I see James and Danny. Danny is a good dude, he likes hip hop and laughing. Plus he is talented and really into doing what you want. James is the owner and not taking new clients so I feel elite because I can get work done with him. Kim holds it down at the front, has fresh flowers, and is great also. Rob will stick a needle in most places you want pierced. And artbot gallery is on the same floor. Go already! read more

Couldn't be happier with Hayden. Had an old pinup on my back that I never did anything with in a decade and couldn't figure out how to finish her. Hayden captured exactly the theme I was after. The sitting was long because of the size and work involved but it was very enjoyable with great conversation and a generally fun atmosphere. This place has my strongest recommendation. Hayden even more so. read more

The male piercer was very rude soon after he gave me the form to fill out,he went a few feet away to a room were someone was being tattoo. He then proceded to loudly make fun of me for being nervous among other things. He made very little attempt to calm me,and did a poor job on explaning aftercare/what I can and can't do. He also kept fiddling with the ipod on the dock,while I was laying there waiting to be pierced. He did do a nice job,and got my belly button pierced right in the center. Everything was opened out of the package in front of me. I appreciate the fact everything was sterile,and what not. I wish that the piercer was more friendly,I hope that next time I can get the other piercer. read more

No tats, but I had my nose pierced a year ago at Marlowe and had a great experience. Really friendly people who knew what they were doing. Felt very comfortable there. Went back a couple of months later to have the nose jewelry adjusted and they were happy to help. Went in today to have the jewelry in my helix piercing replaced and had another good experience. If I decide to go for more piercings, I'll definitely go back. read more

Very happy with my experience here. Got a really sweet Star Wars tattoo done by Phil who I highly recommend. Very talented and professional. Truly test your knowledge with him on anything Batman. The tattoo came out great! He is great at bringing your ideas to life. If you really want to make his day, bring him something Batman ;) read more

I got my first tattoo here and Charon was awesome. It came out beautiful, she had a portfolio of some of the most precise work I've ever seen. She made the whole process very easy and comfortable. My wife had her nose pierced here too, and the girl who's name I've forgotten was great. We've been back a couple of times for advice or to have her piercing changed and they always were happy to accomodate on the spot. The prices seem in line with the neighborhood, but I've had things priced lower in NYC at good places. Clean, professional and easy to deal with. It's a shame I just moves away, I want more ink done here. read more

Phil rocks! So impressed with his work. He's been working on a huge back piece for me and I love it more and more after each session.

I am disappointed,upset and angry and have been.I've been coming to Marlowe off and on for 6 years.I thought let me go back to Marlowe early week of December 2016.Last time i was there was October 2016. I was eager to get tattooed Jen was available.I set up a consultation appointment,and showed her on my phone what I wanted which was shootings stars down my shoulder/collar bone and behind my shoulder blade.I already had black nautical stars on both shoulders from a different tattoo shop.She scribbled what i showed her a photo of it on my phone and made an appointment for December10th 2016.Paid the non-refundable $100 deposit down.When the date came for the appointment,SHE had to ask ME what I wanted again as she said " I forgot what we were going for" What tattoo artist does that?I reminded her but this time did not show her the picture of what I wanted on my phone.That was done during the consultation and not my responsibility to keep reminding her which shows the lack of care for me.We went to a room and she drew on me with a orange'ish marker of "shooting stars."Now I may be at fault because the marker made it look good but i gave the OK.Once it came down to tattooing,I was laying flat on my back and couldn't see the work.I felt like she was in a rush(I overheard some party she was attending in couple hours while tattooing me)After 1 hour she was done.I looked in the mirror and in my mind,was shocked.I take responsibility for not being upfront and honest.Jen assured me once it heals,the colors will fade in more.WRONG.I told Jen I will call in 2 weeks for a touch up.The non-refundable deposit was $100 went towards the tattoo and i got charged another $150 which we agreed on and gave Jen a generous 35% tip.Few weeks later(Sometime early January 2017),the tattoo looked like a child got a black sharpie and drew lines down my shoulders.It did not blend in nor did it look like what I showed her on my phone.I told Jen to blend it in more so it wouldn't look black lines.Again,she did it fast within 45 minutes or less and i felt like she wanted me out of there and told me to let it heal and see the outcome.I even tipped her AGAIN even though it is not required for a touch up as I tipped her in the beginning but I am a very kind,sweet and generous person.2 weeks later,I e-mailed Jen and told her i wasn't happy with the outcome so she told me to call the front desk and schedule a appointment which i did.Couple weeks later I came in and in and showed her how it looks like a misshapen patchy black circle around my shoulder/collar bone around the nautical star.She said coloring in the nautical star a turquoise color SHE choose will Balance out.I told her I could put in $50 into the small areas that need to be colored IN the nautical star(I am no baller.I am a mother and this was a big treat for me,at least I thought it was)Once again,she rushed into it and was done withing less than an hour.I looked in the mirror and again Jen said let it heal and it will look fine.I tipped her AGAIN and asked if we were done,but the receptionist called me in and Jen came out and charged me $100 when i told her $50!At that point,I was so done with her and HATE the tattoo.Its all patchy,not symmetrical,and I spent a total of over $300 NOT including over $100 tips i gave her.I bursted into tears once i got in my car after leaving and was emotional wreck for days.I looked at Jens Instagram and all her other clients she did great work,detail oriented,color vibrant and looked like she took her time.I had been saving for MONTHS and I felt like I was taken advantage of,NO CARE,just wanted my money and me out of there.I shouldnt have tipped her at all.I have never known Jen before this.Left me unhappy who tipped you generously 3 times!Of course Marlowe isn't going to care or give a sh*t.That's why they have the application to cover themselves.It took me now to write this after my friends and a great tattoo artist of 20 years who owns his own shop i met said MARLOWE/JEN should not get away with this or treat there clients as only $ and how dare she still charge me for what SHE forgot,did not plan or even rememeber what i showed her and messed up bad.He said if it was his shop,regardless of the paperwork,he would have refunded me.Be careful everyone,you will be ripped off as I was.I have to spend more money to cover up my shoulders and I never show them off.I will NEVER come back.The receptionist Kim needs a serious attitude adjustment.Marlowe is family to each other and they can defend,talk trash about me all they want,but word will get OUT.Marlowe(with exception of Jackson,James and Jackie)thinks they are better than everyone and untouchable just because you do tattoos.YOU ARE NOT. Everyone look at the photos of Jens "work" on me and see for yourself what $300+ plus $100 tip looks like.Thanks Jen for permanently physically and financially ruining me.My voice is louder than your tattoo gun. read more

Marlowe Ink - This is 1st session with Jen.As you can tell does not look like shootings stars or what I showed her at the consultation.Very upset - Tattoo Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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I have gone to this shop many times for both piercings and tattoos. they are the only place i will go, and the only shop i trust. it is a very friendly and fun atmosphere, and everything is perfectly clean and safe. jason is my artist and i will never go to anyone else. all of them are amazing artists and it is by far the best shop i have encountered in nova. read more

James rocks, I let him free hand on me I trust him so much. If you go anywhere else you are either spending too much money or getting a crappy tattoo, or possibly both. For something that is stuck on your body forever, check out the best spot in town first read more

Went to see James at Marlowe Ink last week. He was a little late (15 mins.) but does excellent work. I have gotten all my tattoos from James and he has done most of the work free hand. No stencil needed. The shop is clean and the front staff are friendly. I will be visiting James again soon. read more

First off I would like to say I don't think I'm the average Marlowe customer, I'm an 18 year old girl with nothing but my ears pierced that tend to sport Hello Kitty earrings. So I did expect some of that attitude many reviewers had described but I didn't get that at all. When I went to Marlowe i to get my helix pierced, I was a little off set by the sketchy and confusing entrance (there are these dark stairs that lead to a long hall), but when I did stumble into the waiting area I was greeted and given paper work by a friendly receptionist. Once my license was scanned Jacquie took me back to pierce my ear and before she even laid hands on my ear she asked if I had any questions,she was very patient and knowledgeable. She explained exactly what she was going to my ear and the equipment that she would be using. When I was indecisive as to which earring I wanted she showed me all of the choices and said that my earring can be changed out free of charge later on. The procedure was quick and I appreciated that she described to me what was going on the entire time. What really stood out to me about Jacquie, is that when it came to the after care products, she didn't try to push the $10 solution the shop sold, she told me about the cheaper $7.99 wound solution at the drug store that was buy one get one free, no one likes being coerced into buying more expensive stuff. For the piercing and earring I paid $40. All and all I was really pleased with the experience. My only complaints are that the parlor it's self is a little "sketchy" but it is a tattoo parlor and while I was getting my ear pierced I'm guessing it was some of the staff , were having a really loud inappropriate conversation that was a little awkward to over hear with your mother sitting next to you, but once again it is a tattoo parlor. I plan on getting more piercings in the future and I will come back to Marlowe to get them. read more

Phenomenal experience, yet again. I have had three tattoos done here (also have scheduled a fourth) and my boyfriend has been tattooed here once. The staff is BEYOND professional, and Corey Taylor is THE man when it comes to great work in Northern Virginia. He has always blown my expectations way out of the water and performed more than solidly. He is a pure gem at his craft, and a great person to be around. We used to live in Northern Virginia and have since moved to South Carolina, and have continued to drive to visit Marlowe. The salon is extremely clean, and inviting. Pricing is fair, and you should always expect what you pay for....appointments although are not required, it's respectful to the artist and their time. I will continue to praise Marlowe Ink for their fantastic work every chance I get. Thanks! read more

I got my dermal piercing on my birthday and Rob did really good job. he is very gentle and nice job. Not hurting at all. Def be back ;)

Had my first tattoo done a couple weeks ago by Danny, turned out even better than I envisioned. Great experience! read more

Marlowe Ink - Tattoo Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

I got a custom Marine Corps EGA with binary (geek yes) and it turned out awesome! The artist is Danny and he was very professional and nice. And a funny smart ass. I have 2 other tattoos but this one was by far the best. Awesome staff at Marlow as well. read more

Getting a tattoo at Marlowe is like a Spiritual awakening. It is an experience you will find in few shops. From making the appt for a consultation, to collaborating ideas with an artist. I am of the strong belief that they are all artists. Do your research and check out the Instagram, and FB Pages of staff. The talent is staggering. Artists are carefully vetted and hand picked by James Marlowe. He is a business owner of strong character, while remaining charming, and humble. Go. You will be glad you did! read more

James Marlowe runs the best shop in Northern Virginia. He runs a clean and professional shop. Hayden and Anya do killer work and getting a tattoo there is a great experience. They do incredible custom work and you will get the tattoo you want. read more

Marlowe Ink - Custom traditional ship by Hayden Abernathy - Tattoo Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

I only have two tattoos, and I've gotten them both done by Danny at Marlowe, so I have nothing to compare to. That being said, I wouldn't go anywhere else. The first tattoo I have is text on my wrist, and Danny was very up front about what he thought would work and what wouldn't work. I appreciated his honesty since we are talking about something I will have for the rest of my life, and I valued his input. I just got my second tattoo yesterday, a much bigger job than my first one, and I am completely in love with it. Danny took my design suggestions and came up with exactly what I wanted. When working on sizing, he was very patient and encouraged me to take my time to decide what was right for me. Because of Danny's integrity, I know that what looks good today will look good in 5, 10, 25 years. He won't do work that he knows won't hold up. And that integrity appears to be consistent throughout Marlowe Ink. They will not do any work if you don't have a valid photo ID showing that you are 18 or older. Again, I don't have anything to compare to, so I don't know if that's standard these days, but I know it used to be easy for minors to walk in and get whatever they wanted done. I also saw them turn down a piercing job that they knew wouldn't work out very well. I know their customer wasn't happy, but she probably would have been even less happy with a painful piercing that didn't work out. And they require a consult before they do tattoo work, which I imagine helps prevent impulse tattoos that one may regret later. It's definitely true that once you get your first tattoo, you start thinking about more. I know I have at least 2 more in my future, and I will definitely be going back to Marlowe Ink. read more

Three weeks ago I was getting my ink on by Hayden. I wanted to immediately give a shout out after walking out of the shop, but decided to hold out just to see how things would unfold in the days and weeks ahead throughout the healing process to see the finished product. Well, the art kept looking better and better each day. I couldn't be happier and it looks incredible. Only problem is, I want more. Only one way to fix that, we'll be seeing you again missy! Thank you Hayden. read more

It was my first time to Marlowe's Ink and it was fantastic. My artist was Jen and she was incredibly kind and professional. She went over the process thoroughly and I felt completely comfortable. Absolutely would recommend her to veterans or people new to getting tattoos! read more

This place is great. I have been there for three tattoos with Charon and have one more I want her to do. Great detail in her work and decent prices. Also have had a few piercings there. even took my daughter there for her belly ring. I highly recommend them.. I have only gone to Charon but the others portfolios have some great work in them also. read more

I got my nose pierced here last month and while I love my piercing, the service wasn't as good as I hoped it would be. I felt a little rushed, this was my first time getting a facial piercing so I was hoping that he would tell me some basic information and that we'd go slower but he just had me lie down and then he stuck the needle in. The procedure was very quick though so I'm grateful for that!! Also, when he was giving the aftercare instructions, he sped through it like the disclaimer people on commercials literally like 20 seconds after I got it pierced which I didn't like it. Overall, I liked the price I paid and the actual piercing but not the service, I might go back to get something small but not something major as I would like to be more comfortable when I get something like my tongue or nipples pierced. read more

I used to visit this tattoo parlor and I've been there multiple times, but all that came to a crashing halt today when I was yelled at by its receptionist for asking them to honor an agreement they had made to repierce a microdermal. This woman was unpolite, unappolgetic, and sociopathic. Marlowe Ink doesn't care about its repeat customers, doesn't explain its policies to those it serves, and doesn't respect people who go out of their way to visit them. If you want to be treated poorly, lied to, and yelled at then, by all means, treck out to this squallid little parlor and they'll be sure to put you through loads of BS and insulting snarkiness. If you're lucky enough to have had one or two good experiences here or if you are considering them for the first time STAY AWAY. Once burned by these twits you'll wish that you hadn't spent your money in the first place. read more

Yesterday I was tattooed by Link the final outcome is awesome. Even as the tattoo heals it looks amazing. Aside from Link's skill he has a great taste in music so I was able to just sit back and relax while he did his work my husband even caught me falling asleep once or twice. I will be a repeat customer that is for sure. Everyone I encountered at the shop came off knowledgeable and professional. The pricing for what I got was great as well. All my other work I had done was in NJ but I am happy to say I have found my new tattoo home at Marlowe Ink! read more

I had a great experience getting my first tattoo here. It is such a neat place and everyone was very cool. My tattoo artist was great about explaining after care and working with me. All around wonderful experience and I will definitely suggest this place to friends, as it was suggested to me. :) read more

I went to Marlowe Ink to get my cartilage piercing and my friend's belly button piercing a couple years back. The employees were very kind and calming. We were both a little nervous and felt out of place as two semi-preppy looking women. They made us feel like home and talked to us while we were waiting. I believe Jackie was the one to actually do our piercings. She was very experienced. The piercings were finished in a brief second and she took a good amount of time to explain to us all the after care techniques and products (my friend's first belly button piercing got infected). Great service and reasonable prices. read more

I've got one tattoo that I got at Marlowe's. It was my first, and it came out very well. They aren't phenomenal, but overall they do solid work. While I'm not crazy about their tattooing, I do really like Jacquie, one of their piercers. She's the only one I'll trust with my piercings! Very sweet and professional, and she always makes great conversation. I'd definitely recommend her. read more

Since I've never had anything DONE there, this review is PURELY about customer service. THE WORST. I've been in there a handful of times to buy new body jewelry, and not once has someone greeted me or asked me if I needed help when I first arrive. Even when it's empty, I've always had AT LEAST a 10 minute wait, where I would stand in front of the counter, obviously wanting service. I don't know if it's because I don't have the traditional, visible body piercings or tattoos, but I always get funny looks from the employees and scoffs about my requests. I've only asked for nose and tongue jewelry, and they act as if it's such a hard task to retrieve them. From these experiences from just PURCHASING jewelry, I don't feel comfortable with any of them piercing or tattooing me. PLUS -- when I paid $20 for two short tongue bars, one of them didn't even unscrew! I called them the next day to tell them that I tried unscrewing it, but it wouldn't budge -- They told me "whatever you do, just don't bring it back here because we won't take it back." When it comes to piercings or tattoos, I want to be comfortable with the person who's doing them and it's safe to say that I am not comfortable with any of them, not even the receptionists in the front. read more

I absolutely love this place and I'm not sure I trust anyone else with my body. It was recommended by a friend about 7 years ago. I've had at least 10 piercings done here by several people (Danny, Jacquie, and Rob were all fantastic) and they all healed well except my navel and that's because I'm a dancer and having people lift me all day just never gave it time to heal so finally I just took it out. Aside from that I've also had 11 tattoos and counting from Danny. He's not afraid to tell me if he thinks my idea is not going to translate well onto skin, but he always has a solution for how to draw what I want without it being a bad tattoo down the road. And they always come out better than I imagine. He's always willing to work with me on what I want and how I want it, and he's understanding if I need something done a specific way, however I should warn you he isn't a great singer. Otherwise, everyone at the shop is very friendly and they're nothing but nice every time I'm there. read more

Marlowe Ink - Custom Piercing by Rob - Tattoo Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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This is a in and out shop that does what you pay for and the work is good. If you are looking for an experience go to a smaller shop and do your research. Happy Tattooing! read more

Rob is extremely professional, and made me feel comfortable with the whole piercing experience. He was very informative and answered all of my questions. I will definitely go back for more work and will recommend this place to others. read more

Ok so I have been meaning to do this for a long time. This place is just a shop, it's the people there that make it the best tattoo shop that I have ever been to or been a part of. The artistry contained within those walls are only expressed through the art that is placed on clients. I have been a client for more than 6 years, yes I said 6, and would want to go elsewhere. They have been nothing but considerate and attentive to what I wanted and were more than happy to help my scatter brain to figure out what I wanted. Many times it's hard to visualize what I want but the people at Marlowe Ink make it a reality. I have 6 pieces from Marlowe and the 7th is in the works. I do not get small pieces either, so working with Marlowe has been great. Now to put it in perspective everything requires being a decent human being, if you put good things out, the same will return to you. With Marlowe ink, I never felt like just another customer everything they do is tailored to you, all you have to do is communicate. So, in a nutshell, you will love this place and the people that make it happen, from the manager, to the front desk, to the artists that make the magic a reality, you won't regret it. If anyone says otherwise, just avoid their bad karma and take the stairway to tattoo heaven...and make a right. read more

I've been here three times in 7 years. The first time I got my belly pierced was in surgical steel and my body rejected it (not this shops fault) ...then a couple years later I tried to get it done again when I brought in my own white gold piece and my body rejected that perhaps from the nickel. I always had slight scarring so I called and spoke to Rob (the most friendly piercer I've ever met). I explained to him what happened and he invited me in to take a look and to advise me accordingly. I went in and he explained everything and ordered me a piece of jewelry that he thought was best. I really appreciated his cooperation because I tend to ask a lot of questions and he tackled each one and made this experience pleasant. Let's hope this piercing doesn't reject!!! Thank you Rob. read more

Some of these other reviews for this shop are baffling to me and seem very much like sabotage attempts by shops who cant touch Marlowe Ink professionally. I have come to Marlowe Ink for ALL of my MANY and DETAILED tattoos as well as numerous piercings since moving back to the NOVA area in 2004. I have always had a very positive and secure feeling with the staff regarding sanitation practices and artistic ability. I've even had work being done WHILE the health inspectors were on site and overheard them commenting on how far ABOVE standards the health practices are. Those inspections are public record if you're willing to do some serious research. As for price, every piece of art I've ever been privileged enough to receive from these guys has been worth every penny I paid for it. I believe many who come in and are not serious about the quality desired for their tattoo or are unable to value the artwork may complain about "overpricing" but I have to say you truly get what you pay for when it comes to tattoos and especially at Marlowe Ink. The staff regularly participate in Tattoo conventions both nationwide and Internationally. Professionally you wont find a better establishment and my personal experience has allowed me to established some great friendships with the full time staff as well as the seasonal visiting artists. Only the BEST in the business get an opportunity to showcase their work at this shop and you can ask people across the country who can verify that. Come in for a consultation with an artist and I guarantee you'll see why some of the negative reviews make absolutely no sense on here. read more

my first tattoo was disappointing... but it was kinda my fault for not noticing how crooked some of the lines were on my tattoo until i got home. James the the tattoo artist did a decent job, but the craftsmanship was a little blah. On top of that the surface of my skin is alittle raised on the inked area?!!!! dont know what the heck thats all about..but im gonna give it another month and see what happens. overall the guy is nice and he will listen to you. THE RECEPTIONIST is an a-hole all i can say is RUDE-UNPROFESSIONAL-UNFRIENDLY. When I had a problem with my tattoo after a couple of days I got it done, I called to ask questions, and he answered them in an irritated tone. lol the atmosphere of the studio was sketchy, but a friend of mine insisted me that they tattooed well...ha well...should of listened to myself when I stepped inside and smelled cigarettes & B-O... overall...do not go here for ur first tattoo. Im never gonna get a tattooo again! =( read more

I have very mixed opinions about this place. The first time I came was to inquire about my snug. I was very turned off by all the smoking, and the piercer kind of shrugged me off, and he told me that he didn't like to do them.' The piercer, Sean, is very well known, and pretty famous in the world of body modifications, but he acts like you're not worth his time if you're not as modified as he is. I went back to get a tattoo checked on (one that I got elsewhere) and the people there were nice. They were joking with me, and commented on how well it looked.... it was odd, because it was an entirely different experience. I got my conch pierced there as well, and Sean did a very good job on it-- probably one of the easiest piercings that I've healed. He seemed to be careful (it didn't throb, or do anything out of the ordinary) and he was very sterile. However, when he did my friend's industrial, he didn't even let her see where he placed it, and he pierced the entire thing with one needle (which looked extremely painful). From my experiences, they artists there seem to be nicer and more congenial to those who are heavily modded, than to those looking for their first 'real' piercing. read more

Jackson is the best! I first came to him a year or so ago for an addition to my large back piece. I loved his work so much I went back to him for a half sleeve, which looks amazing. I'll go back to him when I'm ready for more read more

Got inked by Misty last weekend and she did a great job. It was a simple lettering and design on my forearm but she banged it out quickly and did an excellent job. I would say now that I am done but I said that after I got my back done and unfortunately the needle and ink are like crack to me so I am already planning another...and I will prolly be going back to Marlowe! read more

I've been to Marlowe Ink for body piercing a handful of times over the past ten years or so, though I've never had ink done there. Staff has always been very polite & accommodating and did a really good job of putting me at ease & making me feel comfortable. They did an expert job on all of my piercings, and when I had concerns about the healing process, they took the time to talk to me and thoroughly explain everything that I needed to know. I really don't understand some of the other reviews that describe the staff as condescending or off-putting; everyone that I've interacted with has always been caring, polite, and respectful. I recently came to them when some of my body jewelry had to be temporarily removed and the piercing started to heal. The girl who helped me was so sweet and helped me get the jewelry back in, saving me from having to re-pierce it, for which I was so grateful! You put a lot of trust in the person who does your body piercing, and these guys have truly earned mine. They are experts at what they do and take really good care of their customers. I would never go anywhere else. read more