My birthday’s next month, and the recent threads abouttattoos (and a recent episode of Miami Inked) have me thinking about getting my oldest tat touched up as a “happy birthday to me” present. It hasn’t faded or blurred or anything, I’ve just never been exactly happy with the way it came out, and I think (hope) it would be easy to “fix.”*
I’m in Northern Virginia, but am willing to go pretty much anywhere within a 60-mile radius (including Baltimore) on a strong enough recommendation.
Anyone local have a tattoo place and/or artist they swear by?
*Note for the anti-tattoo crowd: I like the tattoo the way it is now. I’ve had it for 11 years. I’ve never regretted getting it, and in fact I got a second one 4 years later. It’s close enough to perfect that I’d be content if I couldn’t get it touched up, but not every artist can execute their vision flawlessly and lately I’ve been thinking about changing some bits of it. This is not an example of why someone shouldn’t get a tattoo. I thought long and hard before getting it, carefully chose what I would get, and trusted someone else’s vision – and it came out almost exactly right. If you feel like clucking your tongue or being judgmental, please go post in one of the threads I linked to above.
I have been going to Fatty’s Custom Tattooz at 1333 Connecticut Ave in Dupont Circle for years - they have either created or fixed all of the ink on my body. They also do peircing, and are the most religiously sanitary place I have ever seen. It’s very close to the Metro, too, if that’s a consideration. They are some of the nicest people I’ve ever worked with, too.
Good luck! Email me if you have any more specific questions, it’s in my profile.
I’ve gotten all three of mine done at a place called Snakeman’s in Frederick. They have always been good and cheap, plus they open the tools in front of you so you know they are sterile. I’ve never had the same person twice, but they have all been willing to work with me no problem. If I ever decide to get another one I’d go back there.
Nearly everyone I know who got their tattoo locally got it done at Rick’s Tattoos in Arlington. Very good people, very clean place, very good work. One friend has gone there at least five or six times for various tats.
Great recommendation, thanks! I’ll get estimates/consults from both Fatty’s and Insane Ink when the time comes. The Metro proximity is definitely good, because I try to avoid driving in DC: if a place isn’t walking distance from a Metro stop, I typically don’t go to it.
“Small world” factoid: I looked at their web site, and one of the tattoo artists used to work at the shop where I got the tattoo that I want touched up! He wasn’t there until 5-6 years after I got my tattoo, but it’s kind of a funny coincidence.
Sounds very cool! You’ll have to take a picture for the next “show us your tats” thread.
Cheap is good (and cheap & good is better), but Leesburg and DC are both closer to me than Frederick. I’ll start closer to home, and work my way out if necessary. Thanks!
Wow: the shop itself doesn’t seem to have a web site, but a lot of people on the web have good things to say about the place! I’ll keep it in mind, thanks.
Thanks again to everyone, especially Jonathan Chance: I decided to go to Insane Ink, and just got back. Sherry did a terrific job!
I can’t wait until I can take the bandage off so I can see it again (1 hour, 15 minutes to go!). When it’s healed, I’ll post a photo in the next “show us your tat” thread. It’s kind of weird: this is now both my oldest and newest tattoo.
I’ve listened to Elliot every morning since he came to DC101, but Mt. Airy is about a 90-minute drive from me (v. 25 minutes to Leesburg) … and it’s too late now! But if I ever decide to get a third/fourth tattoo*, I’ll revisit this thread (though I’ll lean toward returning to Insane Ink).
*I keep coming back to the whole “old and new” thing: technically, this is both my first and third tattoo. In one way it’s the same tattoo I’ve had for 11 years, but in every other way it’s brand new. Thinking about it makes my head hurt.
