I got a piercing from Whitney this week- she pierced my tongue and did an excellent job. She was very clear about the procedure, used clean tools and was informative about the process.Finally, I did pass out (from sensitivity to needles/pain), but Whitney was prepared and calm, and helped keep me safe and chill as I came to. Excellent service and would recommend. Read Less

Whitney pierced my nose this past week. I have been wanting a nose piercing for years, but I've always been way too scared. After getting some courage to walk in the door, I was extremely nervous. Whitney helped me walk through everything I needed to know before I got my piercing. During the process, she explained to me what she was doing and how it would feel. It truly helped calm me. She's super cool, she made me feel very very comfortable. The shop is super clean and organized which also made me more comfortable, considering it was my first time in a tattoo parlor. I will definitely go back to Tattoo Charlie's for any future piercings and tattoos! Read Less

I only have good things to say about this shop and the piercers there. First if all, can I just say how amazing Whitney is? She is so sweet, gentle and made me feel very comfortable. She obviously cares a lot about what she is doing. This is the only shop in Lexington that is APP certified! Highly recommended shop! Read Less

Whitney Thompson is a phenomenal piercer! She is a member of the APP (Association of Professional Piercers) and was awesome on the phone when I called to discuss what I desired to have done, and even more helpful once I met her in person! She explained how things would be done in a step-by-step process and suggested the proper type of jewelry that would be suited for my body.  The facility was extremely clean and clinical even, very comforting to me as I am OCD.I had two piercings done after my consultation confirmed I was a good candidate for both types of piercings. I am following my piercing after care per Whitney's instructions and have had no problems whatsoever.I drove from Southern Indiana to Lexington Kentucky because I had heard great things about Whitney, and she did not disappoint! It was well worth the drive!I will be going back to Whitney for more piercings for sure! Read Less

I live in Cincinnati, but Tattoo Charlie's is worth the drive. If you're wanting a new piercing or jewelry, there's no one better to go to than Whitney. She's professional, knowledgable, and kind. She's a member of the Association of Professional Piercers and takes her work very seriously.She's constantly making sure everything is sterile throughout the entire process, even when doing simple jewelry changes. She offers advice as to what will look best for you, and will order special or custom pieces. She'll talk you through the entire process and explain the reasoning for what she's doing as well.There's not a piece of jewelry in their case that isn't incredibly high quality. Make the drive, and take the time and money to get your piercings and jewelry right the first time. Read Less

I went to Tattoo Charlie's yesterday for my second tattoo, but my first at this establishment. This will be the last time as well. Several things made my experience sub-par including things from a customer service perspective, but I will focus on the issues with my tattoo in this review. For reference, the tattoo I got was a date made into roman numerals. I brought in a print out of exactly what I wanted; the font was simple with straight lines that were relatively thin. My artist spent a good amount of time placing the tattoo stencil just right on my upper back. I really appreciated the attention to detail. After the artist finished my tattoo, I got up to look at it and I was immediately disappointed and confused. The font that I saw PERMANENTLY on my back was not at all the font I brought in. There were "lumps and bumps" (for lack of a better descriptor) in the numerals and they were different heights. I asked what happened with the "lumps and bumps" and my artist told me they were "intentional" and I "wouldn't want the numerals to be perfect". I'm not sure why the artist felt inclined to interpret the font in his own way, if that is what happened, but it looked like he actually messed up and tried to make it look intentional afterwards. We never discussed me wanting anything other than exactly what I brought it, and the fact that he told ME what I wouldn't want out of MY tattoo was appalling. I asked if he could fix it, and immediately the tone in the room shifted. He seemed insulted or maybe embarrassed but he agreed to try to make the lines straighter. He tried, but of course that means the numerals are thicker than the original stencil, and there were some "lumps and bumps" that were so extreme they couldn't be hidden, AND they're still not all the same height. Overall I have an extremely imperfect tattoo and I'm so disappointed with my choice to come here; I'll be seeking out a different artist somewhere else in Lexington to fix this. I suggest you look elsewhere too. Read Less

I would highly recommend this place for your next piercing. They were amazing, helpful, and friendly. I got my daith pierced. I had called the day before my appointment and asked a lot of questions. They were friendly and helpful and answered all my questions. I had an appointment at 2:30 but wasn’t seen till 3ish. But I believe the delay was just because of the amount of time it takes to clean and sanitize the equipment, jewelry, and table. And I can appreciate the time they take to make sure they are giving the best care and service to their customers. Thank you! Read Less

I would highly recommend this place for your next piercing. They were amazing, helpful, and friendly. I got my daith pierced. I had called the day before my appointment and asked a lot of questions. They were friendly and helpful and answered all my questions. I had an appointment at 2:30 but wasn't seen till 3ish. But I believe the delay was just because of the amount of time it takes to clean and sanitize the equipment, jewelry, and table. And I can appreciate the time they take to make sure they are giving the best care and service to their customers. Thank you! Read Less

Jordan pierced my ears and did a fantastic job! She was able to determine the best placement, even with my unusual ear shape! All staff were friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere in both the waiting room and the piercing room was very warm and inviting. Jordan was even able to ease my anxiety! The equipment is sterilized between each use, I know bc the appt before mine ran late, and I had to wait a little while for the equipment to be ready, but hey! I'd much rather wait a few minutes than get infected, so... the waiting room and piercing room were both clean, with care being taken to maintain sterility in the piercing room. There were a lot of very lovely jewelry options for various types of piercings, I ended up going with the large size amethyst earrings! All in all, this was a great experience at a great shop! Read Less

I didn’t have an appointment but I went to go get my tongue pierced they were fully booked and luckily someone didn’t show up so I was lucky to be seen with one. Once I was taken back Luke was very honest with me. After prepping my tongue and trying to find a spot to pierce me, he apologized I wouldn’t be able to have one because my tongue was just not made for it, but he asked what else he could pierce, and was incredibly sweet and helpful about it. I decided on getting my cartilage pierced I just didn’t know where I’d want it. I went out and picked new jewelry and he prepped it. Most places wouldn’t have looked out for me like Luke did, and would have just went after a money grab and given me the pericing anyways. I am so grateful that he looks out for what’s best for you and your body. Luke pierced my outer helix and helped by suggesting the spot. He explained how it lines up with the ear and gave me enough room for a future industrial on that ear if I wanted it, which is amazing he was thinking about my ears future! I am definitely going to be coming back anytime I visit because he made me excited for my ear despite my disappointment about my tongue. Read Less

My girlfriend and I came down for the weekend from Milwaukee, WI. I called only days prior to see if I could sneak in a tattoo. Laura was so helpful over the phone. She was the best, and set me up with an amazing artist. John West did not disappoint!!!! I had told him I really wanted a mandala tattoo on my thigh with the focal point being a sunflower. Not only did he draw an amazing mandala design, but it was way more than I had ever expected. It took about 5 hours, but it felt like a breeze. Never has it felt more comfortable getting a tattoo. Tattoo Charlie's is now going to be my destination for tattoos. I'm more than willing to drive 7 hours to get tattooed by John! I will be back very soon! Read Less

3/10/2018 I am so impressed with this place! Super clean and the people make you feel so comfortable. Whitney did 3 piercings for me. She is awesome. She made me feel like I was in the room with a good friend, very at ease. Thank you all ~ I will see you soon. Read Less

I absolutely love this place! I’ve only ever gone here to get my tattoos, Stephen Williamson has done all of mine and they are all amazing quality. They have a very clean and friendly atmosphere! I would recommend this place to anyone Read Less

I came in today to get some piercings (I got the Daith and double tongue piercings) and Luke was phenomenal. He was very informational and professional. He also made me feel very comfortable and calm during my whole experience. The entire staff was very friendly and helpful. They made my experience very personal, taking the time out to really talk to me about what I wanted. I felt that they genuinely enjoyed me being there and wanted to make sure that my experience was top of the line, and it definitely was. I will definitely be returning my patronage to Tattoo Charlie's! Read Less

I have been all around the country getting tattoos. The artists her are fantastic. Especially John and Devyn. Their work is the best in Lexington. I highly recommend them. The shop has a good vibe as well and everyone is super friendly. I had an excellent experience and I'm sure anyone who comes to this shop will as well. Read Less

If you ever need a great tattoo or piercing, you really need to come here! Stephen W did awesome tattoos on me, my husband and my daughter! Luke was very helpful with my other daughters piercings. We also met Laura, Whitney and Charlotta. Whitney answered some questions we had about piercings and is very knowledgeable! They all know their stuff there! We were treated great by everyone! Very professional but fun people to be around. Thank you all for a wonderful experience! You all are awesome.! Read Less

They're clean and great. Treat them with respect and you'll receive the same. Just remember they're always busy so try to be mindful of that. If they don't respond to emails or FB messages right away, just give them a call or walk in! I have two tattoos by Stephen W and I'm so pleased with them. I did tons of research before choosing my first tattoos and at this point I don't think I'd ever go anywhere else. Read Less

This is a very professional, reliable, and clean tat shop. I've been getting ink from Charlotta for over 20 years, all in the same location. Tattoo Charlie's earns one of the few 5 star reviews I've given. Read Less

Tattoo Charlie's, owner Buddy, and the artists/staff at Tattoo Charlie's of Lexington have been great to interact with during our rescue fundraiser. Good folks, doing a good thing, for a good cause! Buddy, thank you and may you be blessed for your generosity to Lexington Pit Crew. Lexington artists, beautiful work, and thank you for putting up with us rescue crazies this past week (and me for the past month). Devyn - thank you so much for bringing out into art on me, what my heart wants for rescued senior bullies. Lex T.C. - you rock! Read Less

I was very disappointed in this establishment today. I stopped in today to participate in the fundraiser occurring for the rescue upon driving two and a half hours for this. The fundraiser event stated that appointments were not needed unless for large or custom pieces and that the flash sheet items were plentifully available via walk-in. I will admit fault that prior to driving I should have called to make sure this was still the case. However, upon arrival I was told by the… front desk that there were no walk-ins for today and that I could come back another day. After stating the drive over I was told I could wait a half hour on the chance the next appointment cancelled. Not once was there a simple apology or even an inquiry to see what off the flash sheet I wanted. The simple designs would not haven taken long and I would have appreciated at least asking the artists if they may be able to squeeze this in. There was no effort on this part which to myself is very poor customer service. I would understand if this was a normal walk-in day however this was for a fundraiser that seemed to emphasize just coming in. In addition, if the walk-in policy was to be changed for the day it would have been appreciated and professional to state so on the fundraiser page. Еще Read Less

I've gotten my belly button & ears done here. I only had one piercing before finding Tattoo Charlie's & had trouble with infections. Nothing like this with my new piercings! The place is clean, staff is super friendly, body jewelry is very high quality & my piercings turned out awesome. Luke & Whitney are both great, answered all my questions, & kept me laughing when I was a bit nervous. I will be back for more piercings in the future here! � Read Less

I got a piercing from Whitney this weekend and she went above and beyond to make sure I had a good experience. She helped me pick out jewelry, gave me a thorough walk through, talked about all the aftercare. She was knowledgable about her craft and I felt super comfortable with the whole thing. I will definitely be coming back for any future piercings I may want. Read Less

I went for my first piercing besides my earlobes. It was a treat from my daughter for my birthday and we got the daith piercing from Whitney. She was amazing!!!! I would recommend anyone getting a piercing to go there because of how knowledgable she is plus she has an awesome personality!!!! Read Less

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED PIERCING ESTABLISHMENT!! Today was my second trip to Tattoo Charlies. I came in January & had my first Daith piercing done & today my second Daith piercing. Both done by the fabulous Whitney! The room was very clean & sterile. Whitney laid out everything & told me word for word & the process of how she was going to pierce my cartilage. So when everything was in place I took a deep breath in & as I blew it out she pushed through the cartilage & it was over…! Whitney also explained how to properly care for my piercing even telling me that it was a real open wound & needed to be treated as so! I've done exactly like shes said & I've had no issues with it! I originally got the Daith piercing for migraine & anxiety issues. I'm happy to report that it is working & I'm excited to see how much more the second one helps me. All else fails you've got some beautiful bling bling & a new piercing! LOL Thanks Whitney & Tattoo Charlies!! Еще Read Less

I believe that a piercing, like a tattoo, is a work of art on my body. Luke is a professional who takes his craft seriously and understands this concept. The staff was helpful and kind and their jewelry quality is top notch. Don't be fooled by old school decor. These folks will impress you with their experience. Read Less

Devyn did my very sentimental and special tattoo honoring my father who passed away Feb. 6th, 2017 from bone marrow cancer...She did such an amazing job, I couldn't be happier with the finished product...She was very attentive and professional, and even shed a tear with me...I love this place, and will never go anywhere else for my future tattoos...Thank you so much Devyn for being so amazeballs, and for doing such a great job on my favorite tattoo to date! You rock! Read Less

Got my lip pierced here. It was my first professional piercing and Luke was awesome. He was funny and made me feel comfortable but was extremely professional the whole time, he clearly loves his job and takes pride in his work. They put a big emphasis on cleanliness and making sure everything is sterile. You get what you pay for here and I would highly recommend this shop to everyone. Read Less

If you are going to get any piercing done, you MUST go to Whitney! She is super knowledgeable, very kind, and can put the most nervous person at ease (me�). She is a member of the Association of Professional Piercers, and it shows! This parlor has only the best metals and jewels and they are incredibly helpful in choosing what is best for you. Going to Whitney was the Best decision I could've made! Read Less

If you are going to get any piercing done, you MUST go to Whitney! She is super knowledgeable, very kind, and can put the most nervous person at ease (me ). She is a member of the Association of Professional Piercers, and it shows! This parlor has only the best metals and jewels and they are incredibly helpful in choosing what is best for you. Going to Whitney was the Best decision I could've made! Read Less

I came here for a septum piercing about 3 months ago, and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. It was my first piercing besides my earlobes, and Whitney made it a great experience. She got the piercing straight even though my nose is slightly crooked, she got the sizing of the jewelry just right, talked me through the piercing process, and made sure I had a thorough knowledge of how to take care of the piercing until it had healed. Worth every bit of time and money. Read Less

I have many tattoos covering most of my body and this place is awsome. The entire staff here is extremely professional and friendly. I have been pierced and inked by almost everyone here. The place is clean and sterile. Charlotta is my go to girl for ink. She even does cosmetic tats. She did my perminent eyeliner and I love it. I recommend her and this place to anyone who asks me about my ink. They also do piercings here. No one it too old to express themselves with art. Stop on by and see them for a consultation and a beautiful body enhancement. Read Less

Whitney T. is phenomenal! I came all the way from Louisville to be pierced by her from reviews and was left in pure bliss! I got an old and closed piercing (from 2011 done in Alabama) redone by her today and loved every second of the process. She's super knowledgeable and goes through the entire process with you, giving you all the options you didn't even know you could have. When my husband and I walked into her particular area, we saw that she is well accomplished, with several certificates, including a current one, from the Association of Professional Piercers. With the piercing, I received information on aftercare as well as sizing and where she would recommend I look once the piercing healed. I definitely plan to come back in the near future. Read Less

Whitney T. is phenomenal! I came all the way from Louisville to be pierced by her from reviews and was left in pure bliss! I got an old and closed piercing (from 2011 done in Alabama) redone by her today and loved every second of the process. She's super knowledgeable and goes through the entire process with you, giving you all the options you didn't even know you could have. When my husband and I walked into her particular area, we saw that she is well accomplished, with several certificates, including a current one, from the Association of Professional Piercers. With the piercing, I received information on aftercare as well as sizing and where she would recommend I look once the piercing healed. I definitely plan to come back in the near future. Read Less

Honestly, the best piercing experience I've ever had! Whitney was very considerate in making sure I was comfortable with every step of the process. She was super sweet and made sure I understood all the important information about aftercare. I was fortunate enough that I was able to have a tandem nipple piercing experience. It was quick and virtually painless. Plus, they do it free hand, so no pinching clamps. All in all, I am very pleased with my new additions, the experience, and will definitely make this my go to shop. Read Less

Not my first tattoo, but first time at Tattoo Charlie's and I was very pleased with my experience. Asa Castle did my tattoo and he very friendly and professional, and did an exceptional job on my tattoo. I look forward to going back :) Read Less

Got some work done at Tattoo Charlie's today --Whitney does my piercings. She's incredible!   If you're getting piercings done you definitely need to have Whitney do them. She is very passionate about her work and certified for safety, highest grade materials, outstanding workmanship and professionalism.   She's also really friendly and easy to work with.  Moreover, if you're not sure what will look best for you, her opinions have always exceeded anything that I could dream up in my head.  She's for sure excellent!Steven W did my tattoos. He is a true artist and magician! I have had 10 tattoos done by Steven... all absolutely excellent. There's really nothing more to say about Stephen's work other then "truly outstanding!" I have a friend who said that Steven W is "the best tattoo artist in town" I fully agree with the statement! He's been doing this work for an exceptionally long period of time so you don't have to be concerned about being worked on by somebody who is inexperienced.As for Tattoo Charlie's as a whole, it is exceptionally clean and well lit. They hold, and exceed, industry standards for health and safety.  All in all and in conclusion, no matter what you need done, Tattoo Charlie's is the place! Read Less

To start with, this was not my first choice for my piercing. I've had three other body piercings, and they were all from Underground Ink. I went there for my industrial piercing and was saddened to hear their piercer was not longer working there. The owner suggested I go to Tattoo Charlie's, and should see Whitney. He told me she was the best piercer in the city. When I arrived, I was a bit hesitant after seeing the building where it was located. But as I came in, all worries were vanquished when I saw how clean and professional the place looked inside. Now to the piercing, Whitney was extremely helpful in her recommendations of jewelry. I even ended up getting new jewelry for my nose piercing that I've had for many, many years!  Once the jewelry was sterilized and ready, I went back to get the piercing and she explained the location of where she was going to pierce and why. I felt totally at ease as she explained the steps through the piercing. All was great. Of course their was pain, as with any piercing, but when switching in the jewelry, it was quick and relatively painless (unlike some of my others). Afterward, the explanation of how to care for my new piercing was given briefly, but thorough enough. And was followed by more in depth instructions in a pamphlet. I have to say that if I ever get another piercing, it will definitely be by Whitney. And I highly recommend her to any one! Read Less

The best piercing experience I've ever had. I was a nervous wreck going to get my nose pierced and Lena was amazing. She talked me through everything that she was doing, answered all questions, and calmed my nerves. It was a bit pricey, but it included the piercing and all aftercare products that were needed. I would highly suggest Tattoo Charlie's. Read Less

This is the only place I get my ink. I strayed away once and was left highly unsatisfied. I have had nothing but good service and excellent tattoos from Tattoo Charlie's of Lexington. I have had work done by at least three of their artists and have nothing to complain about any of them. In fact, I'm going back tomorrow for more work! The place is clean, the people are great, and the product is even greater! Read Less

If you're looking for a piercer, Whitney is your gal. I've had my fair share of not-so-great piercings in the past, and I'm so happy to have found her! She uses high quality jewelry and gives thorough care instructions. No harsh chemicals here! Bonus: She's super nice and can make you feel totally comfortable, whether you're anxious or self-conscious. Read Less

I have many tattoos covering most of my body and this place is awsome.  The entire staff here is extremely professional and friendly.   The place is clean and sterile. Charlotta is my go to girl for ink.  She even does cosmetic tats.  She did my pertinent eyeliner and I love it.   I recommend her and this place to anyone who asks me about my ink.   They also do piercings here.  No one it too old to express themselves with art.  Stop on by and see them for a consultation and a beautiful body enhancement. Read Less

I've had two tattoos here, this last time with a group, and they are always clean and the staff is really nice and helpful.  Jared helped design the tattoos and was fun while he was doing them. He kept me laughing during the tattoo! The pricing was extremely reasonable. I would definitely recommend this place! Read Less

YA I KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT I SPELLED MY LITTLE BOYS NAME DOWN ON A PEICE OK PAPPER HE COME BACK AND SAID IS THE SPELLING RIGHT I SAID YA SO I GOT THE TATOO WENT HOME TOOK THE TAPE OFF AND HE MISS SPELLD THE NAME YOU CAN TELL THAT SOME OF THE PATTERON CAME OK FROM WHERE HE WAS WHIPING MY NECK SO BY THE TIME HE GOT TO THAT LETTER HE GUSSED WHAT LETTER SHOULD BE THERE AND PUT THE WROUNG ONE SO BE AWARE TATOO CHARLIE IS NO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 Read Less

If you like being ignored then this is the place for you cause went to get a tat and the girl there acted like she didn't want to waste her time and was rude and pretty sure there are alot better tattoo artist than her and way to run a shop and sure if there is a real tattoo Charlie then he must not care how they do business and will never go there again cause rather get a tat from an artist that cares about thier customers Read Less

This is the BEST and ONLY PLACE TO GO. I looked into all the others and none could compare. The place is well lit, open and very much like a doctor's office. I had JOSH the "TRAUMAHOUND" do my work and he REALLY went above and beyond so be sure to ask for him. JOSH is a true artist who took my idea and came up with a beyond my expectations tatoo. The rates the artists charge are really reasonable and YES THEY ALL DO CUSTOM WORK at GREAT RATES. I am very picky and asked alot of questions which were answered with no problems or issues. They are safe and clean with doctor office like studio areas. JOSH the "TRAUMAHOUND" made sure to take me through each step. They do things the way they should be done including all medical precautions during the whole process. JOSH has a steady hand and does the little things to make the whole process enjoyable. If it is going to be your first tattoo then be sure to ask for him. Josh will tell you if he can do what you want and if he cannot then he will refer you to someone who can. ALL of the artist are friendly and easy to work with. Call them and if they are not busy then they will be happy to work with you or they will call you back. Look all you want but this is THE PLACE to go in KENTUCKY for GREAT TATTOOS. Again ask for JOSH and you cannot go wrong. Read Less

JOSH the TRAUMAHOUND made sure to explain what he was doing and why. I took an idea to him and he was able to draw up a piece of art. He paid attention to even the smallest details including the wood grain of the handles in my meat cleaver. The place is surgical clean with lots of light and is very open and airy. They do CUSTOM work and have numerous designs on the walls so you can pick one out or they will create one for you. Their PRICES are very REASONABLE. YOU get great tattoos at not cheap tattoos. JOSH has a very soft hand and does the small things to make you more comfortable while he does his work. All of the artists were friendly and open. I will not go anywhere else. Read Less