Read Street Tattoo Parlour

I came across Read Street Tattoo while researching reputable tattoo shops in the area. I came across Dawn’s review here about Alex Saber doing her cover up and I was intrigued. She was gracious enough to invite me to one of her sessions with Alex since this would be my first tattoo and I was a nervous wreck about following through. After meeting both of them and spending about two hours with them, I made a consultation appointment, showed Alex my reference photo of what I wanted and made an appointment for my first session.
Consultation: I met with Alex for approximately 20 minutes to discuss with him what I wanted and placement. What I liked the most is that he’s honest. We both agreed on the design and flow of the tattoo but when I mentioned what covers I wanted, he was kind enough to let me know those colors would look muddy (I have darker skin). I was somewhat disappointed to know I couldn’t get my favorite color but overall very happy that he gave me his honest and professional opinion that he should not do those colors. After all, he is the professional and knows what he’s talking about.
Sessions 1 – 3: About 3 weeks later, I came in to have my line work done and I was nervous. He showed me the design, of which was perfect, we confirmed the placement (mid-​back to lower thigh), and got to work. Because of the placement, I’d have to be sporting my birthday suit only, but Alex set up a partition for privacy and did his best to make me feel comfortable throughout the entire process. He encouraged me throughout the line work, cracked jokes and we talked a lot throughout the roughly 3 ½ hour session. I walked away soar but very happy with the end result. He gave me great aftercare instructions that I followed for proper healing then returned for the shading and color. Each time I came back, I was thrilled to see the end result. Each time very professional, funny and all around fantastic to work with. Although I said I would only get one tattoo, if I break my own rule, Alex will be the person I go to. I am NOT disappointed with my experience.
Shop itself: very, VERY clean from the door to the back of the shop. The staff is professional and friendly. Photography and kids are not allowed in the shop so leave both at home. They only accept cash, so beware and don’t play yourself. If you’re looking for an appointment with Alex, it’s best to schedule an appointment. He’s usually so busy that you’re lucky if he can take a walk-​in. I’ve been here with a full house and music playing and it’s still pretty quiet. No one screaming bloody murder. Overall, a great place to get your artwork done.
Thanks, Alex!
(Pics to follow when I’m fully healed.)

I went to Read Street because I had some body piercing done at another place that didn’t go very well. I wasn’t healing and was in a lot of pain. I’ve had other body piercings done in another city that went great, so I knew that something was wrong.
Emily was AMAZING. I saw her a few times to try to salvage the piercings. She made a point to call her teacher for additional information since I really wanted to save them even though the odds were against me. In the end, I decided to abandon the piercings. Emily gave me all the information I needed to make the decision I felt good about, but I never felt pressured either way.
She’s not only professional and really knows her stuff but also she also exudes friendliness and calm. I’d definitely return to her. She’s aces.

I am getting a cover up of a *cough* trampstamp *cough*… and have searched HIGH AND LOW for 8 months and came across #alex_​sabur.
Alex and I had a brief consultation on a Friday then I had to wait the longest month ever (he is usually busy which is a GREAT sign) to get started.
BEST decision ever. Worth the research, worth the wait and I got exactly what I wanted.
Alex is laid back, fast yet careful, professional and beyond amazing at his craft. The most impressive part was that he ignored my threats to our new-​found friendship and he overlooked one (failed) swipe at his hand when he was tattooing over my rib. I am not this bad with tattoos, but my back is WAY more sensitive than I thought it would be.
It has been less than 24 hours and I have given his information to three people already because they cannot believe how well he did and how clean my skin looks for just having it done.
Alex is a solid artist.
I cannot *over compliment* this guy he is that good.
Mind you — when he is tattooing me in a month — you can toss this glowing review out of the window. I will hate him for a solid 2.5 hours… but when he is finished, I will be SO HAPPY! (until the next and final session)
Seriously — it would be foolish to go anywhere else.

Best tattoo parlor I’ve been to in Baltimore hands down. They have a very professional staff & environment. Charlie has been my go to guy for years and will be for years to come. Definitely a great place to get high class work and I’d recommend anyone in the market for tattoos.

I couldn’t be happier with the work Ryan Arnold has done. I’ve been fortunate enough to have him do all of my tattoos from my arm to my thigh, and difficult spots such as my sternum. His line work is excellent and the colors he uses are vibrant and stay that way. I highly recommend him!

I was tattooed by Ryan Arnold, and I am very happy with my tattoo. I brought in a drawing of mine, and asked him to redraw it and make it look better. He did, and I love the piece he did for me.
The shop is really nice, and everyone I spoke to in there were very kind.
I was recommended by a friend who had a half sleeve done there. I also had stopped people in the past to say, «you have a SWEET tattoo– where’d you get it?» And on multiple occasions people had said Read Street. I’m really proud to now be able to say the same when people ask where I got my tattoo.

I could not be happier with my experience at Read Street Tattoo Parlour with Charlie Foos and his staff. Moreover, I am so pleased with my anchor tattoo (and piercing) and lucky to have been referred by a friend, another happy client of theirs. Charlie bar none knows what he is doing (understatement). All of the staff I came in contact with were low-​key, consummate professionals, not to mention, organized and taking ownership! Not only did Charlie go back a couple times to redesign the artwork for my tattoo after consulting with me, he did so without hesitation, being annoyed or any reserve. His ONLY concern was that I would leave there with the most amazing tattoo I desired and that is exactly what I have. That made me feel confident, not to mention, taken care of. I appreciated that! The receptionists at the front desk area are warm and accommodating. You can tell they are a thriving, organized shop of true artists who own their craft and continue bettering themselves to create amazing tattoos. Additionally, the parking is easy and the shop is spotless and without clutter. I am happy to recommend Charlie Foos to anyone looking for the highest quality artist and best in the business out there. Compared to any other tattoo I have gotten and experience surrounding, well — there really isn’t a comparison at all! It’s hard to give your trust, especially with something that is permanent and I can say with 100% certainty, that you will be in GOOD HANDS with Charlie Foos. I wouldn’t consider going to another shop ever again. Read Street Tattoo is legit!

Great atmosphere, clean, friendly and very qualified and professional artists. Charlie did a great job designing and executing my tattoo. Couldn’t be happier.

This is the best shop in the area. Everyone there is super professional and very talented.. Charlie is super talented, has great ideas and knows his shit
If anyone is wondering I have many tattoos and have had work done by Chris Trevino and would him in the same category as a great artist.

I have been tattooed by Ryan multiple times. Everyone is super professional and friendly, the shop is immaculate, and every artist is beyond talented. I have worked in the industry myself for years and this is the shop I trust the most in Baltimore, by far.

I went in to get my septum pierced this past Thursday and the employees were phenomenal. Emily, the piercing artist, was so accommodating and incredibly friendly. The place IS cash only, however I had only brought my cards. The staff allowed me time to go to an ATM to get the jewelry I wanted. I get a bit woozy when I get tattoos and piercings and I told Emily this before she started. She allowed me to lay down as I requested and we spoke about our schooling for a good bit. Overall, super friendly staff, fair-​priced, and amazing people. I will most definitely be back in the near future.

Called and asked about getting my first tattoo. The receptionist was super chill, friendly, and helpful. Instead of going in to make an appointment, I decided to attempt a walk-​in on Saturday, right when they opened at noon. The environment at Read is clean, full of natural lighting, and very chill. I had to wait fifteen minutes for the next available artist, J, so I went to the Rite Aide next door to withdraw some cash — cash only! I was happy with the pricing — $ 80 for six words on the side of my forearm.
J was great. I brought a printed copy of the font I wanted, and asked for his advice on the sizing, if I should add extra embellishments, etc. He was very helpful, told me we should go a little bigger, and keep it simple without embellishments. He was gentle, quick, and made it a great first-​time experience. Totally recommend!

I got my septum pierced on Tuesday and was very nervous about it. I went to Read Street with a friend and immediately felt comfortable. The atmosphere was very friendly and clean and the piercer was super nice and very accommodating. My friend was allowed to come back with me to help me through the piercing and it was over in seconds and very well done. She even gave me a little aftercare kit and gave me detailed instructions on how to care for it so it healed properly. I’ll definitely go back there for future piercings!

Had my Japanese sleeve started here by Dana Helmuth and I have to say my first session was very enjoyable. After Dana put the 2 stencils on he then started drawing the rest of my tattoo out freehand which was great. It took him about 35 to 40 minutes of him drawing it on and looks amazing. Throughout the entire time I was being tattooed he kept making sure I was ok and if I need anything. The other artist in the shop were also checking in making sure I was ok and seeing if I or Dana needed anything. During the breaks I had time to talk to the other artists and all of them were very friendly and easy to talk to. The shop itself is very nice and very clean. I can’t wait to go back for my 2^nd session.

Had my septum pierced a few months ago.
In short, super clean, super professional, quality products, and an amazing experience. My piecing has healed beautifully, and I will most definitely be coming here again for a quality piercing and a positive experience.
Highly recommended if you’re looking for the good shit.

Full disclaimer – I don’t have any tattoos and I’m not in the market for any, but I do have a number of piercings and I stopped by here the other day to get second lobe piercings. I called ahead of time to make sure the piercer was in and make sure they don’t use a gun for lobe piercings (they don’t) before heading over there. I also checked the price because, by the way, they’re cash only. The guy on the phone told me 25 – 45 $ depending on the jewelry – seems reasonable.
Only, when I got there, she rang me up at 85 for some crappy black studs. I didn’t even have that much cash with me. I asked her why it was double what the guy on the phone told me, and she said that it’s 25 – 50 $ PER EAR for lobe piercings. I realize some people only get one lobe piercing at a time but I think it’s pretty obvious when a person asks for lobe piercings they’re generally talking about a pair. Not only that, but 50 $ is a bit steep for two lobe piercings, let alone one. I realize this is a high end shop, but you can get lobe piercings at Claire’s for $ 5. So I said bye.
Just to make sure I wasn’t insane, I called Saints and Sinners down in Fells Point on my way out of the shop. They said they charge 42 $ for BOTH ears, including the jewelry, and plus free aftercare solution. Seems a lot more reasonable, right? So I’ll be heading down there this weekend to get my second lobes done. And when I am in the market for more piercings and a tattoo, it definitely won’t be at Read St. I kind of think the girl might have just been trolling me. Maybe I wasn’t hip enough to be spending my money at Read St. I’m giving them two stars just because the shop was cool and it was clean, which is obviously the most important thing at these kinds of shops, but I definitely would not recommend this store to anyone, at least for piercings.

Emily, the piercer, is fantastic — I can’t recommend her highly enough. I’d gotten my nose pierced elsewhere, and it had given me nothing but trouble for 6 months straight. Emily changed out the ring for a stud, and within a week it was healing beautifully. She was as knowledgeable as she was personable, patiently answering all of my questions and helping me to keep a piercing on which I had pretty much given up. I’m incredibly happy I went to her when I did, and only wish I’d had her pierce it in the first place!

I have my fair share of tattoos, some big, and some small. I have been getting tattooed since the law allowed me. For most of the time, I had gone to shops here and there, but never found somewhere I could call my «tattoo home». That was until I got my first tattoo at Read Street back in 2010 – I knew I had found my «home».
The staff are all great, very nice and very accommodating. The prices are what to be expected for quality work. Whenever people complement my tattoos (which they do often) I always, always recommend them to go to Read Street.
My go to artist there is J Ranno, who is a very polite and awesome dude. I have a friend who wanted a very major back piece done and I did not hesitate in telling her to please go see J. That said, I have seen the other artists’ work and they also look like they do amazing work.
I think that recommending a tattoo business is no light consideration, as when you are in the market for a tattoo, it’s for life (well, unless you get it laser removed I suppose…) So I can most certainly, without a doubt, recommend Read Street tattoo for anyone looking for a great experience and piece of body art.

Let’s be real — there is nowhere else to get tattooed in Baltimore. I’ve gotten 8 tattoos from the good folks at Read Street (Jeff, Tomek, and my personal Jesus Charlie Foos), and none of them have been short of perfection. This includes 4 faithfully executed art reproduction pieces from Charlie — not simple work by any stretch of the imagination, although their lettering, linework, and other simple designs are still wonderful. The shop is professional, friendly, and clean enough to eat off the floor. The atmosphere is always relaxing and you can usually get a walk-​in for simple designs. Basically, you’re a fool to go anywhere else for your B’more ink.

After more than a few referrals to Read Street, from some tattoo-​savvy folks, I figured it was the best in town. I had recently gone to the Museum, and that’s a whole other review :-\.
Anyway, I made an appointment with J, I think it was, then got a call the day before the appointment saying «something came up» and that we had to reschedule. (Found out later he had gotten a hand tattoo the day before and it hurt. Then don’t put someone on your books. Lame!) I had a pretty packed schedule so I decided to just book a new guy, Tomek. I came in with a very set idea of a non-​traditional, disproportionate anchor. Lots of thought went into it, and that’s what I wanted and I even brought in a drawing.
Tomek wasn’t having it and changed my idea. Again and again. After I repeatedly told him I didn’t want the size/​style he drew up. We butted heads for almost an hour and I even let a first-​time-​sun-​on-​the-​wrist client jump in line ahead of me because I just wasn’t happy with the design. I should have jetted when she finished and told me she had asked for it on her wrist so she could hide it with a watch but he did it larger than she wanted and in a visible spot.
Anyway, back to me…
It should be said, he is a great artist and there were some design elements that I really liked and wanted to incorporate, so I drew up a new picture and wanted him to stencil EXACTLY THAT on me. He still changed it up and I finally gave up the fight and let him tattoo his design.
This is not my first tattoo and I understand tattoo culture and that artists want to maintain their integrity. There’s a thin line though, between an artist keeping his design aesthetic and being a huge jerk. Bottom line, I am a paying client and I should get exactly what I want since it’s going to be on my body forever. I should have just eaten the $ 60 downpayment and walked out but I didn’t.
Tomek was a very talented tattooer, no question about that, but he didn’t listen to my requests, and now I have a pretty large tattoo that I just feel so-​so about… for the rest of my life…
If you are open to suggestions or have no idea what kind of tattoo you are looking for, Read Street would be a great choice for you. It seems as though their crew has a set way of doing things and they’ll be damned if someone requests something they don’t agree with.
If you are somewhat strong-​willed and have set ideas, I wouldn’t go here. Getting tattooed has a stressful element to it, and it’s no fun when added stress comes from a bull-​headed tattoo artist.