​With a tattoo shop on almost every corner and a tsunami of posts and ads online, it can be hard to know how to spot a quality studio deserving of your skin and money. How do you pick the right Calgary tattoo and piercing studio?
Here are 5 key things to look for when choosing where to go for a walk-in tattoo:

Remember those products on infomercials with a ‘lifetime guarantee’? How can someone give a lifetime guarantee if they are out of business in 6 months? Think of Calgary tattoo shops the same way. If you have questions about your tattoo in 18 months, you want to pick a shop that is likely to still be around. Shops that are 3 years old or less and have a constantly rotating roster of artists may have less longevity than your tattoo and should generally be avoided.
​

A lot of shops these days are full of inexperienced artists who have not actually had an apprenticeship and are entirely ‘self-taught’ (yes, some self-taught people become amazing, but most artists learn faster from hands-on, experienced mentors). Shops whose artists display only linework tattoos without color, shading, or versatility in style should generally be avoided because it speaks to a lack of experience, which can lead to a poor outcome overall. The less a practitioner knows about a variety of art styles, the less they tend to know about technique, cleanliness, healing, and troubleshooting during and after the tattoo.
​

Be wary of shops and artists with very few (less than 50) tattoos available in their portfolio. This shows a lack of experience, and it may be best to let them keep practicing on friends—not paying customers. Don’t be fooled into thinking that “it’s just a simple tattoo”… the simpler a tattoo is, the fewer places there are to hide mistakes! Go with experienced Calgary tattoo artists who can nail it the 1st time and who will be around to stand by their work.

Yes… there are people who pay for reviews, there are bots reviewing, and people get their family and friends to leave a flurry of reviews. But if someone has been tattooing in Calgary for 5+ years and only has 3 Google reviews, you should be wary. Shops or artists who switch off reviews or disallow commentary on their pages and posts are usually avoiding or hiding something.
Also, repeated reviews about a lack of communication or poor healing should make the hairs on your neck stand up enough to make you move on to the next shop. There are market occasions where a rogue, disgruntled client has too much time on their hands and mostly imagined grievances, but if you see a pattern of similar complaints emerging, it should give you pause.

Yes… we are artists. We can be weird and moody… but this is a business and tattoos are permanent. Someone who communicates poorly, takes too long to get back to you, has a bad attitude, or is never seemingly available during their posted shop hours is going to be even harder to get a hold of if you have a question or concern after your session.
All legitimate tattoo and piercing studios will have you fill out a waiver that includes personal information and medical questions. Most shops will require your ID regardless of age. You should also be given verbal aftercare in addition to a printed tattoo aftercare sheet because post-tattoo (or piercing) brain can’t always remember what was said, and it is important that you properly follow your aftercare instructions so you don’t void your warranty :)

Generally, the best way to find an artist is word of mouth when you can see the recommender's tattoo in person and on their skin. AI is getting too realistic, and filters, angles, lighting, or digital retouching can really distort how a photo looks compared to real life.
People's opinions vary greatly on what a good tattoo is, so it’s best to see it with your own eyes before you make a commitment. If you see someone in line at the Calgary grocery store with a really nice piece, ask them who did it! The healed and settled tattoo on real human skin is what truly counts.

Wow..Covid aside posting here really got away from us. It is pretty amazing that we have been doing this for over 15 years and such a bummer that our big 1-5 happened during lockdown. In any case, you guys (our clients) have been incredibly supportive and have kept us going strong for a decade and a half. Sincerely, thank you.

If you haven't been to the shop recently, we have totally reno'd our piercing room (now there are 2!) Come check it out.

Finally, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and a Happy Festivus for the Rest of us. Love GR.

AUGUST 5th - 2018
Join the Gypsy Rose Tattoo and Piercing family for a fun filled charitable day! As in years past, we will offer pre-drawn tattoo designs as well as a set list of standard piercings (including jewelry) for $50 (tattoos) and $20 (piercings) and 15 non-perishable food/personal care items. All items donated and 100% of funds raised will be donated directly to the Veterans Food Bank of Calgary. Designs will be posted on our social media pages in the weeks leading up to the event.
 
It is in-excusable that in a country where so much food goes to waste, people in our own backyard go to bed hungry and without the basic comforts we take for granted. For some Canadian vets, a difficult return from duty combined with a struggling local economy has proven too much to overcome. It is our simple goal to help make life better for these people.
 
We hope to be able to do 80-100 tattoos and as many piercings as humanly possible! We will do our best to work through as many pieces as we can. That said, your help with this cause is desperately needed, so we ask that even if we aren't able to tattoo or pierce you, please still consider donating anything you can to help. 
 
How it works:

• Line up early! Knowing what design you like ahead of time will speed things up 😉
• We will post the sheets and designs available in the weeks closer to the event date
• The list of available piercings will be posted in the weeks closer the the event date
• We will take 6 people into the studio at a time. You will select your design, present your ID, fill out a waiver, pay and give your donations.
• You will get a bracelet and an aftercare sheet.
• Sit back and wait to get tattooed/pierced!
• Pat yourself on the back..you did something nice! Tag us on IG @gypsyrosetattoo/#50dollartattooday

 
The Rules:

• One tattoo OR one piercing per person
• There can be no changes to the design/size. Only color can be altered.
• No custom designs
• You must meet Gypsy Rose age and ID requirements

As with real estate, same with tattooing… LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION.
You’re about to spend some of your hard earned money to beautify your meat suit. We want to ensure you’re going to get the best result and most bang for your buck. So, when you’re thinking about a new tattoo, or even your first one, please keep these images and suggestions in mind.
In most cases, finger tattoos will wind up fading within 6-8 months.
Foot/Toe tattoos are more vulnerable to infection, than any other part of the body.
Yes, it’s going to hurt

• There’s not a lot of fleshy bits on the feet and hands, this not only changes the way the ink deposits, but also the amount of sensation you’ll experience.

It will not last

• The skin on your fingers/hands/feet/toes take tattoo ink differently than other commonly tattooed parts of your body. Think about all the things you do with your fingers/hands/feet/toes  - the frequency of washing your hands, shoes, socks, the nature of the skin—which is as thick as all of your skin but not backed by much fat and has a lot of movement over the joints, and for those of us that wear jewelry, those pieces can rub and create an extra complication for the healing of these tattoos.

Not the location for perfection

• The hand/foot tattoo may not be the right place to put that elaborate design you've been dreaming of. Because of the inconsistent nature of hand/foot skin we notice that black ink doesn't always stay black, colors aren't always as bright, and lines tend to not be as crisp (long term).

Tattoos are commitment

• If you want your hand/finger tattoo to look good in the long run, you need to get it touched up regularly. This could be a month after you initially get it, or yearly or every 6 months, you’ll know based on how you want it to look. Many shops will offer your first touch up as a complimentary service, but that will not cover any subsequent (this can be annually or more frequently) visits for upkeep.

The one ring…

• Traditional diamond rings are so 2017, we totally get why you want to get a personalized image/tribute.  The most successful ring type tattoos are the simple styles that keep to the tops or sides of the finger. Diamond shapes, runes, initials, and dates are all examples of clean-lined tattoos that sit on the top of the finger.
• Bands that circle the finger have an abundance of problems. Often, when the band begins to heal, this means that the color doesn't stay and you end up with a patchy shadow of tattoo where your ring used to be.               

Prejudice

• There is still a large portion of our society that looks down on visible tattoos. Many employers will not even consider a potential employee (no matter how qualified) if they have tattoos that are not easily covered. If you have any doubt about whether your job will allow it, ask. Also, make sure that you are in a career which will allow it. It is one thing to have a job in a record store with a hand tattoo but if you want more eventually, think long and hard about it. While they are more common in more blue-collar jobs, most people would not want to see a hand tattoo on their surgeon, attorney or clergyman. If your future plans include a mainstream upscale career, they probably won’t include a hand tattoo.

Pregnancy is a time where one should be taking care of mom (and baby) first, which means getting a tattoo or piercing while pregnant isn’t the best idea. Expecting moms already have compromised immune systems, which makes modifications during pregnancy a no-go.

If a shop is readily willing to tattoo or pierce an expecting mom, they aren’t acting reputably, which is a risk that shouldn’t be taken. Any open wound is a risk to a pregnant woman, so why would someone want to expose a soon to be mother to any additional risks or stress?

​Allowing yourself to recover fully from pregnancy will mean your body is better able to heal from the tattoo or piercing, which means better results that are worth the wait. It is advisable to refrain from undergoing any and all body art procedures during a pregnancy, even just an ear lobe stretch. It is best to let your body focus on the important, complex and demanding task that it is handling already.

Respectfully, please wait. There are several concerns about tattoos and piercings, so it's probably best to wait until after delivery and weaning to get either pierced or tattooed. Here are some things to consider:

• Many diseases can be passed along through bodily fluids. This means you can be vulnerable to these diseases if you get a tattoo or piercing from someone who uses improperly sterilized equipment. It's possible for you to pass these diseases along to your baby while you're pregnant. Always feel welcome to ask any questions about shop sterilization procedures, the staff should be able to comfortably answer any and all questions to your satisfaction. All of the Gypsy Rose Pathogen testing and Alberta Health Services Information is displayed at our front counter and we're happy to answer any questions you might have.
• Most anesthesiologists will administer an epidural if you have a tattoo on your lower back, but they may decide not to if the tattoo is recent and still fresh. There's no clear evidence for or against giving epidurals near tattoos. If you do have a tattoo on your back and are considering having an epidural for pain relief during childbirth, find out what the hospital's policy is when you are creating your birth plan.
• Because of skin changes during pregnancy, a tattoo that you get while you're pregnant might not look the same after you deliver your baby.

One thing we know, it's that when once the summer sun comes out, your tattoo could be in for a beating. 

We wanted to just give everyone a friendly reminder this summer to take care of your tattoos by using proper protection. As we all know, sun and water exposure is dangerous as it is, let alone to the beautiful piece your artist created, and your body has spent healing from the process. 

We suggest you cover up as much as you can to keep your tattoo from fading. Or, at the very least, make sure you are wearing sunscreen of SPF 60, on any exposed tattoos.  Also, be mindful of entering water with a fresh tattoo or piercing. We have explained the reasons behind not soaking or submerging a fresh tattoo in water- of any kind! Your tattoo is an open wound. You must protect it from the elements while it is healing. Water can inhibit the healing process and cause a faded, poorly healed tattoo. We have seen it too often and are familiar with the outcome. 

Protecting your tattoo or piercing is not only for the sake of your  investment , it is for your health. 

Remember to read your aftercare forms thoroughly, and if you have any questions regarding your tattoo or piercing, please feel free to contact us with your inquiries.

Have an awesome and safe summer!

Thanks!

​- GR