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In the last month alone, I’ve experienced a planned surgery, a mystery illness immediately after completing a major milestone in my career (yay to the Baltimore Tattoo Convention!), and then an unexpected emergency surgery that has swept me off my feet yet again. Safe to say, this kind of time off adds up in more ways than one. Clients are disappointed. Bills stack up. Mental health tanks. Your image suffers. Your confidence suffers. Everything starts to feel like it’s

If you’re even remotely tapped into tattooing culture, you’ve probably attended — or at least heard of — a tattoo convention before. But if you haven’t, I’m here to tell you all about it. Hosted by Villain Arts, the Baltimore Tattoo Arts Festival is one of the biggest tattoo events on the East Coast. It’s loud, chaotic, inspiring, a little overwhelming, and honestly one of the best places to dive head first into the world of tattoo culture in its most raw, unfiltered form. W

Long tattoo sessions tend to be a rite of passage in the tattoo world. Whether you’re sitting for the first session of a half-sleeve, a four hour banger or just getting a million tattoos in one day, those hours in the chair can start to feel very real, and very long once the adrenaline starts to drop. The good news? A long session doesn’t actually have to feel like literal torture (although if you ask me, I would have to argue otherwise). With a bit of preparation and a fo

If you’ve ever booked a tattoo appointment, chances are you’ve asked the questions, or at least thought it. You’re committing to something permanent on your body. Of course you want to see what’s going on to your body before you walk into the shop, and it’s valid. It’s your skin, your time, and your money. But if your artist tells you that you won’t see the design until the day of your appointment, it’s not because they’re being secretive, difficult, or trying to stress yo

When I started working in the tattoo industry, I was wildly surprised by the number of clientele that didn’t understand the art of tattooing. And no, I don’t just mean the impressive abilities to pull clean lines or saturate that dreaded yellow to perfection. I’m talking about the moment that clients can look at a complex, detailed arrangement and say, “Wow. That’s art .” Tattoo artists are here to bring a client’s vision to life. It is our job to give you what you’re loo

Nobody really prepares you for what a tattoo apprenticeship actually takes from you — or what it gives back. Sure, your mentor may start out with all the fresh warnings I’ve heard; that this job isn’t easy, that you will feel like you’re failing, that you’re going to have to make sacrifices and you will find yourself so painfully exhausted you’re questioning if it could possibly be worth it. Oftentimes when I hear people discuss a tattoo apprenticeship they speak more so on

In September of 2025, the State of Michigan updated its Body Art Facilities Rules (Mich Admin Code, R 333.13101-R 333.13118), rolling out a wave of new regulations that set the tattoo industry ablaze. While many of these changes were necessary to improve safety for tattoo and piercing clients alike, one rule in particular sparked major conversation amongst both artists and tattoo fanatics: numbing cream. Michigan officially outlawed the use of numbing creams and sprays witho

As a tattoo artist, I’m asked on the daily if the placement my client chose is going to hurt. Usually I reply, “How honest do you want me to be?” — especially when I know that shit is going to suuuck. But honestly? That fear is completely valid. The pain is real, tattoos do in fact hurt, and anyone who tells you otherwise has nerves of steel or is straight up lying to you. But coming from the artist herself: I hate getting tattooed. Yes, it’s ironic. Why do I hate it?

WARNING : Long post ahead (but worth the read, I promise)! There are a few moments in life that quietly split you into two versions of yourself: who you were before, and who you become after. I’m grateful to say that finishing my apprenticeship at Ink or Dye Studio is one of those moments. This chapter of my life wasn’t just about learning how to pull clean lines or pack color without overworking the skin (though trust me, there was a lot of that). It was about discipline,

Work-life balance has long been a subject of concern within social science, labor studies, and public health, yet its relevance has grown increasingly urgent as modern work structures continue to evolve. What began as early critiques of rigid societal organization has since developed into a broader examination of how the workforce design impacts physical health, mental well-being, job satisfaction, and long-term career commitments. Today, we’re going to be examining from a

As a client, you may have been sitting in our chairs at some point, trying to make small talk while needles are dragging through your skin, and the question slips out: “So…do you do this full time?” As an artist, you don’t know whether to laugh, cry, be offended, or just be grateful someone’s in your chair at all. Honestly, it’s probably a mix of everything. And hey — we get it. Not every tattooer treats this career seriously. Some people are tattooing out of their bedroom

We see a number of people filtering in and out of the shop every day. Some are regulars who might as well be put on our payroll, and others are first-timers nervously twiddling their thumbs and asking, “Does it hurt?” Whether you’re a tattoo veteran or proudly telling your friends you finally are taking the leap, a lot of you still show up unprepared. So today we’re breaking down Client Tips 101: How to Prepare for Your Tattoo Appointment — for your sake and your artist’s. T

If you’ve ever Googled “how to get a tattoo apprenticeship”, you’ve probably been shown a plethora of Facebook posts, Reddit threads or unverifiable websites full of advice that tell you to “do this” and “don’t do that”. The problem? Much of this information is confusing, conflicting, and could send an aspiring artist down the wrong path. So let’s set the record straight! First thing’s first: I’ll admit, I got lucky when I landed my apprenticeship, and I’m forever grateful

Tattoo studios have always been more than a place to get ink - they act as hubs of storytelling, healing, transformation, and community under one roof. As the tattoo industry evolves, so does its impact on the clients we serve. Today, many studios such as our own are taking efforts to step into roles that extend beyond the purpose of body art to become a platform for second chances and safe havens. A deep dive into how tattoo studios participate in community outreach.

A personal look into how I ended up at Ink or Dye Studio as a tattoo artist.

A quick introduction to what Sumthing Inked is all about!