattoo before my tattoo appointment? *Yes: As a client, you may request for your artist to prepare a drawing for your tattoo other than tribal work. You must make a nonrefundable security deposit of $50 before your artist can start with the drawing. Keep in mind that some larger pieces and cover-ups, the artist will draw the design directly on the skin with markers. *No: All tribal tattoos will be free handed. We believe that your skin is the best canvas. Sometimes when you draw something out on a piece of paper, once it is stenciled onto your body it appears and look different. We are highly trained to structure and place designs according the movement of a person’s body. We study every day to perfect our tribal and allow our ancestors to guide us while we free hand all the designs onto your body. ****If you would like to bring any references or an example of a tattoo off of GOOGLE, please be informed that we will take a look at it and use it as an idea however we will not copy it. Please keep in mind in that everyone is online browsing tattoos so you might end up with the same exact tattoo or idea. Please let your artist be the creator of your artwork and allow him to do their job. We are a highly custom shop so if you bring something from Google and want the same exact tattoo then it will not be a signature tattoo anymore. So please allow them to be creative and give you their best. Please do not dictate designs and patterns.
What are the types of payment method? We apologize for the inconvenience but we only accept CASH! For your convenience, there are three nearby banks and most of our business neighbors have A.T.M machines.
Aftercare: We take the highest precaution to make sure that your tattoo is done in safe and sterile environment. We also go an extra mile by providing aftercare instructions and aftercare ointment for your convenience. Anything that happens once you leave the shop, Soul Signature will not be responsible for any negligence of how you take care of your tattoo. Please be reminded that every individual may heal differently for example, if you expose it to direct sunlight, get your tattoo infected, skin diseases & even due to aging or body weight.