Black & Blue Tattoo

Vihn did a tattoo of a redwood tree on the back of my arm and it is kickass. I couldn’t ask for anything better. I’ll definitely be going back there again.

This review is for Vinh.
I wanted another tribute piece for my dad and I needed someone with good line skills. I’ve been searching all throughout Unilocal to find a decent artist, within distance from me that had a good portfolio, and that wasn’t over the top expensive.
The first set of communication was through e-​mail. I asked him how I would go about with meeting him, showed him the photo, and when I could set up an appointment. He replied within hours of my e-​mails and said to call the shop for a consultation. I was able to set it up for the week after since my work schedule kinda messes me up with his hours.
I was able to book an appointment with him a month after our consultation and I was super eager as ever. He had my photo prepared and started his work. It all took about an hour and a half. The work space was very relaxing with minimal interruptions. At first I was so sad because it looked like a big blob of black but after a few weeks of healing, the lines were so clean and the photo was so detailed.
I definetly recommend Vinh.

Ok so I am sorta completely addicted to tattoos since getting my first one a couple of years ago. I try really hard to pace myself though but one day I just decided SCREW IT I’M GONNA GET ANOTHER. So I was researching different tattoo shops in the city and one of the artists that I really admired the work of happened to start working here permanently (Gaspard)! I stumbled upon his work when he was guesting at the shop earlier this year but didn’t think I would be able to get tattooed by him since I was training for a bunch races and stuff when he was at B&B — I didn’t want to get tattooed in the middle of my training! But here he was, still tattooing in the city so I figured it was meant to be!
So I shot him a quick email with what I wanted and he replied pretty quickly. I called the shop, set up a consultation, went in and discussed my vision with the artist. We settled on a date and I paid the security deposit ($ 200, they accept credit but cash is preferred). Two weeks later, I went into the shop to get the tattoo done. The shop is smack dab in the Mission. It’s got a sort of nautical theme about it, and it’s pretty small and it definitely isn’t intimidating. It’s got a very chill vibe about it, and tons of cool décor to look at while waiting. Everyone that worked there was incredibly friendly. I was there when another girl came in to talk to Brucius about her potential tattoo; I really loved that he talked with her about the design and ended up suggesting other artists at the shop and even at other shops that would be better suited to do the tattoo. It’s pretty cool that the artists here care enough about the customer to ensure that he/​she has the best possible design regardless of if it means sending the customer to another shop! That’s deep man.
Anyways, Gaspard was really nice and worked with me to tweak out the details and such. The tattooing process itself was probably one of the easiest sessions I’ve ever had. I got a piece on the side of my ribcage, right under my armpit (it’s ~3″ in diameter maybe). I warned him beforehand that I’m EXTREMELY ticklish. I kid you not, I will literally be on the ground busting up laughing if anyone tries to even poke me. I tried really hard to stay still though LOL. But he handled my ticklish-​ness like a champ and didn’t seem too bothered. He was very light-​handed and at times, I couldn’t even feel the needle at all! I could have probably fallen asleep while he was tattooing me LOL. The tattoo itself is just what I wanted and the experience was very enjoyable so it made it all that much better! Overall, the process took ~2.5 hours I think, 1.5 hrs before and a little over an hour of tattooing.
I’ll definitely be coming back here for my next tattoo! There’s definitely some very talented artists here that will help you bring your vision to life!

Have been meaning to write this review for several weeks because of the superior experience I had with Black and Blue and my tattoo artist Michael in October. This was my first tattoo experience (52 y/​o male) and I did a lot of research ahead of time to coincide with a business/​leisure trip to San Francisco. Encouraged by their terrific website and artist portfolios and the helpful reviews here, I contacted them and chose my artist and set a date for an appointment. Michael was super helpful in tweaking the designs and suggesting proper size and placement (I actually had two tattoos that day). In addition, Michael’s superb eye for color and detail has brought me endless compliments. Michael also made me feel completely comfortable even though I was a bit nervous. I actually enjoyed the whole process thanks to him and was amazed at the immersive experience of being involved with the creation of a piece of personal art. I followed all of the after care requirements diligently and had a super healing experience. The salon itself is clean and professional and filled with some amazing artwork. I would happily return here on a return visit to the city and would highly recommend this place to friends.
As a side note, I recently had another tattoo at one of the top recommended studios in Brooklyn, and although the experience was terrific and very professional and I am thrilled with the tattoo, I did note that the after-​care regimen was not as comprehensive as Black and Blue’s, which set a very high bar. I appreciated having that extra knowledge from my experience with Black and Blue.

Artist: Brucius
Session length: 1 hour
Subject: Alice in Wonderland illustration by John Tenniel, 1865
Where: upper arm
Got my tattoo done this past Saturday, Brucius did an incredible job, the style is exactly what I wanted!
This was my very first tattoo and I thought it was going to hurt more than it did: he was gentle, light handed, and had a good bedside manner. Everything was also sanitary and sterile, so I definitely felt safe getting tattooed at the parlor.
The process from beginning to end was simple and straightforward: I emailed him my idea with photos, we had a consultation (which took place while he was tattooing another client), put down my deposit, waited 5 months, and here I am with an awesome tattoo that I will love forever.
Part of what made the day-​of go by quickly was the high resolution image I had of what I wanted. If you know what you want, I highly recommend getting the highest resolution version of what it is, it makes it that much easier on your artist.
Be prepared to wait, his talent makes for a long wait list, but it’s definitely worth the wait, especially if you want your tattoo to be perfect.
If you are looking to have something tattooed in the style Brucius does, you will not regret choosing him as your artist. Thank you, Brucius, you’re the best!

Tattoo, middle age woman’s best friend; or a rite of passage for anyone.
Guided by your own reasons only known to you, you venture into the tattoo world a few years ago as you were approaching the imminent middle age. Your lesbian girlfriends took you there because they were one of the few millennials who actually embraced the body art culture, so ahead of their time, or so old fashioned, depending on how you look at, and they vouched this place.
BBT is not your typical tattoo parlor. It’s very clean. Organized. Pretty. And museum-​like. Contracted artists are skillful and approachable. They are good with needles, as they ought to be.
You get one and you leave immediately to celebrate at Tacolicious. You said to your friends then, «one is enough. I’ve made my statement.» They told you then, «you’ll get another.» They were right. You found another piece of design you wanted on you. So you book another appointment a couple of years later. This time a different artist. Light handed, female, and very skillful. It took two months to get an appointment in with her. You walk out once again, greeted by your friend who had arrived to wait for you to finish, and then said, «this one hurt a bit.» Your friend hugs you and then takes you out for dinner to celebrate.
Make appointment. Put down a deposit. Arrive on time. The artist will retouch for free if it’s needed.
On 16^th Bart line. Parking can be a bitch. Welcome to the Mission. This is not a tattoo parlor. It’s a body art studio. An hour or two later, you will feel you are an improved version of you. Now go and buy that spaghetti dress to show off your new tatt.

Viva Brittany! Great Artist, wonderful person!

Super stoked. Went in to see Gaspard, with the consultation he was very excited to help leave a great impression of my first tattoo experience. His patience was fantastic and his knowledge of his art is something he shares while he does his work. It’s been a day since the tattoo and I know for a fact, based on this experience, that this will not be my last tattoo. Thank you Gaspard for an outstanding job, I hope to see you or other artists at this place again!