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Three of the best places to get a butterfly tattoo on your body


Wrist Tattoo
(Image via https://twitter.com/_ItsNotAlice)

Up there in terms of popularity with the likes of skull tattoos, heart tattoos, and dragon tattoos, people everywhere have future plans to add a butterfly tattoo to their bodies. One issue with this common tattoo choice, though, is that it can be tough finding the very best area of the body to add it to.

An understandable choice given the beauty butterflies possess, a butterfly tattoo can represent a variety of meanings. These stunning winged creatures can symbolize freedom, love, betterment, and loads more. People adore them in insect-themed documentaries, they might’ve grown up with movies like Alice in Wonderland and A Bug’s Life, while slot games like Jade Butterly by Pragmatic Play are the inspiration behind many butterfly-themed pieces of ink. They can look great, too, although where to position your particular butterfly design is hugely important.

Body placement is one of the most important aspects of any tattoo mission. Of course, it’s ultimately up to you, but in order for your chosen design to look its very best, there are some ideal parts of the body to mull over. If you’re considering getting inked by a reputable studio and you need some placement inspiration ahead of your visit to a talented artist, then below is a look at three of the best places to get a butterfly tattoo on your body.

Front of shoulder

First and foremost, we’re jumping in at the deep end here with a position that doesn’t work for everyone. Although a front of shoulder tattoo will be staring back at you in the mirror, a butterfly-themed creation can really shine in this area. While the back or side of your shoulder can also do the job, it doesn’t possess enough space when compared to the front deltoid. This particular part of your shoulder works well for a variety of designs, butterflies included, and it will enable the message behind your tattoo to be with you at all times compared to other favored areas where you’ll rarely be able to see it. For people with a fascination in butterflies and their meaning, front of shoulder is the ideal place.

Lower back

Lower Back Tattoo
(Image via https://twitter.com/szaryherbatnik)

Despite lower-back tattoos having somewhat of a bad reputation with some people, don’t let that put you off. Fact is, no matter where you decide to place your favorite design, there will always be doubters out there who simply won’t like it. That’s fine, though, it isn’t for them. As such, it’s therefore important that you choose an area of the body that works for you and the tattoo in question, making the lower back an ideal solution for many people and tattoo artists alike. This perfect canvas for certain tattoo designs is well worth considering despite what the naysayers might say. Ultimately, you want to enhance your body with a stunning piece of art, and that can only be achieved if it’s inked onto the very best area of your body. The lower back might divide opinion, but it still works for millions of people and thousands of designs.

On the hand above the wrist

For most small tattoos, the hand above the wrist is a great area to opt for. Depending on the size of your particular butterfly piece, the carpus is a position to consider as it will enable your piece of art to shine brightly as you make various movements with your hand throughout the day. While a big piece most definitely wouldn’t fit on this part of the body, a subtle dose of butterfly-themed art can and it has the potential to look perfect.



The Pour with Bad Birdy


After decades of unfair disdain in this country, tequila and mezcal are getting their well-deserved moment in the sun. The nuances of the two cousin spirits were once lost to a lack of understanding and relegated to the sickening-sweet sludge of frozen margaritas. But creative bartenders like Bad Birdy have sung the praises of agave-based spirits for years, and the masses are finally coming around. Unique flavor profiles and an explosion of brands to choose from makes the current market particularly daunting for first timers, so we hit up Bad Birdy to give us a crash course.   

What piqued your interest in cocktails?
I’ve been in the hospitality industry since I was 16 and the transition to cocktails and working behind the bar happened in 2014. I fell in love with cocktails because [the craft] is similar to cooking. It allows you to explore different ingredients, techniques to manipulate those ingredients, and culture.

What is it that appeals to you about mezcal and tequila?
For me, Mexico has always been one the most beautiful places in the world, rich with culture and the art of making mezcal and tequila. What I love most about these spirits is that the terroir of where they are made is evident in every sip. Even though there are about 200 species of agaves, tequila can only be made from Blue Weber agave. Mezcal could be made from any species of agave, but roughly 40 to 50 are commonly used.

I have a saying for mezcal: “Classic cocktails are great, but mezcal makes them better.”  

Please tell us about your collaboration with La Luna Mezcal.
In October 2022, I was invited to La Luna’s palenque in Morelia, Michoacán. While I was there I collaborated with them on a limited-edition batch that was just released early this year. I chose to distill my batch with four ingredients—two to represent my Cuban heritage and two to represent my Mexican family.

For my Cuban side I used guava and plantain, for my Mexican side I used chaya leaf and cempasúchil (marigold), the flower of the dead. The finished product lends incredible tropical notes on the nose and subtle sweetness on the palate with hints of pepper and anise. I am so proud of the final result and honored to have collaborated with La Luna on this special release.

What are your favorite tequilas/mezcals for sipping?
Tequila: Fortaleza, Tequila Ocho, Alquimia

Mezcal: Derrumbes, La Luna, Madre Mezcal

With so many different brands on the market, it can be overwhelming for someone just getting introduced to tequila/mezcal in a manner beyond just doing shots. What are some things they should look for when choosing a bottle?
You always want to make sure your tequila is 100 percent Blue Weber agave and additive-free. The next step is to decide the age of the tequila you prefer—if you’d prefer a tequila that’s bright and crisp, deep and complex or somewhere in between. Another helpful tip is to look at tequileros that have been in the business a long time, people who are third-, fourth- or fifth-generation tequileros. These people have a history in tequila making.

Mezcal is incredibly diverse, as it can also be distilled across several different regions and microclimates and made from 50 species of agaves. The more information on the bottle the better—look for a proof of 45 percent or higher, the mezcalero or mezcalera who made it, the species of agave and the region.  

Can you give us a tequila/mezcal-based cocktail recipe we won’t mess up at home?
Before you make a cocktail with your tequila or mezcal, be sure to sip it on its own. This is how the distiller initially intended for you to try their liquid. This is where you will taste all the subtle nuances of the terroir.

An easy cocktail you can make at home would be The Cantarito, a blend of fresh citrus juices that is extraordinarily refreshing.

  • Tajín seasoning (for rim)
  • 2 ounces reposado tequila
  • 3/4 ounce grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed
  • 3/4 ounce orange juice, freshly squeezed
  • 3/4 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1 pinch sea salt
  • Grapefruit soda, to top (about 3 ounces)
  • Garnish: chopped orange and grapefruit



Ashley McBryde – InkedMag


Country singer-songwriter Ashley McBryde loves what she does, and you can feel it as soon as she walks into the room. On a cloudy Wednesday, McBryde and her all-girl team walked into Inked NYC and instantly made the place brighter. McBryde is one of the most acclaimed country artists to emerge within the past few years: she’s received six Grammy nominations and one win, a CMA award, three ACM awards and was even nominated for a Daytime Emmy. And she’s still cool as hell. 

We sat down with McBryde following the release of her vulnerable new album, “The Devil I Know” to talk about early musical influences, gut-wrenching songwriting and dealing with being tattooed on someone’s body forever. 

quentin challier

We are here with Ashley McBryde! How did you get your start in music? 

I’m the youngest of six kids, and I’ve been singing since I was old enough to know that they were throwing shoes at me trying to get me to shut up. I grew up going to bluegrass festivals, things like that, and there were always guitars and instruments in our house. So it’s just been constant. There has never been a time that I wasn’t making music or at least trying to make music.

Who are some of your earliest musical influences? 

 I just did an interview about one of the biggest and of course, all of us, even the gentlemen, say this: Dolly Parton. And I grew up in a time where we had Patty Loveless, Trisha Yearwood, Lorrie Morgan, Pam Tillis, the nineties when I was, you know, tenish years old, this was huge. I’m old enough now to pick the music I’m listening to. And I had powerhouse females to listen to. 

That’s amazing. When was the first time where you were like, “Oh, I can make this a career, I can do this?” 

I remember when I was little, I was really shy and I didn’t want to talk to people, but I could sing to them. They’re like, “How are you today?” and I’m like, “Oh my God… do you want to hear ‘Somewhere Out There’ from ‘An American Tail?’” And then I started playing and all through college I had a band, played in coffeehouses which turned into bars about an hour and a half away in Memphis. And the very first time I played in a bar, there were some friends to watch this rocker chick play. It’s just her and a guitar and on her break, I had gone to the restroom. I came back to the table and she was standing at the table. I said, “Oh my God. It’s Carol Plunk.” And she said, “Hey, your friends say you play guitar?” I said, “Yeah, I do! And I write songs.” She said, “You want to go open my set? Why don’t you go do two songs? And here’s a tip: if you suck, they will eat you alive.” So I went up and did two songs. And the way the bar reacted, I mean, a very small bar in a very… charming part of Memphis… and by charming, I mean dangerous [laughs.] And the way they reacted, I was like, “Huh?” And the owner comes and talks to me and he’s like, “Hey, this weekend I don’t have anybody to play” because that weekend was Valentine’s Day. “Do you want to come play for four hours?” I was like, “I don’t know four hours worth of songs.” He said, “So come play for two hours, I’ll give you fifty bucks.” And that’s when I was like, I’m basically gonna get my gas paid to just come here and do some shit I would have been doing at home anyway. I would have been at someone’s party playing these songs regardless. And this guy is going to give me fifty bucks and dollar-fifty beers. And I just kept going from there. 

Wow, what a story. That’s awesome. Your new album just came out, “The Devil I Know.” What was the most difficult song to write on that? 

Ooh… I would say “Learned to Lie” was probably the hardest on us to write. The two co-writers Nicolette Hayford and Sean McConnell. I got there that morning and Nicolette was like, “I channeled you last night, pretended I was you.” And she comes up with the first part of that verse about, you know, “I must have heard my mom tell my dad that she was tired because babies make you tired. But deep down, she was just really unhappy.” And I was like, “Oh, God.” And I knew that we were going to have to stay that deep into the quick. And we didn’t even know what the hook was. And then we started writing the chorus and we got down to “I wish I had learned how to love the same way I learned how to lie.” And I was like “Ohhhh God!”

Oh, chills. 

Yeah, I was like “Let’s go smoke…let’s go smoke a cigarette right now!” [Laughs.] Yeah, that was brutal. 

Wow. How about the most fun one? 

Oh, my gosh. The most fun one to write… probably “The Devil I Know.” Bobby Pinson came into the room with the phrase “There’s hell everywhere I go. I’m sticking with the devil I know.” And he’s like, “I don’t know what it’s about.” And it was so much fun because we’re sitting there and he’s just playing along and I was like “I used to play this bar in Bardstown Kentucky and oof Bardstown… that’s not fun to rhyme with but it’s close to Elizabeth [singing] a little outside of Elizabeth town, there’s a little bar where I’d sit down and trade a couple country songs for Kentucky Bourbon.” And that was so much more fun to say than “In Bardstown, there’s this bar where I’ve puked in nearly every corner.” [laughs] I doubt I ever drove home from one of those shows. It was so much fun to write. And getting to turn the phrase, “I’m sticking with the devil I know” and make it mean: I started doing this when I was nineteen in bars, and I think it’s working out. And then taking that to a love situation where I go, “It’s not always great, but it’s what I know.” I think that was the most fun. 

I love that. I love that song, too. So you’ve been touring with Jelly Roll. We love him. We’ve had him in here before. What has that experience been like? 

When I first met Jelly Roll, we were at some really hectic thing. It was probably during CMA Fest or something and we were just kind of in passing and I was like, “Oh, hi, I love your music! I want to hang out sometime!” Well, then we got to where we were going to be able to write and we got into the room together and it was like we had been friends for a few years and never got to hang out. And so we wrote a song. It’s on his record, it’s called “Unlive,” and I thought he was joking that day when he said, “I think we should tour together.” And I said, “You tell me when to show up and I’ll show up.” And then we get to the tour and I see him. We were walking through probably catering, and he said, “You’ll never feel more at home anywhere than you will on my tour.” And I figured he meant with him and his crew, and that is true. But it also rang really true for his audience, for his fans, especially being somebody who’s covered in tattoos in country music where, you know, being tall and blond and pristine is standard. And I’m short and brunette and covered in tattoos. They’re very welcoming. And to see the culture he has created through his rap career, hip hop career and his rock career and now choosing to be with us in country music, you’ve got people that are in Ralph Lauren stuff, sharing a joint with a carny in the pit and someone who definitely is in the PTA standing there singing at the top of their lungs. And at first you look at the snapshot and go, “These people don’t belong together.” And then when you realize that they do belong together. His ability to create that feeling of, “Oh my God, we are all the same.” It’s like he says, “It’s real music for real people with real problems.” And that’s absolutely true. I’ve never seen an entertainer make so many different types of people feel the same way in one place. 

You keep giving me chills! So you have your own tour coming up. Where are you most excited to go on this tour? 

I’m happy with the entire route, but there are a few places that we’ve played before that we didn’t sell out all the way to nuts and butts. And we have to sell it all the way out to nuts and butts. So one would be the Robinson Center in Little Rock. It’s not the biggest place you’ve ever played, but the last time I played there, we weren’t in this position. And the Orpheum Theater in Memphis. I’ve seen countless Broadway shows and other types of shows in the Orpheum Theater in Memphis. And it is haunted AF. And it’s such a joy to be in there because you can tell that the people you’re entertaining are all still with us. 

That’s amazing. And I’m so glad that you felt so at home with the audience.

Yeah, I talked to my team and I was like, “Where? Where is this crowd? How do I reach more of this crowd?” I want people in active addiction in my crowd. I want people in recovery in my crowd. These are the people that will stick to the devil they know. These are the guys and girls actually going nowhere. They’ve been told this. They’ve been told they’re pieces of shit by their teachers and their coworkers and their spouses in some cases, and their parents. That’s who I want to sing to. 

quentin challier

 How are you hoping your music will evolve over time? Where do you want to go from here? 

To catch hell for being too country inside country music is hilarious. I grew up in rural Arkansas. I used to get a hard time about my accent, so I’ve learned how to flatten that out over the years. And so to be in country music and for them to say,  “Sorry, that’s too country,” we really leaned into that on this record. And for the ones that say, “That’s too many tattoos and you guys are too rock and roll,” we decided to really lean into that too. And then I was worried about things that were tender like “Light On in the Kitchen” and “Single at the Same Time.” Maybe that’s too tender. We know I do the blinky-blinky girl-going-nowhere finger-picky thing, but I don’t care. So we leaned even harder into that and put two of those on one record. I think we are getting more comfortable with the fact that we’re a rock band and that we are just very well-dressed carnies. And what I would like to see us do is, let’s cover “Highway 40 Blues” by Ricky Skaggs, because that is the countriest, and we can do it really, really well and let’s do some more acoustic stuff. Last night I was with Vince Gill and Emmylou Harris at Irving Plaza and it was so much fun to just play guitar. It was just me playing guitar and I love that. And Vince talked about during the show playing music for just the love of music. So whether we are fully in our rock mode or fully in our roots mode, I just want us to sonically be able to portray to you as you’re listening to it, that we fucking love doing this in every flavor. We love it. 

Amazing. Do you have any tattoos for your music? 

Yeah. There’s a devil in the rearview mirror here on the inside of my left elbow. And that’s the devil I know for sure. And this really reminds me that on the new record, there’s a song called “Blackout Betty” and one of the lines in that is “I’m a real piece of shit sometimes,” and that’s not necessarily gorgeous, but it is true. And it doesn’t have to be pretty to be true. So I know that this bitch is still in the back seat and she is ready to take over at any time. [Laughs] So I’ve just got to keep her in the rearview. And the other one would be lipstick and aviators on my right forearm.

And have you seen fans get tattoos for you? 

Yeah, there’s been my logo tattooed to people, which I love. That logo was drawn for me by a guy in a bar in Fayetteville, Arkansas. I think that’s so cool. My signature. And that one bothers me sometimes when people ask me to sign their arm because I don’t want them to get exactly what my Sharpie is doing to their skin tattooed to them because it’s going to bleed and your tattoo artist is going to be so mad at me. So usually I’ll ask people “Don’t get this tattooed. Let me sign your arm and let me write it on a piece of paper.” And then there are lyrics, which I’m always happy to see. And then there are those that choose to get my face tattooed to them. And while that is a beautiful sentiment and I love that I get to spend the rest of your life with you in the shower, in the pool, at the gym, you’re taking me with you. Sometimes that can feel like it’s an “I don’t know what to say to you” kind of feeling because it’s such a compliment and it’s such an unfamiliar way to be complimented. I’m still learning how to be like, “I look awesome on your leg!” [Laughs]

I could imagine. [Laughs] What advice do you have for young women trying to get into the industry? 

Trying to get into country music? You’re going to have to play the game, but you don’t have to buy in. You can play the game enough that you get to be present. You get to be on the team. And anybody who tells you it’s not possible to stay true to yourself just wasn’t able to do that for themselves. And it doesn’t mean you can’t. And by the way, we want you here. I know it can seem like women in country music are catty. We are not. We want you here. We party together. Come on over. 



From the Skatepark to the Runway


By BJ Betts

The City of Brotherly Love will always occupy a special place in Jimmy Gorecki’s heart. So it shouldn’t be surprising that Philly plays an outsized role in the collaborations he’s created at Standard Issue. BJ Betts caught up with Gorecki in order to get some insight into how he has settled into his post-skating career.

BJ Betts: I guess we should just start from the beginning. Let’s talk about how you grew up.
Jimmy Gorecki: I grew up in Norristown, Pennsylvania, about 20 minutes outside of Philadelphia. I was born in ’82 and lived in Norristown until 2000, when I graduated high school, moved into the city, and started school at Temple University. From about 14 or 15 years old, I would sneak downtown whenever I could. I was enamored with Center City and skateboarding at Love Park. Temple was the only school I even applied to, that’s where I knew I wanted to be at. It was a great time to be in the city of Philadelphia. The skate scene was doing really well. Music was popping. The sports teams were exciting, and I feel like those formative years there built the foundation of everything I like. From fashion to music taste to tattoos to food… I mean, everything. Those years served as the foundation for who I am today. 

How did JSP come about? Were you working on other designs or other clothing before you moved out to LA?
Honestly, JSP just came about from my life after skateboarding. I was just trying to find out what my place in the world was at that point. I skated for some really awesome companies and I met people along the way who would help me with fashion, but I was just trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, man. I wanted to see if I was able to do something that I still really loved, rather than getting a job and just trying to pay the bills. Fortunately, I met my partner and he has spent his whole life in garment manufacturing, so he’s great on the business back end. 

We worked together for a couple of years, then we took a couple of years off. Then he launched Standard Issue on his own and offered me the opportunity to come aboard and help build Standard Issue while simultaneously dropping JSP releases. We’ve been cooking since 2017 and it’s been an awesome six years. I think we have some great things that we’re working on for this year and next year. 

When you pick up a hoodie from a brand like Standard Issue, you can tell the person behind it knows what they like. They picked the best parts out of everything they wore over the years and threw away the worst parts, they just kept what worked and improved the fit of certain things.
It’s always interesting, BJ, so many times we do market research and the quality of our stitching is generally the first thing that comes to mind, it’s always way better than the other stuff we compare it to. Sometimes our fabric may be a little too heavy duty for some people, but to me sweatpants and tees are supposed to be worn and washed, worn and washed. That’s what keeps the composure of the clothing for so long throughout the care process. Jared put months and months into developing the fit and makeup of the T-shirt. We started developing the sweatpants back in 2012 when we first met, so I know how much work has gone into it. Our sewing team that builds everything, they’re the ones who do the hardest [stuff]. What we do is the easy work, the labor of love they put into sewing and building is amazing. Marketing is the fun part, [that’s] the real artform and skill that goes into every product. 



Dok Bua Thong Tattoo Bangkok


The Dok Bua Thong is a Sak Yant, or Thai Traditional, design

For those new to Sak Yant, check out our detailed guide here

In Thai it is written as ดอกบัวทอง

It’s an important design in the world of Sak Yant, so let’s look at it deeper

 

Spiritual Enlightenment

The lotus in Buddhist culture is a symbol of purity and enlightenment

Although usually tattooed only in black ink, the golden hue of Dok Bua Thong further elevates this symbolism, offering a path to spiritual transcendence

 

Material Prosperity

Gold is often linked to wealth in Thai culture, making Dok Bua Thong a popular choice among those seeking prosperity and material success

 

History and Cultural Significance

Long revered in Thai tradition, Dok Bua Thong and other lotuses are often found in temples and other sacred sites

Getting a Dok Bua Thong tattoo often serves as a rite of passage, underscoring their deep cultural significance

 

The Unalome

In the Dok Bua Thong designs, you’ll find the inclusion of the Unalome symbol

The Unalome is a spiritual icon that represents the journey to enlightenment

Originating from the spiral, which depicts the trials and tribulations of life, the line straightens as one reaches the state of enlightenment, culminating in the lotus flower—often represented by the Dok Bua Thong itself

The integration of the Unalome in the Dok Bua Thong design adds a layer of spiritual complexity, making it a powerful emblem for both personal growth and spiritual ascent

 

Conclusion

The combination of the path to spiritual transcendence, the reminder from the unalome that success is not a straight line and the material significance of the golden color, the Dok Bua Thong provides the wearer with a complete spiritual guide

The power of the combined elements is often believed to assist the wearer in love, life and business while at the same time remembering their importance as a spiritual being on an important journey through this life

 

The Dok Bua Thong features Khom script, an ancient script that’s an integral part of Sak Yant tattoos

This script includes specific Pali phrases or mantras that are believed to empower the tattoo with mystical attributes

Because of the way Khom is written, it is usually not “readable” in a way we are used to

The Ajarn (Sak Yant Master) who creates the design puts the letters into the design for a specific spiritual purpose, the meaning of which is passed down to their apprentices

All of our Sak Yant designs are sourced from well regarded Ajarns and independently checked for authenticity

It’s for this reason that we can tell you what the designs “mean” but not exactly what they “say”

 

Finding the right place to get a Sak Yant tattoo in Bangkok is crucial for a safe and satisfying experience

At ALL DAY Tattoo, we pride ourselves not just on world class tattoos, but service too

Our many positive reviews are testament to the amount of consistent focus and effort we put into every single tattoo we do

There’s no need to fall for the “tourist tricks and scams” trying to convince you that unsanitary conditions for getting a tattoo are in some way more “authentic”

With us you get open and honest communication about your tattoo in a safe and reputable environment

To talk to us about your ideas, just get in touch with our friendly English speaking team using any of the methods below



Tattoo Artists Incorporate Tattoo Removal, Increasing Client Satisfaction and Profits


Bad Habits, located in Fort Lauderdale, is a premiere tattoo studio that’s home to several incredibly talented artists with specialties in nearly all tattoo styles, including color realism, Japanese traditional, watercolor, black and gray, and more. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in business this month, the studio is also celebrating five years since expanding into laser tattoo removal services.

It started as a hobby, not something I thought I’d be doing full-time today,” said Lisandra Chaviano, co-owner and lead laser technician at Bad Habits. “I started working Saturdays, then Saturdays weren’t enough; there were so many clients, and I was already making more money working four days a month than working Monday through Friday at the hospital. So, I decided to leave the hospital and do laser [tattoo removal] full-time.”

Ramirez and Chaviano have been together for about 12 years but weren’t always coworkers. When the two first met, Ramirez worked at a tattoo studio, and Chaviano was in the medical field. After a couple of years of dating, Ramirez followed his entrepreneurial calling and opened Bad Habits Tattoos. He came across New Look Laser College, Astanza Laser’s tattoo removal training program, about five years ago and suggested Chaviano get certified, thinking it would be the perfect addition to his studio. Five years later — they know they made the right decision.

Getting Certified in Laser Tattoo Removal

Getting trained and certified in laser tattoo removal is most entrepreneurs’ first step into the aesthetic laser business industry. New Look Laser College is a two-day training program dedicated solely to the procedure of laser tattoo removal, unlike other laser training programs that cover broader topics and multiple procedures. Not only do students receive in-depth clinical education and hands-on training with Astanza lasers on real patients, but they also learn business and marketing strategies specific to the industry.

New Look Laser College is held in various locations throughout the U.S., with courses taught in Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, and Las Vegas so far this year. Those who successfully complete the course earn three certifications: Certified Laser Specialist (CLS), Laser Safety Officer (LSO), and Advanced Laser Tattoo Removal Practitioner (ALTR).

Chaviano earned her tattoo removal certifications at New Look Laser College in 2018, and Bad Habits purchased the Astanza Duality and started offering laser tattoo removal services just a few months after she graduated from the course.

“The class really gets you excited about it. They teach in detail laser physics; you learn a little bit of everything; you get to practice on clients; it’s a lot of information that you get from the class. It gets people really interested in becoming part of the tattoo removal business industry,” Chaviano said.

Interested in learning more about getting certified in laser tattoo removal? Check out New Look Laser College’s website and registration information here.

Expanding Tattoo Studio Services by Adding Laser Tattoo Removal

At the beginning of Bad Habits’ laser tattoo removal business, Chaviano worked full-time at the hospital and saw tattoo removal clients on Saturdays. The demand quickly outgrew those operating hours, and the physical space of their first location, which pushed Chaviano to quit her job at the hospital to provide laser tattoo removal full-time. Bad Habits tattoo removal services are now available Monday through Saturday, taking appointments as late as 7 p.m.

The studio has also recently moved into a new location — about triple the size of their initial location — going from about a 1,000-square-foot studio to a two-story, 3,000-square-foot studio.

While some people may think that tattoo removal practitioners are anti-tattoo, that’s simply not the case. Laser tattoo removal provides artists more artistic freedom to create coverup or tattoo modification masterpieces.

“It’s a big misconception in the industry — even to this day, people don’t know a tattoo can be completely removed. There’s a lot of misunderstandings about the laser, and we’re trying to break the barrier and bring them in and let them know that laser is for everybody,” said Ramirez. “When a client requests a coverup, sometimes it’s not about what you want, but what you can get. With the laser, you can get exactly what you want, and we’re giving it to them.”

Chaviano and Ramirez’s studio doesn’t just provide tattoo removal in preparation for a coverup; they also offer complete tattoo removal safely and effectively on all skin types, including permanent makeup removal. When you look at Bad Habits today, you see a beautifully designed studio that welcomes guests in a comfortable space as soon as they step inside. But as most business owners can attest, success doesn’t happen overnight; research, intentional planning, and consistent follow-up are crucial for long-term success and growth in the industry. They say it’s all about continual growth and expansion.

For those interested in expanding their tattoo studio and adding laser tattoo removal services, Ramirez offers some advice. “If you can, start small and slow. Give it time, get into a good relationship with the person from which you get the machine because only they can really help you. Anybody that gets into this is going to be new to it. Be patient with your clients, make them understand that this takes time,” Ramirez said. “For the people, like tattoo clients, they want to get tattooed tomorrow, or today. With the laser removal, we’re looking at months and months. If you start slow, little by little, build up your portfolio, soon you’re not going to have anything to worry about. We started small and slow, and that’s how we’ve gotten to where we are now.”

Starting a Laser Tattoo Removal Business

Bad Habits uses the Astanza Duality, a Q-Switched Nd:YAG tattoo removal laser, to provide tattoo removal services to sometimes upwards of 17 clients a day. Thoroughly researching, getting trained and certified in laser tattoo removal, and choosing a reliable and reputable laser company to work with are crucial steps paramount to the success of a tattoo removal business.

If you’re inspired by their impactful story of continual growth and expansion in the tattoo industry and are curious about adding tattoo removal to your services, reach out to Astanza Laser. Astanza helps entrepreneurs, existing practitioners, and business owners launch or expand profitable aesthetic laser businesses. Learn more about Astanza by viewing their website.

When asked why they chose Astanza technology, Ramirez said, “They pretty much do what they said they’re gonna do, so we went with them. The relationship with them has been nothing but great. Everyone on the team is super friendly. It doesn’t even feel like a big company you’re doing business with — it feels like a second family.”

Connect with Bad Habits on social! Check out their tattoo Instagram @BadHabitsTattoos and their laser tattoo removal account @BHlasertattooremoval. Heading to the All Stars Tattoo Convention in Miami later this month? Be sure to stop by their booth and say hi!