This morning, after 8 hours of heavy drinking and 4 hours of light sleep, my friend and I trudged down to the Village to permanently scar our bodies.
We had decided a few days ago that we’d get tattoos on our wrists; something we both knew would make our mothers go ballistic. After asking around for tattoo parlor recommendations and researching online, I decided we’d go to Village Pop Tattoo and Body Piercing.
There was one guy behind the counter and three artists back in the tattoo section. The guy behind the counter was really unfriendly to begin with (and slightly hard to understand), but by the time we left he was chatting us up like we were BFF. I showed him my design and he gave it to an artist, who came out and sketched his own version. Then he swiped my credit card…for $1,003!! Fortunately I actually looked at the receipt before I signed it and he was able to correct his very expensive mistake.
I figured the artist would introduce himself or at least ask me if it was my first time (it was), but he just wordlessly sprayed down the chair and told me to sit. I kept waiting for him to verbally prep me on what was going to happen, but again, nothing. All of the sudden he was dragging a needle across my skin. All the while, there was an odd banter occurring between the three artists as they worked.
Considering this was my first tattoo, I was completely not assured, which was a shitty feeling. I didn’t know what to expect, but it was an intense pain – sort of like a searing and pricking sensation that doesn’t end. I didn’t look down at my wrist once while he was working; I was convinced it was gushing blood. The good news is he worked quickly and efficiently.
Note: I don’t recommend getting a tattoo while you’re hungover. The pain from the needle kind of adds to your lightheadedness and nausea.
The icing on the cake was I had to ask the artist how to care for the tattoo. He wrapped it in gauze and managed to mutter that I needed to put lotion on it for a few days. Umm, ok thanks for the details.
My friend later told me that she found it difficult to work with her artist; she told him three times she didn’t like a part of his sketch, but he was more concerned with what he wanted. We were both pleased with the outcome of our tattoos; however, the experience there left much to be desired.
Bottom line: too expensive, very little communication between artist and customer. Did not feel comfortable or prepared.
But I do have a couple of cute waves on my wrist now…check it out.
And of course, the two of us:
