Britishink Tattoo Studio & Gallery

My husband and I were suppose to get a tattoo from Aaron Trimiar which the experience dealing with him showed that he is super unprofessional, unorganized, arrogant, inconsiderate, self absorbed person with self esteem issues that tries to belittle other people.
We had a consultation with him where he set a date on when he would have time to email me the drawings for the tattoos. Two days after the date he set I sent an email asking for the drawings. He replied very short and said will get to them later. Three days before we were to get tattoed I email him again to see if drawings where done (mind you this design was a drawing he had done years ago so I thought it wouldn’t have been a difficult task to do). Got a replied where he became arrogant and bitter. I replied saying I was disappointed on how he handled the situation and I cancelled… Well this led to a couple more emails where he became more and more arrogant, vicious, and condescending. Also I have known him for a couple of years and we weren’t really close but he knew a couple of personal things about me. He used this knowledge to try to belittle me and ridicule me. What kind of person where you have to some extent confined in them information about yourself tries to use it to belittle you? A person that has a delusion of grandeur that really has self esteem issues.
It was just ridiculous. What was more ridiculous and even comical was that he took so much time to insult me instead of simple writing an email in the beginning saying he didn’t get to draw the design but I will see them the day of the tattoo.
Looking back I thought to myself maybe I shouldn’t have responded and kept it short and sweet but looking at his character and the things he wrote I don’t think it would have mattered he still would have displayed what a self absorbed, arrogant, unprofessional, sexist, belittler, bitter, hateful person he is. To be honest if he had said «fuck you I’m not doing your tattoo» I would had some respect for him left instead of the idiotic things he wrote back to me. Dude has some SERIOUS issues.

I’ll be honest, I didn’t even get the change to go in here. I sent Aaron an email asking if he could do a water color tattoo for me, rather large on my upper thigh (which I’m assuming would be substantially expensive) and instead of simply saying it was a technique he couldn’t do, he said «this project doesn’t interest me, so I am going to have to turn it down» not even a sorry I can’t take this request. Or how about suggesting another artist that might be able to handle something like it? Nope. Nothing. That is an awful way to run your business. Turning away new business because you don’t think my tattoo is interesting enough? I’m coming to you for a service. Judge if you want, but how about you do it in a place I can’t hear, maybe after I pay you? Just a thought. Wont ever go or recommend this place to people.

Made an appointment with Aaron for a consultation for my girlfriend and I, at 12pm Saturday. We came from Gainesville, and arrived at 11:40am and waited till 1:20pm and no arrival. I told the owner that we had other engagements, the owner said he was unable to contact him.
Aaron eventually emailed my GF that his phone had reseted, which is why he never showed up on Saturday afternoon. I would imagine that email access is accessible through other devices, such as a computer, etc. He should have wrote the appointment down or have it saved through other devices.
For the Saturday morning spent driving down, parking, time etc… I’m very disappointed.

One star: I paid for my tattoo and I’m supposed to get free touch ups. They are not returning my messages. I will up the score if they can ever bother to call me back. Quality of tattoo was not high.

Went to get my first tattoo with Aaron. He was very professional and I got exactly what I wanted.

I wanted to get a coverup of an unfortunate mistake I once made… and I made an appointment with Paul Roe about a month ahead of time. I went in for a consultation, paid the down payment, and set the date. He designed the coverup of a linear figure with a peacock feather (more curvy lines, rather than straight ones). I went in for the appointment, and everything went smoothly. The tattoo came out beautifully, and the colors were so very vivid. After the tattoo healed, I realized that the previous tattoo was still very visible. This was because Paul was trying to stay true to the peacock feather colors instead of covering up traditionally, with lots of black outlines, etc. I wrote him an email, explaining the issue, and he made another appointment for me, almost immediately. The second appointment also went well, and he added a bit more black and green to cover up the previously tattooed area. He did not charge me for the additional work. Once it healed the second time around, it looked absolutely beautiful. You cannot notice the other tattoo at all, unless you know it was once there. And the peacock feather looks absolutely beautiful.
On top of that, Paul is very pleasant to deal with, has quite a sense of humor, and is a gentleman. Highly recommended! Beautiful, artistic and professional work.

I am giving this shop a one star because 0 was not available. I will say that this rating is because of the ethics of the proprietor, Paul Roe, and not because of the quality of the work. I have known Paul for several years and always liked him. He has done three tattoos for me and I was happy with them.
The problem arose when, two years ago, Paul put out on social media that his son needed a camera and lens for a photography class and that he would trade tattoo work for the equipment. Being an amateur photog and having several cameras, I responded and agreed to give his son my Canon EOS 7, a 28mm-​300mm zoom lens and a 50 mm fixed lens. I came to his shop on H Street with my daughter and met Paul and his son there to see the equipment. They took the equipment and we agreed to arrange for the tattoo work of a Bear theme on my back shoulder for some later date. I sent him examples of the type of image I was looking for and he agreed to create drawings for me.
At first he said he would do my tat publicly at a convention in Baltimore and get some image possibilities together, but that never materialized. After a few calls/​emails to him, he said he had some drawings to show me, but that never materialized either. Now over the past 18 months or so I have emailed and called Paul again and again and again without any response whatsoever.
Basically, he stole my equipment and will not respond to my calls/​emails. I am considering legal recourse.

I can’t recommend Paul Roe’s work highly enough. I came to him with a difficult coverup job– basically a big black circle– and a few vague ideas, and he refined them into a design that is everything I was trying to say with those vague ideas and more. He’s a fantastic artist. The tattoo application took 2 sessions, and I could not be happier with the design or the artistry. He’s also a fun guy to sit with, very smart and very knowledgeable about the history of tattooing, among many other things.
I did have some trouble initially getting to see him– I had to chase him down via various media for weeks before I could get to talk to him to make an appointment, and if I hadn’t decided based on his portfolio that he was the guy I wanted, I would have let the frustration send me elsewhere. I get the sense he’s very selective about the jobs he takes. Once I managed to get in, I did not have any trouble scheduling either of the 2 application sessions.

Ugh, same thing as what happened to many others. I had a great consult with Paul, he was very talented with his drawings and I felt great about going forward with him for my first tattoo. However when I called (and called, and emailed, and called) to set up my appointment to come back for the actual work, he simply never got back to me. I reached him once via telephone and he was out and about and promised to call me back from the studio to schedule the appointment. But he never did. I finally gave up — I shouldn’t have to chase someone for three months. I just can’t do that, it’s awful customer service. So I’ve given up on British Ink.
In other news, from what I’ve seen two of the highly rated artists from British Ink (Cynthia and Liaa) appear to have opened another studio. I don’t know the name, but I think I’ll try that next and hopefully be able to finally get my tattoo.
So to sum up, British Ink is a nice studio, it’s clean and the artists are clearly talented, but it doesn’t help if you can’t actually get the tattoo done. :(

I had a vision of a tattoo of cherry blossoms and chose Cynthia cause her tattoos had such brilliant colors. I had to wait 2 months to even get an appointment with her. She’s not kidding when she says she’s crazy booked.
I can’t speak for the other artists but Cynthia is absolutely a great tattoo artist. The studio itself is very clean. Cynthia was very professional and responded to emails very promptly. The consultation was short where I told her my dream for my tattoo while she listened and offered some advice. I didn’t actually even see my tattoo until the day I was getting it but it was even better than what I imagined. She definitely took my vision and put her own artistic spin to it.
I am beyond satisfied with my tattoo and my experience with Cynthia. The whole thing was very awesome. I highly recommend Cynthia, especially if you want a color flower tattoo.

I’ve always used Unilocal but didn’t bother to post reviews of anything until now.
If you are thinking of getting a tattoo, definitely go to BritishInk. I can only review Robie since he was the artist that did my tattoo, but everyone I encountered in the place was extremely friendly.
The place is EXTREMELY clean, you can only get a tattoo by appointment and you have to have a consultation first — all good signs. Robie spent the time to talk to my friend and I about what we wanted and how he thought things would look best while keeping what we wanted in mind at all times.
We booked an appointment about a month after our consultation and he was kind enough to block out time so my friend and I could go together and have our appointments back to back. The vibe in the shop is really relaxed and Robie certainly puts people at ease.
I got a design on the inside of my heel and foot — and I was very nervous about the level of pain I was about to endure. Robie didn’t sugar coat the fact that it was going to be painful, but he reassured me that the end result was going to be well worth it. To my surprise, it hardly hurt at all. There were some really sensitive points, but other than that, it was practically pain free — and this was all because of Robie. His precision in his linework and his light hand made it completely bearable, and before I knew it, it was over! He even fixed up my previous tattoo free of charge as some of the lines had blown out and he made it look like new!
The end result is perfect — it’s exactly what I wanted. I’m so happy with my tattoo, and if I ever get another one (it’s so hard to stop, they’re so addicting!) I know I will be back to visit Robie!
You can’t rate this place with anything under 5 stars.

I have waited quite some time before posting my review for Britishink. Over the past year I have worked with Liaa on a back piece that has turned into a wonderful journey. Liaa is a fabulous artist and a fun person to spend time with. She was very enthusiastic about the design and spent a great deal time in the planning process. As we have progressed through the piece she consistently asks for feedback and is totally open to hearing about new inspirations! If you are seeking a collaborative environment in DC– check out BritishInk!
Now that Liaa is no longer working there. I am sad to say that I will not be returning to BritishInk :(

All I can say is ROBIE, ROBIE, ROBIE!
One night while day dreaming I decided I wanted my second and final tattoo (trust me it’s final) and so the next morning I jumped on Unilocal to search tattoo shops in DC and the reviews for Britishink sold me. I love the fact they do not accept walk ins and everyone must have a consultation. I went over the bio’s for each artist and Robie was the best match for me. He has a lot of tribal tats on his page and that’s what I was going for. I won’t drag on and on… but this was an awesome place. VERY clean, professional, and efficient business. If I ever go for #3 — y’all know where I’m going!

I come from a pretty experienced background in terms of tattoo’s having 4 custom pieces; chest ribs, and both shoulders from various parlors. I know the service varies place to place and each parlor has different methods of appointments and contact.
First off, this is in no way a rant against their establishment. It is a beautiful parlor, probably the prettiest I’ve been to. The initial line tracing session was good (some were crooked but I think it would have been easily fixed), Paul was very warm and welcoming and gave good feedback of what could be done better with my sketch. Overall I was very pleased with the first appointment.
Now this is where I hold my gripe. I waited approximately 7 – 9 months for the 2^nd session, and I told Paul that with this economy and my job, I was unable to do it in back to back sessions (it was estimated $ 1200+ in total). Come the time when I have allocated enough funds for the 2^nd session I started to email Paul Roe for an appointment. Ultimately, it went with 2 voicemails, 4 emails to his account and 1 to the main email account with no replies. :c
They do have great talent with Liaa and Paul, but the bad service has given me a bad taste, now I have to find another parlor in the area that is anyway near their caliber.
–owner of the sleeve of death.

Let me start out with a little background.
I made a Unilocal account with the specific intent of reviewing British Ink. To ensure that my review would show up, I reviewed some other places (check out my other generic reviews!) beforehand. So you know I’m serious about this!
I’ve wanted a tattoo since middle school, and I’ve always known exactly what I wanted. I visited Unilocal religiously, bookmarking tattoo studios and checking and re-​checking for new reviews. British Ink was the only place with 5-​star reviews all the way and everyone seemed to have a great experience! So I finally decided to splurge and got the courage to make a consultation with Liaa back in February — about 3 weeks before my appointment today on the 19^th. I chose her because I wanted watercolor cherry blossoms and I fell in love with her watercolor poppies piece on her site/​in her portfolio,
During the consultation, she was so nice and friendly and very very patient. I came in with references and she made a rough sketch, which I was very pleased with. I set up an appointment that day and eagerly counted the days down.
The day came for the appointment and my brother was more nervous about it than I was. All I can say is that I was rarin’ to go! I was keyed up/​pumping adrenaline the whole time, and even though I jumped (not good!) when she put her hand on my back (with vibrating tattoo gun in hand), I was a trouper and pulled through perfectly. Paul came in beforehand and remarked how pretty the stencil was and he seemed to be pleased even before the whole thing started.
It was a wonderful experience and it was over quicker than I expected — she was very calm, and professional and upon seeing the finished piece, I could tell my companions were pleased and so was I! Her skill is very apparent and I would totally recommend her if you’re looking for any sort of Eastern/​Oriental tattoo.
I think I will go in for a touch-​up, depending how much more the bottom part of mine turns out to be, but I am still delirious over how pretty it is! Her pricing was reasonable but I advise to consult/​schedule ahead of time since she’s packed, and I can see why!
I’m planning on recommending Liaa/​British Ink as a whole to every one of my friends!
Edit: (Edit of my previous edit) Liaa is now at Cirque du Rouge so if you like her works, you know where to find her! I’m feeling the itch for another tattoo myself!

I’m in Liaa’s gallery as «Finches and Cherry Blossoms» — I came to her last year with a concept and she brought it to life.
I am sure she was probably driven a tad crazy by my edits but hey — this is something going on my body forever and I wanted it perfect!
In the end I thought she did an absolutely perfect job and I was so happy with the end result.
I appreciated that British Ink took tattooing seriously in that they are an appointment only salon, so you can’t get drunk one night and come in asking for the «I heart my mom» flare piece on the wall.
They are true artists.
I would definitely be back for my next piece :)
Thank you Liaa for giving me a beautiful tattoo!

I have to come on here to rave about Liaa at BritishInk. She is all that and more. First I’d like to say how much I appreciate a shop that is as organized as they are. You have to set up an appt for a consult. After the consult we scheduled an appt for have the work done. I paid my deposit via paypal as soon as I got home. I like that they are on an appt based only. I feel comfortable knowing that people won’t be walking in as they please. I am so glad to not have to ever step foot in a shop like that again.
Liaa is so easy to talk to and relax with. Unlike most of these artists with horrible bedside manners and just all around jerks. My first tattoo with her was script. It turned out wonderfully. All touch up are included if needed. I needed a slight touch up. After the touch up we did the consultation for the next project.
This project wasn’t a small 4″ tattoo. it was a full backpiece. I showed Liaa all the pictures I brought in and she instantly came up with this wonderful piece for my back. When I came back for the actual tattoo, it was even better. I did 3 hours of outline and have an appt to come back.
I cannot say enough about this place and this artist. I love the funky style they have going on in there. The entire place makes a great environment for the customers. I have had many tattoos in the past and I find it difficult sometimes to find that perfect artist. I’ve found mine and I will follow her wherever she goes. I just hope she doesn’t go anywhere lol. I mean that place is the best and the other 3 artist are just as nice and hospitable. Can’t go wrong here.

Britishink is wonderful. I got my third tattoo here a week ago and it was everything my fellow Unilocalers promised it would be. I am planning to come back for another (it’s true that they’re addictive) as soon as I scrounge up some more extra cash.
Liaa is an amazing artist and very professional. She was helpful, honest, and designed a tattoo that was exactly what I was picturing. I’m not a sqeamish one in the chair, but her workspace was very comfortable and calming. I’m not sure what was happening with the music — it might have been a long playlist or a sat radio station, but whatever it was I was into it!
We had a nice chat, and the time seemed to fly by. That’s how great Liaa is, the time flew by while I was getting ink drilled into my flesh. Come here for your tattoo, ask for Liaa, and you will not be dissapointed.

I’m so glad I found this place on Unilocal.I scheduled an appointment with Cyn what seems ages ago, but the wait was 100% worth it.
She took a picture of live cherry blossoms and turned it into one of the most beautiful tattoos I’ve seen. She did EXACTLY what I wanted with almost no help from me. During the initial consult, she asked all the right questions to make sure we were on the same page.
During the tattoo (which she did in one go, even though it took 4 hours), she was so nice and easy to talk to. It really made the pain easy to handle when we could talk about our crazy families.
The price was high, but for a good piece of art you have to pay. I don’t think it was overpriced by even a penny. I checked out some of the projects she was working on, and each one had its own charm and story. I really love tattoos that are not only aesthetically attractive but also have some great story behind them. This is definitely not a crap walk in tattoo parlor, you are going to get top tier treatment at BritishInk.
I would recommend Cynthia in a heartbeat, and I’m already thinking about other tattoos I can get!

Thanks to Unilocal,I found the perfect artist (Cynthia) in the DC area to get my tattoo done. It took one, two… third’s a charm! We kept having to postpone on each other, and let me tell you… her schedule is BOOKED for the rest of this year… She’s one busy gal!
My first consult… I had an idea of what I wanted… although I wanted to add some intricate pattern to my one design. I emailed a few different ideas, still not really knowing what pattern I wanted. The second time I came in, she had a sketch of all the things I wanted in this tattoo and it came out absolutely perfect. I even had 3 days to «change» my mind… but when I got there, my mind was pretty much made up. It was perfect the way it was.
And so she inked on!!! Based on the high ratings here, you know that Cynthia is already a wonderful, experienced and highly talented artist. In addition, she’s light-​heart and humorous… it was such a pleasure (and ironically, yet literally stingy) to watch two hours go by like that.
The final product: the tattoo was bigger than I had anticipated. The tattoo starts 6 inches above my left knee… then it starts to wrap around … and it stops on the side, right below my ass cheek. in the middle is my scorpio sign… then on each side has a marigold flower, my birth flower, followed by weaves of ribbon. Only two words to describe it… pretty feminine and HOT.
I am due back for a visit so she can do a check up and take pictures… Yes, free touch ups within 6 months. This type of catering is indeed excellent service in my book. The work speaks in quality itself.
What are you waiting for? If you have to flinch, you better think twice…