Hardwire Tattoo & Body Piercing Studio

I went into this place Sunday while visiting Wilmington and got my tragus pierced on my ear. I got my cartilage pierced there a couple years ago and they did an awesome job, so I wanted to go back for this. FIrst the guy that was taking me back says - I have to go out and have a smoke first - which was rude, he stunk as his hands and breath were all over me.

Then I pick out my jewelry, I asked for a stud b/c I liked the look - he says OK and grabs it and takes me back. His hands were so shaky! He said he had a coffee with 3 shots of espresso....not what you want to hear when someone is threading a needle through your ear! He goes on and then loses the jewelry after already putting the needle through...ouch! Then says....uh, well...what do you want to do? Um, I came in for a piercing so I say - do it again. He had to thread it through again, ouch again. Got it in (stinking and shaking the whole time!).

I went about my day and night and came back to Raleigh....my ear was super sore and swollen....the next day as I am cleaning it, the back ball came off. I emailed the owner and asked for my $$ back b/c I figured I would need to take it out now as I couldn't get it back on. NO RESPONSE.

I went to a local tattoo shop and the first thing the lady says was "You got this pierced yesterday?? With THAT jewelry???". She said the ball came off b/c my ear was so swollen (which it should not be) and that b/c he used an earring with "teeth" it probably cut up the inside of my tragus. She said she could re-do it with a hoop (what you SHOULD always use) but it was so big b/c of the swelling I took it out. $40 down the drain and my ear is still swollen and painful! I would NEVER recommend this place.

How refreshing it is to know that once my pregnant ass is no longer with child, I will have a decent studio to get my back-piece finished! I came in here the other day with a girlfriend of mine who was staking out a new shop to get her work done, and was pleasantly surprised with Hardwire.

This shop is huge and everyone that works here, or at least that was working this past Wednesday, is totally f-ing rad. I HATE HATE HATE when you walk into a shop and the artists treat you like you're retarded or invisible. Not here. These guys literally sat and shot the shit and talked tattoos with us for over an hour. They were extremely knowledgeable and professional and answered all the questions we had and more. We browsed through every artists portfolio and we both found ourselves an artist that will suit our styles. They will even draw up your idea at no charge, and seemingly can get you scheduled for a session fairly quickly, sometimes same day. My girlfriend will start her piece next week.

Although I have about 10 months before I will be able to finish the piece my late artist started back in 2002, I have found the man who will do it, who is super psyched about it just as much as I am. I love this and I am so anxious!

I also stopped in here this afternoon for a new nose stud and although I have not personally had anything pieced by their respective piercer, she was very nice in helping me find the perfect stud and let me use her mirror.

Bravo Hardwire, for proving that there are still talented friendly artists out there who aren't complete assholes with a God complex!

The owner and staff are good people and do good work.  I never get the "sketchy" feeling when going there.