Tattoo Factory — Attraction in Lake View Township

I had a horrible experience with this tattoo shop. I got a red Japanese tattoo on my ankle, and from the start the artist was very rude. I believe his name was Joe, an older thin man. I originally wanted to tattoo on my waist just below my belly, but I was nervous about the placement. Instead of being patient, I was being rushed. To shave the area around my stomach he was urging me to pull my pants down lower to give him room to shave. This was fine, but his attitude wasn't. I kept assuring him that I was only nervous. He responded by saying "Well we don't have any curtains for privacy and if you wanted that you should've went to another shop." Again I was very understanding of his direction, but the way he conveyed it was very harsh and unnecessary. I have many tattoos and none of my artists were ever rude. I get it, we all have jobs and want to be over with it, but a client trusts an artist to permanently alter their skin, the least the artist can do is show a little patience. I changed the placement of the tattoo to my ankle. It was extremely painful because he kept tattoo-ing it over and over again. He mentioned he had to do this in order for the color to show on my complexion so I thought this was normal. The healing process was disgusting. I called and asked to speak to him personally regarding how it healed. When I explained the situation he responded with "Ma'am just tell me the problem, I have way too many people coming in here to remember you." I explained the state of the tattoo. He told me that he warns all his clients before tattooing that getting tattoos in red always have a risk of healing badly. I was absolutely NOT told this!! I asked for the tattoo in red and no one ever mentioned any risks with the color red, especially him!!! I am a darker complexion, so I would've definitely avoided red if I had been told by anyone, if I had the slightest knowledge about this. I even asked if the color would show well on my skin and he told me yes!! I bled ink and blood horribly, my tattoo leaked out of the tape he put within 3 hours. I limped the first few days after getting it, it hurt incredibly bad. (Yes, I followed all of the aftercare instructions, including removing the tape as soon as it was breached). The tattoo looked less like a tattoo and more like I was branded or badly burned. I had to get the tattoo re-done again in black after some time. My current artist told me that whoever originally did it basically mutilated me and damaged my skin over and over. (And that he remembers all of his clients tattoos when he does them). Even now I am having to go back in and get it re-done because the skin was so badly damaged that he's afraid how it will react if he goes any deeper in some spots of the tattoo. Overall, it was a waste of $140 dollars. The artist was very rude, I was never verbally informed about anything, and when I called weeks later his attitude was still sour. I emailed a photo of the tattoo before calling but never received a response. Not from the owner or anyone. As an artist, please learn how to speak to the clients that put their...

Got a tattoo done here 2 months go. Let me tell you something. Beware. Do your research before going anywhere. I was naive and didn’t think it would be a problem. Tattoo factory has been around for some time. I’ve seen some nice tattoos being done here. In my experience it was the worst thing on my body. I wanted a nice fine line with light shading tattoo. I have the reference photo below, a photo right after the session and a photo of it 2 months healed. The guy was super sweet said that he could definitely do it and there was no problem. So I excitedly accepted. I got a deformed tattoo of a fairy. The legs were poorly made, he changed the face, the wings, the dress looks very different, the hair is very different. I thought I could learn to love it but I couldn’t. I cried. I did not want to make the review because the guy was very sweet and outgoing but i don’t want people making the same mistake. It will be on your body forever unless laser or a cover up. I will be getting this removed or coverup. 100% Being sweet doesn’t excuse botched linework. A tattoo is on your body forever, not a doodle on notebook paper. I spent $300 on this and will be spending who knows how much more to fix it or remove it. Make a consultation, do your research, don’t rush a tattoo, make sure the artist you pick knows how to do the style you want.

Thanks for your offer. The tattoo was done by Bobby. I appreciate your willingness to make it right, but I don’t feel comfortable returning. I just wanted to share my honest experience so others can make an...

VIBE: Bad vibes and overpriced. I got a warmer reception from the customers in the waiting area then the staff. They all seem like they're passive aggressive, wish you weren't there annoying them and a few slick comments away from blowing a fuse.

STAFF/SERVICE: Joe did my tattoo. I told him it was my very first tat ever, and after talking to others about it [post-experience], I should have been offered numbing cream. I also got a nose piercing here. The piercer is the same guy who pierced my man's nose so I was familiar with him. He did a good job.

PARKING/MISC: Street parking available but depending on what time of the day you go, it may be difficult to secure a spot because of how many businesses are located on that intersection of Wilson and Broadway. As far as the tattoo itself, I wanted to wait until it was fully healed before I left a review. It looked ok when I left but after time, it got progressively worse. I took amazing care of it during the healing process and still ended up with scaring in the yellow part of the face. Which has since reduced significantly, to the point that it's unnoticeable. I still feel the lines on this are horrible. I now have to go and get it corrected. You guys should honestly refund me my $180 for this nonsense, and every other person who’s walked out this shop with jacked tats — plus the staff had bad vibes, I’m sorry I hate to say it but they really did. Wouldn’t recommend,...