I was in Connecticut visiting my father in the hospital and during the down time off visits, I went to Visual Expressions to get some cover up work done while I was here. I first met with Diego who did my first cover up and then came back for some more work over the next couple of days. I met with Erich who had some creative ideas for my coverups when most people prior had told me I would be stuck with the original ink, he didnt think that surrender was an option. The staff here is very friendly and take the time to get to know you and want the best work done to your satisfaction. I had some work done on the arches of my foot and they wore out a little but Diego said if ever back in the neighborhood he would retouch up the work for free. I recently returned again and took him up on his offer and he did the retouch for me as promised. Highly reccomend these guys and they are always available to accomodate your time slots to get the job done. read more

The owner sat there and watched me wait fifteen minutes for the piercer. The Piercer said I had canceled on her yesterday, but in reality, I had rescheduled my appointment four hours before my scheduled time. I waited fifteen minutes, and it seemed deliberate. The Piercer was rude over the phone and the owner did not correct her. read more

Called for an appointment the day of and got in. I did have to wait a little once I got there (4:30 appointment, got in at 5, out by 5:15). Different piercer than when I was here a few years ago but she did a good job! I got a nostril piercing and it was more than double the price since I had my other nostril here done in 2020. But, i think pricing is comparable to other shops at this time. The person running the front desk was very kind and welcoming. read more

First time going to this shop, my artist is Leonardo Gonzalez and he has recently moved to this shop. Leo is always super professional, personable, and produces high quality work. From my time at the shop itself everyone was very professional, it was clean, and the atmosphere was pleasant. I even got a little goodie bag when I left for tattoo aftercare. I absolutely recommend Leo for anyone in the market for a new tattoo, and I have only good things to say about my experience here. read more

Visual Expressions - Tattoo Near Me - East Hartford, Connecticut

I'm old school and took all my piercings out long ago but needless to say , I know my stuff. My daughter behind my back went here and got her septum done . I was pissed! Well, I got over it but was really annoyed when it was done crooked . After the reviews , I would have preferred her to go elsewhere . She is getting it redone again as I write this and if it's f***** up , I will make her take it out and go someplace else. Scar tissue for no reason smh read more

I got 2 dermals and a navel piercing done here in April. I recently had to have all 3 piercings removed due to infection and irritation despite caring for the piercings daily for the last 4 months. My navel piercing was done improperly, it was pierced too deep, and was unable to heal. My dermals had very sharp edges, so the tissue around the piercing kept reexperiencing trauma due to not being able to heal. When all 3 piercings started to bubble, I was informed that all 3 piercings became infected due to the cheap, subpar jewelry used at Visual Expressions. Got all 3 removed on the spot. I'll be heading to Black Diamond in West Hartford. Consider this review a warning to stay away from Visual Expressions, and do your research. Its your body. If you're going to self express through piercing, make sure its done right, and the jewelry superb quality! read more

I had gotten my septum pierced somewhere else and the ring that was put in was too small. It was uncomfortable. I came to Visual Expressions to get the ring switched out. Damien was incredibly accommodating, friendly, and helpful. I am very happy with the service I received. read more

I cannot speak for how they operate currently, but when I went to them years ago for snake bite piercings, I was extremely disappointed with them. Even though the piercer was very friendly and used calipers to ensure my piercings were spaced out correctly and evenly, they came out very misplaced and I went back to them twice more to get them re-done (they never did end up piercing them right). Keep in mind this was not simply a case of me being too picky, they were very obviously askew to me and my friends. I talked with an older man (I believe it was the owner) and he never once apologized for the inconvenience and acted a bit like it was somehow my fault. So I had to get rid of them and now I've got permanent uneven holes on my lower lip area and I was never refunded my money or at the very least apologized to. I'm sorry but I just can't recommend this place, there are much better shops around to choose from. And from the other reviews I see on here, I am not the only one who has had a negative experience. read more

I have gotten two tattoos and one piercing at Visual Expressions over the years and I will not be back. I got my tragus pierced there several years ago. The piercer pierced my tragus way too far out and it is on the very edge of my ear. My biggest fear over the years has been that it would get caught on something and be yanked out because it's too far out. I have gone to other establishments to buy different jewelry but they hesitate to help me because they worry that the piercing is too far out as well. Additionally, when I got my second tattoo I called the shop to see if they would have time for me to come in that day. They required a deposit on the phone and told me they could fit me in due to the tattoo I wanted being very small. The tattoo I got literally is an inch long and is a very small arrow. It has no color and took about 5-10 minutes to do. After the tattoo the artist charged me another $100 that was added on to the deposit I had already given on the phone. The tattoo was done well however for what it is I was severely overpriced. Between feeling taken advantage of for the cost of my tattoo and the poorly done piercing I will be looking elsewhere for any future body art. read more

Love this place have had no problems with piercings or tattoos here! Great pricing and people

My partner and I found Visual Expressions online and I got a tattoo there. Jada did a awesome job. We went back two weeks later and got another one. Jada listens and does a awesome job. I travel over four hours to have these done, and will keep going back. read more

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so i went to go get my nose ring put in because i had yanked it out the night prior. i went there about 11:15 am. i walk up to the front desk and tell them what i need done. some chick and the reception was like "yea of course we can do that, give us one minute." so i walked around looking at all the jewelry ...about 10 minutes pass. I think to my self "maybe there just getting everything ready" so i sit down. about 15 MORE minutes pass. The same lady that told me to give her a minute started talking to some other clients (seems like they knew each other). At this point I'm like OK whats taking so long. while this is all happening there is a guy just chilling walking around not really doing anything. 15 more mins later that same guy and the same lady that told me one minute walk out the shop and it seems like they went to grab a smoke and some munchies. So at this point I've been there about 45 mins waiting on the couch with no update so i go to the reception and ask how much longer...the reception asks me with the most confused look on his face "for what? a tattoo?"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i freaked out and said NO!! my nose ring!!!!! i just need technically a jewelry change!!! Can you believe he said "oh thats right" and he jumped up and tried to go after the same people that just walked out the store !!! So i go and sit back down and i'm just frustrated at this point but its Sunday and my usual place is closed and i was desperate cause i didn't want it to close on me . so i wait they finally show up and walk right pass me. they guy turns out to be the piercer . so he asks me questions and blah blah and i tell him i just need a hoop put it in it got yanked out. he ask me where i got it pierced and i told them Moon flower(my usual spot) the chick from earlier burst out laughing saying "everyone is coming over from moon flower" and in my head im like no hunny there just closed and your my last resort. they escort me back , the guy smelled like pure smoke and DIDN'T WASH HIS HANDS!! DIDN'T CLEAN THE AREA OR ANYTHING!!! i was mortified!! the whole time this is getting done , him and the same lady are talking about a tattoo artist in the other room called her a bitch and SHE was just chillen like nothing talking about spotify . at the end i'm dying to get out because at this point i've been there over an hour i go to pay and they didnt even give me a discount or offer an apology for forgetting about me in the beginning and then!! they asked for a tip!!! now i always tip especially when i get the best service out there but this was the worst..me being nice i looked away and just said keep the change i want out of here!! ive heard nothing but positive things about the tattoo part of this shop but the peircer ...no words !!! ill stick moon flower...you know the one ya was down talking. NEVER AGAIN!! PS ORGANIZATION IS KEY AND CUSTOMERS COME FIRST!! read more

So I called the location to see if they took walk ins. They told me yes that there is two people available depending on when I get there so living 2 minutes away, I was there immediately. When I got there, I was not given a choice like I was told, I was given Buck. Since my brother goes all the time, I was in contact with him and said that buck did his so stay with him, so I did. We had a half an hour conversation about what I wanted. When he went to draw it out and returned I did not like they way or looked so I told him I would do a simple one. He went to the back and did the sizing. As he did that, a regular came into the location repeating his name several times. She finally walked to the back and told them she had an appointment with buck. So they proceeded to ask if she had a white slip, "no", and if she put a deposit, "no". When buck came out, he didn't even know they had an appointment so he tells the guy that he will take care of her. Rather then having a conversation with me right at the moment, he went to the other tattoo artist and attempts to pass it along. There was a 5 minute conversation about buck handing it off to someone. Then after 10 minutes, he comes out and hands me the picture to ask me if the sizing was okay and told me that he's having someone else do mine. Not only was it absolutely unprofessional but disrespectful as well. Whether you had an appointment and forgot or simply didn't, don't take on another customer and try to pass them along without their approval. So needless to say, this was a horrible experience and I WILL NOT be returning! read more

This tattoo parlor now uses a gun for (double helix) cartilage piercing. I was in complete shock. I've had a piercing done here before years ago and they used needles back then. I ended up taking the piercing out and got it redone at Black Diamond instead. read more

My daughter and I got our tattoos here and scheduling was easy, James our artist is great, and we even needed a touch up and the process was very easy and accomodating :) read more

Had a great experience today getting a tattoo with my girlfriend. They were professional, friendly, and did a great job with both our tattoos. Darin did mine and he did a great job. They even gave us a pen and water bottle, with the pen worth 10% off the next tattoo. We will DEFINITELY be going back! read more

Place is a dirty shithole. I went there to watch a friend get their first tattoo. Left my jacket on the couch in the other room and someone boosted my wallet out of my jacket. Even before I knew my wallet was gone, it took me about 10 seconds from walking in the door to realize I would never even take a cough drop from this place if I was dying of throat cancer. The girl that did my friends tat seemed to do really nice work...she should look other places for employment. Camera's they have their I was told dont record. Seems like more of a hang out for buying bundles. I hope whoever boosted my wallet gets a hot bundle and OD's. read more

I came here to get my first tattoo from Paola and it was an amazing experience! Super friendly, clean and well kept I would definitely recommend to anyone, she already had 3 designs waiting for me when I walked in and was more than willing to change some parts around for me. read more

Caveat Emptor of a Receptionist Named Kerri and Bizarre Deposit Practices After reading the reviews and getting a recommendation from a friend for this tattoo place I said great let's do it. I've been wanting a tattoo for a while, am new to the area and decided to go for it. I tried to get a tattoo that week but was told they were completely booked and I needed to make an appointment. I knew I was going out of the country and I thought it would be a great welcome back tattoo. I made the appointment for two days after my return. Paid my $50 deposit that I was told I had to pay to confirm my appointment and went on my trip. If I'd known I had to be at their beck and call and also wasn't in fact a confirmation of an appointment--I would NEVER had put a deposit down. When I returned from my trip I saw a missed call and voicemail from them (asking for a call back) and before I even got to return all of my calls I was called again. I called back within 5 minutes of the call and was rudely told--"We've been trying to call you and have left three messages (they left one) and your appointment has been cancelled and you need to reschedule." I was shocked--isn't that the point of a deposit? I explained my surprise and after a few statements of "well, we tried to call" I was put on hold for a manager and I could hear a number of loud conversations and a woman (maybe Kerri?) saying that's ridiculous she can't get her deposit back. The manager came on and was very professional, apologized that it didn't work out (I guess they reshuffled a few things for that day) and let me know I'd have to know the last four digits of the credit card for my funds to be returned. He then told me he was going to turn me back to the receptionist to do the transaction. On the hand off, I heard once again "That's ridiculous she can't get her $50 back". It was handed back to the receptionist (Kerri) and I was then told I'd be charged $3. When trying to clarify why I had to pay $3 for them rescheduling, she rudely said you just spoke to the manager (who did not mention this fee). I asked for her name and just moved on. Kerri was probably one of the rudest customer service people I've talked to in a while.. Her tone alone lends me to believe her name isnt' actually Kerri. Not worth my breath or my mood to argue with a tattoo receptionist or explain to her that her tone, attitude or displeasure is one fit for a child not a customer. She then checked herself and began to apologize and discuss a signed contract that if I was in the store I could read--I told her it was too late for that, there are other tattoo parlors and she should have a wonderful day. If you have a complicated deposit rule that says your deposit is basically to put a deposit down and not confirm your appointment--then don't take deposits over the phone. My suggestion is to check and see if Kerri is working if you are desperate for a tattoo and can't find another establishment. If making a phone appointment have them read their contract and have your lawyer present. The manager and I've heard from a friend that Jada are great at customer service and tattoos respectively. Tread lightly or bring your fighting gloves if Kerri is working. I plan on reporting them to Better Business Bureau and spreading the word about their practices. read more

I love this tattoo shop! Darin is by far my favorite artist! I've gotten 4 tattoos by him and I thoroughly like every tattoo he has done ! I've also went with a friend when she got pierced here and they are very clean and super friendly people! read more

I love visual expressions ! All of the artists there are super genuine , you can tell they really do care what you have to say. I wouldn't trust any other place . read more

This place is awesome. Seriously. I was looking around the Hartford/East Hartford area for a good clean tattoo shop to get my second tattoo. My experience with my first tattoo was horrible so I was expecting much. At first glance, this shop may not seem like much cuz of the strip mall its in.....but from the moment I called up the shop they were super friendly and professional. I was went to the shop and was immediately greeting by the funniest (although slightly stoner-esque lol but still hilarious) receptionist. He invited me in and showed me to a comfortable set of couches with a coffee table full of artist portfolios. He told me to look through all the books and pick the artist I want and the one I feel the most comfortable with. I picked Darin based on his shading grey/black techniques since I was getting a rib tattoo of some grey/black flowers. I was booked the next day and went in for my tattoo, which I normally would have been so freaked out and nervous about, but these guys made me feel so comfortable. Darin sketched up exactly what I wanted, he worked so freaking fast and although it hurt like hell....it came out AMAZING! Exactly what I wanted and better than I pictured. Its healing beautifully and I am so in love with it. Darin even told me he stands by all of his tattoos so if you need something on the tattoo touched up, fixed or changed he will have no problem helping you out free of charge. And the price was waaaay lower than I thought it would be, that's probably because Darin works fast, which i love! I'm already thinking about my next tattoo and will definitely be going back to Visual Expressions to get it done. Seriously, give this shop a visit they're all awesome, I've never met friendlier staff. read more