Frequently Asked Questions

Royal Ave Tattoo & Fine Jewelry Co. is located at 5010 Louetta Rd, Suite E, Spring, TX 77379. We are easy to find and always welcoming new faces.

We are open Monday through Thursday from 12–9 PM and Friday and Saturday from 12–10 PM. We are closed on Sundays.

Walk-ins are our bread and butter and we absolutely love them! If you are ready to get tattooed or pierced, come on in — smaller tattoos and piercings are perfect for walk-in visits, subject to artist availability.

For larger, more detailed work or if you are coming in as a group, we recommend booking an appointment in advance so we can give your piece the time and attention it deserves. Either way, our door is always open and we are always happy to see you!

You can reach us through our website at royalavetattoo.com, through our Instagram @royalavetattoo, or by calling the shop directly. You may also swing by the shop to make an appointment and get a free consultation.
We look forward to hearing from you!

We want getting your dream tattoo to be as stress free as possible — and that includes the payment process.

Royal Ave Tattoo accepts:

• Credit and debit cards

• Tap to pay — Apple Pay, Google Pay, and contactless payments

• Klarna — split your purchase into easy installments

• Afterpay — buy now and pay over time with zero interest

Klarna and Afterpay are especially popular for larger work like sleeves, back pieces, and full bodysuits — because world class art should never feel out of reach. We want to make sure that budget is never the reason you don’t get the tattoo you have always wanted.

Have questions about payment options before booking? Just reach out — we are always happy to talk it through.

Our shop minimum is $80. Hourly work starts at $200 per hour. Beyond that, every tattoo is unique — we price work based on size, placement, style, and complexity, and we are happy to discuss the best approach for your specific piece during a consultation. The best way to get an accurate quote is to contact us directly or stop in — we will always be upfront and fair with you.

For larger planned work, we require a $200 deposit to book your appointment. Your deposit goes directly toward the cost of your tattoo.

Deposits are non-refundable for no-shows or last-minute cancellations — this helps us respect our artists’ time and the appointment slots held for you. If you need to reschedule, just give us at least 48 hours’ notice and your deposit will carry over to your new appointment.

For smaller walk-in tattoos, no deposit is necessary — just come on in!

At Royal Ave, we specialize in a wide range of tattoo styles to bring your vision to life. Our head artist Russell Bagwell is internationally recognized for his award-winning Japanese and Neo-Japanese work — particularly large scale bodysuit tattoos that are as breathtaking as they are technically masterful.

Our full list of specialties includes:

Japanese & Neo-Japanese, Black & Grey, Blackout, Traditional & Neo-Traditional, Fine Line, Portraits, Cover-ups, and Full Color tattoos.

No matter your style or vision, our artists bring years of experience and genuine passion to every piece. If you are not sure what style is right for you, we are always happy to talk it through during a consultation — just come on in or reach out!

Absolutely. Cover-ups are one of our specialties. Every cover-up is evaluated individually — contact us with a photo of your existing tattoo and we will let you know what is possible.

Yes! Co-owner AshLee Bagwell is a professional female piercer with 15 years of experience. We offer a wide range of body piercings in a clean, safe, and welcoming environment where your comfort is always the priority.

AshLee offers a wide range of professional body piercings including:

Earlobe piercing, cartilage piercing, helix, tragus, daith piercing, rook, conch, nostril piercing, septum piercing, eyebrow piercing, lip piercing, tongue piercing, navel piercing, and surface piercings. We also offer microdermal piercings for clients 18 and older.

Whether it’s your first piercing or you’re adding to your collection, AshLee brings 15 years of experience and a steady hand to every appointment. We use only high quality jewelry and follow strict Texas Health Department safety standards to ensure your piercing heals beautifully.

You must be 18 years or older to receive a tattoo. No exceptions.

We pierce clients ages 12 and above. Please note that microdermal piercings are for adults 18 and older only — no exceptions.

Because we are required to follow Texas Health Department regulations, please make sure you come prepared with the following:
Minors must bring a valid picture ID — this can be a Safe Child card, passport, school ID, or even a yearbook photo. A parent or legal guardian listed on the birth certificate must be physically present with a valid driver’s license or state ID.

If the minor has a Texas state ID or out-of-state ID: No birth certificate is required, as long as the last name and address match on both the minor’s ID and the parent’s ID.

If the names or addresses do not match: A birth certificate is required, no exceptions.

These are not our rules — they are Texas Health Department regulations that we are required to follow. We want your experience to be smooth and stress-free, so please double check your documents before your appointment. When in doubt, bring the birth certificate!

Your artist will walk you through complete aftercare instructions at your appointment — Texas law requires us to provide both verbal and written aftercare guidance to every client.

Per Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) guidelines, for at least two weeks following your tattoo you should:

• Avoid sun exposure — keep your new tattoo out of direct sunlight

• No swimming — stay out of pools, lakes, rivers, and hot tubs

• Keep it clean — gently cleanse the tattooed area regularly

• Moisturize — apply antibiotic ointment or cream as directed

• Cover when necessary — use sterile bandages or dressings as needed

If you notice any signs of infection or an allergic reaction, consult a healthcare provider immediately. When in doubt, call us — we are always happy to help you through the healing process.

AshLee will walk you through complete aftercare instructions at your appointment — both verbally and in writing, as required by the Texas Health Department.

Based on guidelines from the Association of Professional Piercers (APP), here is what to keep in mind:

• Wash your hands thoroughly before touching your piercing for any reason

• Rinse with sterile saline solution as needed during healing — look for a wound wash saline with 0.9% sodium chloride as the only ingredient

• Leave your jewelry in at all times — even well healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes• Avoid harsh soaps — if you use soap, choose a gentle, fragrance free, dye free formula and rinse thoroughly

• Do not rotate or twist your jewelry during healing

• Avoid touching your piercing with unwashed hands

• See a professional for any jewelry changes during healing — do not attempt to change jewelry yourself until fully healed

• If you suspect infection — redness, swelling, unusual discharge, or fever — consult a healthcare provider promptly

When in doubt, come see us. We are always happy to check on your healing piercing and answer any questions!

Aftercare guidelines sourced from the Association of Professional Piercers (safepiercing.org)

Every body is different, but here are general healing timelines to keep in mind:

Tattoos:

The surface of a tattoo typically appears healed within 1-4 weeks. 

Piercings:

Healing times vary widely depending on placement:

• Earlobes — 6 to 8 weeks

• Ear cartilage — 6 to 12 months

• Nostril — 4 to 6 months

• Septum — 6 to 8 weeks

• Eyebrow — 6 to 9 months

• Navel/Belly button — 6 to 12 months

• Lip — 6 to 8 weeks

• Tongue — 4 to 6 weeks

• Microdermals — 1 to 3 months for initial healing, up to a year to fully settle

These are estimates — your piercer will give you personalized guidance at your appointment. The most important thing is to never assume a piercing is fully healed just because it looks or feels fine on the surface.

This is one of the most common concerns we hear — and the most misunderstood part of healing a new piercing.

Irritation is normal. Some oozing, crusting, and tenderness around a new piercing is completely expected. It is simply your body doing its job. Irritation is as certain as death and taxes — it is always going to be part of the healing process. Do not panic.True infection is actually rare. When proper aftercare is followed, genuine infections are uncommon. The biggest mistake clients make is confusing normal irritation with infection and either over-cleaning the piercing or removing the jewelry — both of which make things worse.

AshLee’s easy rule to remember:

“If it’s yellow or white, you’re alright. If it’s green, you need to be seen. When in doubt, soak it out!”

Yellow or white discharge is normal lymph fluid — your body healing itself. Green discharge is the signal to see a healthcare provider. And when something just feels off, a good saline soak and a visit to see us is always the right first step.

Many people assume gold is a safe and luxurious option for a new piercing — but the truth is more complicated. Most gold jewelry is not pure gold. Lower karat gold (anything below 14k) contains metal alloys that can include nickel, lead, and other impurities that are known irritants and allergens. Even some 14k gold contains enough alloy content to cause reactions in sensitive skin. Gold plated and gold filled jewelry are never appropriate for a fresh piercing — the plating can wear away inside the piercing channel and expose raw tissue to the base metal underneath.
What we recommend instead:

• Implant grade titanium (ASTM F136) — lightweight, hypoallergenic, and available in a range of anodized colors

• Implant grade steel — a solid option for those without metal sensitivities

• Solid 14k or 18k gold from a reputable manufacturer — if gold is your preference, it must be solid, not plated or filled, and sourced properly

• Niobium — another excellent hypoallergenic option

When in doubt, ask AshLee. Choosing the right jewelry from the start is one of the most important things you can do to ensure a smooth and beautiful heal.

Yes. Touch-ups on work done at Royal Ave are handled on a case-by-case basis. Proper aftercare plays a big role in how a tattoo heals, so follow your aftercare instructions closely for the best results.

Absolutely — co-owners Russell and AshLee are proud to offer 10% off to active military, veterans, and first responders on their work. Just show valid ID at your appointment. It is our small but sincere way of saying thank you for your service.

For work with our other artists, please inquire directly with them about their individual pricing and any discounts they may offer.

Yes, there is convenient parking available right at our suite location on Louetta Rd.

In a world full of tattoo shops, Royal Ave is something else entirely.

We are a husband and wife owned studio that has been rooted in the Spring, TX community since Valentine’s Day 2013 — built not just on technical excellence, but on a genuine love for this craft and the people who walk through our door. Every client is family here, and we treat every piece of work like it matters, because it does.

Our head artist Russell Bagwell is an internationally recognized, award-winning tattoo artist whose Japaneseand Neo-Japanese bodysuit work has been featured in world-renowned Australian tattoo publications and worn by elite UFC athletes. Co-owner AshLee Bagwell is a professional piercer with 15 years of experience whose work has been featured in BME — Body Modification Ezine, one of the most respected publications in the body modification world.

Beyond the shop, Russell and AshLee serve on the Board of Directors for The Metallic Sunflower Foundation, a Houston-area nonprofit, leading The Iron Petal Initiative right here in Spring, TX — because giving back to the community that built us has always been part of who we are.

We are proud to offer a 10% discount to active military, veterans, and first responders. We love walk-ins. We pour everything into every appointment.

Royal Ave is not just a tattoo shop. It never has been.