Gahanna Tattoo — Local services in Mifflin Township

I had my first tattoo session here July 1, 2023 and was so happy with my experience that I wanted to go home and write a review immediately. I then realized that I should give the tattoo time to heal and see if there were any problems before doing so. Now it’s a few weeks later and I can happily say that the healing went fantastic, and I remain absolutely thrilled with the work.

The location was easy to find and access with plenty of parking, and several food options around if you need to grab a meal beforehand. It was clean, well lit, and organized. Artwork was displayed throughout - I think each artist had their own work displayed around their station. Music was playing at a pleasant volume; not loud enough to interfere with conversation. It was a nice environment and comfortable to spend hours in.

I had J. Brett Prince do my piece and I am really impressed with his talent. I first came in for a consultation with a rough idea for a galaxy tattoo to cover up some scars on my arm. He seemed excited about the project and said he would be able to work in several images and concepts I had while making sure it would lay on my arm nicely (because he thinks about muscles and movement). I emailed him reference photos of galaxy tattoos I liked vs didn’t like and he was able to articulate the differences to confirm what I was looking for.

I had to wait until the day of my first session to see what he came up with for me. Thankfully he’d told me that if I wasn’t happy with it and it couldn’t be adjusted that day it would be free to reschedule, so while I was nervous I didn’t feel rushed or pressured into accepting. What he came up with was fantastic and better than anything I could have imagined on my own. The coloring on it is pushing my comfort zone slightly, but I trust him and think it will look amazing. He was quickly able to change one area that was too bold for me to be a different color. One small item I’d wanted wasn’t included and I’d asked if it was going to be on a different part of the sleeve, since he was designing it piece by piece. He had just missed it and easily added it in, working with me on where I’d want it placed. Since the design is on an iPad screen it is flat and backlit, he explained to me how the piece would look different wrapped on my arm. After I agreed with the design he got the stencil made, applied it, and I was brought to a mirror to inspect it before it dried to make sure I was happy with it before proceeding.

The tattoo experience itself went smoothly. He worked quietly and carefully, and the quality of the piece seems amazing to me. I think how it heals has a lot to do with the body of the person receiving it, and how well it was cared for, not just the skill of the artist? Still, it healed beautifully and looking at it now I can’t find a single spot that needs to be touched up. That seems really impressive to me. I think the shading alone is gorgeous! Even though I just got the black done before going back next month to add color it looks good enough to be a stand-alone tattoo. Since it’s going to take years for me to afford to finish this piece, I am so happy that he considered how the stages of it will look throughout the process. He is an artist who cares about the quality of his work and it shows.

The only negative I had with the experience, and it’s minor, is that they had sold out of Derm Shield. I instead got the aftercare kit box which had Dial soap, Aquaphor packets, and a small container of Lubriderm. It also included a t-shirt, some stickers, and a LED business card. Not a bad value for the price of it if I’d have bought a shirt on my own, but I wouldn’t have, and I ended up buying larger containers of Aquaphor and Lubriderm to finish my care routine and have on hand for my future work. The healing itself went great, and it was only a minor inconvenience.

Fantastic experience here and I look forward to returning! I am so glad I trusted J. Brett Prince with my skin. I can't imagine having a better experience for my...

Pure excellence. I have been going to GT for 4-5 months now, embarking on a large project that honestly, I've thought about and wanted for like 20 years, but never found the right place, right artist, or right situation. I didn't think it was even going to be possible, and kind've given up. Then I met J. Brett Prince and GT. From the first consultation and now after spending many hours together, I can confidently say, from experience, GT is pure excellence, start to finish. The shop is impressive, obviously immaculately clean, but also welcoming, advanced ( a little robot greets you at the door :-)), engaging and inspiring. Every artist I've seen, watched or interacted with is not only a BRILLIANT, artistic genius, but they are really cool people. I am biased as I've only had Brett to be fair, but he is a founder and owner of GT, and just incredible. He sees lots of people, but everytime I go in, he genuinely makes it like I'm his only client. He is a fascinating, awesome person to talk to, and then when he starts to work, it's like watching a master, totally dialed in and relentlessly pursuing perfection. Which he regularly achieves. When, I sent him 2 fairly simple pictures (they weren't great honestly) and just described what I wanted to do, not those pictures exactly, but something like that. Within a week or so he sent me an original draft, and I was floored. It was absolutely perfect, I knew it instantly, no notes. That was phase 1, which is complete. The intricate details, color, shading, and precision makes it feel like it's alive. Compliments everywhere I go. Phase 2 underway and it flows exactly as I always thought about, but could have never fully envisioned. If you want a place that will just say hand me a picture and I'll do that, or a more transactional relationship where you're just another client, maybe pick a box shop, but if you want something that makes you emotional everytime you look at it on your body, done by quality, amazing people and artists, I could not recommend GT more. My wife and daughter have both had work done there as well, and we will never go...

Called prior to double-check if walk ins were welcome and if they had availability today and got a yes there would be availability in 30-40 mins. Walked in with two friends and asked for multiple small tattoos (total of 5 small ones total between the three of us). Told to come back two hours later, of course we do because we are walk ins and not priority. We totally understand. Arrive about two hours later, the artist is finishing up another tat and about an hour later we fill out paperwork guided by another artist. He finishes up, comes back tells us he is going to clean up for us! Even offers us a free tat for patiently waiting, which was very kind. We say perfect and thank you. Almost two hours later we still haven’t gone back! Note there is only one other person in the shop getting tattoos and three other artists (I think) had left during the time we were seated there as walk-ins. One was even joking with us several times that we would “eventually go back there at some point.” He disappeared and we were confused so we left. The shop was also closing at 8:00 (we got back there at 4:30, when we were told to come back) and we did not want to be told the tattoos couldn’t be finished as my friends are only here for the weekend. Very unprofessional and so upsetting as these were going to be fun birthday tattoos with my friends while they were here visiting me! The staff was so friendly and the shop had excellent vibes, I am just really disappointed that this was our experience. It should have at least been communicated if there was no time for us, as we had been waiting at that point about 5 hours with small glimpses of hope throughout… Not a good birthday memory from...