Just fill in the form at booking.avalantattoo.com

Before you start, pay special attention to the meanings (if we do a Polynesian tattoo) and reference photos of works that you like. These are very important steps, because basing on this information, Agnieszka prepares for each session – even before you reach the studio prepares the symbolism and preliminary sketches – having only one photo and a laconic description, she is not able to do it in a proper way and most probably it will be necessary to arrange additional sessions.

The price of a tattoo depends mainly on how long it will take to make it. This in turn depends on the place, size or style in which we are going to do the tattoo. It should also be remembered that each of us is different and the cost of a tattoo of similar size, with the same location on the body, can be very different in different people.
Another important aspect that can have an impact on price is also the body structure, the arrangement of individual muscle groups, tolerance of pain, skin type, etc. The following aspects are also important and all this has a direct impact on the amount of time needed to prepare the design; the larger the part of the body is, the bigger the project will be. In addition, the pattern itself, which is more or less complicated, depending on the style chosen, so again – its preparation may take more or less time.
Knowing the style, location and approximate size of the tattoo, and based on our experience to date, we are able to determine the time span with an accuracy of +/- half a session. Due to all the above arguments, it is always to be reckoned with the fact that the session may be longer anyway and every “oversized working hour” will be additionally paid. Situations of this kind are rare with us, but we prefer to warn about it.
To make your quote as accurate as possible, write us in a message: what you want to do, attach one or two sample photos, and take a picture of the place where the tattoo is to be placed, and then select the area where it is to be placed.

Remember: we do creative work, not mass production. We create something that remains in your body for the rest of your life and in this perspective an hour or two is rather marginal.

You will see the design only during the session and it is not possible that we will send send it earlier: Agnieszka prepares for the appointment with each client individually, shortly before the start of the session. In this case, all correspondence and sent photographs are reviewed, preliminary sketches are made and, in the case of a Polynesian tattoo, symbols that will be on the body are prepared. Thanks to this, all her attention is focused on one specific client and not on a person who is entered in the calendar in two weeks’; time.

If we do a Polynesian, Samoan or Maori tattoo, your design quite sure will be created directly on the skin, usually freehand, i. e. with the help of markers will be sketched on the body. For this reason, you will only see the project in your studio. After your approval and possible corrections, it will be ‘fixed’ with a tattoo machine. This way of preparing design allows us to match the tattoo to a specific person and their body structure. The disadvantage (minus) of the project on paper is the fact that it is two-dimensional – you can not reproduce the natural curves of the body, sculpture of muscles and emphasize their arrangement under the skin – it’s like trying to put a sheet of paper on a ball: as if it’s possible, but the effect won’t necessarily be satisfactory.

Unfortunately, we cannot make an appointment. Agnieszka makes only tattoos of her own authorship and there is no exception from that. She built her own brand and recognition in the Polynesian Tattoo Community by creating her own projects and not by recreating them out of someone else’s work.

We can create a unique tattoo for you, which will contain symbols related to your story, important moments and values you profess. In addition, its shape will emphasize and accentuate the structure and sculpture of your body, which is not always possible when you reflect the design from sheet of paper. Your project will be created during the session, and its cost is always included in the session price – you do not have to pay extra for it.

If you already have a project and you can’t imagine anything else on your skin, we recommend contacting another studio.

Each tribal tattoo, and thus also those originating from individual Pacific islands (including Polynesia) is closely connected with the person who is to wear it. Such a tattoo can describe very personal matters: it can be a kind of protective talisman, a reminder of loved ones, values, etc. The tattoo can also be a kind of a tattoo. You do not have to look for specific symbols on your own – based on the information sent to us, Agnieszka will select those that will be on your skin, and after the drawing is finished she will explain the meaning of each of them (it is worth to bring sheet of paper and a pen ;-) )

Everything depends on what is to be covered/improved. Send us an e-mail or fill in the application form. Attach a photo of such work and wait patiently for an answer – perhaps we will be able to help. The biggest chance for the term is the last-time cancellation – when our already confirmed client for some reason can not come and we get information about it at the last minute (usually 2-3 days earlier, but can happen also a day before). It may also be a good idea to subscribe to our reserve list in order to receive notification of all cancellations.

If we make an appointment for a Polynesian tattoo, the meanings (i. e. what your tattoo is supposed to “tell about”) should be given already at the stage of filling in the application form. If they are not there: the last chance is a week before the first session. Without this information Agnieszka will not be able to prepare herself and most likely it will be necessary to arrange at least one additional meeting.
If we make ornaments or dot-work, the more information and sample photos of what you like and don’t like, the better. In this way, we will spend time on tattooing and not on making corrections to the project and we will avoid the need to plan further meetings.

And now something about the body:

• About a week before the appointment, apply a gentle peeling to the area and start using moisturizing lotions – well moisturized skin endures tattooing much better.
• Sleep well and have a nutritious breakfast. During the first session you probably have a few hours to stand up – this is the time when the project is created.
• It’s also good to take a second breakfast with you – a tattoo is a big energy expense for the body, and we’ve had fainting, even to our toughest “fighters”.
• Avoid alcohol the day before the session. A glass of wine or one beer will not harm you, but larger amounts can cause excessive thinning of blood and rinsing of the ink from the skin. Other psychoactive agents are not indicated either.
• Take loose, comfortable clothing that you won’t regret if it’s soiled with ink.
• The day before tattooing, you can wet-shave the place where the tattoo is to be placed – so that you may avoid irritation, which may adversely affect the healing process.

First appointment always begins with the completion of a questionnaire containing the consent to perform the procedure and a short questionnaire on the current state of health. Thanks to this survey, we are able to identify possible contraindications for tattooi ng (e. g. allergies) even before starting the main part – tattooing.
Once the formalities have been completed, the relevant session during which the design is created begins and the design is tattooed. At the end, your skin will be protected with a special film or absorbent pad, and just before you leave, you will receive a layette containing everything you need in the first phase of healing, i. e. special absorbent pads (absorbing excess of ink and plasma), hypoallergenic patches to fix them, tattoo care product (EasyTattoo or SkinProject), and printed, detailed instructions on how to use it all.

Unfortunately, we do not have a payment terminal, but within a radius of 200m from the Studio there are three ATMs (click on the map to view more).

Yes, You can safely leave your car just two steps from entrance.

Your time is very precious to us, and if you attend the session you will appreciate the fact that Agnieszka focuses on you instead of talking on the phone.

In addition, we are a small family studio where tattooing stations are quite close to the reception desk and the caller’s phone can be very distracting. What is also important is the fact that at the end of the conversation we would anyway ask you to transfer all findings to the text – human memory is unreliable and after receiving several calls a day it is not possible to remember even a fraction. Especially that we will probably see each other in a few months ;-)

Yes, there are several of them:

• Underage
• Condition indicating that the Customer is under the influence of alcohol or psychoactive substances
• Freshly tanned, sun-irritated/solarium skin.
• If the session takes place right after the end of your holiday, let us know – we will look for another date! You must also give your skin time to regenerate (moisturise the skin, make a gentle peeling).
• Psoriasis – unless with the consent of your dermatologist.
• Infectious diseases transmitted with blood and body fluids, e. g. HIV, jaundice.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• We are not in favour of tattooing during feeding. Some of the ink is excreted from the body through the blood and lymphatic system during the healing process. The same systems participate in the distribution of nutrients and the formation of food, we do not fully know what the impact of one on the other can be. It is better to wait a few months until the baby is "independent”; in terms of nutrition and then we will look for terms.

If you conceal any important information concerning your health, all potential civil and legal liability as well as ethical liability falls on you.

Basically not. However, it is possible to pay for a session of a person close to you, if they already have specific appointments with us. Contact us and pay in advance for the entire session (or part of it). The recipient will find out when he or she wants to pay.

The first days are crucial. A tattoo is a fresh wound that can bleed, excrete ink and plasma, and the entire tattooed area can swell strongly. It is very important that for the first 24 hours after the end of the session the tattoo remains protected with a clean dressing (you will get it from us after the end of the session).
The most important step in the first phase of healing is a thorough cleansing of the secretion. If it is done inaccurately, the secretion will dry up and create a scab, which we do not want – because when leaving, the scab will also take with it part of the ink and create a hole.

If you have any problems or questions regarding healing, take a picture please contact us! We will try to answer as soon as possible. It is better to wait for a few hours for our answer than to ask “online specialists” in forums where knowledge is often very scarce or none at all.

There are many ways of taking care of freshly made tattoo. Each Tattoo Artist judging by own experiences will give you different advices. Based upon the fact that we are all aware of the necessary steps to perform in order to make sure that the healing process is the best and the shortest possible. Here are my advices for you:

The whole healing process consists of three stages. The first one and at the same time – the most important one – is the time when your skin is sealing – within the first three days – and during this period of time you must take care to leave your new tattoo clean and dry. The second stage takes time during three following weeks – when your skin is peeling and regenerating. After that time your new tattoo can still be a little bit wrinkled and the colour isn’t as it should be at the final stage. Stage three takes three months from the tattoo session – when the reborn skin is thick enough (reaching regular thickness) – after this times passes you rarely feel any sensations of prickling when washing your new tattoo under warm water and your skin no longer shines.

Above all – be aware that your new tattoo is considered to be a wound – that is why it needs to stay CLEAN and DRY (though not overdry). And now let’s go step by step:

1. You need to take off the first dressing applied after first tattoo session (it can be either pad or Second SkinTM) the day after in the morning (approximately 12 to 16 hours staring from the time of application).

2. You need to wash your new tattoo with your hand (not with the sponge). To wash it properly use warm water together with some delicate soap (antibacterial one or feminine wash – do not use the one with mint extracts!!!). Do not use regular towel to dry your new tattoo – there are too many bacterias on it and your new tattoo is considered to be a fresh wound.  Use paper towels instead.

3. After washing, your new tattoo should stay mat – it shouldn’t be shiny. If you can see that some places are shiny (mainly blackwork; on colorful tattoos you can notice something like white coating) you should wash it once again. We do not scratch it – washing it carefully is very important for the whole healing process.

4. After washing and drying your new tattoo using paper towel – we leave it to breath for about 15 minutes. After that time, we apply second dressing which is Pad (commonly known as Pampers) which you are equipped with (you got it from us at the end of the session). If somehow you manage to leave our studio without it,      then you must use cling film. If so, remember to remove it, wash your new tattoo, dry it and apply cling foil every 4 hours. So during the first day after your session you must repeat the whole process 3 to 4 times.
   

5. You should remove Pad on the same day of application in the evening – so after about 12 to 16 hours since applying it. We repeat steps 1 to 4 which means – wash your tattoo, dry it so as it stays visibly mat and let your skin breath.

6. No sooner that before taking off the second dressing you can start applying Easy Tattoo™ or Bepanthen ointment. You must remember to apply it with your freshly washed hand and use only a drop of it so as to nourish your new tattoo instead of covering it all with the thick layer of cream. While doing so you may blok out air admission which can hinder the healing process.
7. For the first week after taking off your second dressing – you wash, dry, let it breath and apply small amount of cream onto your new tattoo – three times a day. During the second week you can do it twice a day while during the third week – once a day will be enough.

8. Your new tattoo while being in the healing process can peel – this is the regular process of skin regeneration (do no not starch it or peel the skin off – leave it be). It is also quite normal that your new tattoo while healing can be very itchy. Do not scratch it! You shouldn’t also be using too much cream. Do you feel that your new tattoo is too tight? That’s the way it should be. Your new tattoo is a wound and your wounds should stay ventilated.

9. When you will notice some scabs after couple of days it means that you probably missed some spot to wash properly and the scab is a result of dried blood, ink and plasm. What you can do now is take care not to scratch it, and by no means to rip it off and it is also very important that you should not leave the scab wet – it needs to stay dry (of course you should continue to wash your new tattoo but do not apply any cream onto the scab, try to keep it dry and do not apply any dressings).

10. The ink is liquid which is placed underneath your skin. It needs TIME to stabilize there properly. So if you decide to do some exercises just after your new tattoo was made either going to the gym, cycling, running, skiing, stretching, doing joga etc. then be aware that the ink underneath your skin can be unevenly distributed and therefore change or decline the colour.
    

DURING THE WHOLE HEALING PERIOD YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO:

–    3 days – avoid alcohol. There shouldn’t be any problem with one beer or one glass of wine but limit drinking larger quantities.

–    2 weeks – do not wear tight clothes, it can increase the chances to rub and therefore irritate your skin together with your new tattoo.

–    During first three weeks – do not attend swimming polls, do not swim in the river, do not take bath, do not go to sauna, do not use sun beds and do not go to the gym!!!

–    Do not expose your new tattoo onto sun rays – especially during first months – after one months you can sun bathe but do not forget about using sunscreen with high factors.

Within a kilometre from the Studio there are several apartments, one hostel and one hotel. Personally we recommend the latter: SCSK Optima Krakow, where, referring to “Avalan Tattoo” they offer a discount for our customers.

If you prefer to stay overnight in the old town or you want to combine tattooing with sightseeing – remember that Krakow during rush hours is not the best city to travel by car and the fastest&cheapest is public transport.

A good alternative to accommodation in Krakow may be hotel objects in Wieliczka (where also Wieliczka Salt Mine is located – one of Unesco precious), from which access takes just a few moments, and accommodation may be noticeably cheaper.