question is...do you want a tattoo just to get a tattoo or do you want a fine custom tattoo.

There are tons and tons of decent shops you can walk into and pull something off the wall and have them do a fine job at. But there are far fewer I would recommend to walk into and ask for something custom.


What type of work you want?
Traditional
New School/graphity
Biomechanical
black and grey/fine line...
etc.

and where exactly are you.

I have a couple friends in the business and can recommend you some good places depending on what you want and where you are.

 

you'll regret them later... at least i do sometimes

 

everyone gets that regreat at first. And everyone goes through times where they are bummed for some reason or another.

Just like when you buy a car...that first payment notice comes and you are like...damn maybe this isn't exactly what I needed...etc...etc.

Basically I always tell people to go custom. Just pulling something off the wall is a ticket for regret later in life. If you dream something up. have it drawn. and sit on the design for a while...the chance for regret is much slimer and the chances of getting a higher quality tattoo are much larger.

I sat on my first design for years in different variations. I'll never forget it.

I have one in progress on my right are that is a form of a concept I've had for about 5 years. left arm will follow in form. After that I have plans for 3 more. And I am confident that none of them will I regret....less of course something massively wrong happens.

I have a couple things because I am young I have been careful of and will be for the next 3 and possibly every tattoo I get in my life. I have to be able to cover it up with a dress shirt...including short sleeve. And slacks. I will not let them effect my future in the work place what so ever.

That being said....in today society it's more and more acceptable. Two older guys in my building have huge visible tattoos....corporate america is defined by my company. I know tons and tons of people with tattoo that are in love with them. Including several tattoo artist. They all have one they probably wish they didn't have but regret is probably too strong a word. It's part of the life cycle in my eyes. When I'm 60 and wrinkly. I'll just have more to look at to remind me of back in the day and more stories to tell......and more oportunity to tell stories. haaa.

All of that are things I tell people to consider when the talk about getting tattoos.

I do know some people that have had removals or regret what they have and I know a couple people that probably will regret in some shape or another.

 

Wait till you get old and wrinkly then check your tattoo again and tell me you won't regret it

 

i'd have to agree with him...especially when you're old and wrinkled. atleast get it where you can hide it. but to each his own...i guess.

 

I made note to this in my book up above. I don't think I'll regret it. Most older folks I know that I've talked to don't regret it. Say it gives them the opportunity to talk to younger folks about life. About their life and how it was back in the day. I think that's a reward on both sides....most young people....those under 30...don't take the opportunities they should to learn from previous generations.

Plus at that age if your looks are your main concern in life you're really screwed. I mean I'll be more concerned about having to trim my eyebrows/ears/nose hair more often that that on top of my head. And much more concerned about the fact I can't move around so good any more or can't drive or can't remember yesterday and what not. Those things worry me much much more than having a faded tattoo on my body. From my experience...most older folks with tats that I've talked to echo those things.

Shoot I'll have my own self made tattoos on my body anyways.....visible veins and what not.....haaaa.

 

Well I saw you're from Davis. You up there all the time or do you come back and forth between anywhere.

I'll ask my buddy where he gets his cause I know he goes up there to get his.

I can recommend shops from Berkeley to Pismo. So just let me know.

 

I will never regret the one I currently have. I just got it back in November at Marks of Art in San Jose. Nice place, great bunch of guys. I got my family's coat of arms. How the hell would I ever regret that. That is my family, my heritage. I'll never regret it.

 

nice place...I used to frequent it often. Got all my piercings there back in the day. Who did it?

One of the former guys there started his own shop and my buddy donnie works there. It's in cambel. It's called Guru. Dave openned it. Guy is awesome. Shop is pretty rad too. Donnie rips at traditions and dave is one of the best black and grey guys on the west coast from what I'm hearing these days. His stuff is amazing in general. Great shop there too.

 

The guy who did mine was Ryan Groebler. The piercing's now take place next door to the parlor. They expanded I guess you could say. They have a sick *** 4 leaf clover on their board that would look sick and rep my irish side and I've been thinking about getting it between my shoulder blades. But haven't fully convinced myself to go through with the pain part of getting it on my back. lol

 

My barber is 60 years old. He didn't truly start getting any decent ink until 4 years ago. He's still a work in progress with full sleaves a lot of leg work and quite a bit of stomach and back work as well...

I dont think he regrets it and truth be told, he's already a lil wrinkly. I'm pretty sure all his stuff has been done by Grime who's just ridiculously talented, so that may have something to do with it...

But I don't buy the idea that you'll regret it later. Get it somewhere you can conceal it if you're concerned.

Shop reccomendations.
Black and Blue in SF, owned and run by women. I can only really vouch for Marie... I sat through watching 9 hours of her work. She's awesome, and really nice. http://www.black-n-blue-tattoo.com/marie.html

New Skool in San Jo has some dope artists too. Well known graff writers work there, and we're not talking ugly gangster crap... serious artists with skills...

Important note: I havent had any work done to myself, this is all stuff that I've seen done on other people.

 

Everlasting Tattoo on Divisadero Street in SF does excellent work. Click on my website below. I have a picture of my tattoo.

http://kurleedaddee.50megs.com/cgi-bin/i/Kurlee6.jpg

Mike Giant did the ink on mine.

They offer a wide variety of very talented artists, and they prices are very reasonable.

http://www.everlastingtattoo.com/

Kurlee Daddee
(THE ORIGINAL)

 

DO NOT go to the place in Davis where some kid died getting his tattoo a couple years ago.

 

haha wtf were they using a jack hammer and needle?