Lakota Ink is located at:
516 Mt. Rushmore Road.
Rapid City, South Dakota.
We are located on 8th St., between Main St. and Saint Joe
Our phone number is 605-343-5160.
Lakota Ink is owned by Gilbert Jumping Eagle.
To check out all the artists work, go to the PICS section & look at all the albums. We have three experienced tattoo artists;
Gilbert Jumping Eagle, Bill Barrett, & Joey Cox.
To get a tattoo you must be at least 18 years old or minors ages 16 & 17 can get a tattoo with parental consent. You must have a valid photo I.D. to get a tattoo. We accept Cash, Visa or Mastercard for payments. Gift Certificates are available as are two styles of mens T-shirts and a woman's style top as well. Look for new t-shirt designs coming soon!!!
www.lakotaink.com
If you have any questions, Please read this section!!!
F.A.Q.s ABOUT TATTOOING
-How do I take care of my new tattoo?-(To be updated soon!!)
1. Keep the tattoo bandaged overnight.
2. First, WASH YOUR HANDS!!! Then wash tattoo thoroughly with mild soap and water at least 6 TIMES A DAY for the first 4 DAYS and then at least 3 TIMES A DAY for another week.Don't forget to wash your hands AFTERWARD!
3. Keep tattoo clean and dry for the first day. Then apply a very thin layer of Bacitracin ointment 3 times a day for 2-3 days. Rub it in like a lotion. THEN WASH YOUR HANDS AFTERWARD!
4. Do not allow ointment, blood, or lymph to dry up on tattoo. Wash build up away with mild soap and water. WASH YOUR HANDS AGAIN!
5. Keep tattoo moist with non-perfumed hand lotion after the first 2-3 days. Don't forget to wash your hands before AND after you do this.
6. Re-bandage tattoo only if necessary with non-stick, sterile dressing or paper towel.
7. DO NOT: Wash your tattoo in public restrooms. Someone that got their tattoo in a basement or a garage from their "buddy" might have just got done washing their "tack" in that same sink, or, someone might have just got done pissing in that sink. I don't think you want that splashing on your fresh tattoo. I don't think they want your blood splashing on their hands either.
Also, DO NOT: Soak tattoo in water, swim in fresh or chlorinated water, or expose to direct sunlight for at least 2 weeks.
8. Do not pick or scratch tattoo. (unless you want to pay for touch-ups)
-How old do I have to be to get tattooed?-
In the state of South Dakota, you must be at least 18 with a valid photo I.D. although minors 16 & up with a valid State I.D and their Birth Certificate may come in with their parents and have them sign consent to get tattooed. At least one parent must be present while their teen is being tattooed
-Do you do Body Piercing?-
No, we've decided to solely concentrate on tattooing. When looking for a piercing find someone with experience and a quality portfolio, not just the cheapest price.
-How do you sterilize your equipment?-
All needles are single-use and autoclave sterilized. we are very knowledgeable in the dangers of cross-contamination and educated in aseptic technique. No inks are shared or reused with other customers. Our autoclave is spore tested monthly as well to ensure proper sterilization.
-Is my tattoo infected or healing right?-
Often people new to the tattooing process overreact during healing. A new tattoo will take 4-6 weeks to fully heal. Swelling, redness, or bruising around the tattoo may occur, this will recede. Realize after you’ve been tattooed it must be treated as an open wound, so keep it clean and away from bacteria. Please be cautious, cross contamination happens easier than you think. Do not touch your tattoo in public while it's healing. Your blood and bodily fluid doesn't need to be all over everything you touch. At the same time, nothing you touch should come in contact with a new tattoo until it's healed. That is how tattoos get infected in the first place. Refer to step #2 in the AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS above. It’s also normal for the tattoo to peel during healing. Don’t worry your tattoo isn’t falling off.
-Am I allergic to tattoo pigments?-
Allergies to pigments are very rare. Often people think they are allergic to pigments because a previous tattoo they received looks dull and faded. This is simply because they received a tattoo from an artist who doesn’t know how to properly work his equipment or apply a tattoo correctly.
-How much do you charge for a tattoo?-
We have a $60 minimum charge for any tattoo. Tattoos are priced by the size and detail of the piece and how long a piece will take. We do not charge per letter on names. Custom work generally runs around $100 an hour. If work is done by appointment a deposit or drawing fee of at least $40 is taken. Although deposits come off the price of the tattoo, drawing fees do not. Drawing fees usually apply to large pieces like back pieces or full sleeves. They are to cover the hours we spend drawing a custom design for you. If you are asked to pay a drawing fee, keep this in mind. Deposits are non-refundable, so call ahead if you can’t make it and reschedule. Quotes are not given over the phone.
-How can I pay for my tattoo?-
We accept cash, Visa, Master Card.
-Can I bring in my own design for a tattoo?-
It is perfectly fine to bring in artwork you wish to have tattooed. Having said this, be prepared for changes having to be made to your ideas. Not everything makes a good tattoo. Too much clutter and detail in a design can ruin a tattoo. Work with us so we can retain the aspects of what you want.
-Do I need an appointment to get tattooed?-
No, Walk-ins are appreciated. Larger or custom work although does sometimes lend itself to an appointment. Appointments are not set up over the phone so please come by the shop. If you are out of town exceptions can be made, just give us a call.
-Do you do henna or temporary tattoos?-
No, We're in the business of tattooing. Tattoos are meant to be indelible. If you are unsure of getting tattooed then you're probably not ready. Of course, if you're willing to pay full tattoo prices for a henna design and bring in your own henna, then maybe we can talk.
-Can you cover up or fix my tattoo?-
It’s common for people to want old or bad tattoos covered or reworked. Each artist has their own preferences on how to cover-up a tattoo. Look at the artist portfolios to get an idea of their styles. Covering an old tattoo with a new one can take a while to design so be patient. Since this is a cover-up your options are limited so be lenient. If you received a bad tattoo from a shady shop or homemade setup you just got what you paid for. Blame yourself for your bad tattoo. You should have STUDIED the artist's portfolio instead of just looking at the pictures. Cheap work isn’t good and good work isn’t cheap, we might be able to fix it.
-What do I look for in an Artist's Portfolio?-
The most common way, is to check out the artists’ portfolios at the studio you go to. If they don’t have a book of
their work or they offer some lame excuse as to why it isn’t available—get out of there- fast! You are either dealing
with someone too new to tattooing to have a collection of their tattoo work or someone who sucks so badly they won’t show their work to paying customers. They are banking on your ignorance of what to look for to get them business. Let’s not allow that any longer.
CHOOSE WISELY!!!
WHEN YOU’VE DECIDED WHAT YOU WANT
When you go into a studio after you have done some research and gained a little knowledge, you should:
Examine every artist's portfolio carefully; scrutinize the overall aesthetic of the tattoos within. If the tattoos read well at a glance,better than what you've seen elsewhere, then start studying the finer aspects of the tattoos themselves.
Look for nice, clean, steady line-work. Make sure that all the lines are consistent with and connect to each other.
Look for overlapping lines where they join to one another. Confirm that they are straight and consistent, not wiggly or scribbly.
After this, check the black shading and coloring in the tattoo. Examine to see that the colors are well saturated in the photos, making sure there are no holes or "holidays" in the colored sections. The shading should be smooth and consistent.
Study the artists' work, and compare the quality of this work to what you have available locally.
If they don't measure up to these standards, keep looking! If you find an artist you like, you can request them by name. You don't have to settle for the next artist in line. If they're busy, WAIT for them or set up an appointment!!!
PICS
To be inserted soon!!
-Do you do tattoo removal?-
We don’t offer any kind of tattoo removal. Laser removal takes many sessions and may be very expensive. A few laser sessions might make your tattoo lighter and easier to cover up with something new.
-Do you use “black-light†or “glow-in-the-dark†ink?-
These products are fairly new to the market and haven’t stood the test of time. "Glow-in-the-Dark" tattoo ink does not exist. If it glows in the DARK it probably shouldn't be in your skin. However, Black-light ink DOES exist, and YES, Bill does have it. If your interested in getting a Black-Light tattoo, come talk to him about it.
-Can you tattoo over scar tissue?-
This depends on the age, size, and condition of the scar tissue. If the scar is a few years old, small in size, and not raised it can probably be worked with. Some larger scars my be able to be worked into a design rather than covering them.
-Do you offer touch-ups?-
Free touch-ups are offered by weekday appointment for the first 3 months following application. This gives your tattoo plenty of time to heal. If you are out of town, exceptions can be made. Only error on or part & the occasional color loss due to a cracked scab constitutes a free touch up. If you come in two years later with a sunburn and want a touch up, expect to pay for it. Tattoos fade & blurr over the years. We suggest a STRONG sunblock. The sun fades tattoo pigments just like it does house paint.
