Okay... Â Now I feel comfortable writing a proper review for Vivid. Â This place is awesome. Â I've been tattooed by a couple of different places. Â Mostly back in NYC at Andromeda (which is also amazing) and Sleeping Giant (here in SD, which is TERRIBLE) and I can say hands down this is my new go to place. Â
I've been tattooed by two different artists here and then got my ears gauged and nosed pierced. Â
My first ink was with Mike. Â I popped in randomly one night and explained what I wanted. Â The guy at the desk was chill in getting me set up. Â I've shopped around and usually get met with a lot of attitude and ego. Â
No, I'm not super inked with sleeves and stuff everywhere. Â My ink is pretty simple and straight forward and not very showy so studios usually talk down to me or act like my request is stupid. Â Here I didn't get that vibe at all. Â
The place itself is pretty cool. Â Very, very clean and spacious. Â Lots of art and stuff on the walls.
Mike got everything set up and did the tattoo... Â I chatted it up with the owner Steph and another girl (I forget her name but she's been there every time ive been inked and pierced and is really cool to talk to). Â The ink is perfect. Â Thanks Mike. Â
A week(ish) later, I decided I wanted to go bigger. Â So I go back to Vivid with no appointment and a vague idea as to what I wanted... Â Met up with Devon. Â I was immediately turned on. Â Her ink is EXACTLY what I'm going for. Â I wanted to start a half sleeve of life versus death and was getting started with a rose. Â
I wanted it to be as photo realistic as possible so Devon sat me down and we went through some pictures of roses on Google. Found what I wanted. Â She printed it out and did a really simple outline. Not gonna lie, I really doubted her ability to do a realistic looking rose from just an outline.
We talked about pricing and time and stuff and was given an estimate of about 2-3 hours and about 200-300. Â My piece isnt huge so I was kinda surprised at how long it would take, pricing wasnt a huge concern.
Jump on the table and she sets to work. Â It hurt. Â Not like I'm dying hurt, but wasn't fun either. Â A few hours later, she wrapped up and I finally took a look at it. Â I was floored. Â It was beyond perfect. Â The color popped right off my arm, the detail was so intricate... Â It's been two weeks now since the ink and people have stopped me on the street to ask me about it... who did it, what does it mean and compliment the rose. It's so good, someone asked me if it was fake. Â Thank you Devon (I'll be back soon to get the rest of the sleeve started).
Last night out of boredom I went to get my nose pierced and my ears gauged. Â The guy (don't remember his name) was bad ass. Â No attitude, easy to talk to, super laid back and really good at his job. Â I've heard the nose stings and hurts and usually makes your eyes water, but I didn't experience any of this. Â
Bottom line... Â Vivid Tattoo is THE place to go in San Diego. Â Great job guys!
Absolutely my favorite tattoo shop in San Diego. Â The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and talented, the shop is clean, inviting, and decorative, and the pricing (by the piece as opposed to by the hour) is unbeatable.
Currently having the shop owner work on a massive back/shoulder piece that she designed, and I could not be happier. Â I gave her my inspiration and a few pictures, and she turned out a extremely detailed and intricate tattoo that I am proud to show off.
One of my favorite parts about this shop is the tattooing process is very manageable here. Â The artists have light hands that don't push too hard into the skin, their coloring and line work stays vibrant and crisp, and I have yet to experience any kind of issues with infection or anything of the sort.
Don't know why anyone would go anywhere else
I cannot say enough great things about this place. Incredible artists, CLEAN shop, and great prices. Â The absolute only downside to this place is the lack of parking. Â I had Andrew do a large piece on my thigh that involved a lot of line work and shading. Â The tattoo is above and beyond my expectations. I 110% recommend this shop in general and Andrew in particular!!
Review Source:So first time I have ever got a Tattoo and I go to Vivid because I had heard great things about Devon. I made an appointment with her and sent her my idea for the design I wanted. She took that idea and expanded on it and created a wonderful work of art which everyone who has seen it tells me is beautiful and that they have never seen anything like it, Â Even the other artists at Vivid said they had never seen anything like it. So her work is great and she is so pleasant and easy to get on with that she just made the whole experience fabulous.
As for the location I like it, clean, nice view, great artwork on the wall, and I love the open plan loft layout.
The shop itself isn't 100% user friendly because the shop is upstairs and you must buzz them to be let in, but otherwise finding it is pretty self explanatory. The place has a sweeping view of University Ave through some very large windows, which makes your time there more interesting. The loft atmosphere gives it that urban feel. The place itself was really clean.
The staff was really nice and easy on the eyes. I walked in randomly off the street and they greeted me. None of the tattoo artists bothered to get up, and I had to approach them, even though they were not giving anyone a tattoo. Still, they were pleasant.
I was only here for a random piercing. It was my first and Molly was amazing. She gave her opinion, she was just as excited as I was, and she made sure to go over everything a few times until I understood what was going on.
Price was as expected. And I definitely plan to return for more piercings and possibly a tattoo.
The love I have for Steph is HUMONGOUS.
I came to her, with just an idea of a black ''ohm'' symbol, the namaste symbol.
she went with it and RAN....and when I say ran, i mean she ran like crazy.
I left three hours later, with the most beautiful beatiful piece of art work i have so far.
I went in to this tattoo having panic attacks because I thought the forearm would hurt SO bad.
But Steph eased me through the struggles of the tattoo, and continued to compliment how well I was doing, even though I am surprised she thought i was doing well.
When her next tattoo appointment showed up, and we were not done with the tattoo, she told me she cares about who is in her chair at the moment.
Steph's customer service skills, passion for tattooing, passion for making each customer feel like THEY matter, is what makes Vivid Tatoo the best place to get tattoos.
Great location, Great enviorment, and great people :]
I have to brag about being the first (late) appointment with Steph of 2013! Ok, maybe I shouldn't brag about being late, but I stoked I was her first tat of the year. This is my 4th tattoo with Steph. I have gotten 1every year since I met her when she just opened on Park. She has always been very professional, tolerant (when I want to change things) and original in all her art. Â She takes get pride in her work and follows up in the care of the tat. My pieces are not small, and I am no spring chicken, yet her tattoos have never "hurt me" .
I absolutely love your new place on University and can't wait to see how it evolves..
I am also looking forward to many many more tats by my girl;Steph!!
Do yourself a favor, Â if you are considering getting a tattoo, consider getting it done at vivid tattoo..
FYI -don't be late for your appointment....lol
As stated by Leslie S. in her review, there is a new location for this business!
I am going again to get tattood here in the next few weeks and I just wanted to add that I am repeating my business there because of my previous experience, as detailed below. Â
Though the decor is different than what I previously described, Daniel's work is still just as good and the new location offers a really cool "birds eye view" of the Hillcrest district. Â It's funny and very distinct when you walk past the store front because even from the sidewalk you can hear the distinct hum of tattoo machines purring away.
A note to the ladies: Â I found it a bit "scary" looking at first coming up the stairs at night (the shop is on the second story of the building) but it's a quick walk up and directly to the right at the top of the stairs. Â I didn't have anyone hassle me and I think most the "scary" aspect is just due to the dimly lit stairway & gate, but that's more in my imagination than anything I would say!
There is a parking lot on the same block that charges a reasonable amount per half hour, but if you're looking to avoid the parking meters & lot fees I would advise just setting up an evening appointment so that after 6 the meters are free!
New location for Vivid Tattoo: 449 University Ave # 24, between 4th and 5th Ave in Hillcrest!
I just had some work done here by Nikki at the new shop, and I am extremely pleased with the experience. Â Nikki Degner really is the only artist to go to in Hillcrest for American Traditional work, and her creativity and friendly nature will put you at ease immediately.
The view of University Ave. and the Hillcrest sign are the best in the area!
I highly recommend Vivid Tattoo. Â If traditional is not your style, Nikki or any one of the other artists are highly skilled and sure to bring whatever idea you have to life.
I went in last night after reading the reviews here and got some work done on my side. Â The shop was immaculate and Jamie did a BEAUTIFUL job!! He was light handed, enthusiastic, funny, AND VERY TALENTED - everything you would want in an artist!! :)
I will definitely be back and will also be recommending him to my friends... you should def be excited to pay a visit yourself!
This past Friday was my first time ever getting inked.. been contemplating it for years.. but have been too scared ... I hate pain.. My bro in law suggested I wait to see Steph and her crew at Vivid. Steph was able to get me in the next day and as soon as I walked in.. I knew this was gonna be cake.. Although I still was nervous and anxious.. Beside the place being super clean.. the service was exceptional. We came in with two ideas.. both we captured from a picture on a website from my iphone.. it was a bit blurry but they were able to really replicate it perfectly. Â We ended up getting two tats. One which was a Brazilian flag and the other was a Butterfly. After some prep time.. Steph was ready to do my art.. I seriously was expecting for the worst.. like go grab some bark from the tree so I can bite down on it.. Â But what the hell was up with me? there was almost no pain... Im not saying there is NO pain.. but almost no pain. Â The color was on point, Steph was gentle, understanding, and very accommodating. Mom had Taylor do her tat of a butterfly on her arm and he did a wonderful job too. Its been about 2 days now and the color on both tats are as vibrant as the first 10 minutes. Just gotta follow the directions that the artists give you.. if you don't then let the fading happen and don't complain. Â So this was my first but not last tat... gotta figure out when I can come back. I'll post pics.. but listen.. as a first timer or a long timer.. hit Steph and her crew up.. True artists in all of them. Â Steph and Taylor.. we will be back soon.
Review Source:By far the best Tattoo Parlor in San Diego. It really is the best place to get ink done. They've got artists that are skilled in whatever type you want to get and veeerrry surprisingly, their prices are extremely reasonable. This is the only place I recommended my friends to go to and they're all happy with their ink as well.
If you are thinking of getting a tattoo for the first time, Steph and her staff are extremely friendly and will put you at ease and not pressure you into getting something you don't want.
I've been to other places and Vivid, you guys are my Tattoo Parlor for as long as I'm in San Diego.
so me and my two friends came here spur of the moment. Â Our artist was friendly and helpful. I was fairly happy with the customer service and friendlyness aspect of out visit. Â I have 3 fairly large tattos already so i know the steps to caring for them so they heal properly. Â I got a small tattoo on the inside of my wrist. Â It was beautiful when i left the shop. Â The very next day the tattoo started to fade. Â The ink wasnt nearly as dark as it was when it was done. Over the next week the color continued to fade to where it looks like i did it myself. Â We asked about touch ups. He said they were free, however I live 8hours away and now have to come out of pocket again to fix the shitty work. He also said that he highly doubted it would fade at all. Â For paying $60 and tipping $20. Â This certainly wasnt worth it and im super disappointed.
PS the interior was beautiful and would give 5 stars for that! def not your typical tat shop interior!
I got some ink done on Saturday and I loooove it! Â Not only is the shop really cool but the whole staff rocks!
Steph did my 3 tattoos that I have been waiting forever to get. She was super cool and very patient with all my requests and I had an awesome experience.
I am going back for more soon!
I came in to Vivid tattoo to get a touch up done and I was very impressed.
The first thing that caught my eye was the bright teal colored walls and beautiful art. (Not shitty flash art like every other tattoo shop) The shop was immaculate and I was greeted by andrew who was very polite and helped me set an appointment for later in the evening. I arrived on time for  my appointment and I explained to Daniel that I wanted to add more color to the two rose tattoos already on my chest. He was very receptive to my ideas and thoughts of adding colors and whatnot, as well as giving me his two cents and setting a price.
Everything was clean, sterile and professional. Daniel did and amazing job adding more color into my faded tattoos. He worked well past closing time and was friendly and didn't take 17 smoke breaks. He made my roses look like new tattoos, and was very thorough explaining after care for my tattoos. This was my first  experience here at Vivid tattoo, and I know it wont be my last. It is such a breath of fresh air to work with POLITE and well mannered artists.
Thank you Vivid tattoo! :)
I have been having some work done by Andrew Grant at Vivid Tattoo. Â It is a great place and Andrew is a wonderful tattoo artist. Â I am in the process of getting work done on my leg and will stick with him for all my future work. Â He takes his time and does exactly what you want or will work with you to come up with something original. I am very impressed with the detail of his work. Â The shop is nice and clean and great music. Â If you want a tattoo I would check this place out. Â Andrew is the best.
Review Source:I was cruising around the neighborhood and wanted a replacement jewelry piece for my nostril piercing. Â Vivid had awesome reviews, so I stopped in. Â I should have walked out right after I walked in and there are three dudes watching TV and seem too busy doing that to come over and help me. Â After looking at each other for at least a minute, one of them finally saunters over to me and asks what I want. Â When I tell him he calls over a woman to help me. Â
I tell her what I want, and she says she has to special order it. Â We start discussing sizes, types, etc and I was very confused because she mentioned she wouldn't be fitting the piece for my nose. Â This is alarming... Anyone who has a piercing knows that most jewelry (for places like nose, etc) need to be fitted and adjusted to you or they are extremely uncomfortable. Â I finally get her to clarify that she will "bend it" for me, but I was still wary. Â So we get the jewelry picked out, and she says it will be in next week and I need to pre-pay for the piece. Â Not that happy about it, considering I haven't seen it in person or anything, but I understand because they probably can't return it if I flake out. Â So I hand her the only cash I happen to have, a $100 bill. Â She says she can't take that...okay.... here's my mastercard....Nope, she says, don't take credit cards for "jewelry purchases". Â Ok, fine.... At that point I just walked out of sheer frustration. Â I guess they don't need new customers and their money too badly. Â
Customer service is seriously lacking, unless you are getting a tattoo it seems (based on every other review being 5 stars). Â Maybe it was an off night, but man... I did not feel like they wanted me business AT ALL. Â I also do not feel confident that the woman who seemed to be in charge of the piercings really knows what she is talking about. Â At the very least, she lacked professionalism (especially when I compare this to my numerous other experiences at tattoo/ piercing shops).
I have been contemplating my tattoo for almost 3 years and my friend referred me to Thad Jackson... thank goodness! Â I had some sketches that I brought in but he took them and made them look better than I ever could have imagined! Â I had it done tonight and everyone who has seen it is blown away. Â Thad was easy to talk to and made sure that the entire experience was amazing. Â I highly recommend him for anything you need. Â Thanks Thad... I couldn't be happier!
Review Source:I got an amazing tattoo done by Brendan Tierney. He worked with me to design an original work of art, he sat down with me twice before we got started, and he did an amazing job. Very detailed, very artistic. Exactly what I wanted.
The shop was nice and comfortable -- as comfortable as you can be while getting tattooed, anyway. The staff is friendly and fun, they have lots of DVDs and music to distract you from the pain, they have a clean and relaxing environment. I would recommend these guys any day.
Wow! Â This place is AWESOME. Â I came here tonight to get a tattoo. Â Right when I walked up, I was greeted by Mark, who seemed very nice. Â The design that I brought in didn't really work well for where I wanted it to go, but he worked with me, even though I was being a big pain. Â After a few "I want this..", "Change this", "No, do this..", etc., he came up with the perfect design for me.
When he was putting everything together for me, I noticed that the shop was very nice. Â I really liked the colors on the wall; it was very calming for the traumatic needle experience. Â The only bad thing about the shop was that most the clients in there at the time were hitting on my poor friend. Â She was confused. Â Everyone was else incredibly friendly and helpful. Â Oh, and the shop was SO clean. Â My friend even said the bathroom looked like it had just been cleaned! Â That's awesome! Â I like clean bathrooms.
The tattoo itself hurt like a mo-fo, but it was quick enough and well worth it. Â I didn't seem to annoy Mark, the artist, all that much, with my squealing. Â He seemed to be in his own artistic world, ignoring my over-dramatic noises. Â That was nice, as he got it done quickly and didn't stop due to my overreactions of pain.
The only reason that I give this shop a 4 out of 5 stars, instead of 5, is that the quote for the tattoo initially was a little bit steep. Â It was easy to compromise; he met me in the middle without any argument. Â Though, a tattoo virgin might have fallen for the higher price and been out some hard earned cash that could've been used on enough Ramen to feed a small village.
Overall, I enjoyed this experience and plan on recommending Mark to all of my friends who plan on getting a tattoo, and going back to him for my next one as well. Â Since, of course, once you have one, it's basically an addiction. Â A painful, expensive, addiction.. but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Brendan did a wonderful job putting the most beautiful Bulldog on my husband's arm! Â We love it and think it looks just like our boy! Â We walked in, showed him the picture, and 20 minutes later he had a sketch. Â The tattoo took 2.5 hours and looks awesome! Â Highly recommend this place!
Review Source:I stopped into this shop at random to ask about prices for piercings. I was initially intrigued by the decor and beauty of the shop and was further impressed by the staff. The shop is very feminine and artsy which makes it easier to walk into as a female then say, a biker themed shop filled with bearded men wearing death metal T-shirts. Yeah, I stereotype.
The ladies working there were fantastic! Very chatty, accommodating and encouraging. I got two sub-dermal piercings on my wrist done by Kim and felt very comfortable through the whole process. She was very knowledgeable about her trade and fielded all my questions about everything from the process to aftercare and jewelry changing with patience and honesty.
I was very impressed with the shop and the staff and am even considering going back to them for future piercings and ink, even though its a two hour drive!
I haven't actually been into their shop yet but I met up with Vivid team at the Pomona Tattoo and Body Art Expo. I had found one of their artists, "Johnny No-Toof", on facebook and really loved his work. (<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myspace.com%2Fjohnny_green&s=fff571e0111b219fc69d64ad505cb12f890537db9d48734f4257d7d63f3f9f83" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.myspace.com/j…</a>) I've had the same tattoo artist for the last 5 years and was looking for someone just as skilled but a little less pricey. Johnny fit the bill.
The entire experience was a pleasure. I got to meet and chat briefly with the 4 artists there and they were all dolls. So sweet and fun and charming.
As far as his work goes - sailed beyond my expectations. He was FAST and incredible! My tattoo came out better than I imagined. He was very nice and understanding. I've had artists before tell me to suck it up when the pain started to get a bit rough but Johnny stayed respectful and kind through the entire process.
I'm very excited to get more work done at Vivid by Johnny. This shop is where I'll now be sending my friends when they need an ink fix!
If it were possible to give these guys 10 stars, I would. Â On Friday afternoon I was wandering around University Heights and found this cute little shop and decided to check it out. Every portfolio that I looked through I was very impressed with and couldn't find one book that was lacking talent. I was greeted by Mellissa, one of their artists. She was great answering my questions and calming my fears seeing this would be my first tattoo experience. She offered to do it right then once she saw my design and reminded me that there was no pressure and if I want to think about it and come back that she'd be there if and when I was ready. She's a real sweet lady and made me feel a lot better.
After a long night of thinking about it, I returned the following afternoon (yesterday) with the support of my husband to get it done. I was really nervous but he stepped up first to get his second tattoo of a sweet V-8 engine on his shoulder blade. Brendan did his tattoo and it took six hours with a few short breaks in between. When Mellissa showed up she was really thorough with perfecting the design and made sure I was entirely comfortable with it. Her words of encouragement throughout the experience helped me power through some of the spots that were less than comfortable. Soon I was finished! Mine took about 10 or 15 minutes to do and was not nearly as bad I expected it. I love how the bird turned out and she made it look even better than the stencil.
They thoroughly explained how to care for our new ink and sent us home with little care packages complete with candy to bring our blood sugar back up when the endorphin high let off. Â
Vivid Tattoo is a very spotless shop and every artist including their piercer is the most laid back person. This is a perfect place for girls wanting to get tattooed but don't want scuzzy ex-felons touching them for any period of time. Vivid was very professional and always top notch for customer service.
I am very pleased with my experience and highly recommend Mellissa for first timers or any wimpy people (like myself). And kudos to Brendan for powering through that six hour tattoo and staying late.
Vivid Tattoo, you're the greatest!
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