I normally don't leave reviews, but I felt it was important to share my experience at Before Crayons after what happened with the owner and artist, Dre. My friend genuinely considered Dre a friend and trusted him with a deeply personal tattoo -- a realism piece in memory of a deceased family member. My friend thought they were in good hands, but unfortunately, that couldn't have been further from the truth.
The tattoo turned out extremely disappointing -- uneven lines, patchy shading, and proportions so off that the hands looked like Mickey Mouse hands. For something that meant so much, the care and quality simply weren't there.
Dre claimed to be the best tattooist in the city because he's been on TV and in newspapers, yet he's never earned an Ink Master plaque or any real recognition. He constantly talked down about other local shops, calling them "garbage" and saying other artists didn't know what they were doing -- which is ironic considering how poorly this tattoo turned out.
During the session, Dre even smoked marijuana mid-tattoo, which was completely unprofessional and unacceptable. To make matters worse, he changed his pricing after the first session -- what was originally quoted around $600 ended up costing over $1,200. For the quality my friend received, I don't think anyone would consider that price fair or reasonable. When concerns were finally raised, Dre became defensive instead of acknowledging the poor workmanship or offering to make it right.
I have photos that clearly show the inconsistencies and lack of care in the tattoo. It's incredibly disappointing to see someone act arrogant while delivering such low-quality results -- especially when the client came in as a friend.
If you want professional, clean, and fairly priced work, go to Bone at Deep Roots instead. Bone's art speaks for itself -- precise, honest, and done with care. Based on this experience, I can't recommend Before Crayons or its owner, Dre, to anyone who values quality, integrity, or professionalism. read more