This review is 4 months late, but I suppose that's better for a piercing review. I popped in a week after my second lobe piercing fell out while I was in Florida and I wanted to see what Kyle could do with my ear. I was also interested in getting a nose piercing and after a consultation with Kyle, I decided I'd hold off and continue with just the ear. The lady at the front desk and Kyle were really patient and helpful as I tried to figure out what jewelry I wanted. At one point, their sanitizer machine(?) wasn't working so they told me to come back after I grabbed lunch which was fine. I came back and Kyle walked me through the process of reopening my piercing and how my new jewelry had basically a 0% chance of falling out. I was initially nervous since my first time getting pierced in FL was done by a guy who didn't bother to talk to me or even confirm where I'd want my piercing to be, but Kyle understood my worry and made sure I was completely comfortable. He announced every step and what to expect and I greatly appreciated that. Four months later, I've had no irritation (like I did before w/ my old piercing) and the piece hasn't fallen out. I wish every piercer were like Kyle. Read Less

A year later and my first tattoo looks as beautiful as it did the first day! :D The shop was clean and very welcoming to a newbie like me-- I never felt out of place, and the experience was one of the best I've had since. The work is "pricey" by some standards, but I say that's more than worth a high quality piece of art/tattoo, and I never had any issues with it healing. Gia was my artist (who has since moved to New England), and her work was of incredible quality and she was wonderfully personable. She gave me the rundown on how to care for it, and I felt comfortable asking her questions. I could not recommend this shop more! Read Less

Not sure how these people are still open. I came in to got retainers for my nipple piercings the day before a surgery and they didn't have any. Ok fine, off to CraigPokesU in Arlington, no biggie. I come back in the day after surgery to get help putting my nose piercing back in since it's tiny and threadless, and they tell me they only have a piercer here Friday - Sunday and can't help with that (I came on a Monday). The man did explain how to put it in, at least, so I'll try when I get home. That said, I've never been to a piercing or tat place that didn't have someone available to do whatever you needed or have basic things like retainers on hand. No wonder this spot is always empty! Read Less

I've gotten five piercings here and am always really happy with the results. The piercers are professional and friendly, and I appreciate how they walk me through the process so I know what to expect. They even got me hooked up with a custom industrial piercing that's thinner and smaller than standard because I wanted it to look a certain way. I'll definitely send friends here for piercings. Read Less

I just had a conch piercing done by Kyle today and I could not be more pleased. I've had two helixes and one daith done elsewhere and this one by far was the most painless. I was very nervous and expected the piercing to be quite painful. Kyle took his time and answered all my questions. He made me feel 100% comfortable and didn't make me feel silly for being so scared. The actual piercing itself was incredibly fast and I felt virtually no pain at all. I've got nothing but praise for Kyle and his style. The woman at the front desk was friendly, very nice, and efficient. I didn't catch her name but she was great. As anyone with piercings knows, they are addictive. I will continue to go back to Kyle add to my growing collection. Read Less

Incompetent Lit was trying to obey “piercing law” and pay to have someone put a ring in my still pierced, but retired septum and ended up with too small of a ring with stinging pain. I’m not a trained piercer and knew that if the ring was slightly bigger I’d have no pain. 0/10 — would not recommend them. I hate the D.C. tattoo/piercing scene. Read Less

James literally saved me! I had a home diamond tattoo on the inside of my finger that I liked and then had a “professional “ go over it and looked so bad! I was in DC and did some research....I wish I could post the before and after ... I am so obsessed with my diamond now!!! Thank you so much! You made this Jersey Girl so happy!! Read Less

Had a wonderful experience here with Valerie, the piercing artist here. I had my conch done and my friend had 2 helix piercings put in. Valerie was really helpful when describing everything and helping us decide on jewelry. I was entertaining the idea of getting a helix but she shared that my ear wouldn't highlight that as well as it would the conch piercing. Everything was very hygienic and she was extremely precise when planning out the placement of the piercing. Her attention to detail and confidence really made us feel both at ease. The cost of jewelry was a bit shocking, but the price for Valerie was definitely worth it. Also, there was a rather difficult customer ahead of us who asked about an hour's worth of questions. Valerie was nothing, but polite to her. Don't know how. Hospitality on point! Read Less

DO NOT GET YOUR NIPPLES PIERCED HERE a friend of mine had his done and the piercer did them crooked and gave him a bar that was too short and caused a lot of ecxessive swelling and pain. we went back a few months later and saw a different piercer who insisted they were the right size despite him getting constant irritation bumps. Read Less

I came in for quick assistance to have three cartilage earrings put back in after I had to remove them for surgery. The piercer's attitude indicated that something like that was beneath him. It would have taken 5 minutes to help someone who can barely use their hands after I had an operation and he refused. I was willing to pay the fee. Both locations were pretty rude about it. Will not be returning to a place so incredibly inconsiderate. Read Less

A bit pricey, but honestly you're buying art so you might as well get it done by a professional who knows what they're doing in a safe and clean environment. The wait list is long though, so if you wanna get it quick/now, your best bet might be another parlor. Read Less

Received my first tattoo from Fatty 13 years ago and it still looks great! I went back yesterday to get my second. James was gracious and professional and I love my very special custom tattoo that means a lot to me. The staff was professional and courteous to an “old lady”. Thanks All!! Read Less

Danni is the best! She pierced my ears and was very comforting, helpful and knowledgeable . She educated me on what's really all in most "surgical steel" jewelry and the dangers of putting it in your body . I won't go to anyone but her for my jewelry and piercing needs . Read Less

I went to the Dupont Circle location yesterday as a walk in to get a rejecting dermal removed and a new dermal piercing. Danni was exceptional from start to finish. Very personable, knowledgeable, and professional. The jewellery prices are definitely on the higher end. But glad I found her. Read Less

I had an amazing experience with Fatty's piercer in Dupont Circle named Valerie. She was extremely professional as well as thorough. Valerie walked me through the entire piercing process from sanitizing instruments to the process of the actual piercing. She spent a good deal of time patiently answering all of my questions and making me feel very comfortable. Valerie also has an aesthetic eye to the positioning of piercings, and I greatly value the time she took to suggest angles and types of jewelry (never imposing, simply being helpful when answering my questions). Most of all, she is an incredibly talented piercer. She guided me through a breathing technique while she pierced me, and along with her talents as a piercer, the breathing made my experience virtually painless. I had an extremely positive experience at Fatty's overall, with helpful and friendly staff, along with an excellent piercer in Valerie. Read Less

We were the only people in the shop and spent over two hours trying to get a piercing. Ended up getting our money back and leaving because the customer service was so bad. I can't speak to their tattoos but if you want a piercing don't bother. Especially if you just want an ear piercing which was what we all wanted. Faster and cheaper at Claire's. Would never recommend or go back - totally waste of my time Read Less

Two friends and I walked in for piercings and from the start everything was great. The shop was neat and clean. The girl at the desk (I didn't catch her name!) was so kind and helpful and answered all of our questions and wasn't pushy at all. Dani did all of our piercings and is a gem of a lady. She was so friendly and you can tell she genuinely loves what she does. All three of us were so pleased!If you're considering a piercing, definitely go on Friday when Dani is working! Read Less

I couldn't have nicer things to say about this place and the staff. I've been getting tattooed here exclusively for about a year, and currently have 5 tattoos all done by Gia (I've attached photos of 2 out of the 5). Gia, aside from being an amazing artist, is super responsive and open to ideas. Personally, I take the approach of providing a concept and allowing her to have artistic freedom with my guidance- she's absolutely nailed it every time.However, this isn't to say that she won't tell you the truth about whether a tattoo is going to look awful or whether a design idea needs reworking to be conducive to the tattooing process. She will. She truly cares about providing quality tattoos that she can proudly attach her name to, and it shows.Couldn't be more grateful for all the beautiful art she's put on me! Read Less

I've had several sessions over the past few months with James. They have always been great. He is courteous, professional, and always has a funny story to tell. I trust him to tell me what will look good and what won't. I consulted with him about a half sleeve that I was not totally pleased with. After some additions and touch-ups I am thrilled with the result. I get compliments on it all the time, and it is a piece I am proud to show off. Read Less

I got my first tattoo with Gia and I'm so happy I went with her. She was extremely patient and calm, so I wasn't nervous at all once it was time to start the tattoo. She was careful to make sure I was happy with the design and placement before we started so everything came out perfectly. I would highly recommend her for any first timers.Fattys is a great studio, as well. The tattoo floor is very clean and bright so it's easy to review the design for color, sizing, placement, etc. Read Less

I had the pleasure of working with Matt at Fatty's on H street. He was extremely responsive and passionate about working with me to make a final design. He was great about explaining every step of the process and took great pride in perfecting my tattoo. Can't recommend him and the rest of the staff enough! Read Less

Visited Valerie today to fix the piercing that pregnancy ate. I got my tragus pierced at Fatty's when I was 18yo, but when I got pregnant with my son 14yrs later, the piercing swelled up around the back of the post and healed that way. A doctor could have solved the problem, but Valerie did so AND saved the piercing, all with minimal damage, pain, or discomfort. I will definitely go back to her for all future piercings, maintenance, or jewelry. This girl knows what she's doing!!! Read Less

Decided to get my first tattoo (day of the dead style portrait) done here and it was a very positive experience! A friend told me that Fatty's in Dupont could definitely turn my idea into a high quality tattoo - something that I have been thinking about getting for years but never took the next step to actually get it done. My office is literally across the street from Fatty's so one day I decided to stop by and get a quick consultation to see if they can help me spark my interest to start the process. I was greeted by Matt and I told him a brief description of what I wanted... he referred me to Ray's portfolio and I saw his portrait of Audrey Hepburn - I was sold and decided right then and there to get my tattoo done with Ray. I spoke with him the same day and booked the appointment. When I showed up to my appointment, he made some suggestions to make the tattoo better and I gave him 100% trust to do it the way he thinks it should be done... He was 100% right and the tattoo came out amazing, better than I could have ever imagined it to be. Props to Ray - I'll definitely be back. Read Less

I came hear to redo my earlobe piercings. I'd gotten them done as a preteen at a Walmart years and years ago, and the piercing gun, combined with the tearing that the faulty aftercare instructions and subsequent cheap earrings caused, made me decide to start from scratch. I saw the good reviews on Yelp, so I decided to on July 28.Fatty's is on the third floor of an honestly shabby townhouse on Connecticut Avenue, but a lot of effort was put into making the shop itself clean and inviting. It's well-lit and nicely decorated, and the music was good. Because piercings don't usually take long, I went in without an appointment.  They were able to accommodate me pretty quickly -- I waited for about twenty minutes because there was someone else already waiting to get a piercing. At $50 for both lobes and $80+ for the jewelry, it was pretty expensive. This is a case where I'm okay with that -- if it's going in my body, I want to make sure I'm getting the best service and materials possible.Even better, everyone working there was friendly. Valerie did my piercings, and she was very sweet and professional. She explained what she was doing the entire time, which was made the experience a bit easier. (I do have other body piercings, but this alone makes Fatty's has been the best place I've visited. Never before has a piercer explained the process, and this was just my lobes.) It's only been a week, but I've been following the aftercare instructions to a T. No problems so far. I'll probably post an update once it's okay to remove the current earrings, but I think it's safe to say my opinions won't change.I'd without a doubt come back to Fatty's to get another piercing or even my first tattoo. (I'm currently considering getting my navel done at some point, as well as my daith.) But even if I don't get another piercing, I'll definitely come back for more of the top-notch jewelry! Read Less

I came to fattys just to replace my jewelry f and ended up waiting over 30 minutes just to see someone to check my barbel size and then took forever to get charged. The service is INCREDIBLY slow as hell and I will most likely not come here again. Like it was never that serious and did not have to be stretched for such a long period of time. People here take their sweet time and literally is not the best customer service at alllllllllllllll. I would suggest getting more employees. Read Less

So, this was my first tattoo, but I had a really great experience. I've been to Fatty's in DuPont to get piercings, but I live closer to this location. I stopped in with a friend on the 4th of July and made a deposit and set an appointment time. Gia wasn't there, but she is the artist I got based on what I wanted. I checked out her work online and thought it looked great. Today I came in about fifteen minutes early and met Gia. She was super kind and encouraging about me getting my first tattoo. She talked to me about what would be the best size based on where I wanted it and what it would feel like. She made the stencil and then got started. Every step along the way she wanted to make sure I was super knowledgeable and satisfied. I am very thankful for that. She played good music and got to work. My tattoo is small so it didn't take very long and then she let me ask some additional questions after and gave me some tips. I am happy with what I got and my service. If I ever get another tattoo (not sure I will) I would definitely come back to Gia! Read Less

Came here a yr and a half ago to get my daughters name tattooed for $200! bucks. If you look at it & you're familiar with tattoo pricing you'll know that it's already way way overpriced. But not only that, after I asked for a touch up, which would've taken 5 minutes they tried to charge me another $80. The artist even thought that would be a great deal *cough cough*. If you want a good quality tattoo for a reasonable price just go to embassy tattoo. They're the best & most reasonable in the city. Or anywhere else for that matter.. oh yea, customer service is some shit too. Dont waste your money, time or energy here. Read Less

Located on an up and coming section of H Street, this Fatty's is top notch for those looking for a stellar and sterile environment, with comfortable surroundings and top notch talent. I got my ink from Matt, who did the work effortlessly. I'm planning on returning here for a larger piece in the future. If you're looking to get tattooed for the first time or to build on existing artwork you've already got, this is the place to go! Read Less

Without an appointment I stopped to get a daith piercing on a Sunday afternoon. Valerie was great in talking me through options for the options for the ring and where the placement of the piercing would be. This was my first piercing since my ear lobes as a child. She was calming, patient, and super professional. Once in the room, she had everything clean and had me sit down while she figured out where the placement of the piercing would be. Then she kept me chatting and talked me through the actual piercing and placing the jewelry. After, when my blood sugar dropped (hello should have eaten and sat for a few minutes....) she was very professional and caring for my pathetic self.Fatty's is the opposite of everything that made me nervous about going into a tattoo parlor (I am really sensitive to loud music- so it was mostly that). It was quiet, the decor was very appealing, and the front desk staff who we interacted with were helpful and very nice.If I were to ever want another piercing I wouldn't go anywhere else. Read Less

I first came here a couple months ago because I saw some of Gia's tattoo work online and loved it!! I had a general idea of what I wanted, but nothing solid thought out. This was my first time at Fatty's on H and the staff were all very friendly and helpful. I met with Gia for a consultation and she seemed super excited for my tattoo and she tied all my ideas together beautifully! I love my shoulder tatt from Gia so much that I just made an appointment with her for my next tattoo in a few weeks :) I am very excited! Read Less

The customer service at DuPont was out-of-this-world great! My friend and I were so indesicive about which studs we wanted, and they treated us great the whole almost two hours that we were in there. I didn't give five stars because of the price. Cost was $50 service fee for a pair of lobe piercings, $30 for an additional piercing (all ears), and the jewelry started at about $30 per stud. No jewelry is included in the price of the piercing, making a pair of regular earlobe piercings cost minimum of $100 plus tax & tip (I didn't get the bottom line studs so my earlobe holes were actually $165 plus t&t). If you are looking for very attentive piercers who give honest answers about what piercings and jewelry will suit your body type, who are willing to let you debate with yourself for an hour about the trinity or the daisy, and who will treat you with respect the whole time, this is definitely the place to go. Just make sure you plan on spending quite a bit of money, for even basic piercings and jewelry. Read Less

Walked in and the receptionist was nice! But the tattoo artist was rude and very sloth like. He took FOREVER to get my tattoo sketched when I had already given him an easy picture to just copy .... and he had no other clients. My tattoo was small yet he charged me wayyyy more than he should've. The only reason I accepted the price was because my friend with me was also getting one and didn't want me to back out. Pricey, slow, and not very nice. Read Less

I totally agree with other less than stellar reviews- the attitudes of the staff alone make me never want to interact with this establishment again. I get it's tattoos, not a fine dining establishment- but there is so much room for improvement. I went in to talk to Gia about a tattoo I had previously called in to inquire/price out. She was very abrupt, and less than enthusiastic to discuss it. When the front desk attendant returned he asked for a deposit and said that was the only way to schedule. In retrospect I never should have moved forward, but I foolishly gave my deposit. When i got home I had a sinking feeling about the entire experience and decided it was better to waste my $50 than fork over an additional $150 on a service/artist/business I would not have been happy with. What a shame. Read Less

I got a cartilage piercing done in August 2016 and got it replaced with a hoop in June 2017. I was helped both times by a very courteous piercing artist named Michelle. She answered the few questions I had with patience and worked quickly. The room where I was taking for the piercing seemed very well-equipped and clean. No complaints there! Thanks! Front Desk service is...special. The young man I saw there both times was curt and condescending. I bet he has to deal with a lot of dumb questions and odd clientele from time to time, and the friend who recommended this place mentioned that this interaction would be weird, so I came prepared and was quite amused by how consistent this behavior was! I remained courteous and friendly and he did the rest of his job (showing me waivers, charging my card, etc.) with no other fault. Just a heads up! Both times I walked in for piercing on a weekday evening (I work nearby) and have been helped in less than an hour. Read Less

Serious warning...This shop does not have the technique to tattoo all skin types. This review is of course specific to the artist I worked with, but I saw a similar pattern with other reviewers with dark skin: Bad outcomes and lack of knowledge. Make sure you look through portfolios of HEALED work here (everything looks good when it's new). I got a shoulder tattoo a couple years ago from some seemingly decent but ultimately disappointing guy (I think name was Brian Freda?) and it scarred something AWFUL (it's constantly raised and shiny). Even though I looked through his portfolio beforehand and saw decent work, I made the mistake of not looking for his healed work on Brown skin. I liked my piece when I left but he was super heavy handed he and caused irreversible scarring. Needless to say, it was a huge disappointment and I caution everyone who considers this place, especially if you are a person of color and have skin that is more prone to scarring. This was not my first tattoo, and my others had NO issues-- that's why I know the problem was the artist's lack of technique and not my skin. My healing process was longer, scabbier and downright painful. Read Less

Love this place! I've gotten a piercing from each of their other locations and had a tattoo done here, at H st. Matt was great and met with me before to talk specifics and figure out how to get what I wanted. Then he was even able to work me in the next day. The tattoo turned out perfectly, exactly what I was envisioning. It was in a small, italicized typeface and Matt tattooed it perfectly. Highly recommend! Read Less

Great place, helpful staff and the piercer was professional and caring.  She really knew her stuff and I felt really great after I was finished I would recommend this location to everyone.  Also Jewelry selection is very good, too. Read Less

I had a great experience here today. I didn't have an appointment, just stopped in to inquire about a nostril piercing and ended up getting it.I was greeted warmly by everyone at the front desk. My piercer(Valerie) was extremely helpful with suggestions on jewelry. Her technique was quick and painless and her demeanor is very calming.Yes, this is one of the more expensive shops in town, but you get what you pay for. I'll definitely be back! Read Less

Walked in today for two simple piercings and no appointment. I was in and out in about an hour and the piercer, Kyle, was absolutely wonderful & extremely professional! It wasn't my first piercing, but I'd say if you're getting your first piercing, go to Fatty's on a Saturday for Kyle. I'll definitely be coming back to Fatty's for my next tattoo and piercings. Read Less

Me and my friend tried several times to walk in for a (small) tattoo. On Saturday the guy said we should better come back on Sunday and they'll have time for us for sure. Today we were the first ones over there, directly after they opened. The same guy told us to wait for an hour so we can talk with the artist about our tattoos. We did that and after we came back he told us they won't have time for us today. This is not the service I was hoping for! Big disappointment!!!! Read Less

I would say stay away from this business if you are a person of color. My wife and myself got tattoos here- she's caramel complexion black woman, I'm a white guy. My tattoo healed fine, but hers keloided. She called back up several times to see if there was anything she could do and they just ignored her. I wouldn't recommend this place. The guy who did the tattoo was named Matt Slime- should've known from the start. Read Less

I've been here twice for ear piercings and I love it. They're pretty no-nonsense as far as the piercing goes (exactly what you want in a piercer) they just clean you up, mark your ear, tell you to take a deep breath and you're on your way. The place is clean and there's a decent selection of starter jewelry. Prices are reasonable too in my opinion and on their website (paid around $80 with tip for a cartilage piercing). I will be back for my next piercing! Read Less

This is my absolute favorite place in DC. I come to Michelle for my piercings and my significant other went to Zac at their silver spring location for a tattoo. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. The shop is clean and very authentic, the staff is kind and knowledgable, and they live up to their great reputation. I've already sent friends here who were very happy with their body art. Come check them out! Read Less

What is it with rude tattoo artists? I have three tattoos and all were done by rude artists, except one who treated me with respect and was patient. I was hoping that Fatty's would finally break that stereotype for me but unfortunately it didn't. It actually confirmed it. If you're unsure about exactly what you want and are hoping for a more collaborative working relationship with a tattoo artist, this may not be the right fit for you. I had looked up the different tattoo artists on their site and thought Gia's style matched what I wanted. Once we got to talking things did not go very well. At first she did ok answering my questions. When I came back to put down a deposit I had more questions. That time she was impatient, rude and not willing to address my concerns. She even gave me a dirty look. I understand that her job must be stressful and it must be annoying having customers who are indecisive but that's her job. A tattoo is something that will be on you forever so having good people skills may be something she may want to work on. Maybe the other tattoo artists are more patient, laid back and respectful, but that wasn't my experience with her. Read Less

I'll start by summing this up with "Prejudice Establishment". The DuPont location doesn't have this issue, but the H Street location definitely does.  I have visited both locations.  The artist Gia provided a sketch that was nothing like the pictures presented or agreed to at the time of deposit. She followed up with being condescending and rude when told that the sketch was undesirable.  It was apparent that this behavior is acceptable when the gentleman behind the counter chimed in adding more disrespectful verbiage and attitude.  Whatever their prejudgment was.... they acted out on it and missed an opportunity to provide a good experience.  I would not refer anyone or support this business. Read Less

If you're used to getting custom work, it's worth knowing that they won't draw your design in advance like most custom artists do. I got a tattoo here that really isn't what I wanted, and I'm trying now to figure out how to remake it into something I'm comfortable with. It's going to cost a lot of time and money. The artist drew it on me at the start of the appointment, and I didn't have any time to think about it or review it. I knew at the time that it wasn't what I was looking for, but I also felt like a real jerk about hitting the brakes on a 4-hour appointment and putting the artist out of that much work in the lurch.I've learned my lesson. I won't agree to custom jobs in the future that aren't drawn out and approved in advance, with time to consider and feel certain. I also think Fatty's should change the way it does custom, and never ask someone to approve a tattoo that they haven't had any real time to look at. Read Less

Came here to re pierce my septum because I have a deviated septum and got it pierced the first time in Comes A Time Tattoo.. and the guy there pierced it crooked. Apparently the 2 best piercer at that place name Tobias and Jen left. Anyways Michelle took a look and reprierced it for me. And IT WAS PERFECTLY STRAIGHT AND HEALED GREAT. highly recommend this place. She's the best piercer in DMV area no joke! Read Less

The first time I came here, I was a little thrown off by the woman who helped me, she was very rude and condescending. However, I decided to give this place a second try because I wanted a few things done and it is two blocks from my apartment, I'm so glad I did. I wanted to get some new earrings for my piercings, a new small tattoo and a touch up on wrist tattoo I had done near my hometown. The cost wasn't bad, considering the work that was done, and I realized after I was told my cost, you get what you pay for. I can't say enough nice things about the staff there, the gentlemen that runs the front, Gia who gave/fixed my tattoos (did excellent work by the way) and the gentlemen who put in my new earrings for my piercings. I'm getting addicted to mini tattoos so I can imagine I will come back here to see Gia. I love it here, and they play good music too! :) Read Less

Found out about Fatty's through some internet research.  Website was clean and professional.  Locations were close.  Liked the bios of the artists.  Made me feel a little more informed.  Ultimately decided on Gia at the H Street location due to information on her bio.  Felt that she might be the best person for a particular design I was seeking.Went to the shop for a consult.  Was impressed by the cleanliness.  Even the restroom was really clean.  To me, the details are indicative of the whole.  Anyway, consult was great.  Gia was receptive to my idea, and we were quickly able to schedule a time for the work.  When I actually went to get the tattoo, I was impressed with Gia's timeliness (punctuality is a big deal to me), friendliness and eagerness to get to work.  I was even more impressed with the tattooing area upstairs.  Clean, simple, lots of light...and clean.  I read someone's review where he mentioned the music being played.  That's true.  Music is being played in the welcoming area and in the tattooing area.  For what it's worth, we rocked out to 90's on Pandora, so it was all good, but I could definitely see how music you might hate could negatively impact your experience.  I'm guessing if you asked the artists to change the station, he/she would.  Anyway, as for the tattoo itself, it's probably the best one I have.  Coloring is spot-on.  Drawing is exactly what I wanted.  I'm a pretty critical person, and I was just floored with how well done the work was.  Gia absolutely got me as a return customer, and I'm already looking forward to my next tattoo by her.  I could go on, but I hope I got across the point that I think Fatty's, as a tattoo brand in the D.C. area, is top-notch and that Gia is an excellent and professional artist who you should not hesitate to contact. Read Less

I was a first timer and Matt, my tattoo artist, made me feel very comfortable. I came in a few days before and chatted with him. He gave me a bunch of advice. The day of, he explained what he was doing and triple checked everything. He dotted the i's of my tattoo so I could get use to the feeling and then did the rest in less than 30 minutes. Nice guy and chatted with me about random stuff to keep my mind off of getting the tattoo. The tattoo looks just like I pictured it. He did a wonderful job and I would definitely recommend him!  Didn't even hurt much! I hope I don't become addicted. Read Less

For weeks I've tried seeing a piercer on 2 out of the 3 days they're supposed to have someone at their H st. location (info via from website) to sell me both body jewelry and ear weights/hangies. Three trips and no piercer. No one on site can sell me jewelry because they 'don't feel comfortable selling me jewelry' because they themselves, are not a piercer and suggested I go to DuPont. I can kinda understand not selling body jewelry, but why do you need a piercer to sell me jewelry that is on display? Why should I go out of my way travel to another location if your website says this location has a piercer on three specific days? If you're not going to have piercers at a location - change your website information to reflect! So frustrated with this experience that I'd rather seek service elsewhere at this point. Read Less

Kyle, one of the piercers, was very well informed and took the time to inspect my ear (for a cartilage piercing) to make sure it's a safe place to pierce. He was so patient, helpful, and nice throughout the whole process and answered every question I had with a thoughtful answer. He was great! I always get infections after piercings, but it has been roughly 2 weeks and my ear is completely fine. I would definitely recommend Fatty's and Kyle! Read Less

I went here on Saturday with my friend to pierce our cartilages. We are not very familiar with the tattoo/piercing process (our only experience being our earlobes when we were little) and Fatty's was phenomenal. They walked us through the process, were patient with us when we couldn't decide on jewelry, and were overall fantastic. A special shout-out to the piercer, Kyle, who normally works in the Silver Spring location - he was great to work with, put us at ease, and was just overall cool. I would recommend Fatty's to anyone who's looking for a simple piercing and would trust them for even more complicated tattoos/piercings as well. Thanks Fatty's! Read Less

I got my first tattoo last night from Fatty's on H street. I had come to D.C. and had hoped to get it pretty quickly even though I had a lot of other obligations that would conflict with an opportunity to do that. I had visited another tattoo shop on H street but they didn't act like they wanted to help me or make arrangements for me to get a tattoo (I didn't even get an interview and was essentially turned away at the door). So having googled "best tattoo shops in Washington, D.C.", Fattys of course came up and it was just a stone's throw away from the other shop. As soon as I went in, I was greeted by a warm and friendly staff who were eager to help me in any way they could. I saw that they were very very customer friendly, the place was very clean, and the general attitude was something centered on me and my first experience in a tattoo shop. I was able to meet with Matt and he was so very helpful and just really is a good guy to me (I'm a very good judge of character) and the fact that he was making me feel wanted and the girl at the counter was very friendly (as opposed to my experience at the other place), I said I wanted to get a tattoo! We talked and set up a time and Matt did an awesome job!!! He worked very hard to make sure it was perfect and is an outstanding conversationalist. He offered lots of advice, and his phone number if I felt I had any questions in after-care (which he didn't have to do), took a picture of it and sent it to my phone and my email. This was the best experience for me and I had been apprehensive (a little) about getting one, but I knew I wanted one and Matt and the staff made me feel very comfortable and eased any tension that I had very quickly. Matt and the whole staff I met on H street were awesome and I would highly highly recommend them! If and/or when I come back to DC, I am going to have Matt do something else for me...I am that impressed with him and them. Thanks Matt and the staff at H street Fatty's....you guys are the best!!! Read Less

I was surprised to be greeted by an incredibly rude employee after reading all these amazing yelp reviews. I was planning on getting my outer ear cartilage pierced, but after the employee made me feel like an incompetent fool, (and I was being really polite too!) I decided to take my business elsewhere.Just go to Claire's if you want your cartilage pierced - cheaper, comes with cleaning solution, and most likely not rude. Read Less

I needed a touch-up on a wrist tattoo I had gotten from a parlor in Charleston, South Carolina. After some research, I decided to get my touch-up at Fatty's. I'm glad and grateful that I did. I went to the H Street location, and the first thing I noticed was how different it looked from other tattoo parlors. The pieces of art hanging on the walls are unique and beautiful, and the place itself looked sleek, efficient, and organized without being stuffy or pretentious. The receptionist listened to my request, and since I was a walk-in on a busy weekday, she penciled me into an afternoon slot, and I secured it with a $50 down payment. She checked in with the tattoo artist, made sure he understood what I was hoping to get done, and was incredibly helpful. I was tattooed by Matt, who knew exactly what to do to help touch up my tattoo. I showed him a photo of what I wanted, and he examined my wrist and made suggestions. He even explained what the Charleston tattoo artist had gotten wrong about what I had wanted from the initial design. Matt immediately put me at ease, never once made me feel worried about what had to be done to touch up the tattoo, and made sure I was comfortable in the chair. Even when another client came up to ask him something about a tattoo idea while he was tattooing me, he stayed focused on my tattoo and made sure he took his time and didn't get distracted. Once Matt had finished, he talked me through the after-care steps and all the do's and don't's. He also reassured me that if I had any questions or concerns, he was reachable and could help. I could not be more pleased with how my tattoo turned out. It now looks exactly like I wanted it to look from the beginning. I was given first-rate service as soon as I walked in, and it means a lot to me because this tattoo means a lot to me, and I'm grateful that everyone understood that and took the time to make sure I was happy and well informed. I'm definitely looking forward to getting more tattoos at Fatty's. Thank you, Matt! Read Less

Walked in: -"Hello, I would like to purchase an earring." -"The girl that does piercings is gone." -"Well I just need an earring.""Yeah come back tomorrow... I don't know anything about that .""I know the brand, color and size.""I can't help you."I am sorry.. what just happened? Read Less

I'm going to write a review on the entire Fattys franchise. I got this done at the silver spring location but they don't have a Yelp page so here we go...Got a tattoo on a whim beginning of April today is May 27th. I called April 13th because I noticed all my scabs fell off and my Tatt was missing a couple of lines. I wasn't mad at all I know hand tatts are not guaranteed, HOWEVER, I paid $120 for this and was informed call back in a week or two to make sure it's completely healed. I call today and they say, it's $100-$120 to touch up!!!!Ooooook right. I wouldn't recommend going here. They're more about money than making sure your tattoo is up to par. Never going here again. Ps my friend paid $130 for an entire thigh tattoo in waldorf no touch up needed. Read Less

This review is for the Silver Spring location on Colesville Rd. Me and my best friend had an awesome experience at Fattys with Zac! The whole staff was very professional and friendly. We came in close to 6pm on a Sunday after being turned away and treated poorly at another shop in Bethesda so this experience was a breath of fresh air! Zac was able complete both me and my friends tattoos before closing at 8 without rushing! We loved that he was so honest about placement, sizing, and long term effects. We've already reached out to Zac about our next tattoos. Thanks for a great experience, Fatty's! We've found our new tattoo artist and shop!! Read Less

I recently got a small tattoo from Matt Slime. He dug too deep while tattooing. It scarred, and I am now stuck with a botched tattoo for the rest of my life. The tattoo is raised, it can be seen and felt from afar. I have five other tattoos- none reacted like this. The people at the shop were nice, and everyone has their own suggestion on how to fix the problem. However, Being nice and offering suggestions did not fix the scar on my back. The shop is nice, but in the end...my tattoo ended up being a giant mistake. Read Less

My daughter who has kindly reminded me for the past 11 months that when she returned home for the holidays, she wanted to change up her jewelry & look into getting a Tattoo. Who would of thought a high school graduation present of a belly piercing would lead to a variety of hardware on & in her ears...hence my trusty Yelp App & reviews led us here. After a quick cardio of 3 flights of stairs, we walked into a very well designed & spacious environment. We were greeted by Matt who was behind a jewelry filled display/counter who stated he would be with us momentarily. He circled back & said if my daughter/sister, I liked the latter compliment, was over 18, I didn't have to wait. Well I was waiting as she was on my home turf now & wanted to make sure she didn't go impulse piercing on me.After a 10 minute wait or so, Matt called her to the counter & they had their quick tete a tete & few minutes later, she went down the hall for her consultation. FYI...there is a $10 consultation fee, which I totally embrace as I'd rather spend $10 then much more & not be sure & or happy with my decision of something that is not refundable & perhaps comes with a little bit of anxious/pain. Speaking of prices, they seem to be pretty reasonable for the area & more so the experience & quality they offer. This by far, is not your ordinary Tatt Parlor. They even offer unique artwork for sale, man the pieces were so vibrant with rare visibilities of unique techniques donning the wall. My WomanBaby came back out, shared me with her agenda, & went back to get a one of her hardware removed. The Piercer Michelle, knows HER craft. As she allowed me to pop my head in while she was doing the removing. She also schooled us on the proper diligence when seeking body piercing, the after care & the awareness to have even months/years after the fact.  As usual, I was in inquisitive mode & did a scan of her room, everything was neatly in order, had massive sanitizing apparatuses, boxes of plastic gloves & masks. After the removal, my daughter made an appointment to return at a later date to re-do one of her current piercing & get another one. I needed to occupy the restroom before we left, & there was a "tattooed" toilet seat on the door - CLASSIC.  The restroom was surprisingly very clean & disinfected smelling. They even have signs posted all over the place stating to wash your hands and NOT to remove any jewelry or piercing due to health/safety precautions, how very impressive. They even had a sign stated they would be more than happy to remove/replace for you.  & yes it was not my intent coming out of the restroom & looking into another room being occupied by the Artist & their client, yet same cleaned, organized & colorful looking room. Speaking of colorful & more client friendly employees to write about, there were identical twins one with green hair I presume was a Tatt Artist as she was on the computer (later proven correctly) & the other with burgundy hair watching her, who ended up being Tatted on...ink family in full effect. My daughter grabbed Hilda's (Tatt Artist) card who comes highly recommended per the guests in the reception area, as she now wants to add ink to her artistic body movement.  & as a parent & Tatt beholder, I am very confident that this is place to get it done...you can keep the piercing for someone else.What an enjoyable, artistic & exceptional customer service experience we had today. Read Less

I am by no means a beginner, but also not an expert when it comes to receiving.  All I know is after comparing the 5 I now have this is probably the most pleased I am with getting one.  I now know that if an artist says they can't do what you are envisioning, then you should go to a different artist and never settle.I came with my idea to James at Fatty's.  I had the idea for years.  Even paid some girl $100 to draw it up for me.  She took my downpayment and disappeared.  Twat.  Anyway, 2 years later my climb of mount Kilimanjaro popped up on facebook and I decided to give it another try. I first walked into a shop in Georgetown and got quoted way to high of a price over there. Next I stumbled into Fatty's and James quoted me at $175/hr which is a little more than I have paid in the past but it has been like 4 years since I got a tattoo (inflation) and this is smack in the middle of a major US city (expected quality + higher rents) so I figured higher prices make sense.  I told him my idea, dropped my $100 downpayment (hoping this time that down payment would workout) and gave him a few pictures from the internet and voila, the idea was drawn out better than I could have ever imagined on a piece of see through paper ready to go for the tat. After 2 sessions, a bit over $400, some sore ribs, I now have a a sweet looking piece of art that tells the story of my trip to Tanzania.  Thanks for bringing my thoughts to life (or rather my body), James. Read Less

I got my second tattoo here done by Matt Slime, who is new to the shop. The price was about what I expected and the store looked very clean. I had been sent over from the DuPont location, and everybody on H Street was really accommodating, considering I was a walk-in and asking for something a bit more complicated. Matt was very friendly, excited about my tattoo, understood what I wanted, and explained to me that the inspiration illustration - kind of like a woodcut - would have to be edited to be put on my leg. He asked for my preference in shading styles, but I decided to let him decide what worked best. From there, he asked lots of questions to give me exactly what I wanted and did not complain when I asked to resize it. He repeatedly asked me if I was doing okay, etc. and really made me feel comfortable throughout the hour long appointment. I am happy to recommend the store and Matt's work! Read Less