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I LOVE Idle Hand. I can't believe it has taken me so long to write a review for them as I've been going to Idle Hand for over 3 years. I have tattoos from Holly Ellis, Austin Maples, and Derick Montez. They are all talented artists, nice people, and light-handed; everything you want in a tattoo artist! The shop is very clean and fun to just hang out while waiting for them to finalize the drawings. If you love traditional tattoos, definitely check out Idle Hand.
I came in here this past weekend for the artist I was tattoo'd by here during my first review - JTG! He has long since left the area but comes back and calls Idle Hand home base during some visits. I was lucky enough to sneak in for a Saturday appointment. I arrived before my appt with time to cruise for street parking. Most meters are 2 hours so bringing someone with you to move the care during longer tattoo appointments is helpful if you drive. The shop is easy to find with a hanging sign protruding from the entrance. Once you enter in you are greeted by decorated walls with frames of flash, artwork, sculptures, and an animal head. I was greeted by my artist and not the shop receptionist, but as I bounced in and out a few times before my session began she was attentive and kind. I love that the shop is clean and have it's own restroom. In the area it's nice to have a clean restroom before sitting down for a several hour tattoo. During my session everything my artist requested they went and grabbed for him without hesitation - including his dinner request. I can't speak to the other artists work, but the shop cleanliness, sterilization practices and area dedicated to sketching is incredible. Stop in. Look through the portfolios. Book an appointment. Bring cash - always cash! Make a memory. Leave a generous tip. 10 out of 5 stars for a permanent and well done memory for me.
Ross Jones is the man. This whole shop was great, everyone was super friendly. I put a deposit down on PayPal, I'm glad they have that option so I don't have to BART over to secure my appointment. Ross tattooed my girlfriend before me, he was great with her because she is shy and nervous. He made sure everything was perfectly how we wanted it, went over every detail and was crazy nice. He listened to everything I wanted and drew something up that was better than I could have dreamed, and incorporated every element I wanted. The entire shop was pumping out high quality, really cool tattoos. There's also a cheap bar conveniently placed right across the street
I moved here a year ago and I've been waiting for the day I could book a spot with Holly Ellis! If you follow her on IG you know how seriously talented she is. I was able to book an appointment around the holidays and it did not disappoint. She was so kind during the appointment, let me scroll through social/work from my phone but we also made conversation and I got to hear about her dope life. This was from her flash collection, I really love the girl heads so I was excited to see this available. The details up close are so beautiful, the fresh tattoo picture doesn't do it justice. If I remember to come back to this review I'll add a healed picture too. If you can book Holly, do it! The talent is insane.
I got my first tattoo here, done by Ross Jones. He made the process so easy and was extremely comforting throughout the entire process. My tattoo turned out great, and I'm looking forward to coming back for more work!
Wanted to give a shout out to Ross for a great tattoo experience a few weeks ago. Idle Hand had been on my radar for a while, and after a previous artist of mine recommended the shop I was sold. After a few emails with Ross I put down a deposit via PayPal (which is super convenient and seems to be a rarity in the tattoo world.) A day before the appointment I dropped in to check out the shop and he took some time out of a packed schedule to discuss some last minute concerns. He invited me to show up early to the appointment the next day so we could iron out any last minute details. He re-drew the image I had supplied for reference to make it more suitable for skin, and it was exactly what I was looking for. When it came time to discuss money he was also very reasonable and respected my budget without cutting corners in quality. He placed the stencil 3 different times on my leg to make sure it was as a good flow anatomically (damn chicken legs) got opinions from the other guys in the shop to make sure everything was 100% perfect, and then we hit the go button. When I started to feel light headed he grabbed me some water, a cool towel, and some Reese's Pieces, and told me to chill out until I felt better. The rest of the appointment went swell, and now that everything is healed it looks even better than the day I walked out! Props to you Ross!
A friend of mine mentioned Idle Hand amongst a long list of shops in Oakland and SF the he recommended. After doing the research and checking a number of artist's portfolios from a number of different shops, I was thoroughly impressed by Holly Ellis' body of work. A few weeks later during First Friday/Art Murmur, I just happened to see that a two hour session with Holly was amongst the items up for silent auction at the Hatch gallery in Oakland, and I happened to put in the winning bid. I met with Holly for a consultation with two pictures of brown rabbits. She heard me out on what I wanted, and seamlessly combined the elements of the two images that I wished to have included in the piece. I went into the session not knowing exactly where I wanted the piece or the orientation that I wanted it to my body. Holly created two stencils so that I could figure out exactly how I felt it would look best. The session lasted one and a half hours, which was surprisingly short. Holly had a gentle hand, and kept mentioning how much fun she was having with the piece. I can not be more thrilled with her work. I am super honored to have had her create this piece for me, and would recommend her without hesitation. The shop was super clean, the environment was laid back, and everyone was very friendly. Just be prepared to wait a at least a few weeks from the time that you schedule your consultation, as Holly is a very sought after artist (and rightfully so).
Staff was attentive and quick to respond to a last minute request. Artist (Derick) took my idea and made it perfect. It wasn't overly pricey - especially given the customization in art - I would recommend this shop to anyone.
A tattoo is just a cool picture on your body 'till you're dead. But if you want it to look good you should go to a genuine artist that knows what they're doing. You can find them here.
I had a poem that means a lot to me that I initially wanted in four lines, fairly small, in script, on my ribs. Aaron took it and told me it needed to be a little bigger because the loops in the letter may run together, in the long run, with script. I took his advice, got it in eight lines and a little bigger, and I could not be happier. Everyone says that the ribs are one of the most painful places to get tattooed, but I barely felt a thing and Aaron did a great job. Everyone who sees it cannot tell me how sick it looks and how classy it is. Thanks, Aaron.
Wow. Is all I can say about Idle Hand. After going to a different studio 2 1/2 years ago and not feeling right and leaving when the artist had not sketched anything out with lots of communication 'tween us over 2 months time, then having another artist flake on me twice, I found Idle Hand. Halla-fuckin-lulah! I researched my first tattoo, knew pretty much what I wanted. And I was ready. (very important element to getting permanent art-not like you can toss it out like an IKEA lamp or something, right?) So I found Jason DONAHUE- I chose him because I liked his roses. I went down to Idle Hand one afternoon and walked in, was greeted by nice guy and then Jason came out. Trust was an instant reaction. We talked for a few, made the appointment, left him a deposit when I went back for brief consultation. After, we communicated a little by email about what I wanted. When I walked in for my appointment Jason came out with a fantastic rendering of what was to be. He took my nebulous vision and created a work of art. ART. We went into the back room and he really wanted me to be happy, so we adjusted, flipped and reworked the size until I was satisfied. Jason Donahue is very chill, sincere, focused, and sweet as pecan pie! He didn't rush me or make me feel pressured. I totally dug his style. No Rambo with a needle here. This guy is practically Zen. Did it hurt? Not really. Or I'm one tough woman, because I was able to sit for 3.5 hours. Jason Donahue is really efficient. I sat, he created. It took much longer then we thought, but the result is a beautiful amazing tattoo I will show off for life. I am not done with my body story and I imagine Jason will be doing more work for me in the future. If you are looking for a good place with many talented artists, I can highly recommend Idle Hand, but I think I'm sticking with Jason. Be willing to wait a month or much much more to get what you want-it's worth it. Prices are more then fair, and the shop friendly a good vibe. When people give neg reviews maybe it's their attitude that needs adjusting. Thank you Idle Hand!
I'm giving Idle Hand 5 stars because I can't think of anything about it I would change... I got my first tattoo from Alex in 2007 at the age of 19. I picked Aaron to do my second tattoo because I felt what I wanted fit better with things he usually does. Aaron is currently 1/2 way done with a sugar skull/roses piece on my back. The outline took about 2 hours and after a month the lines have already gone completely smooth. Before I got my first tattoo I went to 5-6 places in the Bay Area that were recommended by some of my heavily tattooed friends. Some places were mean to me as a newbie wanting to start small but everyone at Idle Hand was totally cool to me and it calmed my nerves right down. These guys rock!
Holly Ellis rocks the party that rocks the party. I'm both thrilled and devastated that she's so booked up these days - lots of people clearly recognize what an effing brilliant tattoo artist she is, but it means I have to wait longer to get in to see her. But she's always worth the wait. I shopped my way through several SF tattoo artists before going to Holly, and she was the first who was not only able to take my ideas and descriptions and example pictures and hand-waving and make it into something beautiful and amazing, but also get really excited about doing it. I sent her pictures of some really amazing woodwork on a door in Paris and said, "I like this" - she managed to incorporate it into my tattoo. I brought my favorite brocade coat to our consultation and said "This is one of my favorite things in the world - is there a way to get the design into my tattoo?" - and there it was, incorporated into my tattoo. She is bloody brilliant. I've received so many complements on my work from people on the street, in bars, etc. that I've taken to having a stock of her business cards on me at all times. I also have to mention that this was my first tattoo, a multi-session, semi-complex backpiece. And she made my experience better than I ever could've imagined. She's actually fun to spend several hours with, even when she's got a needle in your skin for those several hours. The guys in the shop all respect her and her clients and I had a great time with it.
2 years ago
Daniel at Idle Hand is the best!!! Talented, kind, and just an all around wonderful artist! If you are looking for a great piece and are in the Haight...hit up Idle Hand Tattoo read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
1 year ago
I LOVE Idle Hand. I can't believe it has taken me so long to write a review for them as I've been going to Idle Hand for over 3 years. I have tattoos from Holly Ellis, Austin Maples, and Derick Montez. They are all talented artists, nice people, and light-handed; everything you want in a tattoo artist! The shop is very clean and fun to just hang out while waiting for them to finalize the drawings. If you love traditional tattoos, definitely check out Idle Hand. read more
11 years ago
I came in here this past weekend for the artist I was tattoo'd by here during my first review - JTG! He has long since left the area but comes back and calls Idle Hand home base during some visits. I was lucky enough to sneak in for a Saturday appointment. I arrived before my appt with time to cruise for street parking. Most meters are 2 hours so bringing someone with you to move the care during longer tattoo appointments is helpful if you drive. The shop is easy to find with a hanging sign protruding from the entrance. Once you enter in you are greeted by decorated walls with frames of flash, artwork, sculptures, and an animal head. I was greeted by my artist and not the shop receptionist, but as I bounced in and out a few times before my session began she was attentive and kind. I love that the shop is clean and have it's own restroom. In the area it's nice to have a clean restroom before sitting down for a several hour tattoo. During my session everything my artist requested they went and grabbed for him without hesitation - including his dinner request. I can't speak to the other artists work, but the shop cleanliness, sterilization practices and area dedicated to sketching is incredible. Stop in. Look through the portfolios. Book an appointment. Bring cash - always cash! Make a memory. Leave a generous tip. 10 out of 5 stars for a permanent and well done memory for me. read more
Ross Jones is the man. This whole shop was great, everyone was super friendly. I put a deposit down on PayPal, I'm glad they have that option so I don't have to BART over to secure my appointment. Ross tattooed my girlfriend before me, he was great with her because she is shy and nervous. He made sure everything was perfectly how we wanted it, went over every detail and was crazy nice. He listened to everything I wanted and drew something up that was better than I could have dreamed, and incorporated every element I wanted. The entire shop was pumping out high quality, really cool tattoos. There's also a cheap bar conveniently placed right across the street read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
I moved here a year ago and I've been waiting for the day I could book a spot with Holly Ellis! If you follow her on IG you know how seriously talented she is. I was able to book an appointment around the holidays and it did not disappoint. She was so kind during the appointment, let me scroll through social/work from my phone but we also made conversation and I got to hear about her dope life. This was from her flash collection, I really love the girl heads so I was excited to see this available. The details up close are so beautiful, the fresh tattoo picture doesn't do it justice. If I remember to come back to this review I'll add a healed picture too. If you can book Holly, do it! The talent is insane. read more
5 years ago
I got my first tattoo here, done by Ross Jones. He made the process so easy and was extremely comforting throughout the entire process. My tattoo turned out great, and I'm looking forward to coming back for more work! read more
9 years ago
Wanted to give a shout out to Ross for a great tattoo experience a few weeks ago. Idle Hand had been on my radar for a while, and after a previous artist of mine recommended the shop I was sold. After a few emails with Ross I put down a deposit via PayPal (which is super convenient and seems to be a rarity in the tattoo world.) A day before the appointment I dropped in to check out the shop and he took some time out of a packed schedule to discuss some last minute concerns. He invited me to show up early to the appointment the next day so we could iron out any last minute details. He re-drew the image I had supplied for reference to make it more suitable for skin, and it was exactly what I was looking for. When it came time to discuss money he was also very reasonable and respected my budget without cutting corners in quality. He placed the stencil 3 different times on my leg to make sure it was as a good flow anatomically (damn chicken legs) got opinions from the other guys in the shop to make sure everything was 100% perfect, and then we hit the go button. When I started to feel light headed he grabbed me some water, a cool towel, and some Reese's Pieces, and told me to chill out until I felt better. The rest of the appointment went swell, and now that everything is healed it looks even better than the day I walked out! Props to you Ross! read more
15 years ago
A friend of mine mentioned Idle Hand amongst a long list of shops in Oakland and SF the he recommended. After doing the research and checking a number of artist's portfolios from a number of different shops, I was thoroughly impressed by Holly Ellis' body of work. A few weeks later during First Friday/Art Murmur, I just happened to see that a two hour session with Holly was amongst the items up for silent auction at the Hatch gallery in Oakland, and I happened to put in the winning bid. I met with Holly for a consultation with two pictures of brown rabbits. She heard me out on what I wanted, and seamlessly combined the elements of the two images that I wished to have included in the piece. I went into the session not knowing exactly where I wanted the piece or the orientation that I wanted it to my body. Holly created two stencils so that I could figure out exactly how I felt it would look best. The session lasted one and a half hours, which was surprisingly short. Holly had a gentle hand, and kept mentioning how much fun she was having with the piece. I can not be more thrilled with her work. I am super honored to have had her create this piece for me, and would recommend her without hesitation. The shop was super clean, the environment was laid back, and everyone was very friendly. Just be prepared to wait a at least a few weeks from the time that you schedule your consultation, as Holly is a very sought after artist (and rightfully so). read more
7 years ago
Staff was attentive and quick to respond to a last minute request. Artist (Derick) took my idea and made it perfect. It wasn't overly pricey - especially given the customization in art - I would recommend this shop to anyone. read more
14 years ago
A tattoo is just a cool picture on your body 'till you're dead. But if you want it to look good you should go to a genuine artist that knows what they're doing. You can find them here. read more
15 years ago
I had a poem that means a lot to me that I initially wanted in four lines, fairly small, in script, on my ribs. Aaron took it and told me it needed to be a little bigger because the loops in the letter may run together, in the long run, with script. I took his advice, got it in eight lines and a little bigger, and I could not be happier. Everyone says that the ribs are one of the most painful places to get tattooed, but I barely felt a thing and Aaron did a great job. Everyone who sees it cannot tell me how sick it looks and how classy it is. Thanks, Aaron. read more
17 years ago
Wow. Is all I can say about Idle Hand. After going to a different studio 2 1/2 years ago and not feeling right and leaving when the artist had not sketched anything out with lots of communication 'tween us over 2 months time, then having another artist flake on me twice, I found Idle Hand. Halla-fuckin-lulah! I researched my first tattoo, knew pretty much what I wanted. And I was ready. (very important element to getting permanent art-not like you can toss it out like an IKEA lamp or something, right?) So I found Jason DONAHUE- I chose him because I liked his roses. I went down to Idle Hand one afternoon and walked in, was greeted by nice guy and then Jason came out. Trust was an instant reaction. We talked for a few, made the appointment, left him a deposit when I went back for brief consultation. After, we communicated a little by email about what I wanted. When I walked in for my appointment Jason came out with a fantastic rendering of what was to be. He took my nebulous vision and created a work of art. ART. We went into the back room and he really wanted me to be happy, so we adjusted, flipped and reworked the size until I was satisfied. Jason Donahue is very chill, sincere, focused, and sweet as pecan pie! He didn't rush me or make me feel pressured. I totally dug his style. No Rambo with a needle here. This guy is practically Zen. Did it hurt? Not really. Or I'm one tough woman, because I was able to sit for 3.5 hours. Jason Donahue is really efficient. I sat, he created. It took much longer then we thought, but the result is a beautiful amazing tattoo I will show off for life. I am not done with my body story and I imagine Jason will be doing more work for me in the future. If you are looking for a good place with many talented artists, I can highly recommend Idle Hand, but I think I'm sticking with Jason. Be willing to wait a month or much much more to get what you want-it's worth it. Prices are more then fair, and the shop friendly a good vibe. When people give neg reviews maybe it's their attitude that needs adjusting. Thank you Idle Hand! read more
18 years ago
I'm giving Idle Hand 5 stars because I can't think of anything about it I would change... I got my first tattoo from Alex in 2007 at the age of 19. I picked Aaron to do my second tattoo because I felt what I wanted fit better with things he usually does. Aaron is currently 1/2 way done with a sugar skull/roses piece on my back. The outline took about 2 hours and after a month the lines have already gone completely smooth. Before I got my first tattoo I went to 5-6 places in the Bay Area that were recommended by some of my heavily tattooed friends. Some places were mean to me as a newbie wanting to start small but everyone at Idle Hand was totally cool to me and it calmed my nerves right down. These guys rock! read more
4 years ago
5 years ago
19 years ago
Holly Ellis rocks the party that rocks the party. I'm both thrilled and devastated that she's so booked up these days - lots of people clearly recognize what an effing brilliant tattoo artist she is, but it means I have to wait longer to get in to see her. But she's always worth the wait. I shopped my way through several SF tattoo artists before going to Holly, and she was the first who was not only able to take my ideas and descriptions and example pictures and hand-waving and make it into something beautiful and amazing, but also get really excited about doing it. I sent her pictures of some really amazing woodwork on a door in Paris and said, "I like this" - she managed to incorporate it into my tattoo. I brought my favorite brocade coat to our consultation and said "This is one of my favorite things in the world - is there a way to get the design into my tattoo?" - and there it was, incorporated into my tattoo. She is bloody brilliant. I've received so many complements on my work from people on the street, in bars, etc. that I've taken to having a stock of her business cards on me at all times. I also have to mention that this was my first tattoo, a multi-session, semi-complex backpiece. And she made my experience better than I ever could've imagined. She's actually fun to spend several hours with, even when she's got a needle in your skin for those several hours. The guys in the shop all respect her and her clients and I had a great time with it. read more
19 years ago
I should have done this review a while ago but later then never is better just like the tattoo. Yes it's a long wait to get a tattoo but it's a long wait that's worth it! I had been researching a very special tattoo for myself for a LONG time trying to find the artist I really wanted. When I saw Holly's work on Idle Hand and Tattoonow.com I fell in love instantly! Her work was amazing! Then I met her at the Tattoo Expo and her personality went along with it. I tried to make an appointment with her a few months after meeting her and found out that It'd be at least 6months to a year till I would even make an appointment with Holly. I didn't mind because i REALLY wanted her to do my work. 6 months pass no call. No big deal I give them a call they say that she's still busy and that it'd be around winter when she'd finally be available. Another 6 months but I don't mind. So she calls and wants an consultation in a week I was stocked! I wanted something custom done. A Peach Blossom with an anatomically correct heart as one of the pedals, with the veins of the heart merging with the pistols of the flower. During the consultation we talked about how it'd be better if the heart was a separate entity (but still attached through the vein/pistols) and that it should be full color rather then black and gray like I originally wanted. Also it was going to be a LOT bigger but she talked with me and said it'd be for the benefit of the tattoo. She wanted me to get the bigger one that she said would be around $450 but I knew i couldn't afford more then $300 so we did the size smaller which would be 2 hours and $300. A week later I show up for my tattoo to see her new design and it was AMAZING! Much better then my design ever was! The tattoo (which is on my right shoulder blade) was nearly painless (especially for it being my first tattoo). The tattoo session was 3 hours straight (with a short break). So i was a bit worried about how much it was going to come out to be but she only charged me what she had quoted $300 which was MUCH appreciated! She's an AMAZING tattoo artist and a Great person. Well worth the year I waited to get the tattoo and WELL worth Every penny! I can't wait to get another tattoo and I know exactly who I want it from even if I have to wait another year :) read more
5 years ago
4 years ago
19 years ago
Artist - Iggy Vans First Piece - Serenity Prayer I was referred here by friends (both inked on by Jason Tyler Grace) and they were everything they had explained. Place is clean, people are cool easy going and helpful. Idle hands is a great shop and highly recommended if you want ink done. read more
8 years ago
Incredible tattoo shop. Sick vibe. The location is amazing - the iconic Haight Street in San Francisco. All the artists are super good. My daughter and I both got work done by Jeff Gleason. He's really good at what he does! The entire experience was great. Getting an appointment was easy. Jeff responds via email fast. The artwork was ready (and perfect) when I arrived for my appointment. No joke, I was under the gun within 15 minutes of getting there. He's fast but has amazing attention to detail. Great conversation. Very reasonably priced. Cool dude. I obviously highly recommend him. Will definitely be back! read more
10 years ago
Visit Idle Hand Tattoo in the Lower Haight!!! AsaP! First, the shop is just rad inside with dope art to look at. #BuddhaFountain -And It has all the feels of what makes San Francisco great. As a local 2nd gen SF'r I grew up hanging out after HS at Amoeba records in the upper haight if i wasn't involved in sports or music. .. Gentrification has flipped this city even in the Haight Ashbury but Idle Hand in the Lower Haight is still cool. Long story short, I found by chance of a 'tiger' instagram hashtag an incredibly talented artist Gary Royale. His art popped up and boom! I decided to go with an eagle to start and I am very happy! Thanks Idle Hand and Gary. -Laura read more
9 years ago
7 years ago
13 years ago
I'm so glad I found this place. I got my moms portrait done last week by Holly Ellis. I can't stop freakin staring at it. Holly really did nail it with a quick and steady hand. Thanks so much for an all around awesome experience read more
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More info about Idle Hand Tattoo
575 Haight St
San Francisco, CA 94117
Lower Haight
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(415) 552-4353
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http://www.idlehandsf.com
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