I have 7 tattoos done by the artists at Area 51 and I love everyone of them!! Â
The studio is very clean and the artist are very knowledgable, friendly and professional. Â They take their time with each client to make sure you are 100% satisfied. Â This is the place to go if you are looking to get some new ink!
My SO and I went in to get a small symbol put on our ring fingers, and before I could even explain what we wanted the woman working there rudely cut me off and told me that they don't do hand tattoos on anyone unless the person walking in has more tattoos than THEY do (in a very snotty voice), and then proceeded to lecture me on the negative social stigma of hand tattoos. I am a 39 year old corporate professional making a very good living, I'm pretty sure I can handle my own image decisions. Now, if she would have expressed concern over the difficulty of healing a hand tattoo, or how the quality may not be up to par because of the nature of the skin on hands, or even how it would fade more quickly because of how often hands are used and washed and exposed to sun, that would have been understandable. What I did not need is a snotty attitude and big brother lecture.
Review Source:Okay, I did get my first tattoo here. I will not say  that they do bad work, because I've seen plenty of people come in and out of here with beautiful and amazing pieces.
The only thing I wasn't pleased with was looking back on it, they are extremely pricey. Why pay way more than you have to, when someone just as good or even better can do a piece for you for cheaper? I got a small tattoo on my wrist being my first one. It took 40 to 45 minutes tops, and was charged $110 for that piece. That's a lot for a tattoo that's about 2 inches length and width. I have a phoenix on my back that is PERFECT and just what I wanted. It starts on my neck, going to the middle of my back which took 3 and half to 4 hours of total work. That all together only cost me $300, nothing more. The guys artwork was amazing, he didn't screw up anything. The lines aren't weird, and the color is just perfect.
I think it is worth it to shop around for good artists that will offer a decent and competitive price. I've been pleased with the people I go to. Some have different styles, but their prices aren't bad at all and I don't think I could get the style of artwork I have now at Area 51 despite the fact that they do have some amazing artists.
I went to Area 51 on July 15th to get my Harry Potter tattoo.
I walked in not knowing if I could even get an appointment, but Nikki said she would take me right away. Â I had an image I wanted to use, and Nikki graciously resized it for me a bunch of times.
A lot of people say that they are perfectionists, and I rarely believe them - but Nikki WAS an absolute perfectionist. Â A quality that I love in a tattoo artist. Â She was more concerned than I was about my placement, and changed it many times to make sure it was JUST right.
As we were tattooing (it was a short session, my tattoo is no bigger than a Post-It) I caught her up on Harry Potter lore, and she helped keep me distracted. Â Nikki did an AMAZING job - my lines are clean and crisp and I hope they stay that way. Â Again, she reviewed her work with a critical eye, and made sure it was flawless before letting me leave.
Overall? Â The shop was clean and neat. Â They had a friendly vibe and I was greeted and offered help by everyone there. Â I will definitely return to Area 51 and pass the word along.
My daughter & I went together to get our first tattoos. Â Â We both wanted quotes inked on our feet. I just simply hand wrote the quote I wanted on the back of a reciept and asked that it be drafted in a fancy script. Â Khalid worked his magic and gave me a draft. Â I was amazed that he could free hand the words and turn them into "art'. Â I have a very low-pain tolerance and was VERY nervous. Â Khalid made me feel relaxed, made me laugh, and talked me through the pain. Â Honestly, I was a whimp and he was so patient! Â
Both my daughter & I are VERY happy with our tattoos. Â This is the 3rd shop I visited before deciding this was the one. Â I asked several friends who had tattoos for recommendations. Â However, after reading many reviews on the recommended shops and other shops within 1 hour of where I live I chose A51 as they had the best reviews. Â It is clean, hip, and not a dark scary gangster looking place. Â It is also located in a nice area.
Couldn't have asked for a better experience. Â As a tattoo newbie I was nervous, but Khalid (shop owner) quickly earned my trust with a patient, detailed explanation of the process. Â He turned my idea for a tattoo into artwork that I'm thrilled with. Â The shop was really clean, and the vibe was professional but warm. Â Each artist working on other clients smiled and said hi during my session. Â They put me at ease, and Khalid delivered a beautiful tattoo. Â I'll be back, and I will recommend Area 51 to everyone I know. Â Thanks Khalid! Â You are the best!
Review Source:The staff was VERY welcoming and warm. You don't get that too cool attitude that a lot of shops tend to have. They guarantee their work for life so free touch ups if it fades (unless your dumb and don't listen to their care instructions which are very easy to follow). They are extremely helpful and will work with you to make sure you are getting EXACTLY what you want the exact way you want it. I will be getting all my work done at Area 51.
Review Source:Nice place in historic downtown Crystal Lake.  I was a total tattoo "newbie" and got a little Om put on my foot to celebrate becoming a yoga teacher last summer.  All of the staff were super nice (colorful too!). We took time to agree on what I wanted, exactly what it would look like, and where it would go.  Everything was super clean & comfortable.  My tattoo artist was very patient with me as I'm a bit squeamish  about needles.  Great experience.  Highly recommended - especially for "newbies"  :)
Review Source:
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
