Indigo Body Art Gallery FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where are you located?

Indigo Body Art Gallery is located at 2419 2nd Street, Suite #H, in Coralville, IA.

How may I contact you?

Feel free stop into the studio or call (319) 338-2169 during our normal, scheduled business hours. You can also reach us any time day or night by email at indigo@indigobodyartgallery.com

What are your hours?

Studio hours are from 12:00PM to 9:00PM, everyday.

Do you take walk-ins?

Of course!! Walk-ins are ALWAYS welcome, but appointments are recommended.

What are your piercing prices?

All piercings are only $30. That price is all-inclusive for the piercing, the jewelry, procedure disposables- EVERYTHING!! No hidden fees or being told different prices for different piercings, additional charges for the jewelry and we do not charge higher prices for different types of jewelry. We also offer volume discounts for multiple procedures for the same person on the same day at the following schedule: $30 for 1 piercing, $50 for 2 piercings ($10 off the 2nd piercing), $70 for 3 piercings ($10 off the 2nd and 3rd piercings).

What are your microdermal anchor prices?

Microdermal anchors are $40 per anchor. That price is all-inclusive for the implantation of the anchor, the jewelry, procedure disposables- EVERYTHING!! We also offer volume discounts for multiple procedures for the same person on the same day at the following schedule: $40 for 1 anchor, $70 for 2 anchors ($10 off the 2nd anchor), $100 for 3 anchors ($10 off the 2nd and 3rd anchors), $120 for 4 anchors ($10 off the 2nd and 3rd anchors, $20 off of the 4th anchor) and $140 for 5 anchors ($10 off the 2nd and 3rd anchors, $20 off of the 4th and 5th anchors).

What are your tattoo prices?

Getting a tattoo is a big decision and I hope you take your time and consider all of the factors that go into a tattoo and not just the price. There are MANY factors to consider when giving a quote for a tattoo.

Pricing is always a very difficult thing to determine over internet, by email or by phone. An in person consultation is always best to determine EXACTLY what you'd like to have for a tattoo, the EXACT size, the EXACT level or detail, the EXACT location on your body you'd like to have the tattoo all determine the overall cost. Our rates are calculated by the PIECE, not by the HOUR. If we were to quote you a flat rate we could, in turn, take longer than necessary to complete the work and make your tattoo as high priced as possible for our own financial gain. We do NOT do that!! We are not the most expensive studios around; we will also not be the cheapest. We WILL NOT compare ourselves to any other studio on price alone. We will, however, be happy to be compared with ANY studio on the basis of quality, detail of the design, cleanliness of the execution of the tattoo, color saturation, safety, and customer satisfaction.

While the EXACT price of the tattoo will depend on EXACTLY what size the tattoo will be, EXACTLY how long it takes to complete the work, etc. the pricing can also be based on the budget you have to spend on the piece. For example: Let's say you only want to spend $150 on a tattoo, but if we were to quote you $250 because we though that you wanted the tattoo larger, more colorful or more detailed you may be upset or feel like the price quoted you is unfair or unrealistic. If you could have just let us know that you have a $150 budget we would have cut through a lot of the confusion and frustration.

We have a studio minimum of $50 and we are happy to work with you to make sure your tattoo's cost is within your price range by tweaking the size, detail, etc. to meet your budget. Once we determine either your budget or the cost based on the size and detail of the design we'll be ready to go!!

How do I care for my new tattoo while it is healing?

How do I care for my new piercing while it is healing?

First, DO NOT LISTEN TO YOUR FRIENDS!! Read the instructions below!! These aftercare instructions we developed in conjunction not only with fellow body modification professionals but also through careful consultation with a dermatologist as well as other medical professionals!!

Cleaning Solution Options and Cleaning Tools You May Use:
-Indigo Body Art Gallery Piercing Aftercare Spray
-Sterile Saline Solution, Preferably in a Non-Aerosol Misting Can
-NON-Iodized Sea Salt: ¼ to ½ Teaspoon mixed with 1 Cup of Hot Water
-Cotton Balls or Cotton-tipped Swabs

Cleaning Your Piercing:
1. First, wash your hands thoroughly. Never touch your piercing or jewelry with dirty hands.
2. Apply cleaning solution to the piercing site and jewelry. Make sure you apply the solution thoroughly and allow the solution to sit for a moment to loosen any crusting or scabbing on the piercing and jewelry.
3. Saturate two or three cotton balls or cotton tipped-swabs with the cleaning solution then gently wipe away any crusting or scabbing that have gathered around the piercing site.
4. Move the jewelry through the piercing, clean skin and jewelry with a new cotton ball or swab. Repeat after moving jewelry back through the piercing to the other side.
5. Apply an additional amount of cleaning solution to the piercing and move the jewelry through the piercing 10 to 15 times. The movement of the jewelry through the piercing will carry the cleaning solution through the piercing, promote blood flow to the piercing, condition the piercing and speed healing time.
6. Consult a physician is symptoms develop.

Cleaning Tips
*DO NOT remove the jewelry from the piercing to clean the jewelry or piercing. This will only create swelling and additional trauma to the piercing. The jewelry actually makes it easier to completely and thoroughly clean the piercing. The swelling may make it impossible to put the jewelry back into the piercing. It's best to just clean the piercing and jewelry thoroughly without actually moving it.
*DO NOT Use:
-Hydrogen Peroxide - Hydrogen peroxide kills some bacteria, but it also kills the white blood cells attempting to heal your piercing. It will also cause irritation and excessive dryness of the skin, which may lead to infection and lengthen overall healing time.
-Rubbing Alcohol - Alcohol will cause irritation and excessive dryness of the skin, which may lead to infection and lengthen overall healing time.
-Aftercare solutions that are provided by jewelry stores, department stores and malls usually contain alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and other harmful chemicals that only aggravate a new piercing and cause irritation and excessive dryness of the skin, which may lead to infection and lengthen overall healing time.
-Neosporin, other antibacterial ointments, Vaseline, hand lotion or similar products only clog pores and/or kill good cells trying to heal the piercing.

How do I care for my microdermal anchor while it is healing?

First, DO NOT LISTEN TO YOUR FRIENDS!! Read the instructions below!! These aftercare instructions we developed in conjunction not only with fellow body modification professionals but also through careful consultation with a dermatologist as well as other medical professionals!!

Cleaning Solution Options and Cleaning Tools You May Use:
-Indigo Body Art Gallery Piercing Aftercare Spray
-Sterile Saline Solution or Wound Wash Saline Preferably in a Non-Aerosol Misting Can
-NON-Iodized Sea Salt- ¼ to ½ Teaspoon mixed with 1 Cup of Hot Water
-Cotton Balls or Cotton-tipped Swabs

Cleaning Your Microdermal Anchor:
1. First, wash your hands thoroughly. Never touch your piercing site or jewelry with dirty hands.
2. Remove the bandage from piercing site and apply cleaning solution to the piercing site and jewelry. Make sure you apply the solution thoroughly and allow the solution to sit for a moment to loosen any crusting or scabbing on the piercing and jewelry.
3. Saturate two or three cotton balls or cotton tipped-swabs with the cleaning solution then gently wipe away any crusting or scabbing that have gathered around the piercing site.
4. Reapply a new, sterile bandage with EXTREME caution!! DO NOT allow adhesive portion of the bandage to touch the jewelry, ONLY allowing the padded portion of the bandage to touch the jewelry!!
5. Repeat the process 5 to 7 times per day for the first SEVEN (7) DAYS. After the first seven days you will need to clean the piercing site and jewelry at least three (3) times per day for the first three (3) months. You may choose to no longer reapply a bandage after the 7 to 14 days. You will need to thoroughly clean the piercing and jewelry in the bath or shower every day thereafter.
6. COMPLETELY AVOID swimming pools, hot tubs, rivers, oceans or lakes as these are breading grounds for bacteria that may cause infection.
7. COMPLETELY AVOID tanning beds and sunbathing as they can expose your anchor to bacteria as well. If you absolutely have to swim, cover your anchor with a Nexcare waterproof bandage (Tegaderm pad) to protect your piercing site.
8. COMPLETELY AVOID contact with other people’s body fluids as well as pet dander, hand lotions, antibiotic ointments, make-up, cosmetics, tanning creams, bronzers, shimmer lotions, and glitter completely away from the area. These products will clog pores and block oxygen supply providing an ideal environment for bacteria to breed and cause problems.
9. Jewelry heads may be changed after the piercing is FULLY healed which may take as long as three (3) months.
8. Consult a physician is symptoms develop.

Additional considerations and FAQ about your new microdermal anchor:

DO NOT TUG, PULL, TWIST, PICK AT OR IN ANY WAY PLAY WITH YOUR ANCHOR. Do not wear constrictive clothing on your anchor.
Try not to sleep on the anchor if it’s avoidable.

Microdermal Anchors ARE NOT EASILY REMOVABLE. Please understand that anchors have to be removed by your piercer or a medical professional, as it may be necessary to pierce or cut the tissue to remove them.

Infection?
Most often irritations are mistaken for infections. Contact your piercer as soon as possible if you feel something has gone wrong. Signs of a true infection are extreme pain, excessive redness and/or greenish smelly discharge, swelling and heat in the area. DON’T PANIC!! Just come to the studio and allow us to help you. Your piercer can suggest many different solutions and properly make a diagnosis only after visually inspecting the piercing.

REJECTION HAPPENS. If you notice your anchor leaning in any unusual direction, wobbling or looking as if it has moved from its original location, please come to the studio for visual inspection and to take possible corrective action as soon as possible.

NEVER, EVER Use:
-Hydrogen Peroxide - Hydrogen peroxide kills some bacteria, but it also kills the white blood cells attempting to heal your piercing. It will also cause irritation and excessive dryness of the skin, which may lead to infection and lengthen overall healing time.
-Rubbing Alcohol - Alcohol will cause irritation and excessive dryness of the skin, which may lead to infection and lengthen overall healing time.
-Aftercare solutions that are provided by jewelry stores, department stores and malls usually contain alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and other harmful chemicals that only aggravate a new piercing and cause irritation and excessive dryness of the skin, which may lead to infection and lengthen overall healing time.
-Neosporin, other antibacterial ointments, Bactine, Betadine, Hibiclens, essential oils such as tea tree oil, Vaseline, hand lotion or similar products only clog pores, collect dirt, debris, bacteria, etc. and/or kill good cells trying to heal the piercing.