The Chosen One Ink — Attraction in Arlington

I don’t normally write reviews but my last visit to this shop sort of pushed me over the edge. I’ve gotten my nose pierced here and it was a great experience, the owner was nice and all. Then I got my lips pierced at another shop and stopped by here to look at downsizing my bars. I got bars from here and went back another time to do a “piercing checkup” and the piercer told me the bars were too big and I thought it odd since they were the ones to put them in, as soon as I said that he changed his tune and said they were ok. Then I went back again, because I still liked this place, to get new jewelry for my lip piercings and everything was fine until the piercer put the jewelry in my piercings. He was forcing them through the holes, and to be honest it hurt more than the actual piercing session (which I thought odd since I had no trouble changing my own piercings). I paid about $160 for 2 bars and left bleeding and with skin ripped out, which I thought was normal. Then I went back AGAIN to see if they had any plastic jewelry I could use for surgery. He recommended I not spend money and just take them out since I’ve had the piercing for a while, which I appreciate. Then I asked about the gauge size in my lips, because I noticed the bars were a lot thicker than the standard ones I was initially given. He just told me they were 14g, and I asked why the gauge would be up sized (I obviously know it’s just for looks) and he told me how it was probably just the jewelry the artist had on hand and such. Then he asked me “did the artist not tell you that?” And he looked surprised as if he was going to give me a speech about how they would never do that (which has happened before). I told him “no” and he asked me who put them in and I responded with “you did”. That last time I got my jewelry changed, the time it hurt really bad, it was the owner of the store who upsized my jewelry without telling me or getting my consent. He then started to blow me off saying “oh, that’s what you wanted”, “that’s how piercings and jewelry are”, “what’s a little stretch” and “it’s not a big deal” to which I responded with “it was a big deal to me because it hurt a lot”. I told him that it was a basic responsibility as a piercer to tell me if he’s trying to go bigger or anything before putting the piercing in, if that was the smallest gauge he had then I would have picked a different bar (I was polite). Not to mention when I got them put in he told me the only reason they hurt going in was because the piercers used bad needles “which left pieces of skin inside”. So not only was he blowing me off, he was blaming the work of another piercer for his lack of communication. I think it ridiculous to just do what you want with piercings when it’s on a clients face, especially when I pay a lot of money for this jewelry. I’ve already had questionable encounters with the artists here kind of back tracking what they say when I tell them the services I got was from them, but this blatant disregard of communication is what’s turning me away from this establishment. Now I do think the customer service is good compared to the other shops I’ve been to, and that the nose piercings I got were nice. But I’d make sure to double check what they’re doing or are going to do BEFORE receiving service (at least piercing wise). I couldn’t see the size difference of the bar in his hand to the ones in my lip (duh) so I was giving him my full trust as a professional piercer. All in all, the store is good, as long as you don’t forget to communicate. 1 or 2 out of the 5 or 6 times I’ve been here has been a good or...

I been following this shop on social media for a while and I visited recently at their new location on Abrams.

I called one afternoon asking them if I could do a walk-in regarding a conch piercing I got at another tattoo place. Sometimes some studios wont even see you if you did not get your piercing done with them so that's why I called ahead. The guy answers the phone I tell him what's going on and he tells me he has to see it in person to really give me an answer, along with that he tells me he does charge a fee to change the piercing/take it out. Ok cool understandable, every shop has something like this in place.

Background story, I got my conch pierced at another shop by an apprentice. This shop and licensed and reputable. I understood that she was still getting licensed and she was supervised. Cool, I get it; everyone has to start somewhere and i dont mind helping her out. I got 2 piercings from her and both had jewelry put in that I picked from their inventory. Both pieces of jewelry had a flat back. I got pierced and both jewelry went in, no problem, cool thanks I am happy moving on (that's was on July 28).

I get to the shop and Matt greets me and walks me over to his station. Upon closer look it looks like the flat back of the conch jewelry I was wearing got swallowed by my ear! The way I understood it was when you get a piercing your skin is trying to heal and close off the hole. With a round back it keeps the jewelry moving compared to a flat back where it stays put. What I originally thought was the back of my jewelry had fallen out turned into my ear swallowing the back of the jewelry. From what Matt told me I came in at the right time or else I would have had to go to the ER to get it removed and a possible chance I could have gotten in a much worst situation.

He had asked me where I have gotten it so I told him it was an apprentice at a shop and he pointed out the apprentice may have skipped the steps to really look to see if my ear and its curves were a good match for the kind of jewelry they put on me. I have a thick ear conch and when I got it pierced i figured it was tight because of the swelling but it was the jewelry giving me trouble. Matt said the apprentice should have seen my ear thickness and used a longer backpiece. An experienced piercer would have made the proper recommendations for a thick ear like mine. So Matt ended up making a small cut in the back of my conch so he could push out the jewelry. Sadly the best choice was to let that heal up and then revisit after a month to get it re-pierced.

I appreciate Matt's honesty and professionalism in this situation. He was very knowledgeable and great to talk to. He thanked me for coming in and helping me avoid the discomfort and possible trip to the ER. He also invited me back to see him when I was ready to get my conch re-pierced.

Overall very knowledgeable staff, a friend, a clean shop, very cool décor and a great location. Parking is free outside but limited, overflow parking is available across the street at Fuzzy's. The shop does charge a convenience fee when using a credit or debit card so bring cash...

From the moment I stepped into Chosen One Ink, I knew I was in the right place. I had a very specific, somewhat intricate idea for a tattoo, and after a couple of less-than-enthusiastic consultations elsewhere, I was beginning to think it might be impossible. But the team at Chosen One Ink, especially Jayson, not only listened intently but approached my vision with genuine excitement and unwavering determination.

The initial consultation was fantastic. Jayson took the time to truly understand what I wanted, offering creative suggestions that enhanced my original concept without altering its core. His dedication was evident from the start – he didn't just want to ink something on me; he wanted to create my perfect tattoo. There was no rush, no pressure, just a clear goal of achieving perfection.

On the days of the appointments, the shop's atmosphere was incredibly welcoming and professional. Everything was spotless, and I felt completely at ease. Throughout the almost 20 hours it took over two sessions, Jayson displayed incredible focus and artistry. He meticulously worked on every detail, showing a level of precision and passion that truly sets him apart, even when we had interruptions beyond his control. What impressed me most was Jayson’s determination to get my artwork done, even through a brief power outage. When the power went out, everyone there came in to offer light to help Jayson, truly showing a customer service spirit.

The customer service continued to shine even after the tattoo was done. I received clear, thorough aftercare instructions and felt confident knowing I could reach out with any questions. The result? A stunning, beautifully executed tattoo that is everything I dreamed of and more. It's not just a tattoo; it's a piece of art that reflects their extraordinary talent and commitment to their clients. Once it is healed a little more, I will definitely post pictures with this review!

If you're looking for a tattoo shop where the artists go above and beyond, listen to your vision, and are determined to create something truly exceptional, look no further than Chosen One Ink. Their unparalleled customer service and dedication to their craft make them, without a doubt, the best in the business. Thank you, Jayson and crew, for an unforgettable experience and an...