Frequently Asked Questions
Where do you work?
What are your hours?
Bethany is the sole owner, operator, and artist at Little Bee Stings Tattoos in Greenville, North Carolina. Address and accessibility information will be sent once your appointment is confirmed. All services, including consults, are done by appointment only. No regular walk-in hours are available.
How long have you been tattooing?
Bethany has been professionally tattooing since July 2015, and drawing since early childhood. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Fine Arts and Design from East Carolina University. Learn more about Bethany's tattoo history here.
What style do you tattoo?
Bethany offers a variety of tattoo styles including fine-line and dotwork, geometric and ornamental tattoos, illustrative and neotraditional color, florals, and pet portraits. She prefers not to do tattoos that are tribal style (including polynesian), photo-realism, or leg/arm bands. Bethany does not offer coverups in any style at this time. Please browse the Portfolio to see examples of her work. Additionally, you can see her most recently made tattoos on social media, by following @little.bee.stings on Instagram and Tiktok.
How do I make an appointment?
Books will reopen July1-2, 2025 for appointments to be scheduled for the remainder of July through the end of December, 2025:
A submission form will be linked here from 12:00am on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 until 11:59pm on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. The form will automatically close at this time and no further submissions will be accepted. Requests are not accepted based on order of submission, so please take your time completing all fields competently and appropriately. Failure to provide requested information will result in denial of your request.
Upon submission, you will receive an email copy of your completed form. (Do not reply to this email.) If you do not receive a copy of your form, it means your email address was entered incorrectly and I have no way of contacting you.
Due to the amount of time slots available and the anticipated volume of requests, I will not be able to accommodate everyone who submits a request.
I will contact you by email ONLY from little.bee.bethany@gmail.com. Any other form of contact may be an attempted scam.
All submissions will receive a response by midnight on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. ​
Touchups (on tattoos done by Bethany no more than 1 year prior) may be scheduled at any time via email: little.bee.bethany@gmail.com
(Please read further for full touchup policy.)
What amount is required for a deposit?
What does my deposit cover?
A partial, nonrefundable deposit is required upfront for all appointments.
Deposits are $100 for most appointments. Full-day appointments require a 50% deposit. Deposits are payable online via Venmo and Square.
Your deposit goes towards the total cost of your tattoo unless you reschedule/cancel with less than 48 hours notice, are 10+ minutes late, or no-show. In such cases, your original deposit will be forfeited. Your original deposit will cover up to 2 reschedules (with adequate notice) if necessary. In the event you need to reschedule a 3rd time, your original deposit will be forfeited.
Deposits will only be refunded in the event that Bethany needs to cancel your appointment and is unable to accommodate a reschedule in a reasonable time frame.
We reserve the right to refuse future services to anyone who no-shows their appointment or habitually reschedules.
Did you really offer me a discounted tattoo on Tiktok?
In March of 2024, we became aware of a fraudulent Tiktok account that was offering special deals and discounts via direct messages on the app (in exchange for an up front payment, of course). We will never conduct any professional communication- including scheduling- via direct message on any platform. Although the first offending account was finally taken down by Tiktok for violating their terms of service, there has since been at least one additional fake account and there is always the possibility that more will be made. Unfortunately we have no means of preventing this. NEVER send anyone money online without verifying their identity. If you have become a victim of this scam, your only recourse is to dispute the charge via whatever platform your payment was made with (Paypal, Venmo, Cashapp, etc).
Bethany's only official platforms are as follows:
Instagram: @little.bee.stings
Tiktok: @little.bee.stings
Facebook: Little Bee Stings Tattoos
Email: little.bee.bethany@gmail.com
How should I prepare for my appointment?
What should I bring with me?
A full, restful night of sleep prior to your appointment is best. Do not drink excessive caffeine or alcohol within 24 hours prior to your appointment- both can affect how much you bleed during a tattoo and how your skin accepts ink. Hydrate and eat a solid meal (including carbs) within an hour prior to your appointment. This will help regulate your blood sugar throughout the tattoo and prevent light-headedness. You may also bring a bottled drink (water, Gatorade, soda or juice- no energy drinks or coffee) and a snack (protein bar, nuts, candy- nothing crumbly or messy please) for longer sessions. We usually keep a stocked mini-fridge with drinks and snacks as well if you need anything during your appointment.
Wear clothing that is comfortable and allows easy access to the tattoo area. It is always a possibility that ink will get on your clothing and it may not wash out. Bathing suits/bikinis are often the best choice for tattoos around the hip/buttocks area. For sternum tattoos, clients often use a zip-up hoodie or button-down shirt to allow access to the area. Nipples can be covered with pasties, bandaids, or tape (we do not provide these). Layered clothing or a small blanket can be helpful in case you get cold or too warm. You are welcome to bring a pillow or small stuffed animal for comfort. For spine/back tattoos, a zip hoodie or button-down shirt can be worn backwards for coverage on the front. If you have any questions specific to your tattoo/placement, please let us know prior to your arrival.
It is required by state law that we document your identification method and verify that you are over 18 years old. You may use a driver's license, state identification, military identification, or passport. (Birth certificates are not an acceptable form of ID.) If you do not bring your ID, you will not be tattooed and your deposit will not be refunded.
Cash is preferred to pay the remaining balance on your tattoo. There is not an ATM on premises. Beginning 6/1/2023, debit, credit, or Venmo transactions will incur a 3% additional processing fee. (Fees do not apply to deposits.)
You may bring one guest aged 16 or older to your appointment. Do not bring children with you to your tattoo appointment. If your guest or child poses an interruption to your appointment, you will be rescheduled at the expense of your original deposit. You may wish to bring something to distract yourself during the tattoo, such as headphones, a book, handheld gaming device, etc. Consider beforehand if this will be usable given the area of your tattoo (for example, if getting your arm tattooed, you will only have one hand available to move freely).
Especially for larger tattoos, it is highly recommended that you do not make plans for the remainder of the day of your tattoo appointment. Although Bethany is able to give an estimate for how long your tattoo will take, this is not a guarantee and we do not want to feel rushed during your procedure.
How should I take care of my tattoo?
Written aftercare instructions will be provided at your appointment, as follows:
Always wash your hands before touching your new tattoo.
Remove the bandage from your tattoo after at least one hour. Upon removal, immediately wash your tattoo with antibacterial soap and warm water. Use the palm of your hand to scrub away all blood and plasma. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean towel or paper towel.
Allow your tattoo to air dry for 12-24 hours. Larger tattoos with heavy shading/color will weep fluids during this time- wash frequently to prevent this from drying and causing scabs. After your tattoo has dried, begin using Hustle Butter, Aquaphor or unscented lotion twice a day for at least 2 weeks. Continue to wash your tattoo with antibacterial soap at least once a day. Your tattoo may peel similar to a sunburn. Do not scratch, pick, or peel your tattoo during healing.
Avoid wearing tight, abrasive clothing over your tattoo during healing. Sweatpants/leggings are preferable over denim pants.
It is recommended that you sleep on freshly washed sheets/linens. Do not allow pets to sleep in your bed during this time.
For at least 2 weeks, do not soak or submerge your tattoo in a hot tub, bathtub, lake, ocean, or pool. Showers are safe (and encouraged).
For at least 2 weeks, do not expose your tattoo to direct sunlight, or go tanning outdoors or in a tanning bed. Do not get a spray tan or use self-tanning lotion on your tattoo until it is fully healed.
Additionally keep in mind that after healing, your tattoo will fade faster from sun exposure/tanning without SPF protection. Color inks will fade more noticeably than black ink. We recommend a minimum SPF 30 protection for any outdoor activities and swimming.
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If you have any concerns during the healing process of your tattoo, please bring them to our attention via email immediately. Although the internet is a great resource, there can be lots of conflicting information available regarding tattoo care.
What is your touchup policy?
We will cover one free touchup within the first year on any tattoo that is not on the fingers/toes, below the wrist/ankle or above the neck (including behind the ear). Touchups are done as needed- not every tattoo will need a touchup. As appointments are stretching out several months at a time, please do not wait until your "one year" is about to expire to inquire about a touchup.
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A touchup is done to address any part of the tattoo that did not heal as intended. This typically shows as inconsistencies in the lines or color. Tattoo healing is dependent on many factors, including contact with clothing or other abrasive materials, potential hazards in your workplace or household (including pets and children).
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A free touchup does not cover any additions whatsoever to the original tattoo (adding words, dates, color, or any design elements not included in the original design unless agreed upon beforehand), a "refresh"/redo of the entire tattoo, any tattoo done more than 1 year prior or originally done by another tattoo artist. Healed tattoos are seated beneath the epidermis, which means they will appear differently compared to a fresh tattoo. It is imperative to use sun protection and moisturizer regularly to maintain the best appearance of your tattoo. The more that you tan or use self/spray tanners, the less vivid your tattoo will appear.
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Most tattoos are considered fully healed and "settled" around 6 weeks old. At this point, you should be able to tell if your tattoo needs a touchup. If you would like to schedule a touchup, or are uncertain if your tattoo needs a touchup, please send a current, healed photo of your tattoo to Bethany at little.bee.bethany@gmail.com
Touchups may be scheduled at any time regardless of books being open or closed.
Touchups are done during the week (Monday-Wednesday) only.
