I was extremely nervous about getting my septum pierced. Â After about a year of contemplation my friend and I remembered an old coworker who had suggested this place. Â I've had my share of issues with piercers and was skeptical at first. Â But Perry made me feel at ease and talked me through the nervousness. Â He was very reassuring that it wasn't as bad as I thought. Â I'd definitely go back and get pierced by him. Â It was really a quick and almost painless process. Â He did a great job and I love my septum piercing.
Review Source:I took my daughter to Rose Gold's to get her ears pierced, and we had a wonderful experience. Â The day that we popped in, we couldn't get it done because the peircer that did minors wasn't on duty, but we came back the next day and they got her right in. Â I shared my concerns about infections that other moms and daughters had to endure, and the staff explained how their methods and service were so much better than going to a shop in the mall. Â I'm now a true believer that this was the way to go. Christopher was great with my daughter, telling her what he was doing and why, and was very thorough in explaining after care. Â They also had a great selection of jewelry in-stock and my daughter got just the right pink studs that she wanted. Â I just got an email from Melissa, two weeks after the service, to see how my daughter was doing. Â Amazing! Â I would recommend Rose Gold's to anyone looking for piercing services. Â They really are top notch from the moment you enter the store to after-service. Â Thank you!
Review Source:I got my first tattoo when Rose's Gold was still Soul Patch and I have to see it's still a great place. The lady at the front desk was very nice and it was pleasant to be able to calm my nerves before going in for the tattoo. The tattoo artist was incredibly chill and I was able to joke around with him.
Also, while the artist was in the process of tattooing his friend came in and was joking around with him, which was okay cuz the tattoo was pretty simple. The whole room was very relaxed and it was a pleasant atmosphere to be apart. I definitely recommend to transform the body here!
I will come back to Rose Gold's for my next piercing. I wish I had gotten my nose pierced here in the first place. Their jewelry selection is amazing. If you like/need gold for your piercings, you need to come here. I got my nose pierced with a titanium nose stud which I ended up hating, and wanted to switch to gold. After calling around most places told me they would not change a fresh piecing, but Perry said he would see how irritated my nose was and make a judgment call from there. After looking at my piercing he said he would change my stud since I was so unhappy with the previous stud. Now, I absolutely love my white gold nose stud thanks to Perry. He was professional, friendly, and made me want to come back. Come here for piercings!!
Review Source:This review is a little over due. I spent a nice day in the city with my girlfriends. We were on the hunt for a tattoo and stopped in here after my friend had done some research. At first it seemed busy but they were able to get me in fairly quickly. Adam did a great job he was very patient and very meticulous. Needless to say I love my tattoo! If you are in the Haight this is a great place to go. It was also very clean!
Review Source:I LOVE Rose Gold's! Marie is so sweet and helpful as soon as you walk in you are greeted with her pretty smile! I have been pierced by Perry Doig now a couple times and I just ADORE him! He does great work and totally takes his time to really look at your body to give you the best piercing ever! Â I wont go anywhere else for my piercings or body jewelry needs. Did I mention how amazing their jewelry selection is?! Handmade gold pieces that you wont see on everyone else!
Sum it up... GREAT staff... beautiful pieces of jewelry.... the best work hands down!
I'm somewhat perplexed by my times in at Rose Gold. I'll explain why.
Back-Story:
I've had this idea to get a small heart tattooed on my top knuckle for quite a while. Since the tattoo is so small and it dosen't take a consultation, I did my due-diligence and went on Yelp to research a good tattoo artist. I was reading a lot of great thing about all the artists there, checked out some of their work & figured any one of them would be well suited to do this tiny task.
Pros:
The shop is in a great location. It's clean and well decorated. The ladies I interacted with (two different ones over two times) are super nice and helpful. The shop also has extensive options if you have gauged piercings. One of the finer ones I've seen in SF, actually. Even though I went on a weekend, without an appointment, I was easily accommodated. I only had to wait an hour or so, leaving me enough time to grab some grub.
A little more back-story:
Jared let me know about the issues with finger tattoos. They have a tendency of needing multiple touch-ups due to the nature of the skin. It's also common for lines to bleed a bit, again, due to the skin. I took his information into account & went for it.
The lines did in-fact bleed a little in places and were lighter in others. The light purple color that filled in the dark purple outline was spotty after it healed. All to be expected. I wasn't at all displeased with the outcome here. Jared let me know that he'd do one free touch-up once the tattoo healed. Great! I went back close to two months later.
Cons:
Jared isn't the best at making a customer feel comfortable. He's not rude, per se, just stand offish and dry. This personality wouldn't be off-putting to me in a normal every-day interaction, but when you meet someone who is going to tattoo you for the first time and there isn't a bit of communication/personality exchange, it makes things a bit unsettling. I tried to chat with him, but he seemed more interested in softly snubbing me. I apologized for the smallness of the tattoo. I have enough large tattoos to know that tattoo artists' true passion lies in the big work. He didn't offer any forgiveness, which made me feel that he was annoyed by my request for this little heart.
The second time I went in was much of the same, only this time the tattoo was truly sub-par. The line work was unsteady, making one side of the heart look like an entirely different style than the other side. I highlighted the issues with the tattoo to Jared and he responded in neutral words. I felt as if he was wholly apathetic towards me. He attempted to fix the lines, but I didn't see much of a difference afterwards.
In summary:
I believe that Rose Gold can still potentially be a great place. I got an uncomplicated tattoo from a person I hadn't had much interaction with. My belief, however, is that an artist needs to know how to do the simple things and execute them expertly. I'm truly disappointed in both of my interactions with Jared.
I also doubt that Jared, if he were to read this, would give a single f*@k about my opinion of him. But the thing that will keep me from coming back to this place is the sheer fact that what I got was mediocre talent coupled with a stinging aloofness, thus resulting in a piss-poor tattoo.
I guess I learned a few lessons:
- Just because a tattoo is small and simple, it does not mean any tattoo artist can accomplish it perfectly.
- Walk away based on personality and interaction alone, a person's portfolio means nothing without a repoire.
If you're reading this, Yelpers, I hope you learn from my mistakes. I have no ill feelings towards Jared, only grievances towards myself & my inability to read the warning signs and walk away. I consider these lessons learned as permanent as a bad tattoo.
Day couldn't have gotten any better after a long weekend in SF attending Pride events! My sister and I had been thinking about getting our cartilages pierced and this was the first shop we passed, plus it had really good ratings on Yelp! (Thanks Yelp!)
The shop was really awesome- kind of like a cool art museum of a sort- had that San Francisco feel. Â We approached a friendly looking guy behind the counter and he was patient and listened to what we had to say.
My sister and I had our first cartilage piercing from Christopher, who was very patient, kind, and informative throughout the entire process. (Notice how everyone mentions those 3 key words to describe him here.. because its true!)
He did a good job on both of us and we couldn't have been more happy! I was very please with the prices. Can't wait to go back for future possible piercings/tattoos.
Thanks for making our weekend and making this a memorable "sister-bonding" experience.
Just a quick review to say I went in to ask about a belly button piercing and the girl at the front desk was incredibly kind and honest with me (I can't get one as my belly button is too shallow). A lot of tattoo shops have a very stuck-up, judgmental vibe to them and this one was the opposite of that so I just had to leave a little review despite not getting any work done there. I'll be looking into getting my next tattoo here though because my experience with the staff was so positive!
Review Source:I came here with a friend -- me to get surface anchors in my lower back, and my friend to have a pair of piercings redone that had rejected twice before. Due to the tricky natures of our desired piercings, we both had a ton of questions and concerns. Christopher was very patient, kind, and professional, and I couldn't have asked for a better piercer! I asked him about the likelihood of my piercings rejecting, and after examining my back, he very honestly told me that it was 50/50 and explained the risks, which I appreciated. It's been a month since I got them and they've been great so far! I'm very happy with my choice to come here.
Review Source:Talk about customer service! Every. single. body in the shop that gets a paycheck was  helpful & very unique-to-tattoo-shops KIND. Perry changed some piercings for me with awesome new jewelry (go here for gold!).
I had such a good experience with that simple engagement that it has reignited my tattoo idea, and if it's any indication how professional they were, I'm looking at Rose Gold portfolios first.
Ben (artist) and Marie (staff) did a fantastic job when I came in an hour before they were supposed to close. All I had was a half-formed idea for a tattoo, but they were very understanding.
Ben worked patiently with me to determine the right font, placement, shape, and layout. Marie let my friends hang out during the session, which was cool for them.
The price was about what I expected (i.e. expensive like most places in SF) but the service and atmosphere made it worth it. Ben also made sure I understand proper healing care, and this tattoo healed the quickest of all the ones I have (eight, total).
I've been a regular here since 2009, when I first moved to the Haight (started coming here when it was Soul Patch). All the artists here are amazing! Really friendly group of folks with plenty of talent. And service here is always impeccable, thanks to the owner Marie.
I get all my ink done by Orio, and he's mad talented. He's always willing to work with you on ideas and designs, and he's super creative as well.
This past weekend I went and had a tattoo done at Rose Gold's by Ben. Let me just start off by saying that it's DOPE!!! So the story goes like this. Last week, I went into a popular tattoo shop in Berkeley to see about getting my tattoo covered (a tattoo of Africa inside of a sun in honor of my dad who is African) because everyone thought it was a foot. I showed the artist a picture of a woman's face inside of an outline of Africa and asked if he could do something similar. The guy (A) had a poor attitude and (B) acted as though he didn't really want to help me. He went on to tell me that my old tattoo couldn't be covered with the picture I showed him and then suggested that I cover it with a solid black Africa which was WACK!!! So I went to Rose Gold's, walked in, and was greeted by the Marie who was really nice. I showed her my pic and she had Ben come out and check it out. I told him what I wanted, he checked the picture out, looked at my old tattoo and said that he could do it. He was personable and even emailed me to give some suggestions as well as get my exact specifications ie. it had to be dope, pay homage to my background, and the women had to look like a black woman (not a white woman with big lips and nose as I've seen in the past). When I went in for my appointment, he showed me his sketch which was beautiful. He was calm, super polite, and talked to my friends and me which made the 2 hours go by quickly. My tattoo is truly a piece of art and you can't tell that there was another tattoo there. I have gotten so many compliments on it. My two friends who came with me were juiced once the saw it and are planning on having him tattoo them as well. Ben and Rose Gold's will definitely get my business again
Review Source:I should start by noting that this review is for a tattoo done by Matt. Â I know there are some good artists here, because I have another tattoo from Rose Golds, which I love. Â I really want to love my tattoo, because I got it in memory of my precious kitty. Â I even told myself for a week that I loved it, but the reality is that I hate it. Â It's sloppy, flat, and was done very carelessly. Â
The tattoo is of three round buttons. Â Yes, that's it. Â Three little round buttons, but what I actually received is three lopsided, wobbly buttons. Â Not circles. Â More like one circle, one rounded square, and one misshapen polygon. Â I pointed this out immediately to Matt, who responded that it was because I jerked around a lot. Â No, I didn't jerk around a lot. I have numerous, one even quite large and very detailed, tattoos on my body and I am familiar with the procedure and sensation. Â He also told me they could do any color blending to my exact specifications, but when I returned an hour later (because he was an hour behind schedule, and unfortunately, I had nothing imminent to do), he told me no, that particular shade of orange was the only orange he could do. Â All sorts of red warning lights should have gone off then, but I can be very thick sometimes, and I let it go. Â So, now I am faced with either having it removed by a plastic surgeon (IT IS THAT BAD) or trying to have it corrected. Â
I am first going to try to have it corrected by a well-known and highly regarded artist in Oakland (3 month wait list!!). Â When I went in for my consultation and showed them the work Matt had done, they were horrified and demanded to know who had done the tattoo. Â I was even scolded a little and told to always look at the artists' portfolio, even when I trust the business. Â I'm sad, because I've been a loyal Rose Gold's customer for my body jewelry since they were Soul Patch and the customer service is usually great. Â Unfortunately, it only takes one bad apple to leave a permanent mark of poor workmanship on your body.
By the way, not only was he a jerk to me, some of the color has flaked off such that there are pockets of skin color. Â How did he manage that...
I went in to see whether or not any of the artists were willing to give me a typography tattoo I designed. I had gone to several shops around Haight and Ashbury area. Most were skeptical and tried to convince me to get a different tattoo, others were just plain sketchy. Their new location on Masonic has beautiful floor plan and skylight. Really clean (a huge plus for someone who won't even eat at a funky looking restaurant) and professional. My tattoo was on my wrist, covering scars and rather small font. I walked in and the receptionist was really sweet. Ben was willing to do my tattoo with a few mods to the design which didn't bother me. After looking through his portfolio (examining how light his hand was with details and rather impressed) I went in. He was really nice, talked to me to keep my mind clear because I was rather nervous (more like paranoid because it was my first tattoo) and super considerate of my comfort. I absolutely loved it when he finished. It was so clean and sharp for a typography tattoo on the wrist, it must have been difficult to do so because it's such a delicate, thin area of the skin. All my friends commented on how crisp it was. I love it so much and I will definitely be going in to get a tattoo with my best friend in a few weeks. Price was so good, free touchups, lovely emails checking in on the healing process.
Long story short, I love it. Favorite shop in SF. GO HERE.
I called ahead to check on stopping in for a second hole ear piercing. The service was very professional and they have a nice high-end selection of studs to choose from. I chose a small diamond stud and Christopher took his time making sure we placed it in just the right position. The whole experience was relaxing and the process very clean and efficient. I highly recommend.
Review Source:What an awesome experience! Â I had my nose pierced by Perry and I'm so happy with it. Â I haven't had much experience with body piercing and Perry made me feel completely confident and relaxed throughout the entire process. Â I asked the most ridiculous questions and he never made me feel foolish...although he was able to laugh at/with me. He's super knowledgable, skilled, and great fun. Â He also has some amazing piercings himself that are fun to look at.
Currently he's only working on Thursdays but, as far as I understand, he's planning on being there more pretty soon. Â
Everyone at Rose Gold's is super friendly and helpful. Â It's clean and fun and I will definitely be coming back if I decide to get another piercing or to change my jewelry (and hang out).
LOVE this place! Â Everyone was super friendly. Â I had a tattoo that was over 10 years old and faded. I know it can be a challenge to revive old tattoos so I searched for quite awhile for an artist that I thought would meet the challenge. Orio was awesome. Not only a talented artist but professional and a super nice guy. The shop was also VERY clean. Check out his work---he's amazing.
Review Source:Everything I ask for in a piercing place! Â They are clean down to the hands free sink, paper towels and soap. Â Marcelo was very nice and patient. Â He made sure I was educated on after care before doing the piercing. Â Prices are reasonable, good assortment of jewelry, friendly staff. Â I'll go back to them if I decide on another piercing.
Review Source:Best of the best.
I had been to several tattoo shops and been pretty put off by all of them. Lots of attitude, and was less than impressed by what I saw. I'd been planning on getting a full sleeve and didn't know exactly what I wanted, only had a general idea. I wanted to find an artist who was willing to design it. Came into this place about six weeks ago and liked the first two people I came across, Marie, who was behind the counter, and Ben, one of the artists. Ben agreed to design the work and has done a phenomenal job. I've been going in every week now and the work is really coming along. The place has a great vibe, very cool people, very laid back. Highly recommend!
I just recently got my first tattoo here! Marie at the front desk was incredibly sweet and patient. She helped me create my entire tattoo. She was really understanding about my long decision on what I wanted my tattoo to look like. I was scheduled at 4:30 and eventually got my tattoo around 7pm. So it took a long time but it was 100% worth it. Gregorio was a fantastic artist. Extremely clean lines and super nice! I'd go back here for the rest of my tattoos! I'm rating 4 stars instead of 5 simply because of my long. wait
Review Source:I hit up Rose Gold's on Monday to get my septum pierced. The staff was friendly, respectful and extremely helpful! I was pierced by Christopher G., who walked me through the piercing process, as well as aftercare, in a perfectly concise manner. The piercing was quick and painless. I was in and out of the doors in about 20 minutes!
I am definitely satisfied and recommend Rose Gold's to those whom are looking for professional work done in an inviting atmosphere.
i just wanna say thank you to Jared. He was really helpful from the minute i walked in. i told him my ideas for my tattoo and he want along with them and while at the same time adding his own, which were amazing! Thank you so much!!!
Awesome selection of plugs and super bright and welcoming atmosphere!
Got my first tattoo a couple days ago here with Ben Matthews! The studio is BEAUTIFUL - very open and sunny, it has big windows in the front and a huge skylight window overhead. I've got a thing for red exposed brick too and this place has a huge wall of it. Super clean, gorgeous place.
I found Rose Gold's on Yelp and had been thinking about getting a tattoo for a couple years. It's a tiny little anchor on my left side - I just walked in, explained what I wanted and showed a couple pics to Ben, he drew out the stencil PERFECTLY and 5 minutes later, it was done. Ben is AWESOME. He really took his time to mix a custom shade of ink that I wanted (kind of a mossy, earthy green). Overall had SUCH A GREAT experience here.
This will be my one and only tattoo, but, like Ben said "They're kind of like potato chips" and if I ever do decide to go for another, I will without a doubt come right back to Rose Gold's. If you are wanting a tattoo, seriously, look no further!!!
I was a tattoo virgin until a few days ago and I happily gave it away to Adam Sky (<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fadamsky.com%2Fhome.html&s=2b3c63effc6e31eb793ab41425a0f500ff8db3dd1192468ef522e342d0fd4848" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://adamsky.com/home.…</a>) at Rose Gold's.  From when I initially walked in to this beautiful shop (big, sunny windows, hardwood floor, exposed brick wall) I was taken care of gently and kindly.  I chose Adam based on his beautiful colour work and he helped me shape my foggy, unspecific vision into art:
Me: Â "hmmm...you know, I kind of want a love and sensuality-related tattoo, with some symbolism, but not too obvious. Â But I don't know what it should look like. Â And lots of colour. Â But I don't know where to put it. Â Oh, and a bicycle. I'd really like a bicycle." Â
Him: Â (without a blink) "no problem." Â (Well, there was a little more negotiation, but he took my garbled imagery and made something beautiful - see my tattoo photo). Â
The actual experience itself was almost a pleasure (as much of a pleasure as you can get while having needles scraped across your skin). Â Adam was warm, engaging, gentle for my first time and terrifically funny (not to mention easy on the eyes). I giggled through almost the entire experience. Â At the end, he'd given me a two hour estimate (at $170 an hour), and because he's a perfectionist, worked on me for three. Â But he stuck to his estimate, only charging me two, making me feel that I happily, really didn't get screwed. Â
The tattoo is healing nicely and I'm so happy with it. Â If you are looking for a gentle, kind, fun first time experience or if you are a bodacious body art tramp, Adam is the man for you. Â
Note: they only take cash and usually ask for a non-refundable cash deposit.
This review is based on several differing experiences (and one more so in particular) that occurred about 3-4 years back.
I was chatting with the sib today about the possibility of us getting some sort of non-lameass sisterly tattoo,when the conversation came up of us going to Soul Patch a few years prior to get some unrelated work done.
Let me start off by saying that prior to the trip I took with my sister,I had some AMAZING work done here.Joey (who I think was only here temporarily as a guest) did an incredible piece up my entire left side that gets compliments (even from my 86 year old grandmother) to this day.He was funny as hell,intelligent,listened to my ideas and concerns,and frankly,is just a cool person in general.We knocked out the whole shebang in about 4 hours.Prior to Joey,I got some smaller pieces (on my nape and wrist) by another gentleman..though because of the amount of time that has passed,I have forgotten his name.I will say though,that he was equally as well versed and knew what he was talking about.
So it was no surprise that I wanted to come back here to get some script on my chest,and my sister - Â a bird on her wrist.
We had our appointments made with the same girl.I didn't recognize her,but what with my previous 2 experiences with 2 other artists being awesome,I didn't question the chick at the front desk (who had my info on file and knew who I was) setting us up with her.
My Tattoo :
Took about an hour and a half.I'm not sure how typical this is for chest scripture pieces,but I felt this might have been a little fast,what with all the delicate lines.Another guy,who I had seen at the shop several time before - keep checking in with this chick and asking if she was "okay" and how she was "doing".I was a little concerned,but brushed it off nonchalantly (I kinda wish I hadn't.)
After it healed I had some falling out,and there are several bumpy lines I have yet to get fixed :(
The Siblings Tattoo :
Unfortunately - the bulk of this not so great experience lies with my sisters work.
The bird has an arrow in its chest and is bleeding out on to its feathers.For some reason,the girl tattooing thought the bird was a robin..so the blood marks are outlined in a deep black line.The birds' wingtips are coming off from the wrong sides (the back one appears to be coming off the front - little care for foreground).The bird itself is misshapen..more ovaline than round and lopsided.
Like my work,shes experienced some fall out and the tattoo itself over the last few years has turned into a blurry sort of blob.
The picture my sister gave her had NONE of these things going on in it.The consultation was decent,so it was odd that things ended up so differently.
The same gentleman who kept asking how she was doing during my tattoo,came over and asked what she was working on on my sister.When she described it he said "Good luck!" and walked away.
Say whaaaa?!
Isn't that the last thing you want to hear when someone is inking something (mostly) permanent on to your skin in a fairly obvious place?
Ahh!!
When we talked to the girl at the front counter about possibly getting our work fixed (as we were both displeased with the outcome) she basically told us no.We could have the same shoddy artist who screwed things up for us initially work on them again,but it was not allowed to have anyone else in the shop touch us up.
While I understand that most tattoo artist are independent contractors and such a request could be misconstrued - I wish,more than anything..a place I had given repeat previous business to would have atleast informed us that this girl was obviously an apprentice and had very little experience.If we had known,we had never gone with her.Maybe it doesn't seem very fair,but if we're the ones paying for the work I think having a choice in the matter would have been nice.
I haven't been back to Soul Patch since,opting to get work done at Triple R Tattoo in San Bruno before moving to Los Angeles last year.
Its really too bad.I loved this place and would give it 5 stars alone for Joey and his amazing work.
My girlfriend got a tattoo at Soul Patch and had a great experience. I had an idea for a tattoo that I have wanted for a long time and came to the shop. The owner recommended I have my tattoo done by Ben Matthews and I am very happy with the result.
I emailed Ben my image (an old school lithograph of simian nature) and he created a template that I was happy with. When I came in to have it done he was very professional and executed my tattoo perfectly. I am very impressed with the level of detail and shading.
These guys know what they're doing. Ben Matthews rocks and I would recommend him to anyone considering a tattoo.
Wow, Much better than i expected before and after i went in. The lady who works at the front counter is soooo sweet and very knowledgable when it comes to everything behind the glass or tattoos, etc. She knows everything about each and every piercing, tattoo and the estimated time, cost and pain. She's very patient, explains information slowly and is obviously very sweet.
Unfortunately i did not come here for a piercing...or a tattoo, well i did get a tattoo, but it was a HENNA. The Henna's start at $15 and there are many many many designs to choose from before theey start raising to $25 and even $50. I got one for $25, and it covered my entire hand, wrist and two of my fingers. The paint took 3 hours to dry, my hand was freakin' cold!!!!!!! i got it at night, where it was 50 degrees outside.
The Henna took about 45 minutes, actually, if not shorter. The Henna lasted about 1 week before it actually started fading. The reason it started to dissapear so early is because i work at an aquarium where i constantly but my hand in and out of the water, so it comes off quicker than one would immagine. Other than that it was on for 2 weeks, 3 weeks top.
I would highly recommend coming here for anything, especially a henna, since this is the only store in SF that does a henna.
I have been wanting a tattoo since I was in high school, but i have a fear of needles. I was taken here by my partner. First impressions of this place were amazing, It has a gorgeous storefront and the staff were friendly and answered all of my questions (as dumb as they were) without ever making me feel dumb.
I decided right then and there to get my first tattoo. They had me in within 15 minutes. The workspace was open, clean and well-lit. My tattoo artist, Jennifer, explained the whole process to me and worked at my pace (as i was a little scared still).
I will absolutely be coming back here for my next tattoo.
My boyfriend and I went to this shop...he got his eyebrow pierced and I got my nostril done.
Marcelo was really nice and helpful ...he explained to me the whole process for the piercing healing...you can tell he knows what he is doing and what he talks about.
The jewelry is a little bit expensive to be that small ...but oh well!
I definitely recommend this place ...nice and clean and a professional staff ...what else could you ask for?
Time for some body mods? Stop in to Soul Patch!
Been wanting to get something done for a while and so did my two of my friends. As a recent Bay area transplant, I didn't know where to go, but this place came highly recommended. My two friends and I were meeting up to all hang out and figured, you know, people tend to discuss how fun it would be to get pierced or tatted together. Why not do it? Figured today, we would just go for the gusto since we've all been wanting some more mods. Â My gal pal got a second one in her ear, my other friend got his cartilage pierced, and I got a dermal piercing by my collar bone. LOVE IT!
The place is super clean, very friendly and talented staff, the place is welcoming, and they have a great assortment of jewelry to choose from. The minimum spend is $80 and they do take cash and credit cards. Neeko was our piercer and he was awesome. Very nice guy, professional, and did a great job with all of our piercings. I would highly recommend seeing him for piercings. My dermal didn't even turn red, swell, or anything, it was done perfectly.
I will definitely be back here again soon. Thank you for the great experience. My one friend is already planning a tattoo and another piercing with you because he had such a great experience. I'll be recommending to you to others, that's for sure!
I really love Soulpatch-- they're
the sweetest people. I came in to get a vertical labret. Marcell was very attentive, soft spoken and professional. I love how my piercing came out, though there were a few complications with swelling and my jewelry falling out the second time. Stuff happens, but they were all for the health of my piercing. They paid special attention without asking for anything more. They are genuinely awesome!! Thanks Marcell and the counter girl for awesome service!!
Got a tattoo done here by Ben Matthews a week ago. It came out beautifully and it's healing very well. I had a consultation first and Ben was very good about communicating with me by email. He was very patient with me and my tendency to pass out at the slightest suggestion of pain.
My only complaint is that he quoted my $120 over email and the bill was $140 in the shop. I didn't say anything, since it seemed petty, and he's a really nice guy.
This was second tattoo at the shop (the first one was years ago) and I've never been disappointed with the service. My kid also got a henna tattoo while I was in the chair- her artist was really sweet and accommodating. The henna is fading faster than usual, but I chalk that up to insufficient aftercare (hey, she's a kid) and not poor quality henna.
I recently had to get an MRI and because of the intense magnets involved needed to take out my cartilage piercing. Â Prying the thing out of my ear was one problem, but getting it back in proved more difficult and I couldn't get the stupid ball to stay. Â So this morning I popped into Soul Patch and explained my silly problem. Â They were SO nice, and put my earring back together for me free of charge (not to mention they didn't make fun of my inability to put my earring on). Â The guy even made it extra tight so the ball wouldn't fall off if I were, for example, knocked upside the head.
If I needed to get a new piercing or tattoo I definitely think I would come here as not only was everyone really nice, but the place was SUPER clean and professional.
Thanks, Soul Patch!
Had my tattoo done last Saturday thanks to Ben Matthews! They quote by piece rather than by hour. Min is $80
I love the piece Ben did for me.
He is suuuuper nice and funny and great to talk to. I even recommended my friend to get his first tattoo done there :)
Will definitely come back here for my next piece!
Johnny inserted two 1/4" captive rings in my double rooks. Â He spent a long time making sure they were just right, tight enough so the balls don't pop out on their own. Â One of the best, most caring piercers I've ever met.
Each ring was about $10 a pop. Â No insertion charge! Â I hate it when shops charge an insertion charge, hence the reason I don't go.
I'll be back to try a piercing or tattoo (:
On a trip Frisco my sister begged me to get some ink with her. Â At first I was like, eh, but then I was like, yay! Â Soul Patch is the place to get tattoos on Haight. Â (+ positive, - negative, -/+ neutral)
-/+ Receptionist with an unnecessary attitude. Â My sister and I waited outside before the shop opened and we were a little early, no big deal right? Â Well later, right in front of my sister and I, the girl told one of the artists that "some annoying people" were waiting outside when she got there. Â She also talked to me like I was a moron. Â But I'm neutral to this, because she's not the one tattooing me.
+ Clean shop. Â Not your run-down, back alley tattoo and piercing parlor. Â Not cluttered, not smelly, nice chairs. Â They also have a great selection of high-quality plugs and rings for your holes.
+ Friendly artists. Â Say what? Â That's right, these folks (receptionist excluded) know how to treat a customer. Â Orio was my artist, and he not only did a great job on my foot tattoo, but he actually made conversation with me and made me feel comfortable. Â Also, a shoutout to the piercer, Johnny (I think that's his name, oops). Â He answered a few piercing questions for me while I was waiting.
+ Great work. Â My tattoo looks great, my sister's tattoo looks great, the pictures in the portfolios look great, and it seemed like everyone that left was satisfied with what they got done.
Each time that I've been here, I always feel like I'm walking into the Saks of piercing parlors. There's a clear distinction of where the tattoo display is, where the plugs are, where the body jewerly is; it's clean & I love it here.
I've only been pierced once by Marcelo and there's only one word  to describe him: amazing. He's kind, knowledgeable, generous and makes your experience worth your time and, of course, your money. He made the experience calming for me; he prepared me mentally counting one, two and WHOOP! goes the needle into my ear. I honestly didn't feel a thing and to my surprise it was finished!
I liked the jewelry selection and the prices weren't too far off from what's to be expected. Come by Soul Patch if you want to get something done whether it be on the spot spur of the moment or if you've been pondering the idea for quite some time.
**BASED ON AN EXPERIENCE A FEW YEARS AGO, AND HAVE NEVER GONE BACK
-Horrible experience here. Went to get a simple henna ( or jagua or however the fuck that lady said it) and the receptionist was a COMPLETE BITCH. So what if I'm not tatted or pierced up? I'm here to spend damn money on your place. She was definetly judgemental and made my experience uncomfortable as if I wasn't already for my first time EVER in a tat/piercing shop.
The henna (or jagua) was alright, lady who did it too was rude. Wanted done and to get the Fuck out of that place. If I ever go back and that's a BIG IF I might change my rating, but for now only the people at body m will pierce me.
Got tattooed by Adam yesterday evening. Adam is awesome and works strictly based on what YOU want. Don't ever hesitate to let your artist know what you want, and if you don't like it they should change it to your liking.
Anywho, Adam is truly talented in what he does and from our conversation we had during my session, he has been doing what he loves for a long time. He is great at what he does and also quick but still does amazing work. Definitely made me feel comfortable through my whole tattoo. I'll be back soon enough.
Thanks Adam!
4 years ago I got my cartilage pierced at Claire's. I knew nothing about getting that piercing and basically just did it w/ my roommates because we all wanted to get it done. Each of us had our piercings infected, mine being the worst. I had to go to the ER to get my piercing removed because you couldn't see the stud in my ear anymore, skin had grown over it. Kaiser cut the top layer of my ear, took it out, and advised me not to get it pierced again.
I really wasn't going to get it pierced again but yesterday walking around Haight with my friends I decided hmm maybe I should get it done again. It was either here or another piercing place a block or two down. I picked this place because it looked really clean.
I entered and the lady at the front desk was really nice, she told me it wouldn't hurt as much as my piercing at Claire's. To be honest I really can't stand pain so I was really scared Claire's piercing was with a gun so I figured this would hurt more since they would have to stick a needle through my cartilage. BOY WAS I WRONG.
Marcelo is AMAZING!! He could tell I was nervous and even compared getting my cartilage pierced to trying a new yoga class. He told me that if I was too nervous to get it done, just come back another day and try again. Anyways his talk really helped me out and he just told me to take a few deep breaths and voila - it was done! Didn't even really hurt (coming from me that means a lot). Plus i'm a lot more at ease knowing now that I have gotten my piercing from a place that knows what they're doing (the people at Claire's have really basic knowledge, even my friend who was with me was amazed by Marcelo he was talking about how Claire's pierced it at the wrong angle etc).
If I ever decide to get anything else pierced I will most def. come back here!
Soul Patch is one of the best places I've ever been to for piercings and tattoos!! Â There are some places that act really snotty if you have a lot of questions or you don't have the "look" of someone who's into body art, but nobody at Soul Patch acts that way!
Marcelo is a FANTASTIC piercer and he really does care about your well-being! Â He's super nice and knowledgeable and he even helped me out with my tragus piercing (I went to another place to get it done and the guy screwed it up).
I got both my tattoos done by Adam and I recommend him 100%!! Â He worked with me on getting the design of my tattoo just right and he doesn't get offended if you want to change something or have a suggestion. Â He makes sure you're comfortable during the whole process!
These guys definitely know what they're doing!! Â If you want to go to a clean, friendly atmosphere bursting with creative energy COME HERE!
Marcelo, Marcelo, he is the man to go to, to get your piercings.
I walked into the shop and the lady who was behind the counter greeted me, I told her what I wanted to get done (a rook piercing). She showed me the different jewelry they had for that piercing and told me the prices. Then Marcelo came out, SUPER NICE GUY, someone you can trust doing your piercings. He makes you feel really comfortable, thoroughly explained how to clean the piercing and answered all my questions. He even pulled out a book with pictures of clients he had pierced and showed me the rook piercing to make sure that was what I wanted to get done.
I like how he told me what he was going to do before he did it. He told me to breathe in and breathe out, he told me when he was going to pierce it. Thank you for that, I don't like surprises. After we were done he cleaned it up and I was ready to go.The cost for the piercing and the hoop, $40. Thank you Marcelo, I'm going to you from now on for any piercings I might want in the future.
This place is super clean too!
I have gotten three tattoos at Soul Patch (from Gil) and for the most part, have been very happy with them. The last tattoo I got there didn't heal very well and a lot of the color fell out. When I went back to get the color fixed, I was told that Gil no longer worked there and they would "give him my phone number and he would call me." I waited a month and never heard back from anyone. I went back to Soul Patch again and asked if someone, anyone, there would fix the color on my tattoo since Gil was no longer there. They were not willing to even talk to me about it. I have spent over $1,000 on tattoos in that shop and now I will have to pay another $100 to get my tattoo's color fixed at another tattoo shop.
I think that the owner or shop manager should have offered to fix the color on my tattoo, since it was done and paid for at that place of business. I am less than impressed with Soul Patch's business ethic and think that they're unprofessional and not willing to stand behind the work of their artists.
I would recommend going somewhere else if you want to be able to make sure that your tattoo can be touched up if you need it!
I have nothing but great things to say about Marcelo at Soul Patch. I've had 2 piercings from him and both were amazing experiences.
First off, Soul Patch is ultra clean! Even the display/lobby area is neatly organized (I can tell they wipe down the glass cases often.. it just looks and feels.. spotless!). Now, the room that Marcelo works his magic in, resembles a doctor's office. He also changes gloves often (muy important), uses a toothpick & dye to mark the incision spots (way more sanitary than a sharpie!!), and cleans everything in front of you. His voice is ultra soothing.. this man could give directions to evacuate a building in a fire and you would still be calmly entranced. I also appreciate that he explains every little step (even the ones you wouldn't even think mattered).
Although Soul Patch is 45minutes away from my casa.. I ALWAYS make the trek. It's worth it to go to a real professional piercing that can guarantee beautiful, clean results.
p.s. Be sure to follow up your fun piercing experience with an overpriced ice cream cone at Ben & Jerry's (just across the way).
I had some CouchSurfers in town and was showing them around the Haight on a Sunday afternoon. After getting tipsy at the Gold Cane Cocktail Lounge I decided that I wanted to get my tragus pierced. I had it pierced years ago and really liked it, but it fell out when I was sleeping one night and it kind of healed over.
I walked into Soul Patch and was surprised at how friendly the staff was behind the counter. They are all tattooed and pierced, but super nice and warm.
Marcello was behind the counter and when I told him that I wanted my tragus pierced he said it was cool. I didn't think it was such a big deal, but he insisted that I look through his portfolio to make sure that I was comfortable with his work.
It wasn't too spendy as far as piercings go. $30 for the piercing and $19 for the stud.
Marcelo took me into a clean room and checked my ear for scar tissue before he pierced it. Then he had me lay down and do some deep breathing. The piercing was quick and didn't hurt as much as I expected.
I only got it about a week ago, but it looks pretty good and hasn't been hurting. The whole experience was positive and fun. I definitely recommend Marcelo for any person's piercing needs!
By far the BEST piercer...er... ever. Â I dont know my piercer's name, but he had like gauges all over his face. Â I came here to get my tragus...? pierced and he made me learn some yoga breathing before he pierced me, and would not do it until i got it down. Â lol
Finally i mastered the breathing, and the piercing wasnt a thang. Â
jewelry was kinda pricey, but i was very happy and still happy with it! Â
I wished i had gotten my cartilage pierced here too...
Came here on a whim with Jodie C. two years ago for our first tattoos. We decided in the most inpromptu manner to go ahead and get our tattoos done together. Honestly, this isn't the first time we've done something crazy for absolutely no reason, but it was a fun idea, and I don't regret it!
We both got our tattoos done one after the other by the same artist. She got an outlined cross tattoo with the inside faded on her right hip ($120), and I had a tribal OM tattoo on my right hand shoulder ($90). Painful? Don't remember. It was at some points when it hit the bone. Other than that, it was pretty much smooth sailing. Our artist was a female who was very sweet and helpful, not to mention talented! She gave us very thorough tips on how to take care of our tatted areas afterwards so that they would not get infected or ruined.
Such a wonderful experience, and the shop was super clean! We could smell the rubbing alcohol from the minute we opened the door. Overall, I loved the place and experience, and will definately be back for some more ink!
I am afraid to get a tattoo because once I do it will be all overs for me. Â I will want another and another until my body is littered with art and I lose myself in it.
With that said I have gone to Soul Patch for my nose jewlery since I got it many years ago and they are awesome. Â The selection of nose jewlery isn't as expansive as some places but they have someone to fit the new piece into your nose.
So comes Johnny. Â Oh Johnny's great. Â He made sure the new jewel fit comfortably, and he shaped/bent it two different ways when the first one bugged a little. Â Super sweet and personable, he said if it started giving me trouble to just come back and he'd fix it. Â Love it there. Â Everyone was dope.
If I ever decide to get a tat, they will be the ones I go to.
This tattoo shop has some of the best artists that specialize in multi-ethnic tattoos including Asian, Native American, and various tribal influences. They have some of the best portrait tattoo artists I have seen. You should check out their website to see the art. If you are interested in getting some funky body art covered up, they have some of the best cover art I have seen. They  do henna art and piercings. And have a wide array of jewelry including natural and metal. If you are getting a piercing, they sell the best soap for piercings, Provon. Even if you are getting a piercing at another shop, buy Provon, it is the best soap.
I came to this shop because I heard on their website that they specialize in tribal tattoo. In my opinion Greg is the best to get tribal tattoos from. I came in with a couple of my own sketches of two small tattoos. Originally I tried to get two quotes done on both wrists, but my wrists are too small, so I decided to 'translate' the quotes into images. Greg looked at my rough sketches. He knew what I ment when I said that I wanted it to be henna influenced, and he said filigree was what I was also looking for. He drew some sketches on the spot to modify my sketches and I automatically liked them. I put down the deposit, $40 and he said he was going to call me when he got the sketches done.
Couple weeks later, we set up an appointment. It took 2 hours to do and I am extremely satisfied with them. The detail is amazing and its obvious Greg put a lot of care into it. Â I get a lot of compliments on them. If you want a tribal or a portrait done, I highly recommend this spot. They are professional, friendly and care about your tattoo.
Gil is the man.
you need a realism? he's incredible. especially with portraits of animals.
he gets excited(in his own slightly grumpy way:) ) and really cares about his work. he tells you HONESTLY how much a certain location on your body is going to hurt. i have more tattoos than i can count and this guy was seriously one of the best  and most honestly talented tattoo artists i have have ever met.
now i just have to save money for my next one. :)
I don't know whats taken me so long to write a review about this place! Â I got my first tattoo done here by Darryl back a few years ago. Darryl is great, but unfortunately she's no longer here at Patch. Â When I made the decision to get my tattoo, I called up Patch and the staff there at the time were extremely friendly and tried to assure me the best that they could with all of my anxieties. Â
Darryl did a great job on my first tattoo, which was a simple character of my last name in Chinese on my right ankle. Â She was very quick done in 10 minutes...although it seemed like the longest 10 minutes of my life at the time.
My second tattoo was also received here from Soul Patch as well. Â I very much like the idea that Patch invites visiting tattoo artists from Japan. Â The gal that did my second tat was Shion, she was very nice and patient with me as well. This time, I got my paternal grandmother's name in Chinese on the left side of my left foot, in honor of her. Â The gal did a great job, however, for the top character, she pulled my skin up a bit, so after that character was done, it a bit close to the second character. Â You can't really tell from a distance, but it's definitely something I wish I had noticed when it was getting done. Â The pain on the foot was excruciating, which is why I probably hadn't noticed she was pushing the of the skin upwards a bit. Â Overall, I'm pleased and satisfied with my second tat. Â Definitely keep updated with the international artists visiting Patch. Â
Prices can be a bit high. Â Starting price is 60 bucks. And for the visiting Japanese artist, it started at $100. Keep in mind I got my tattoos here about 3 years ago, so I'm not sure what the prices ranges are now.
Soul Patch is definitely a great place for tattoos. Â The staff is extremely knowledgeable, and friendly. Â So don't be afraid to ask a bazillion questions when deciding on your first tattoo. Â
I will definitely be back in the future when I decide on my third tattoo! Can't wait to try to other artists here.
I got my cartilage pierced about 5 months ago (see Mom's Body Shop review...meh), and it's been slowly slowly healing. Lately everything has been okay, but during my haircut this morning, the comb got caught on the ring and tugged it so hard that the little ball came out...my ear was on fire, throbbing, and slightly bleeding, and I have a lost ball.
Enter Soul Patch. In my panic I called them right when I got home, and the girl on the phone was so nice and helpful. She said they'd help me get the ball back in, and gave me some advice on how to take care of it since it's been traumatized. I feel like I can trust them...they know what they're doing and they care about their clients. I love Soul Patch!
We arrived at Soul Patch on Sunday per our appointment (we live in Phoenix and were in San Fran for the weekend). Jennifer was there early and was helpful from the get go. They kept our bags there and even loaned us an umbrella to run around Haight in the rain while we took turns getting our tattoos (a first for me).
Jen is a real professional (with 16-years of experience). She put us at ease and made the entire process fun and safe. She works quickly and charges modestly for her skills.
I can't imagine a better place to get a tat.
Thank you Jennifer for making our experience so wonderful.
Finally finally finally...I got my 4th tattoo! Â I was bummed out when I found out that Suzanne was no longer here, but its awesome that she opened up her own shop! Â I'll definitely find out where thats at so when I get my fifth and final tattoo, she can do it.
Anyways, upon finding out that Suzanne was no longer working here, I flipped through the books to check out the other artists work, and decided on Jen (she does a lot of Asian theme/type tattoos...).  Her book is full of dragons and Thai designs....I just felt really comfortable with her, just looking at her work.  I found the perfect tiger that I wanted to integrate with the Chinese characters I already have on my shoulder.  I showed her the picture, showed her the tattoo I wanted to integrate it with.  After discussing it for few minutes, she told me she understood what I envisioned and she'd make the little changes to the original  picture. Â
I made my appointment, put down my $40 deposit, and a week later I was getting inked. Â Jen works FAST! Â Originally she told me it'd take about 2hrs (I did b&w with shading...no color) but she got done in a little less than an hour and a half. Â I couldn't be happier with my new ink!
Jennifer Overbury is fantastic!!! 5 stars for her!
For quite a few years I'd been dissatisfied with my tiny, unattractive tattoo smudge/blemish. I walked into Soul Patch with photos and a very clear idea of how I wanted to cover up the visible remnants of my keen teenage decision-making skills. I knew just what I wanted regarding the style, content, coloring, shape, size, and location of a new tattoo.
Jennifer listened to my tattoo vision at noon; by the end of the day, she had drawn up an original design that fit exactly what I had in mind. She did an excellent job taking my ideas and turning them into art while respecting what I said I wanted on my body. This was the best part of the experience: she really listened to what I wanted. She used her talent to make my vision tangible without squashing my own creativity. She built on what I wanted instead of replacing my idea.
Throughout 3.5 hours of tattooing, Jennifer was considerate, attentive and understanding, even when I began to hum and breathe like I was giving birth. Her lines are very neat and straight; her shading is detailed, textured, clean, and gorgeous. I love how she played with color while sticking with the feminine theme I wanted. I love how her solid brown is a blend of other colors that weave together to create texture and an organic, natural color.
As painful as a needle grinding into my ribs and ripping through my skin was, I really enjoyed this experience. Jennifer created something beautiful for me, and I am so happy with the result. I love my colorful skin!
Should I ever decide to participate in more torture in the name of art, I will seek Jennifer to do it.
This review is long awaited... Last Fall in 2007, I celebrated my 3rd year of being in remission from Cancer... what better way than having my namesake flower (Chrysanthemum) tattooed on my left arm as a badge of courage of the adversity I overcame... =) Â
Suzanne, who no longer tattooes in this shop (<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.smshifflett.com%2F&s=a5ad5e82a75cdac9f26d30573b1811cfb524713428a68eeebc314eb7fad64f4f" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.smshifflett.c…</a>) was the person I chose to design and tattoo my beautiful chrysanthemum.  To this day I receive compliments on her art, and I am proud to have gone to Soul Patch to have this done.
After being pierced at three different shops here in san francisco, this place is my favorite. Everyone was extremely nice and patient with me even though I'm not a regular and Marcelo was talked me through with everything that was going to go down with my dermal piercing.
Some other places that I've been to I've either gotten a lot of attitude from some of the people there or my questions that I asked were never answered. Â I feel bad I forgot the girls name at the register, but she was extremely nice and helpful as well.
I'm sooo happy with my surface piercing and I'm def. coming back!
got my first piercing here other than my ears..the greatest place to get a first piercing the woman at the register was very helpful and sweet =)
Marcelo the piercer was nice and gave me alot of information he talked me though it making me more comfortable and his voice is so smoothing
definitely the place to go for piercings =D
ew. horrible experience.
The first time i walked i got really bad vibes. the guy and the girl at the front counter kind of just scowled at me. as if i were imposing on them. i brought in my own drawing and showed it to them and they basically shook it off, called it weird.
The artist i wanted to book was busy, but she could have come out and met me and said hi. no one was friendly.
i made an appointment anyway and gave a 40$ deposit,
there were some unexpected circumstances and considered re-scheduling but if i rescheduled i'd lose my deposit, so i called 30mins before to confirm i was still coming in (cause i didnt cancel yet) and the guy on the phone quite rudely told me, "um it's a bit too late, we booked your spot, you're gonna have to give us another deposit and reshedule." i said "you seriously want me to give you another deposit" and he was like "yea" and hung up on me.
so i took my business to mom's tattoo down the street and i highly recomment them over soul patch.
Soul Patch Tattoo boasts the gentle, kind, thoughtful and WONDERFUL Marcelo Rodriguez for piercings. Â Marcello has had a 16 year career piercing, and he works with an artist's eye and the touch of an angel.
I had always been afraid of piercings (I'd refused to have my ears done), but once I met Marcelo and had the baby step of having him pierce my ears, which he did with perfect symmetry so my earrings hang correctly (now this is difficult since one ear is slightly higher than the other) but also worked diligently with me and my questions about aftercare and other issues so I have ended up with a beautiful piercing job.
I just (yesterday) came back from having my nostril pierced by Marcelo. Â Once again, painless, quick and beautifully placed. Â I am so happy to have taken this step. Â He carefully explained the aftercare items with me and really took his time. Soul Patch is the BEST!!
Soul Patch also hosts two wonderful artists from Japan on a yearly basis, Shion and Rico.
I'm a survivor of two surgeries for liver tumors plus other surgeries for complications caused by the first two. I despaired of ever having a beautiful body again. My torso was criss-crossed with scars. My only consolation was, as the Huron Indians say, "When you die, the Old Witch of the Woods eats your scars before she lets you into the Happy Hunting Grounds--but if you don't have scar....she eats your eyes!"
Then I heard about Shion and Rico and saw their work. Amazing pure Japanese full-body tattoo. I sent Shion-san my first picture and begged her for help. She said, basically "no problem". I went under the tattoo gun for three sessions of three 1/2 hours each and..."presto" my scarred belly was covered in beautiful peonies!!!! Shion told me that I was the best client she worked on and showed the most resistance to pain. Hey, I know from pain!!
I am so happy now. I can wear a bikini or go with a halter top down the street. As far as my poochy belly -- hey, I'm 42, I've earned my pooch! ;-) Love you Shion and your work. As soon as I can afford it, I'm getting more work done. Maybe some more pictures from the "floating world" or a tiger...
In the meantime, I HIGHLY recommend Soul Patch to anyone considering a piercing or a tattoo.
P.S. Click on my small picture to see the tattoo!
I am IN LOVE with a man other than my husband...and this man is a tattoo artist named Gil!!
I've had a tattoo on my lower back for about three years and have been toying with the idea of getting something added to it. I had the bright idea of getting pansies in honor of my mom who is an artist and paints the most beautiful pansies.
Today, I took the day off and hubby and I went to Soul Patch for a consultation with Gil. He's kind of a tell it how it is kind of guy. I thought I wanted a tiny fairy on top of one of my flowers and he said it would look like a weird bug if it was that small. I said ok, no fairy. He told me he'd draw something up and call me later in the day and I could come up and get the tat done. Excellent!
Soul Patch called a few hours later and told me I could come in, so off I went. Gil drew his design on my back and incorporated the tattoo I have perfectly. After he got started, the whole job took about three hours.
Gil isn't a huge talker, which is fine because I'm not really either (believe it or not- I have a hard time with chatty hair stylists, etc.). I listened to my iPod and he worked his magic.
In the end, I have a gorgeous tattoo that means a lot to me. I'm even thinking of going back to get the fairy (although bigger so it doesn't look like a crazy bug) and to have my previous tattoo touched up (especially because Gil said it looked like the artist had made mashed potatoes out of my back- that means it was shoddy work).
I heart you Gil! Just don't tell hubby.
This place is the definition of PRO.
Marcello, quite possibly the coolest guy ever, exhibited not quite patience, but understanding and empathy. Patience usually means that you're pushing someone against their limits while they restrain hidden frustration. Understanding and Empathy, however, radiates a level playing field where they accompany your situation and walk you through it.
For an hour, I puzzled about which type of jewelry to purchase (as well as choosing and switching at the last minute) and finally decided to get the job done. Well, not so simply. I she-dogged for half an hour worrying about whether it would be extremely painful (which was far from), if I should go through with it (which I am delighted I did), and if it was worth the risk (considering it's hard to engage in fisticuffs with steel on my lip). Marcello, my piercer, talked me through his process, kept me focused through conversation instead of letting my mind wander to the point where my mind translated a simple piercing to a horror worse than death.
After the job was done, I sat there for a few moments and opened my eyes. In disbelief, I said, more to myself, "is that it?" The response was "yes." And my sigh of relief, "Oh, man, I was such a b****."
I tipped him $40. Not just for quality, but for caring.
So...I had just moved to SF, just turned 18...so I bought a lotto ticket, a pack of cigarettes, and got a piercing. Just a little one at the top of my ear. Simple, classy even.
This place is cleaner than my dentist's office. The guy who did my piercing...I forget his name, but you'll know him when you see him (big Brazilian guy with lots of gauges and tattoos) was so professional that it blew me away. I had this preconceived notion that people who worked in tattoos parlors were trashy and snotty, but really they are genuinely kind hearted and very nice. Helpful too! I ran out of the salt they gave me and when I went back to ask where I could buy more they just gave me another bag. Awesome!!
This place is awesome!
The people are always super friendly and helpful.
I went in to have my ear ring loosened up. The pressure ball wouldn't come out. I walked in and they guy took me straight to the back and fixed it for me, no charge. Just smiled and said not to worry about it. Â
Fanfriggintastic! Next time I need to buy ear rings, or I'm shopping around for a tattoo artist, I'm most definitely going to Soul Patch!
Thank you.
**This is just for a review of their Henna work, not tattooing or piercing**
As I am constantly changing my mind and am fan of all things Indian, I love henna "tattoos". Â Plus, I'm addicted to the smell of henna. (I'm weird, I know.)
Their henna artist is wonderful. Â (I think his name was Chris.) He was funny and a talented freehand artist, who gave me exactly what I wanted. Â My henna lasted for two weeks and faded beautifully. While my upper arm design was pricey ($36), the work was large and intricate so it was a deal (not including the $10 tip I left for such nice work).
The only thing stopping Soul Patch from getting the last perfect star was that one of the tattoo artists gave me the old "oh no, henna bullshit chick" stink-eye when I walked in and asked for henna work. But he actually came around and was nice to me when he heard the other artist and I talk about bands (yeah I don't look it anymore but I am still straight up punk and rock and roll, b*tches) and then tried to convince me to go to him to do some tattoo work.
My boyfriend and I came here for our very first tattoo.
All I have to say is that we're coming back!! Â My tattoo was in Chinese letters beautifully done by Jen. Â My boyfriend's tattoo was his last name in Old English font done by Joey who was perfect.
After your tattoo is healed, there may be a few spots pealed off, and they will fix your tattoo until it looks perfect even if it's your fault that it didn't heal the best. I can't wait for my next tattoo.
I already booked my next appointment!
4 stars only because of the people that come in and frown at the people getting extensive tattoo work. Sad thing is, me and my roommate, who both make a damn good amount of money in a professional setting, both have sleeves.
so yeah.
keep up with the judging.
anyways, i've had the pleasure of being inked by both Joey and Suzanne and they were both incredibly talented with their handiwork. Â Suzanne and Joey will be doing the bulk of the work on my body from now on....when you find something good, you stick with it.
A few weeks ago I finally decided on getting my tongue pierced. I ended up going to Soul Patch for Marcelo by recommendation from a friend who has gotten all of his piercings there.
Since this was my first piercing (besides my ears) I was a little anxious. I had been here before and talked to someone about getting Arabic scripture on my hand so I was a bit familiar with it.
Marcelo was magnificent. He speaks in a low, calm, and soothing voice. When you go into his piercing station he has all of his certificates of classes and training he has done. Marcelo defiantly  sees piercing as an art, and not a trend. The place was very clean and followed all safety precautions.  He explained everything he did every step of the way and left me with a good, clean piercing.
I had a rough first week of healing so I was calling the shop a lot, and even had to go in cause of some bleeding. The lady at the front was super helpful (I didn't get her name, but she has really cute short bangs) and the other piercer (Daryl) even called me to speak to me about everything.
My experience overall, was magnificent. I even brought my friend in last weekend to get her helix pierced, which again, was wonderful.
This was the best piercing experience I've ever had. I've already conquered a couple of the more painful piercings, and I have no complaints about any of them, but my navel piercing at Soul Patch definitely had to be the best.
It was a little crazy there when my friends and I spontaneously decided on the day of the Haight Street Fair to get piercings. Because the folks there are very responsible, they were extra cautious about the "no drinking" thing and stressed that part of the release that they make you sign. It may seem a bit overkill, but when you're letting people put sharp instruments through your body, it's nice to know that they take rules seriously.
Marcello did my piercing, and he did a phenomenal job of going over the care guidelines and making me super relaxed so the piercing itself was pretty much painless.
And I am happy to report that my most recent addition to my body jewelry continues to make me happy.
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