I was visiting my daughter and she mentioned we should get matching tattoos. We ended up designing one that represents both of us. After researching every tattoo place I could and looking at all the pictures, once I saw Flex's work I had no doubt where we would go. We sent Flex our ideas and he artfully came up with the finished product. Flex made everything so easy. His work is undeniably the best. The place is not in the French Quarter which was an added bonus. I highly recommend Flex at Idle Hands! Read Less

I cannot believe how great of an experience we had here, guys, Flex is amazing!!! I have had my fair share of tattoos, but this was by far one of the best experiences and quality of work I've ever had. Flex listened to our ideas and put them into a beautiful piece of art! Not to mention he was entertaining and made us all feel very comfortable! We were there for 6 hours, for 3 fairly good size tattoos. When one of our group members kept wanting to change the placement he didn't get mad or irritated at all, like I've had other tattoo artist do in the past.  Flex is the man with the idle hand!!**Also very fair pricing! Read Less

Got my first tattoo with Shawn Dubin, today. It was an overall great experience. Was greeted in a friendly and helpful manner by Flex who quickly arranged an appointment for me. I was a walk-in so was pleasantly surprised they could take me. I went to lunch and they texted me to let me know they were ready for me. Upon arrival, I met Shawn, who was also very friendly and gracious. He made me feel at ease and made sure I liked the outline, size, and placement before starting the tattoo. Shawn also checked in with me as he worked. It was a small tattoo, but a first for me. I love it and am thankful I went to Idle Hands. It is a clean, professional, and welcoming shop. Thank you, Shawn and Flex! Read Less

Went to this Parlour with two of my friends to get matching tattoos. We are rarely ever together and were very excited to do this as we have been planning it for a while. It is a nerve wracking experience in itself, and even though it wasn't my first tattoo it was for one of my other friends. Needless to say, our tattoo artist, Josh, was very condescending throughout the whole process, which completely put a damper on this experience. I'm not one to usually post bad reviews, and I get people have bad days, but it was really disheartening. I would think in a heavily touristic city, you would expect someone to be more friendly. Read Less

Legitimately wondering if my friends and i were here when someone body snatched Flex and pretended to be him, because the guy we dealt with wasn't the professional, patient person everyone is describing. he was a pretty stereotypical "too cool" tattoo artist who acted entirely disinterested in us being in his shop. but we weren't there to make friends, my girl just wanted a tattoo so we paid little mind to his shitty engagement. he gave her the tattoo, which looked a little janky - which they often can at first - so he told her that he had a contact in Chicago (where we live) who could fix it if anything was wrong with it. it ended up fading significantly in one spot within days. when my friend tried to contact him to get the info of his friend, she never heard back. she made several attempts and didn't hear back until she threatened to give him a poor review. suddenly he had the time to get back to her. not surprisingly the contact he has in Chicago hasn't returned any of her attempts to contact him, so now she has a poorly done tattoo that she needs to pay to get fixed. it was a bummer of an experience. Read Less

Flex is phenomenal! Came to the shop with my mom to get tattoos and flex was so attentive, and helpful! His work is solid and clean, and he has a very clean and beautiful shop. Would highly recommend going to this shop to see Flex! Will be coming back again soon! Read Less

Me and my friend walked in here last minute, close to closing time. Flex was really cool about it though, even though we were a bit indecisive about what we wanted. I got a small tattoo and it is the neatest cleanest work. I had no pain or redness whatsoever. This is a great shop and Flex is really cool and we will definitely be back. Not my first tat but it was my first tattoo experience in New Orleans and it was amazing. Read Less

Y'all, I had the best afternoon with Flex at Idle Hands -- so patient, professional, and I feel great on day 2. His consultation process was engaging and he has an expert eye for placement. I know we will be back for another round the next time we are in NOLA. Make sure to reach out and get an appointment, I'm sure he'll be booked a bunch in 2019 Read Less

Where to begin? Well, Flex is so patient and really cares about his customers because even though I was a last minute walk-in he still did my arrow tattoo.  He is very well-versed in New Orleans too so if you have any touristy questions while you are getting tatted this is the place to go get your tattoo.  My hotel concierge recommended Idle Hands and I totally understand why. He made an arrow for me from a picture I sent him and it came out great, all the details and shading is what I needed. The location is very convenient from anywhere in New Orleans and the shop is well-lit, beautifully decorated and VERY VERY clean.In conclusion, get your tattoos here when you are in New Orleans.  I will be back on my next trip to get more tattoos. Read Less

Shawn is sweeeet!Came to NOLA for vacation and was thinking about getting a tattoo but wasn't sure where with so many shops around. This place was one of the few that welcome walk-ins. Two gentlemen at this shop were both very welcoming and super nice! I had a quick little draw up and Shawn was very generous about the size and placement of it. Both guys here were super friendly and I left very happy with my whole experience with Shawn, especially! Thank you so much Shawn! He made me very comfortable and trusted him easily with inking me. 10/10 would recommend!! Go Saints! Read Less

You know how you think you've had good service somewhere, then go elsewhere and think, "Ohhh, so that's how it's really supposed to be?" That was my experience at Idle Hands. I contacted Flex about a small tattoo I wanted during our most recent trip to the city. He was prompt with his reply and we communicated by text about an appointment time. When I arrived, Flex welcomed me, reviewed the design I wanted, colors, and placement- giving me suggestions and his professional opinion. He made sure I was okay with the size and after decreasing it three times, I was ready to go...or so I thought. He had placed the stencil on my ankle, his station was set up, and that's when I decided to go smaller again. I kept apologizing, but Flex never made it seem like I was being an inconvenience or a wimp. Once Flex got started, he kept the conversation going with me and my husband, but made sure I was doing okay through the whole process. I'm really pleased with how my tattoo came out, the shop is super clean, and the price was incredibly reasonable. There are a lot of tattoo shops in NOLA. I've gotten a tattoo from one myself and there's even quite a few up and down Magazine. Do yourself a favor and check out Idle Hands. The relaxed and friendly atmosphere, location, reasonable prices, and great quality make it the perfect place. You won't be disappointed! Read Less

When planning a recent trip to New Orleans, some of my girlfriends and I decided to get tattoos.  One of my friends contacted Idle Hands, along with another tattoo parlor, and not only was Flex's quote more reasonable, but my friend said he was more responsive and polite with his texts.  So we made an appointment!We ended up with more people than our appointment was for, and Flex was very accommodating.  Our tattoos all had fine details, and he did such a great job.  All 6 came out very clean and precise, and we are all in love!  Flex, I'm sorry that our loud and silly group of ladies completely took over your shop for a couple of hours, but thank you for being sweet and professional, and for giving us all a great experience! Read Less

Flex is my guy! I stoped by to look around and get an idea if he had time for a walk in tattoo. He got me set up and started 30mins later and it was worth it! His line work is great and shadow work is clean and i will definitely recommend him to any and everyone! Read Less

We were in town on vacation so stopping in to Idle Hands was basically spur of the moment.   The piece I had done was an idea I had been bouncing around for a couple years, but I'm not an artist shop so between my crappy sketch and my written explanation, Flex was able to convert my idea into reality.  The shop was well air conditioned and clean.  Flex made sure I wasn't going to pass out or anything several times.  I absolutely would get work here again the next time I need more pain and beautiful art in my life. Read Less

My daughter just started at Tulane and wanted her first tattoo.  We decided to make it a father-daughter bonding experience - first one for both of us (and my last, but Flex says they're like potato chips - once you have one you can't stop - we'll see).  I was going to fly in to join her (we're from Dallas) so we independently did some research on Yelp and both came up with Idle Hands as our favorite. Fate.I started texting Flex some ideas and he was really good about helping me understand what might look good graphically may not translate to a viable tattoo design.  Very patient.We showed up and Flex took my daughter and Shawn took me.  First, we started with some mutual appreciation over Ash vs Evil Dead and Rick and Morty.  Hilarious.  I was debating going with a rib location since I'd heard it was super painful.  After talking with Shawn, I decided to go for it. It could have been super uncomfortable but Shawn kept me entertained and had a super light touch.  My daughter had recently accompanied one of her friends to a different tattoo shop and she kept on commenting on how much nicer and cleaner Idle Hands was.We are both super happy with how the designs turned out. They translated what we had provided perfectly and enhanced them, particularly the tree design on my daughter's. Pain and recovery have been surprisingly easy.  Can't recommend them highly enough.  Don't know that I'll reach for another potato chip again but if I do, I know where I'm going. Read Less

I've gotten ink from New York to New Orleans and a few places in between, and Flex is by far the most talented tattooist I've come across. He's honest, humble, his work is exact, and he delivers on every expectation. His only problem is he's not getting rid of me as long as I have blank skin on my body. : ) Read Less

Flex was my tattoo artist, also the owner. He did a super awesome job on my tattoo. I gave him a specific sketch and he was so accommodating. I felt really comfortable for my first bigger tattoo. He was constantly checking on me and was just so nice. I'm so happy with my tattoo  he's willing to do all sorts of styles and I'm sure he'll do a great job! Read Less

I'm here on a vacation and was hoping I could get a tattoo while here. I walked in and spent maybe an hour there. Hands down out of all the tattoos I have Shawn has been the best. So friendly and professional. Read Less

I’m still sitting in this shop and couldn’t wait to write a review! Holy cow Shawn is INCREDIBLE! My new wife and I walked into this shop (we are currently on our honeymoon) today for me to get a tattoo and from start to finish, our experience was impeccable. Shawn was kind, polite, professional and hilarious. Not only did we BOTH come away with amazing tattoos, but we had a really good time! I’d rate more than five stars if possible. Read Less

I got my very first tattoo at Idle Hands. I bugged Shawn for two months straight about my tattoo and he was so tolerant and amazing. I was so nervous about everything, especially when I actually came in for my tattoo. He was so professional and friendly. He put me right at ease. When I saw the final drawing he had done, I was so excited to get going. He's such a talented artist. I told him it was my first tattoo and he said, "okay, I'm just going to do a small line so you know what to expect." He drew the small line and then said, "We can take it as slow as you want." He had a nice conversation with me and my friends while he was tattooing and I couldn't have wished for a better experience. Price was SUPER reasonable and I was more than happy to pay it for the awesome experience. Read Less

I had a really amazing experience from start to finish today. After reaching out via the website and getting a very quick response, I walked into the shop about two weeks ago with a drawing in hand, and Flex offered me immediate and honest advice about the piece that I wanted, which I gladly took (he's the professional artist here, after all). Scheduling an appointment was quick and easy, and in the time between Flex communicated regularly about the design. He polished up my initial drawing and made it so much better than I thought possible, to say nothing of the actual tattoo, which blew my mind. Incredibly reasonably priced as well, considering the amazing quality! I couldn't be happier, and I will definitely be back - hopefully soon! Read Less

If I could give more stars, I would! My sister and I booked in with Shawn for our visit to New Orleans for similar tattoos after a lot of online research. Shawn was wonderfully approachable and completely grasped what we had in mind and far exceeded our expectations!! Very professional with the right twist of sarcasm and humor when you're spending hours with the artist, and a super gentle technique (it still, of course, is rather uncomfortable on the ribs and sensitive areas). The outlining was completed in no time and perfectly clean, and the shading executed with excellent precision to create more depth in our pieces that I thought possible! Thank you so much! If I had more time in town I would be definitely getting another piece done! Read Less

New Orleans is my favorite city to visit, and my upcoming trip would be my 5th so I knew I had to do something spectacular. I researched for months... looking at every artists portfolio, reviews, locations, etc. When I came across Idle Hands and artist Flex, I knew I found my artist and shop. We talked almost a month before going over my design, then finally setting an appointment. He was easy to communicate with, and even checked in a few days before my appointment to make sure we were all set! When I met Flex he was beyond nice, and made me feel welcome. I was by myself and a little nervous, but that quickly went away once talking with him. He made my experience perfect, and I was BEYOND ecstatic with my tattoo. He took his time and really made it fantastic. I couldn't be more happier! Thanks Flex. Read Less

When my friend the birthday girl wants spontaneous tattoos that what she gets! We found this place on yelp and checked out all the wonderful art work so we decided to head down and check it out. This place is clean and the staff and artists are really cool. We quickly got set up with Shawn Dubin and had the best experience! I would go back again if I was in the area and would definitely recommend him and this place to any one of my friends or family. Read Less

I got some Amazing work done by Flex who was very clean and professional. I talked to him and his partner via email for months to set up the designs and placements. Once we got to the shop we were not disappointed. Their job was impeccable. My husband and I are very satisfied with the end results. Read Less

This is by far the best tattoo experience that I have ever had. My friend and I made an appointment to get tattoos, and while we were there my husband (who was with us) decided to get one too. Flex was awesome, and helped him out as soon as he finished mine and my friends. The conversation was great the entire three hours that we were there. Good music, and all around just a super comfortable environment. Will definitely be stopping back in the next time we are in NOLA! Read Less

Two sisters of mine and our niece had booked an appointment with another shop on Magazine Street. Our artist canceled on us an hour before our appointment. Getting Sister tattoos was something we had wanted to do on this trip. We contacted Flex at Idle Hands and he got us in. He gave us each great tattoos and made us feel very welcome and comfortable. The prices were very reasonable. We all love our Sister tattoos and will definitely try to book with Flex next time we are in NO. Read Less

Flex and Shawn were both absolutely amazing! My friend and I had been planning our tattoo trip for a while and Flex handled everything via email and the designs they both drew up were exactly what we wanted. Couldn't have been more impressed with our final result! Very clean, laid back environment. Highly highly recommend!! Read Less

If you're in NOLA, Idle Hands is a must. Flex and Shawn are two extremely skilled artists who promote a welcoming and positive experience. Both are easy going and make sure their clients leave NOLA with a piece that will last a lifetime. This shop is extremely easy to book with and they're ready to tattoo as soon as you walk in the door. If you're looking for a shop with the true New Orleans feel, this is the place. Choose Idle Hands and you'll be in good hands. Read Less

Shawn and Flex were fantastic!!! We walked in without appointments and they fit us in and had their beautiful art completed within an hour and a half! It was my 1st tattoo so I was a little nervous, but Shawn really did excellent work and I loved the entire experience! I'll definitely be back! Read Less

Extremely clean and a great atmosphere! Very artistic and very skilled! Flex and Shawn were both real laid back and took the time to make sure we were happy with what we were getting. We will definitely be back! Read Less

What an amazing experience! Shawn took my very simple tattoo idea and developed into this amazing almost photo like tattoo, and I was a walk in! That's talent! Very professional, very nice, extremely talented. It turned out more amazing than I could have ever imagined and if I lived in NOLA I would absolutely make it a regular thing. Read Less

What an amazing experience! Shawn took my very simple tattoo idea and developed into this amazing almost photo like tattoo, and I was a walk in! That's talent! Very professional, very nice, extremely talented. It turned out more amazing than I could have ever imagined and if I lived in NOLA I would absolutely make it a regular thing. Read Less

I highly recommend this place. Friendly staff, clean shop, and they were able to accommodate walk-ins. Jody was awesome and got the designs just right. Stop by and get you a permanent souvenir from NOLA if you're visiting. � Read Less

I live in WV & was coming down to NOLA for a wedding. I had planned on getting a tattoo while I was there, but couldn't get an appt. with my usual artist. Got in touch with Shawn & told him my idea. He was great & very friendly. When I arrived, he was very welcoming and had done a beautiful drawing. I am in love with my Eloise tattoo. I will definitely go back a visit him again when I'm in NOLA next. Read Less

Couldn't have asked for a better first tattoo experience! Flex made great suggestions that improved my idea and was patient and easy to work with. He's an amazing artist and does beautiful work. The parlour atmosphere is laid back and comfortable. Although I didn't have anything done by Shawn, I noticed he was equally great with several clients who came in as a group. I can't imagine how anyone could go wrong in going to the artists at Idle Hands in NOLA. Read Less

If you're looking for a spot to get a tattoo in NOLA, go here! Flex, the owner & the artist who did my tattoo, is super talented, professional, and chill. Great vibes in the shop and will definitely be back next time I'm in the area! Read Less

My sister, boyfriend and I walked in after an awkward visit at another well known shop on the same street. From the minute we walked in, Shawn was all smiles and made us feel welcome! We all walked out of there with personalized tattoos we've been wanting for a long time. It was one of the most pleasant experiences I've ever had at a tattoo shop, and my sister's very first. If we didn't live out of state, this would be our go-to spot. Highly recommend! Read Less

Absolutely visit this shop. Flex was able to fit us in same day and was as nice, helpful and non-judgemental as they come. (You just know sometimes when an artist is judging your choice of tattoo)The best part.. Flex is so light handed I barely felt it. My tattoo peeled like a sunburn rather than scabbing and still looks as great as it did when I got it weeks ago! Read Less

Flex did an awesome job on my husbands and my tattoos. He also did our buddies tattoo as well. He was personable, professional and did great work for a reasonable price. If we lived in New Orleans, I would go again to get tattooed at idle hands. Highly recommend them. Read Less

Thank you Flex for the 2 day tattoo you slapped on my sons arm. Out of the whole week of a Caribbean Cruise and sightseeing in New Orleans. His most memorable part of this holiday vacation was the tattoo guy!! Lol!! Thanks for the t-shirt and for going out of your way to put that smile on him. Read Less

My coworker recommended Flex and I'm glad she did. He was very professional and polite, always checking to see that his work was coming out right. I had a font picked out for my quote but it just didn't look right and he helped me in picking out a better one. I will definitely be going back to another tattoo! Read Less

I walked in on a whim yesterday to get an opinion on finishing a piece another artist had started. The shop is laid back and immaculate. Flex was polite and down to earth, and best of all, non-judgemental. We talked through the design and I set an appointment for the next day.The appointment went well. Flex has a light touch, a good eye, and a Saint's patience. He was nice and he listened. I had very little pain and minimal bleeding. I was able to talk the entire time he was working. It felt like a visit with a friend rather than a long tattoo session. I am really happy with the re-worked piece and the pricing. I would absolutely recommend this shop. Read Less

a beautiful little shop with super great, kind and professional artists. my boyfriend only had a vague idea of what he wanted to get and flex was able to create a tattoo he is absolutely thrilled with. while i was so excited to find that shawn was just the right guy to do my edward gorey inspired tat. i will send anyone i know looking to get inked while in nola their way! Read Less

I was referred to Flex at Idle Hands by a friend from home in Texas. I contacted Flex several weeks before our arrival in New Orleans. He was prompt and professional. When we arrived, he had our design ready to go. This was our first tattoo and we weren't sure what to expect. Flex was easy going and put us at ease right away. He also suggested some great local places to eat! Read Less

I decided yesterday to get a tattoo while on my vacation. I messaged the shop through yelp and got a response right away. They got me in today and within an hour we had designed my tattoo and I was all done. I am very pleased with it! Read Less

I was visiting New Orleans with a group of friends and we all wanted to get tattooed to commemorate our trip. I put down a deposit for 6 people with Flex a few weeks before the trip. When we got to Nola two more people wanted to get tattooed, I was a bit hesitant to ask since it was so last minute but Flex added them on no problem. Only a couple of us had references for what we wanted so he drew up the others tattoos once we got there. He was truly amazing! He was fun, accommodating, and got 8 of us in and out in a little less than 5 hours. He did an awesome job and we're all so happy with our tattoos. I highly recommend this shop and Flex and will definitely be returning for another tattoo when I visit again. Read Less

I was visiting New Orleans recently and wanted to get a new tattoo with my daughter and we're so glad we happened to choose Idle Hands. Flex is super professional and is really nice guy, we were there for several hours ,three of us getting tattoos ,and couldn't have had a better experience. The shop is super clean and very comfortable. Flex is an amazing artist and improved my rough drawing and made it perfect!!!! I don't think I'll ever go anywhere else, thank you so much Flex Read Less

I had a tattoo of my dog done by Flex on Saturday for my birthday, he was professional and very welcoming he made me feel at ease and did't have that typical shop attitude some places have, he took the time to make sure I was happy with the piece and gave me a fair price he was great through out the whole process. The shop was very clean and both artists made me feel welcome I would highly recommend Idle hands for your next tattoo! Thanks again Flex I love my new tat! I will be back next visit to Nola Read Less

I've seen Shawn here twice in the past month. This guy is awesome! He has a great talent for different fonts, (both cursive in my case) and is quick and efficient. I love both of my new tats like crazy. The salon is very clean and every person I have met who has come here has left happy. (I got Shawn to read the entire JD Salinger short story that one of my more recent tattoos was about). Highly, highly, highly recommend this place! Read Less

Went here for my second tattoo. Tried to get a spot the previous day because I was taking a day trip to NOLA and wasn't spending the night but the attempts for an appointment were unsuccessful. The day of me being in NOLA I called and Shawn fit me in, did my tattoo in 20 minutes, and undershot the original price he was going to charge me. On top of all that, minimal bleeding, good quality, and complete satisfaction. Great place to go for a tattoo. Read Less

I really can't say enough good things about this shop! I've gotten 3 tattoos done here now and I love it! I've gotten ink in CA, Vegas, New England and here. This is hands down the best. Shawn does excellent and detailed work. I've watched others get work done while I got mine done and the level of detail and customer service is fantastic. I'll bring my wife here for her first tattoo. If you've never had one and are considering it but nervous, this would be the place to go. Clean, friendly, couple-friendly and talented. You can't go wrong! Read Less

I'm not quite sure what happened to all of the reviews here, but the positive reviews were why I chose this place as my first ink experience in New Orleans. Flex is amazing. Super patient, takes his time with each client, and is easy to talk to as everything is happening. He has a great eye, and he improved upon a design for me that I'd already seen done on someone else. And let me tell you, mine is better. My friend and I went together, for different projects, and one at a time we had our quality time getting work done. I really appreciated Flex'a friendliness, professionalism and honesty, creative license, and care. It wasn't just about inflicting discomfort on someone or collecting money. He cared about the outcome and let me know the kinds of tattoos he refused because of quality issues. I really appreciated his level of service. Check Flex out the first chance you get. Read Less

This place is always very professional and friendly when I go in. Flex was very gentle. Best tattoo experience I've had. The only place I'll go to now. I was afraid they were gone but Flex took over and changed the name to Idle Hands Tattoo Parlour. Read Less

My mom and I went to get a tattoo. When we came in the woman with the accent was amazingly helpful (and the tattoo she was working on was awesome), but Flex was going to do the tattoos. There was some confusion about when we were supposed to come back to have them done, so when we came back early Flex was very defensive when we asked how much longer he thought it would be. We tried to explain that it was our fault (we hadn't planned our trip out there very well) and we understand that good tattoos take time, but Flex was very rude. We eventually ran out of time and had to leave and he copped a big attitude about us rushing his work. Overall, there was just poor communication. After all of the great reviews I've seen about them, I'm sad to write this one, but I was really disappointed about our visit there. Read Less

I came in very nervous to get a tattoo and they were so helpful and friendly. I got an amazing deal . Other shops wanted to charge me double for what i wanted but Flex was so cool and got me exactly what i wanted . I would recommend this place to everyone!! Its nice to know that there are good tattooists that don't have a big head and are really passionate about what they do!!! thx!!!! Read Less