Scorpion Tattooing — Attraction in Derry

Short Answer: Go to Scorpion Tattoo, don't bother with other shops. They are EXTREMELY nice, prices are reasonable, artists are great. Detailed Review: My wife and I have been planning on getting matching ink for over a year. I know a few well-known Tattooists, but they are either based on the west coast, or dead. Every year, we travel to our beach house in Rye NH, for a week of relaxation and unplugging. Since NH was one of the first places to legalize tats, I told my wife we could probably find a good place in NH and maybe sneak in. No offense to Tattoo artists, but most shops are filled with prima donnas who act like they don't need your business. If you are not already covered in tats, forget it, they make you feel like an outsider. We tried a few shops in NH, but nothing really grabbed us, and then I called Scorpion Tattoo. The woman who owns the shop was so nice on the phone, she really made me miss the southie accent. We came into talk to them about what we wanted, basic, but specific, not flash nonsense. The guy we spoke with told us that the next open appointment wasn't until the day after we were scheduled to leave, but he was so accommodating, he said that we should come back for "walk in wednesdays" where it's first come first serve etc, and deal with Rebeka. He said that because we were an hour away, if we called at 11, they could hold a spot. We showed up at 11:10 and the waiting room was full. The owner remembered us with a big smile. My wife explained the designs we wanted, basically a cross between several fish tattoos, so they were hand drawn. His name was Ethan, he was extremely friendly and helpful. Again, not making you feel stupid for asking questions. We met Rebeka, and she told us that she was the fastest Tattooist around, which is great when you are paying by the hour. I was hesitant about our designs, but wanted to make my wife happy. We went back to Rebekas room, she was super talkative and friendly. She answered all my questions about the industry and the art, not treating it as if it was some secret black magic. My wife went first, as I watched Rebeka flying around with the gun, I was nervous but her hands were steady as a rock, her lines were perfect, her shading spot on. She nailed it. When I was up, I was feeling a bit better, when the outline was put on I was still a bit worried, but very quickly, Rebeka put my mind at ease as I watched her swiftly, and perfectly with the black out, not heavy handed but nice and dark, and then blend the colors like she had planned this in her head or done it a million time (she probably has). I looked at all of the artist's work, since ours were not what you would call super intricate, and they all do beautiful work. I have a Tattoo I need fixed, and they said "no problem easy work". Plenty of opportunities to soak a newbie, or a 'tourist' but none of that. They make you feel welcome, they do a great job at a great price. There is no reason to look...

I got my first tattoo at Scorpion a few years back. My second tattoo was done soon after by the same artist at Scorpion Tattoo. I waited a few years to get the next one done. I E-mailed the shop about my ideas, their response was both timely and polite. I was given the name of one of the newer artists: Neon. Gone are the days when only sailors and convicts have tattoos. In some ways this mainstream tattooing wave reduces the effect of getting a tattoo; but in many more ways it opens countless doors for more people to explore the beauty that is found in body art. Standing at about 5'2" with a warm smile and no visible tattoos, you musn't be fooled by Neon's unassuming exterior. Neon is a very gifted artist with a passion for drawing which led her to tattooing; the walls of her room are plastered with her artwork. We worked closely together to get the image I was looking for. IT IS ABNORMAL FOR A SHOP TO BE SO PATIENT WITH OPEN ENDED IDEAS, but this anti-social norm doesn't stop Scorpion from embracing their customers' ideas and working with them to perfect their lifelong work of art. Scorpion Tattoo is always very clean and Neon's room is no exception. For those of you concerned with hygeine, fear not this place follows all the regulations to the letter of the law. There is certainly some irony in providing support while sticking someone with a needle thousands of times; trying to ease the pain of which you are the source can be tricky business. Neon is a lovely young lady and boy can she draw. She has a knack for realism as you can see in her portfolio and a modesty that cannot be matched by her older, more experienced colleagues. I recommend Scorpion Tattoo to anyone looking to get stuck. I highly recommend Neon for her charming combination of open-mindedness, passion for the art form, comforting presense in the face of needles, and most importantly - her continually honed artistic abilities. GIVE THEM A CALL,...

Went in for a very simple wrist tattoo, but it was something that had a lot of personal significance for me. I am aware of the proper way to orient arm pieces (facing outwards so other people can view it right side up) but for a specific reason wanted this piece facing towards me. Chad (I believe that was his name) was very condescending using terms of “let me guess you want it upside down” and then when I confirmed I did, and attempted to explain why, continued to make comments about it, then refused to place the template on my wrist because “if you want it that way, you place it it that way. I’m not going to be responsible for it upside down”. After some back and forth he finally helped me. I tried to explain the meaning of the tattoo for me and he wasn’t interested telling me that he wasn’t being “artistic” with it because it was “just tracing”. I asked if it was possible to get a specific green and he told me “I don’t have a lot of color options. You can have shamrock green or black”

I should have walked out. I wish I would have, but I have wanted this done for a very long time and there was no foreseeable free time in my future to get it complete.

The work itself is fine, I just really wish the experience had gone better. Just because it’s an “easy tracing” for an experienced artist, doesn’t mean it has any less meaning to me and now all I think about is how negative the entire experience was every time I look down at it.

(For context, I have 3 other tattoos and do not have any of these same feelings...