Steve's Tattoo & Body Piercing

I went to Steve's for my first and so far only tattoo simply because I knew a girl who had gone there. Before anything else, I checked out the artists' portfolios on their website. Since what I wanted was based on a photo of a live animal, I asked for Dave Nielsen since his had a lot of nature-related images.

First appointment was for a brief consultation where I showed him the photos and explained what I wanted, then we arranged a time for the actual tattoo. He told me to eat something before the appointment. When I arrived, he had drawn the image and put it on transfer paper to transfer to my skin. We had to erase the transfer and resize and move it a couple of times to get a good position. He reminded me to be very sure it looked the way I wanted it.

The tattooing experience wasn't bad, I guess it varies but it felt like the sting of a small bee - albeit lasting 2 hours - to me. I asked Dave some questions about the procedure at the beginning but since I don't like small talk, after a while switched to listening to a radio play on my mp3 player.

While most of the shop is an open area with several chairs for clients, it looks very clean and organized. The equipment was all put away neatly in cabinets before Dave took it out to work on my tattoo. My appointment was on a weekday evening so it was pretty quiet. I was the only customer in the shop when we started, then later a guy came in to get more work done on his backpiece.

Got my 8-year-old daughter's ears pierced by Jessica, who couldn't have been more professional or kind. She spent about 10 min perfecting the dots on her earlobes, making sure they were completely even on each side. She explained everything she was going to do and instructed my daughter how to breathe through the needle stick. In all, each ear took about 1 min (My daughter sort of completely missed that she had had needles stuck through her earlobes--she had to ask in the car, and when I showed her how long the needles were, she started cracking up because she couldn't believe it!). Zero tears; hardly a flinch. After the piercing was done, Jessica went through in detail how to care for the piercings to ensure they didn't become infected and that we had a good result. Now, only 2 days later and her ears are not red/inflamed at all and are healing great. All in all, a great experience and I would highly recommend. Maybe I'll get something pierced next!

I’m sure it’s a great shop if you know an artist, however they don’t follow the ‘list’. My friend and I were told that it would be an hour wait when we put her name down. We left for an hour and came back to wait another hour and a half! It was then too late and we had to leave we had other things todo. So you if have half a day to kill I’m sure this place is great!

My two friends and I walked in to Steve's with exactly what we wanted to have tattooed on us. We got approached by a bearded gentlemen who then began to talk us out of it. None of us are tattoo virgins i have a full sleeve and my other buddies have 10 tats. I will never ever go there ever and $150 an hour is INSANE! If you want some great tats you need to go to reedsburg there is a GREAT place there !!!

The piercer, Jessica, is awesome: patient, empathetic, and funny. They don't have a piercer everyday, though.
& I was disappointed in their lack of jewelry options, all stainless & "classic" looking. I picked some ugly rings to change out for yellow gold later.

I've never gotten a tattoo here but I will say the first day I walked in, I waited for a significant amount of time for 2 men to come out from the back, clearly stoned out of their minds to tell me the piercer was out. Let's be real, it's Willy st., but still, I sure as hell wouldn't have let them tattoo me whilst high.

Jessica was awesome! She made me feel comfortable and explained everything I needed to know for my piercings.

Jessica is amazing she pierced my five year olds ears. She's great with kids and great at piercing. So if you want a piercing or if you're a little kid one go to Jessica

Phoned Saturday morning to inquire about a single hole, conventional ear piercing for my 9 yr. old daughter shortly after the store opened at 11am....

Me: Good morning. Do you perform piercings for children? I have a 9yr. old daughter who would like to have her ears pierced today.
Staff member at the store replied: We sure do! Me: Great, can I make an appointment for today? Staff:Absolutely, we have time on the schedule around 1pm.Me: Awesome. Anything else? Staff: Nope Me: Great, we will see you then!

Upon arrival at 1pm I was met by the piercing staff member: Ya, Hi... Did you bring a birth certificate for you daughter? Me: Um, No! Was I supposed to? Staff:Well, we tried to call you using our caller ID but couldn't. We can't do the piercing w/o a birth certificate. Me:You, wanted a birth certificate but, didn't manage to take down my name, or number?

It was 11:00 o'clock when I phoned. My bank closes at 12:00 on Saturday. I certainly could have aquired the birth certificate, or a passport from our safety deposit box before coming had a staff member... A) Initially told me to bring the documents. B) Before you come please review our website for piercing rules and guidelines C) Phoned me back, and said opps we forgot to ask you to bring .... But, instead Steve's failed to do either. Leaving me with a 9yr old little girl who has been working up the courage to get her ears pierced for months, and now because of no fault of hers, or mine she feels completely rejected. Thanks so much Steve's.

I completely understand rules, and liabilities. But, I feel as though it is the responsibility of the staff to convey them in advance before booking an appointment. Giving the consumer the opportunity to meet the requirements.

Update: Upon leaving Steve's I was able to contact Claire's boutique in the mall, and had the piercing completed within the hour. The staff members used safe/clean precautions, and were courteous, polite, and attentive to my daughters needs! Thank you Claires. No thank you Steve's.

Got my first one here I was told by my girlfriend to go here and i have 0 complaints! The name of the guy who did it was Alex, he did an amazing job! I got a bible verse on my calf and again did amazing! I will be back to get more! I highly recommended, go here and get it from Alex!

You want the best service and tattoo ask for Corey! You'll never be disappointed! Plus Jess the piercer is always hilarious and makes the shop have an enjoyable atmosphere!