This is not your average tattoo parlor. The very moment you walk in this is obvious. From the…read moreunique yet professional aesthetic, to the incredibly warm and inviting welcome, you feel at home the instant you enter. The newly opened space is airy, the walls are decked out in amazing art, and each artist has a space that is larger and more posh than most day spa's offer. There was even a space for my service dog to relax while my ink was applied.
I spent weeks combing the internet for a shop and artist to render my next piece. This was a very personal design, a memorial piece for family members I had recently lost, and I would accept nothing but the absolute best for my loved ones. Between the reviews, the photo examples of completed and healed work, and the incredibly kind manner in which the shop and its crew dealt with the public on social media, I knew I had found the right place.
Getting a booking IS NOT EASY. But there is a very good reason for that. The artists are in extremely high demand and books only open for a day or two before they are filled up for the next 12+ weeks! So I suggest that you follow them on IG (or FB), familiarize yourself with the application process ahead of time, and check in daily for the next openings announcement. Due to such demand, their prices are also on the high end, and rightfully so. You will have to pony up but I promise it is worth it to have such a great experience and to have your work done right.
My consult was virtual due to how far I had to drive. This is not optimal but my artist made it work. Come in person if you can and be prepared. I suggest that, ahead of time, you list out all the key elements you may be discussing. Those items will certainly include where you want it, how large it might be, what the theme is, what style or styles you may like, your experience (if any) with past work and how the ink healed over time, any concerns you may have, etc The more prepared you are the more productive the time will be.
On the day of my appointment I could not have been more nervous and anxious. For one, it had been nearly 30 years since my last tattoo and, as I had mentioned, this was in memory of recently deceased family. I was worried about so many things. But from the moment I walked up to the front desk for check-in, to the introductions when finally meeting my artist Elyce face to face, I was home. All of the pain and grief this art symbolized was immediately quashed as the memorial became itself a last experience, a fond memory shared with those I had lost forever. I should add that my daughter, one of the deceased, was less than a year away from being old enough to get her first tattoo. We had made plans to go together and have work done when she turned 18. Going alone, and for this reason, was incredibly difficult but Elyce made it an occasion that I will remember almost as fondly as if my kiddo had been there herself. In many ways she was.
I wont beleaguer the experience itself but lets just say that I never once regretted my choice. Everyone handles this sort of physical pain differently. The staff were all very attentive to my needs and my emotional/mental state. Elyce went out of her way to make sure I never felt uncomfortable. She provided me with all the breaks I wanted and they even bought me lunch! (I recommend the bakery/sandwich shop) During our session she conversed with me, asking questions and finding common ground from which to do so. Our chatter was fun and lighthearted and kept me distracted. And during the lulls in conversation she even broke into the occasional song, filling my ears with happy tunes... :D Then, when the work was complete, she went out of her way to ensure that I was fully prepared for what was to come.
If you are on the fence, deciding between another shop and Just Another Hole in the Wall Tattoo, then let me save you the mental currency. They are worth the wait!
