Black & Blue Tattoo
381 Guerrero Street
(between 15th St & 16th St)
San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 626-0770
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 12:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- By Appointment Only: Yes
26 reviews
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
"Gosh I can't believe I haven't Yelped Doug at Lyle Tuttle yet! I got Totoro on my shoulder blade. He did it just like my drawing, even…" read more »
62 Reviews for Black & Blue Tattoo
This was my first time to Black & Blue and was greeted by my artist Idexa right at the doors of Black & Blue, she was super nice and even helped me with my luggage (I was leaving that day back home) and she was very detailed and honest about the designs. I was nervous being that I was getting 3 tattoos done in one day, but she was so gentle and patient, infact it didn't even end up hurting, I kinda liked it!! (heehee) I can't speak for any other artists there but Idexa is an amazing talented artist, I am so pleased with her work it was worth the trip to San Francisco for her! She is passionate about her work. The shop made me feel so comfortable. Thank you Idexa for the personal and wonderful work you did! 5 stars!!!!!
Tiffany is great!! This was my second tattoo and my sister designed the text for this tattoo. It's a circular tattoo on my lower back which required a lot of precision with the spacing of the text and the feet of the letters. Tiffany aced it.
She took the time to really study the shape of the text and helped me think about the size of the tattoo in terms of clarity of the letters. Throughout the tattooing she was super chill and gave me breaks whenever needed. When we finished, she took a couple of minutes and added color to my friend's tattoo (my friend was inspired after seeing Tiffany's work). I am currently working on the design for my third tattoo and I'll definitely ask Tiffany to do it.
In terms of the shop in general, they made it easy fro me to set up an appointment and I was able to email directly with Tiffany to get her the image ahead of time. The directions and product (pega panthenol creme) for the healing were great and the tattoo looks awesome!
i inititally went to black & blue because my cousin went and got a super-elaborate (and super-nice) tattoo on her back and i just tagged along, thinking since i was there, i might as well get the tattoo done that's been lurking in the back of my head for a while now.
http://twitpic.com/882z --picture of it, all done.
turns out it ended up being stretched to two days since tala (the artist) and i closed the place down -- only because i had to make the last BART back to fremont -- or else she would have stayed longer. i went back a couple days ago to get the tattoo completed and it looks great. she took my design and improved on it and we couldn't have had a better rapport. in fact, i'm looking forward to going back in a month for my touch-up.
i'll admit i was afraid of going to a "womyn"-y place, but you know, the experience couldn't have been better. totally recommend for anyone.
perhaps it's more expensive than other places, but here you're definitely paying for quality.
the only bad part is that my phone got barely any reception inside the building. maybe that's a good thing?
Siri is da Bomb! She is an amazing find in a sea of tattoo artists. Very dedicated to her craft. Amazing work. I will continue to recommend her for as long as I'm breathin : )
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The end justified the means. I absolutely love my tattoo.
My experience was kind of different from the other yelpers so I feel compelled to spill. First let me say, this was my first tattoo.
I called like 4 or 5 tattoo parlors to talk about the piece I wanted to get and set up a consultation. Every receptionist I got on the phone was rude and treated me like shit for the most part except for the person who answered the phone at Black and Blue. She was friendly and expressed genuine interest in what I was trying to do. At the end of our conversation she even said, "That sounds so cool. That's awesome you're getting a tattoo." Unfortunately, they had no availability for the time I wanted so I didn't make an appointment just then.
About a month later when I had more availability I walked in to Black and Blue and again the person behind the counter was pretty helpful. I showed her what I wanted to do. She was kind of enthusiastic but walked me through the process and my options. Based on the piece and availability she recommended Tala. I made an appointment, talked to Tala on the spot for about 10 minutes (I guess this was the consultation) then I left a deposit and was told it would take between 2-4 hours depending on... I wasn't sure what. Since I never had a tattoo before i was ok that. I like to think my art takes time.
One thing that wasn't so great... My appointment was for 4:30 so I left work early to be on time only be told that I should come back in an hour because Tala was finishing up some work on someone's chest. That didn't really bother me because I draw and whatnot and I know how you can think something will take 4 hours and it takes 6. I thought it would take me 5 minutes to write this review and it's been 20... So I went to get some food. I mean how can I be mad that I left work early? Eating at Puerto Allegre is way better than working in my cube! So...no biggie and she was more than ready to get to work when I returned.
She'd made the sketch based on what i showed her during the consultation. It looked better than I imagined though it was a lot bigger than I thought. But she had a nice way of making me feel like I might as well go for it. So I did and went bigger!
One warning! I got this elaborate and detailed chinese folk art (a butterfly signifying new life) on my right shoulder. One thing I was not prepared for nor did I expect is that i would have to sit with my head down stretching out the area on my neck with my chin tucked into my chest. Since the tat, ended up taking 4 hours the neck strain ended being the most uncomfortable part. In fact, if I didn't have to be in such an uncomfortable position for so long, I think my experience would have been GREAT! but man my neck was sore for a week. So I just want to WARN you. You should ask your artist about how you might be positioned if you're doing a long session. I think it's better to know.
Other than that she was pretty easy to talk to, really open, honest and really knowledgeable. So I was pretty entertained for the 4 hours. And as I said my tattoo came out perfect! Or rather just the way I wanted. Actually probably better because it was bigger and more detailed then I anticipated. Everyone who has seen it (i'm a graphic designer and hang with a bunch of design who are very critical though at times lack in cooth), were in awe.
Tala gave me specific instructions for aftercare which I've been following to a tee. She also requested i come back and show her how it healed so she could retouch it FOR FREE!
My tat is still healing (it's been 9 days and counting) but it seems to be doing great. Sure it's itchy and seems to be really chapped or dry, but the scabs were gone like a week ago...and my husband, who has a bunch of tats, says that normal.
I would totally go back to Tala. She's meticulous and takes it seriously which I appreciate since I'm pretty anal myself.
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I was an inked virgin when I got my 1st tattoo done by Tiffany on Saturday afternoon.
I gave her the picture of the tattoo I wanted and she sketched it out and inked my arm just like I thought it would look. No frills and no chit chat, I'm happy she was competent and honest to God, it was pain free on my right arm.
For a short vid, click here:
http://www.facebook.co...
She cost a bundle of cash but she's worth it.
Thanks Tiffany!
Marcus
I came here with a friend when she got her tattoo (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). I was not pleased with her experience and can verify the events as true in her review.
I went back independently because, despite the not so fabulous events and attitudes I had witnessed, I had watched another artist create an absolutely stunning tattoo (I wish I could remember her name) and I wanted to go back to discuss a piece I'm thinking about getting and to look at some books.
I walked in and was greeted...I'm sorry ...sneered at by the receptionist. I got one word answers to all of my questions about the artists, bookings, and consultations. I highly recommend you take your business elsewhere if you are thinking of getting a tattoo here.
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Here is what happened, just the facts - you can judge for yourself:
-I made an appointment with Tala at Black & Blue to have some work done on my inner arm. I was pretty enthusiastic about patronizing this shop, as it's women run & I thought that was rockin' cool.
-The day of my appointment (at 9am) Tala was an hour late in arriving at the shop, leaving myself & Amanda C. standing outside.
-I left her a message on the shop phone saying that I was upset about this, when she listened to the messages (upon her arrival) she chastised me for having got the time of the appointment wrong (she thought it was at 10am.)
-Upon checking her appointment book, she realized her error, but was still kind of standoffish to me about it.
-At the previous consultation, we talked through the piece that I wanted to have done (cherries and lettering on the inside of my arm) and she estimated that the entire tattoo would take an hour & a half. She quoted me her hourly rate, I left a deposit & was satisfied with the estimate.
-Once she began working on me, her machine kept breaking & needing to be reset - instead of compensating for this in charging me for the tattoo, she charged me for the full time she was working on me.
-That time sprang from an hour & a half to THREE & a half hours.
-Meaning that my reasonably priced tattoo quickly became a tattoo which cost nearly the same amount as my monthly rent. With the need to return for another session to finish the work. o.0
-Initially, I was pretty happy with the art, but as it began to heal I noticed that a lot of scar tissue was building up in the tattoo. Also, a full two weeks after the tattoo session the area of the tattoo was swollen and bruised.
-I consulted with some other artists to ask their opinion of what was going on, it was suggested to me that Tala seriously overworked my arm & that the scarring would need to be re-tattooed at some point to make it blend into the piece. I was also told that for the work that she did on my arm it should have taken two hours, tops. The artists I talked to, as well as several of my HEAVILY tattooed friends, thought that I was way overcharged.
-I wrote Tala an email expressing my concerns. To her credit, she got back to me immediately & we made an appointment to discuss the matter at the shop.
-When we met, I expressed to her that my MAIN concern was the scarring on my arm - to which she replied "No it's not, let's talk about what's REALLY bothering you."
-I reiterated that the scarring on my arm was my main concern. We talked it through & she said that in her opinion I needed to let the tattoo heal for another month. She said that the scarring would fade by then. She expressed that she wanted to go back in and put more color into the tattoo, re-outline the tatt (both things we hadn't talked about before) & finish the background in a month's time.
-I made an appointment with her for last Sunday (which I couldn't make because of personal problems) - but, as the month went on, it became VERY clear that the scarring wasn't improving - in fact was getting worse.
-I chose to sacrifice my deposit (fair is fair) and let Tala know that I preferred to finish the work on my arm with another artist.
Overall, I'm really disappointed with this whole experience. The tattoo is nice; but, doesn't look the way I wanted it to at this point (it's the first piece in a sleeve.) It's annoying b/c I'm going to have to go to another artist to have this finished & that might be a little difficult, as other artists don't like working on someone else's work.
Because this is a co-op, I realize that my poor review may adversely affect other artists at Black & Blue. I just want to say that this review only pertains to my experience with Tala. Who despite being a very nice person, really disappointed me in crafting this tattoo experience/end result for me.
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Rude receptionist = no tattoo. Thanks for giving me that famous tattooed Mission attitude on the phone so that I didn't have to be subjected to it in the shop -- the last thing I want is someone holding a needle to be rude to me...
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Ohhh Black and Blue! I love them so. I had my two latest tattoos done by Siri who I adore. At first I wasn't really sure our tastes would mix well but when she showed me the final piece I was so happy. The atmosphere is great and everyone is amazing. I love it!!
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I was so nervous before arriving but as soon as I saw what Siri created, my nerves were at ease. Siri's the shit! She does excellent flower drawings, if that's what you're in to. She also does awesome cartoon styles. The room that I was tattooed in was a bit small for 4 people (including me, Siri, Tiffany, and the cool, so friendly guy that she was working on) but I liked the feel of it. It was intimate feeling but I felt comfortable right away. I looked at the website and chose Siri through there but I recommend going to the shop first to see all the artists' portfolios and books. Most artists will ask for a drawing deposit fee that ranges from $50-$100. Mine was $50. The location is great, just a 5-7 minute walk from the 16th Street Bart Station.
I'll update later after my second session and post pix when I'm all done.
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I am a wimp. I remember now why, seven years ago, I swore I would never get another tattoo. Yes, I remember NOW, after having endured the inked needle yet again.
I casually and impulsively walked in here on Sunday, inquired about getting a simple tattoo, had an appointment for Monday at 6pm and left the shop at 7pm with a new adornment. This was the most transactional tattoo experience I had ever had. And I'm not sure how I feel about it.
On the one hand, it wasn't a long, drawn-out process whereby I had to bond with my tattoo artist (tattoo #2) nor was it a co-creative process whereby I had to use my trusty French-English dictionary to translate the tattoo artist's explanations (tattoo #1).
Instead, Tala did a great job - and although I was apprehensive about her "just-the-facts" demeanor at first, I came to appreciate her efficiency during the process. And afterward, she was downright motherly.
In seven years, when I again forget the fact that I have a low pain threshold, I'll come back to Black & Blue.
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100% Amazing. Tiffany is a consummate professional with amazing skills. She is willing to stretch herself and work her behind off to give you exactly what you want, in a clean and pleasant environment. Not only is she an amazing artist, but she is such a warm and open person. I've been twice for some good size pieces and I get nothing but compliments about them all the time. THE BEST!!!
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Siri!! She is a goth tattoo goddess who got it right away when I told her my kicked faded crappy ex-boyfriend tattoo from 10 years ago had to be eradicated and reformed...like a phoenix from the ashes...she exorcised all of the old sadness, shame and bad feelings from the old tattoo (in fact to the point she saw a black cloud pass her vision during the process, excellent sign :)~ took it as goodbye to the old, hello to the new), and turned it into a gorgeous beautiful amazing new creation...I love it more every day....it makes me smile just to look at it!!
Thanks SIRI! xx
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Tattoo places like this one make me wish I had more skin. This place is hygenic, helpful, professional and friendly. I went in with a friend to heckle her while she was getting some ink done and ended up leaving hours later heckling myself.
They have frikkin' massage tables to lie on! And it's women-owned and operated which is refreshing in a macchismo-dominated industry.
I had my tattoo done by Clio who is apprenticing there and had a loverly chat with Idexa about pretty much everything (including limp fetishes).
And if you need some support, don't bring 5 people! A girl with a limp needs a place to sit in the waiting room...
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love this place. love that it's woman-owned. love the mellow but friendly-enough staff. and especially love sam's work. i trust her, even though it hurts. literally.
Black & Blue Tattoo is the most awesome tattoo shop ever!!! I would trust those wild girlz to ink me up anytime.
XOXOXO,
Skyler
I got my first tattoo from Mykal who no longer works here. But the shop is clean, professional, all-women, and incredibly comfortable. It was an all together enjoyable experience and I highly recommend it.
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I had a very specific idea for a tattoo on my shoulder blade. I wanted to incorporate an existing tattoo in the design, and I wanted the tattoo done to emulate the style of an artist I really love--Aya Kato.
After seeing Siri's artwork online, I was excited to look through her book at the shop and meet with her to talk about the design. Siri is very laid back and thoughtful, and we immediately clicked on a concept for the tattoo. Siri encouraged an idea that had ran across my mind after looking through Aya Kato's work but I had shied away from since the design would require the piece to be on the larger side. But, once I Siri did some quick sketches, I was convinced.
The tattoo took two sittings, and it really was such a positive experience. The shop is clean, and everyone that works there is very nice. The owner checked in during one of our sessions, which was nice.
Siri was very attentitive and professional. She really managed to create something beautiful that incorporated the art of Aya Kato with some of her own artistic flourishes. If and when I decide to get inked again, I have no doubt I'll call Siri!
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I love it here. Tiffany is the best!
By all means...come in and get some ink. HOWEVER...please don't bring your "tattoo-watchin" posse with ya. The shop just is not large enough. My rule is: If you have to have someone hold your hand while you get tattooed, you probably shouldn't get one.
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UPDATE (2/17/08): Went in for my appt. on Tuesday. Sam presented her interpretation of my vision and they came together in a beautiful masterpiece that now resides on my lower back. Sam was great. She was extremely patient and gentle. All which I completely appreciate in a tattoo artist. My friend was late getting there, but everyone was so great when she arrived. The tat itself took about 30 min. and I completely forgot just how much that shit hurts!! Not to the point of tears, but it hurt like a bitch nonetheless. Sam has an extremely steady hand and the awesome ability to realize your dream on stencils. She talks you through it and makes idle conversation to keep your mind off of the pain. In my case, I can't talk while being tattoo'd, but kudos to her for trying.
ABSOLUTELY recommend this place for a tattoo. There will be a wait to get in, but only the best places are like that. You even get her cell # for any recovery emergencies. (good thing I didn't have any!)
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So far so good. Met with Sam for a consulation on Saturday and walked out with a sense of confidence and security. I want to have a tribal dolphin incorporated into my current virgo tat and came in with the dolphin on my flashdrive. Sam took a look at it, then studied and traced my virgo tat and said "yeah, I think we can do that." She proceeded to let me know what she was thinking and made sure we were on the same wavelength. I truly didn't know exactly how I wanted it incorporated, which is why I came in for the consult. She has a pretty good idea of what looks good and what doesn't. Currently she's working on the artwork and will get back to me. I have the appt. set for Feb. and I will report back after the work's done. But for now, 5 stars.
Stay tuned...
This is a wonderful and unpretentious shop! I'm sure I don't quite fit into any tattoo shop but B&B is welcoming and professional. I'd been wanting a tattoo since I was 18 and was finally brave enough to go through with it at 25. Idexa is kind and has a great vision. She created a beautiful tattoo for me based on a picture I brought in AND she was able to finish it in 1 sitting when she had booked me for 2. That opening will probably make another tattoo aficionado very happy seeing how Idexa gets booked 3 months in advance.
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I got a tattoo for my 25th birthday. Yep, a tramp stamp.
Siri was very nice to me, even though it was painfully apparent that I didn't quite fit in.
She drew a beautiful sketch of the side view of a butterfly and then incorporated my leo and virgo signs onto the wings.. (I'm on the cusp...)
Plus, she stared at my butt for 45 minutes, which is more than anyone probably ever has in my life. Well, the guys on the Muni give it a go, but 45 minutes is a long time..
Siri used to be an illustrator so her work is very feminine and fluid. PLUS, she suggested a bright pink/purple combination that is striking.
Well, I haven't seen my tattoo, since I got it in a place that I'll never be able to see (hindsight--pun intended), but I've been told that it's very pretty. Then again, they weren't saying it to my face.
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I got my first tattoo here, from Rocio, whose style suited my design, and it seems like it's a lot of people's choice for a first tattoo. It makes sense. It's not as scene-y or intimidating as some of the more famous places around, and I guess there's something disarming about getting your tattoo from a woman. No need for me to feel like a tough guy.
Rocio was cool and really chill. She added some touches to the design I brought in that made it a lot better. She made me feel totally at ease (and did the same to my girlfriend, who was as nervos as I was) and was really gentle and awesome about the whole thing. Everyone came in to take a peek at my tattoo while it was going on, and they were all really nice and joking around. It really is a very good place for the first-timer if you feel a little intimidated. So go in, take a look at the portfolios before you make any decision, but I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
I did actually have one little hick-up. My first appointment didn't happen, as there had been some kind of screw-up and Rocio was double booked. But it seemed like it was just a mistake, and I guess it could happen anywhere.
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I got a tattoo here from Rocio, who now works at a different tattoo parlor in Oakland. I knew exactly what I wanted to get, but I can't draw and was very nervous that the artist would interpret my vision differently. I had my consult with Rocio and explained to her what I wanted and the story behind it. She really liked my idea and when I came back two weeks later to see her drawing and it was PERFECT. She was incredibly detailed and took her time making sure the stencil was placed correctly, even though I was pretty ignorant to the whole process. The tattoo turned out amazing, and I am so happy with it and with the whole process involved.
I picked Black and Blue because I loved the idea of an all female tattoo shop, and I felt a lot more comfortable walking in there. There was no air of pretentiousness, just amazing and talented female tattoo artists.
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I'm still slightly in mourning for my old beloved tattoo shop (Sacred Rose, which up and moved to Berkeley and my favorite artist, James, who took off to Reno) so I have been very picky about where I would get comfortable next.
On a lark I came to Black and Blue, and was NOT disappointed. I was in the middle of working on a sleeve when my old dude left the state, and It's very difficult to pick up where another artist leaves off. Sam, the coolest chick ever, went for it and I LOVE LOVE LOVE what she's been doing to my arm.
The shop is clean, comfortable, and has the perfect background music. The best part? No awkward conversation. I abhor sitting there going, "so......." a million times. I've been there twice in the past month and plan to keep coming, well, basically until I have no skin left to tattoo.
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The fleur-de-lis on my right arm was put there by Tiffany.
The shop is clean and comfortable.
She did a great job of cleaning up the design I'd found on the web and enlarged about 16 times, and she made sure it would look right in the spot where I wanted it and explained the implications of having a tattoo there.
Care instructions were explained in detail.
And no, it doesn't hurt that much. Your friends are a bunch of pussies.
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I got a sweet, simple little design on my left shoulder, and Melissa did an amazing job. plus, since she's the intern, her rate is LOW, at $75/hr. not that that should be a factor when you're writing on your body forEVER, but for a design this simple, it was perfect. and of course she was really professional/answered all my Q's, all the good stuff. this shop houses some really amazing artists! look through the porfolio of past work, there are some in there that just cracked me up. great ideas.
I got my sleeves done here (all blackwork) over the course of several years (1998-2001) and the tattoo artist (Idexa) did an excellent job. Basically, I was looking to make the individual pieces that I got done in the early/mid-1990s "disappear" into distinct patterns on each arm. Go here for professional, clean, and quality tattoo work. They take their jobs very seriously and are extremely careful and attentive to what you want. A couple years ago when I wanted another tat, I didn't even consider finding a shop in LA, I went back here!
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I'm the kind of person who will read reviews for weeks to find something, so finding a tattoo shop was no different. This was my first tattoo and I wanted to find somewhere that would be perfect. I read several great reviews about Black & Blue tattoo and especially about the artist Anne Williams who works there.
I sent Anne an initial email with my design and then she called me back and had a really informative conversation over the phone about all the things she could do with the tattoo and what I wanted out of it. She was super patient and really nice.
A few weeks later I went in for the actual tattoo. (fyi, finding a parking spot can be hard so get there early) The shop has a cool art gallery in the entrance and the rest of the shop is very very clean. Before the tattoo, Anne explained the entire process really well and told me how everything would feel before it happened so you could prepare for it. She took her time and even redid the stencil to make sure the positioning was perfect. The tattoo came out PERFECTLY! My friend came along and Anne was very kind and explained the entire process to us. Anne was the ideal tattoo artist, it was such a relief to be able to entrust something so important to someone and have the final result be better that you ever expected.
Afterwards she explained how to take care of it and gave me a special cream to use for the next few days to help it heal.
Trust me, I spent weeks reading reviews and decided to go with Anne at Black and Blue tattoo....it was one of the best decisions ever. She is an amazing artist and you can feel safe knowing that the tattoo she gives you will be just what you wanted.
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Idexa just took my cherry.... and it felt Gooooooood :-)
(OK well a little painful in parts!)
I had been thinking about this for a while. I could never find a style or a place where I felt comfortable. That all changed when I finally got the B*lls to go in to Black and Blue. Recommended by a friend, I met Idexa for the first time and immediately appreciated her no nonsense and honest opinion. We agreed on a design and made the follow up appointment. When the day came, I duly arrived, slightly sweaty palmed and too much aftershave as she told me! (I didnt tell her I was trying to cover up the fact that I was scared sh*tless and sweating like a mother f**ker!)
That all disappeared as we moved through the next 3 hours of the appointment. Idexa is a great woman, I loved talking to her and more importantly she is a great artist. She made me feel totally at ease. I really appreciated that she was sympathetic to the discomfort when she needed to be. One of things that worried me the most about this experience, was getting someone who just said "Shut the f**k up you p*ssy!".... if I started crying :-) Obviously thats an exaggeration and I didn't cry but you get the picture!
The place is clean, the ladies are friendly and a few days after the work, I couldn't be happier. I dont know whether the price is a good or bad compared to other places, but to me that doesn't matter. If you really want some work done, you find the design you want, and it comes out looking good, then it shouldn't matter how much it costs.
Idexa, you can do me anytime baby!
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It is funny to read all the reviews--strong opinions all round.
Personally I had an awesome experience at B&B. I came as a tattoo virgin. I did my research--asking friends with tats how/when/where/what to look for, etc. I liked the homey and clean atmosphere. I didn't feel out of place or not cool/though enough to be there. I felt that the artist was patient, knowledgeable, and really made my "first" everything I wish my "first" was...
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I couldn't be any happier with the cherry blossom tattoo that Mykal hooked me up with! She took her time with me and really made sure I was happy with the placement of the transfer on my skin. The conversations of bad Swastika tattoos on ex-neo nazi guys and "thug life" on someone's toes with Mykal and another artist, Sam made my experiece a happy and comfortable one! I made another appointment to get coloring done when Mykal comes back as a visiting artist.
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I got my first tattoo from Sam at Black and Blue Tattoo and she was great! Even if I was very undecided on the design, she was very patience and she gave me extra appointments to get ready and finally chose a big wings design for my back. For sure I will soon go back to get another one! Clean place, friendly environment and a fantastic looking tattoo!
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Anne does AMAZING work!! I just finished a shoulder piece with her a few months ago and I love it. Most of all I'm amazed by her level of artistry. She stencils in the primary lines but freehands everything else, including some really beautiful shading. She also mixes her own colors. Everything has dimension and character. She's especially good with tattoos of plants (like mine) and other living things.
I haven't gotten work done by any of the other artists here, but everything I've seen the other artists do while I've been around the shop has looked good. The ambiance is also very warm and friendly.
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One word - WOW! After saying I was going to do it for years and years and years, I finally took the plunge and got my first tattoo. After almost being run out of other shops (too much TAT-titude!) I had practically lost hope that someone like me would ever get her ink. I mean, just b/c I may look a bit of a priss, doesn't mean I don't want a little body art
There's nothing but an inviting, welcoming atmosphere at Black & Blue.
To get the vibe of the place, I visited instead of calling & as I walked in, I was immediately greeted w/ a smile & a warm hello...no judgements. I did my research ahead of time & previewed all the artists' work online & thought I already knew who I wanted. But after speaking w/ Tiffany in the shop, we clicked & I made my appt w/ her for 2 days later. (I already had my design & agree w/ my fellow Yelp reviewer's comments that it was extremely helpful to have something in mind before going in)
Tiffany was absolutely wonderful! Super friendly & laid back! She guided this newbie through the whole process, spending time to consult on my design's size & placement & we re-did the stencil several times until she thought it was perfect. Tiffany made sure to tell me what she was going to do before we began and constantly checked-in throughout the inking, to make sure I was okay. And as far as pain....I've had electrolysis hurt worse (see above mention of priss) I came outta there feeling like a rock star! I am a blank canvas, no more....and already thinking about my second!
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I went there on the recommendation of other people who had great work done by various artists there.
I thought they were friendly and funny as I tried to figure out the placement of my tattoo. Did a good job for a reasonable price when I walked in without an appointment.
I'd go back again for my next one.
A few years ago one of the owners, Idexa, was a client of mine and she gave me a Black and Blue Tattoo t-shirt as a Christmas present. It's my all-time favorite t-shirt. It fits just right, you know, just a little snug and I look badass in it. They don't make this style of t-shirt anymore, so now it's a collector's item. So for making me look HOT, the women get 5 stars!!
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I just got a tattoo from this shop, and I have to say I am ecstatic about their work. Mikal was my tattoo artist, and she did an excellent job. Everything about the experience was easy and professional. I came in and met with Mikal to work on my design and have her consult on what would work as a tattoo. (And folks, it helps things tremendously if you can mock out your concept on paper before you come in.) A week later, she cleaned the design up for me, and I gave her the thumbs up to ink me up.
The shop, as noted by other folks, is clean (both the space and the needles were clean) and friendly. The other artists would come in as Mikal was working on me to chat and see how it was going. It definitely felt like a community of artists rather than a tattoo factory. Pricing was reasonable (about $150/hour).
However, before you just go blindly into any tattoo parlor, you should always check out the artists' work, meet the artists and feel the vibe.
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