This was my first tattoo, so I was a little nervous going in. I received fantastic service throughout the entire process from all of the people I encountered. Everyone was warm and welcoming. I come f... Read More
This was my first tattoo, so I was a little nervous going in. I received fantastic service throughout the entire process from all of the people I encountered. Everyone was warm and welcoming. I come from a restaurant background, so sanitation is something with which I am intimately familiar and value highly. That said, the shop was immaculate. It was clear that they are ethical, clean, and are all so talented. It is tastefully decorated. I was early arriving for my appointment, so I was able to observe the artists and staff for a bit. I watched one gentleman cleaning up after one of the artists had completed a tattoo, and the cleanup process was detailed and thorough. When I got to my artist's station, everything was labeled, appropriately prepared with sanitation precautions, and I saw the artists (especially mine- more on her in a second) remove their gloves each time they left their station or touched something not as a necessary part of the tattooing process. Each of them put on new gloves when they returned to their stations and returned to work. It was obvious that cleanliness and sanitation are highly valued, emphasized, and have been incorporated into the routine as an ethically necessary (and legally, of course, as well) aspect of the business. Each artist has his/her own station, which is organized and decorated to his/her taste. Upon walking in, it immediately feels like a safe environment where anyone and everyone is welcomed and valued as a client. All of the artists are specific about the kind of work they each do and are patient and willing to explain what their style is, even for the newest of newbies like myself. They are true to their art and quite knowledgable in how they approach the tattoo (in other words, they won't just do anything to make money, they will guide you each step of the way, educate you on what will and won't work, and will do what they believe is going to give the client the best long term results and satisfaction while honoring your personal requests). And they are willing to refer you to another artist in the shop if what you are seeking is not quite their style. This impressed me because it was obvious that they care about their art, their reputations, and their clients, not just about making money. I received a free consultation, was shown a concept, and given an estimate before I was asked to pay a penny. When I arrived for my appointment, I was shown a completed design, which we spent time tweaking until it was exactly the way I wanted it. The ultimate cost was excellent, far less than I would have expected for this quality of work, and less than the estimate I was initially given (a pleasant surprise!). My artist was April. I cannot say enough good things about her!!! She was so patient as we refined the design of my tattoo. She was patient with my initial indecisiveness on where I wanted the tattoo placed as well. She was so friendly, she put me at ease almost instantly. She was attentive to my every need and concern, answering every question I asked thoroughly. Most of all, she is a gifted artist. Her work is beautiful, to say the least. It is unique, graceful, tasteful, with the eye and talent of a real artist. Her talent and her kind presence made the experience itself pleasurable and memorable.Overall, a far better experience than I could have imagined having. I would recommend Terminus City and April to anyone and everyone looking for an excellent tattoo artist and experience! Read Less