I'm a tattoo freak. I love looking at them, I love getting them and my whole body would be inked if I could afford it.
And while I can't tell you much about piercings, I know a thing or two about getting tattoos - not only my own, but I've sat through several friends' experiences.
I got my first tattoo not long after I turned 19. I wanted script writing on my back, but I was nervous to trust someone to ink words onto my body. So I did my research.
A friend of mine has beautiful script words on her wrists, and I begged her to tell me who her artist was. I was told to go see Mike at Cowpok.
Rated best place for piercings for 14 years in a row and voted one of the best tattoo shops in Buffalo for years, Cowpok is known for great work. I've seen amazing half sleeves end up on my friends' arms from the shop's artists.
Cowpok was clean, the staff was friendly and they made me feel at ease when I was scared out of my mind, but they still seemed slightly distant when I asked to edit my design.
While I did have a fine experience at Cowpok, I knew I hadn't found my home yet. I loved the rush of getting a tattoo and I wanted another, but I didn't know where to go.
I started my research process again. I looked into what major sources in Buffalo were saying was the best - like Artvoice's Best of Buffalo issue - and I asked my friends (again) where they had gone. Another friend had script tattooed on his chest - and I was kind of jealous because it was done much better than mine - so I asked who his artist was.
Josh Schlageter from Hand of Doom is the only man I will let ink my body now. After the recommendation from my friend, I looked up his website and was extremely impressed by his intricate work.
I'll admit: I am a walk-in tattoo person. I knew what I wanted and I had the day off from school, so I picked up my best friend and headed to Elmwood with the hope of leaving with new ink. One walk into the shop and I knew I had found my new home. And just my luck, Josh was working that day and he didn't have any more appointments for the day.
The shop is small - the front desk sits in front of the stairs that lead directly to a few tattoo tables. The loft-like space allows patrons to look out the window as the needle travels across their skin - an atmosphere that is much more inviting than little, secluded rooms.
And because I was able to walk in and describe what I wanted to Josh, he came up with a design in 30 minutes. I was able to approve it that day, and I was able to get my piece.
I was admittedly much more nervous for my second piece - which I was putting on my ribs, arguably one of the most painful spots to get inked - and I asked Josh if this would hurt worse than my previous experience.
He told it to me straight: he had men cry getting tattooed in this spot, and it wouldn't be a walk in the park, but he believed I could handle it. He gave me the option to ask him to stop for a breather if the pain became too much to handle.
He was talkative, asking me questions, making conversation and trying to ease the tension and nervousness. He even let my friend sit as close to the table as possible because I needed a hand to hold. And because the tattoo shop is an open space, he freely talked with the other artists and patrons getting tattooed.
Because I chose a simple design out of nervousness, I plan to go back to have Josh finish my piece - this time really planning an elaborate design that will test Josh's superior art skills.
Both of my tattoos cost me $60 - they are small, black-ink pieces, but Hand of Doom offers the most bang for your buck. You're guaranteed beautiful, thought-out pieces for an affordable price.
Picking a tattoo parlor is a big and personal decision - this ink will be on your skin for the rest of your life. Don't be afraid to visit a few places when picking a place; I promise it's worth the research.
Email: rebecca.bratek@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
