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Jenna LaRose, better known as TheTattBratt is a Toronto-based artist, currently specializing in handpoked tattooing. With a degree in textiles and material practices from Concordia University in Montreal, her interest in body ornamentation transcended from creating wearable artworks to adoring the skin directly.
Her work playfully explores themes of femininity, desire, and the dichotomy between light and darkness. With an affinity for the mindful and meditative aspects of handpoke techniques, Jenna also incorporates machine-work into her practice; creating alchemical tattoos that juxtapose blackwork, dotwork and fine-line elements.
Passionate about bringing her clients’ visions to life, Jenna enjoys taking on custom projects, while micro-realism, collage, and portraiture are her favourite subjects to tattoo.
She is currently in resident at Yes Electric Tattoos in Toronto.
Handpoked tattoos, also known as stick-and-poke or machine free tattoos, are a traditional method of tattooing that involves manually inserting ink into the skin through a series of dots using a handheld tattoo needle. This process is slower, and results in a distinct character and unique experience of receiving a tattoo. Handpoked tattoos are just as safe, and just as permanent as machine tattoos. Much of my work combines both handpoked and machine elements to achieve a unique result. I am always happy to discuss your preferences with you and utilize your preferred method/technique for each specific piece.
The pain level of a tattoo depends on various factors, including individual pain tolerance and the specific placement of the tattoo. That being said, handpoked tattoos are less abrasive, and cause less trauma to the skin compared to machine tattoos, and often hurt less as a result.
As handpoking causes less trauma to the skin, they often heal faster and easier in comparison machine tattoos. You can generally expect your handpoked tattoo to be fully healed within 2-weeks time. This is why I often recommend handpoking for trickier placements such as fingers, palms, feet, faces and heads as the fast and easy heal often results in better ink retention.
Please fill out the booking form on my website with all the requested information. For custom tattoos please also provide multiple reference images or a mock up if you have something very specific in mind. The more information you can give me the better! Booking requests will be responded to generally within a week’s time by email, where we will secure an appointment date/time, and you will be provided with information about sending in a deposit. Once the deposit is processed you will receive a confirmation email.
Deposits are required to secure all appointments. Deposits are $100, non refundable and go towards the final price of your tattoo. If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment I ask to please do so within 48 hours of your appointment, otherwise your deposit will be voided and a new deposit will be required to reschedule.
I do not send out designs prior to appointments. If you have any small changes you would like to make to the design I am happy to accommodate those the day of the appointment. If you would still like to see the design prior to the tattoo I do offer “art checks” in which you can come into the shop and see the design in person and we can discuss any changes you would like to make. Art checks will cost an additional $100 ontop of your tattoo appointment.
Make sure to eat a good meal prior to getting tattooed and feel free to bring snacks or something to drink to your appointment. Also make sure to be wearing comfortable clothes that easily expose the area in which you will be getting tattooed. Avoid drinking any alcohol 24 hours before getting a tattoo as alcohol thins the blood and promotes excess bleeding, which will effect how the ink goes into your skin as well as how your tattoo heals. Ibuprofen found in Advil and other pain medications also have the same effect so avoid those if possible.
Unless you are allergic, I generally prefer to use a “Tegaderm” type bandage (clear adhesive bandage) for healing tattoos. This is a a waterproof, breathable, medical grade bandage used in hospitals and is used to help heal wounds. I recommend for it to be worn for 3 – 5 days after getting tattooed. If your tattoo looks like it is “smearing or melting” or feels “wet” underneath the bandage while wearing the bandage, this is just the ink, plasma, and blood collecting under the bandage and is completely normal.
While wearing this bandage, avoid sweating excessively or soaking the area in water for long periods of time. To remove the bandage, gently peel it back from one corner, pulling parallel to the skin. Once the bandage is off, ensure that you are gently cleaning the tattoo with a mild, fragrance-free antibacterial soap and lukewarm water and do not scrub. Pat the tattoo dry with a clean, disposable paper towel, and do not rub.
Apply a thin layer of a fragrance-free, lotion or ointment to the tattooed area and repeat this process twice a day for the first 1-2 weeks of the healing process. Avoid soaking the tattoo in water (no baths, swimming, hot tubs, saunas) or exposing it to intense sunlight until the tattoo is fully healed. Touch ups are sometimes necessary after the tattoo is fully healed and are complimentary for up to one year.