8405 Dorsey Circle, Suite 202, Manassas, VA 20110
571.310.8169 (Text)|info.thirteenthfloor@gmail.com
XIII

waiver, release & consent

Please read every section carefully. You must be 18 years of age or older to be tattooed at The Thirteenth Floor. A valid photo ID is required to confirm your age.

DPOR Licensed Tattoo Shop & Artist Bloodborne Pathogens Certified First Aid & CPR Certified
A fresh waiver is required at every appointment — just like a doctor's office — even if nothing about your health has changed since your last visit.
Read the Full List of Tattoo Risks +

Before you sign, make sure you actually understand what you're agreeing to. Getting a tattoo is a safe, routine procedure at a licensed shop — but like any procedure that breaks the skin, it carries real risks:

  • Infection — bacterial or, more rarely, viral infection at the tattoo site, especially if aftercare instructions aren't followed.
  • Allergic reactions — to pigments (particularly red, yellow, and other bright colors), latex gloves, or antibacterial/aftercare products.
  • Scarring & keloiding — some skin types raise scar tissue (keloids) more easily than others, especially with repeated trauma to the same area.
  • Uneven healing, ink migration, or "blowout" — ink can spread slightly under the skin, especially on thin-skinned areas like fingers, wrists, and feet.
  • Fading & sun sensitivity — color and clarity fade over time, faster with sun exposure; freshly tattooed skin is also more UV-sensitive while healing.
  • Bleeding & bruising — normal in small amounts, more likely if you're on blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder.
  • Delayed hypersensitivity — in rare cases, a reaction to pigment can appear months or even years after the tattoo is done.
  • Complicated healing with certain skin/health conditions — eczema, psoriasis, diabetes, and similar conditions can slow healing or increase risk.
  • Difficulty detecting skin changes — tattooed skin can make it harder to notice new moles or skin changes in that area; mention any moles/freckles in your placement zone before we start.
  • Permanence — a tattoo is a permanent change to your skin. Removal is only possible via laser or surgical means, can be costly and painful, and may not fully restore your original skin.

If you have questions about any of this, ask your artist before we begin — that's what the consultation is for.

Read the Aftercare Instructions +

Your first bandage/wrap depends on what your artist used — check with them before you leave, but here's the general breakdown:

Second Skin / Saniderm (adhesive bandage film)

  • Leave it on for 3–5 days unless your artist tells you otherwise.
  • It's normal to see fluid, plasma, or a little ink pooling underneath — that looks worse than it is and isn't a sign of a problem on its own.
  • It's waterproof, so you can shower with it on, but don't soak or submerge it (no baths, pools, hot tubs, lakes, or oceans).
  • If it starts leaking heavily, lifting badly at the edges, or causing real pain, remove it early and move to the wash-and-lotion routine below.
  • Remove it slowly in a warm shower, pulling in the direction of hair growth to minimize discomfort.

Regular Plastic Wrap

  • This is only meant to stay on for a few hours — remove it within about 2–4 hours, and never leave it on overnight.
  • Plastic wrap isn't breathable, so leaving it on too long traps moisture and heat against fresh skin and raises the risk of irritation or infection.
  • Once it's off, move straight to the wash-and-ointment routine below — most artists don't have you re-wrap after the first removal.

Once any wrap is off, the routine is the same regardless of which one your artist used:

  • Wash gently with clean hands, unscented antibacterial soap, and lukewarm water. Pat dry with a clean paper towel — never a cloth towel.
  • Apply a thin layer of the aftercare product your artist recommends, 2–3 times a day, for the first several days.
  • Once the tattoo starts to peel (usually days 3–6), switch to a fragrance-free lotion instead of ointment.
  • Do not pick, scratch, or peel scabs — let them fall off naturally, or you risk pulling out ink and scarring.
  • No soaking — avoid baths, pools, hot tubs, lakes, and oceans until fully healed (roughly 2–4 weeks).
  • Keep it out of direct sun while healing. Once healed, always use SPF 30+ over the tattoo to keep it looking sharp long-term.
  • Wear loose, breathable clothing over the area to avoid friction and trapped sweat.
  • Avoid heavy sweating/strenuous workouts for the first few days.
  • Don't over-apply ointment — too much can suffocate the skin and pull color out while healing.
  • Full surface healing usually takes 2–4 weeks; deeper skin regeneration can take a couple of months.
  • Call or text the shop right away if you notice excess redness, red streaking, swelling, pus, or fever — signs of possible infection.
your info
Please print your full legal name.
Date of birth is required.
Phone number is required.
Please enter a valid email.
Address is required.
Required.
Required.
proof of age
Please upload a photo of your ID.
health & allergies
terms — please read & check each box

In consideration of receiving a tattoo from Francisco Tanchez (the "Artist") and The Thirteenth Floor Tattoo Lounge and its employees, apprentices, and agents, I have been fully informed of the inherent risks associated with getting a tattoo, including but not limited to infection, scarring, difficulty detecting melanoma, and allergic reactions to pigment, latex gloves, and/or soap. Having been informed of these risks, I still wish to proceed and I freely accept and expressly assume any and all risks that may arise from tattooing.

I declare that I am 18 years of age or older, have provided valid proof of age, and am competent to sign this agreement.

I agree to pay the Artist the agreed minimum or the hourly rate. Session time begins at setup and ends at clean-up. Minimum for any tattoo is $400; after the scheduled session time runs out, the additional rate is $400/hr.

I do not have any known allergies to antibiotic ointments, latex, or petroleum products, other than what I've listed above. If I have any, I will tell the Artist before any work begins so equipment and products can be adjusted accordingly.

I waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Artist and The Thirteenth Floor from all liability for any claims or causes of action for personal injury or otherwise, including direct and/or consequential damages, arising from the application of my tattoo — whether caused by negligence, fault, or otherwise.

The Artist has given me full opportunity to ask questions about my tattoo, and all my questions have been answered to my satisfaction. The Artist has given me aftercare instructions, which I understand and agree to follow. I understand a tattoo can become infected, particularly from my own negligence, and that any touch-up needed due to my own negligence will be done at my own expense at the hourly rate.

I am not under the influence of alcohol or drugs and am voluntarily submitting to be tattooed without duress or coercion. I do not have diabetes, epilepsy, hemophilia, a heart condition, and do not take blood-thinning medication, unless noted above. I am not pregnant or nursing, and I do not have a mental impairment affecting my judgment in getting this tattoo.

Neither the Artist nor The Thirteenth Floor is responsible for the meaning or spelling of any symbol or text I have provided or chosen. I understand variations may exist between the design I selected and the finished tattoo, and that color and clarity will fade over time due to sun exposure and natural pigment dispersion. Areas of frequent movement (hands, fingers, elbows, joints) will often need touch-ups at my own expense. A tattoo is a permanent change to my appearance, removable only by laser or surgical means, which may be costly, disfiguring, and unlikely to fully restore my original skin.

Photographs: Please ask before photographing the artist. By checking below, I release all rights to any photographs taken of me and my tattoo and consent in advance to their reproduction in print or electronic form (including social media). If you do not wish to consent, leave this box unchecked and tell your artist directly.

I agree to reimburse the Artist and The Thirteenth Floor for attorneys' fees and costs incurred in any legal action I bring against either party in which they are the prevailing party. I agree the courts of Virginia, Fairfax County, have personal jurisdiction and exclusive venue over any dispute arising from this agreement.

I acknowledge I was given adequate opportunity to read and understand this document, that it was not presented to me at the last minute, and that I am signing a legal contract waiving certain rights. I have read this agreement, understand it, and agree to be bound by it in full.

signature
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waiver received.

Thanks — bring your ID with you to your appointment. See you soon.

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