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A Dose of Ink
A Dose of Ink
A Dose of Ink

A Dose of Ink San Mateo

Lash & brow studio in San Mateo, CA · 2 locations

Rated 5.0 out of 5 (8 on Google Maps) (opens in a new tab) Closed now

Founded by Kat, who also works as the artist, A Dose of Ink offers cosmetic and paramedical tattooing at two studios: 611 South B Street in San Mateo and 4131 Piedmont Avenue in Oakland. The business describes its philosophy as restorative and empowering, combining clinical safety with fine-art technique, and its mission as work that is hard to detect and helps paramedical clients feel like themselves again after unexpected circumstances.

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About

Founded by Kat, who also works as the artist, A Dose of Ink offers cosmetic and paramedical tattooing at two studios: 611 South B Street in San Mateo and 4131 Piedmont Avenue in Oakland. The business describes its philosophy as restorative and empowering, combining clinical safety with fine-art technique, and its mission as work that is hard to detect and helps paramedical clients feel like themselves again after unexpected circumstances.

Cosmetic services include microblading, powder ombré brows, hybrid brows, nano machine hairstroke brows, permanent eyeliner, upper lash enhancement, beauty marks, and cover-up and correction. Paramedical services include scalp micropigmentation and female density hair fill, areola and 3D areola restoration, belly button restoration, and scar and stretchmark camouflage. Pigments are custom blended to match each client's undertone and are described as hypoallergenic.

Every new client can start with a complimentary consultation, either by phone (about 20 minutes) or in person (about 30 minutes). An in-person consultation is required before permanent eyeliner, scalp micropigmentation, scar revision and areola restoration, and before a color correction is booked. Most first brow sessions run about two hours, and nano hairstroke brows run about two and a half. The color looks darker for the first few days, flakes through about day ten, and settles by around day 28.

Saline removal and lightening is a non-laser method that uses a Dead Sea salt solution to draw pigment up into a scab that sheds on its own. Most clients need at least three treatments, and results often take four to six sessions, depending on ink depth and saturation. Emergency removal is offered for tattoos less than 72 hours old; if that window is missed, treatment waits four weeks. Saline removal cannot address traditional body tattoos over 1.5 inches, permanent eyeliner, or lip tattoos other than lip liner placed outside the lip line.

Clients with compromised immunity, poorly managed diabetes, prescription blood thinners, or a history of keloid scarring need a doctor's clearance first. Permanent makeup and paramedical tattooing are not done during pregnancy or nursing, during chemotherapy or radiation, or within 12 months of taking Accutane. Online booking opens on the first day of each month for the following month. Itemized receipts are provided for possible reimbursement through health savings or flexible spending accounts.

Cosmetic pigment is placed just below the skin's surface and the business describes the results as waterproof and long lasting. Removal and lightening rely on a saline method rather than laser.

Private studios are designed to feel calm and inclusive.

Services

Final prices may vary.

A complimentary 20-minute phone consultation or a complimentary 30-minute in-person consultation, the latter required before several procedures.

  • Complimentary In-Person Consultation Price at booking
  • Complimentary Phone Consultation Price at booking

Brow and eyeliner tattooing, including microblading, powder ombré, hybrid brows, permanent eyeliner and beauty marks, plus cover-up and correction.

  • Cover Up / Correction Price at booking
  • Eyebrow Microblading Price at booking
  • Hybrid Brows Price at booking
  • Permanent Eyeliner Price at booking
  • Powder Ombré Eyebrows Price at booking

Initial brow sessions in microblading, powder ombré, hybrid and nano hairstroke styles, cover-up and color correction, and annual color refreshes for existing clients.

  • Annual Color Refresh 6-12 Months (existing clients) $350
  • Annual Color Refresh | 6-12 Months | EXISTING CLIENTS ONLY $350
  • Annual Color Refresh 1-2 Years (existing clients) $450
  • Annual Color Refresh | 1-2 Years | EXISTING CLIENTS ONLY $450
  • Eyebrow Microblading Initial Session $525
  • Microblading • Initial Session $525
  • Ombre Powder Brow Initial Session $525
  • Combination / Hybrid Brows Initial Session $550
  • Nano Machine Hairstroke Eyebrows Initial Session $600
  • Color Correction / Coverup $700

Permanent eyeliner for the upper lash line or upper and lower lash lines, touch-ups for existing clients, and upper lash enhancement.

  • Eyeliner Touch-Up #1 $100
  • Upper Lash Enhancement $400
  • Eyeliner Upper $450
  • Eyeliner Upper & Lower $600

Beauty marks, scalp micropigmentation, stretch mark revision, and saline removal and lightening options.

  • Beauty Mark $75
  • Saline Removal Tattoo-Pigment Lightening / Removal $200+
  • Emergency Saline Removal/Lightening $250
  • Stretchmark Revision (Inkless or Camouflage) $250–$1,000
  • Paramedical Tattoo Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP) $300

Scalp micropigmentation and female density hair fill, scar and stretch mark camouflage, and areola, 3D areola and belly button restoration.

  • Female Density Hair Fill (SMP) $250
  • Scar Revision / Camouflage $250–$1,000
  • Stretchmark Revision $250–$1,000
  • Scalp Micropigmentation $300–$600
  • 3D Areola Restoration Price at booking
  • Areola Restoration Price at booking
  • Belly Button Restoration Price at booking
  • Scar Camouflage Price at booking

Non-laser saline removal and lightening, in initial, subsequent and emergency sessions, for unwanted tattoo pigment.

  • Saline Removal / Lightening Subsequent Session $150
  • Saline Removal / Lightening Initial $200
  • Emergency Saline Removal $250
  • Saline Removal Price at booking

Photos

  • Eyebrow microblading before and after on a client
  • Eyebrow microblading before and after on a client
  • Lash result close-up with brand watermark
  • Areola tattoo before and after on a client
  • Scalp micropigmentation before and after on the back of the head
  • Close-up of microbladed eyebrows on a client
  • Scalp hair density before and after treatment
  • Treatment room with bed, shelves and wall art
  • Private studio with treatment bed, lamp and ring light
  • Waiting area with chairs, magazines and wall art
  • Artist applying brow tattoo work to a client
  • Before and after eyebrow microblading results

Meet the team

Their website doesn't list the team, so we don't either.

Highlights
  • Two locations, in San Mateo and Oakland
  • Complimentary phone and in-person consultations
  • Non-laser saline removal and lightening, with emergency removal for tattoos under 72 hours old
  • Custom-blended, hypoallergenic pigments matched to each client's undertone
  • Itemized receipts for HSA or FSA reimbursement
  • Packages available for scar and stretchmark revision
Good for
  • First-time brow clients
  • Permanent eyeliner
  • Areola restoration
  • Scalp hair density concerns
  • Tattoo lightening and removal
  • Existing clients due for an annual color refresh
  • Clients who need a doctor's clearance before treatment
Treats
  • Sparse or uneven brows
  • Thinning hair density
  • Scars
  • Stretch marks
  • Areola loss
  • Belly button restoration
  • Unwanted tattoo pigment
  • Faded or unevenly healed permanent makeup
  • Tattoo cover-up and correction
Techniques
  • Microblading
  • Powder ombré brows
  • Hybrid brows
  • Nano machine hairstroke brows
  • Permanent eyeliner
  • Upper lash enhancement
  • Scalp micropigmentation
  • 3D areola restoration
  • Saline removal and lightening
  • Emergency saline removal

Products & treatments

  • Custom-blended hypoallergenic pigments
  • Dead Sea salt solution for saline removal

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