It's been weighing on me for a long time to write this review. I don't like giving negative reviews, but a tattoo is a very important thing and choosing where you get your tattoo should be a well-informed decision.
I came, in part, based on the Yelp reviews. I was a walk in, but would have come back for a later appointment. I was there to touch-up a tattoo. I was told when I arrived that someone could see me and to sit and to wait a bit. There were a couple of tattoo virgins looking at tattoo illustrations on the other side of the front of the shop. In retrospect, I wish I could have told them to run.
I should have left when two of the artists came in with to-go food and immediately started into a banter with the other artists about some clients who had been there earlier in the day. They were mocking the clients, who apparently were first-timers who had some problems with the pain. Much hilarity was had at the clients' expense.
Why I stayed, I don't know.
Another artist came back from lunch and I was paired with him. Don't remember the name but he has an accent - maybe British. Explained what I wanted done - which was simply to refresh an existing tattoo.
This tattoo is very small and in the palm of my hand. The artist assigned to me went on and on about how painful it is to tattoo in that area and how there are problems with the ink taking.
I'm old. I've had this tattoo since this tattoo artist was in diapers. This was the 5th time I've had it touched-up. I know what it feels like and my expectations about the ink are in check. I hear the speech every time, so I always give it respect. The difference this time was the way the artist went so on and on about it, even after I'd told him the history of the tattoo. I like caution and a good education, but at a certain point it became almost baiting.
Why I continued to stay, again, I don't know.
We went back to his station. I'm not as impressed with the cleanliness as others, but I might have been biased by the food coming through earlier. It was okay. He never consulted me about matching the color as previous artists have.
Down to the tattooing. Wow. I've had this tattoo since forever. This was the fifth time getting it touched-up. NEVER has the pain COME EVEN REMOTELY CLOSE. It was almost like the guy wanted to prove a point. And NEVER has there been so much blood. In fact, I don't remember there being more than a drop or two of blood in the past. The scab (yes, there was a scab covering the entire tattoo) was crazy.
Still, I was hopeful and tipped well. Well over 100%. Tattoos are sacred, you know.
As for the results... This makes me the saddest. The outline, which despite all the years I've had the tattoo had been fine and sharp (just faded), is now thick and muddy. The interior (despite the pain that made me think that the artist was just trying to make sure the ink "took") has missed spots. And seriously, after this experience I'm gun-shy to get it fixed. Even by anyone else.
I'm bummed. The hurt feels personal. My boyfriend was incensed. I'm planning to get another large tattoo soon that I've envisioned for almost 30 years, but I will definitely do my research first when I choose the artist to do it. It won't be Spider Murphy's. read more