Trauma informed tattooing refers to an etiquette prioritizing client safety, boundaries, and comfort. Anyone can carry a history of trauma and in a process as vulnerable as tattooing, it's important to have that level of care with every client with these principles. 

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• Informed and ongoing consent: making sure clients know what is going to happen and when and confirming consent with them before each step is critical when working with someone's body (e.g. 'is it okay if I shave this area?' 'are you ready to start/continue with the tattoo?').

• Client agency: building off of consent, making sure clients know they have power to ask for stencil readjustments, pausing or stopping, etc. This is your experience, and you can say 'no,' 'pause,' ask for more time, etc. We also offer nipple pasties and privacy screens for appointments, and multiple mirrors so you can see behind you during the appointment.

• Respecting boundaries: it’s part of our job to ask and respect your boundaries during the appointment. Just because a tattoo is in a certain area, does not mean an artist has blanket permission to take off excessive clothing or touch or set their hands anywhere. If clothing can be pulled aside to access the area being tattooed, that is all that needs to be done.

• No judgement:  tattoos don't need to be 'earned' through pain nor is there a ‘right’ way to react to getting a tattoo. Our bodies and tattoos can carry heavy histories and while a client may want to share that with their artist, that doesn't mean it's their business to pry or judge them. We allow for space for clients to talk about these and other potentially heavy subjects if they want to, but it's up to the client. Similarly, we have our own boundaries and may not be able to talk about certain subjects. 

• Checking in: clients can ask for a break at any time, and we will also offer that at various points (e.g. between significant sections, every hour, etc) and check in to see how you’re doing. We have water, juice, and snacks in the studio for clients during or after their appointment.

• Accessibility: your access needs are always important, and it’s part of our jobs to ask those and prepare anything before your appointment starts. 

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It’s important to note that while tattooing can be very therapeutic for clients, trauma informed tattooing etiquette is not therapy. Some artists may have prior training and certification in counseling, social work, etc this is not the case for most artists in general or those who practice trauma informed tattooing. If you’re seeking a specific experience outside the bounds of typical tattooing, it’s always good to ask the artist beforehand if they’re willing and able to provide it.

 

Our artists have taken Tamara Santibañez's trauma informed tattooing course and have additional educational experience through reading, research, community conversations, etc. If you have any questions, you can reach out via our website’s contact form, our email ravensrookeryink@gmail.com, or to artists individually.

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