So yeah, got obsessed with getting that iconic Deathly Hallows symbol inked. Looked damn cool, right? Saw it everywhere online, figured “how hard could this be?” and started calling shops like an idiot. Big mistake. Prices were all over the damn place.
My Tattoo Disaster Phase
Walked into this fancy shop downtown first. Guy behind the counter barely looked up, just grunted “two hundred, minimum.” My jaw dropped. For what? Three damn lines and a circle? Felt like robbery. Tried another place, got quoted one-fifty but heard the artist whispering about a “walk-in fee.” Seriously?
Got fed up, decided to actually do some real research. Dug deep into reviews, finally found this little shop tucked away. Pictures looked solid, prices weren’t listed though. Deep breath, dialed the number. Owner picked up himself, super chill. Explained I just wanted the simple Deathly Hallows, small, on my wrist. He actually chuckled.
“Alright,” he says, “since it’s straightforward and you seem like you know what you want… how’s eighty bucks sound? Saturday morning?” My brain froze. Eighty bucks? After hearing horror stories? Almost dropped the phone.
What Actually Worked For Me
- Skipped the Big Name Parlors: Walk-ins at fancy spots? Forget it. They see “Harry Potter” and tack on a fan tax. Found the hidden gem places by reading years worth of Google reviews, focusing on small, independent artists.
- Called With Specifics: No vague “how much for a tattoo?”. Said straight up: “Small Deathly Hallows symbol, simple black lines, about two inches wide on inner wrist.” Told them it was linework only, no shading, no fancy bits. Clear picture = accurate quote.
- Booked an Appointment OFF-Peak: Saturday mornings? Gold for artists. Less chaos, more focus. Grabbed that Saturday AM slot without hesitation.
- Showed Up Simple: Wore a loose sleeve shirt, showed exactly where I wanted it. No hemming and hawing. Artist sketched it quick, stenciled it, bam.
How It Actually Went Down
Day of, artist confirms placement, makes sure I’m not drunk or something. Cleans the spot, slaps on the stencil. Asked if it looked good. Gave the thumbs up. Needle buzzing started… felt like a bad cat scratch honestly, nothing crazy. Whole thing? Took less than 15 minutes. Seriously, it was that fast. He cleaned it, slapped on some ointment, wrapped it up. Paid my eighty bucks cash plus a decent tip (felt guilty it was so cheap!). Walked out feeling like I robbed him.
Saw the final bill elsewhere later: $80 + $20 tip. Felt damn good. Healing was a breeze too – kept it clean, moisturized, stayed out of the sun. Easy. Makes me laugh now thinking I almost paid two hundred plus tip and taxes somewhere else just for the “experience.” Nope. Skip the hype tax. Find that quiet, skilled dude working out of a clean little shop. Save your cash for a trip to the Wizarding World instead.
