General Questions
Our address is 78 Worcester Street in North Grafton, MA. We are in the plaza across the street from the restaurant Cancuns.
We are typically open Tuesday-Saturday, from 11am to 6pm, however we cannot guarantee when someone will be in the shop at any given time and artists may book outside of these hours. Each artist’s schedule varies day-to-day, so we strongly recommend booking an appointment in advance (you can find our appointment request form here) or calling us at 774-293-1255 to inquire about availability!
In accordance with MA state law, you must be at least 18 years of age to be tattooed. Every individual getting tattooed must present a current and valid state issued driver’s license, passport, or state ID. We cannot accept paper IDs or photocopies.
We will not tattoo anyone under the age of 18 regardless of parental consent.
Sorry, we do not do piercings at Heart in Hand.
We are happy to accommodate walk-ins when we have availability! We strongly recommend calling ahead at 774-293-1255 to see if any artists have availability that day, however. We are primarily by appointment, so we cannot guarantee when we have openings for walk-ins.
The easiest way to request an appointment is by filling out our Appointment Request Form. All artists do their own scheduling, so please allow up to 7 days before submitting a follow up. Be sure to also check your spam/junk inbox just in case the artist’s reply is filtered into there!
Tattoo pricing varies depending on sizing, style, the design, placement, and the artist’s hourly rate. Price estimates are typically given after discussing your idea with the artist. Our shop minimum is $100.
Appointment length will vary greatly depending on the size, placement, style, etc. Your artist may give an estimation of how long you will be in the shop, however please do not schedule anything for immediately after your tattoo appointment in case it rubs longer than anticipated.
We can accept cash or card, however we recommend checking with your artist as accepted payment methods may vary. An ATM is available just outside of the shop.
Our shop is spacious enough that clients are welcome to bring another person. If you want to bring more than one guest, please first ask your artist.
Preparing For Your Appointment
The best way to prepare for your appointment is to get a good night’s sleep, eat a meal at least an hour or so before the tattoo, and be well hydrated. For longer appointments, we recommend bringing a few snacks and a water bottle.
Please try to keep your skin in good condition by exfoliating and moisturizing the area to be tattooed the week before your appointment (please do not use any products on the area you will be tattooed the day of your appointment without checking with your artist). Please arrive clean for your appointment, and avoid wearing heavily scented products such as perfume or cologne.
If you have a sunburn or any other damage to the skin in the area to be tattooed, you will unfortunately need to wait until your skin has healed.
Wear comfy clothing that gives the artist unobstructed access to the location being tattooed. If you are unsure of what the best option is, just ask your artist and they will be happy to provide suggestions! There is a possibility that ink may get onto your clothing, so be sure to wear clothing that you do not mind potentially getting stained.
If you are considering using a numbing product, please first speak with your artist.
Taking Care of Your New Tattoo
Tattoos generally take 2-3 weeks to heal depending on sizing, style, and placement. Treat your fresh tattoo as an open wound, and do not touch it with dirty hands.
Gently wash your tattoo with a mild antibacterial liquid soap 2 or 3 times a day (and additionally as needed). Carefully pat the tattoo dry with a clean wash cloth or paper towel (do not rub or scrub the tattoo!), and next apply a thin layer of fragrance-free moisturizer. Do not use thick, petroleum based products such as vaseline or A&D.
As the tattoo heals, you can expect some peeling and flaking similar to a sunburn. The tattoo may also develop scabs. The tattoo will also likely get very itchy. Do not pick at the tattoo or scratch it.
If you notice any unexpected swelling, redness, rash, or drainage, please contact your health care provider as these can be signs of an infection.
Wear clean, loose, soft clothing. Avoid anything tight or constricting that may rub on the tattoo.
Avoid clothing that is dirty, itchy, or may cause excessive sweating as this can lead to infection or affect the healing process negatively. Similarly, make sure to use clean bed sheets to avoid contaminating your fresh tattoo.
You can shower with a healing tattoo, however you will need to avoid submerging your tattoo for at least 2-3 weeks.
DO NOT swim or expose your tattoo to chlorinated water, beaches, lakes, etc while your tattoo is healing.
Avoid exposing your new tattoo to the sun as much as you can while it is healing. After the tattoo is healed, be sure to apply sunblock to help reduce sun damage to your tattoo. DO NOT apply sunblock to a tattoo that has not yet healed.
Depending on the size and placement, you may want to take a break from working out during the early healing stage so you do not disrupt healing, irritate your skin, or risk getting an infection. Wait at least 2 or 3 days to work out (or longer depending on the tattoo), and try to stick to lighter physical activity for the first week or 2.
Do not let the tattoo touch any gym equipment, and remember to wash your tattoo after exercising.
