I got my rook re-pierced by Sarah. Â It was pierced back in college originally and I had so many issues with it that I took it out. Â Sarah explained to me the issue of scar tissue, and why it couldn't be pierced in that exact spot. Â She is an veteran of piercing, 18 years under her belt. Â She explains the process and info great. Â
Another time, I stopped in to get my lower navel pierced. Â Jason was working. Â He wouldn't pierce it - explaining that my body would naturally push it out because there wasn't a "Lip" that would hold it. Â Easily he could have done it, taken my money, and called it a night - but he didn't. Â Piercers work on commission/tips, so his honesty was amazing.
Because of that - I got my nose pierced instead. Â My nose stud is awesome - sometimes the needle is cut short, but this didn't happen to me :)
Being able to relax makes getting pierced easier. Â Piercings just feel like an awful pinch for a split second. ---- To me, it just feels like a small pinch anymore.
Their jewelry is beautiful, nickel-free, and worth every penny. Â You get what you pay for. Â I love being pierced with titanium - it is completely different from when I first started to get piercings - because my body heals much more quickly than it had before. Â
For the tattoos, walking in and talking is always intimidating - email is better to set up an appointment on their site:)
I went in for a tattoo when Chip still worked here and it was great, he was just nice and very laid back but he took the time to listen to what I wanted and suggest some changes to what I wanted done. I went back for a second tattoo and he no longer worked here. That tattoo turned out fine but the artist really didn't listen to me and spent more time telling me about conspiracy theories, like really I don't care, please be weird on your own time. I very specifically did not want color on the tattoo but the artist insisted and I went along with it because I knew I could get it covered with black later. While I was there a bunch of girls came in for tiny pieces and were practically crying about how scared they were. The artists spent more time dealing with them then dealing with actual clients. I know that annoying people in the shop is not really the fault of the place but it was still annoying and I felt that it was not handled well. I have since stopped going to True Blue and instead followed Chip to the new place he works at. I think that True Blue is not a bad place, it is always very clean, and you will  always get quality work. You will not however always get exceptional work, for that you need to find a specific artist.
Review Source:In my never ending quest to satisfy my ink fever while maintaining my "no truly visible tattoos" rule, I found myself at this shop.
Prior to moving to TX I had all of my body mod work done at a shop back home that I absolutely loved. However, since my move 3 years ago I've had this incessant urge to get more ink. I got a small piece done at another shop in Austin and while the work is very clean and well done, the pricing was simply outrageous. So I went on the hunt for another shop.
Luckily for me, my friend's cousin worked at this shop and so we dropped by. The first person I spoke to here was Cory and he ultimately was the artist to draw up and do my tattoo. While all of my tattoos are special to me, this one was the only tattoo that I would be sharing with another person, my best friend. Cory was more than happy to custom draw up the design and give me a copy of the sketch for my best friend (she still lives back in MI).
Cory's a great artist. I've seen him do intricate work on other customers but he has great attention to detail on even the most simple pieces, and like any reputable artist stands by his work. The particular piece I was having done was a white ink tattoo and they're prone to being "touchy" as far as fading and color distribution goes. I got my tattoo from Cory at the end of March and I just dropped by today to get it touched up when I noticed some fading. Cory was great about filling in the area in question and also told me to give him a call if I noticed anything else.
The shop can get busy depending on the time of day, so I recommend dropping by to meet the artists and look at their portfolios prior to committing to a spontaneous tattoo. In addition you can always call in and see how busy things are at the moment.
The shop is very clean and the artists are careful to clean up their stations between customers. The floor plan is open and you can see artists at work (just don't be a weird lurker). I'd definitely recommend this place for anyone looking to get some work done and of course I recommend Cory!
I wanted to get an addition to a piece I had been building on. I went to True Blue a few days after dealing with some poor customer service and several hours of waiting around at another shop on S. Congress. True Blue was recommended to me by someone I encountered who had had a lot of work done locally, and I am happy that I heeded that advise. Not only did Jason G. design the piece I wanted perfectly, he touched up my old work, which had taken close to two hours in two prior sessions at a reputable parlor in RI. It took less than an hour for him to do all of this- I was amazed by the speed and attention to detail- and at a very reasonable price. I would not go anywhere else in ATX. The artists at True Blue do damn fine work.
Review Source:After a horrible experience at Southside, we discovered this place through a friend and could not have been happier to get my boyfriend's tattoo from here! We heard that it's sometimes difficult to walk in because they are so busy, but when we got there on a Saturday night, they were happy to take us in that night.
The staff is friendly, the place is lively with lots of things going on, and they were very communicative. It was my boyfriend's first tattoo and they answered every question he had with confidence and were so helpful with sizing. We had Shawn and he was awesome! I am so glad I went here instead of Southside AND they're open later!!
Went here very late one night because my forward helix was having major swelling, they were the only place open. I wish i got the name of the woman that helped me because she was so helpful, i orginally got my piercing at Shaman body mod, she didnt push any of their products on me, was super respectful  that Pineapple was my original piercer, she explained all my options and if she was in my position what she would do. Though i didnt get tattoed or pierced here I'm considering it now! It was clean, neat, and like i said beyond helpful.
Review Source:I went back to Cory a few months back for another tattoo, this time a cover up. When I was 18 I got a tattoo done, nothing wrong with it but it was just a rose from the wall that really held no meaning. Cory covered it with a lily which hold significance to me. He blew my mind with this piece, I can barely tell where the rose was! I get a ton of compliments on it and when I tell people it is a cover up even those who are into ink can't tell. And the price was extremely good, a bonus.
What was really cool about the experience was you could tell Cory had fun with it. He had several of the patrons and another artist take a look at it because he was so proud of the work. In fact when he got done he thanked ME for letting him do my tattoos. Already have two more pieces planned and they will be done at True Blue with Cory.
My previous review centered around the piercing studio upstairs, but this time, I'm pleased to share an experience with the tattoo studio! I recently had a color portrait of Dr. Alan Grant (yes, the guy from Jurassic park and the first of three portraits) done by one Jerrid Rodriguez, and was absolutely elated with my experience.
When I walked in to schedule the appointment (a couple months ago), I had done my research and with VERY high recommendations, I asked to speak with Jerrid about my project:
The Breakdown:
- He couldn't have been friendlier! He seemed to have a genuine interest in my ideas, and offered a few of his own. (Remember, folks, it helps if you're not asking for a tribal dolphin or a taz tattoo)
- Communication was excellent! We exchanged contact information, and he was very punctual answering the handful of questions I sent over email during the 2 months before my appointment, AND He contacted me before the appointment the day of to make sure I was ready and remembered.
- He went through the plan for my ENTIRE tattoo despite the fact I was only getting a single portrait done in that sitting. He was very concise, and he even bought a copy of the BluRay disc to get some better screen caps of the characters.
- Let's remember cleanliness is key, and these guys know what clean means. Even the restroom was spotless.
- During my 4 hour session, a few of the other artists came to see the work, and were also quite personable. I admit, I loved hearing how awesome it looked from other professionals and my god does it look awesome.
- Hands down best artist for color realism! Jerrid excitedly told me he loves tattooing all styles, but color realism is his favorite. Remember, folks, it helps to pick an artist that specializes in the kind of work you're looking to have done.
- I hate... no... LOATHE the parking downtown. Fortunately, I had someone drop me off and pick me up. My advice is for you to do the same. Keep in mind, you can park under the bridge, and is a very short walk, but it's not always free.
The Bottom Line:
This paragraph will be a shameless promotion for Jerrid. A good portrait seems to be very elusive. It's one of those things I was hesitant to get just because it seemed there were so many poor examples out there. Jerrid has an amazing talent (if you don't believe me, look at his portfolio). I know EXACTLY why he came so highly recommended. He's professional, unbelievably skilled, and definitely loves what he does.
The shop is clean and welcoming, both tattoo artists and piercers have been nothing but friendly and helpful, and I felt comfortable enough to use the restroom there (which is huge cuz I don't potty anywhere but home and work). Come here, ask for Jerrid, and get a bitchin' color portrait of your mom.
I will add this at the end because it still holds true:
As a personal side note:
When people complain about rude artists, it annoys me. I remember how I felt day in and day out trying to help people with something they know very little about. Doing the same crap over and over. After a thousand fairies sitting on toadstools or butterfly tramp-stamps, I'd be annoyed having to do another as well.
Unfortunately, if you want a "basic" tattoo, you might see some of that bored/frustrated attitude. It's the bane of being typical. I've been that typical customer. These are highly creative people who may sometimes feel stifled by lack of creativity by their clients. Cut them some slack.
This shop was awesome. Â Shaun is awesome. Â I contacted him through the web site asking for a consultation, and he had a perfect custom-drawn tattoo ready for me in no time at all. Â When I got to the shop he was friendly, personable, professional and made it as painless as possible for me to get the tattoo of my dreams. Â I'm totally satisfied with my new piece and will be going back to True Blue in the future.
Review Source:Some friends and I were at Lake Buchanan for a girls' weekend, and a few of us wanted to get new tattoos. Â We asked friends in the area for shop recommendations and I started looking around on the internet, and True Blue came up a few times. Â I checked out the work online and saw a lot of great looking traditional pieces, which is exactly what I wanted. Â We set up our appointments for this past Saturday and made the drive into Austin. Â I loved the atmosphere as soon as I walked in. Â It was bright, clean, and open, and everyone was very friendly. Â Tattoo shop people are some of my favorite folks on Earth, and the artists at True Blue did not disappoint. Â I had the honor of working with Shaun, and I would recommend him to anyone. Â He was friendly and talkative, and really put me at ease. Â It had been five years since my last tattoo and it hurt a lot more than I remembered, but Shaun worked quickly and gently and I am very happy with the result. Â My friends and I had a great experience at True Blue and if we are ever lucky enough to be in Austin again I will definitely pay them another visit.
Review Source:Piercing: Clean, quick and thorough service, reasonably priced, and nice people. I've had piercings done by Sarah and Jason on separate visits. Both times I was walked through the healing process and given excellent service. Highly recommend this place for all of your piercing needs. They also have a really awesome selection of jewellery and plugs.
Tattooing: Also very clean and good service. I got my first tattoo done by Mike last year and I am still very happy with it, and he was really helpful! The artists here are awesome at what they do and everyone has a different style. The last time I went in the receptionist at the front desk was very helpful. I love this place but sometimes when you go you'll get a weird vibe from them, I dunno it's hard to explain. My boyfriend had went up to the desk to ask Jim about a pricing for a tattoo he's been thinking about getting, and showed him a rough sketch. He was rude about it and said something along the lines of "what is that?" The way I think about it, if someone is willing to spend money at your shop, you probably shouldn't give them attitude. Otherwise this place is fantastic! Just got some bad vibes during that visit.
I went in early this afternoon to get several cartilage piercings and Sarah helped me right away. I wasn't sure if the jewelry I already had would work, but I brought it to show her and she said that it would be fine and she'd autoclave it. Then she went over the after care instructions, which were actually different from what I've heard previous times I've gotten my ears pierced elsewhere, so I am going to stick with the "dry" healing and see if it heals faster than I've had previously (she gave me what is basically a tiny shower-cap to put over my ear to keep it dry in the shower).
I really appreciated Sarah taking the time with me to go over the placement of the piercings. I didn't feel rushed at all, and she'd mark up the dots on my ear and I'd say I wanted it just a hair in the other direction, until it was where I wanted it.
The piercings went pretty quickly (though I had to jump up and check it out in the mirror between each one) and she was very pleasant and answered all my questions.
The price seemed very fair to me, compared to what I've read other places charge, but I did already have some nice jewelry, which saved from buying it there. (And I admit I was worried they'd try to tell me my jewelry wasn't the right kind or material and that I had to buy from them - they were cool with using what I already had. Though they do have some beautiful jewelry on display, it was pretty expensive).
I hate going downtown, but Sarah was wonderful and my piercing looks perfect and I will definitely go back next time I need more holes in my ears.
I came here purely based on reviews I've heard. Â After coming two separate times, I'm confident in saying that there has to be much better in Austin. Â The line work on my tattoos are awful. Â The shading and filling are even worse. Â I'm afraid to go in for a touch up. Â This S**T is permanent.
Review Source:I came here to get my nose pierced. Â Simple stud on one nostril. Â I walked in once to scope the scene and get information about the procedure. Â I met Jason, who took about half an hour to answer all my questions, break down the process for me, and chat about piercings. Â He was totally relaxed, friendly, and patient. Â I visited a couple of other shops but wasn't met with the same positive experience anywhere else.
I went back to get the piercing done and met Shane. Â He was equally patient and friendly, and answered even more questions. Â I know these people have done hundreds of boring piercings like mine, but at no point did anyone show irritation or hurriedness. Â Shane did my piercing that day and counseled me later on his personal cell phone about the healing process.
A month later, I walked in and met Jason again. Â I showed him a skin reaction to the piercing and he knew exactly what to do. Â He gave me clear instructions that worked. Â No more problems.
I advised a friend of mine to go here to get her ears pierced. Â She worked with Sarah. Â Equally pleasant experience.
These people are knowledgable, patient, and friendly all around. Â I will recommend this place everyone who is interested in being pierced.
LOVE LOVE LOVE all my piercing I have received from True Blue. Â I got my belly button done there for my 16th and came back to have it re-pierced on my 18th. I also had my cartilage done there for my 17th birthday. Jason is an AMAZING piercer he knows everything there is to know about getting them and how to take good after care. Not to mention he is totally there for you if you have any question after, True Blue has always been amazing clean and amazingly sterile every time I go for a new piercing. If I was to ever want anything else I would most definitely go back there and to Jason. I am about to get my first tattoo and I think I will also be going to True Blue!
Review Source:I came here to get my ear pierced. Way less expensive then some of the other spots on East 6th but unbelievably professional. Our lovely piercest went through the whole  process and assured us of the quality, sterilization and professionalism. We signed a bunch of paperwork and she walked us through the post-piercing healing process.
If I were to get another tattoo or piercing (and I happened to be in Austin) I would choose this place. And I might even fly back to do it too!
I first got worked on by CRTNZ in September to cover another tattoo. I recently came back to Austin on a visit, and to get my tattoo finished. I looked around, checked Yelp reviews and eventually ended up at True Blue.
First thing I notice is how clean it is. Being in the medical side of the Army, I didn't want to go to a grungy shop, and cleanliness and a sterile environment were key elements for me. Then I notice the people. They are friendly, helpful, enthusiastic. Overall a very pleasant and positive environment.
CRTNZ is the most professional tattoo artists I've ever had the pleasure of working with. He was patient with my questions before, during and after tattooing. He was attentive to my pain threshold and needs. He was open to collaboration about the piece, which I really enjoyed.
The tattoo so far, needless to say, is beautiful, and I am VERY happy with it. I'd come back to Austin just to have CRTNZ finish it.
Getting a tattoo was a bucket list item for me. Â I'm in my late 40s and wanted just a single tattoo. Â I don't have plans to get more work done and I wanted a shop with good, experienced artists. Â I chose True Blue Tattoo because the web site mentioned their cleaning standards exceeded the minimums required by the state. Â My decision was further prompted by the good reviews found here on Yelp.
The colorful shop is well lit and flat out smelled clean. Â All of the sterilization equipment was easily seen. Â
Mike was my artist and I just love him! Â He was very professional, answered all of my questions, gave me answers to questions I didn't even knew I should have asked, and proceeded to explain the entire process to me including demonstrating how the equipment was packaged for sterilizing and then assembled everything before me. Â My tattoo is on my back shoulder blade which prevented me from watching him work but he kept me informed of his progress. Â
My first visit was on Labor Day and I recently returned for a little bit of touch up work on the outlining where my bra strap had been impeding my after care. Â I was having a difficult time trying to fit my schedule with Mike's schedule but he kindly offered to come to the shop on his day off when, as we discovered, the set up of his equipment took more than the amount of time necessary for the touch up. Â
This item has been happily scratched off my bucket list and I'll gladly recommend Mike at True Blue Tattoo to anyone. Â :)
I got my nose pierced again today. It's been almost a year but I took it out last time because the goddamn towel kept getting caught on it. That, by the way, is not pleasant.
Anyhoosier, my friends were planning on getting tattoos and I'd been thinking about my long lost nose ring. While they got buzzzzzzzzed up, I went upstairs and had her push a very sharp needle through my face. I dont know how other folks do it -- especially when it involves their extremeties, if ya know  whaddya i mean
Sarah was super professional. Frankly I tired of the cleanliness lectures but thats when know they're a non infection shop. For sterile, fast, cheap piercing, this is the spot I'd recommend.
There are a bunch of talented artists there. Friendly atmosphere and reasonable pricing considering the quality of their work, which is great. The shop is clean and well kept. Cory is definitely amazing at his job, and very patient and sweet. I would recommend using him as your artist, especially if you need someone who is very relaxed and detail oriented about your tattoo.
Review Source:I was referred to Resurrection Tattoo on South Lamar but went there and the artists were basically trying to charge me $150 for a tattoo that they had wanted to alter so much that it practically wasn't even my original design. Needless to say, I looked elsewhere.
I had read a ton of reviews about True Blue and gave them a call to see if they were booked for the night. They said they had one artist open as long as I got there quickly!
I got there and the staff was super friendly and willing to help me get exactly what I wanted, and for a cheaper price than Resurrection had offered. My artist was super funny, nice, and extremely talented and helpful. I was in and out with my first tattoo in a little less than an hour and I'm so happy with it! I'm definitely planning on coming back here for my second one.
A friend and I had been mulling over the idea of tattoos for a while now. We finally decided to bite the big one and go for it. After listening to friends' experiences and pouring over yelp (shame on you, yelp!), we chose True Blue. We both wanted fairly basic tattoos. We realized that we didn't need the best "artist" available, but we wanted somewhere legit and credible. It was going to be her first and my second. We go in and are "greeted" by Jim.
I use the word "greeted" quite loosely. I have never seen someone in a customer service industry be so uppity and rude to a customer, but I will get to that later. The tattoo I already have is skin colored. It is a personal tattoo. Most people don't notice it and some think it is a scar. I am fine with that. I wanted the same thing for my tattoo.
Joe proceeds to tell me that asking for a flesh colored tattoo was like asking "for air colored air." He then tells me it couldn't be done. Um, it obviously COULD be done since I had the proof on me already. I then brought up the possibility of a white tattoo. He told me that my tattoo looked like a white tattoo that had gone badly. Except not. That was what I had wanted, jackass. Sorry I didn't want a mural and I wanted something personal. He told me he refused to do a white colored tattoo.
Oh, the kicker is that he ended up doing my friend's tattoo. I didn't want her to lose the experience because of my bad vibes from Le Douche. But in her tattoo he recommended some white ink to help "give it dimension" and to "make it pop." I thought white ink was a bad idea!?
Now, I get that you are an "artist," Joe. But guess what! You are a COMMISSIONED artist. You don't work for a private, referral only company. You work for the people who are paying you. Simple as that. You should be able to cast aside your own judgments and get off your high horse to do just that. You don't have to agree and support my tattoo. You are providing a service that I was gladly willing to pay for. I am paying you to put it on me. Simple as that. I sincerely think that had I wanted a huge, beautiful sleeve they would have been down. They want an opportunity to showcase their "talent." Well, your opportunities to showcase your talent diminish exponentially when you are leaving people with such poor experiences.
I will never go there again and I will make sure my friends know of my experience as well.
I rely heavily on reviews to choose a tattoo shop. True Blue is fantastic - a bright clean, fun looking shop with helpful and friendly artists. I walked in on a Thursday evening with two small tattoo ideas. An artist was available, drew them up and I walked out very happy with two new tattoos in about an hour and a half. Â
I called a few days later for some after-care advice regarding swimming and got very detailed information from the knowledgeable artist who answered the phone.
If you're looking for a tattoo shop in Austin, I highly recommend True Blue
My husband and I were visiting Austin on vacation & decided to get tattoos one night.
We came here fairly late & they were able to tattoo us super quickly.
The staff was friendly & the shop was clean.
They were very down to earth & helpful with making us feel comfortable.
So if you're someone who's hesitant to get tattooed, or you're a collector of them, I'd definitely go here for a tattoo.
Review for piercings only.
I've been here twice. The first time, looking to buy some jewelry with a friend. The piercing area is upstairs. As I got up there, a lady greeted me at the counter and helped us find what we were looking for from the displays. It was a slow night, so we sat around and talked to her for nearly an hour! She was so cool and friendly (as long as you don't act dumb, as I saw some other people do later on). Neither my friend nor I have tattoos that are visible with normal clothes, but she didn't judge us based on that. I've found that most people who work in Tattoo Shops tend to have a superiority complex, but she was very down to earth and funny.
The second time I came with a friend looking to get her tragus pierced. We came in at a good time (right before a huge rush of people). The lady upstairs once again was very helpful. I've had many piercings and the healing instructions she gave to my friend were the best set of piercing-care instructions I've ever heard. The piercing looked good, took less than 15 minutes total, and I really like the lady who works there. It's been 4 months and my friend reports no problems or infections.
Crtnz is a pleasure to work with and does AWESOME works of art that you will be proud to wear forever!!! Â I'm a 58 year old former public company CEO. Â You know the type, picky, control freak, thinks he knows it all etc. Â Crtnz just finished my first two tattoos--incredibly detailed and colorful anti Gov't and anti Wall Street half sleeves--that took about 20 total sessions and 70 hours of total "needle time.". Â He will incorporate all your ideas and his experience into a sketch that you approve in advance of your first tattoo day, then he will turn that 2D sketch into absolutely incredible 3D works of art in your skin. Â All along the way he is courteous, respectful, professional and funny. Â He is ready to go when you arrive and doesn't change/cancel appointments. Â He listens to you, but doesn't hesitate to disagree when his experience tells him there's a better design or a better way. Â If you want a realistic, fine line work of art, black and grey or color, with unbelievable detail and shading, then Crtnz is your man.
BTW, in my opinion, he doesn't charge enough based on all the hundreds of compliments I've gotten from strangers and friends and the fact that thanks to my tattoos, my wife can't stop looking at me or take her hands off me!!!!
Lastly, the shop is clean and comfortable, the vibe is cool, the sterilization and infection control procedures go way beyond what's required by the State and all the other artists--Mike, Rachel, etc are really friendly, helpful, talented and also do great work.
You can't go wrong with Crtnz or TBT! Â More tattoos are in my future and I won't go to anyone or anywhere else.
I have been going to True Blue since a few years back. I love the atmosphere and the overall feel of the place. I always get tattooed by Cara. She's awesome and always makes me feel at home. Her color is amazing and is the reason I keep going back to her. I usually draw all of my own work, Cara respects that and wont change too many things without letting me know. She will always explain on how to get the best possible look and placement on your art. She is very talented and hard worker. She even had a drink with me after the session, now how many tattooers would do that??!!!
Review Source:Cara has been tattooing me for years. There are reasons for that. She's an amazing talented unique artist, she is very kind hearted caring person, and she really makes your experience wonderful. Yes it does hurt, but she is very comforting through the process. I have referred so many random people to her after they compliment her art on me. I could not recommend a better person to spend this process with.
Her color work, ideas, portraits are truly on more of an artistic level then others. She loves to draw, you can see it in her work. She has a passion and you can't deny it. Go to true blue, look at her portfolio and it should sells itself.
I have been in to True Blue on several separate occasions. From the moment I moved to Austin, it was the shop that kept coming up when I would ask around for recommendations. I had my monroe done here over two years ago and it was a great experience - I wish I could remember the guy's name, but the piercing studio upstairs is super clean and the guy was really professional and explained the aftercare as thoroughly as any piercing place I've ever been.
As for their tattoo artists, they are phenomenal. I waited years after moving to Austin to go forward with any of my tattoo ideas, since I wanted to make sure that I found exactly the right person for the job. On every stroll past True Blue, I would pop my head in and flip through the artists' portfolios trying to decide who was the best fit for me. Finally sure about what I was looking for in my next few pieces, I brought some artwork in with me to ask the artists there who they felt would be the best fit for me. Consensus between all of the (male) artists I spoke to was that Rachel would do great work for me but that Cara was the woman for the job. I was told he had the most painterly style of all the people there. I was looking for a water color painting on my arm, somewhat impressionistic, no hard outlines and a lot of incredible color work.
Both of the pieces I have had her do (one smaller one and one full sleeve) turned out incredible. I get so many compliments on both; people can't even believe they're real tattoos. The style is exactly what I wanted, totally unique, and she was an absolute pleasure to work with. She really wanted to make me happy and she placed and re-placed, drew and re-drew elements I felt unsure about until I was happy. I also love that she was really willing to take my ideas and run with them and treat the whole process like a design of her own. I came in with general ideas and she made them her own, while still meeting my needs, and gave me work I absolutely love to look at.
True Blue is my jam, and I can't keep Cara's cards stocked - they seem to fly out of my wallet.
I have been to a few shops in Austin and I'd have to say that Cara at True Blue is the absolute best. Â Her color work is amazing. Â She is sweet, very talented, and she is great company while tattooing you. Â I have gone to her with admittedly fuzzy ideas and crappy sketches (since I myself am not an artist), and she seems to know EXACTLY what I am looking for. Â She's quick and gives you her undivided attention while tattooing you, something which I have not necessarily experienced at other shops. Â The last tattoo I got from her was over a year ago and still looks fairly new- she knows what she is doing! Â I recommend everyone to her when they ask where I got my work done, or where they should go for good tattoos. Â xo Cara- you rock my face off!
Review Source:I had seen Cara's tattoo work on several acquaintances and knew she'd be the right person to give me the floral design that I had in my head for the last few years. After emailing some ideas and sample shots to her over a period of about a week or two, I came in for the first session.
Cara was prompt and polite and listened to my concept. She had already prepared some sketches based on the photos from my emails. She showed me a few options and we decided to move forward. She constantly checked in with me during the seating to make sure I was doing okay and could tell when I began to reach my limit.
I was very pleased with the first part of the work and the next three sessions were equally as successful.
True Blue is a clean, well lit studio. I always felt comfortable there and enjoyed interacting with the other artists who observed Cara while she was working on me.
I really can't think of anyone I'd rather have work on me that Cara.
Cara at True Blue Tattoo has tattooed me three times and I couldn't be happier!
I was referred to Cara at True Blue from a friend after my artist stopped tattooing. I emailed Cara and scheduled my appointment with her which was a heck of a lot easier than what I was used to. After a few email exchanges my appointment was set.
I arrived at True Blue at our scheduled time with my tattoo design in hand. Cara sketched my drawing and shortly after she began tattooing me. I can only sit for three hours so after my adrenaline wore off we scheduled my second Dr. Who Tardis installment. My quarter sleeve finished Tardis tattoo is everything and more that I could've hoped for! The colors pop, it healed flawlessly and is exactly what I wanted.
My second tattoo experience with Cara when just as swimmingly as the first. My brother and I are part Cherokee so we got Cherokee tattoos together. We had a few details that we wanted to be apart of the tattoo but no overall images. Cara FREE HANDED both of our tattoos and each were slightly different. She drew our tattoos and tattooed us both in less than five hours (and my Cherokees are HUGE upper thigh pieces). I went back two more times to complete the color on my Cherokees which were each three hour sessions. And just as I thought, they are more beautiful than I can describe.
My third tattoo experience was a quick one! Cara tattooed a Friday the 13th fox on my thigh next to my Cherokee girl. I have a half sleeve in mind to add to my Where the Wild Things Are tattoo and Cara told me to start sending her images that I'm drawing inspiration from. I am so thankful to have Cara as my tattoo artist! Don't let just anyone tattoo you - let Cara!
I am in LOVE with True Blue Tattoo! My friend recommended them to me, and I've been itching for some new ink, so we went last night. The atmosphere is awesome, all of the artists are hilarious and so sweet! They make it a point to make sure you are getting exactly what you want, and the wait wasn't long at all. The shop is uber clean and feels like home when you walk in :) I highly recommend Chip, he might be my new favorite person in the world. My tattoo looks better than I could ever had hoped for and the price was very reasonable.
Ask for Chip, he will make you feel like a million bucks, and leave your body with beautiful art! LOVE LOVE LOVE :D
When we went in for the consultation we waited forever even though I had told Cara I'd be there at 1. The folks behind the counter weren't very efficient or polite but I had heard such great things about her I waited around to talk about my FIRST tattoo ever. She was nice and liked my idea and told me I could send her images but she'd have designs ready for me that day and we could talk through them. I had wanted something with wings and had showed her an example from the wall that I really liked but told her I wanted it different. I assumed I'd have various designs that day to choose from and we'd just tweak. I told her the specific day I wanted the tattoo - the first anniversary of the death of our puppy because the tattoo was for him.
I showed up and she did not have anything but the same picture from the wall for me. She proceeded to be incredibly rude and acted as though I was causing her an inconvenience by asking her to draw/tweak me what I wanted. She actually snatched the paper away from me saying "okay!" very rudely when I tried to explain. She spent part of the time with us talking to someone else and helping him with his design and the rest of the time silent while my husband and I had to figure everything out for ourselves.
When Cara saw I was upset and my husband explained to her that it was an emotional day for me (which she already knew), she actually said to me "Well I don't think you really want to get this tattoo, with how picky you're being." Sorry I'm emotional because it's a very sad day for me and I'm being picky because I want something that will be on my body forever to be perfect. I don't think it's too much to ask that my first (or any) experience be positive. I felt rushed and the tattoo came out okay and she was nice enough for the rest of the time but she only did the bare minimum. She needs to work on her artistic skills but even more than that her customer service and people skills. I'll be going somewhere else for the rest of my tattoos.
Just another stellar review for True Blue, no bigs.
As an avid yelper, when I finally made the decision to get ink, I obviously scoured yelp for the perfect place. Yelp, you so rarely do me wrong -- thank you, yelp gods, for sending me to True Blue.
To start, they have a really professional, uber user friendly website. Since most of us don't have the time or energy to run around Austin and look at each artist's portfolio, having an easy to use website is more than just a huge plus, it's a necessity. But then came the hard part: choosing an artist. Anyone who has looked over their site knows that every artist they have on staff is truly gifted ('gif-teeed,' six feet under anyone?).
After a long, LONG period of deliberation (seriously, like months) I ended up choosing Rachel and could not have been more pleased. Her intricate line work is to-die-for and omg the way she shades, I swear. My tattoo is a good 3 1/2 inches with shading and I only paid $70. SEVENTY. On top of True Blue being the best tattoo shop in town, it is among the most affordable. Can you beat that?
Main points: clean shop, non-judgy artists, great prices, chill vibe, free touchups for 3 years.
What are you waiting for, go get your ink nooowww.
Took the plunge yesterday.
Not my first ink (by a LONG shot), but my first tatt in Austin. I've been wanting the Manchester United crest over my heart for years, and now it's there: ready to strike fear into Chelsea and Arsenal , er, fans.
I brought the MU crest fridge magnet (which lives on my kegerator, go figure) and Jose made a quick stencil, which he then inked onto my chest.
Perfectly done, for less then I thought I'd pay. No wonder they're voted Best Tattoo Parlor in last year's Chronicle.
Love it, thanks guys. I'll be back.
I chose this place because they had an awesome website when I visited. I called a day before to ask about nostril studs and what sizes they come in since I wanted to get my nose pierced the next day. I want to say that Shane was the one who answered, because his voice sounded familiar when I actually go to the parlour. Anyway, he was very helpful and seemed genuinely interested in answering my questions. He was also very knowledgable about his stuff.
When I actually drive down Red River, True blue is NOT hard to miss. It's very cute and 'Austiny' as any fellow Austinite would say. I parked about two streets over.
So I go in, and there are two tattoo artists downstairs who greet me once I make my presence known. The building is very clean and cute on the inside and almost has a shine to it. They told me to head right on upstairs (which is IMMACULATE) and I spoke with Shane before picking some jewelry and asking a bunch of questions about how flat the stud will be to my skin, which is what I REALLY wanted. (I'm very pleased with how flat it is.)
He proceeded to tell me about the sterilization and after waiting showed me everything I needed before the actual piercing started.
Pain: on a scale of 0-10, a 0.5. Not even kidding. I'm a BABY and hate needles and was so scared before getting it. My eye watered up a ton but that was it. It hurt less than my ears and DEFINITELY less than my navel piercing, (which was a 10.5 out of 10). It looked fantastic and I paid for the service, some aftercare stuff, and I tipped him.
I'm so happy with my piercing and highly recommend True Blue to anyone!!!
Blake Sennett of Rilo Kiley came here with me to get 1/3 of my first tattoo after his show at Emo's. They were great with my time sensitive walk-in and held the shop open for a couple minutes after close in order to accommodate my tattoo needs. Charged $60+ for three letters, but under the circumstance, I'm not complaining. It was an experience I'll never forget and I'm so grateful to True Blue for putting up with the last second appointment.
Review Source:My first tattoo & I can honestly say it was a great experience! Jose was nice, chatty at the right times, professional & calm. I didn't get the "I'm too good for you" attitude we got from Southside Tattoo. Â I'm so glad we ended up here. Â Thanks Jose for an awesome experience & tattoo!
Review Source:I have nothing but great things to say about True Blue Tattoo and Body Piercing. Â Although some reviews say that the staff is less-than-helpful or unwelcoming, I disagree. Â Not only do I have two tattoos done by Chip at True Blue, but they also are the ones who helped me through stretching my ears. Â First of all, my tattoos are black script that are beautiful and crisp, even after the healing process and a couple of years of wear. Â Secondly, when I began to have an interest in stretch (not gauging!) my ears, I did not know what to do and was not sure I wanted to trust some website or hot topic with the process. Â After calling up to the piercing department at True Blue for advice, the piercer recommended that I come in to talk about the process in person. Â I did, and the piercer (who I unfortunately cannot remember his name) was amazingly helpful and told me about a piercing process that would cut the process time of getting my ears to the size I want. Â I was pierced that day at a 6g and have been going back to TB for plugs and eyelets.
Last night, I went in to get a new pair of 2G plugs after going to another shop before and getting jewelry that a newly stretched 2g wouldn't be ready for. Â When I got to the shop, I was greeted very warmly and quickyl helped by Sarah, who I later found out is a manager at the shop. Â She helped me find a new pair of plugs after showing me lots of options, even alerting me to the cheapest pairs I could get. Â This interaction was particularly noteworthy, because some other shops might only show the most expensive jewelry, which really isn't practical for someone stretching their ears, as you are more likely to stretch out of those expensive plugs.
Lastly, when I was at TB I was showing Sarah the plugs I had bought at another shop (double-flared cut shell plugs) and commenting on how cute they were when we noticed that they had broken. Â Although I did not purchase the jewelry from True Blue, Sarah gave me advice on how to return them in order to get my money back, AND also told me that if the other shop didn't take them back that she would fix them for me!
All in all, I think True Blue is amazing and will continue to be loyal to this AWESOME Austin shop.
I got my ear pierced here (two conch in the left ear) and will definitely come back if I ever want another piercing. The facility is clean and Vanessa is very professional. Even though I got two conch piercings here it was not nearly as painful as the one I got in my right ear from another facility. Highly recommended.
Review Source:This review is for Shane in piercing...
Shane pierced my cartilage and I'll be going back to him to fix a botched ear lobe piercing from my childhood.  He has  ALWAYS been extremely professional and patient, answering all questions I had about the types of jewelry used and procedures that took place.  My cartilage healed incredibly fast and I was able to sleep on it the first night. When I bought a new earring, he changed it out for free always using sterile technique. I have recommended Shane to many of my friends who are interested in piercings and I would definitely recommend him to you!
Awesome, awesome, kick-ass!!! That's all I have to say about this place. After everyone's helpful suggestions on Yelp on where to get my first tattoo, I chose Jon at True Blue Tattoo. My reasons for choosing him, you ask...well, out of all the suggestions I received, Jon's portfolio was the only one that I saw online and from the very first tat I saw, I was like, "OMG!" His color work was incredible and lines amazing. I fell in love...with the work, not the man...even though he turned out to be a pretty awesome guy as well as an incredible artist.
After researching the facility as well as Jon's work, I emailed him asking him if he'd be willing to do my tattoo and if he can help me put together the design I have in my head. He replied within the next two days & started working with me. After conversing back and forth a few times, I went in for a consultation. Jon helped me work through some of my concerns about getting a tattoo without making me feel stupid or unreasonable. From the first time I met him, I was super comfortable. He was really laid back and made things easy for me even though I was a first-timer and a little nervous.
Quick warning: the employees of True Blue don't always jump at acknowledging you (which caught me off guard, as I'm used to being greeted) or make it known to your artist that you have arrived, so don't be afraid to double-check in case you feel like you've been waiting longer than you think you reasonably should. No one was rude, but everyone seemed to have a "each man for his own" attitude.
After the consultation, I went in for the first session with a friend of mine. After setting up his work area for my session, Jon placed the stencil on my skin to show me placement...and then moved it twice in order to make the placement exactly right for me...he was super patient with my questions/concerns and was genuinely fine with moving the stencil so that I was happy...he says that when you look in the mirror, your first reaction should be "Yes! That's perfect!" and if it's not, it's probably not just right. Once placement was good, he did the first part of my tattoo. The set up was legit and very clean. Jon talked me through what to expect and then started the tattoo...can't lie, parts of it hurt like hell (mainly the outline), but with funny conversation among me, my friend and Jon, the experience went by super fast.
Once the tattoo was done, he cleaned my skin and then had me stand to show me the tattoo in the mirror before placing some ointment and a bandage on the area. He went over detailed post-op care and told me how to reach him in case I have any questions. He made the whole experience so relaxing and fun.
So, given such a great experience, I was anxious to go back and do the second part of my tattoo. After the first part healed, back to True Blue I went. Again, such a kick-ass experience!! Jon worked with me because of my school schedule and was prompt in getting started once I arrived. After the paperwork and stencil placing, he talked with me about what he had in mind specifically for my design and what colors would work best...I basically left the specifics of the design in his hands, as he is the artist and I had spent a good deal of time letting him know what my vision was. I trusted him...and for good reason because it turned out awesome! The colors are gorgeous and the lines are so detailed! I did this session solo, so no friend to distract, but Jon made me feel really comfortable. He has an awesome sense of humor, so I was laughing a lot. It was just a really easy and fun experience even though it was painful. lol. I can honestly say I had a blast getting this tattoo done and I'd go back to Jon if I ever wanted another. :)
I definitely give this place 5 stars and would give it more if I could. Jon is very professional, and makes you feel comfortable with the entire experience. He is very talented so for someone like me, who is not artisty whatsoever, he was able to make my words into beautiful art. He truly blends talent, art, and professionalism together...he also gets what great customer service is and what it means to "make it an experience like no other." True Blue itself is very clean and legitimate. There's awesome paintings and wall decoration all over the place and lots of portfolios/photos of suggestions for tattoos in case you need some ideas. There's also piercing upstairs (which I can't review b/c I've never done one there). The only thing I don't like is that I waited so long and the "I don't care" attitude I received the first time I went, but otherwise, awesome. Jon definitely makes the experience!
Go to Jon at True Blue!!! :-D Photos of my tattoo to follow. :)
Would highly recommend to anyone! I had some friends in town and we had been planning on going together to get our next tattoos for a while. I called True Blue a few times throughout the day to see if we needed to make appointments, medicine I could take, stuff like that. They were always super nice on the phone which is pretty rare for a tattoo shop. When we got there, I started talking to Jose about what I wanted to get and he was very helpful, making sure that I got exactly what I came in for and that it would look the best it possibly could. I swear, even going to him hurt WAYYYY less than my first tattoo. My friends both went to different guys in there, but they were both great too. I will definitely be back!
Review Source:Ah. So impressed by True Blue. I had been wanting my septum done for a bit now and was so hesitant because of the pain and all that shit. I researched a bit and decided on True Blue. I went in today without an appointment and was pierced by Shane. The experience was beyond my expectations, he was so sweet. Really professional and such a clean place. The piercing did not hurt AT ALL, he is obviously talented and knows what the fuck he's doing. I adore it so much and he explained everything I needed to know with cleaning and taking care of it. For all my piercing needs from now on I will be choosing this place. Thanks Shane!
Review Source:This place rocks for piercing. Shane helped my boyfriend and I out. He's super knowledgeable. Answered every question i had and made recommendations best for the piercing, not just what i wanted to hear. U appreciate hoesty and quality work.
I definitely had a good experience with the place. Didn't have to make an appointment and received excellent service.
My daughter and I had a very good piercing experience with Sarah! She was extremely professional and very patient when discussing the procedure, cleaning, and maintenance of the piercing, as well as her expert advice. My daughter had a ton of questions and was not sure which type of piercing she wanted (this being her "going-off-to-college" celebration piercing).
Not that I've been to a lot of tattoo places, but the whole place appeared to be very clean and modern. We were greeted right away when we walked in, and told to go upstairs. Sarah finished up with her two previous customers and we were seen right away. My daughter walked away very happy with her first piercing experience and will likely return to Sarah in the future.
Super friendly staff. Jose was very attentive and sensitive to my nervousness. He actually modified what I wanted and made it better than what I originally asked for (shown through a stencil, of course). He kept telling me that "we will place or change it as many times as you want, til its the way you want". Everyone loves my new addition. Thanks Jose and True Blue.
Review Source:I got my first tattoo here. I walked in and they were very nice to me even though i was young. The tattoo was professionally done. The guy could tell that i was nervous and allowed me to stop when he noticed my increasing anxiety.
The prices were good and I didn't feel like I was just getting a tattoo at a cheap place on 6th.
I've had 2 tattoo experiences here, one mine, one a friends.
I went for my tattoo on a Sunday evening. They guy, whose name I don't remember, was very friendly and joked with my friends and I. He was older with long-ish grey hair. Anyway, he told me the design I had wouldn't really work because it was so small and detailed that the lines would blur over time. That's fine b/c he knows more about tattoos than I do, but I wish he would've offered to work with me on the design to get it to what I wanted. Instead he suggested I select something from a book, which I did. Totally ok experience, but not great. Not enough to bring me back for another tattoo for myself.
3 yrs later I'm back with a friend who wants an anchor on her arm. She explains what she wants to the guy (also don't remember his name - this was 2008) who is curt and abrupt to her, avoids making eye contact and shoots down her every suggestion. She wants a small anchor, he says she should get it bigger. Ok, so you think it'll look better bigger that's fine, but it's her body and tattoo so just do what she wants. Every thing she wanted - shading, rope around it, etc etc, came with a rude retort from the tattoo artist. He was super unfriendly and unhelpful, not giving us a smile or any advice or any help.
The worst part of it was that after he had done her tattoo he didn't offer any advice on maintenance or taking care of it. She had to ask him! Any legit tattoo artist worth his salt will make suggestions and give you detailed info on how to take care of it like Scott Ellis did for my boyfriend (check him out @ Triple Crown Tattoo).
I've always loved the idea of this place. I used to live in San Antonio, and I wanted to come here to get pierced and tattooed. It seemed cool and Austiny. I got my second tattoo done here, about two years ago. It was fine, my tattoo artist was nice, it healed, and looks fine. I came in about a year later, when it was busy, but I remember being talked to, even though I didn't end up getting anything. I've been wanting to get a tattoo for the past couple weeks, and of course, I thought of True Blue.
I went in, told them what I wanted and where (back of my heel), and the girl behind the counter told me that the placement probably wouldn't work, and she didn't know if anyone would/could do it. She said "If it's important, we could put it higher up on your leg." Of course it's important, I want it on my body forever. I still don't understand that comment and lack of concern. They told me that I could try and come back in a few hours when another artist would be there. They didn't seem to into helping me out with anything else or any of my questions. I left pretty disappointed.
I went back today, ready to get tattooed, ready to give them another chance. Pulled up in front of the building, walked in, walked up to the guy behind the counter, and waited for him to speak. He didn't say a word. I started to mill around, leafing through books and things on the wall, like I was interested. The woman who did my tattoo was there, but with a customer. Still, even when her customer left, she didn't say anything to me. The guy behind the counter walked out to talk on his phone and smoke, and I just left.
I really thought this place stood out among a sea of 6th street tattoo parlors, but I guess not. I was completely ignored, so I can only assume they don't want my business. When someone did speak to me on my other visit, it was completely unhelpful.
I ended up going to another tattoo parlor closer to my house and getting tattooed within the hour.
Shazaam.
The first time I came here with 3 of my friends to get our ears pierced, and the guy that did it for us was so friendly and seemed really experienced. Plus he said he had pierced hundreds of ears, which I don't doubt. He was really pleasant and chill with all of our noob-y questions about pretty much everything that was included in the paper leaflet and was totally patient while the 4 of us chose what colors and types of earrings we wanted. None of that too-cool-for-you air at all and didn't act intimidating or anything. Plus it's probably standard policy, but they make sure to let you know that they sanitize those needles real' well. A+ for that guy.
The second time I came back was because of a hoop that somehow got lodged in my cartilage after coming undone and being too inflexible to take out myself (ouch). After I called first, he didn't seem exactly friendly and preferred that I just come in since it was hard to describe on the phone. When I finally got there, this other guy clipped it out easily but he seemed like he didn't really want to do it.. He still removed it free of charge, but do you want your customers to feel like they're burdening you and taking up your time when they're in your store?
The price was alright, one cartilage piercing cost roughly in the $30s since they charge you depending on what type of earring you want. Of course it's needle-pierced instead of gun, like at Claire's or something, which is supposedly better since there's no blunt trauma to your ear, something that depends on how you consider infection something you want to compromise on.
Overall there's no doubt that the piercers are good at what they do, and even if they're not exactly friendly all of the time, they were generally courteous and polite from my experience.
Walk in middle of the week at night, ready to get my wife a tattoo. No one else in the shop, but two guys behind the counter: one on a computer, the other standing. No greeting.
That's cool, I know how tattoo shops work. Head over to the portfolios and find an artist I want to know more about.
I ask the guy at the computer who's book it is. Without looking up, he says "Nah, he's not here."
I wonder to myself, "So who is here?"
The other guy walks out past us.
We follow him out, knowing this place is not worth it.
I should precede this review by stating that I had a tattoo done at True Blue circa 2001, so the experience isn't the freshest thing on my mind. Â Still, a few things stood out.
I was asking them to replicate a black and white image, but as we discussed colors the artist became more and more discouraging. Â He made it seem like my selection didn't make for a feasible tattoo. Â Though disheartening, I appreciated his honesty considering it could have potentially lost him business. Â So, kudos.
He eventually got creative and found a way to make it work. Â I'm happy with the tattoo, even though a line was slightly smudged (as much my fault for moving during the tattoo). Â
Though I'm happy to have found a way to make the tattoo work, previous reviewers have hit the nail on the head. Â The attitude is very "typical tattoo jerk". Â They have the tattoo bravado that comes with the turf far too often. Â Granted, this could have changed in recent years, but I remember finding that same attitude a few years ago when I re-entered the shop.
Can they do a tattoo? Â Sure. Â But it might not be the most pleasant experience.
I am very pleased with my tattoo's that I had done here. I have had 2 done by Jon and another one done by some guy that does not work there anymore forget his name. They both were really professional and sat down with me and bounced ideas off my ideas and sketches I brought in as well as made some sketches themselves. It was very clean there and the work did they was great. They make sure you know the proper way to care for it in the following days after getting it done. If I get more which I am sure I will Im sure that's where I'll end up.
Review Source:I got my first tattoo ever done here by Jose.
I insisted on seeing his portfolio before he tattooed me and he says that hardly anybody does that, which I found to be very odd.
Anyways, he was nice but pretty quiet.
I got a Celtic love knot on my left shoulder blade, and I love it.
Looking at it very closely I can see that a couple of the edges aren't perfect, but I love it anyways, and I think Jose did a great job.
More like 3.5 stars.
Wellll... I had a tattoo touched up and added to here by a guy who tattooed Vanilla Ice.. so I mean, that was pretty awesome. Ha. He was cool (name is Jose) and I would go back to him.
However... I've been in True Blue a few other times, and the people there are not always friendly or welcoming. I know this can be pretty standard for a lot of shops, but I think it's a shame. Also, a friend of mine was tattooed at True Blue, and the artist who did it was downright rude. The tattoo was also a bit flawed. When my friend came back in to have it fixed, the guys there told her they wouldn't do it out of respect for the woman whose work it was. I can understand that, but the artist wasn't planning on coming into the shop anytime within the next few days, and we were leaving town after that. Also, she was RUDE and the tattoo was FLAWED! So maybe they need to rethink their respect policy under certain circumstances.
Ok, I can't really say I've been tattooed here, but I was going to write a review for my artist, Mike, who since I last had work done has moved to True Blue. So the review is really about him and not so much True Blue.
(For what it's worth, the facility is really clean and everyone I've met from there seems really friendly)
Anyway, when I first came to Mike, I had a design and he took the time to explain how it would look down the road and had all sorts of helpful suggestions. I was really happy with the work and went back for a piece on my leg.
He spent a lot of time working on it, and instead of trying to fudge my initial idea, explained how it wouldn't work and redesigned it. I was really impressed, and people 3+ years later still point out what a great tattoo it is.
Then I recommended a friend to get work done by him, and he once again provided excellent feedback and convinced her that one of her designs was not going to work, but would still try it if she wanted.
That to me is a sign of a good artist. Most would go with what you have and offer little feedback-just going along with your ideas, even if they're bad.
This place is as good as it gets. Its super CLEAN Â and that is number one when you are getting poked right?! Liz...who has now pierced me twice is awesome. She explains everything step by step and knows what she's talking about. I've met the tattoo artists and they are friendly ppl w/awesome ports, though I haven't been blessed by any of their work....YET! Maybe I'll get lucky soon!
Review Source:This place came recommended by a friend as being excellent and I agree 100%. After being on the east coast for the past couple years, I forgot how nice and friendly people in Texas are; and this place reminded me. The piercing artist who helped me was wonderful. She sterilized the jewelry I brought in and changed out my piercing. She was sweet and professional.
Also the place was clean but had just enough funk. There was a wide selection of jewelry to purchase as well.
I would definitely recommend them.
I had an old tattoo that I wanted covered up, and when I saw Jose for my consultation, he told me that he wouldn't be able to give me exactly the type and color of flower I wanted, because the old tattoo was too dark. But then he stared at the old tattoo for a minute, and apparently it spoke to him. He came up with a great idea to do a flower that started out dark and then faded out as it came out past the old tattoo.
When it came time to actually do the tattoo, I couldn't make up my mind about the exact placement and the shape of the flower, and he was very patient with me. He ended up giving me a fantastic new tattoo that completely covers the old one.
i was in austin for a week and i needed a tattoo. Â i was unimpressed with everyone who answered the phone from the other shops. Â people who run a business and cant handle the phone bug me.
someone at true blue answered and they were polite and told me to just come in.
so i came in.
i walk up to jose and told him i was interested in getting a heart on my upper forearm. Â i wanted his artists opinion -- Â he refused and demanded examples so he could come up with something. Â douche.
i had saved a bunch of pictures and showed them to him after a few minutes and described what i had in mind.
he drew something up, i approved and we started tattooing. Â he redeemed himself. Â jose understood exactly what i wanted without me expressing it effectively to him. Â my tattoo looks fantastic. Â he was quick and thorough (i dont think it needs to be touched up!). Â he was very clear with after-care instructions and gave me his card (which had aftercare on the back).
if i am in austin again, i will definitely go back to jose.
So I ventured to True Blue for my first tattoo upon recommendation from several people online and in person.
I went, picked out the best portfolio for me (Jose) and left a message. Â Jose called me back a couple days later. Â He was very brisk and seemingly disinterested. Â He didn't give a set appointment but just said to come in when he was scheduled which he just said was "friday-monday". Â I went, he wasn't here (it wasn't his hours), came back a week later and caught up with him. Â Talking to him in person was just as dishertening as on the phone. Â He seemed completely disinterested, didn't seem to have any advice even though it's my first tattoo and I'm obviously ignorant and nervous, and I just felt stupid. Â He said he'd do a sketch in a week, week and a half and to call him if he hadn't gotten in touch with me by then. Â 2 weeks later i called him and told him not to bother.
He's obviously an enormously talented artist, but he was so unresponsive and unhelpful, ESPECIALLY for someone looking to get their first tattoo done that I didn't feel comfortable from step one. Â True Blue just seems generally disorganized when it comes to doing custom work, and Jose was either too busy or too just generally dismissive to put any work into making me feel comfortable.
So I'm going to try Gully Cat. Â Hopefully the other artists at True Blue are more responsive!
Man! Â I always get stuck with the bitchy piercer! Â
So, I venture in to True Blue. Â I have decided to re-pierce my nose now that I see that others at my job have retained their piercings and that admin seems to be OK with my crazy hair and tattoos, as well.
I walk in and am greeted by.... nobody. Â They are all at the counter talking and it is as if I am Invisible Girl. Â
After I check to ensure that I have not worn my cloak of invisibility into this lovely establishment, I say that I am here to get a piercing. Â They all stop talking and look at me... OH A PERSON!
I am then told I'll have to go upstairs for that.
Yes, the place is clean, no I didn't get the whole "what the hell was I thinking this place is shady" feeling... but I am getting the "what the hell" feeling...
I go upstairs and am not greeted.
I wait
and wait
I watch someone go in and out of a room
I wait
finally
two girls exit and are followed from the room by the lovely piercer.
YAY
MY TURN
Uhhhh
Nope
I wait
and wait
finally the woman turns to me and says
Can I help you?
YAY
I explain I would like to get my nose pierced.
I notice that she is covered in amazingly gorgeous tattoos, one being a white one on her neck.
I ask about it and her response is (abruptly and snippity):
I don't talk about my tattoos with strangers.
Uhhhhh
Hmmmm
Ok - now I have 7. Â I am all about asking someone before you touch them to look at their tattoos, because it's just freaky to come up and touch someone's body you don't know to look at art placed there. Â I love hearing stories about why you got that and what it means to you. Â My question here is
WHY would you work in a tattoo/piercing place and NOT cover tattoos you don't want to discuss?
AND
WHY would you be shitty to me because I asked you about it? Â
Anyway - on with the "experience"
I pick out a piece I like and off the lady goes to start the whole sterilization process.
I sit to read a magazine.
A man comes from downstairs and they began conversing... well, she begins bitching, about someone breaking a mirror and she rambles on and on about it.
So, here I am, about to let someone touch my body that doesn't seem very well centered themselves... yay for transference of energy.
I know, I know - why didn't you leave, Shani? Â
Well, I wanted to get this done. Â There were reasons... trust me on this one.
To wrap it up - I did not have a good experience, I did not enjoy my time here, I will NEVER return and I have told others not to go here.
There are too many other establishments here in Austin that truly appreciate folks coming in and not only sharing time, energy and thoughts with them, but money.
I give it two stars for being super clean, though.
Other than that...
boo.
I finally have joined the ranks of the tattooed and pierced people here in beautiful Austin thanks to True Blue! Â
Briza did a wonderful job on my first tattoo, she was very patient with me, talked through everything, drew up a fantastic design and worked with me to give me the tattoo I wanted. Â The overall atmosphere was cool and laid back, it is a pretty open studio and may not be for the more body conscious people out there -- you are a little on display during the tattooing. Â
A great experience, I couldn't be happier!
Got my nose pierced here. There is a large selection of jewelry.
The piercer was very knowledgeable. He explained the sterilization prodedure in detail as well as what to expect.
Clean, professional. I have recommended it to my friend. I don't know how it's priced compared to other piercing shops. $45 for piercing and stud.
Jon Reed did a great job on my winged lion tat (I've added it to my pictures). Â He was patient, and even though wall-to-wall color is not his preference, and he prefers retro designs, he said the design I brought in was cool. Â I had colored it myself with colored pencil, so he did his very best to match the colors and even borrowed ink from other artists to be as accurate as possible. Â It was a big design, and late at night, and he still had to tattoo a friend of mine, too, but he stuck through it and did a fantastic job for both of us. Â He stayed late to make sure we both got what we wanted. Â This place is not cheap, but they're clean, and the artists working there know what they're doing. Â I'll be going back for my next tattoo.
Review Source:Disclaimer: I have yet to see a tattoo artist at work - I've only come here for a piercing.
CLEAN. And that says a lot for tattoo parlors downtown. There was none of that shady, I-dunno-about-this gut feeling you get in other places. I can honestly say I felt safe getting my piercing here. They use both autoclave and statim sterilization, and both sterilizing machines are spore tested monthly by a biological monitoring service. Every needle is single-use and never re-used, so any chance of infection will be of your own doing.
Prices were steep ($15 for their smallest ring) but I suppose you're paying for real steel instead of a metal-painted piece of God knows what.
Con: No after-care solution, its extra.
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