KATIE GRAY does great work and is a sweet heart. I was heartbroken by the loss of my grandmother and simultaneous girl troubles and katie not only did a bad ass tattoo, she listened so well i felt i had a therapist at my side. She is a bad ass artist and I DO RECCOMMEND KATIE GRAY AS A TATTOO ARTIST. CUZ she is one bad mamma jamma. She also touched up the tattoo for free sometime later and made it look like new. If you want a REAL DOWN ASS TATTOO ARTIST who knows what she is doing and can work with you from start to finish, design to exectution. I SAY KATIE is your girl!
Review Source:This review is one part for the shop and mostly for Joe Paul. I don't review on Yelp often (I'm one of those who take but don't give, I'm that bad!) and when I review something, either because it is so great or it is unbearably terrible. One Shot Tattoo and Joe Paul obvious belong to the first category.
A few forewords for the background: I got my first tattoo yesterday, I was a rookie, intimidated diving head first into a tattoo shop, and worst off, I wasn't really sure what I wanted, Â nor was I able to explain it clearly to Joe in the first 20 minutes (???). I was a one star customer (or even negative one star .... sighed!).
The shop is clean, nice and bright with people full of tattoos in it. I sat quietly at the bench and tried not to get in the way of other people. Joe later explained to me the process by which they keep everything cleaned and sanitized. It cleared my last worries away - so 4 stars for the shop.
Joe, having a one star customer like me, demonstrated his 5 star qualities. He is friendly, extremely patient (though he might have been screaming inside because of me), Â and took his time to come up with 3 different sketches until I got a sketch that I absolutely love. I am so grateful I didn't hightail 10 minutes into mumbling and trying to explain what I wanted to him (although the thought had crossed my mind at least 3 times!).
The whole tattoo process was not half as bad as I expected, although admittedly, right before he started the machine, I just wanted to hold his hand and say: Please tell me I'm gonna be OK! Glad I didn't do that, ha ha, because the pain was just like I got scrapes on my skin for 30 minutes. So he was working on the needles and inks, while I was watching Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on my iPad. Did I say I even loved how the stencil looked on my skin, and Joe was very careful and methodical to make sure the tattoo is center and symmetrical on my arm? And of course, he explained the after care to me very thoroughly.
After everything is done, he even walked me to the Muni stop and showed me which line to get on. Thank you for being so nice and again, SO PATIENT!
The result is I have a beautiful tattoo that I LOVE and my 4 year old daughter LOVES (she said, quote: "I love your tattoo, Mommy! When I grow up, I'll get a tattoo that says: I love Princess Tiana!" - and I was like: What ??? What about Mommy??? Ha ha). And right now I look at it every 5 minutes as it lies so stylishly on my arm! Hooray for Joe again!
THE END!
I was quite nervous about getting my first tattoo and lost so much sleep the night before thinking about the pain and the permanence and everything. I walked in and showed them what I wanted and surprisingly, they told me they could do it in half an hour. My artist was SonnyJ and he was incredible. He complimented the piece I wanted done and told me how pretty he thought it was. This helped with my nerves. I didn't expect to be able to get it some today because I didn't have an appointment but I went to the nearby Starbucks and freaked out a little.
I got in the chair and was surprised about how little it hurt. I kind of forgot about the pain after a while of talking. The artists were all joking around and it was just a really warm and welcoming environment. Also, the shop was well lit and really clean.
This place deserves all the stars that it has and I will definitely be coming back to SonnyJ for my next piece!
Joe Paul is an AMAZING x 2 artist! Â After years of indecision I finally decided to get inked. I looked at dozens of tattoo shops and artists' portfolios but I kept coming back to Joe Paul's art work. When I finally met Joe he was very welcoming and immediately put me at ease (this was my first tattoo). He has a really easy going, laid back personality and he really takes his time to help you come up with a design you'll love forever.
I highly recommend Joe Paul if this is gonna be your first or one hundredth tattoo. Thanks Joe!
After a year of thinking about my tattoo and where I'd have it done and by whom, i did it! With Joe Paul at One Shot Tattoo.
He immediately made me feel relaxed and the shop is clean and welcoming. A bright space on the corner of Irving and 7th (?). Lots of regulars and walk ins coming and going - everyone is super friendly. Plenty of places to eat or drink before and after your session, too. Very affordable prices as well. They take cash or credit.
I found Joe on Yelp (actually my husband did) Â and so glad i did. He gave me exactly what I wanted and explained each step before he did it .I will definately return to him, wherever he is, for any other tattoos. He's inspired my husband to finally start thinking about getting his tattoo.
Recommend to anyone who wants an amazing piece of art ink'd on to their skin for life.
I had originally wanted to book an appointment with Joe based on the portfolios I saw on their site. But I was greeted by Rocky, who is a relatively new addition to the parlor. Another reviewer previously mentioned a bad experience with Rocky, but I booked an appointment with him for a simple tiger tattoo (no color, tribal design) anyway last month. Turned out great for me. The tattoo looks exactly like the image I e-mailed him.
The chairs are extremely comfortable. He thought I was napping at one point. The other artists who didn't have appointments would walk by and crack jokes. ("You're still not done with that flamingo?") Funny and nice people!
He was done in an hour after applying the stencil where I wanted it. (He originally applied it a little lower than I wanted but had no issue with shifting it up.) My appointment was at noon though, right when they opened, so they had to clean for 20-30 minutes before I actually got into the tattoo seat. But that was fine because I was 10 minutes late and I wanted to get coffee after I checked in any way. The tattoo healed great. He told me what to do, gave me some aquafor, and since it was on my back, I tried to avoid wearing a bra. Not much peeling occurred compared to the one I got at Picture Machine Tattoo, where they didn't provide aquaphor or even tell me the proper care procedure, despite knowing it was my first.
He charged me exactly $170 ($50 deposit when I booked the appointment + $120 after the tattoo was completed), but I think it actually took a little more than an hour. But I tipped! n.n
Rocky did my back piece and I absolutely love it! He worked with me from the start on creating exactly what I wanted to convey and was easy going about scheduling and changes to the design throughout. One Shot is a great local shop and a mellow environment to get a tattoo done. I recommend Rocky Burley as an artist and One Shot as a tattoo destination.
Review Source:Definitely NOT an A-okay experience.
I got my ear pierced here recently, and I got a lot of attitude from the staff about it. While I saw them take all of the equipment out of its sterile wrappers, and the process itself was simple and painless. But when I asked the guy who was doing the piercing (Jean) if he could wipe the area down with alcohol to sterilize it, he gave me a really hard time about it. Almost started yelling-kind of hard time. He did it eventually, and I got the piercing done, but not without taking a few cheap insults and some major attitude. I recommend finding some place where they can treat you like customers, not like morons.
Just got my tattoo the other day with Katie. Â She was very delicate with the tattoo and you can tell that she tattooing is her passion. Â I'm thrilled that I got my tattoo, Katie did exactly what I wanted and the results were better than I expected. Â The rate is very fair, $50 deposit for scheduled appointments are required and a minimum base rate of $100 for first hour. Â You can email them about your tattoo design and they are pretty responsive. Â She was an awesome person to talk to and I love the outcome of my tattoo. Place also plays dope music, so check this place out.
Review Source:I did MAJOR research before choosing my tattoo place and I'm so glad I chose One Shot!! This place is wonderful! The studio is so clean and tidy, and the people are really chill and nice.
About a month ago, I walked in and got my first tattoo from Joe Paul. I walked in and he was able to take me right away. I knew exactly what I wanted, so I just handed him a piece of paper with the image and he went straight to work creating a transferable image for the tattoo. He was great! I was a little nervous, but he was very calming and confident which made me feel so much better. He walked me through the entire process, talking to me about each thing he was going to do and why. I told him where I wanted my tattoo, and he suggested another location, which turned out better than I was anticipating!!! I love my tattoo so much and Joe Paul is wonderful!! It was a decent price and he did amazing work.
Definitely would recommend to anyone wanting a tattoo!!!
My friend Mia got 2 of her tattoos here, so I decided to give them a shot. I originally wanted something done on Father's Day by Joe Paul, but he was unable to do it the day I wanted & I was pretty firm with my date. It was understandable that he couldn't do it on that day, but what I liked is how quick he was to respond to my email about my tattoo idea. I believe he responded within a day! I've read great things about Joe & will still get a tattoo from him eventually.
But I actually got a tattoo this past week from Katie. When DOMA & Prop 8 were overturned, I wanted to get the word "ally" & a heart on my inner ring finger. I wasn't sure if they would take me in since I didn't have an appt, but I decide to try anyways.
A lady in the front desk helped me & found an artist (Katie) who was able to take me in. Katie was open to my idea, but also warned me about the risks of getting a finger tattoo (the possibility of fading & having to do several touch ups). She drew my idea out & I was in & out within half an hour. Got in at 2:15, left at 2:45! I get one free touch up which I'm happy about, but not really looking forward too since I know it will be painful! Eek.
Thanks again One Shot...I'll definitely be back!
Walking in, i was ignored. Very unprofessional... I gave Katie exactly what i wanted. All she had to do was add detail but all she did was spend "6 hours" drawing the head of both images.... what a waste of 50$ deposit money and time.....I will NEVER return and highly recommend you to stay away from Katie if you're looking for professional work.
Review Source:It's been about a year since my first review about One Shot, since my first tattoo done at One Shot, and my rating for the place, and for Joe Paul has not changed.
Since my first visit I've been back for 3 more tattoos, all done by Joe Paul. The man is great at what he does. I was told getting a picture of a crescent moon wasn't possible as a tattoo in the past. The guy didn't even really explain why; he just dismissed it, and dismissed me. Joe took the time to look at the picture, and sketch up something for me, and I got my crescent moon tattoo!
I popped in one night, threw an idea for a tattoo at Joe that seemed impossible (how do you make a tattoo seem like it's glowing?), but Joe made it possible.
And a couple months later, I went back to get yet another tattoo. It turned out AMAZING. I love it. I love it. I love it. My cousin saw it, and she loves it as well! The colors, and the shading are perfect. It's so beautiful.
I love this place. Everyone is very nice, welcoming, and chill.
Joe Paul is an amazing artist! He has great ideas, and is very open to making tweaks to his sketches to fit my vision of the tattoo. For the latest one, he had to start over, but didn't show any annoyance in doing so. He had the time, so he worked with me to create exactly what I had envisioned. He always makes me feel comfortable. Thanks, Joe!
And one of the most important points of a tattoo place: IT'S VERY CLEAN!
Went to One Shot to get my second tattoo and it was such a better experience than my first one, which I got done at another SF place I won't be naming. Sonny was chill, funny and kept me relaxed throughout the process. He took my photos of Sutro Tower, had some suggestions and the final outcome was perfect. And I can't believe how fast it healed! Didn't expect to be ready to show it off after just two days.
Finally, no one at One Shot made me feel stupid because I was getting my "tiny tower" and not a full back-piece, something I've experienced at other tattoo and piercing shops. Would definitely return, for a project big or small.
For all my piercing and body mod needs, I always go to Xian at One Shot. Â So far, he's done 6 dermal anchors and both of my nipples. Â Xian has also made my life easy by stretching my ear lobes for me. Â I'm always happy to get something done by him -- he's absolutely hilarious and great to work with. Â Not gonna lie -- each procedure does hurt , but it only lasts a second since he's so professional about his work, he's quick with his tools, and he's so funny that he has me laughing instead of wincing. Â He is the kind of professional that you can trust with your skin. Â
If there's a piercing you've always wanted, allow Xian the pleasure of doing it for you. Â His work is clean and precise, and he will definitely make you feel great about your new piercing(s). Â And in addition to all the reasons you should get pierced by Xian, he is also quite a handsome devil.
My experience at One Shot was nothing short of fantastic. My first visit but fourth tattoo, I knew roughly what to expect, but was still blown out of the water. Sonny J took my piece, an Andrew Wyeth study, created the line work, and advised me on placement (he was absolutely right). Rib pieces hurt like anything, but Sonny's humor made the application so much more bearable, and the five hours passed in a (slightly painful) flash, to say nothing of the incredible art he crafted and applied. I'll definitely be back at One Shot, and hopefully graced with Sonny's expertise, for whatever else I decide to permanently emblazon on my body.
Seriously, five stars just aren't enough. Sonny J, you're a wonder.
Went in and got my tongue pierced by Christian yesterday. No bullshit kind of guy, he did a great, quick, and as painless job as expected with a needle going through my tongue. He didn't use clamps and let me know that it shouldn't swell as a result. Will recommend to friends and would go back myself.
Review Source:I was super impressed with the cleanliness and the safety practices that i could see, while waiting for my design to be traced out i saw two artists reset their sections and it was so methodical and thorough!
I have been into some grand tattoo studios and some seedy as hell ones, these guys were fantastic and i left an extremely satisfied customer.
I will be seeing them again to fix up some of my existing work.
I got my very first tattoo done by Katie Gray! I wanted a love infinity tattoo with 3 birds flying. I showed her some pictures I found online and Katie just rolled along with it. Her design came out BETTER than the ones I showed her :) She was also very patient since this was my first tattoo ever and I was pretty much nit-picking on everything.
Before the process, I was so nervous but Katie kept reassuring that whatever I was thinking about is probably 10 times worse than what it really is. She gave me some time to get ready and as soon as I gave her a nod she started working on my tattoo.
And Katie was right! The tattoo wasn't as bad as I thought. She was also very quick and precise with her work. I was in and out of the shop within an hour! :)
It's true when they say tattoos get addicting! I am already in the process of thinking what should be my next one. I will definitely come back for more with Katie!
I've had three piercings here, and have seen my friends get many as well. The first time I went here was earlier last year, when my friends and I were at Pasion's happy hour and had a little too much sangria (just kidding, there's never such a thing as too much sangria). Two of them had been wanting to get a piercing for a while, and I had always sort of wanted a rook but never took the initiative. They both decided to walk down the street to this shop and get their piercings, and the sangria told me that I should get my rook as well. Jean (pronounced John) did my piercing, as well as my subsequent ones, and he's awesome! He's a cool guy to talk to and very personable.
Last month I removed my rook to make room for a daith piercing, and got a tragus on the other ear a few weeks later. I liked that Jean asked me if I use earbuds, and advised me not to get the tragus piercing on the same ear as the daith since it would be too crowded to put earbuds in. I'm glad he considered that and I'd recommend him for any piercing desires!
I waited a long time to get my first tattoo and had spent a long time figuring out exactly what I wanted: a cut lace heart. Specifically I wanted it to look, "Like a piece of black lace fell onto my back." I spent hours and hours looking at artists and their portfolios online (so many flaming skulls!) and was giving up on finding someone I thought could create a really beautiful and FEMININE tattoo when I FINALLY came across Joe-Paul's gallery. I immediately loved his work and felt like "this guy will get it" I contacted him, sent him a picture of a picture I'd found online that was "close to what I wanted" but I didn't want to just copy it and he spent a good about of time creating an original design for me.
A design that was AMAZING! It was similar but had several awesome differences that were somehow even MORE me. I loved it and looking at it (my best friend, who was with me for moral support and good judgment, also loved it) I realized that, while I had planned for my first tattoo to be smaller, to do this one justice it actually needed to BE the size of his sketch and NOT be shrunk down before being turned into a stencil, which he had planned on doing to meet my original specs.
So I ended up sitting for nearly four hours instead of two and Joe made THAT easy and comfortable as well. When I needed a break, I got one, when I felt a bit dizzy (from the adrenalin, not the pain) he knew what position to put me in to get me feeling back to normal really quickly and he just made the entire process as comfortable as it could be. Also the shop was clean, polite and didn't have that manic stressful energy a lot of places do. Everyone there was super nice.
So in sum: Â JOE PAUL: Great artist, great guy and when I get my NEXT tattoo I will TOTALLY be going back to him. And it really does look like a beautiful piece of black Battenburg lace is laying in the middle of my back. I LOVE IT!
Can't recommend this shop highly enough!!! All of the folks there are warm, friendly and welcoming. I had a tattoo done the other day by Katie Gray who's a VERY talented artist!! I gave her an idea of what I wanted to do and she really took the time to design it just the way I wanted it. What she came up with blew my mind. She's very friendly, kind and hospitable, and tries to make you as comfortable as possible. She has NONE of the attitude and ego I've encountered in other places, she's very warm and down to earth. I'm going to her for every tattoo I get in the future!!!
Review Source:So I set an appointment for Katie. I sent her two pictures that I want similar to and told her to help me create a piece. She knew it was my first tattoo and when the day came to get tatted she was very gentle. I was very nervous since it was my first time and she talked to me throughout the process. Shes very nice and her work is amazing. The store is very clean and bright. If I am going to get a second tattoo I am definitely coming back and look for Katie. :)
Review Source:I was referred to Katie Gray, by a good friend of mine.
I emailed her on a Friday to check out her availability, she was able to squeeze me in the next day.
The shop was bright and really clean, which was comforting.
I asked for 2 simple tattoos, Katie was quick and precise.
I would definitely recommend seeing Katie for work..
So it's the weekend and it's spontaneous tattoo time.
Me and a friend found this place on yelp - I'm glad we did!
Joe Paul greeted us and lucky me, he was my tattoo artist.
He asked me what I was looking to get and I gave him a really brief description and I guess he just took the idea and rolled with it. Shop minimum is $100, which isn't bad at all..10 minutes later, he came with this amazing sketch and it was exactly what I wanted - I just didn't know how to describe it to him originally..but he got it right on the dot! He was super nice and funny - good distraction while getting your wrist tatted.. and his lines were amazingly straight. They also package a take-home care kit for you after your tat is done.. it's nothing fancy, just a zip lock bag with a small container of vaseline and some cards and stickers. but still, I've never been to a shop that's even taken the time to put one together for you. they usually give you a paper that has care instructions and you're on your way.
I'm really happy with what I got and I think Joe's my new go-to guy for tattoos when I'm in the city!
I haven't written a yelp review in over 3 years, but my husband and I had such an awesome experience today I felt compelled to share it!
We found this tattoo shop on Yelp and decided to see Katie. She had great reviews & I really liked her work. She exceeded any and every expectation I had! I have 8 tattoos and have been to 3 different shops and seen 4 different artists - never have I had such a great tattoo experience as I did today. Katie is one of the nicest and cutest people I've ever met. She is warm, patient, loving, gentle, fun and easy to be with - and she is a perfectionist. All of which are crucial for a tattoo artist. I got this vibe from everyone in the shop, which was such a breath of fresh air - since most tattoos shops I have been to are far from that. Katie makes me wants to get more tattoos! Whenever I get my next piece I will absolutely be back to see Katie! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!
I stumbled upon this place because I Â was swept up in Giants World Series fever and I saw on face book that they were offering a Giants tattoo special.
I called the day before and they said to just come right in the next day.the shop was clean, the staff professional and courteous and most of all they were accommodating. The artist I worked with, Dave was nothing short if an artist. He took the design I printed off the internet and turned it to a one of a kind work of art. I'm a tattoo pro and I couldn't give Dave higher marks quick, friendly (but not too friendly) professional and always attentive to my needs.Thanks One Shot Tattoo. I'm loving the new ink
i have been using yelp for about six years, but i have never written a review for yelp before... but a tattoo is forever--and i am tickled pink with mine, so i just had to tell everyone about how awesome this place is!
it was a beautiful, sunny saturday when i called in advance (no appointment), and asked if i could just do a walk-in. the person who picked up was SUPER nice/friendly, and told me to stop in whenever... which i did, five minutes later. usually when you think of tattoo parlors, you think of big, scary, intimidating, elitist people who kind of scare the crap outta you (or intimidate you into doing something you might regret later). everyone that i had spoken to at One Shot was SUPER cool. they were all pretty down to earth, really helpful with any questions i had, and just extremely patient and nice.
ALSO... this place was incredibly clean!! probably the cleanest shop i've ever seen in my entire existence...
the tattoo i wanted was of a wave, on the bottom of my foot (i know, what??). the artist who dealt with me was SonnyJ. he told me couldn't do it because it probably wouldn't heal correctly, and it won't stick... i've seen tattoos on the bottom of people's feet before, but what he said really made sense, and i'm glad he was able to educate me on tattoos rather than just doing it for the money. because i had to change locations of where i wanted the tattoo, he was really patient and cool with making multiple transfers to try in different locations for what i thought would look best. he wasn't pushy or annoyed (which i thought he would be), and he was just SO super chill and nice. i cannot emphasize this enough! i've been to quite a few tattoo/piercing parlors where the people working there were really impatient and rude... and everyone at one shot just made me feel so comfortable!
when tattooing me, sonny was really professional and calm, but still super cool to converse with. he did a really great job--REALLY clean, really sharp, and virtually painless! apparently tattoos hurt the most on your foot, but i honestly barely felt a thing.
in any case... i will definitely be coming back here for my next tattoo (or piercing). one shot has been the most pleasant experience i've had with customer satisfaction... and i work for disney, so that's saying A LOT! :)
Checked out this place with a close friend of mine on a whim since I've been dying for new ink. I figured since the idea for my tat leaned towards  the feminine and whimsical I'd look for the lady of the house... Katie... Dropped in and was politely greeted by SONNY. I spoke to him about what I wanted and based on a time crunch I needed it quick. Now I dont have a reputation for being a "Princess" for nothing... After vaguely and repeatedly jumping from one idea to another, Sonny was talented, accommodating, & very helpful. I can also be a tad demanding, unwittingly bossy, indecisive and should I say annoying? when it comes to what I want and I have to give him props for having patience. God knows ive tested a lot of peoples 'spirits' but He was courteous, calm and kind the whole time.
In the end Sat down, got inked.... And after a hop skip and a few needlebites I got the tattoo that I wanted. The place was also super clean, with great staff and good ink. What more can you want? Overall I'd say my experience was SONNY with No Chance of Rain!
This place is great! My artist was Katie, and she's amazing.
I came in 40 minutes late to my appointment due to personal reasons and traffic and trying to find parking and she was very understanding about it. I got there, and she made sure I was happy with the positioning and the size of the tattoo. I got a feather on my ribs and it being my first tattoo, I was really nervous since ribs tend to hurt a lot. However, her encouraging words calmed me down and she made me feel better. She made sure I was okay and asked if I needed a break every so often. She let me know how I was doing and updated me with what was going on. It was over in about 40 minutes.. and I love it! She went over the aftercare and everything thoroughly as well. She's great! Plus she's very pretty :)
When I get another tattoo, I will probably be coming back here!
Fantastic work and great service.
I just got another tattoo from them. My first one was by Dave Bobrick. This last one was by Katie.
I've had lots of tattoos done and Katie did great work. She has a light hand and a light machine - meaning virtually no pain whatsoever. On top of it, she works quick, is friendly, and detail-oriented. Â I went with a sugar skull design that is just black & white line-work. It's about 4" by 2" and took about 30 minutes.
Ordinarily, I would have gone to Black & Blue but, having left two voicemail messages to make an appointment, I decided to go elsewhere. Katie took me as a walk-in and was all set up within 5 minutes. Â
One Shot has a lot of flash to choose from (should you so desire). Everyone in the store is affable and cheerful. The shop itself is clean and hygienic (which is vitally important). Â They do take major credit cards. Â The minimum cost for work is $100. And, of course, you should always tip the artist.
If you go there, either Katie or Dave do wonderful work. You really can't go wrong by getting a tattoo here. The only "problem" is you won't have much time to change your mind because they will see you with little to no wait.
I came here to get my first tattoos. (5 "flying butterflies" and a bow). I recommend Katie. I chose Katie because a friend of mine told me to get her. She is awesome. She gave me breaks and assured me when she was almost done and to hang on for a little bitter longer haha. I feel super bad that I kept moving, SORRY KATIE! But I do love your work and what you've done to my back :)
I am a super satisfied customer! If I wanna get another tattoo, I'll probably be back here and get it from Katie Gray! And she's soooo pretty! Hehe.
Sonny is awesome. I came in to get an addition to a tattoo I already have (done by someone else) and was greeted by Sonny, super nice and easy going, it wasn't an intimidating experience like you get walking in to some other tattoo shops. I let him know what I was looking for, he took a look at the placement and then sat down and did some research/sketches of the birds I wanted and then said "we can do it now if you'd like", "SURE!" I responded.
Hopped on the table and 30 min later I had my flying birds coming out of my feather tattoo. Sonny was respectful not to go over the previous artist's work.
After I went home, and stared at it for a while, I realized a little more needed to be added, so I called Sonny up a week later to see if I could drop by for the addition, he again told me to come in, did the quick fix and told me it was on the house as a touch up. Thanks Sonny, love the way it turned out :)
*don't forget to tip your artist!
I just had to write this review. Â So, my twin daughters turned 18 and what do they want for their birthday? Â A tatoo that says twins with a heart. Â OK, fine. Â Innocent enough. Â We went to One Shot and had the best experience. Â The shop is really nice and very clean and the artists are all so professional and great at what they do. Â So I decided to get my first tatoo at 58 years old ! Â The girls & I had a great time there. Â I would totally recommend One Shot to everyone. Â Hands down the best.
Review Source:Had my first tattoo here. So glad the owner, Dave, squeezed me in his busy schedule last minute. The tattoo was an infinity sign with the word run incorporated into it (run forever). Because it was my first tattoo, Dave made sure I really wanted it and it was not a spur of the moment thing. I've waited forever for this tattoo; it marks my first marathon. Once he knew running was important to me, he was more than happy to tattoo me. He was very nice and assured me it would be quick and virtually painless. And it was!
He charges tattoos at $100 minimum. But remember, good tattoos are not cheap, and they're permanent. Worth every penny. Thanks Dave.
I've had three tattoos of mine done at his shop, all by Joe Paul. Â My first two here were on the tops of my feet, and the third was on my calf. Â The shop is SUPER clean and the staff are amazingly friendly. Â I can't draw worth a damn, so I was only able to tell Joe what I wanted, and what he came up with was amazing. Â Things I never would have thought of. Â While getting my tattoo other tattooers would often stop by Joe table and check out the work in progress, and comment on it. Â A good thing about a shop with so many talented people is that you get a lot of feedback, and advise. Â No matter where I move to in the future, I will never go anyplace else, or to anyone else. Â
oh, I guess the only downfall is, even if you have an appointment, you should expect to wait maybe 30 minutes longer then that. Â and parking is a pain. Â But they still get a 5 out of 5 from me!!
I've been it once, so what they did to help me out-they deserve all, bright and flashing stars!
I actually didn't head in to get a tattoo, because i'm not of age, but i went in to get my nose stud replaced. about 5 days before i went in, my friend, (as stupid as it sounds) pierced my nose with the piercing gun. It didn't hurt, nor were there any infections what so ever, which was great, and the earing the pierced it was too big so i went in to get a stud or a ring. Unfortunately the earing pierced the nose in a somewhat unusal spot. It was a teeny tiny higher up than other nose piercings. Anyway, i went in and the guy was extremely nice and descriptive with what he was doing and how my nose looked.
My nose was pierced in the weirdest angle ever! Anyway, he opened the hole a bit, which hurts like slamming your tounge in a car door, and then he messed around with the stud and ring, trying to see if any would fit in my oddly-pierced nose. Fortunately the stud did-it hurt soooooo badly, but i was so glad to get it fixed and have it all  figured out, and not having a mega big earing stud sticking out of it.
The pain was horrible, as usual, it gave me a headache, but it was worth all the blood-gushing facials i got from the piercing.
I would highly recommend this shop! They charged me $10, but I gave them $20!
What also helped me get through the pain was that there was a pit bull sitting next to me! it was only 5 weeks old! it was licking me and the cutest thing!
Also, most people know or think of One Shot Tattoo to be a Tattoo store, but it also does piercings. Piercings are cheap.
I called in on a Friday night wanting a relatively simple tattoo, and they had time to squeeze me in. Sonny did a great job on my tattoo and even kept the shop open to 8:30 to finish it - didn't rush to get through. I was getting a band logo and they even put that band on for me - very nice!
Very professional place!
I LOVE THIS JOINT! Â Dave did my rosary tattoo last year. Â He was referred to me by my cousins. Â My tat was so beautifully done and when it healed, there was no peeling in, on or around the tat. Â If this is your first time getting a tat, THIS IS THE PLACE TO GO. Â I'm gonna go back to get my 2nd tattoo done by Dave. Â
Before I go, I'd like to include how immaculate the place was. Â Everyone there were very professional, patient and courteous. Â If you won't take my word for it, then stop by & check out this spot. Â THANKS DAVE, U ROCK!!!
I love this place! I found it because my normal tattooer, Katie Grey, started working there not too long ago. Â She is great, personable, very creative, and provides great work. I am happy she landed at One Shot Tattoo because the place is awesome. Â The atmosphere is VERY clean and the staff rocks!
Thank you Katie and all you guys at One Shot for providing such a sweet shop!
I've got two tattoos done here one by Katrina and one by Nakona.
I made an appointment with Nakona to do a traditional rose on the back of my calf, he was super nice and friendly. We chatted it up while i sat back and let him go to work. It did take a bit long, but I'm not in a rush when it comes to getting inked. Nakona was very easy to talk to. I could tell he pays a lot of attention to his work!
During my time with Nakona I also met Katrina. She's super spunky and at the time she was doing muay thai so her and this other dude were jus totally kicking each other and stuff. It was entertaining. haha. Anyways, one day when I felt like getting tatted up I walked in and Katrina was available so she just drew up the stencil real quick and I was on my way out in half an hour or less. I hear nothing but good things about Katrina so who am I to argue?
I had been looking to get another tattoo done for a while and after asking around, One Shot seemed to be my best option. Reasonable pricing, good recommendations and great work done.
We dropped in for a consultation and made an appointment for both me and my girl to get something done at the same time. Came back, got our tattoos and minus the slight wincing, we're happy as clams.
Extremely friendly and professional. One Shot takes their time to make sure you're getting exactly what you want. My friend had previously gotten her ankle tattoo outlined here and came back to get it finished. Both Joe and Jeremy were awesome! They partition off the session area for customers getting a tattoo in a sensitive area and do their best to make you feel comfortable. There's no pressure or negativity whatsoever.
$50 deposit when you do the consult and book your appointment which goes towards your fee. $100 shop minimum which isn't bad at all compared to some other shops. I know we'll be back in the near future.
The guys in here are truly some cool dudes. They've got a hell of a lot of class, and their attitudes toward their customers are something every business should try to replicate.
My sister wanted to get some ink but then couldn't get over it mentally. It took her until the stencil had already been positioned on her side, and she was lying on the table ready to go, before she decided to back out.
Instead of giving her any grief, charging her, or even saying anything negative, these guys just kept giving her positive reinforcement, and encouraging her it think it through some more until she was more sure that's what she wanted. I was really taken aback by how compassionate and understanding their attitudes about the whole thing were, and I will definitely be coming here to give them my patronage for my next tattoo.
Doug Fortin is the jam! I have 3 tattoos from Doug and I've left One Shot elated after our sessions.
1. Doug is quick, and has a light hand. He's tattooed my ribs and
there wasn't a bruise upon me.
2. He is able to translate my ideas. I tell him what I envision and
he delivers the sketch above and beyond what I imagined. Which,
is what I expect from anyone who's going to permanently ink me.
3. Doug's attitude is five-f$*&ing stars. He's pleasant, happy, warm,
not to mention hilarious.
If you haven't received a tattoo by Doug Fortin, you better book an appointment ASAP!
I'm telling ya, Doug is going to make your art and overall experience
a five-star one.
Also, Doug has created a whole new style of tattoos for me. One that I've never seen, and other tattoo artists and people in general have never seen. Dare I say, completely original? He's brought my vision to ink.
Doug, you're the best.
On Jan 28, 2011, I booked my tattoo appointment with Katrina. I went in a week prior to my appointment to ask if they can sketch out my tattoo design. I wasn't sure what I wanted as a design but I knew what I wanted. A flower Lily, a pink ribbon (breast cancer) and my mothers name. I asked for them to sketch it out and that I will come back the following week to get it done. They charged me about $50 for sketching the tat and to book the appointment later. They do that just so that they dont do a large sketch and the person never shows up which is completely understandable.
I come in for my appointment. Katrina shows me her sketching and I loved it. So we get started. Just to let everyone know, all the workers there were friendly, they had set up these stands so that I can be isolated so no one can see me getting my work done, since it was being done on my side.
Katrina was informing me that this will be painful since it will be on the ribs. That I needed to be as calm as I could be. She was very informative and sweet. She began. I didnt think that it hurt much only when she shaded some of the petals next to the rib. When she was writing my mothers name, it tickled. Who would have thought that it would tickle? Anyways, it took about an hour. I fell in love with my tattoo. I feel bad because I didnt tip her, next time I will. Since I will be returning.
She bandaged me up, and gave me some cream to use for the healing process and tips. Very friendly. I had a great experience and will definitely go back.
The other day marked a pivotal point in my official acceptance into "Deviance from Societal Norms," Â culminating in the completion of a Giant Tattoo by one Sky Winchester of One Shot Tattoo. This was my fifth tattoo, definitely the best, and definitely more deserving of the title of "Artwork" than tattoo. The skill, precision, and brevity of Sky's tattooing style, combined with his surprisingly sweet yet quiet personality, made my time under the needle "pleasant." Yes, even as the needle tore through the tender skin over my ribcage, across my hip bone, dangerously close to my inner thigh, I still appreciate every minute Sky spent beautifying my body.
He even listened to me bitch and moan about my dumbass ex Roboboyfriend, without complaint! I think that deserves a medal of honor, because I really do have a mouth on me (as if you couldn't tell by the verbosity of my YELP reviews.)
I must admit that the entire One Shot family are extremely lovable. Across my five multiple-hour visits to One Shot, I have had the pleasure of getting to know several of their delightful denizens. They are all talented, funny and quirky in their own rights. One of them even cuts GEMS as a hobby, and showed me some of pictures of the gems he has cut - incredible! If I weren't destined to become a lonely spinster, I would definitely hire him to make my wedding ring.
So, thank you Dave, Sky, and everyone else at One Shot. You truly are special, and I shall come back with all the friends who I have referred to get work done by you just as an excuse to hang out. I promise not to talk too much... well, okay, that's a lie. I look forward to seeing you again.
one word: don'tgoanywhereelseinsf
I've been planning and scoping out places for the one I wanted for a year now, on two coasts. Â I've read all the reviews, gone into places and researched websites and artists for a long time, and then one day earlier this year, drove past One Shot on my way home. Â It looked bright, clean and inviting. Â Cool, someplace new and nice-looking. Â
The advantage of new to me, is that the likelihood of running into overpriced, stuck-up primadonnas who sneer at your ideas as if they're not dependent on your business for their bread and butter is less likely.
One of my pet peeves regarding tattoo studios is their self-consciousness about the prices they charge, preferring to say things on their info pages like: "you should never take price into consideration, it's the quality of the work"  or  "Our artists work very hard to provide you with the best possible work, cost should not matter".  The last time I checked, getting a tat was still a retail operation, regardless of the less mainstream nature of the product, it's still an exchange of money for services.  Thus, in a place with many providers to choose from, CUSTOMERS WILL WANT TO GET A GOOD DEAL.  It's the very nature of commerce.
I digress.
What sealed the deal for me after I looked at and loved the portfolios of all the artists there, was their Shop Info page. Â Right there at the top of the page: their prices and policies. Â Bam! Â No subterfuge, no hedging. Â No need to rationalize over-inflated figures. Â And frankly, they were more than reasonable, especially in comparison to some of their competitors.
When I want a tat or a haircut, I always do it last-minute/impulse style. Â So fun! Â (I think about the design for a long time - it's just the actual implementation that is impulse). This requires that places accommodate walk-ins, which the website said they did. Â So, on a Saturday evening around 6 PM, I strolled in with a friend and was instantly greeted by cheerful, friendly people. Â Â Within seconds, I had explained what I wanted, showed them some examples of the sort of thing I was talking about, and Aidan was on the case at his desk, sketching out a draft.
No waiting. Â No dismissive sneer at my idea. Â NO WAITING. Â The conversation was genuine, and funny; did I mention we didn't have to wait?
It was fun sitting in the front window, watching the faces of passers-by, some intrigued, some horrified, some amused. Â Hi little girl, yeah, tell your mommy you want one too... Â It also made me have to look all cool and relaxed, even during the really sharp painful bits!
At the end of a long and entertaining conversation, I had a lovely piece of art on my arm, and was charged almost half of what I thought I was going to pay. Â I was even a pain in the rear, asking for a last tweak, after it had been all nicely wrapped up for the journey home. Sorry! Â I am thinking about going in tomorrow for their anniversary party, and doing a grab-bag special, just for poops and giggles. Â More please!
Parking was a b*tch for me. Friendly service. Price is more like $$$.
I spontaneously wanted my belly pierced, I yelped out a couple places, read the reviews for this place and decided to just come here because there's no wait. I came and asked for price, it was 60$ don't know if that's the normal price, but I do know my sister got hers done for $35-$40...but I got it done anyways, tooo lazy to price shop...clean place, good job, means more $$$.....Jean, I believe, the guy who pierced my belly did a good job, he was quick and friendly. The place looks very clean and sanitized. I've had my ears pierced, my nose pierced, and none of them really walked me through and show me what tools they'll use on me and to acknowledge the fact that it is brand new or sanitized and so forth.....he did. Afterward he explained how to clean it and even gave me an instruction sheet to explain how to clean it at home if I forget what he tells me....
JEAN IS THE MAN!!!! He's the only piercer at One Shot but he does a great job!
I came in with no idea what I wanted and got 2 piercings (daith and conch - both recommended by him) a week after another. I already told a bunch friends about him after the first piercing and got 5 friends to get piercings plus a few more who are down to check it out. He's hella informative and you know he's not tryin to rip you off. He explains the whole process of what to look out for when you go to other piercing shops so you know if the place is clean and doesn't try to sell you cleaning stuff like other places do. I never knew that piercings only took 2 weeks to heal (if handled properly) until he gave thorough examples and how to care for it after. I'm going back again this weekend and definitely recommend him to everyone!
Doug! Â
What a dude!
I can't sing his praises enough. Â Listened to everything I had to say and had no problem changing designs and making sure everything was exactly as I wanted. Â At the same time he was quite happy to put in his two cents without being overbearing, just making suggestions.
Helps that his art is fucking awesome.
I've left completely happy and will definitely be returning. Â
As for the whole shop, it seems well run and as friendly as anywhere should be.
Dougy Doug - truly a class act! Â Doug was sure to take in all my input into account and took proper time to get the sketch-up just right. Â He took the foot long original piece and shrank it down to about half that - so it would fit my arm - while somehow keeping all those small details that really made the piece awesome. Â
Once things got shaking, he dug in (har har) and blasted out the piece in what must have been, seriously, 45 mins to an hour tops. Â (Fastest work I've ever seen!) Â All the fine lines are literally on point, the shading is beastly.. Â Dude was zoning!
The guys were all there talkin' shop and everyone made sure to come over and give some POSITIVE input. Â In my memory, I am getting tatted in a bright, clean place called One Shot and if you believe in energy, then I would say that's a pretty good word to describe the vibe, positive. Â At the end Doug even through in a little extra for me which, btw is slowly becoming my new favorite tat. Â
So, Yo ho ho & a bottle of rum..
MOB!..
& I dig Doug  ...no homo
If someone's gonna puncture me with a needle, they better be good or I just might stab back!
I was trying to decide whether to get a new piercing a while back or not. Â I finally just stopped thinking and researched a good place to do it!
This was it and it was an excellent choice!
Everything is clean and sterile! The staff is funny, welcoming and very knowledgeable!
I was so stoked, I got my three girlfriends to get the same piercing with me! Â I felt like a gang leader. Â First initiation? Â Getting punctured to show your loyalty! Â It was all in good fun and we were all instructed in detail what to do to properly clean our new symbols of rebellion.
Best part? If you can't take pain...distract yourself from the pain and get some Tart to Tart just a block or two away! Â Any excuse for some sweets, right?
Karina...Karina...what can I say?
I found Karina on where else but yelp of course! Â My sis and her man were looking for a tattoo artist. Â So I did some research for them. Â They both loved the work she did. Â So when it came time to cover up some Kanji and not so cutely done cherry blossoms on my arm she was the first person I thought of!
So a few sessions later I have the most beautifully done Koi Fish cover up EVER! Â Cover up? Â What cover up? Â She did such an amazing job. Â You can't even tell.
My Mon (Japanese family crest) came out so beautiful. Â I've gotten so many compliments on the piece, if it's showing...there's always someone coming up to me.
Everyone there is super nice and laid back and the new location is great. Â Nice and open with a lot of light. Â
Thanks Karina!!
I have been going to One Shot Tattoo for the last few years for my numerous tattoos, and I LOVE IT HERE.
First off, everyone in the shop is super cool, interesting, and fun. Â Whether my last tat was six weeks or six months previous, they always remember me. Â I haven't really worked too much with the guys, but they are all friendly as hell. Â
My chick, KARINA, is, for lack of a more articulate saying, "the shit". Â She has done most of my tattoos, and her work is amazing. Â She's fast, professional, and really good. Â Most recently I started a sleeve. Â I told her an general idea of what i wanted, and she drew a completely original piece. Â The design is amazing, and better than i could have ever hoped for. Â The tattoo itself was super intricate, but she works fast, and it was a great experience. Â I cant wait to finish it up in a few weeks. Â Karina is really the only person I'll go to for a great tattoo. Â AND she's a chick, in a mostly male profession, which makes her even more cool in my opinion.
Whether its your 1rst or 15th tattoo, one shot is the place to go. Â Quality work, and a fun atmosphere.
This place is great. I took my friend to get a tattoo and he was treated superbly. A receptionist was polite and patiently answered many questions that my friend and I had about tattoos in general and then specific questions we had on particular drawings.
Karina, who is going to be doing the tattoo on my friend, was kind enough to interrupt her session with another customer few times to give her intake about the tattoo my friend was choosing.
A week later she performed a tattoo on my friend who is very happy with the results!
I went to this place on a whim after reading reviews on yelp.
I came at a bad time when they were in the middle of relocating their old place into their new building. My appointment had to be rescheduled and I was super disappointed. However, when I came back the following weekend for my session... despite their moving situation they accomadated me quite well. They opened up their old place to get my session going.
Doug was my artist. He was awesome! He took his time drawing it out not once, but twice. Carefully detailing everything. After almost a two hour session of pain, seriously I was in mother effin' pain on the rib cage... he somehow made it a masterpiece.
He reassured me every few minutes what he was doing, what he was doing next, how much longer, etc. I think he got almost tired of me asking (I would be of myself). He finally finished the outline. I still have to go back to get it filled in... but hey it was worth it.
Plus the price was afforable. At $150 I paid for a full on huge rib cage piece, minus the color for now. i'm comng back to have him finish it..
I went to One Shot for a septum piercing. I stopped in there a few days prior to check out the artwork and ended up talking to their piercer, Jean-Noel. Super friendly, very helpful, and extremely experienced dude. I felt really comfortable, and decided he should be the one to pierce me.
When I got there, Jean had laid out his tools for the job (all sterilized and wrapped, one-time use tools). He then sat me there and explained, step-by-step, everything he was going to do and what a septum piercing entailed. He explained what kind of soap he was using to clean my nose and why it was better than other kinds of soaps. He showed that he's basically a super piercing nerd, incredibly knowledgeable. I felt completely at ease. He cleaned the inside of my nose, then made sure I was ready, and lined up the needle. He told me not to worry because he'd warn me before he did anything. After the needle was lined up, he warned me, and then he went in for it.
I was expecting the terrible stabbing sensation and streaming eyes I'd imagine one would get with a septum piercing.
NOTHING of the sort happened. Not only did my eyes not even water up (and they did when I got a nostril piercing years ago), the sensation I experienced was akin to a slight pinch and pressure. Holy crap. I was floored. Jean-Noel hit the "sweet spot" I'd read about in septum piercings, that area of tissue where you want a septum piercing to go but which is tough to find. Very professionally, he stepped back and made sure the needle was straight in my nose, then finished the job and put the ring in. I looked in the mirror. It was wicked cute. Triumph.
This was about a week and a half ago, and I haven't been in extreme discomfort even once. The healing is going GREAT. I am happy. Go to Jean-Noel for your piercings. He's a friendly and upstanding dude who knows what he's doing, and you cannot beat that.
One Shot Tattoo is amazing!
I got my first tattoo from Dave when he was still at Pacific Tattoo about 7 years ago. Â I moved to the Inner Sunset a few years ago and found him working at One Shot. He added onto the original tattoo that he had done 7 years ago twice and it looks awesome! He works quickly and does a great job. I'm hoping to go back soon for round 3!
My artist at One Shot Tattoo was Nakona. He did a fantastic job on my tattoo!
The staff there is super nice; I parked right outside of the shop where you have to pay the meter every thirty minutes (I know. I'm retarded). And they went out every thirty minutes to feed the meter for me since I was getting tattooed. =)
I actually did a lot of research and found out about Nakona and I had emailed Nakona of some drawings and pictures of what I wanted. And he took the samples I gave him and created an awesome drawing.
It has been about 8 years since I got my first tattoo and I was a nervous wreck, but Nakona did a good job calming me down and reassuring me. I'm not going to lie, it hurt like hell but the whole time he was making stupid comments that kept me laughing.
I highly recommend Nakona.
I basically just joined Yelp today to review One Shot and give huge thanks to Nakona. Â This was only my 2nd tat after an 11 year stretch from my first one. Â I was definitely nervous about the permanency and the pain and had virtually backed out that morning when I woke up and decided my design wasn't good enough for a lifetime.
Nakona changed all that.
On Saturday, I spoke with him and then emailed him the design I was considering. Â Over the weekend, he reworked it and added a border so when I saw it on Monday, suddenly, I was convinced that it was the art for my body! Â This being helped of course that he dug my design so much he was considering having it inked on him as well! Â Confirmation of creative choice never hurts, right?
Both my friend and I were completely impressed with the professionalism and community of the shop, Nakona's gentleness, artistic ability and sense of humor, and our end products...amazing body art!
I definitely recommend Nakona and this shop to anyone considering a tattoo, whether experienced or a beginner like me. Â And though I said two was my limit, I just might be back to Nakona for another some day....! Â Thanks again for the work and for the raw cacao recommendation!
Can't get any better than this place. Super chill vibe. Cool artists, and rad music.
I've come here twice to get work done by Jason, which by the way is a really cool dude an awesome japanese tatoo specialist, and every single time it has been great.
The shop is snuggled in between, and behind, a Mexican food joint and some other store. But once inside after the semi alley walk to the shop, you realize that this place is legit. The shop is always clean in appearance. Modern looking. And very welcoming. Can't say anything wrong about the place.
ohh goodness...I'm nervous as hell.
My hands are sweating...did I shower last nite? I'm shivering...man will it hurt?? My stomach is not feeling good right now...dang why did I decide to do this?? All of these questions are running thru my head!! the girl behind the counter noticed how nervous I was...she smiled n tell me that its really not that bad. n my artist Nakona assured me that he's gonna be gentle n that it would not hurt at all.
well...it did hurt but Nakona was soo gentle that the pain was bearable. and I find out that the more I talk the less pain I feel....it distract me when I talk ALOT. Nakona must thought that I'm really crazy but he was soo sweet n funny....after awhile I wonder if he was single. hahahhahha...anyways the result was amazing! Nakona was such a perfectionist and very anal so my tattoo turned out to be one HOTT piece of artwork! n Dave helped with the drawing process...he turned my simple request into something more beautiful n he was super friendly too! The place is clean and everyone was soo friendly and funny...that really helps when its ur first time ever getting a tat. I got mine done on my wrist and Nakona is the man u want for ur first tat so that u dont get shocked by the pain.
If you want to be inked for life...this is the perfect place to start. It is true what they say though...ITS ADDICTING. I already booked an appt for my 2nd tattoo =)
Update: So I finally did get my tattoo from Nakona. It is gorgeous. So gorgeous, in fact, that I cried a little every time I looked at it for the first week because I love it so much. It's something I wanted for well over a year, and I'm so glad I waited to find an artist like Nakona to get it. He truly is an artist and  I just  want to reiterate the things I said below a thousand times.
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Overall, One Shot Tattoo is a laid-back, clean, comfortable place. Not an ounce of pretension found in some tattoo shops. This review is specifically for Nakona's sweet tattoo skills.
If you truly want a piece of art on your body, Nakona's the man to go to. My best friend came to visit SF and wanted a cherry blossom tattoo on her foot. We described to him what she wanted and showed him a few pics of things she liked. When we came back in an hour or so he had sketched out precisely what she wanted. But then he altered it specifically to the shape of her foot. I was really impressed with his attention to detail and the time he took to make sure it was exactly what she wanted.
After Nakona worked in some beautiful colors and shading, the tattoo turned out better than we could have ever imagined. I told my friend, "I didn't think it was possible, but you've actually become more beautiful today."
Nakona makes you feel really relaxed, is so easy to talk to and has really positive energy. He is meticulous with his work, and he really puts his heart into it. He is an artist who works with many mediums, and is an expert with a needle and ink. He is so talented and very gentle. My friend nearly passed out the last 2 times she was tattooed, plus I think everyone knows how painful it is to get a tat on your foot. But with Nakona, she didn't even wince.
I've had an idea for a tattoo that I've been wanting on my ankle for about a year now, I just hadn't found the right person to do it. But as soon as the snowboarding season is over, I'm heading straight to Nakona. I can't wait!!
In the words of Mr. T... "I don't hate fools, I pity them!"...
If you don't come to One Shot, you're a fool...and I pity you.
The tattoo Nakona created for me is just perfect. He took my ideas and expanded on them to create something truly meaningful and beautiful. I'm sure I squirmed a little when he was in the tenderest of places, but he did it with a smile and with calm patience. He is one of the most solid arists I've met in a long time...with a background in fine arts and crafts, Nakona has a deep love for creating art in all forms. He truly commits to everything he does and it shows in the dedication that he has in all of his tattoo projects.
The shop as a whole as the biggest ball of positive energy surrounding it. You can tell that everyone that works there sees this place as an extension of their own home...they all are very supportive, funny, talented and true artists. I've been able to befriend other shops along the way, but this one has the most family friendly feel. On the walls you'll find a smattering of children's drawings mixed in with tattoo tracings and original artwork by the tattoo artists themselves. A truly calming and inspiring environment.
Make no mistake - if you come here, you won't regret it. Is there anyway I can give this place 6 stars?!
Last summer, my mom finally gave in and said she'd get her first tattoo. YAY! Â We wanted to get tatted up before an upcoming trip so I called One Shot since it was closeby. Â Karina was helpful and said that someone cancelled so both my mom and I could come in for our tattoos. Â Sweet!
The shop itself is clean and it's a comfortable atmosphere. Â My mom went first because I didn't want her to chicken out after watching me go. Â We got tattoos on our upper back shoulders. Â Both our tattoos turned out nice. Â My mom went on to share her experience with her co-workers who then came to One Shot to get tatted up as well.
This shop will probably be the only shop I use from now on. Â I was referred to Dave from a close friend and the experience has been great! Â
A little information about the tattoo that I got:
- Koi swimming upstream
- location: complete lower right arm (to complete my sleeve)
- extras: cherry blossom, peony, chrysanthemum
The whole tattoo required three sessions. Â One for the outline, then shading, and last color.
All three sessions were comfortable and laid back. Â They were always filled with hilarious stories told by Dave and Katrina. Â The shop was clean and adorned with personal effects that made it comfy.
I came in with a picture and only a general idea of what I wanted to get, but Dave made it into a great piece! Â The color combo of red, black, orange, and yellow looks great on the Koi!
I have already referred two people for tattoos by Dave and they both love theirs (one has chinese characters, about 40 of them, on his rib cage and the other has three stars on her wrist). Â And I have my best friend coming in next month for his first one.
Look no further, this is the place to be!
My sister just got her tattoo here this past weekend...we came here after dinner because my sister was obsessed with getting a tattoo right then and there.
We walked in and were greeted by a friendly guy who asked my sis what she wanted, she already knew she wanted to get a tat of a larkspur flower (her birth flower) on the inside of her wrist.
She didn't bring a pic, but they advised that they could get online and print out a pic.
Tony was the one who actually did her tat, he quoted her $150. Â He got to work and about 45 mins later he was done, my sister's tattoo was so nice! He did very detailed work and it came out so good! My sister was very happy! Â
Not only that, when she was getting ready to pay, Tony knocked off $50!!! Wow!
I can't wait to come back for mine!!!
This is the first tattoo shop that I've been to where I immediately felt at ease. Â I stumbled upon it while walking back from work to head home from GGP, and busted out my phone and looked their rating on Yelp. Â It had better ratings than the original place I was going to go to, so I went in through the walk-way from the street. Â It put me off a little, but I went on. Â
I really liked the shop as soon as I went in, and I was greeted with a smile and asked if I needed help. Â I just wanted to check out the portfolios, so the guy let me do my thing. Â
I had been wanting a tattoo for a while, and and was carrying around my "ideas" with me for the past month in case I came across a good shop. Â I finally busted them out and showed the guy, he called one of the guys working over and I showed him what I wanted. Â He tried to make me an appointment, but I wanted something too far out, he told me to call whenever I was ready. Â
I eventually ended up emailing Karina directly and stopped by to see her, showed her what I wanted and made an appointment for the following week. Â
She made me feel so at ease during the tattoo. Â I think I worked myself up about the pain because my last tattoo was over 4 years ago, and it hurt really bad. Â I asked her to cover up a couple old tattoos from my teenage years, so it was my buffer for the pain. Â It totally didn't hurt, and from then on, I just kept watching her do her work. Â Her design was perfect, even moreso than what I imagined, and it is honestly my favorite tattoo now. Â In fact, I loved it so much that I've made a 2nd appointment to turn my piece into a sleeve, so I'm super excited.
Overall, Karina is the bomb, the shop is awesome and full of great people.
After doing extensive online research for my second tattoo, I made an appointment with Dave Bobrick at One Shot. Â I like tattoo artists that post their work online because it gives me an idea of their talent before I go in and meet them.
Dave did an excellent job--he has a smooth hand and I barely felt anything as he was giving me a tattoo on my foot. Â On this occasion I went in to get matching tattoos with my fiance to celebrate our 7 year anniversary. Â That was two years ago, and I'm still very happy with the results. Â I would go back again if I decide to expand my collection.
Thanks Dave - you're awesome!
Karina did an amazing job on my tattoo! Everything turned out beautifully, was as painless/comfortable as possible, environment was clean, and she was fun to talk to!
skeptical at first because you have to walk down a long hallway to get into the shop, but once inside everyone is super nice and the place is really clean and inviting.
she drew up my tattoo in minutes and everything went smoothly. i spent $150 for a piece that i was guessing wouldn't be more than $100 but maybe i'm out of the tattoo loop.
other than being a little pricey, this place is great!
I have officially found my tattoo parlor for while I am living in SF. The first three tattoos that I got we all done at the same place in West Hartford, CT. Upon moving to SF in May of 2006, I had a feeling that choosing a new place would be difficult. In the end, after checking many Yelp reviews, I went with One Shot, which also happened to be the closest to my apartment.
The piece I wanted done would be located on the inside of my right forearm and I already had the art from a graphic designer friend of mine. The folks at the shop didn't seem at all bothered that I had brought my own art, which is refreshing. The transfer they made up was a perfect copy of the design and they placed it just right the first time.
Even after I started going dizzy from the first five minutes of inking (which always happens to me), everyone was so nice and supportive, helping me clear my head and bring my blood sugar levels back up. The rest of the tattoo process was smooth and sweet. I'd recommend this place to anyone! My best friend will be visiting SF soon and he will be going here for more work on his first sleeve, along with boyfriend will be getting his first tattoo here.
Only issue: when they tried to run my Amex card, their credit card machine wouldn't read it because it had a holographic magnetic strip instead of the traditional. This lead to a fair amount of confusing, but all seemed to get worked out in the end.
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