This place is the best. Carol and Cesar have created an incredible space for the art. I have spent hours and hours in the chair under the deft, careful, and incredibly talented hand of Carol Oddy, whose work camouflaging the horrific scars I bore after a somewhat botched (albeit lifesaving) mastectomy has given me a gift that can't be overvalued. I absolutely love what I see in the mirror now. It's always clean, the artwork everywhere is absolute eye candy, and it's home to the biggest lava lamp (ensconced in shelves custom-cut for it) I've ever seen. What more could you ask for? read more

I got my first tattoo here yesterday, I had Jen and she was amazing! She was very friendly, understanding, and helpful, making me feel comfortable because I was nervous about what it would feel like and past instances of passing out from piercings. Jen did an amazing job on the design and I ended up spending less on it than I had budgeted for (this is all subjective though; always ask what the pricing would be because I also got a relatively simple design). There were also so many cool things to look at in the shop, which really helped take my mind off the fact that I was nervous for my first time tattoo. There was even a little Starship Enterprise hanging from the ceiling, which I thought was so cool. read more

I had a fantastic experience Aurora was wonderful precise professional. I would go back and get many more. Good place to go.

Judgemental divas with terrible customer service. They only cared about the technical application, not my reasons for getting it. I am a cancer survivor and wanted a piece to celebrate my strength. I inquired on their website and they actually shamed me via email and wouldn't let me even speak with an artist. Not the process I'm used to, where I collaborated with an artist for pieces that are truly meaningful and spiritual. I was genuinely shocked and will look elsewhere. read more

For a small town like Ithaca, we're fortunate to have someone with Carol's talent working here. She has a well-established following, and because of that, it will take some time to get an appointment with her. But it is worth the wait. She is creative, detail-orientated, and just plain fun to be around. I started having work done by Carol last year when I decided to have some old work covered up. After that session, I was sold, and she's been doing custom work on me ever since. read more

I have so much to say If they try to deny this know that I brought witnesses to every meeting who can corroborate the story and have pictures of it all. I just do not want this to happen to anyone who is under the impression that they could trust this parlor (excluding Dan T., he had nothing to do with this) The Short Story: Ceasar did a TERRIBLE on my tattoo and tried to gaslight me into thinking I was the problem meanwhile Carol herself admitted to me it was a terrible tattoo but convinced me not to get the tattoo removed because it would "scar my skin" -a simple yet blatant lie that ended up hurting me in major ways. I wanted to add on to one of my most meaningful tattoos, I spent MONTHS with him trying to plan out something we could both walk away happy with. He showed me the initial drawing and I LOVED it, when the tattoo was finished I noticed that he "freestyled" on my skin. He added things I never agreed to like heavy shading and other random lines on my skin WITHOUT. CONSULTING. ME. When he was done I was nearly paralyzed because I could not believe how far this was from what I okayed and was devastated he could deface a tattoo that meant so much to me. I called medusa tattoo because that very day I was having health complications with this failure of a tattoo and talked with Carol, who I later spoke to in person. She flat out was like "this is a terrible tattoo." She commented on how terrible the line-work was the most, and I could tell by the disappointment in her face that this is not the first time something like this occurred. I told her I wanted to get the tattoo removed immediately and honestly I wanted them to pay because this tattoo was a pure mess up that not even the contract could protect. She told me that was not a good idea because it would scar my skin, come to find out that was a blatant lie. Additionally, she recommended that I not do that, and suggested that they could "fix it." Before I continue I want to tell Carol a literal scar would have been better than the scar caused by me trusting this parlor and trusting her partner which ended up leaving a bigger scar I will talk about later. Though I was smart enough to know not to allow the place that screwed me over to fix it, I trusted Carol as a professional to not screw me over and that was a major mistake. She ended the conversation by apologizing and said she would speak to Cesar as well as refund me. When Ceasar and I talked he tried to blame me. When I spoke he would interrupt me to tell me "I was not listening," that I was not "understanding." He tried to call this a failed tattoo on both sides, like I was the one holding the tool, like I was the one who chose not to communicate about major changes before permanently mutilating my skin. I could tell Carol did not tell him the EXACT things she told me about his work. I left crying because I was so angry but with a refund (without the tip but okay a tip is a tip). I spent months trying to find a place to cover up this tattoo. Thanks to another tattoo place in Ithaca, I was able to have Cesar's mistake covered with beautiful peonies...but peonies I could not love (I actually loathe them) because of why I had to get them. I can't look at the tattoo without being reminded of how a tattoo that had so much meaning was destroyed without my permission Also, seeing that Dan had nothing to do with this when I say Medusa Tattoo I mean Carol and Ceasar (Ceasar especially) This place not only ruined how I wanted to tattoo the rest of my body, but y'all honestly ruined tattoos for me, like I am done with tattoos. To Ceasar, I want to say that your "20+ years of experience" means nothing to no one if you cannot back it up with actual talent. Also, you should have been honest about not being able to do it if you had the slightest inkling you could not. Go to get a tattoo by Ceasar at your own risk read more

Cesar is awesome. In November 2007 I made an appointment to go over what I had in mind for my design. He took all the elements I wanted to incorporate and designed a beautiful piece of artwork for me, and even thought of some things that I didn't to make it even more special. I love my tattoo and wish I still lived in the area so I could have him do my next one. read more

Carol is quite an artist, creative and skilled. She also talked me through the whole process so I felt comfortable. Great personality! The whole experience was excellent. The tattoo is gorgeous. Getting a ton of compliments. I'm more than satisfied. I highly recommend making an appointment even if you have to wait a bit. She's in high demand but worth it. read more

I went to Medusa from a friends recommendation. I ended up working with Cesar. He was pretty cool and though I was a little nervous because I only got to see my design shortly before my actual appointment, I ended up loving the design. I showed him several designs that I liked and had one that I "REALLY liked"... he put together one that was similar enough to make me happy but also unique to fit his artisticness. The tattoo took a lot shorter of a time then I had thought, he was very funny and helpful throughout the whole process. My tattoo came out great and in less than a week is almost completely healed. It looks wonderful and everyone I know only thinks positive things about it. - The place itself is very nice. Clean looking, good lighting, very cool/artsy which makes sense but I think anyone who is new to getting a tattoo would also feel comfortable there. Makes me want to get more tattoos and I definitely would go back there again! read more

Carol is absolutely amazing. I recently sat with her for over eight hours on a single piece (!!!) and she made me feel comfortable the entire time. She's done two tattoos for me and I couldn't ask for better quality or experience (especially when they were my first ones). You have to book well in advance (as she is in quite high demand), but in my eyes working with her is so worth it. read more

I got my second done there and really appreciated working w Carol for a touch-up. At first, my tattoo was done by someone who was a little impatient abt how I was anxious because of a recent family death (don't get a tattoo when upset-it does change how you perceive pain!) but Carol made me feel me even more at ease than I thought possible. I have since gone back w a friend to be there for their tattoo and I felt completely welcomed to be there as support. On the second comment, dude, no one around here really accepts walk-ins. The reason there are so many tattoo parlors here is because of the students and surrounding demand. Too bad if you are forced to think a bit more about what is a permanent decision... read more

One thing this place won't do "They don't do walk in" If they suggest you to go to this shop to show them your design don't do it! You will regret it! read more