Amazing artist and work. Love this place. Have had creative work and cover ups. All has been great.

Had a horrible experience with Killian (the owner) who was polite at first when I was originally agreeing with his vision for my tattoo. He asked me to send him inspiration so I created a sample in AI just to share my idea as he requested. He absolutely did not like that approach as he felt it inhibited his creative freedom. I tried explaining that it was just a point of reference, much like my Pinterest vision board. I was so excited on my way to the consultation appointment. However, after driving 1 hour in the rain, he cancelled it on the spot because of our creative differences. He claimed to have sent an email to cancel the meeting in advance but actually DID NOT so my time was completely wasted. I thought I was the client. A tattoo is a permanent decision. He even admitted to me in the first meeting that in his own words was literally "dog s*&t at checking email" which was an unprofessional red flag from the beginning. He actually repeated that statement several times to me. Now I see why. I feel that my input should be respected. Upon my arrival to his shop, Killian began to be confrontational and disrespectful with the tone in which he chose to speak. I mentioned that coming to the appointment (that he had just cancelled) was a bad use of my time, he became defensive and rude and blamed it on me. I found Killian to be unprofessional and difficult to work with. After leaving this review, he sent me an unpleasant email further voicing negative comments. Getting a tattoo or several in my case is a very personal experience where you should be made to feel completely safe and that is not the case with Killian. If you want to have creative input over your personal design process, I recommend going to Unbroken in Reston. You deserve respect when paying a vendor for a service and have your vision carried out professionally and collaboratively. read more

My 10 cousins and I wanted tattoos to commemorate the recent passing of our grandma. On short notice, Ivy was so responsive and accommodating, helping us find a window that worked for everyone. Ivy and Daniel Bedard did the actual tattoos, and they came out great. Made some real lifelong memories together. Atmosphere was very chill, they provided candy and water, they were so professional with helping optimize these designs for longevity, patiently helping each cousin through sizing and placement. Would definitely come back and recommend to anyone local. Thanks Ivy and the crew for all the amazing work! read more

Black Water Tattoo and Design - Tattoo Near Me - Sterling, Virginia

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Got my first tattoo here. Killian was very friendly and professional. He disinfected everything and kept the shop very clean. He answered every question I had about aftercare. I would recommend this place to anyone who's new to tattoos and want a safe, easy experience. read more

the artist and the rest of the staff are VERY COOL and great to talk to, during my ink. highly recommend, the professionalism of the artist and crew. my decision to get another ink was last minute. I called Black Water, and told me to come on over. obviously I didn't have an appointment, but I was really appreciative that they took a walk-in on a Saturday mid-morning. as I was getting my tattoo done, they had 3 customers come in. to me, that says a lot about this tattoo parlor. And they sterilize everything, like the chair, arm rest, all of the above things before you even sit down to start. I mean it's understood to sterilize, but my artist was meticulous to wipe down everything. and covered and taped afterward with that medical paper you see at dentists. read more

Black Water Tattoo and Design - my tattoo from Black Water. - Tattoo Near Me - Sterling, Virginia

Ivy was super quick to get me booked for my consult, Pete went through what I wanted and got me in two weeks later. The shop is a really cool space and I loved the music. Ivy, Pete, and Killian were there, Killian had a client, and I brought a friend, and we all talked for the entire three hours. They were super chill and nice, and the atmosphere was so relaxing. I've worked with artists who were pretty brusque or just not interested in talking with me, but that was not the case here. Pete has a really light touch, and very little of the tattoo actually hurt. I would absolutely recommend this place, and will almost certainly be getting more work done here (and my friend scheduled an appointment before we left). read more

Black Water Tattoo and Design - Tattoo Near Me - Sterling, Virginia

I got my nose pierced here and this place is so clean. The guy who did my piercing, Peter, was fantastic. Gave great direction to my cleaning! read more

The staff here are extremely friendly and easygoing. Killian came up with a great design based on some pretty vague parameters I gave him. He charged a totally reasonable amount, and on tattoo day he was efficient but not sloppy. His friendliness during the actual tattooing made the experience so much more comfortable than it would have been otherwise. Highly recommend this shop for anyone looking for a tattoo shop in the greater DC area. read more

Got my septum done here and everyone was very professional. The shop is clean, and they do wonderful work! I had issues with the ball on my ring about a week after the poercing. Cooper changed my ring and didn't charge me for the jewelery. Plus he came in on his off time...before a holiday...to make sure I was taken care of! Wonderful service and wonderful shop! read more

If you are on the fence about booking with these guys- DO IT! 0 complaints and my mom and I were both blown away by their knowledge, generosity, and passion for what they do. Had my navel pierced by them, vibe was great. 10/10 great people and service read more

Thank you for making the ear piercing experience for us an awesome one. You guys have the best customer service! We'll definitely recommend to other friends read more

I have spent many, many hours at Blackwater Tattoo over the last several years, and there's a reason I keep going back - the staff. I've been to other tattoo parlors where sessions feel very transactional. However, here the artists are incredible, personable, and have your best interest. Not only do I love my pieces by Killian, but I get compliments on them everywhere I go. The work speaks for itself. Killian and Ivy made me feel welcome from my very first appointment, and I can't wait to see them at my next session! I recommend them to everyone. read more

In and out. Last minute appointment. Clean shop. Nose piercing very little pain. Staff was professional

Oh em gee YES! Decided to get a couple piercings as a spur of the moment decision. Black Water was able to get me in same day. The receptionist had the most gorgeous mermaid hair and was extremely friendly and helpful. I was booked with Peter for my piercings and he was incredible. True perfectionist. Walked me through the entire process step by step and made sure to brief me on after-care steps. Thank you Peter!!!! Highly recommend. read more

They are the sweetest omg?? I wasn't expecting such warmth and hospitality. Not only were they able to book me in last minute, but the experience was impeccable! I got my ears pierced by Peter. He made it such a smooth sailing time and had a really caring demeanor! Oh also, I got to discover how a little pain can be pleasurable (the piercing itself felt great!). So that was an unexpected pleasant surprise... If I turn into masochist in five years I'm blaming ya'll! Seriously come here, they're awesome. read more

Been going here since it was owned by Charlie, Charlie had been my go-to artist for years. But I have noticed that Charlie's work have been going down hill and would need reworking. Killian was able to do his magic on the rework and has been my go-to since. read more

I have been going here since they were owned by Charlie. I have had Charlie, Hank and Killian do my tattoos and have been pleased with each one. The last one was a few weeks ago, and Killian did an amazing job. I will definitely be back for my next tattoo. read more

Went here for my first tattoo, and it was an awesome experience! Everyone was super nice, patient with my questions, and very professional. I love how my work came out (Michael did a great job) and would definitely go back for my next one. 10/10 would ink again! read more

Black Water Tattoo and Design - Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Sterling, Virginia

Super nice and professional! Pete did an amazing job on my 3 tattoos! Everyone in the shop talked to me almost the whole time I was sitting in the chair which was really nice. read more

My 6 year old daughter wanted her ears pierced so I brought her to Black Water Tattoo and Design to get professional piercing rather than the piercing gun at Claire's like when I was a kid. I was so impressed with this place. The staff was super friendly and helpful. They took the time to explain everything and to put my daughter at ease. They were very precise and did a great job explaining the after care procedures. My daughter didn't even flinch it was so smooth. She's thrilled with her pierced ears and I'm so happy this place made it such a great experience. Highly recommend!!! read more

Love my tattoo. It was exactly what I had in my mind but wasn't exactly sure how to explain. Pete figured it out and did an excellent job. The attention to detail is amazing. read more

The experience was really nice and everything was sterilized; however, a friend and I went to get our septum's done here and both of them came out very diagonal and low. Both of us had one ball fall off our jewelry only a couple days after we had them done as well and got charged to have a new one put back on. You could also see my piercing even when it was flipped up which I knew couldn't have been right. Because of these reasons I decided to take it out and I am going to wait to get it repierced else where once it heals up. So again, the customer service was pretty good and everyone was very nice and it felt clean. They even accepted us on the same day we called. I would say we could have been walked through the process of the piercing a little bit better, he kinda just went for it! It's all good, it just stinks the piercings came out so crooked ): Hoping this place gets better with experience. read more

Requested an inside arm anime girl. Awesome work produced by Tony Traywick. Great guy with care for detail and color. Also, they have reasonable prices. Will return for forearm. read more

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On a whim I decided to finally get my tattoo done on Sunday. Jake was gracious enjoys to squeeze me in last minute and i can tell you i was more than pleased with his work. He took his time lineing up my tattoo with my previous one and made his lines with precision. The kid's like a surgeon with his needle and I'm happy to say, I found my new local shop! Good looking out Jake! read more

Wonderful service here! Went to get a belly piercing and was serviced quickly and efficiently. Great conversation with both the pedicure and front desk. Wonderful prices as well! read more

this place told me to come in at 3:30 for an appointment for a piercing. sat in waiting room until 4:00 was still not seen. lame

A friend and I went her to get pierced. Both of us had different piercings (her eyebrow and my septum). We both ended up having to take them out. My septum was a little crooked and pierced very low. I've since had it redone and it's beautiful! I wasn't given any choice in jewelry or a choice of size. I got a very large horse shoe put in and accepted that was the way it is. It was so low, though, that you could actually see the entry point of the bars on the ring. Not many pieces of jewelry ever looked right in it. It didn't migrate because my new piercer said she couldn't see any scar tissue and the piercing area did heal beautifully even if done way too low. It really stinks because the people were actually really nice. Because of my experience (and my friend's) I can't really recommend this place for piercings. read more

Killian's work was incredible on my first tattoo. Killian perfectly captured my vision for the tattoo (which wasn't easy) and even added some enhancements that made the piece really cool and unique. Everyone at the shop is courteous, professional, easy to talk to, and all around has just a great atmosphere. Made my first tattoo experience memorable, fun, and enjoyable. Will be working with Killian on a few more ideas in the near future. Thank you Ivy and Killian!!! read more

Got a new tattoo on Friday, Jan 25th, 2019 by Jake Mckeown!! It is AMAZING!!! This tattoo is by far my favorite tattoo I have ever gotten!! Great color, great lines, and just overall the quality is the best!! I recommend going and seeing Jake for all your tattoo needs!! I was so happy with mine, my husband went on Satruday and got a tattoo as well! read more

After going to this tattoo place the year before my friends and I were excited to go back and get piercings. When we got there, there was a group of 6 other people getting piercings and some people getting tattoo consults. They took our information and welcomed us nicely. They had told some of us that we were unable to get the piercing of our liking because our ears "weren't suited" for the piercing. We did not mind waiting until they were done with the other group but did not expect the wait to be more than 45 mins. We waited there for 1 hour and 45 minutes until they finally took our first person back. When they finally took her back, it was a while until she actually got her ear pierced. It was very sanitary and everything they used was clean/newly opened. When they went to pierce the first person they were able to get the needle and piercing through her ear but when they went to put the ball to secure the piercing, they said her ear was "too thick" to put it on. They proceeded to remove the earring and leave the girl with a pointless, hurting hole in her ear. They did not make her pay but it was necessary considering she had a hole in her ear. On top of this, the man who pierced her ear had long hair that fell onto her face as he was piercing her ear (only unsanitary part but very gross). Also they dropped the needle onto her and picked it up without cleaning it off. The whole experience was upsetting and we wasted almost 2 hours there to not even get 1 piercing done! Besides all this the workers were very nice and provided water and candy to make our wait more enjoyable! read more

Thank you Tony for listening to me and understanding what i m looking for. I loved my tattoos. You are a great artist and a good person. You definitely know how to treat your customer. I am coming back for sure. read more

This place is great. It was my first tattoo and Tony walked me through every step. They are very friendly too.

I came in with a friend of mine to get a tattoo I've been thinking up in my head for years and I waited and hesitated because I wanted it to be perfect as it was my tattoo dedicated to my kids. While it's so simple, I honestly sit hear teary eyed looking at it because the meaning is so special to me. Michael did my tattoo and I'll definitely be coming back to get a lot more from him. He took my idea and pictures I sent and created exactly what I wanted. I am more than happy, I highly recommend!! read more

I had the pleasure of going to Jake McKeown for my most recent tattoo. My first time at this shop and first time with Jake and I have nothing but wonderful things to say! He had my design ready to go and was nice and professional throughout the entire process! The line work on my design is great and he took his time to make sure the placement was just right! I've found a new shop and a new artist in Jake! read more

Wish I could give a zero. After explaining and providing the actual artwork I wanted tattooed on me. The artist drew something completely different then what I had requested. After asking 2 more times to try and fix the drawing with the same exact details I had asked the first time, it had exactly what I asked to not be on it. He suggested that I go to The Body Gallery since he no longer wanted to do my tattoo after I asked him to fix something that was visibly disproportioned. He then refused to give me my deposit back. I had to dispute the charge with my card company in order to get it back. Worst experience ever from a tattoo shop, very unprofessional way to treat a once loyal customer. I have worked at a tattoo shop in the past and have never seen any customer treated this way even if they were rude. I was very clear, concise, and punctual. I even offered to provide a meal for the artist before the appointment. Be forewarned, I don't want anyone to have to go through the same experience I went through. read more

Couldn't have asked for a better experience! Tony did a great job turning my idea into a design. I am super thrilled with my tattoo.

Just got my tragus ear pierced & Hank was the best!.. he was well informed & explained to me everything i needed to know before i got it done. When i went back to get my second piercing i got a little overheated & didnt feel to well. He immediately got me comfy, gave me water, candy to get my blood sugar up.. Super calm, professional & shop is very clean. There was another guy there, dont know his name but he smiled & seemed very pleasant! Will def recommend & go back!.. read more

Got my first tattoo the other day with Killian, very professional and friendly!!! The tattoo looks amazing too!!! Completely loved the place and my artist!!!! read more

I've been going to this shop since 2014, when they were known as "Traditions Tattoo". They've always been friendly and professional. I've never had a bad experience here. Killian, Tony, and Hank are all great guys, very talented, and go above and beyond to make sure their clients are satisfied. read more