Ink & Style

My tattoo: I got the outline of my first large tattoo (almost a half sleeve size) from Tiara here after seeing a variety of her work on a friend and loving it. She did not disappoint. Her room was clean, she followed protocol to a T, I love the fun touches (like the T Rex head) and I felt the price was well worth it — she was extremely efficient and did not drag it out to charge more, as some hourly artists do.
I have been around body mod «culture» a lot as an observer during friends’ piercings/​tattoos and at my ex’s brother’s tattoo parlor, and have a decent amount of piercings. But my other tattoos I got at That Buffalo Shop That Shall Not Be Named That Misspelled A Girl’s Name on TV when I was younger and they were less than professional, so I still had a decent amount of questions Tiara was happy to answer. It was refreshing to deal with someone who didn’t seem like they were doing you a favor taking your money.
Ink & Style also isn’t really a «pick flash off the wall» type of place. I drew my own artwork and Tiara used it as a reference to work up the final design, and it seems she will work up any idea clients have from just a verbal description if they can’t draw it out (I follow her on FB now and the pictures she posts of her custom artwork are AMAZING). She was extremely patient with my repeated requests for changes (a tattoo is forever, right?), texting me pictures of redrafts, and the piece turned out gorgeous without even having it shaded or colored in yet. I definitely plan on returning to get it colored/​shaded by her, probably after tax return season as I am eternally fighting the monster of STUDENT LOAN DEBT.
The shop: As others have mentioned, this is not a dingy, hole in the wall or outdated place. It’s, for lack of a better word, swank. The downstairs hair salon and reception area is open and airy, with a tasteful design. The receptionist is friendly and on point. The upstairs is a series of a small rooms used for tattoo studios and is also spotless with some cool artwork. To get upstairs there is a spiral staircase, which is a nice touch (but I’m afraid of heights so it does bug me out a bit, haha).
Disclaimer: I, by pure coincidence, discovered I know the lead stylist (wife of an acquaintance) and I’ve watched her work here a few times while I was waiting for my tattoo appointment or here with friends. She seems to do really good work and from what I’ve heard her clients followed her here from other places, but I haven’t had my hair done here (I do my own hair 99.9% of the time). I’m very impressed by the look and cleanliness of the salon, the stylists all seem very friendly and the hair I’ve seen them do is great, but I can’t speak to it as a client. Outside of the lead stylist, I’m not socially familiar with anyone who works here.

I just had a pedicure by Marcy today and it was fabulous! As soon as you walk in, you are greeted with a smile and a friendly «hello». Everyone is polite and welcoming. Marcy took her time with the pedicure and did a fabulous job as my feet feel refreshed and new. :) She’s very easy to talk to and is so sweet. I’m looking forward to having her do my hair next!

Wow. This place is amazing. All the employees are incredibly nice and accommodating. I’ve had many cuts by many different stylists in many different salons, but Marcy is by far the best stylist I have ever had cut my hair. She was so nice and professional, yet made me feel comfortable. It was like talking to an old friend. She also gave me the best haircut I have ever had. From now on I will never get my hair cut by anyone else!

I feel like I am breaking an unwritten rule by reviewing a tattoo shop on Unilocal.Like there needs to be an Underground Unilocal for tattoo parlors and heavy metal bars or you’re blacklisted from these places until you drive in to Canada and pop Bieber in the jaw… or Nick Jonas… or any member of One Direction — while chewing on carpenter’s nails. But I want to start off with what this shop is not:
— It is not a dark grime ridden hole in the wall that smells like old cigarettes and cat litter with a slight hint of old beer.
— It is not decorated with House of 1000 Corpses paraphernalia but also does not have movie posters of happy little snow creatures with the statement, «Do you want to build a snowman,» either.
— It is not your ordinary hair salon. Piercings, multicolor hair and tattooed arms abound — and be thankful that they do. When a chef does not eat his/​her own creations, I am not going to be the first to try.
What it is:
— It is a very clean and professional set up with evidence that the staff that was picked by the owner with synergy in mind. Happy workers will treat clients better and they do here.
— The décor has a skull at the front desk, city scapes and other pieces; some of which are specific to the person’s work area and their preferences. So, if you are easily offended by the likes of a Pirates of the Carribbean-​esque flag or a picture of a model with hair over one eye, you may need counseling after.
— Top notch salon and tattoo shop. I watched middle age woman after middle age woman, conservatively dressed, walking up to nose pierced female employees with tattoos, one after another and get crazy professional salon work done. This is a place you can take your mom to get treated like family, all while showing her people who do not wear khaki every day are still okay. Unless you’re Justin Bieber, in which case please see my earlier comment.
A couple of things I recommend. Make an appointment online. These guys are busy and jamming with business, so there is not always someone available to pick up the line. Book that visit online and know it’s golden. Next, understand you are working with professional artists. Yes, actual artists. They are not the people who bought a tattoo kit on a deal-​a-​day site and will only tattoo a peace symbol or cannabis leaf. This is their passion and expertise, which means you should give some artistic freedom and interpretation to some degree. Think about it — how many times have you ordered a pizza, went behind the counter and pushed the person aside to show them how it is done (caveat is if you actually are the pizza shop owner)? Only MY personal opinion but I think that if I asked Mozart to create a symphony but told him he needed to play the piano with his toes, he may do it but it could sound a tad bit off. Let the artist create what they are ridiculously talented at, using your ideas as a base.
It is a rare and incredible privilege to have the talent of Nick D’Angelo and his team in our small Western New York area. If you are going to get a tattoo… and I mean a superior lifelike wicked piece of work… depending on the artist, you could expect a wait time of a year or more — that is if you do not hit them up for the days they may have walk in appointments open. Understand it is more than worth the wait to get this sort of quality that will be with you for the rest of your life versus trying to get something mediocre slammed on you, quickly. If you are hitting up the piercings and/​or salon — enjoy the experience and personalities. Let them exceed your expectations like I saw they did with every customer that walked in. Put to rest the pre-​conceived notions immediately.

I went in for the spa cut with Tonia. The spa cut includes a Wella conditioning treatment and a head and neck massage. My hair is in such better condition after the treatment. Tonia did a great job cutting my thick hair. I have received so many compliments on my hair cut!