Frequency Asked Questions about
Intuitive Tattoos
At Intuitive Tattoos, we want your tattoo experience to feel seamless, intentional, and inspiring. This page answers the most common questions about our booking process, intuitive tattoo sessions, online offerings, and aftercare, so you can feel fully prepared before beginning your journey.
General Questions
What is Intuitive Tattoos?
Intuitive Tattoos is a studio and practice created by artist Lucy Stainsby in Nanaimo, BC. Each session combines tarot, energy healing, and intuitive design to create tattoos that carry symbolic meaning. The process is both artistic and spiritual, offering a deeply personal experience rooted in intention and transformation.
Where are you located?
Intuitive Tattoos is located in Nanaimo, BC, on Vancouver Island. The studio is a 40-minute ferry ride from downtown Vancouver, two hours from Horseshoe Bay or Victoria, and just a 20-minute drive from Nanaimo Airport (YCD). Many clients travel from across North America for the full, immersive experience.
What are your hours of operation?
All sessions are by appointment only. Lucy offers limited availability each month to ensure every client receives a focused, intentional, and meaningful experience. When you book, you’ll be given available dates and times that align with your chosen service.
How do I get to Intuitive Tattoos in Nanaimo?
Intuitive Tattoos is located in Nanaimo, BC, just a short ferry ride from Vancouver or Victoria. Most visitors travel with BC Ferries or the Hullo passenger ferry. Visit their official sites for current sailing times, costs, and travel information before planning your trip.
Can I fly into Nanaimo for my session?
Yes. Intuitive Tattoos is accessible via Nanaimo Airport (YCD), located about 15 minutes south of the city. Flights arrive daily from Vancouver and other Canadian cities. From the airport, you can take a taxi, shuttle, or rental car directly into Nanaimo to reach the studio.
Services & Process
How does the booking process work?
Booking begins online with a deposit to reserve your time. On the day of your session, we start with a tarot reading and energy clearing, then Lucy designs your tattoo in real time. Once you’re aligned with the design, the tattoo is created with full intention and symbolism.
Do you offer online services?
Yes. For clients unable to travel, Lucy offers Tarot Readings, astrology birth chart sessions, and Long-Distance Tattoo Designs. These sessions use the same intuitive process, providing meaningful guidance and symbolic artwork that you can integrate into your life or take to your local tattoo artist.
How far in advance can I book?
Availability is limited and sessions often fill months ahead, especially for larger or travel-based projects. Booking early ensures you secure your preferred date and gives time for travel planning if needed. Last-minute bookings may be possible but are not guaranteed.
What is Inuitive Tattooing?
Intuitive tattooing is a process where your session begins with tarot and energy healing, then flows into a design created in real time. Each tattoo is guided by your intention and infused with symbolic meaning, becoming more than body art — it’s a deeply personal and transformative experience.
What is an Intuitive Tattoo Artist?
An intuitive tattoo artist combines traditional tattoo skills with practices like tarot, energy work, and guided symbolism. Instead of pre-made flash, the design emerges from your story and intention during the session. This makes each piece unique, intentional, and aligned with your personal journey of transformation and healing.
Pricing & Payments
What are your rates?
Intuitive Tattoo sessions are straightforward: most designs are booked at flat rates ranging from $555 to $777, depending on size and detail. Larger or ongoing projects are priced at an hourly rate of $175–$200. A deposit is required to secure your booking, and all pricing is shared clearly before your session.
Do you require a deposit?
Yes. A deposit is required to confirm your booking and secure your place in the schedule. Deposits are applied toward your final session cost but are non-refundable. They may be transferred if you reschedule with adequate notice, depending on availability.
What kind of payment methods to you accept?
Payments can be made by credit card, debit, or e-transfer. Full details are provided during booking confirmation. Deposits are taken online, while balances are due at the end of your in-person session or before delivery of online services.
Policies
What is your cancellation or rescheduling policy?
Cancellations require advance notice. Deposits are non-refundable but may be transferred to a rescheduled session if enough notice is given. Last-minute cancellations or missed appointments forfeit the deposit. Please contact Lucy as soon as possible if you need to reschedule.
Do you accept walk-ins?
No. Intuitive Tattoos operates by appointment only. This ensures each client has the time, energy, and safe container needed for an intentional experience. Walk-ins are not accepted so the process can remain personal, private, and aligned with your unique journey.
What if I have to cancel last minute?
Last-minute cancellations result in loss of deposit. Rescheduling may be possible depending on availability, but deposits cannot be refunded. This policy honors the time and energy Lucy sets aside for each client and helps keep sessions flowing smoothly.
Preparation & Experience
How should I prepare for my appointment?
Get a good night’s rest, eat a nourishing meal, and drink plenty of water. Wear comfortable clothing that allows access to the tattoo area. Avoid alcohol the day before. Most importantly, arrive with openness: the design will emerge from your reading, intention, and session energy.
Do you accept custom design requests?
Yes, but with an intuitive twist. You may bring ideas or symbols, but each tattoo is created through Lucy’s process of tarot, energy work, and intuitive design. This ensures your tattoo reflects your personal story while staying unique, intentional, and aligned with your energy.
How long does a session usually take?
Sessions vary. Smaller designs may take two to three hours, while larger or more complex projects may require multiple three-to-four-hour sessions. Each tattoo is created in real time during the session, so time depends on both design and your comfort level.
Aftercare
How should I take care of my tattoo afterward?
Keep your tattoo clean and lightly moisturized. Avoid direct sun, swimming, or soaking until fully healed. Lucy will provide detailed aftercare instructions before you leave the studio so your tattoo heals properly and maintains its vibrancy over time.
What products do you recommend for healing?
A gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer or a tattoo-specific balm is recommended. Avoid petroleum-based products and harsh soaps. Lucy may suggest specific aftercare items during your session to ensure your tattoo heals well and feels comfortable during recovery.
What should I avoid while my tattoo heals?
Avoid sun exposure, swimming, or soaking in baths. Do not scratch, rub, or pick at the healing skin. These actions can damage the tattoo and slow healing. Follow the provided aftercare instructions carefully to ensure your tattoo sets beautifully.
Special Cases
Do you do cover-up tattoos?
Yes, cover-ups are possible depending on the size and placement of your existing tattoo. A consultation is required to determine what is possible and to design something that both covers the old work and carries your new intention.
Do you tattoo sensitive areas?
Yes, but each request is considered individually. Lucy will discuss your comfort, healing, and symbolic intentions before proceeding. Sensitive placements can require more aftercare and attention, so the decision is always guided by safety, readiness, and ensuring the experience feels fully supportive and aligned.
Do you accept clients under 18 (with consent)?
No. Intuitive Tattoos is available only to clients aged 18 and older. Even with parental consent, Lucy does not tattoo minors for legal, ethical, and energetic reasons. This policy ensures each tattoo is created with full awareness, autonomy, and long-term intention from the client receiving it.
Still have questions?
If you didn’t find your answer here, we're happy to help. Reach out directly through the Contact Page, or go ahead and Book Your Session today.
Your intuitive tattoo journey starts with a single step, so let’s create something meaningful together.
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