Frequently Asked Questions

We use the highest standards of cleanliness and sterilization techniques dictated by the Oregon State Health Licensing Department. Our tattoo artists supplies are sterile, single-use needles and disposable tubes. The tattoo artists wash their hands frequently and wear gloves (once wearing gloves they do not touch anything else that isn’t your skin or anything not properly wrapped and covered). Eating, drinking (besides water), are restricted on the tattooing floor.

Please let your tattoo artists know before starting a tattoo if you have any allergies or health concerns. The tattoo artists can be prepared and do their best for you if they have all the information.

Unfortunately we do not have a ramp for the steps leading into our building. If you are in need of accommodation please contact the artist you are working with directly to discuss options.

We do have an ADA accessible and compliant, non gender specific restroom.

Our tattoo shop WILL NOT tattoo anyone under age, even with parental consent. Or anyone under the influence.

In general our tattoo shop won’t tattoo hate speech or gang related tattoos and we can not do tattoos using cremation ashes.

Cultural tattoos or tattoos in languages other than English: Each artist will have their own comfort levels when it comes to languages they don’t speak themselves and cultural tattoos, please check in with them while inquiring.

Hand, neck, feet and face tattoos are done on a case by case basis and at the individual tattoo artist’s discretion. Talk to your artist about these locations before setting up an appointment.

All of our tattoo artists decide their own comfort level when it comes to tattooing different parts of the body.

We won’t copy other artists work outright. We are happy to work on a similar idea of something you found and like, but unless we have direct permission from the other artist, our tattoo artists will change up the piece and make it their own before tattooing it on you.

Some of our tattoo artists will tattoo a drawing done by or for you, but might need to change it up to be a “tattoo-able” design.

Clients are welcome to request a color test in conjunction with their already scheduled appointment.

Color tests, also known as palette tests or swatch tests, is a process used to test a range of ink colors on clients who want to see how the variations of colors and [ink] brands will heal for them. Concerns can be visibility on skin tone or allergies to ink colors.

A color test can be small dots, lines or a simple design that gives you a chance to see how colors heal for you and how they look. Once you've seen the healed results (about 4 weeks), you can confidently choose to go for a larger piece using the pigments that work best.

Our tattoo artists have different backgrounds, experiences and personalities (we think the tattoo artists at Tattoo 34 are all super nice people who we trust to treat our clients with compassion and respect) and they all do a variety of tattoo styles. We highly recommend checking out the tattoo artist pages and read our reviews.

Our tattoo artists want the best for all of our clients (it’s not a competition). We all want you to have the best experience and the best tattoo. If a tattoo artist thinks another artist in our tattoo shop (or a different one) will be a better fit, they will not hesitate to recommend them to you.

To make a tattoo appointment contact the tattoo artist you want to work with directly. Once you have done the research and want to book with one of our tattoo artists, the quickest way to reach them is through their tattoo artist page. Each tattoo artist is responsible for scheduling and keeping their own appointments. The best way to contact them is different depending on the tattoo artist. If you have a problem getting in touch with a tattoo artist or if there is an issue with your scheduled appointment, please let management know. We strive to give our clients excellent customer service and responses in a timely manner. We expect all the tattoo artists to represent that as well.

Keep in mind some of our tattoo artists books might be closed (schedules full). Get on our email list and follow social media to get updates.

If you need to cancel or reschedule and you made the appointment on Square, please use that info to change or cancel up to three days before your scheduled tattoo day. If you can’t do it that way, contact the tattoo artist you are working with directly.

If you cancel your tattoo appointment and have no intention of rescheduling or working with the tattoo artist in the future, and if the tattoo artist already completed your intended tattoo design, that design can become available for others.

It’s the tattoo artists time, energy and expertise used to put together and draw up a custom design that works for a tattoo. The tattoo artist may decide to offer it to others.

It is a tattoo, you will have small needles penetrating your skin and depositing ink. In most cases it will hurt. Your brain releases endorphins when you go through pain and your body loves endorphins, so yes, it hurts, but you also might like it.

How much it hurts depends on many factors: your own pain threshold, where on the body you are getting a tattoo, if you have prepared (are well rested, have eaten, are hydrated, no alcohol, drugs, caffeine). For people with wombs, getting tattooed during the menstrual cycle can be more painful, this is something to consider when scheduling. Our best advice is to relax, don’t fight it or over think it. It will be over soon and the tattoo will last a lot longer than the pain ever did.

Pain is subjective and varies from person to person. If the area being tattooed is bony without a lot of muscle but lots of nerves (hands, feet, skull, flank, spine, etc.) it might hurt more. The general consensus for the most painful locations are: ribs, tops of feet, inside the elbow, and back of the knee.

Talk with your tattoo artist FIRST if you want to use a topical numbing agent.

Do moisturize the area to be tattooed for about a week before your appointment.

Don’t shave the area to be tattooed. Your tattoo artist will do that for you.

No drugs or alcohol at least 8 hours before your tattoo. It is not only illegal, but it can make the process more difficult, more painful and raise the risk of complications.

Have had minimal or zero caffeine (at least 6 hours before your tattoo).

You can not be pregnant or nursing.

No sunburns or other skin anomalies on the location you will be getting tattooed. Talk to your doctor about any visible veins, birthmarks, or discolorations.

Confirm you are not regularly taking blood thinners (regular Aspirin thins your blood).

Do not exercise the day of and best not to the day before as well. You need all your endorphins.

Don’t come in sick.

Do come well rested, having eaten (you don’t want to be starving or stuffed) and be hydrated. Feel free to bring in snacks and a water bottle if it’s a long session.

Do bring headphones if you want to use your own device while getting tattooed. Respect the shops audio space. Don’t play music, videos, stories, or have conference calls on your personal device without headphones. Respect the shops audio space.

Do shower and wear clean clothing (infection prevention starts here). Put clean sheets on your bed.

Don’t come to the tattoo shop wearing perfume, cologne, and other fragrances (deodorant is a yes).

Do brush your teeth (bring gum/mints) and wear deodorant if that’s your thing. Your tattoo artist will give you the same courtesy.

Do wear clothing that allows your tattoo artist to get to the body part that will be tattooed and that will be loose on your tattoo after. It is best to wear clothing you are ok getting tattoo ink on.

Depending on the placement of your tattoo, you may be required to remove certain items of clothing. You will never be required to remove more clothing than is absolutely necessary. To make things more comfortable, bring other clothing items such as a bathing suit top or shorts. We are an open tattoo shop but we have dividers if more privacy is your preference.

Please don’t bring young children or overly opinionated friends and family, that might hinder you from being relaxed and/or getting what you want on your own body.

If you want to have someone or two with you, please ask your tattoo artist before your appointment. We want you to be as comfortable as possible and understand the importance of support, however space can be limited depending on how busy the tattoo shop is. We can not guarantee they can stay next to you the whole time, but the lobby isn’t far.

We love children, but please make other arrangements for them during your tattoo appointment. We want you and your tattoo artist to be fully focused on the job at hand.

However, there may be our own children in the tattoo shop. The owner’s children may come and go or hang out in our tattoo shop. We are a family-owned and operated tattoo shop and it is important for us to be in the same community as our children’s schools. We believe in the importance of community, small businesses and family and sometimes those may mix. Our children have been taught what is appropriate behavior and are used to being in this space. While we are sure your children are amazing humans, we still ask that our clients young children not be present during your tattoo appointments.