NINTH LIFE STUDIO
WELCOME TO NINTH LIFE STUDIO
As a private tattoo boutique composed of four artists, we strive to not only create the best tattoos customized to each individual client, but also to offer a uniquely fun and comfortable experience in the process. Whether it be translating rough concepts and ideas into tattooable art, commemorating special moments and loved ones with portraits, or just curing your tattoo itch with a quick zap for fun, we love what we do and we love to give you our best.
ISAIAH ESPINOSA
How long have you been tattooing and what is your rate? 15+ years, my rate is $200/hr
Which styles of tattooing would you consider to be your specialties? Cover-ups. Although I'm also proficient with portrait/realism, illustrative, and new school.
Favorite thing to chat about during a session? Gossip, poop horror stories, TV shows, dad jokes.
Music guilty pleasure? Disney songs.​
ARTISTS
STEPHANIE SIMON
How long have you been tattooing? I began tattooing as an apprentice in 2012, and as a professional in 2014.
Which styles of tattooing would you consider to be your specialties? Fever dream-esque, illustrative blackwork, sometimes with neon colors I like to call my style "Horrorlore" since I'm heavily inspired by creepy folklore and history.
Favorite thing to chat about during a session? Ghost stories, traumatizing poop stories (this seems to be a theme for our shop), bad movies and my amateur opinions on how they could be better.
Music guilty pleasure? 90s college rock and commercial jingles.
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KATE ERSO
How long have you been tattooing?
Which styles of tattooing would you consider to be your specialties?
Favorite thing to chat about during a session?
Music guilty pleasure?
RICHARD SALAZAR
How long have you been tattooing? I've been the shop apprentice at Ninth Life since August 2021, and tattooing on clients for 10 months. My rates per tattoo vary depending on size, placement, and difficulty. Lucky you, my rates are very affordable for clients who are budget conscious.
Which styles of tattooing would you consider to be your specialties? As a newer tattoo artist I'm still exploring various styles. I like consulting with my clients and drawing/tattooing what they want regardless of style.
Favorite thing to chat about during a session? Movies, shows, poor life decisions, you know...the usual stuff.
Music guilty pleasure?Folky hipster stuff like Of Monsters and Men and The Lumineers (the shame).
CONTACT US
ADDRESS
1436 S. Wadsworth Blvd
Lakewood, CO 80232
By Appointment Only
Studio is located in the Sunrise Sunset strip mall, next door to the Scuba store
AFTERCARE
*We have two methods of wrapping up your fresh tattoo once it is finished. Please be sure to note whether we have wrapped you in standard cling wrap or Saniderm*
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CLING WRAP AFTERCARE
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Your new tattoo is permanent, therefore you should take every precaution to ensure a healthy healing. Always wash your hands thoroughly before handling, cleaning, and caring for your tattoo. A tattoo is an open wound and should be touched with clean hands to avoid infection. Proper hand washing includes using hot water and anti-bacterial soap, as well as always using clean bed linens and bath towels throughout the healing period. Leave your bandage on for at least 2 hours, then proceed to take your bandage off and wash with warm soapy water. A clear antimicrobial liquid hand soap is best and make sure to work up a lather. Wash using the lather until any excess blood and plasma are removed. Rinse with warm water until all the soap is removed. PAT DRY with a new paper towel and let air dry for 10 minutes. Apply AQUAPHOR ointment lightly to your tattoo 3 times/day for 3 days, using a pea sized amount or smaller. It is possible to suffocate your skin by using too much ointment; this can cause infection, rejection, rash, and skin irritation, so always use the lightest amount possible. Rub the ointment into your tattoo using only clean fingertips, then blot any excess with a clean, dry, paper towel. After 3 days, switch to unscented hand lotion. Apply a small amount and rub it in, reapplying as needed (when your tattoo looks dry). Around day 4, your tattoo will begin to itch and peel like a sunburn. -DO NOT pick, rub, scratch, shave over, or exfoliate your tattoo for at least 2 weeks. -DO NOT soak or submerge your tattoo in water outside of normal showering for at least 2 weeks. No swimming, baths, or sauna and showers should be brief for at least 2 weeks. -DO NOT: expose your tattoo to sun or UV (tanning beds) for at least 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, use SPF 50 or higher on your tattoo if it will be exposed to the sun. The sun will dull your tattoo making it look older, faster. -DO NOT get any hair products, cosmetics, fragrance lotions / sprays, cleaning products, or bodily fluids on your tattoo for at least 2 weeks. -DO NOT re-bandage your tattoo for any reason. The bandage may be stuck to your tattoo -do not tear it off. Instead, get the bandage wet with cold water until it comes off easily. Restrict physical activity i.e. sports, weight lifting, etc. during the first 2 weeks. Your tattoo should take about a month to heal completely and return to normal skin. Please contact your artist with any questions or concerns regarding healing, complications, infections, or disease. Your body artist is required by law to report any conditions to the Health Department within 24 hours of discovery. Please contact a physician at the first sign of any adverse reaction including, but not limited to: persistent swelling, fever, redness, rash development, allergic reaction,infection, or illness.
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SANIDERM AFTERCARE
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Saniderm is a breathable, adhesive bandage that resembles cling wrap, but sticks to the body without needing to be removed right away. When used correctly, the bandage will seal in the body’s natural fluids and plasma to keep the cells hydrated so that they can break down the dead tissue and remove it more efficiently. Once your artist has placed the Saniderm bandage on your new tattoo, leave it on for 3 days. You may shower as normal with the bandage on. You should be able to notice a build up of plasma and ink trapped under the surface; as mentioned earlier, this is completely normal for the Saniderm aftercare process. on the third day, remove the bandage slowly in the shower and proceed to clean the tattoo as you would with the cling wrap aftercare process. Once the tattoo is clean of all build up, use a clean paper towel to pat dry it. Let it air dry for 10 minutes following the pat dry. Proceed to use an unscented lotion for the remainder of the healing time, 2-3 times a day, as needed. All limitations from the cling wrap aftercare instructions also apply to the Saniderm instructions.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Can I swing by to talk to you about what I want?
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Since the studio is a private atmosphere, we kindly ask that for the respect of any client we may be working with that you pre-arrange a meeting time to discuss your tattoo.
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How long do I have to wait to get an appointment?
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Booking time varies on the time of year. Generally we book 1-3 months in advance. We will usually temporarily close the books and stop accepting new appointments after 3 months.
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Do I need an ID to get tattooed?
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Legally we are obligated to check the photo ID of every person getting tattooed. Providing basic information and a signature on a short consent form is also a requirement.
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Why do I need to leave a deposit?
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The deposit assures us that you are serious about getting the tattoo and serious about showing up to get it. It's non-refundable, but it is subtracted from the final cost of your tattoo and is always applied to the final session. We will not book anything or draw anything without receiving the deposit.
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Do you accept credit card?
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We accept both cash and credit card.
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How much for a sleeve?
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There is no exact answer for this. Sleeves, half-sleeves, back pieces, etc. are priced based on how long it takes to execute them; this depends on the skin type, dimensions, and design of the piece. For this type of project we charge an hourly rate. Smaller, quick tattoos are priced according to the piece.
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Is it going to hurt?
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Yes. The level to which a tattoo hurts varies from person to person, but going into it with the mindset that it's going to "hurt so bad" never helps. Get lots of rest and stay hydrated the week prior to your appointment, eat a hearty meal before coming in, and most importantly bring lots of positive energy with you (snacks don't hurt, either.)
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I was out drinking all last night, am I going to be okay to get tattooed?
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We suggest that you don't drink alcohol the 24 hours prior to your appointment so that your skin takes the ink as best as possible.
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Can I bring my posse to my appointment?
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As there is limited space in the studio, we kindly ask that you limit yourself to one guest when arriving for your appointment.
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What happens if I move around during my tattoo? Will that mess it up?
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Oh, fa sho. Some of the most common habits we see in clients are grabbing for their phones, trying to take sips of drinks, talk elaborately with their bodies and hands, and just wriggle in general. Imagine trying to write your name on a piece of paper that's moving: not so easy, right? For the best possible outcome of your tattoo it's best to control your fidgety urges.​
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Are you trying to change my mind about certain things in my tattoo just because you don't want to do it?
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If we offer you suggestions or recommendations regarding certain aspects of the design of your tattoo our intentions are only to make it the best tattoo it can be. Sometimes ideas sound good on paper but don't translate aesthetically or compositionally to the skin. Your trust as a client means everything to us, and by you trusting our expertise we can make a pretty sweet tattoo together.
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I found this cool tattoo on Instagram and now I want it, exactly as it is in the photo.
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We will not copy another person's original tattoo. Clients pay good money to have something unique and special on their bodies forever, and ethically it is a big no-no. We are custom-design tattoo artists and reserve the right to decline projects if we feel that they do not relate to us aesthetically. Please browse through our portfolios to view our individual strengths as artists. If we feel the project would be better executed by a different artist with a different skill set we will recommend another artist for the project.
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Will my tattoo stay this sharp and bright forever?
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Short answer, no. It is natural for your tattoo to fade over time and for ink to expand in the skin. For the best preservation of your new artwork we recommend keeping it out of the sun as much as possible, and wearing a high SPF sunscreen when the sun is unavoidable.
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Do you do free touch ups?
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We will touch up our own work for free up to one year from the time you got the tattoo done. After the first year regular rates apply. Touchups on coverup tattoos are not free, as coverups can require multiple sessions/layers of ink to successfully cover the original tattoo.
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