I love this place and I love these people. The shop is super clean and everyone who works there is great. I would highly recommend this place. I don't want to pick favorites but Whitney is my favorite. read more

The Dead Presidents Lounge - Tattoo Near Me - Albany, New York

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I got a tattoo recently. My first. This is shocking to me still because I've turned this idea over in my head for years. The conclusion was always the same. No. Can't do it. Then, an important occasion came up and I thought, why not memorialize it with a tattoo? Suddenly, the "no" became a "why not?" Then, the next question. Where to have this tat done? Well, if you look it up on Yelp, The Dead Presidents Lounge has rave reviews. So I called up. Next, I was asked to email what I was looking for. The manager took a look at my request and assigned me to an artist named Mel. There are about 10 artists working there. The art that I was asking for was very delicate. It turns out, Mel is awesome but full disclosure, she has a slogan. It's written on a sign in her tattoo room. "Always late but worth the wait." I arrived 15 minutes early. Mel arrived 20 minutes late. No worries. I brought lunch and ate it in the waiting area. I studied all of the sample tattoos on the walls. It was an interesting place with a Hindu vibe. It was explained to me that the business owner is Hindu. When Mel showed up, she arrived in a cheerful burst of energy and she immediately threw herself into the project. She presented me with options. We talked at length. She was very determined to deliver what I was looking for and very understanding. She has mad skills as both an artist and a communicator. She got it. And when she was done, it was perfect. A floral armband with a tiny blue butterfly was designed to look a bit like arm jewelry. The cost was $200. Mel was concerned that I would be in pain but actually it didn't hurt much. She gave me instructions on how to take care of the tattoo so that it doesn't get infected or dry out. As I was getting ready to leave I asked Mel about her thoughts on Asian fantasy animals. She smiled. "So you're already thinking about your next tattoo?" she asked. " I get that a lot." Yup. She got me. After years of putting off getting a tattoo, I may be back soon enough to get a tattoo on my other arm. Thanks, Mel and The Dead Presidents Lounge for your remarkable work. read more

I went back to Dead Presidents Lounge for my second tattoo, another big piece that has a lot of meaning to me and I chose KRYSTAL INGRAM this time based on her portfolio lining up best with what I wanted. Krystal was extra considerate about COVID-19 protection. Vaccinated and masked until she confirmed I was also vaccinated. Her attention to hygiene with her equipment and studio were also evident and much appreciated. Her "bedside manner" was great! We spent both sessions chatting away about all manner of topics from politics to our mutual love of the show "What we do in the shadows". This was a great way to pass the time and a welcomed distraction from the more painful bits of my tattoo. Speaking of the tattoo, two weeks later, mostly healed, and only a bit itchy, I can say I am not sure I even need to set up a touch up appointment. It is excellent. I gave Krystal a few curve balls like a bluebird that wore a cowboy hat with a thread and needle holster it used to stitch a sacred heart in the scar pattern of my palm's lifelines. The bluebird was perched on a cherry blossom tree branching out from the heart and was blended into the heart from brown fading into into a bright red. I trusted her to take appropriate artistic license and use her judgement in her drawing and execution and she made great choices. It was a privilege to have her help me bring a "beautiful" scar from inside my heart to the surface of my body. This tattoo honors my passed away Mother and Father with a call out to my other, also fantastic piece by Ryan Sherwood, honoring my deceased wife. If you are looking for an artist to trust with similar work, or even just fun whimsical work, check out this Albany local's portfolio and be ready to be impressed. read more

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I went back to Dead Presidents Lounge for my second tattoo, another big piece that has a lot of meaning to me and I chose KRYSTAL INGRAM this time based on her portfolio lining up best with what I wanted. Krystal was extra considerate about COVID-19 protection. Vaccinated and masked until she confirmed I was also vaccinated. Her attention to hygiene with her equipment and studio were also evident and much appreciated. Her "bedside manner" was great! We spent both sessions chatting away about all manner of topics from politics to our mutual love of the show "What we do in the shadows". This was a great way to pass the time and a welcomed distraction from the more painful bits of my tattoo. Speaking of the tattoo, two weeks later, mostly healed, and only a bit itchy, I can say I am not sure I even need to set up a touch up appointment. It is excellent. I gave Krystal a few curve balls like a bluebird that wore a cowboy hat with a thread and needle holster it used to stitch a sacred heart in the scar pattern of my palm's lifelines. The bluebird was perched on a cherry blossom tree branching out from the heart and was blended into the heart from brown fading into into a bright red. I trusted her to take appropriate artistic license and use her judgement in her drawing and execution and she made great choices. It was a privilege to have her help me bring a "beautiful" scar from inside my heart to the surface of my body. This tattoo honors my passed away Mother and Father with a call out to my other, also fantastic piece by Ryan Sherwood, honoring my deceased wife. If you are looking for an artist to trust with similar work, or even just fun whimsical work, check out this Albany local's portfolio and be ready to be impressed. read more

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Natalie is the best. She was quick to respond and pretty quick to start working on the design that I wanted and get my approval. Her work is great and the session was very comfortable since she's super chill. It did not feel like an hour as it went by very quickly. The tattoo turned out exactly how I wanted it. She charged me $120 for the hour which is good for the quality and she was able to achieve a lot within the hour, given Covid procedure. The store itself is very clean and the staff are very kind and respectful. read more

The Dead Presidents Lounge - Tattoo Near Me - Albany, New York

Y'all Geoff is amazing! The piece I have added to my body came out beautifully. However, y'all should change out that hideous pepto green color in some of those rooms. It's got a nasty feel to it and is super distracting from the amazingness that occurs here. read more

Got my first tattoo here. Staff was awesome and flexible with scheduling. Extremely friendly. Derek was my artist and was extremely invested in helping me with the sizing, layout, and talking me through the process. Took breaks when he saw me getting uncomfortable. Very helpful and detailed with the healing process. Can't recommend these guys enough read more

Dustin did my leg sleeve about 13 years ago now and I still get compliments almost daily on how amazing it looks . Their roster of talented artists is the best in the area for sure. Highly recommend calling in advance and setting up an appointment but don't hesitate to stop in on a whim and browse their work. Great people, great vibes, great artists, book now. read more

Christian did a kickass job. Really great to talk to while getting my arm tattooed and is incredibly talented. Highly recommend.

IMO Dead Prez is THE place to get tattooed in Albany. The shop is immaculate, everyone there is extremely pleasant to interact with, the artists are talented, professional, knowledgeable, cleanly, and friendly. I've been tattooed by Dustin, Krystal, Pete, and Rich (Rich is no longer there but the piece he did for me is still so bright and vibrant and speaks to the quality and talent of the artists Dead Prez employs). I can't recommend Dead Prez enough if you're looking to get a beautiful custom quality piece of art. read more

PROFESSIONAL AND AMAZING!!!! Gene was absolutely FANTASTIC! He was very informative and took his time explaining every detail to insure I understood the process of what was going to happen during the piercing, and after the piercing. He answered my questions thoroughly and made me feel confident and comfortable with him. I am so impressed with him that I will definitely be returning to him for all my future piercings. Also because of his professionalism and outstanding work, I will be looking into finishing my sleeve here as well. If you're looking into getting a piercing do yourself a favor, book an appointment with Gene. read more

I got 4 tattoos done here and everyone is amazing and super nice that I convinced my friend to come up to Albany to get her tattoo done here. Ryan did my first one and Derek did my other 3. Both people were amazing!! Highly highly recommend! read more

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Ive been getting tattoo removal from christian for a little over a year now and have had such a great experience. The tattoo is on my butt, and he goes above and beyond to make sure I'm comfortable. He charges so little for tattoo removal compared to other places, and it's clear that his motivation isn't only to make money, but to allow his customers to regain the confidence that is sometimes lost after a regrettable tattoo. Getting a tattoo removed is extremely painful, but I have such a great experience every time that I leave with a smile on my face. Everyone else who works at Dead Pres is also extremely kind, and I've never had an issue with having to reschedule or cancel an appointment. I would strongly recommend Dead Pres to anyone looking to get a tattoo, or to get one removed. read more

Excellent service. Excellent attention to detail. Excellent experience. Clean facilities. Professional. I work in a dermatologist office and a lot of patients have tattoos. The best tattoos come from this place, so it's where I went for mine. I wasn't disappointed. (I saw Krystal) read more

I've never written a review for anything before but I got my first tattoo with Natalie yesterday and feel like i need to write one. It was such an amazing experience. She walked me through every step, was so detail oriented, and made me feel so comfortable. I could not be happier!!! read more

The Dead Presidents Lounge - Tattoo Near Me - Albany, New York

I went here for my first tattoo and could not have asked for a better experience!! Pete was my tattoo artist and he made the entire process super easy and comfortable! So happy I decided to go here :) read more

Dan Belcher is amazing. I presented my idea of what I wanted and he took it to the next level and made it a beautiful piece of artwork. I love it. Everyone at DPL is relaxed and friendly. I went through about 4 sessions with Dan and I'm beyond pleased. I wish I went to him in the first place for all my tattoos. I've gotten so many compliments and since my half sleeve is underwater themed I was recently at a place with Navy & Coast Guard personnel and they said it was the best one they have seen. Not to mention it blended in with the tropical water I was diving in. They only take cash and parking can suck sometimes, but it's worth it. Can't wait to go back for more. I think what I paid for was worth it. You pay good money for great work. (Will post a picture later) read more

I have received tattoos fro across the country, and I love the DPL. Krystal is the artist I choose to work with me on what I hope will be a full sleeve on my left arm. The poison dart frog and dragonfly she has already inked into me always draw complements, and are a definite adornment. The shop is very clean and the people are great. Bummer they accept only cash, but it keeps it real. read more

Since moving back to the capital district I needed a new tattoo artist to feed my addiction. I heard about dead presidents lounge through several friends that have awesome tattoos from the different artists here. I now have several tattoos from Dustin who is an absolutely amazing, incredibly creative and an talented artist. Myself and my friend get compliments on our tattoos done by him frequently and always asked who did them. I will never be going to another artist. All of my tattoos from Dustin are incredibly unique and truly a work of art! I highly recommend coming here if you want an amazing high quality and beautifully done tattoo. read more

The Dead Presidents Lounge - Sleeve in progress!! - Tattoo Near Me - Albany, New York

I went here for my first tattoo, Krystal was an amazing artist and made me feel super comfortable during the whole process! Without a doubt I will be back at the dead Presidents lounge again!! read more

Tattooing is a process and so this review will contain several updates as I get my next piece done. That's right --- haven't started yet. But, even so, my experience with The Dead Presidents Lounge has been phenomenal thus far and let me tell ya, the beginning counts! I've been conceptualizing an homage to my fav book for a while but since moving back to Bennington have been nervous about where to go. This is a larger, complex piece and I didn't want to risk going someplace without any knowledge. I went to the Talk section of Yelp and the majority of people directed me toward DPL. The website is the first thing they do right with extensive images showcasing each artist's work. Looking for a particular style? Want to get a sense of what someone's work looks like? This is a great place to start. I knew the basics of the aesthetic I wanted so I scrolled through over the course of a few weeks and finally decided that Krystal's work aligned with the vision. I've also never been tattooed by a woman. I emailed the shop and was able to set up a half hour consultation with Krystal. I drove over today and found parking nearby (the neighborhood is hopping but check the side streets if there is no parking in the log). I was a few minutes early and found a really nice, clean, quiet space. I know it shouldn't matter but god, the space is gorgeous. Jen had me sit and Krystal came out and greeted me shortly after. I had pictures and information (I've been thinking about this for a year) and she was great about educating me. I've had this idea of a comic book panel but, as she pointed it out, lining off a tattoo like that kind of conflicts with our anatomy. I am not, in any way, angular. I told her the elements I definitely want: a boy, a fire hydrant, a tin can, an ailanthus tree, text and she took notes and asked questions. It was quick but I felt like she was already getting a vision. She had an idea about the angle of the image and I was like, "So I thought maybe like straight on with him like this," and she seemed to really like that idea. I liked that she and I were very balanced in our ideas and I think she is going to bring things to the tattoo that need to be there that I haven't considered. We set up the first session for late July. I know that some people will say, "It's MAY!" but believe me, you want an artist that is so in demand you have to book months out. Shows the caliber of their work. I'll update with images and notes on the experience after my next visit. Looking forward to seeing this tattoo come to life! They take a deposit that is non-refundable but is transferable if you have to move your appointment. Cash only but there are ATMs nearby. read more

Working on a Japanese leg sleeve and it's been nothing short of amazing. Mad clean. Solid COVID mask wearing by all. Personal room. Just dope. read more

Just got a tattoo with my mom today, such a great experience with Melanie! Very professional and friendly! The shop was very clean. We will definitely be returning for more tattoos!! Thanks so much! read more

The Dead Presidents Lounge - Tattoo Near Me - Albany, New York

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I highly recommend this tattoo parlor. I had never gotten a tattoo before, and I scheduled a consultation with Christian. It was very clean inside, and both the receptionist and the artists were very professional. He made me feel very comfortable, and explained the whole process of getting a tattoo for the first time. The day I got my tattoo, Christian made me feel very relaxed and it was obvious that he cared. He took his time and took me through every step. I love my tattoo, and I would highly recommend this parlor to tattoo lovers alike. read more

I got my first tattoo here recently and the people were very friendly. You can tell they care very much about presentation and have love in their work to back it up. The lobby is really cool, everything is clean, and Krystal did a great job on my tattoo which was made of many difficult straight lines. She also only ended up charging me for 1.3 hours instead of 2, which I thought was really nice. I'll probably head back for another! read more

Krystal is AMAZING & I trust her with my life....go get tattooed by her. In all seriousness, when I started getting tattooed I saw Rich, who has since left. Being the incredibly talented artist he is, I was wary of letting anyone else tattoo me, let alone finish something he had started. After meeting with Krystal once, I knew she was the person I wanted to tattoo me from then on. Four tattoos later (including finishing a tattoo that had been started by Rich & a coverup on something someone had done years ago), I'm totally in love. Super down to earth & skilled WAY beyond her years, I can't recommend her or praise her enough. read more

Wanted to get a decent piece for a long time but never seemed to have the time with working full; time and caring for two dying parents the rest of the time. Finally decided I would treat myself. Had a design I wanted to get on my lower arm. Studied up open local artists and heard nothing but great things about this place. Went on their website and studied the different portfolios until I found someone that I thought would really do great things with this piece only to have that person not return any of my contacts and then receive an email from someone else just brushing me off and giving me someone else's name who I never heard of. As someone who falls in the Spectrum Disorder this was a really uncomfortable and humiliating social experience. I would like to say the 2 staff people I spoke with were very courteous but the actual artist himself had some kind of problem. Cant tell you what as I never heard from him. Did get contacted by Dustin the owner after posting review. He wanted to have a conversation to as he put it "to try to amend the situation" but there was no amendment. As a previous business owner if that had been my business I would have taken over and done the job myself but Dustin was more interested in telling me how wrong I was rather than trying to actually be a business owner and provide decent customer service. Its a shame because they have a lot of talent just the egos to match. read more

had my half sleeve done here 3-4 years ago by rich DePue. tho it was when they were located on Madison before they moved down the street which i haven't been to yet. very awesome and professional work from all the artists. they all have their unique skills in inking. have been thinking to get more ink done, would come back here. they have a relaxing waiting area with albums of the tattoo artists to look at, also art/crafts are hanged on the walls for sale by local artists. clean/comfortable environment, and friendly staff. read more

I went here for my first tattoo. I scheduled the appointment over email. I chose Melanie to do my tattoo and she was great. I brought in pictures that I liked for inspiration. Melanie was very thorough and made sure I was completely happy with the design and location before tattooing. She did an excellent job! I would definitely recommend the Dead Presidents Lounge and Melanie! read more