My experience was with a former artist, Lachy, who no longer works at this shop. Although he has…read moresince moved on, this experience took place while he was employed here, and it accurately reflects how my concerns were handled by both the artist and the shop.
I spent a lot of time researching tattoo shops because I wanted high-quality work, and after seeing this shop's reviews and Lachy's portfolio, I felt confident booking with him.
One thing I wish had been disclosed beforehand was that there would be a language barrier. Communication throughout the appointment was difficult, and I wasn't expecting that. During the tattoo, Lachy also left for about 10 minutes without saying anything, which I found unprofessional.
When the tattoo was finished, I immediately noticed that the lines on the dagger weren't symmetrical and pointed it out before leaving. He attempted to make a small adjustment, but ultimately told me to let the tattoo heal for a month because the lines would settle.
After it healed, the issues I was concerned about were still there. I also felt that parts of the tattoo appeared darker than I had expected. I contacted the shop to schedule a touch-up, but I felt it was more difficult than it should have been to get back in. I had also left a $200 deposit for a future tattoo. When I explained that I wasn't sure I wanted to move forward until I felt better about my first tattoo, my future appointment was canceled rather than anyone taking the time to address my concerns or reassure me.
When I returned for the touch-up, I felt my concerns weren't taken seriously. Two other artists, Harim and another artist, looked at the tattoo and acknowledged that the lines weren't perfectly straight, even though they didn't believe the issue was severe. I appreciated their honesty, but this tattoo is permanent and on my body, so my opinion of the final result mattered. The solution ended up being to make the lines thicker, which helped slightly but did not correct the original issue that bothered me.
After the touch-up, Lachy returned my $200 deposit and told me he wouldn't be doing my next tattoo because he doesn't do black-and-gray work. That confused me because his portfolio included black-and-gray tattoos, which was one of the reasons I chose him.
The following day, I called the shop and spoke with the manager, Vanessa, hoping to explain why I was disappointed. She told me she already knew why I was calling because Lachy had already spoken with her. During that conversation, I was told that I had "started it." As a paying client who was respectfully expressing concerns about a permanent tattoo, hearing that was incredibly disappointing.
I left feeling like I had been labeled a difficult client simply because I wasn't satisfied with the quality of my tattoo and wanted my concerns taken seriously. Four years have passed, and I still feel the same way about both the tattoo and the way my concerns were handled. I liked the concept of the design, but I wasn't satisfied with the execution or the customer service I received afterward.
I understand that every client's experience will be different, but this was mine, and I hope it helps others make an informed decision.
