We have a shop minimum of $100 on arms or legs, $125 on other parts of the body. Up to about 4”x4” we can often give you a price before we do the tattoo. If the tattoo is larger than this, we charge an hourly rate of $200.

No. Medusa Tattoo is owned and operated by tattoo artists, and we stick to what we really know. We also don't sell body jewelry or piercing aftercare.

All our needles, inks, gloves, and other supplies are disposable and thrown away immediately after each tattoo. Our needles and stainless steel tubes are autoclave sterilized, and our autoclave is spore-tested every ten cycles to make sure that it’s running correctly. Everything else we use or touch during a tattoo is barrier wrapped and all the non-porous surfaces are disinfected after each tattoo.

In addition, all of the artists working at Medusa Tattoo have received Red Cross Blood borne Pathogens and Infection Control Training. So yes, it’s safe.

Yes. We practice universal precautions as recommended by the American Red Cross. This ensures our safety, our customers safety, and the safety of the public at large. We do the same thing for every person we tattoo.

If a person informs us that they have a health condition that may affect their ability to get or heal a tattoo, we may ask them to check with their doctor first.

No. New York State law requires you to be 18 to get a tattoo. We don’t make exceptions to this, ever.

Sorry, no. It’s against the law. Once they’re 18, they don’t need anyone else to sign for them.

The best thing to do is to email your idea to the shop and one of us will respond - please include your phone number! If you have a specific artist in mind, let us know that in your email. Consultations are free but you need to make an appointment. You tell us your ideas, your artist takes notes, and they will schedule your tattoo.

We do require a deposit to do drawing and to make an appointment – this is at least $100, but may be more, depending on how big or complicated your tattoo will be.

We generally schedule appointments for consultations and tattoos by email, medusatattoostudio@gmail.com and we do our best to respond within two to three business days.

For smaller tattoos, we sometimes have time for walk-ins, depending on the artists' schedules. The best way to find out if we are available to do your tattoo that day is to either stop by the shop at 632 W. Buffalo St, or to call us at (607) 277-4474. Walk-in spots are first come, first serve, and we don't hold them without a deposit.

We prefer not to - it’s much easier to communicate face to face. However, we can also do video consultations if necessary.

No. We are a custom tattoo shop – we draw almost all the tattoos we do. All you need is the idea. We do the rest.

We would really prefer it if you didn't!

AI doesn't understand how tattooing or skin works, so AI-generated designs generally need reworking before they can be tattooed. We're experienced professional artists who are definitely capable of creating beautiful artwork that you can wear proudly for years to come. We like artwork by humans, for humans!

The best way to make an appointment is to email us at medusatattoostudio@gmail.com or to call (607) 277-4474.

Appointments require a deposit, which starts at $100, but may be more, depending on the size and complexity of your tattoo.

It depends – we usually have a few openings within a week or two, but some of our artists have a wait of several months to over a year.

Deposits are required to make an appointment or to have an artist design a tattoo for you. They are applied to the cost of the tattoo at the last appointment.

To be refunded or transferred to another appointment, you have to cancel your original appointment at least one business days’ notice per hour scheduled before the time of the appointment (so a three hour appointment requires three business days’ notice to cancel). If you cancel your appointment with enough notice, and before the artist has done any drawing, it’s fully refundable (credit and debit card deposits are refunded to the card originally used to pay them). If you cancel your appointment after the artist has done drawing for your tattoo, they may keep some or all of your deposit, but if you give enough notice, the deposit will still apply to the tattoo when you get it.

The best way to answer this is to look at the portfolios. We each have our own approach – see which artist appeals to you.

Absolutely. If you don’t have a preference, we will schedule you with whichever artist is available soonest, but if you prefer a particular artist, you can request them.

Not at all. The portfolios are just a few examples of work that we’ve done. Tell us your idea and we can make it happen.

Maybe, but unless it’s clearly flash (a pre-drawn design that’s intended to be tattooed over and over on many people), we won’t copy other people’s tattoos. If you see a tattoo on someone else that you really love, try to figure out what it is about that tattoo that you like. We can often incorporate elements into a new design for you.

Can we? Yes. Will we? No. We don’t do tattoos with meanings that are affiliated with hate groups or racist/homophobic/discriminatory behavior and philosophies.

No, but we do require a deposit to draw your tattoo. The deposit comes off the price of the tattoo. If the tattoo is done in multiple sessions, the deposit comes off the last session.

We want you to be happy with your tattoo. So if you want to make changes to the design, please let your artist know – unless the changes are something that won’t work as a tattoo, we will rework the design until we’re both happy with it. As long as the general idea is similar, your deposit is still applied towards the final cost of your tattoo.

Actually, we do - that's a violation of copyright law (not to mention somewhat rude). But you can talk to your artist about whatever adjustments you're thinking of, and unless it's something that would compromise the design or longevity of your tattoo, they'll make changes for you - we all want our clients to be happy with their tattoos!

Only if you give us permission. So if a relative or friend wants to get the same tattoo and that’s fine with you, then yes. Otherwise no. Your custom tattoo is yours. (However, there are trends in tattooing, so you may come across tattoos that have the same basic idea as yours…).

We don’t usually email designs to people, but we try to have them ready a few days before your appointment so you can come to the shop and see it.

We don’t usually let designs leave the shop.

Probably yes. We fix or cover up older tattoos all the time. You’ll need to have a consultation first. Cover-ups and reworks are usually $200/hour, even if they’re small. This doesn’t mean that they’ll be more expensive – it’s just difficult to know how long they’re going to take.

Sometimes. It depends on the individual and also on the design. We may say no if you are younger, or if the design is one that may cause a negative reaction.

That depends. We have been known to, but as a general rule, we don’t, unless we know the person…really well!

Make sure you get a good night’s sleep the night before (if possible), and definitely don’t come in for your appointment without eating. If your appointment is for several hours, bring a snack.

We’re generally fine with one well-behaved friend coming with you, but it can sometimes be distracting, so check with your artist first.

Don’t worry. We can set up screens for privacy.

Our policy is that we don’t tattoo pregnant women.

Yes. Getting tattooed won’t affect nursing.

Usually yes.

Sure, if you like, but you don’t really need them.

Generally we don’t answer this. Even the biggest tattoo is done in sessions that last only a few hours, compared to the decades you will have to live with the tattoo. Choose where you want the tattoo based on where you want to see it, not on how much you think it might hurt.

We aren’t legally allowed to use anesthetics. In addition, topical anesthetics affect the skin, making it harder to tattoo and heal.

Yep. But not often.

A tattoo shop is an adult space, so there may be adult language or imagery. In addition, bored children can be very distracting to you, the artists, and other customers. We strongly recommend that you get a babysitter while you get tattooed, and don’t bring your kids to the tattoo shop.

We guarantee our tattoos for six months. During that time we will touch up the color for free if it needs it, as long as you follow our aftercare instructions.

You can do whatever you like. But your tattoo won’t be guaranteed unless you follow our aftercare instructions.

Tattooing can be very rewarding, but it’s also an invasive practice on other human beings that have to live with the consequences, and it takes several years of training and regular practice to become proficient. It is not a hobby, so the best way to learn is by doing a formal apprenticeship that involves a few years. If you really want to be a tattoo artist, practice your drawing, put together a portfolio, and find a good established tattoo artist willing to take you on as an apprentice. And get ready to work really hard.

Occasionally, but very rarely.

No. We tattoo at the studio, at tattoo conventions, or as guests at other tattoo shops, because they are set up to provide a safe environment for our customers, ourselves, and the general public. Your house is not set up for this, and tattooing there poses a health risk.

No. Unless you have proper training, tattooing puts you and the people you are tattooing at risk for blood-borne infectious diseases. Selling equipment and supplies to the general public puts this equipment into the hands of people who aren’t qualified to use it safely.

Sure, but you will need to pay us the full cost of the tattoo.

No. We charge what we need to do good, safe tattoos and pay our bills.

Hmmm….really…?