if you're getting a piercing, ALWAYS come here. Joe Juliano is GREAT with piercings. i got a nostril piercing at this cheap place in the mall- worst regret of my lifetime. it got all enflamed and irritated, and i started to develop a little keloid bump. i tried everything to get it off, and noting seemed to work. it kept coming back. i switched it out for a different nose ring from the same piercing place that i had gotten the piercing, and it got even worse. i decided to walk into Boston Tattoo Company, and i explained my situation to him. he told me that it could be because of the metal that the ring itself was made of, and that places in malls buy cheap metal in bulk and sell it for a higher price. i bought a new nose ring here, and he brought me upstairs and he put it in for me. he also told me what i could do to make the keloid go down. it's been two days, and the difference is HUGE. thank you so much joe! Read Less

It's kind unprofessional to not call someone that has booked a tattoo session that was in fact cancelled due to the artist quitting. I hadda find out thru other means my already rescheduled appointment was cancelled from the snowstorm. On top of that they couldn't find my information when I came in. I will say they atleast gave me my deposit back. This was going to be my 2nd time getting ink here. Overallgood place but i doubt ill ever comeback... Read Less

Disappointed. I made an appointment with Andy, the consultation and tattoo came out awful. I regret trusting him to do my tattoo, I read all reviews and thought I'm making the right decision. Walking in and his attitude was not professional, not helpful, no suggestions or professional opinion was given. I just thought it was an artists attitude. Until the tattoo was done, got home, remove the bandage and notice my tattoo wasn't even aligned. Now I need to pay more to get it fixed. I was also told by another tattoo artist that the machine was ran too fast, and forcing too much ink into my skin. I won't and don't recommend anyone going here unless you want to try another tattoo artist.  The TL is clearly crooked and the I is awkwardly tilted? Awful, just ugly tattoo. Read Less

One of the best if not the best shops in Boston! The artists are super friendly and informative! I went in Sept. on a whim to get my nostril pierced and was pierced by Joseph Juliano, (IG PIERCERJOE)and he was great! He talked me through the procedure, never left me in the dark with what to expect while he pierced. I felt very comfortable and safe asking questions and throughout the process. I went back yesterday so someone could check my piercing to make sure it was healing properly, that's another thing not many places will include and encourage you go in and have them check your piercing as it heals, they are so welcoming! Yesterday I saw Kio (IG KIO_piercer) and although new to the location was so welcoming, helpful and accommodating to my needs and questions. He was VERY knowledgeable! He gave me options for my solutions and makes sure I was comfortable all around. Even asked me before I left if there was anything else I wanted to discuss, even after I paid! Great customer service all around. This location is phenomenal! Great vibes, great talented artist and all around great culture of knowledge!! Read Less

This is such a nightmare . I got my belly button pierced here about 5 months ago . The piercing came off as , they didn't do it deep enough . After all this , I got a scar and bump to heal . This sucks and they did charge me $200 for such worse job . Never go for a piercing . Read Less

I came in super confused bout what I wanted , the girl at the counter was SUPER helpful and in 45 minutes i had a new tattoo which was amazing. I wouldn't recommend anyone to do this for large pieces I literally just got 4 letters lol Read Less

This is for you East!I had an exceptional experience and I am in love with my new tattoo. It is perfect. It makes me so happy. It is crisp and exactly what I wanted.It is also already healing with zero issue. The quality is obvious. Excellent staff, facilities, services. Straightforward, honest, very passionate about their work and their desire to give you exactly what you want.I appreciate the non intimidating environment. Very comfortable.And fun conversation! Read Less

Wow, I get it, 8 o'clock and you close at 9....... But Jesus, we came here all the way from California on recommendation from a friend, and you couldn't even show us jewelry?? Never would I give these folks my money, pretentious and literally couldn't be bothered with us. Anything else I would just sound bitter, hope you figure it out. Read Less

Came here today for a tattoo after hearing great things about it. Mike was absolutely phenomenal. He made the process easy and comfortable. He was great to talk to and he did great work. I will be back! Read Less

I am so happy! I have wanted a tattoo for weeks, and while on Spring Break, I finally decided to get one! I did my research and knew I wanted to get my tattoo done at Boston Tattoo Company because of how talented the artists portfolios were. I didn't make an appointment, I just walked in around 1:00 and Irina greeted me at the door immediately. I told her my ideas and Raff was able to fit me in before his afternoon client. Raff was wonderful! He was very accommodating, polite, and had an excellent taste in music. He made me feel comfortable the entire time and made sure the tattoo was exactly what I wanted. I never felt rushed or pressured. Even though I have other tattoos, Raff was great at talking me through the process and making sure I was comfortable. I would recommend him to anyone, and I would recommend Boston Tattoo Company to anyone! Definitely coming back for my next tattoo! :) Read Less

Alicia Thomas rocks. Amazing artist. Patient, caring communicator. Great listener. What more can you ask for? I recently had my first tattoo done -the whole experience was great. I already have my next appointment booked. Read Less

Came here tonight to get my girlfriend some ear piercings. The staff was very friendly and shop seemed to be very sanitary. Girlfriend said the piercer went so fast it didn't even really have time to hurt. He was great at both understanding what she wanted and explaining to her what he was going to do next before he did it. Only issue we had was with picking out jewelry, there wasn't a huge selection of hoop earrings to choose from, however there were quite a bit of stud choices. Read Less

I drove 7 hours to have my tattoo done here because I was so impressed by some of the pictures I saw online but I have to say I was not pleased with the result. The artist I saw was named Kayleigh and she was very slow to respond and non-communicative over email. Then when I arrived she seemed very disinterested in me, the design and the tattoo. She seemed to rush through the tattoo itself and didn't have much consideration for what I requested. The resulting tattoo wasn't terrible by any means but it really wasn't what I was looking for because she didn't communicate and was somewhat sloppy. I'm sure she is a very talented artist but when it comes down to it artists need to put their full effort into each and every tattoo because they are incredibly meaningful to the people that are receiving them even if its no big deal to the artist. Ultimately I had my tattoo overhauled at a different tattoo parlor that was willing to listen to me. Read Less

Joe was absolutely incredible! I was very nervous and had a lot of questions about potential scarring but he was very knowledgeable and made me feel better. I expected the nose piercing to hurt but Joe had it done so fast I didn't have time to feel a pinch! The piercing room was extremely sanitary and the whole process could not have been more professional. So happy! Read Less

I was a little hesitant about going here to get a piercing because of some of the reviews, but I had a really great experience. I like that you can walk in and don't need an appointment. The workers were really nice and answered all my questions, but you do have to speak up if you have questions. The only downside was that the selection of earrings was limited, but this was because a new store recently opened and they split up the merchandise between this one and the new one. I had Joe, he was nice, professional, and the piercing was quick and painless. Read Less

The tattoo guy "East Estrada" was RUDE and clear had NO TALENT - Did not listen any of my requests and made my tattoo a digusting BLOB - Everyone I show the tattoo are surprised how BAD it is! Thanks for NOTHING! Read Less

Sam the receptionist was very welcoming, and so helpful when it came to fonts and design. Let us take our time, and was very informative about the whole process.. East was our tattoo artist and he ROCKED!!! Not only did our tattoos come out better than we expected, but he had me laughing the entire time. All around great and positive experience. I will get all future tattoos here. Read Less

I've received a couple tattoos here and I'll tell you, the artists are great. They seem like a close knit family, all of the artists and piercers seem to get along and joke around in good spirits. The place has a new age vibe but looks like what you'd see featured in an INK'd magazine. My artist of choice is East, but Andys a cool dude and looking through all of the work there everyone seems able to do some great custom work.... or the same ol' infinity tattoo that everyone seems to want nowadays. Check them out, swing by their location in Medford. I remember the Painted Bird and I'll always remember and visit Boston Tattoo. Read Less

I came just only to get my new piercing. The stuffs are really friendly. They gave me more advice on how to take care of my piercing, how long does it take to heal and many more. For the price is quite expensive for me, but for my experience was absolutely great!! Read Less

Absolutely love this place! Desk people are super nice. You're never rushed. I get stuff done by Nick and he is an amazing artist. Takes his time to make sure its what you want and that it comes out perfectly. Definitely would recommend (and have). Read Less

Went here about three weeks ago for my very first tattoo! Andy, my tattoo artist worked really closely with me to personalize my tattoo, and relax me/ keep me calm . When my friends and I visited the shop to make an appointment, we were greeted warmly and staff helped us while we explained what designs we wanted. The shop is very clean and tidy, they use clean needles that they open in front of you and have single use ink pots. This place is awesome and I can't wait to go back for more tattoos. It's a $60 minimum, they do take walk ins but you're better off making an appointment if your design is complex. Read Less

I went in about four days ago to get my nipples pierced. I loved the check-in process on the iPad, saved a ton of time. I met the piercer Brian who took his time setting up upstairs while I looked around and at jewelry. After picking my bars and paying for the service (total=$200, piercing service was only $60), I followed him upstairs where he had me in a very clean room. He had me lie down to pierce them which I found interesting, since the first time I had them done in GA, I was sitting up and damn near passed out. The piercings barely hurt! He was quick and thorough! I love them! Read Less

My friend and I came here to get our nipples pierced. It felt very clean and professional. It honestly was no where near as painful as I expected, and we were in an out in like 15 mins titty good as new. Joe did our piercings and he answered all our questions. He seemed a little cold and potentially judged us for being a lil basic but it didn't hurt too much and hopefully it will heal up great! Read Less

Booked an appointment with Alicia back in April and yesterday was finally the day for it! She designed a personal tattoo for me.. it was a portrait of my dog's face that recently passed away.. looks exactly like him, but with a slight twist using her geometric style. She put a mandala around him, using dotwork as well. Its so beautiful and I couldn't be happier. Now I get to see his face on my leg everyday since I no longer get to actually see him. Alicia was very nice and made conversation with me throughout the appointment and I felt very comfortable there. The other 2 artists I encountered were also very friendly. Definitely a great environment and amazing work. I will be back!! Read Less

tldr: excellent talent, communication, and customer service. go see nick!Went in yesterday for my first tattoo! Nick did a fantastic job. The place was clean and he was efficient and very talented. I was nervous about the price but when I asked he told me upfront what it would cost and it was reasonable af! It's a simple outline about 4.5 in long and it cost me $120 + tip (including the $50 downpayment).I made the appointment the day before and they were so friendly and accommodating.It hurt Like A B-word but he did it in small increments and said I could take a break if I needed. Felt like many bee stings but we chatted a bit and it got my mind off it and it was done after about 30 min! Would definitely recommend, Thank you Nick!! Read Less

I had wanted a piercing for quite some time, and I spotted Boston Tattoo Company when I was hanging out with my friends. They encouraged me to act on this desire so I went in, not fully intending to do it. I was helped by Joe immediately and he was so nice that I decided why not! The piercing was quick and easy and I was definitely very nervous but Joe was really good at helping calm me down. Encouraged me to take deep breaths and relax. He was super nice about it all. It was a really great, quick, and friendly experience, and I'm so happy! Read Less

I had to put down a deposit and go through a consult with these clowns in order to schedule my tattoo. Then the artist, Jimmy Snaz, ghosted me without a word. Literally no-showed.Apparently he was in some convention in New Hampshire. What was suggested that I do? "drive to New Hampshire, its only an hour away." "or we can reschedule for his day off. he swears he'll actually make it this time." These guys are clowns. if you are also a clown, then this is your spot. They at le⋯⋯ast refunded my deposit. so I won't accuse them of being thieves, no matter what anyone else says, although I should have picked up on the red flags sooner. You've been warned, folks. I talked to the owner of Redemption Tattoo in Porter Square. He said this would not fly in his business. So why does it fly at Boston Tattoo Company? Are they such trash? Will management apologize? do they give 2 shiz? tune in, folks. I'll let you know how trash this place is. Don't think it will happen to you? Don't pay their deposits. If they dgaf, why should you? i've gotten 3 tattoos done by them in the past, and instead of feeling love, i feel nothing but disrespect. Maybe their artist is so good that they don't care about reviews or my upcoming blog posts about my experience with them. No prob. 查看更多 Read Less

I got my cartilage pierced here in April. They were really professional. It was a little busy, but I didn't mind waiting. The piercer also told me exactly what to buy to clean my piercing and where to find it as well. Read Less

Place is great. Great customer service, immediately greeted when walked in, was able to make an appointment fast and easy.. all artists willing to work with you... nick did my Tattoo and made it come out better than I imagined it... will def be going to get the rest of my work done there!!! Read Less

One of the best experiences I've had and definitely my favorite tattoo thus far!! I was originally just accompanying my girlfriend while she had some color added to an old tattoo, but fortunately for me a wonderful artist, Grace, was available for a walk in appointment. She designed an amazing traditional owl with a few twists, fit it to my shoulder perfectly, inked me up with precision and elegance, had a bunch of laughs and sang wacky folk punk, exchanged cute cat photos, and by far exceeded my expectations for a last minute addition. The shop was super clean, but still had great flash art and charm, the staff was helpful, attentive and friendly and I will definitely be back for more. Big thank you to "Swerls", Grace, and Boston Tattoo Company!! Read Less

I've wanted a nautical watercolor tattoo for awhile now. After doing a bit of research while staying in Boston for the week, I came across this nice little place in Somerville. I called as soon as they opened and asked if I could squeeze in an appointment with Adriana Malliaros. The staff was super accommodating and didn't make me feel like I was too last-minute at all or anything. After going over a general idea of what I wanted over the phone, Adriana explained that she'd come up with a few ideas while I was en route and we discussed back and forth what would work best in person. She quickly sketched out the design in a matter of minutes while I filled out a digital waiver/terms form on the nearby Ipad, followed by a detailed talk about aftercare (they give written directions when you leave but its always good to cover it in person in case you have any questions) and soon after that it was down to business!The process took roughly 2 hours and was done on my spine. Adriana graciously kept me distracted from the pain (which was annoyingly stingy but not unbearable), with small talk, stories, and jokes. I couldn't have asked for a better experience for my first tattoo and hope to have more done by Adriana in the future. Read Less

Great experience! exceptional customer service, very professional! I have been there 3 times and every time it's been great. The first time I got my piercings, the second was some months later because I had a doubt abaut my piercing and they gave me an excellent treatment. and the last one was because I needed to remove my jewerly for medical reasons and when I tried to put it on again I couldn't, so again they saved me by putting it again so carefully. So I'm so glad and I'm looking for another piercing and it is undoubtedly gonna be with them! Read Less

The place looked neat and had all the vibes of a tattoo shop. As soon as I walked in I was greeted by someone from behind the desk, there was an artist sitting there as well. "Hello" Although I had been impressed by the somewhat warm welcome, shortly after, they both made it seem like they were doing me a great favor by answering me any question. They did not seem interested in making me feel welcome or wanted there. All their answers were short and blunt. They would not loo⋯⋯k at me during our interaction. The impression I had was that they were not open for business. The they received a phone call, and after the gentleman hung up the phone, the artist lady began to poke fun at the person who had called - possibly a customer who had questions about how to care for the newly done tattoo. I saw a few samples of the artists and I was not impressed by their art. When I faced some difficulty looking through their portfolios on an Ipad set up by the reception - that's pretty neat - no one moved a muscle to assist. Over the years I have visited dozens of tattoo shops around the world. Every artist that has tattooed me - in Boston, Paris, Perth, Durban, Moscow, Catalunia, etc - has been great and seemed to appreciate my business. Sadly this was not the case for this parlor. Based on that experience, I would definitely not come back or recommend it. B 查看更多 Read Less

I got my tattoo with Alicia on Saturday, and I literally can't say enough about how amazing it is! The tattoo is exactly what I wanted, Alicia was awesome about making a peice that I found my own, and now I have her gorgeous art on me!Read Less

I had a wonderful experience at The Boston Tattoo Company. My artist, Alicia Thomas, was very responsive when I initially reached out to her for two small arm pieces I was interested in getting done. I e-mailed her the concepts and she drew them out for me, and despite both our busy schedules we finally set up appointment. She is just as nice in person! I was there for two hours and she completed both of my tattoos. I couldn't be happier with them! I 100% recommend this tattoo shop and specifically Alicia Thomas. I can't wait to for her to finish my sleeve! Read Less

Rude, rude and did I mention RUDE!? I came in to look at their nose rings and possibly purchase one as mine fell down the drain. Left work on my break because they are right down the street. I walk in and ask to see their nose rings in which I was informed their piercer is not in the building. I said ok, well my nose is already pierced I'm looking for a hoop. Again, told he is not around. I repeatedly asked to just Take a look at their selection and they continuously denied my request to even look, stating their piercer isn't there. I asked if it was store policy to refuse customers the ability to look at their body jewelry when the piercer isn't around and was told no! I have picked out MANY NOSE RINGS WITHOUT A PIERCER available... I have one question, why was a customer shunned away when asking to see your nose ring selection!? Unbelievable! Read Less

Rude, rude and did I mention RUDE!? I came in to look at their nose rings and possibly purchase one as mine fell down the drain. Left work on my break because they are right down the street. I walk in and ask to see their nose rings in which I was informed their piercer is not in the building. I said ok, well my nose is already pierced I'm looking for a hoop. Again, told he is not around. I repeatedly asked to just Take a look at their selection and they continuously denied my request to even look, stating their piercer isn't there. I asked if it was store policy to refuse customers the ability to look at their body jewelry when the piercer isn't around and was told no! I have picked out MANY NOSE RINGS WITHOUT A PIERCER available...I have one question, why was a customer shunned away when asking to see your nose ring selection!? You have got to be shitting me! Read Less

I'm simply in town visiting and wanted a tattoo. They were super accommodating and friendly. I left a few pictures for an idea and let Dani do her thing. What she drew up was above and beyond my expectations. Her attention to detail and the shading in the final product honestly brought tears to my eyes as this tattoo means so much to me. I'm blown away by the talent and service. I would highly recommend this place! Read Less

went in to have the piercer look at what I (correctly) thought was an infected piercing to see if I could do anything about it (I figured it was rejecting so I wanted to know if/when I should remove the jewelry or whatever). the website said he had several years' experience so I figured he'd know better than I did, especially since I couldn't self-diagnose based on my readings what was wrong with my piercing. he said it wasn't infected and that it was "just mad at me" even though I had pretty telltale signs of infection (pus, granules, redness, some migration), prescribed hot compresses for two weeks, and sold me some witch hazel solution for the compresses. talked to a doctor a week later when the hot compresses were doing absolutely nothing and she was very surprised that the piercer had told me it wasn't infected. also said the solution he sold me would only make things worse. either the guy's incompetent or intentionally misleading but I won't be going back here for sure Read Less

That dude name samchcon from sanctum art studio ,CA did really shitty tattoo on me and charged 600$ for 2.5 hrs.He has been doing full day for 600$ these days. His work is really crappy and most of his portraits he messes up with eyes and does not look saturated.. i don't know why i got tattoo with that dude.. you suck bro Read Less

Scheduling an appointment with Kayleigh Kerr was pretty tough, but to no fault of her own I learned. If the company could figure out how to manage their artist's appointments better, this shop would be a well-oiled beast of a tattoo parlor. Regarding the rest of my experience, top notch all around. Everyone there was super friendly and helpful upon my arrival and remained so throughout my stay. Most importantly I left with a tattoo I'm super proud of, even though I had little to do with its design or execution.....that was all Kayleigh, and she did an amazing job. She's really an awesome artist. Hopefully Kayleigh gets her calendar straightened out because she should expect appointments from a number of my friends who have already expressed interest in going to her due to her fine line work. Read Less

Everyone was really friendly and helpful and they were more than willing to accommodate me for a walk-in. Dani is awesome and I can't recommend her enough. She was great to chat with and did a beautiful job with what I wanted, and the whole experience was really laid back, professional, and very enjoyable. Thank you so much Dani! Definitely would go back and I highly recommend. Bonus points for the really cool shop. Read Less

I've been here very often, even before I moved to Somerville. I really like piercings. I haven't gotten tattoos yet. But I have 9 piercings and that's not the end of it! Who knows, maybe I might even become an apprentice eventually.During the summer of 2016, I got my nostril pierced by Dustin. Everything else has been done by Brian (except for my industrial, which was done 4 years ago when I was still living NYC & lucked out with finding a reputable piercer in St. Mark's Place). What I really like is how professional and sterile they are! I know it's supposed to be common place, but there are places out there that won't SHOW their tools being sterilized/disposed of/etc. Both of these piercers had no issue doing that. On top of that, mostly due to the fact I have a pretty high pain tolerance, none of the piercings I have gotten so far have really hurt badly. Most of the time it has been just a little pinch, very quick and I am on my way. On top of that, I really do appreciate how informative both piercers are and how easy they were to talk to. I didn't need an appointment.This is my to go to place to get pierced. Especially since its a 10 minute bus ride away from my house. Read Less

This tattoo shop is friendly, nice, clean and has a great vibe. I got my tattoo done by Andy and he did a great job. My best friend and I both got crescent moon tattoos and even though it was as small as can be, he sanitized every single thing between both of our tattoos. He was cleanly, informative, and friendly. If you need any small tattoos, go to Andy! He's the best. Read Less

I had to take all my piercings out recently for surgery. In my recovery haze, I totally forgot to put them back...until after three had partially healed over. Brian took care of the problem easily, and now they're all back where they belong. He's poked eight holes in me so far, and I'm very grateful that I found him! Each time it has been such a smooth process, and I don't intend to let anyone else pierce me as long as I can help it. I've also got four tattoos from Alicia, a⋯⋯nd they were all equally awesome experiences. She was great about making the couple of touch-ups I wanted, even months afterwards. I've recommended her to so many friends that I've lost track of who's carrying her art around on them. As with Brian, I hope to have Alicia do as many of my future tattoos as I can! I very highly recommend Brian, Alicia, and Boston Tattoo Co as a whole! :) 查看更多 Read Less

Came in with a friend who was getting a tattoo and asked the guy who does piercings his advice on what I should do about an issue with a previous piercing I'd gotten elsewhere and he was actually able to replace my earring and clean up the irritated piercing and even readjust it a little! It already only one day later feels and looks 100% better. I don't live ANYWHERE close to this shop but I would absolutely make the 2+ hour drive to come back for any other piercings or tattoos in the future! Thanks again! Read Less

I went in to get my Industrial pierced by Brian at the Somerville location and was blown away with the service. Brian was so polite and so funny and it made me feel a lot better because I was so nervous at first! He explained everything through and though and gave me a pamphlet for aftercare and everything. It was definitely expensive but for the amazing service and how fantastic the final product is I say they're worth every penny. Read Less

Maybe like 5 months ago I went to get my septum pierced. I was pierced by Dustin. He was amazing and fjnny and he put my fears at ease. He was kind and he really helped me with instructions on how to care for my septum. He was super kind and really easy to work with. This Boston tattoo company is amazing and everyone in there is so kind and helpful. This is the only place I'll go to get pierced. Yes they are a bit on the pricey side but I don't really care because I know in getting the best of the best. I'm definitely going back there to get more piercings because I really trust everyone there. Also the place is clean and the environment around you is super cool. Read Less

I'm sorry to say that my experience here was not a good one. The woman (Kayleigh) who I wanted to tattoo me had an attitude of being 'the best' and too good from the beginning, like she didn't have the time of day and she was super busy. She claims my tattoo appointment was scheduled a week before I wrote it down in my calendar WHILE I was there! Then when we rescheduled she was vague about timing, then didn't have time for me when I got there within the hour she said she was free! She drew out designs that were exactly the same as the images I sent her with no creative design whatsoever. She didn't have the time cut out for me, wasn't in a good mood the entire time. I drove over an hour to get to the shop and she was not friendly whatsoever. Read Less

I just recently went to the Boston Tattoo Company for a walk-in with my sister. We were greeted enthusiastically, and we both had KC as our artist. KC made the whole ordeal fantastic. He explained the whole process of what was going on throughout, and made some wonderful suggestions. The suggestions weren't forced upon us, and he always made sure we knew that it was how we liked it that mattered. KC had a great sense of humor, and made sure everyone was comfortable the whole time. The tattoos came out wonderfully, and I will be going back again in the future. Read Less

Yelp Review of BTCI got my first tattoo here from Ashley M. on 1/3/17. It is a decent sized piece on my inner forearm (see in pics it is a design with keys). I did a fair amount of research online and on the phone before settling on BTC in Davis Square. There is a negative Yelp review on here that actually served to make me MORE comfortable with the establishment because the response from BTC was reasonable and felt assuring to know that they value their own standards and made every effort to be a fair and accommodating business. That being said, I still feel fortunate and a little lucky to have had such a smooth experience and to have been connected to such a talented artist in Ashley on my first tattoo. Her portfolio vibed well with what i had in mind for the design (mostly black and white, and she had done many pieces with fine details that aren't muddy or cliche). I met in person once and gave her my ideas and a rough sketch. The design process is whatever you make of it. She and i communicated via email after i met in person and gave a deposit. If you're a stickler (as you SHOULD be, it's a f-n permanent tattoo!), you can hammer out the details over email- getting proofs and giving feedback... only moving forward with the tattoo after you're completely satisfied with the design. Or you could just throw some ideas out and let them get creative. You can also select pre-designed art- whatever ya want. I had two parts that i needed to be exactly as i envisioned- but then let her do the shading and blending with her own style. This ended up being my favorite part- so i'm happy i gave Ashley the green light on her shading. Ashley uses a light touch (for a tattoo), and never wore out a certain area on my arm beyond what was bearable. A lot of the pain is unavoidable, but when you sit for 5 hours, there ARE ways the artist can make things more comfortable. Shifting her focus from one part to another and coming back again and again... as opposed to just tearing up a 2 inch section for a straight hour. She knows her craft- and has high standards. I am definitely pleased and will definitely be seeking out her work again in the future. Read Less

My mother went in to get her ears pierced because she is going to have a knee replacement surgery and thought she was allergic to metal.  The earring posts are titanium, the same metal used in the knee replacements.  When she sat for the piercing, Brian discovered that the holes she had from over 50 years ago were still open after a slight probing!  No piercing required!  Her charge was adjusted since there was no need to pierce and the staff, Brian in particular, treated her wonderfully!!!  She loved the experience of being in a tattoo parlor and was impressed by the cleanliness, friendliness and service!!!!  She is 72;  I don't think she'll go back for a tattoo, but you never know!  She recommends Boston Tattoo to anyone without reservation! Read Less

I first went to Boston Tattoo because I needed retainers put in prior to surgery. I have two intimate piercings and one of them is unusual. I'm very picky about who I let work on me for piercing or tattooing. Brian did not disappoint in the least and In fact, I recommended him specifically to two surgeons I saw in 2016. Turns out that more and more, patients have piercings that need to be removed prior to MRIs or surgery and docs have been telling them just to take them out. What?! Now these and their colleagues have been introduced to retainers and given an enthusiastic recommendation to send their patients to Brian at BTC.Brian is unusually highly competent. Very professional and a clean freak (which I appreciate). He's a member of APP and continues to learn more about his craft. I wish my docs were as diligent. More than that he has an amazing calm and friendly presence. I've had to see him for retainers about 6 times now and I go to him knowing the procedure will be quick and accompanied by great conversation. He's always helpful when I've had trouble getting up on the table post surgery. He patiently answered every question. I can get chatty after piercings (some combination of pain and endorphins, I guess) He pays attention and treats his clients very well without the trace of attitude that some piercing/tattoo places can have. Or doc offices for that matter. I had a piercing emergency while I was out of town. Really! I wanted to see someone before I was going to be back home. I texted Brian and he hooked me up with a terrific recommendation. It takes a professional and confident and awesome piercer to recommend someone else instead of telling me to wait til I got back. Good thing I didn't too because I'd probably have to be repierced if I had waited and I don't really want to go through this particular one again.Post surgery I decided to buy some custom jewelry and Brian was great helping me wade through the 100s of options and choose. I'm deliriously happy with the result. I'm thinking about a couple of other piercings and I'd definitely go to Brian for those as well. Read Less

These guys seem talented enough but I agree with the previous reviewer on the need for an attitude adjustment. I came in for a tattoo consult with the woman with vampire teeth (can't remember her name) and left feeling like my tattoo was not worth the time of day for her. On top of this, she was not at all helpful or specific in her responses to my tattoo-related questions. Seemed super spaced out and uninterested. Ended up going with someone who I felt was more friendly and attentive, less judgy and pretentious. Read Less

This review is for piercing removal and it is months overdue!A few years ago I had my back dimples pierced and dermal studs were put in. I loved them! But after I graduated college and entered the workforce, someone in the office saw them and found them "distasteful." Whatever. I figured it was time to get them removed anyway as they were constantly getting caught on my clothes.  I called Boston Tattoo Company and they were willing to remove my dermals for $20. Awesome! The piercer was very professional and a clean freak; he must have changed his gloves at least three times which was very reassuring. I am not a newbie to piercings, but I loved his thoroughness. I would recommend him to first-time piercing customers as he was very soothing and patient.The removal itself went perfectly. He had me lay on my stomach and each time I exhaled, he used a tool similar to pliers to push into the dermal, twist it sideways, and yank it out quickly at an angle to reduce scarring. It had to be done in one quick motion because the internal tissues had grown around the piercing locking it in place. My partner was in the room watching and his face turned white watching it happen!It must have looked more painful than it felt, because I found the procedure to be tolerable and I was very happy with the end result. I have two tiny round scars on my back dimples, but no excessive scarring or tearing. It was a clean job! Although I haven't been tattooed or pierced at Boston Tattoo Company, I would definitely recommend them for piercing removals. Read Less

It's been a while since I've gotten a tattoo, so now was the time.Last weekend I was shopping in New Hampshire and wanted to get my tattoo there because a) the artists are great and not as costly as other states and b) they have tattoo shops galore in about a 1-mile radius.  However, that didn't go as planned because one of my beloved shops that I've frequented over the years had Trump signs and posters in the windows and I will not patronize any establishment if I know they support Trump. Smh. My other favorite spot, Lion's Den is permanently closed, so still on the prowl, I ventured across the street into another shop where the dude told me my tatt would take 15 minutes, but said the wait time was one week. Boy bye. Feeling slightly frustrated but still hopeful, I went on Yelp and found BTC. I called and they had availability for that same day. Sweet!I stopped in, filled out the paperwork and came back for my appointment later that evening. KC was my artist and did a great job by ensuring that I was satisfied with the design before we started. I was in and out in 12 minutes, which is new for me because most of my pieces are 3-4 sessions at a few hours per session. I love my tattoo and will be coming back for more when I'm in the area.Other notes:- Private parking lot - Don't park in the Kappy's lot.- You are greeted upon entry (rarity in the tattoo world). - All the artist current portfolios are available on the iPad. - Huge/ clean shop. I had no idea it was so spacious. Read Less

Andy and the entire staff here are welcoming, helpful and super knowledgeable about all things tattoo and piercing. The quality of their work is fantastic - check out their Instagram to see for yourself, and the shop is extremely clean and comfortable. Read Less

tldr; my first tattoo experience here is not deterring me from getting a second one someday!I went here for my first tattoo with Nick and I had a great experience overall. I can't complain.It's my first tattoo and I had an idea for a design. When I pitched them my design, they gave me some really helpful information that I wouldn't have considered otherwise. They gave me a sketch of a slightly modified version and I'm actually much happier with the one that they came up with. I'm beyond thankful for the support in that arena because I wouldn't want something likely to smudge permanently on my skin.I was really scared at first but the moment he started, I calmed down a lot and I got used to the sting. I honestly did not have a blast. It is not a fun experience but I can see why tattoos can get addictive now. You get to carry a visual reminder about something that matters to you deeply. I haven't thought of the theme of my next tattoo but it's coming! Read Less

If you live in or around the Boston area and you aren't getting pierced by Dustin S., re-evaluate your life! I called ahead and spoke to Dustin on the phone about getting my Philtrum (otherwise known as Medusa pierced). I had a ton of questions about the piercing itself, the process, pricing, everything under the sun. Dustin took the time out, over the phone, not even 100% sure I was going to get this piercing, and explained everything to me in deep detail. I'm quite a talker so he spent just shy of 12 minutes telling me everything I needed to know.After our conversation, I immediately felt at ease and decided to take a ride to BTC (I went to the Medford location though Dustin does also pierce at the Somerville spot, too.) to check it out. Upon arriving, I was greeted by Dustin and he had already picked out the jewelry he thought would look good on my face, just based on our phone interaction! Which is the first of many things that I was impressed with, upon my arrival. I agreed that I loved the jewelry and after doing my paperwork, we headed upstairs to the piercing area!I can't even count how many times Dustin changed his gloves (which is an AMAZING THING!!!); such a sanitary piercer and this is huge for me, of course. He then explained to me every single possible detail he could about the piercing. From how it is typically done to how he would have to tilt it a bit on me because of how my mouth was shaped. He explained to me the process, what he was doing each time he touched my lip, how he would put the jewelry in. Everything under the sun, I have never had a piercer be so thorough, well-educated, and willing to share knowledge of what was being done to my body! It was wonderful. I felt like I was his only client of the day (which I was absolutely not since he had clients downstairs and he STILL didn't rush me or bypass any question I had!)  He took out so much time to make sure my piercing came out beautifully. I am absolutely in LOVE with my piercing. It is perfectly placed, the jewelry he chose (that I, of course, agreed on and loved!) is beautiful and everything went wonderfully.Dustin was the most professional, knowledgeable piercer I've ever been to (and I've been to quite a few) and I would recommend him to anyone who wants a high quality piercing with a sanity piercer who knows literally EVERYTHING about each piercing he is doing. Thank you so much, Dustin!!!! You made my face even fancier than it was before. :) Read Less

Came here to get pierced by Dustin, and it was a great experience. I've been pierced 3 times before between Indiana and Wisconsin and I have to say this so far has been the best experience. Dustin was super knowledgeable and recognized that I needed to hide my septum piercing for professional reasons so he pierced it in a way that I can easily flip it up and it looks great both ways! He explained the process every step of the way and gave great advice for the cleaning process as well! It was quick, painless and funny too! Will definitely be back for future piercings! I also loved the shop in general, it was very clean and professional and their credit/debit card system was probably the best I've come across. Read Less

I love Boston tattoo company. I tattoo in California, and walking into this place you see the professionalism and cleanliness right away. The customer service is 110%. All the artists are amazing and they bring in amazing big name guest artists from the west coast which I caught wind of. Got tattooed here and will most def be keeping in touch with them! Read Less

This place is amazing! I got my first ink here about 5 years ago before the renovations. I had a great experience, but went to a well known shop in NH for my next one 3 years later. I came back to Boston Tattoo a year after (without k owing about the changed name) and got a quick walk-in tattoo with Andy. This was in August. It's now April and I have 5 more from the same place and artist. Everybody there is professional and courteous, the shop is extremely clean and well maintained, the artists k ow what they are doing so they work with you so that you always feel comfortable and leave with peace of mind. Oh, and let's not forget how talented all of these people are! I've also brought friends here with me. Together we have accumulated about 15 tattoos and A LOT of hours here. I'll be back for sure, and I hope all of you give them a try too Read Less

My sister and I went to the Boston Tattoo Company today to get small little paw print tattoos! We were walk-ins and Andy took us right away. It was my first tattoo so I was super nervous, but Andy was amazing! He made the process much easier than I expected it to be and I am in LOVE with my new tattoo!! He did an awesome job!! The rest of the staff were great and the place was really clean! Thank you Boston Tattoo Company and Andy! We will definitely be back! :) Read Less

It literally took me a day to come up with the horrible idea, a week to wrap my head around the fact that it was going to be a "GREAT" thing to do and 1 hour and 45 minutes to execute it. I called the day of and asked if Savannah was available and they said to come by right away. I walked in and so it happened that she was seating at the lobby area and took me in right away. I signed a waiver while she set up her station. And within 5 minutes the piercing was done. She was great and very supportive through the whole process. I could have not asked for a better person to get them done with. Super nice and patient. And the piercings came out looking amazing!!! I'm so in love with them. Both nipples for $100.If you need a piercing definitely go see her. She is the best and pretty too!!!! Read Less