Southern Star Tattoo

I’ve gone to Southern Star twice now, and it’s been such a great experience both times. Very professional, social, and walk in friendly! You’re in great hands with the artists here! Absolutely recommend!

My first ever tattoo - got my dead friend’s birth date tattooed on my side. I’ve been having abnormal ink bleeding and smudging for weeks since I got it. The shop told me I was just putting on too much aquaphor. Then I did a little google search - turns out he went too deep with his needle and caused tattoo blowout. Now a tattoo commemorating my dead best friend is ugly and smudged on my body forever… Not to mention I had no communication with the actual artist who was doing my tattoo about the design. Spoke to the desk attendant who communicated with the artist instead of being able to directly communicate with him myself… super weird system.

**UPDATE**
After emailing southern star, the artist paid for one session of laser removal to fix the blowout, and also donated the cost of my tattoo to a suicide prevention charity. Very kind of them. Wouldn’t go back, but definitely satisfied with the way they handled this.

rude and hostile service. i asked for a fine line flower, showed multiple pictures. he gave me a thick traditional style tattoo. he went so deep that my skin popped (the tattoo has texture) it looks like a sharpie or prison tattoo. that was 3 years ago, it looks terrible when i first got it and it looks the same now. ive since tried to learn to live with an ugly embarrassing shoulder tattoo. 0/10 recommend any location, don't give these guys your money.

Came here yesterday and the staff made my experience! They were so funny and nice. My tattoo looks AMAZING. So happy!! Thanks, Andrew 🙏🏻

Absolutely not. You do not give some one a keloid scar for $500 and not give them a refund. That's just ridiculous, not to mention bad business. If you can't tattoo dark skinned people, then you shouldn't be tattooing at all.

My wife recently got a Tattoo here and had a terrible experience. The artist, Josh, overworked her skin and clearly did not know how to tattoo on darker skin. When we reached out to them to say that we were unsatisfied with the results and that her skin was badly scanning because of how heavy Josh was when tattooing and how overworked he tattooed parts of her skin they only offered a touch-up for the tattoo. When we asked for a different artist they said no. This place is absolutely awful and I would suggest that anyone who has darker skin to visit elsewhere because they clearly don’t have the experience here.

Imagine giving someone a permanent keloid scar and then having the audacity to shut them out and block them when you’ve permanently disfigured their skin. If you don’t have any experience tattooing colored skin, don’t do it.

I was walking down Ponce one day, on my way to get a sandwich. I heard a loud screech, and a large red van was barreling towards me. I stood still and glared at it; I'm a tough guy, and can sometimes tap into Jedi powers.

Didn't work, van stopped anyway. This seemingly angry woman got out. As she approached I couldn't help noticing her scratching her butt vigorously. She introduced herself, extending her hand. I took one decisive step back and said hello.

She asked if I wanted to try her homemade juice. I was wary, but also thirsty. Her breath smelled very good, I said yes. It had an odd, metallic aftertaste. I soon felt tired. I started to speak but lost my balance and fell. I remember hearing two incredibly loud farts followed by the uproarious laughter of at least three people.

When I came to, I was inside a large room with separated stalls and wild pictures and stuff everywhere. It was very clean and eclectic music was playing.

A completely different, very nice, and perfectly sane young woman asked me if I was ok. I was like, yeah. She then asked if my weird friends were coming back. I said no. I asked her if they carried Rubens, she said: sir, this isn't a sandwich shop.

She asked me what I had in mind, where I wanted it. We went back and forth until we settled on a good design and placement. About two and a half hours later, I had a damn fine tattoo.

When it came time to pay the highly reasonable price for the awesome work, I glared at the artist, waved my hand, and stated: This is not the price you have to pay!

Again, it didn't work. I paid, over-tipped, and went to find that sandwich.

Matty was amazing! Worth the trip up again for another tattoo!! And Gabby is such a sweetheart! Most tattoo places are really intimidating and rude from my experience, but Matty made me feel at ease and he was very friendly.

Josh was sooo AWESOME!!!! He did a great job with my tattoo! This is my permanent tattoo place!