Cleopatra Ink Tattoo & Piercing Tacoma Studio — Attraction in Tacoma

READ READ READ!!! I had went into Cleopatra Ink Tattoo & Piercing Tacoma Studio in the mall to look at dermal gems(just the top) I had asked the lady if she could match the same size as the ones that were previously on my face. It looked like the bigger one she had recommended looked like the same size but when it was on my face it was clear In day that, that was not the same size I had in my face before. When I asked about the size letting her know they were to big she said she can’t refund me the jewelry that is already in my face and that I would have to pay another 40 dollars for the other two studs. She then stated that she wouldn’t charge me the extra ten dollar fee for her having to put them in as that’s what she had already charged me the first time. At this point I didn’t understand why she couldn’t take them out and put new ones in as this was her mess up telling me that the gems were the same size as the ones in my face. On top of that she sprayed the jewelry a couple times with a spray bottle to “sterilize ” the jewelry we had just been touching. She then takes my old studs out of my face doesn’t clean the area to where she is putting the new jewelry. As people that have dermals know they are very hard to clean or switch gems yourself. Any professional jeweler should know basic sanitation when it comes to pericings. I then decided I was not going to go back to this place for her to charge me an extra 40 dollars for jewelry. I then found a different jeweler in puyallup and got amazing service! He looked at my piercing and scraped off a huge crusted piece that was under neath the dermal gem that should have been cleaned off before new jewelry was put on. I’m wrighting this review to let people know to stay far away! The jewelry they sell is cheap cheap and over priced! The chick that I was dealing with seemed nice but should have been able to help the situation then try to charge me an extra 40 dollars for new gems and learn better sanitation...

I promised my son I’d take him to get his first tattoo for his 20th birthday, and he was absolutely stoked. He knew exactly what he wanted—a simple line drawing of Cupid, about the size of an adult palm. After calling around, we found Cleopatra Tattoo, who said they could get him in same day, which felt like a birthday win.

We headed straight over, but after a detour due to unclear directions, we realized the shop was actually inside the mall—a small storefront tucked among retail spaces. That alone made me feel a bit uneasy, but my son was still excited.

When we arrived, two women were at the counter but didn’t greet us or explain the check-in process. We stood awkwardly until I finally approached them myself, unsure if we were cutting in front of others milling around the entrance. They told us to sit on a couch, and after about 10 minutes, a young woman (probably around 20 yrs old herself)came out and took a photo of my son’s arm. He showed her the design, and she sketched it on a tablet.

Here’s where things went sideways: my son told me she said it would cost $67, which seemed surprisingly low. But something felt off, so I asked him to double-check. When she came back to take him to the chair, he asked again—and turns out she had said “six to seven,” meaning $600–$700. For a simple line drawing, no shading, no elaborate detail. Just a clean Cupid outline.

We were stunned. That price felt wildly inflated for such a basic piece. It wasn’t a custom sleeve or a full back piece—it was palm-sized and straightforward. The whole vibe of the shop felt more like a mall kiosk than a professional tattoo studio. The staff didn’t feel like artists—they felt like employees following a script.

We left disappointed, and my son was bummed for the rest of his birthday. I wish we’d gone somewhere with clearer communication, transparent pricing, and a more authentic tattoo...

Highly NOT recommended.

I had a scheduled tattoo appointment at 4:30 PM today. I expected things to go smoothly since I already had a simple design prepared—no edits or customizations needed. They accept walk-ins, so I assumed they’d easily accommodate me. Even though the quote was $300 (which felt overpriced for a very basic design), I agreed to pay it for the convenience of same-day service.

They told me to come back at 7 PM, which I did. Unfortunately, that’s when everything went downhill. No one acknowledged me when I arrived. By 7:30 PM, I had to ask what was going on, only to be told they were still working on another tattoo. I asked why I was scheduled for 7 PM if they weren’t actually available. No clear answer.

What really bothered me was the complete lack of professionalism. The staff—including the front desk, consultant, and artist—seemed more focused on flirting with the female client ahead of me and her friend than doing their jobs. I wasn’t acknowledged or updated—just left waiting and watching the unprofessional behavior.

They finally started on my tattoo at 8 PM—an hour late.

After finishing, the artist just slapped on a messy temporary cover with some tape (no cream, no proper wrap), saying it wasn’t going to stay on anyway. No post-care instructions, no aftercare care instructios, nothing. Despite signing a consent form that clearly stated those steps should be provided, none of that happened. His parting words were literally: “You can go.”

This place is disorganized, overpriced, and unprofessional. If you’re looking for a respectful, customer-focused experience—look elsewhere. This shop seems more interested in flirting and smoking than actually doing good work or respecting their clients’...