I got my first tattoo at almost 60. It was when my daughter asked for one, and I was thinking to…read moremyself, why not go do it with her. That was five years ago. For our 30th anniversary, my wife and I went to Maui for a week. The best vacation we've ever had. When it was almost time to pack our suitcases and leave Maui, we were thinking why not get a tattoo to commemorate the vacation, as well as the anniversary.
We looked up several tattoo parlors. While at Paia we paid a visit to one, but it needed a booking in advance. Another one in Kihei, we encountered a rude tattooist who (almost) practically threw us out because we weren't so sure what tattoo we wanted to get...
and then, when we were close to giving up, we found Zen Tattoo. Greg was free, and said he would love to help. We looked up several images, and picked one. And then the magic happened. But not before we were watching in awe how Greg was preparing. He put on a pair of surgical gloves and started sterilizing EVERYTHING. The trays, the machine, and everything that could get in touch with us. Better yet, he wrapped EVERYTHING in Saran wrap. And I mean everything. Then he took of the gloves, threw them away, and put on a new pair. Only then he started to prepare the candidate skin for the tattoo we selected.
At the end, he cleaned the area well, and applied "Second Skin", a modern aftercare method that keeps a new tattoo consistently hydrated using ointment or medical-grade wraps. This approach prevents hard scabbing, reduces fading, and accelerates healing, though it requires strict cleanliness to avoid bacterial growth in the moist environment. In retrospect - a good choice to make when considering a tattoo.
He worked meticulously, and the results were spectacular. When he finished with my wife and it was my turn, we were amazed to see that Greg went through the entire set of rigorous sterilization, again, not skipping one step, including two sets of surgical gloves. Then he did mine.
So three comments:
1. Greg is excellent at tattooing. Outstanding work.
2. Greg is extremely obsessed with cleanliness and sterilization.
3. Greg was the nicest person. He reassured us throughout the process.
Bottom line: considering the preparation, the professionalism, the personality, and the outcome - when in Maui considering a tattoo - choose Greg 100%.