Kappa Tattoo

My daughter is in love with her airbrush tattoos! We will be in very very soon for her ears pierced and mommy is looking for new ink also! Very friendly staff and comfortable to be around! Just awesome!

I want to start out by saying that I don’t think this is a usual occurrence. I’ve been watching Kappa for a while now and they seem to have built a great little community in Cambridge and have excellent rapport with clients - as far as I’ve seen.

As such, I was super excited to stop in and get a Star Wars themed tattoo before Episode 9 is released. I scheduled my appointment on Sunday via their website and put down the $50 deposit to reserve a time slot.

I enjoyed that I could schedule this online and that I received reminder text messages before my appointment.

However, I am disappointed with the rest of my experience. I arrived 5-10 minutes before my scheduled appointment time. Julie, the piercer, greeted me when no one else came from the back (I’ve been pierced by Julie and think she’s excellent- my review for her specifically is at the bottom). Eventually, I was pointed towards the paperwork to fill out, and Rish went about getting my tattoo sorted and sized. I finished my end of paperwork, but he had disappeared to the back.

This is where things took a turn. My guest and I could hear a private argument between Rish and a woman in the back. I tried to drown it out as I have terrible anxiety and didn’t want it to ruin my second tattoo experience - but wasn’t very successful as their voices could be heard clearly over the music and Julie answering the phones. It went on - for the next 20+ minutes. Around 4:25, Rish came back to the front and said he was going to smoke before we started. Came back in, mopped the floor, went to the bathroom. I’m guessing he was trying to cool down? I don’t know, I can’t assume his intentions as I haven’t asked him. My guest explained to him that I have severe anxiety and PTSD - both of which were triggered to the point of me needing to leave and being unable to explain why.

Now, before I go further, I have to note - I don’t expect people to adjust their lives because of my own mental health. If a situation is uncomfortable for me, I will remove myself from the situation - that is my responsibility.

According to my guest who was speaking on my behalf, Rish explained that I could reschedule, that they don’t do refunds, and that disputing the charge with my credit card company wouldn’t work - apologizing only that I couldn’t get money back. Disclaimer: I wasn’t in the area at the time so I can’t speak for how the interaction went down aside from what my guest told me.

In all, it’s just really unfortunate. I recognize that I paid a deposit. I recognize that I can reschedule. However, I will not be getting a tattoo from someone who made me feel so uncomfortable and invisible - getting a tattoo should be a safe, comfortable experience (at least in atmosphere... the tattoo might hurt a bit). If I could give some unsolicited advice then go back to before this mess - it would be to communicate with your clients. Saying “Sorry, something has come up and I need to reschedule you” would have been much more appreciated than ignoring what was going on and that everyone in the unit could hear it.

Review for specifically the piercing/Julie:

Great experience for a piercing! Managed to get in same day (they do online booking for tattoos and you can text piercer for availability) and are SO affordable. My last piercing of the same type was almost 3x the price. Definitely recommend.

My sisters and I got sister tattoos and LOVE them. By far the best place I've ever got a tattoo. This was my 4th one and it was the least painful and didnt bleed like the others did. He did awesome my sister was nervous it was her first and she even said she will be back for more.

The shelves were a little dusty. But all the tables and equipment seemed very clean. And the piercer had lots of experience very knowledge and very reasonable with pricing! I would go again! Thanks.

I would love to give this place a 5 star but I just cannot. I went in to have my nose pierced but the whole experience was just aweful. The piercer couldn't get the ring in, I ended up being pierced twice, it took forever to heal and her solution to the bump that came on the side of it was to just press it, extremely hard and flatten it. It literally caused me to be in pain double time. I ended up going to a professional place and they helped me to correct it. Not a fan!

Edit response for owner: 10000% positive I got my piercings at kappa tattoo, I got them done by Julie. I added photos of me getting my piercings done at kappa tattoo (one of which includes a nose ring getting put into my nostril after getting pierced)
As I said, I was younger unaware of what proper and safe piercings looked like at the time, and I thought the troubles I had were normal, which is why I went again. I have since realized the troubles I had were not normal, they were from a not properly trained/negligent piercer at your studio.

I got pierced a while ago and I’ve since been informed on the proper way to be pierced. My first nose piercing was done with a hoop rather than a stud and at the time I was unaware piercings should be done with studs at first. I’m still having troubles with that piercing to this day. My tongue piercing was done incorrectly. My tongue, septum, and lip piercings were all done with cheap, externally threaded jewelry /: wouldn’t recommend going here for piercings.

As soon as I walked in I felt welcome. Rish did a great job on my tattoo! Will definitely be back to this shop and recommend them to everyone!

I had Rish do a tattoo for me and it was all and more that I could have asked for.

Got my belly pierced here and it was put in perfect no problems and very clean. The people are extremely nice. I definitely would go there again!

They have the Best artists! I receive all my Tattoo’s From Nelly and she does such an amazing job. If your looking for some fantastic work I highly recommend this Kappa Tattoo!!