Tattoos in D.C.

Going to get my first tattoo as a birthday present to myself and I need advice on where the best place to get one is. Anywhere in the greater D.C. area is fine. I might also consider driving down to Richmond if that would be better.

Any advice on shops or individuals would be appreciated. Also, if you don't mind, if you wanted to let me know why you thought they were the best, that would be great.

Thanks

Get a tattoo of a lemming. Just imagine how deck that would look on your arm.

<img src="http://www.rvt.com/~lucas/school/lemming.jpg" alt=" - " />

a couple of questions, and then recommendations:

1. do you have the design already, or are you looking for someone to help with the design process?

B. is there a specific style of artwork you are looking for?


there are plenty of capable artists in this area, and even some really good ones. my advice to everyone considering getting tattooed is to shop around a bit. check out a few shops. look at artist's portfolios. make sure you see pictures of healed work, not just fresh. ask about cleanliness and sterilization procedures. show them your design, or describe what you are looking for. just talk to the artist a bit to see if you get along. if you get a bad vibe, move along.

once you find someone you like, start talking about price. if you get a bad vibe, move along. a rough estimate for cost for a decent artist is $100/hour. be prepared to pay for good work. if the price seems way high, shop around. if it seems way low, move along. good work is rarely cheap, and cheap work is rarely good. this is a lifetime investment. don't skimp.

a few shops in the area to check out are:

state of the art, winchester,va. jesse tseronis has done most of my work.

great southern, college park, md and somewhere in nova. sandy parsons did my first few tattoos.

fatty's, dupont circle, dc. talk to fatty.

jinx proof, georgetown, dc. talk to tony.

ambroto's, silver spring, md. talk to mike.

james marlowe's shop that i can't remember the name of (comes a time, maybe?) near tt reynold's on nova. talk to james.

i can make better recommendations with more info about what exactly you're looking for, but those are some of the best artists in the area.

This guy did my last tattoo and I'd highly recommend him, if you don't mind a five hour drive:

http://www.tattooasylum.net/galdet.php?t=1&amp;id=6

Got my last one at Dragon Moon - not exactly close (in Glen Burnie) but they do quality work…

website: http://www.dragon-moon.com/

CONFORMIST!!!

You'd be more of a freak not have tatoos or body piercings these days.

Originally posted by Roadbike Mankie:
CONFORMIST!!!

You'd be more of a freak not have tatoos or body piercings these days.

hahaha

My brother in law tattoos at Little Vinny's in B'more on Liberty Road and he's awesome. Brady Duncan.

I met a girl at Xando once who carved her own tattoos into her thigh with a knife of some sort.

Originally posted by Doctor Doom:
I met a girl at Xando once who carved her own tattoos into her thigh with a knife of some sort.

I carved someone's initials into their arm with a steril exacto knife and burned it with a coat hanger. Talk about ghetto. Ahhh college were doing dumb things is considered acceptable!

MindCage
Mindless Faith
Deep6 Productions

Hey,

Thanks for all the advice, much appreciated.

I have a design, it is a polynesian shield from the South Pacific. It is small and I want someone who could take the pattern and expand it so it covered my shoulder instead of my bicep.

Would that make a difference to your recommendations?

Sounds like I should do some looking around to make my decisions. Thanks to all for the shops, that will be how I decide who to visit.

Cheers.

Originally posted by thatguy:
a couple of questions, and then recommendations:

1. do you have the design already, or are you looking for someone to help with the design process?

B. is there a specific style of artwork you are looking for?


there are plenty of capable artists in this area, and even some really good ones. my advice to everyone considering getting tattooed is to shop around a bit. check out a few shops. look at artist's portfolios. make sure you see pictures of healed work, not just fresh. ask about cleanliness and sterilization procedures. show them your design, or describe what you are looking for. just talk to the artist a bit to see if you get along. if you get a bad vibe, move along.

once you find someone you like, start talking about price. if you get a bad vibe, move along. a rough estimate for cost for a decent artist is $100/hour. be prepared to pay for good work. if the price seems way high, shop around. if it seems way low, move along. good work is rarely cheap, and cheap work is rarely good. this is a lifetime investment. don't skimp.

a few shops in the area to check out are:

state of the art, winchester,va. jesse tseronis has done most of my work.

great southern, college park, md and somewhere in nova. sandy parsons did my first few tattoos.

fatty's, dupont circle, dc. talk to fatty.

jinx proof, georgetown, dc. talk to tony.

ambroto's, silver spring, md. talk to mike.

james marlowe's shop that i can't remember the name of (comes a time, maybe?) near tt reynold's on nova. talk to james.

i can make better recommendations with more info about what exactly you're looking for, but those are some of the best artists in the area.

Originally posted by Ellis D. Fleischbach:
Get a tattoo of a lemming. Just imagine how deck that would look on your arm.

That word deck is just so effing deck and cool I just can't stand it. Deck, man.

word on the street says red dragon in richmond is good. i went with my friend there to get her eyebrow pierced and they seemed really professional.
just make sure its not in a touristy district wherever you go.. i got my tattoo on a vacation from a place that seemed really professional and then when the scab came off it was blue already. that's not supposed to happen til i'm 50.

Originally posted by Chaz, Lover of all Forum Members:

Originally posted by Ellis D. Fleischbach:
Get a tattoo of a lemming. Just imagine how deck that would look on your arm.

That word deck is just so effing deck and cool I just can't stand it. Deck, man.

Don't say effing, say 'raunchily sexually congressing'

Originally posted by Ellis D. Fleischbach:

Originally posted by Chaz, Lover of all Forum Members:

Originally posted by Ellis D. Fleischbach:
Get a tattoo of a lemming. Just imagine how deck that would look on your arm.

That word deck is just so effing deck and cool I just can't stand it. Deck, man.

Don't say effing, say 'raunchily sexually congressing'

That word deck is just so 'raunchily sexually congressing deck and cool I just can't stand it. Deck, man!

My brother in law tattoos at Little Vinny's in B'more on Liberty Road and he's awesome. Brady Duncan.

I've gotten work by him, he is great

i dont understand the fascination with tattoo's. if you like a particular image why have it permanently scarred into your body. it clearly is for another purpose that ppl get tattoos. some macho or see how tough or see how different i am thing. i cringe at all the lemming women in recent years who got tatoos above their ass b/c its the thing to do - its like they had lobotomy's. embarassing. and when you get older the damned thing stretches and looks like some glob of shit on ya. pls straighten me out, what am i missing here?

I'm beginning to wonder if muschi isn't yet another Rhett alter-ego.

Originally posted by Roadbike Mankie:
I'm beginning to wonder if muschi isn't yet another Rhett alter-ego.

There there mankie…
<img src="http://www.terra.com/addon/img/vidablue/5c7fb5parejaybandera140x235p.jpg" alt=" - " />
There there…