Billy is a amazing tattoo artist. Really happy with the tattoo he did for me. Looking forward to getting more tattoos from him in the future. read more

Mechanical Concept Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

Billy did an incredible job on my tattoos! Some of the designs i threw at him were quite challenging to translate to tattoo and he nailed them. He was also instrumental in piecing together the layout for my sleeve in a way that makes several different designs look cohesive. There's nowhere better to kick back and watch something on tv while getting a quality tattoo at a very reasonable price! read more

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Thank you Wes for my quick and Amazing cover-up tattoo! I'm super happy how is turned out and can't wait for it to heal and see how it will look. I was also really impressed on the fact that I pretty much didn't feel anything from the numbing cream he used. I typically enjoy the pain of tattoos. But literally did not feel anything as it kind of just felt like he was coloring on my skin. Extremely clean shop And very quick service as a walk-in. 2 1/2 hours from the moment I came in and he helped me to come up with a design for the cover-up and by the time that I left. I have a consultation with Billy next week, and I am super excited to get tattooed by him! So I have a feeling this will be my new Tattoo home read more

Mechanical Concept Tattoo - After - Tattoo Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

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Apparently Yelp took my other review down, which was also 5 stars. Long story short, Billy has been tattooing me since 2010. He's done both of my arms, a full back piece, and has started my leg... he'll be doing a very sentimental piece at the end of the month, and I know it will be amazing. I gave him my concepts and he put his vision and talent into them, creating great pieces I could have never imagined on my own. He's efficient, honest, and has a soft hand. He makes you feel comfortable and is super easy to talk to...we had some loooong sessions that flew by. read more

Billy is an incredibly talented artist! The shop is exceptionally clean, professional, and located in a great area. I'll definitely be coming back. read more

Mechanical Concept Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

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I absolutely love this shop, the environment is nice and friendly and helpful. Billy is an absolutely awesome dude! He's done 4 of my tattoos now and im so stoked that i had found him a few years back. Billy will for sure take care of you and make sure your tattoo is exactly what you want ! I can't wait to go back to him. I can't tell you how many times I've been stopped on the street and people asked about my work he did i constantly get compliments on my work by Billy. I always tell them you gotta go see Billy at mechanical concept!! He's badass ! I can't wait to get back in there and finish my thigh tattoo! Picture below are 2 of my bigger pieces by Billy the lantern and the girl hanging from the moon and the "bubba" was also done by him read more

Mechanical Concept Tattoo - Lantern by Billy and "bubba" by Billy can't wait to finish this piece! - Tattoo Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

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I can't say enough good things about Mechanical Concept and Billy Sarno! Super chill, friendly guy who's easy to talk to. He has taken several vague ideas I've had and turned them into fantastic pieces of art I'll be wearing for the rest of my life. The studio has an awesome vibe, too! read more

I've been going to Mechanical Concepts for 10+ years. Billy Sarno is incredible. From traditional to black and grey to portraits he always kills it. He always brings my ideas to life better than I can imagine. There is no one else I trust more with my tattoos than Billy. read more

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I got most of my body tatted here and it's amazing. I get so many compliments everywhere I go. It started with a cover up on a garage tat I had when I was 16. Billy made my body beautiful with his amazing art. He's super professional and clean. Always fit me in when I was available and most of all made me feel comfortable when I was tattooing the most uncomfortable places. Highly recommend his work!!! read more

Mechanical Concept Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

If you're searching for a tattoo artist who blends unmatched talent, professionalism, and soul into every single piece, stop right here. I've been getting tattooed by BILLY SARNO for over three years now, and I can say without hesitation: this is an artist whose work speaks louder than words. He doesn't just put ink to skin; he takes the time to understand my story, my vision, and my style. Every design is tailored, every line intentional, and the attention to detail is nothing short of phenomenal. Billy nails it. Every. Single. Time. What sets Billy apart isn't just the incredible artistry, but the entire experience: mechanical concept feels like home, a calm and hygienic environment, and an energy that instantly puts you at ease. Over the past three years, we've created pieces that are deeply personal and totally badass, and I constantly get compliments from complete strangers. So if you're looking for more than a tattoo, if you're looking for a piece of art, a journey, and an artist who truly cares. Book your session with Billy. Trust me, your skin will thank you. 10/10. Lifetime client. Walking gallery. read more

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Mechanic Concept is INCREDIBLE. But more specifically BILLY! Billy is the only human in the world I trust to bring my vision to life on my skin. I've done 3 large pieces with him and plan to do many more. 5000/10 recommend. read more

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Billy at Mechanical Concept Tattoo is hands down the best artist I've ever worked with. He did a full sleeve cover-up for me that turned out absolutely flawless, and he somehow managed to turn a difficult cover-up into something stunning and completely original. But what truly blew me away was the portrait he did of my late puppy--it's more than a tattoo, it's a tribute. He captured every detail, every expression, and it means the world to me. Billy is professional, talented, and truly puts his heart into his work. I won't let anyone else tattoo me--he's earned my trust for life. If you're looking for an artist who cares about both the craft and the person, go see Billy. You won't regret it. read more

TLDR: "artist" Draper lied about his skillset, botched a large tattoo, and refuses to give a refund. The shop also ignored my message about the situation. Spend your money and time elsewhere where you and your body will be respected. I found Brandon Draper on Reddit and followed him on Instagram. When I approached him for this particular piece, Death from Der Tod als Erwürger by Alfred Rethel, I directly asked him if he had experience with woodcut/engraving style tattoos. He said he "loves doing that style". This was apparently a lie. Tattoo day arrives. He has his tablet zoomed so far out that I had to ask for him to zoom in, even then I had to squint to see. After signing the waiver he proceeds to "clean it up" for a while. The art I'm shown, the stencil used, and the print out he used for visual reference were all different. The outline of the tattoo vs the original almost looks correct, but it gets worse the longer you look. There's no depth. The bone violin has been replaced by some sticks, the rope belt and hood turn into nothing, the sternum and ribs are gone, the wrong foot is forward, the hands look like rakes, the mask is missing completely, etc... and then there's the quality of the tattoo; the linework is wobbly, the crosshatching is sloppy, and the black is splotchy. I tried to like it at first but the more I looked at it the more I noticed how wrong it was... by the time he wrapped up all I could muster was "I love it, are we done?" because I just wanted out. When I got home I noticed the differences are the same commonly seen in AI images. I literally provided exactly what I wanted. If he wanted to stylize it a bit I would have been OK with that, I have other stylized tattoos I love. This isn't stylized, it's just AI. After consulting with some artists, they agreed. A few pointed it out before I could ask. My boyfriend had to console me. I went to Reddit and had my boyfriend post a warning on my behalf. We kept our AI suspicions out of the post entirely, and as a matter of fact I've only accused Draper privately until now. The post blew up, and the majority of comments clocked it as AI too. Some even ran the original art through Chat GPT, and the resulting images had the same inconsistencies. I reached out to Draper privately to demand a refund. He refused, stating that he would have if I hadn't posted on Reddit, denying AI use and saying that "the damage has been done." He etched AI slop into my skin permanently and had the nerve to talk to me about damage. He said he was nothing but professional with me, but a professional wouldn't have lied about their skillset, or try to pass off AI art as their own. That is quite literally fraud. I also reached out to the shop but have yet to hear back. He took to Instagram, where he publicly accused me of providing an AI image to begin with, like a professional. He deleted his post of my tattoo entirely, instead posting a reel saying it's my fault for not asking questions before I signed the waiver, because he's professional like that. He bait and switched the art and decided to freehand the crosshatching; the waiver didn't cover that. You can see in the picture, where the club (?) ends on the inside of the sleeve, where he caught himself copying a mistake too. He says there are easy things he missed that he could have fixed if I hadn't gone on Reddit, as if I'd let him touch me again. He says he could have taken more time, but he wasn't rushed at any point and this was still the outcome. Every aspect of this tattoo was poorly executed. He defiled my body with something I am vehemently against. The one part of my body I've never felt self conscious about I can no longer look at. Even if he didn't use AI, his messy work and poor excuses don't make up for objectively bad art. A tattoo "artist" that can't draw a skull? Or a bone? Am I really supposed to take that as an acceptable answer? Having someone deface your body so casually is violating, and watching them try to defend themselves by blaming you is even worse. Like I said on Reddit; save your time, money, and skin and go elsewhere. read more

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My husband and I went to get tattoos last Saturday and had the pleasure of meeting Billy Sarno. He did an amazing job bringing our ideas to life, and we couldn't be happier with the results. We'll definitely be returning to see him again. read more

I am updating this on Friday the 13th and I have been coming here for 13 years. Billy has been my tattoo artist the whole time. He is amazing, he is welcoming and will listen to any tattoo idea you have and make it a reality. He can do any style. You're in great hands. read more

Thank you Billy Sarno for creating this gorgeous piece for me! I absolutely love how it turned out! Colors are beautiful and the line work is impeccable. My experiences with Billy at this shop have always been so pleasant and whole vibe there is fantastic. Definitely recommend seeing him if you're looking for an awesome tattoo artist! read more

Mechanical Concept Tattoo - Tattoo by Billy Sarno - Tattoo Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

Billy is the man. Great artist and even better customer service. Professional, personable and just a pleasure to deal with.

I recently went through a horrible breakup and needed a little tattoo therapy and was recommended to see Billy. Not only did he do an amazing job on all 6 of my tattoos but he is also a great guy. I will definitely be going back. read more

Billy is an absolute amazing artist. I told him that I was a big Star Wars fan and he showed me a few renderings of things he could do. I am so pleased with how the final result turned. More importantly, I was apprehensive of getting my first tattoo but Billy was never pushy and went at my own pace. Prices are very reasonable for the quality of work that Billy does. The shop is also very clean. I will be coming back to Mechanical Tattoo and Billy S for more work. If I can give 6 stars I would. read more

I got a couple pieces done by Billy, solid dude, solid work, and solid shop. I will for sure be back for future tattoos.

Don't let any reviews calling out a specific artist fool you. One artist does not a shop make, and this shop is rad, period. I've gotten several tattoos here, specifically from Billy Sarno, and every part of my experience was fantastic. His work is excellent and he has always steered me right when it comes to making my ideas reality. The vibe in the shop is welcoming and not at all elitist or exclusive. It's like hanging out with friends while you just happen to be getting poked a million times with a needle. It really is the best and I could not recommend Billy or this shop more highly. read more

I follow Billy Sarno on IG and his art is amazing. My friends have tattoos by him and they are stunning. So much so, that I started the process of discussing my tattoo. I recently traveled to check out the shop. Such a great environment. Go check him out! @billysarno read more

Went there a while back and sat with Billy. Place was clean, nice and very comfortable, has a great vibe. Billy is extremely talented, listened to me and took the time to put together a fantastic tattoo. Very professional and a genuinely nice guy. read more

Look no further y'all!! Billy is the coolest guy you'll ever meet. Excellent human! Super chill, personable and very helpful. It was my first experience getting a tattoo and he couldn't have made it any more comfortable. Thanks a 1,000,000! read more

The shop is great, clean and friendly environment. I've been going to Billy Sarno for years. He's done all of my tattoos. Billy is amazingly talented and helpful with design concept. He also makes the experience comfortable and fun. Can't recommend Billy enough. read more

Billy did my sleeves on both arms as well as other works. He is a great any talented artist and I highly recommend him. He listens and designs exactly what you're looking for. My daughter and her husband also go to Billy for all their work. Love you Billy! read more

Can't say enough great things about this shop! From how friendly and funny the artists are to how exceptionally clean it is. Billy Sarno has been my artist for some time. Every piece is incredible and I'm constantly getting compliments. My last one done was a tribute piece to my little girl who passed away. Without Mechanical concept I wouldn't have this amazing piece that brings a smile to my face. read more

I always go to Billy! He does all my traditional style tattoos, very friendly and takes my ideas and makes them happen.

Billy did an amazing job on the matching tattoos my best friend & I got for her birthday!! read more

Mechanical Concept Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

I can't say enough good things about this shop -- and especially about Billy! I've been tattooed by him multiple times now, and each experience has been better than the last. Not only is his work incredibly detailed and high-quality, but he's also just an awesome person to spend time with while getting tattooed. Great conversation, super chill vibe -- he makes the whole process feel easy and comfortable. The shop itself has a really cool aesthetic and is immaculately clean, which I really appreciate. Everyone I've interacted with there has been friendly and welcoming, which adds to the overall experience. Pricing is more than fair, especially for the level of work and professionalism you get. If you're looking for a shop with talented artists, a good atmosphere, and someone like Billy who truly cares about the work and the client, this is the spot. Can't wait to go back for my next piece! read more

Great shop, Brandon is excellent, collaborative and does great work. Hhop owner is really nice, makes you feel welcome.

Could not recommend Billy Sarno enough. I was very nervous about getting my first tattoo since I have seen so many bad artists and tattoos out there but a friend of mine recommended me to go to Billy and I couldn't be more thankful. Started off with one tattoo and now he's almost done with my full sleeve. I don't plan to go to anyone else. He's very patient, gives great advice on placement, sizing, and does amazing free hand drawings too. I gave him a couple ideas of what I wanted and he drew up something even better than the reference photos I provided. Each tattoo he's done is very consistent with solid line work and great shading. 10/10 artist with a great personality and won't disappoint! read more

Mechanical Concept Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

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Absolutely terrible experience. I typically don't ever put up a fuss when I'm unhappy and will eat the money I don't get back, but I need to make a stink about this. Draper offered to do a memorial tattoo for my late grandfather. I wanted something with his handwriting plus a meaningful Christmas ornament from my childhood. I paid him a mandatory $100 deposit (which I get), but then when I sent him the reference pictures, he liked my message on Instagram and proceeded to leave me on read for two days. Keep in mind, I was supposed to see him November 8th, so there really wasn't much time. In those two days, he was posting happily on his Instagram story rather than working with me to get a design made. He also never told me what the shop minimum is (but he did when I asked for my money back), how much the piece would be after it was finished, and again never even said anything about working on designs. When I did ask for my deposit back, he said it was nonrefundable and I could get JUST his handwriting since that would have been $100 (shop minimum), which I didn't even want to do in the first place. Not by itself, at least. It felt like he didn't even really read my ideas to begin with. I responded saying his customer service was horrible and he read it and, once again, left me on read. He continued to post on his stories, though. A terribly rude thing he's done this entire time. The two reasons I cancelled were 1:) because his careless attitude put me off and I didn't trust him to do something so important to me and 2:) genuine expenses came up that I really needed that money back for, and even after that he still ignored me. How selfish is it to keep someone's money even when they say that have unexpected expenses come up and need that money to help? I feel like an exception could have been made for that one reason. I messaged the shop on Instagram as well and they, too, posted on their stories but didn't read my message. I can't speak about the other artists but after reading some of the more negative reviews, this seems to be a pattern with them. Save your money and go find artists that won't withhold your money even when you ask for/need it back. read more

The studio looked great and clean, was excited to get my first tattoo done but the artist clearly didn't care about anything but getting it over with. Gave him the idea I wanted, and let him know it was my first time so I figured he'd be understanding. I drive 2 hours on my bday only to see he traced the picture I sent and didn't follow what I asked. Lost $100 (he refused to refund and I refused to drive that distance again) and left in tears going to my bday dinner without a tattoo. Not sure if this is the norm or not but artist didn't even try to follow my instructions and essentially had me waiting for an hour before telling me he can't do it. The studio looks great tho, can't say anything about the other artists, but definitely sucked having my birthday ruined without even getting my deposit back. Artist made $100 for tracing a simple flower tho so maybe he saw it as a win that day. read more

This is my 2nd 5-star visit to Mechanical Concept Tattoo! I saw Juan the first time and definitely wanted to see him for the 2nd time! Have to mention again the shop is easy to find and there is ample parking. Shop is clean and cozy and the staff is welcoming and friendly. It had been over a year since I last saw Juan but he greeted me like an old friend I wasn't aware but thconsent form has to be filled out with each visit. No biggie, but to me it speaks of the professionalism and care the shop takes toward its customers! So now, what is so great about Juan other than his warmth, kindness, humor, and non-judgmental approach to life but his absolute perfectionism and meticulousness! Every piece is thoroughly discussed, mapped out on computer and made into stencils of different sizes. I'm sure other artists do thos as well. But Juan really takes the time to be sure that you are getting exactly what you want. Everything is so neat and tidy in his workspace...he makes sure you seated or lying down comfortably. While you are getting tattooed he checks in to be sure that you are ok and not in too mich pain. Before he begins he tells you exactly what position you need to be in and when and when not to move. Super fun and interesting to talk to, Juan has seen tons of movies (they have movies in several nice flat screens in the shop). When you are done, you are cleaned and gently bandaged. You get a nice goody bag with care instructions at the end of your visit. Juan, you are stuck with me now as a customer! Please note every artist has different hourly rates and cash is usually preferred. So happy with my new ink!!!! read more

Been coming here for more than 12 years and absolutely love it ! Billy has been the only artist to tattoo me. I am covered in his art and things we have come up with together. Everyone has always been so friendly and genuinely a great time to be around while your getting tattooed. I will never forget being intimidated by other shops or pushed around by artists but when I came to mechanical concept that all went away it felt like home. Felt great to have a good laugh with Billy and the other artists that were around instead of previous encounters with other shops. They always ask for your opinion on what you'd like to watch while you're there too. read more

I've been going to get tattoos from Billy S. for years now! Great work. Script, portraits, he does it all, see you soon!!!

Went with friends for their appointment with Billy and I liked their tattoos so much I asked for one too. He fit me in the same day! Super clean shop, awesome vibe, and I love my tattoo. read more

I had a great experience getting work done at the shop. Billy is it artist like other, with very high standards of quality and is extremely talented. My portrait is picture perfect and was completed in a relatively short amount of time from what I expected. With great conversation and his soft hand technique, the process and experience was very enjoyable and I strongly recommend you checking this place out read more

Always a great experience working with Billy Sarno, great artist and helps come up with ideas for projects. I have a full arm and leg sleeve from Billy, would recommend him to anyone for a tattoo. read more