What a cool little green floating ship of a shop nestled in SF. I've been blessed to work with the incredible artist, Anna @pobrecitats, on many tattoos now. All in this lovely lil shop. read more

Black & Blue Tattoo - Waiting for my next pieces now! - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

IG: sourtrour.ink My brother recently got a tattoo from the artist linked above! It was a wonderful experience and meant a lot to him considering it was his first tattoo! When we seeked out previous artists before we found this one, we noticed that the artists tended to be uninterested in my brothers custom or the fact that it was going to be his first time. This artist was understanding and communicative throughout the booking process and actual appointment. The tattooing process was pretty fast and extremely detailed, really was a joy! My brother is very happy with his tattoo of our late dog Mushi, and so is my family! Please take a look at this artist, he's truly a hidden treasure and a newer artist in the city! read more

Black & Blue Tattoo - Custom Dog Portrait Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Cannot speak highly enough of Rosa at Black & Blue. I loved the cherry blossoms she did for me on my inner arm so much, I went back to her for a "dealer's choice" forearm piece. I just asked if she could do a floral piece to round out my sleeve, something symbolizing rebirth, and she created a beautiful lily design for me. Rosa's line work is impeccable - people always comment on it - and she works quickly and compassionately. It's genuinely fun seeing her each time! Needless to say, I plan to go back for a 3rd tattoo with her... read more

Black & Blue Tattoo - Lilies by Rosa - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Love it here! Filip Fabian does watercolor work that feels thoughtful and intentional, with gorgeous color. He makes the process easy, talks through ideas clearly, and stays flexible when you want to adjust the design. The collaboration feels natural, not rushed. I'm already planning my next piece. read more

Black & Blue Tattoo - Tattoo artist Filip Fabian tattoos a leg while referencing a colorful watercolor-style design at Black and Blue Tattoo. - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

I have been to many tattoo shops, black and blue tattoo is the epitome of what tattoo standards are meant to be. Rigers Strange is one of the most talented artists I've had the pleasure of working with. His backstory and experience tattooing all over the world is unparalleled. Always stoked with the work he does and his attention to detail and depth-coupled with having a light hand, makes the experience that he provides top notch. Highly recommend Rigers if you are looking for something unique. The whole crew at Back and Blue- Idexa, Clay, and Rigers are all top caliber artists and will make a great tattoo for you. Go check them out and say Whattup! You will be in great hands. Shop is super clean, sanitary, and upholds the standard of what an Elite studio should entail. read more

Though I've use this website/app for many years, I've never written a review before and I'm very proud to be doing so for the purposes of talking about my amazing experience working with Filip Fabian on my first tattoo at Black and Blue Tattoo. ABOUT FILIP: I was convinced that Filip getting back to me after my initial inquiry would take a very long time as it was clear to me that he's very well known and has the work, the online following, the recognition within the tattoo community, and most obviously the talent to back it up. I was fortunate enough to have him respond within 12 hours. He expressed great enthusiasm in my concept and just in the email communication alone, made me feel very comfortable. When the day finally came and I entered the studio, he was extremely welcoming and I instantly fell in love with the designs he'd come up with. He took all my ideas and was able to turn it into something truly beautiful. There were perhaps two, very minor changes that I requested and he was more than happy to oblige. It was kind of last minute me telling him that I was a tattoo virgin (the day before in an email) so I was going into the appointment feeling a bit guilty (for lack of a better word) that perhaps I hadn't been more up front about that. Didn't make a difference and throughout the entire process of getting the tattoo, he explained in detail how each step would go, what it might feel like and was constantly checking in to make sure I was okay. I'd done so much research about how to be a good tattoo client as I'm always aiming to be as low maintenance as possible and a lot of that stress faded within the first 30-60 minutes of me being there. From beginning to end, the experience that he provided for me was above and beyond what I could have hoped for. ABOUT THE SHOP/LOCATION: Aesthetically beautiful, cozy but not stifling, very well lit by both natural and artificial light and the air conditioning really helped as well, especially as someone that runs very hot. The location is great as it isn't on any of the crazy SF streets that can cause one anxiety. Parking, though paid, is literally right there. We started earlier than when the shop was actually open, I think the absence of people helped me relax into the session a little. That was followed by clients and other artists slowly arriving. The vibe was amazing, everyone was really friendly, saying hi to me as I walked by during the breaks, I could sense camaraderie and it really contributed to an amazing environment and my overall experience. The set-up for the session was great as well. It was clear that cleanliness and hygiene was of the utmost importance and priority. ABOUT THE OWNER: I had the privilege of meeting Idexa (the owner of the shop) as well. She had a very warm presence, was very polite and made me feel very welcome when introducing herself to me. I could tell by my interaction with her and seeing her go about her business through the shop that she's genuinely invested in making the space warm, welcoming and safe for all. Never in my life did I think I would get a tattoo to begin with and here I am knowing that I will be going back for another. Five stars for Filip as an amazing artist! Five stars for the shop and the beautiful environment! Five stars for Idexa for making me feel so welcome in her space! read more

Black & Blue Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

I got a half sleeve tattoo by Fill - all black and pirate theme. He executed my vision so beautifully, better than I could have ever hoped. It is exactly what I dreamed my sleeve could be. He was also very respectful and kind. He was helpful in figuring out the design and valued my opinion. He worked fast and never made me uncomfortable. He is an amazing tattoo artist in every way. Thank you, Fill! read more

I had a TERRIBLE first tattoo experience at Black & Blue. Jaime (who apparently no longer works there) had a $150 minimum but only spent 45 minutes tattooing me. Imagine my surprise when my total comes out to $250- no wonder he took his sweet time printing and adjusting the letters I wanted; he was charging me for the time he spent at the computer! I wasn't expecting to spend that much on the tiny phrase I got and I'll never forget the dirty look the co-owner gave me as I was leaving. I don't think I've ever felt or been treated by complete garbage at a tattoo shop before! As if this wasn't bad enough, a couple years later Idexa has the caucasity to demand I remove my review- no apology or acknowledgment of my insanely unprofessional and unpleasant experience but she did make sure to basically call me a liar. Taking a look at the other reviews gives you a glimpse into her unprofessionalism that SUPRISE! is also how the shop is managed. I've gotten 8 tattoos since then and have never been charged for drawing/printing time and have NEVER had an experience as horrible as my first. I'd stay FAR away from Idexa, Jaime, and Black & Blue Tattoo. read more

Shout out to Rachael Dobos @turboscumtattoos for bringing my vision to life in honoring my late mother and for the gift of family... and the results, well I couldn't be more stoked. It's my first tattoo ever and Rachael made the experience enjoyable and memorable. I had my own design and through collaboration, Rachael helped me to fine tune it and together we came up with a living art I'm proud to wear on my sleeve. Rachael is a great listener, one hell of an artist, and best of all just an awesome person to work with. Thank you, Rachael! Until next time Eddie P. #sagittarius #carnation #family read more

This was my first tattoo and I came in super worried (didn't want to regret anything). Needless to say I walked out super happy and impressed!! Jax was super kind and accommodating. She made sure to check all the details of my tattoo with me and told me constantly that any changes I want (for placement or details) can be done. For someone who can be a bit shy this was really nice! My tattoo came out better than I had envisioned and I love it ! Didn't even hurt thankfully :) read more

Black & Blue Tattoo - Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Gauge Strongarm at Black & Blue Tattoo did an amazing job and helped me mark an important point in my life. He made the experience electric and transformative for me. Every time I look at his work I love it more read more

Black & Blue Tattoo - Fresh ink! - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

My wife and I visited San Francisco for our honeymoon and decided to get a short notice tattoo. Luckily Gauge had a last minute cancelation and had time to tattoo us both! The shop is clean and interesting, Gauge and the other artist (we forget her name) were a blast to hang out with while we got our tattoos. If we ever come back to SF, we will certainly be visiting again. read more

Black & Blue Tattoo - Sequoia tree that Gauge drew up for us. - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

The best body art experience of my life!! I absolutely love my Black & Blue tattoo!! Best vibe ever, amazing art and artists, clean and sanitary work environment. 5 stars all the way!! read more

Just three months later and I went back for a second tattoo with Carter! The shop has moved and the new space is really nice - very open and communal yet intimate and comfortable. Carter was again a joy to work with to develop my newest idea. We went big this time as you can see in the image . She was super detailed in developing complex and realistic layers of colors and I love how she uses the skin itself as a color component. We talked almost the entire time - almost 6 hours! She also touched up my first tattoo for free. Overall I am just thrilled with both of these tattoos. Carter Warren is a skilled artist and a caring and fun person. And Black and Blue is a terrific studio! Five stars for sure and I will be back! read more

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In brief: I loved my experience with Carter Warren and the general vibes at Black & Blue Tattoo. Loved the environment, the people and the work they do! In Full: The studio space itself is clean, professional, and welcoming! The atmosphere is really communal and positive. Though each artist works as an independent business, they (at lease those there while I was- Gauge, Carter and one more whose name I didn't catch) were collaborative and friendly. Carter is amazing, she helped me cover an old tattoo! She's enthusiastic and incorporated a variety of styles and designs to create works of art. Carter took all the time I needed to help me define what I was looking for and working around my preferences to develop a piece I love. She encourages input and discussion while being honest about any limitations in design and placement. Not to mention she's super fun to talk to the whole time she's working. Thanks so much Carter! I'm excited to see how it heals! read more

Black & Blue Tattoo - Jellyfish cover-up - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

It feels selfish not to share the pure artistic talent that is Filip Fabian at Black and Blue. His ability to bring a tattoo to life and make it better than you could have expected is the reason that I have gone back to him for my second tattoo after he blew my mind with my first. His attention to detail, his creativity with color and his calm, gentle personality are what makes him an unparalleled talent. I get so many compliments from friends and strangers alike and it is because his work is so beautiful and unique. The shop is lovely too. Clean, comfortable and everyone I've met seems very friendly. It's more than a five star experience, that is for sure. read more

Black & Blue Tattoo - My beautiful raven tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

I would recommend Black and Blue to anyone looking for an extremely high quality, professional, and reasonably priced tattoo (which I'm pretty sure is everyone). I came here with my mom to get matching pieces for Mother's Day and had the best experience! Jax was my artist and she was extremely kind, professional, and did outstanding with the design and entire tattoo process. I love how our tattoos came out and would definitely return for more pieces from here! read more

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I spent a long time trying to find the perfect tattoo artist for a very personal tattoo. After a year + of browsing, I came across Gauge, who exceeded even my highest level of expectations. From the beginning, Gauge was extremely accommodating and made sure I was comfortable both physically and mentally. It's easy to tell that Gauge put a lot of thought into the tattoo design, making sure it was perfectly aligned to what I wanted. I just finished getting my tattoo, and had to run home and share feedback with how happy I am about the results as they were just that fantastic! I can't recommend Gauge enough for your next tattoo! I know I'll be going back! read more

My first tattoo experience and me having trypanophobia (fear of needles), I was not sure on how this was going to go......once I met idexa, things started getting better. She was super gentle with me and was accommodative of feedback on the design. It literally took 30mins to come up with the final design, she was pretty creative on additional detailing to my existing pattern which made it unique and close to my heart!!! Then came the actual tattoo part- she tattooed softly and slowly to make sure I was comfortable. Her space In Occidental was super serene which just helped the entire process to be a lot easier I don't think I would want to have my first tattoo experience any other way!!! Thank u once again Idexa read more

Black & Blue Tattoo - My tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've had two tattoos at Black & Blue, both done by Idexa. In both cases I had a great conversation discussing what I had in mind, leading to a design I'm happy to have with me for life. The artists at B&B are just that, artists, and they may not be suited to do the work you have in mind--but you can be sure that if they're the right one for you, you'll both know it and they'll do a fantastic job; and if the artist you talk to isn't the right one for your work, they'll tell you, and point you to someone (in the shop or outside of it) who will make you happy. I'm thrilled with the work they've done for me, and Black & Blue will be the first shop I look at for my next tattoo. read more

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Since my parents passing last year, I wanted to have two watercolor style flowers on my arm. My good friend found Fil Fabian on Instagram. Once I looked at his work, I was determined to have it ONLY done by him. Once I got my session booked for March, I sent him my ideas (over email) a couple of days before. When he greeted me, we sat down for a good hour and talked about bringing the ideas to the real stencil. He is very open to suggestions but he will add what he thinks will look good too. I honestly believe a beautiful tattoo is because a great collaboration between the client and the artist. And that is exactly what you will get with Fil. And as he is working on your piece, he is a complete perfectionist, taking his time to make sure it gets it done right. It definitely exceeded my expectations! And I would like to come back to add to upper arm piece. Everyone has already commented on how it looks very different and unique. THANK YOU FIL FOR YOUR AMAZING WORK! read more

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Did not know finding a Finger Tattoo artist would be so difficult of course i yelped several places with no luck and finally found someone on here. Messaged the shop and he referred me to Gauge through email. And i messaged him right away and he answered which i love!! its all about communicating with one and another. IMPORTANT: He had availability on a Saturday which i think is uber important cuz i am driving from the South so it would take super long if he only had a weekday. After i got his number, I sent him pictures through text for my wedding and middle finger and he confirmed he can do them. I get there and please be aware there is No parking!! had to park down the street and luckily i found a spot and walked 5 minutes to the shop. Advice give urself sometime to find parking. I Meet Gauge: He was soo inviting and nice about it all. I brought up all my concerns and he answered all of them. i was debating on getting my middle finger tatted due to several reasons so he put a stencil on there!! (decided to not do it for this time) but i loved it sooo much might think about going back now! lol I ended up deciding to do my wedding finger and arm tattoo which he was super cool about that. and told me its okay if i didnt decide to do my other finger so understanding!! i originally didnt tell him i wanted some color on my arm tattoo and i asked at that time and he said yes!! i always love some color so im glad he was cool about it. Overall reallllly nice guy and he made very comfortable and i definitely recommend him. Glad i was able to find him that i can trust and ping whenever i want something small and or anything else. O yeah he referred me to another tattoo artist so i can get additional work done and thank u for that!!!! so awesome to share the love!! read more

Came out to SF to get a tattoo done by Filip! Showed him a photo I found on Instagram and we both tweaked it together. The process of working with him and getting the ink done was a pleasant experience and I'd recommend it. read more

Black & Blue Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Rosa was fantastic! I got a little hummingbird on my arm for my wife and the whole experience was excellent. I sent her some inspo beforehand and when I got there she had already mocked up two images, each of them better than I could have expected. I needed some input on placement in relation to my other tattoos and she provided great guidance and we took a few attempts to place it so it was just right. She was also REALLY fast. Granted there wasn't a ton of shading but clean line work and great shading on the feathers. She captured the femininity and delicateness perfectly! She's great- highly recommend and already planning a trip back. Shop was super clean, other artist was friendly and nice. read more

Black & Blue Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

The shop is very clean and welcoming. Happy to have had Sid do my tattoo. He was friendly and accommodating. The amount of detail that went into the work is amazing. He showed me the piece on paper, but went above and beyond with the actual result. read more

Black & Blue Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Just finished a full upper arm sleeve with Michael DeMatty as my tattoo artist. It's was large cover up of a silly enough tattoo from my younger days, but through Michael's creativity, guidance and skill he has left me feeling quite chuffed about my new tattoo. I had visited a few studios in the city but was drawn towards this business due to the fact that it is a female and queer run, gender-inclusive tattoo studio. Michael was brilliant from the onset , friendly through out and is a credit to the tattoo community. I highly recommend Michael and the studio in general along with its other staff give a very nice feeling of warmth and friendliness. read more

I cannot recommend Brittany and Black + Blue highly enough. The shop is cute, clean, and was super chill and soothing during my appointment. Brittany was fun to chat with and has amazing energy, and her work is PHENOMENAL. I was fortunate to be able to get one of the original designs from her site, and she accommodated my request to add a tiny tribute to my late cat soooo beautifully. I follow pretty much the whole shop on Instagram and would absolutely refer anyone to the artists here. read more

Black & Blue Tattoo - Original design by Brittany, plus cat mod. Color next month! - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

I had been wanting my tattoo for the past 10 years before I met Brittney, I've had other tattooists draw up ideas for it that ended up not being the style I had wanted, when my friend overheard me and directed me to Black & Blue and was raving how good Brittney is at watercolor "Shes the best watercolor tattooist in the bay!" Brittney was a friendly personable, feisty and funny. She was soft touch during our session which was great for me seeing it was my first time. It made the 5-6 hours go by quickly. Id definitely go back for my next one, Shes an amazing artist and I absolutely love the work she has and did do. Highly reccomend Black & Blue and Brittany Thorton Thanks again for your beautiful work! read more

Black & Blue Tattoo - Brittany Thorton - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Back in October 2019 I started my tattoo journey with Black & Blue Tattoo. I worked with Brittany Thornton, (https://www.brittanyisgenius.com) who is FANTASTIC and a complete delight to work with. This was my first tattoo and it was of my dog (still is!) and consequently it made me a little extra nervous and indecisive on the design. Brittany was super flexible, patient and understanding and after a first pass, she delivered a beautiful image that I loved in it's digital form and love even more on my arm! After 2 sessions, I finally had my first tattoo and it's one I'm really proud of. I'd definitely work with Brittany again and highly recommend her. As for the shop itself, it was great! The staff were really friendly, it was a super relaxed environment and really conveniently located. If you follow Black & Blue Tattoo on instagram, you'll see that it's a location brimming with incredible talent. read more

Black & Blue Tattoo - Beatrix and her tattoo likeness - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Filip Fabian was so nice to work with. He listened to my idea, created the concept, then listened to my input and desires to make adjustments and changes til I was in love with the final piece. Thank you! read more

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Got my first tattoo with Sid at Black & Blue. He was super responsive prior to the appointment and answered any questions promptly. The people were really nice and courteous. The shop was clean, well-laid out, and comfortable. Sid is amazing; so friendly and incredibly talented. He was super collaborative in mixing up a few concepts for my tattoo. I'm beyond satisfied with the end result - I love it. Lastly, my wife got a tattoo right afterwards. There was a bit of confusion but he was super adaptable and did a beautiful tattoo for her. I highly recommend Black & Blue and Sid. read more

Black & Blue Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Got my second tattoo with Sid at Black and Blue. The shop is clean, well maintained, comfortable and everyone who works there is incredibly nice. Sid worked with me to combine several different concepts into my tattoo and I could not be happier with it! He is so friendly and talented. I was a bit nervous as I hadn't had a tattoo in 10 years, but he worked with me and I had an amazing experience. Definitely recommend him and the shop! read more

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I have had 2 pieces done here. One done by Michael a few years ago and one done yesterday by Brittany. Black and blue is a well known and trusted parlor and has been voted best shop in SF. I wanted to get a watercolor style tattoo and I knew I wanted to return to this shop and I was so happy to find BRITTANY'S work! I was blown away by her online portfolio and her Instagram account. Her watercolor work is absolutely stunning. Her style was exactly what I was looking for. The finished product is more than I could have ever asked for or even imagined. I was moved to tears when I looked at the finished product. I will 100% be going back to her get another piece... and another. read more

Black & Blue Tattoo - AMAZING work by Brittany - I can't believe her work and am so thankful to have this piece. - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tattoo, middle age woman's best friend; or a rite of passage for anyone. Guided by your own reasons only known to you, you venture into the tattoo world a few years ago as you were approaching the imminent middle age. Your lesbian girlfriends took you there because they were one of the few millennials who actually embraced the body art culture, so ahead of their time, or so old fashioned, depending on how you look at, and they vouched this place. BBT is not your typical tattoo parlor. It's very clean. Organized. Pretty. And museum-like. Contracted artists are skillful and approachable. They are good with needles, as they ought to be. You get one and you leave immediately to celebrate at Tacolicious. You said to your friends then, "one is enough. I've made my statement." They told you then, "you'll get another." They were right. You found another piece of design you wanted on you. So you book another appointment a couple of years later. This time a different artist. Light handed, female, and very skillful. It took two months to get an appointment in with her. You walk out once again, greeted by your friend who had arrived to wait for you to finish, and then said, "this one hurt a bit." Your friend hugs you and then takes you out for dinner to celebrate. Make appointment. Put down a deposit. Arrive on time. The artist will retouch for free if it's needed. On 16th Bart line. Parking can be a bitch. Welcome to the Mission. This is not a tattoo parlor. It's a body art studio. An hour or two later, you will feel you are an improved version of you. Now go and buy that spaghetti dress to show off your new tatt. read more

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This review is for the amazing Filip Fabian! I had been looking for an artist in the bay area for years to get a large chest piece done. I never felt a connection to anyone's work until I came across Fill's work at B&B. Long story short, I just got my second piece done by him today and I could not be happier with how both of my tattoos turned out. I really appreciate how he listens to what you want and gives you his input without forcing his idea. The end result is a piece far more beautiful than what you had in mind. His work is extraordinary. I highly recommend booking with him. You'll be in-love with your new art! read more

Had my piece done by Filip a few days ago and I absolutely love it! He took the time to make sure everything was perfect and I was comfortable the entire time. His artistry is incredible and I highly recommend him! read more

Black & Blue Tattoo - Tattoo by Filip Fabian - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

3 check-ins, 2 tats, a review and a Re-review but the Stars remain the same for B+B. Vinh has built a reputation here and rightly so. He has a Wait, an auto-email to protect his demand & creative integrity and even still the quality of work is really high. I've written a huge share of my first review for Kasha Wildbird who has since flown the Black & Blue coop; but Vinh's blackwork was that special enough to bring me back. Like all tattoos should, I'll cut the words and let the pictures speak for themselves. This is becoming an annual thing and more appropriate for the Year of the Dog--symbol of Loyalty & Honesty. read more

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Had an appointment with Andrew (androidoh on Instagram) and the process was fun, quick, and he made my childhood favorite Pokémon Vulpix so darn cute and perfect! SO in love. Would definitely love to come back again, especially for more childhood related designs!! read more

Black & Blue Tattoo - Alolan Vulpix from Pokémon Sword and Shield - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Artist: Vinh Tattoo: Pet portrait Placement: back of arm, above elbow Vinh is absolutely amazing! What a true artist!!! He was easy to communicate with, and easy going. This was my second tattoo, 14 years post the first one. He was light handed and the pain wasn't bad at all. He is very fast and efficient, captured all the details of my dog's face. Picture can't do justice, looks even more amazing in person. If you want an animal portrait done, look no further! Vinh is your guy!!!!!! Tips: book ahead! The wait is worth it! read more

5.7.18 I came for my second tattoo ever yesterday with Katie/Neko, and had an excellent experience! I was looking to get a fine & crisp scripted word on my upper back and found Neko on Black & Blue's IG. I emailed Neko through her business email on her IG bio and got a quick response. I emailed with her for about two weeks before setting a date. She was very informative in answering all my questions and helped finalize my scripted work by creating a hybrid of two fonts that I wanted - which turned out perfect! Her current minimum is $200 which is a decent price compared to the other tattoo artist at B&B. Touch ups are free within 1 yr of your tattoo. She requires a $100 deposited to secure an appointment with her either through Paypal or Venmo. On the day of arrival she was all prepared with my design printed out in different sizes to finalize my placement. She was extremely friendly, accommodating and caring. After, I picked a size and finalized the placement, we went into the back room which was shared with another tattoo appointment, but did not deter my privacy. I was expecting the tattooing to hurt, since it was so close to the shoulder blade & based on my first tattoo experience, but I didn't even so much as flinch when Neko started tattooing my piece. I was super comfortable. I also appreciate that she went in with a really light hand, knowing that my skin is sensitive to pooling. So far the tattoo looks perfect, hopefully it stays that way! I definitely recommend Neko and would get my third one with her! read more