and they both leave with fresh ink.
DYK tattooing was once illegal in South Carolina? It was outlawed in the 1960s after a hepatitis B outbreak was traced back to a tattoo parlor in New York. It wasn’t until 2004 (just 14 years ago!) that South Carolina became the second-to-last state (ahead of Oklahoma) to lift the ban. Two more years would pass before a woman in Myrtle Beach would become the recipient of the state’s first legal tattoo.
Since then, more than a dozen legal tattoo parlors have opened up shop in Charleston. We asked our readers to share their personal tattoo stories– where they went, which local tattoo artists they recommend + the significance of their ink.
Here are their recommendations:
📍Blu Gorilla | 1409 King St.
The artist: I don’t remember the artist’s name, but he was very good, fast, + virtually painless.
The story: “I got my third tattoo to celebrate turning 64. Because I’m still such a Beatles fan, I got a treble clef sign with the number 64 inside it– in honor of the song, ‘When I’m 64.’” –Sheila Russell
The artist: Brad Grimes
The story:
“The sailboat tattoo was a memorial piece for my dad because when we were little we’d ask him what we’d do if we got older and had a question or needed help– he always said that we could find him on a sailboat one day. I’ve pictured him on a sailboat ever since he passed away. Brad blew me away with how he incorporated all of my ideas. The writing is actually my dad’s handwriting from a card!
“My second tattoo was the half sleeve. We planned it during the sailboat session– it was more about the placement + actual act of getting the tattoo than the content.” –Kylie Subjinske
The artist: Brad Grimes
The story:
“Almost two years ago, we found out my sweet Granny had cancer. It was completely out of the blue + it shocked all of us, but the doctors said that with treatment she could live another two years. Unfortunately, the treatment wasn’t working + just a few weeks after they stopped treatment, she passed away.
“I saw her two days before she passed away + I told her I loved her. She told me ‘I love you, too.’ And that was the last thing my Granny ever said to me before she passed away.
“I’m so thankful for those words + I knew I wanted them with me forever, so I got them tattooed in a love letter on my arm. This tattoo is so special to me.” –Grace Hartley
📍The Gilded Mermaid | 4213 B. Savannah Hwy., Ravenel
The artist: Dave Riley
The story:
“I got my chest tattoo to cover up a tattoo I got for my ex-wife. People always say don’t get get a tattoo for a wife or a girlfriend and they aren’t kidding. It took me close to 10 hours of pain to cover it up. Haha– lesson learned.” –Will Fuchs
📍 Pepper Shade Tattoo | 1436 N. Meeting St.
The artist: Jeff
The story:
“These glyphs symbolize ‘challenge, learn, transcend’. This was my first tattoo. I got it to represent my journey through pharmacy school.
“Pharmacy school has been a struggle– I’ve been told that I would never be a pharmacist. This is just a little reminder that I’ve proved them wrong + to keep growing.” –Lauren Adamski
📍 Roses & Ruins Tattoo | 10150 Dorchester Rd., Summerville
The artist: Ashley Henson
The story:
“I got my pilot’s license about a year ago. The tattoo is of the plane I trained in + the sectional chart of the airport (KLUG) where my training took place. (A sectional chart is the map a pilot uses to navigate.)
“My other tattoo is an ‘S’ on my ring finger that stands for for Seavers. My wife + I have the same tattoo.” –Andy Seavers
📍 Broken Lantern Tattoo | 1931 Belgrave Ave., West Ashley
The artist: Nick Rose
The story:
“My sister and I both got XVI (16 in Roman numerals) tattooed on our side ribcage. Hers is on her right side and mine is on my left, so when we stand back-to-back they both face out.
“We were both born on the 16th (myself in September and my sister in January) + our parents joke that they chose the same date so it’d be easier for them to remember our birthdays. 😉"–Britt Foster
📍 Iron Lotus Tattoo Studios | 1921 Savannah Hwy., West Ashley
The story:
“The message ‘you are strong, you are beautiful’ started out as something my sister would write at the bottom of all her letters to me while I was at boot camp. As time went on, it became a motivational quote we would send each other during hard times– whether it was boot camp, moving, getting or losing a job, LOTS OF BREAKUPS, and just tough times in general.
I got it in her original handwriting + she plans to get one in mine. It serves as a constant reminder for me that even though my family is far away, they are my constant inspiration to stay strong, beautiful, and true to myself when I endure any kind of hardship.
“I got the pineapple tattoo with two of my best friends, as a way of saying ‘I don’t know where I’m going, but I know where I’ve been.’ I know I won’t be here forever, but my time here with these people will never be forgotten.” –Lauren Buseman
Honorable mentions
Downtown
📍 Roses & Ruins Tattoo | 1169 Meeting St.
West Ashley
📍 Holy City Tattooing Collective | 1916 Savannah Hwy.
📍Upper Hand Tattoo | 1869 B. Sam Rittenberg Blvd.
Summerville
📍 Mystic Tiki Tattoo Studio & Gallery | 1204 N. Main St., Ste. E
📍 Motor City Ink | 2072 N. Main St.
James Island
📍 Charleston Tattoo Company | 792 Folly Rd.
North Charleston
📍 Breakthrough Tattoo | 3025 Ashley Phosphate Rd., B-1
I’m the only member of the CHStoday team without a tattoo– so perhaps it is time to take the plunge and get inked up.
What kind of tattoo do you think I should get first– Drake’s face on my own? A bottlenose dolphin on my lower back? Send your ideas my way + we’ll do an Instagram livestream when I go get it done.
Just kidding. I repeat: Mom, I am JUST KIDDING.
—Jen, Multimedia Producer
Note: submissions were edited for clarity