Tag: Tattoo Process

Three Years Running: Hawaii Custom Tattooing Studio of the Year

“No words.” ~ Tattoo Adam on his feelings about winning the award for the third time.

The Midweek Islander came out today and announced some great news!

Our Oahu Tattoo studio, 434 Tattoo, has been selected by the Consumer Business Review as The 2012 Custom Tattooing Studio of the Year for the third year in the row! 

The Islander notes that:

“Adam’s Custom Tattooing has a reputation for being the finest in design as well as realistic in initial cost.”

All of our team at our Waikiki Tattoo shop works hard to give our customers the best custom tattoo experience and works with customers to give them the most for their money.  We are grateful for this award and could not do it without all of our first time, repeat customers, family, and friends who come through our doors seven days a week, pretty much every day of the year!

So come on down because: The Champ is Here!

Adam Siehr, President and Proud Owner
434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

Directions:
434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

Contact:
mailto: adamsiehr@gmail.com
1-808-391-8287

Hawaii Tattoo: The State of the Economy and Service

Now’s a great time to get in there for your brand new custom tattoo!  Our talented teams of tattooists are happy to help you stimulate the economy and will give you the best tattoo service out there. 

Service is important in the world in general and customer service essential in business.  Having modified our bodies and in turn altered our experience in the world, we enjoy treating people with respect because we know what it’s like to walk into an establishment and feel like a book being judged by its cover.  When you have a visible tattoo, many people interact with you differently.  It’s probably a residual from previous eras, pirates, the military, and who knows. That’s not to say things aren’t changing…

In places like LA, there are over 150 tattoo parlors within a ten mile radius.  That’s like 15 LA Tattoo shops per mile!  Shows like Inked and featuring celebrity tattoo artists like Kat Von D have really helped to expose the world to tattoo culture and embrace the love of ink.

So what do you say?  Sound like it’s time to get that custom tattoo you’ve been waiting for? Yeah, we thought so too!

434 Tattoo, our award-winning Oahu tattoo Studio located in the Heart of Waikiki, Oahu, is open 10a – 10p rain or shine.  Note: If there was snow, we’d be open then too.

Adam Siehr, President and Proud Owner
434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

Directions:
434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

Contact:
mailto: adamsiehr@gmail.com
1-808-391-8287

How to Tattoo Video Series: Consultations and Stencils

Greetings Tattoolings from 434 Tattoo, your number one destination for a Custom Tattoo or Polynesian Tattoo in Hawaii.  Our Waikiki Tattoo Shop is conveniently located in the heart of Honolulu between Oahu’s famed Waikiki Beach and Ala Moana Shopping Center and Beach Park.

In this segment of our How to Tattoo Videos, we watch as Tattoo Adam explains a key part that goes into the consultation (all of which are free at our Waikiki Tattoo Studio) and shows us how he comes up with the artwork for the Tattoo Stencil.

Stay tuned to see what the finished product(s) look like and if Tattooist Andy Burley has any other words of wisdom.  And if you can’t wait, come on down!  We aren’t Tattoolicious.  Nor are we 808 Tattoo.  They might be all good and well but we are 434 Tattoo, the People’s Choice!

Adam Siehr, President and Proud Owner
434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

Directions:
434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

Contact:
mailto:adam@tattooadam.com
1-808-391-8287

 

Boxing’s Manny Pacquiao Opens Tattoo Shop

In the Philippines, tattoos are not so kosher.  Tattoo Adam experienced the side-eyed glances first hand as he made his way through the cities, the villages, the jungles during his trip earlier this year.

But the sentiment towards tattoos could be changing if multiple time Boxing Champion, entertainer, and local politician, Manny Pacquiao, has a say in the matter.  Pacquiao, who owns many other business ventures in addition to his 8 world titles, is a vocal tattoo advocate, and his new tattoo shop is tapped as Champion Ink in LA.

While people across the world still have differing (if not outdated) views on tattoos, this could be a positive step towards more acceptance of visible tattoos.  One customer recently shared his experience of being disqualified from an interview after being asked if he had any tattoos and was told that he would not be considered for a position (regardless of qualifications) because of it.

“At least you’re not in the mainland…” Andy Burley, a tattooist in our Hawaii Tattoo Parlor, chimed in.  “Consider yourself lucky, you should see some of the looks I get there.”

It’s a good thing we have guys out there like Manny fighting not only in the ring, but for the people.  Thanks Manny, we may not have gotten the chance to vote for you, but judging by the recent poll in the Honolulu Star Advertiser , with 7 of 10 people in Hawaii are unhappy with Governor Neil Abercrombie’s performance, maybe it’s time someone who shares your views makes a run for office here in the islands.

Tattoo Adam in 2012?  Wouldn’t you like to know what we have in store.  Muahaha!!!

We are 434 Tattoo.
And we are here for you (the people, People’s Champ two years running).

Adam Siehr, President and Proud Owner
434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

Directions:
434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

Contact:
mailto:adam@tattooadam.com
1-808-391-8287

 

Another 434 Tattoo Video Production

We brought you some tattoo freehand and tattoo stencil videos before, now we get into the placement of the stencil.  This video will give you an idea of how sometimes we have to try different things and adapt, particularly if there is an existing piece we are working around/with.  Oftentimes, the customer may have an idea that they really want to keep in place but for flow and placement reasons, it may or may not work.  So we have to adapt and flow with it, which Tattoo Adam is able to do with ease because of his two plus decades of custom tattooing experience and expertise.

Check us out at 434 Ena Road, we are 434 Tattoo, your friendly neighborhood Waikiki Tattoo Shop, open 7 days a week from 10a-10p.

Adam Siehr, President and Proud Owner
434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

Directions:
434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

Contact:
mailto:adam@tattooadam.com
1-808-391-8287

Tattoos Take Time

434 Tattoo in Honolulu, Hawaii, specializes in Custom Tattoos and we wanted to re-visit what goes into a custom tattoo.  Oftentimes, it’s hard to visualize for the customer how long a tattoo will take so check this out for a start and of course stop in to learn more!

Most of the time, a custom tattoo can not be done in one session.  A one point (as the Japanese call it ), or a small tattoo, almost every design on the wall to choose from can be done in a single sitting.  A larger custom design, requires a few sessions of quality time with your artist.

When deciding to choose your artist before asking him or her to have you design something for them, here are a few words of advice…

First make sure the shop you walk in to is clean and friendly.  Then after getting comfortable, ask to see some portfolios.  After finding the style of art that catches your eye (and you would like to have),  ask which artist designed, and if he or she is there now.  Introduce yourself and tell tattooist your ideas, ask if a consultation is needed, and from there the process can move forward in designing the piece.

After that, wait for the call, then come in to  check out the art. It is recommended you always make an appointment and not walk in and expect to get your Custom Design on the spot because that hardly ever happens anywhere depending on how busy they shop is and if the artist has other appointments.   It is a good rule of thumb call ahead and schedule appointments so every thing runs smoothly.

From there you should be ready to get the stencil place and move forward from there!  So come on down to our Waikiki Tattoo Parlor today and let’s move towards making your tattoo dreams become a reality!

Adam Siehr, President and Proud Owner
434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

Directions:
434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

Contact:
mailto:adam@tattooadam.com
1-808-391-8287

From Pencil to Ink

In our last blog, we discussed the stencil in the tattoo process.  Here’s an example of what a stencil looks like that is a part of larger piece that is in development:

The stencil is a just a guide because the custom tattoo artist has a vision as to what the finished product will look like:

While there are obvious similarities between the two, the tattooist envisions and places where the shading will be, how to do the outline. In this case, Tattoo Adam went with an extra thick outline on the outside so that the frame would really pop out.   Also it’s hard to tell what the thing next to the diamond is in the stencil, whereas with the shading (and its placement to the other tattoos in the larger piece), one can see that it is a claw.

Tattooing, like any system in life, has many intricate parts, that when it comes together as one, creates a masterpiece. Stop by our Waikiki Tattoo Parlor today, tell us you found us online, and get a free consultation and online discount.

Adam Siehr, President and Proud Owner
434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

Directions:
434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

Contact:
mailto:adam@tattooadam.com
1-808-391-8287

The Stencil

The idea is the first step in heading in the right direction of your custom tattoo.  If you can decide on an idea, share it with your tattooist.

After the idea is determined, then the next thing is for the artist to draw up the design.  The design, depending on detail, size and complexity, can be drawn in a few minutes, or will be sketched out in between the time you schedule your appointment after the free consultation.

When you come in for the appointment, we will go over what we put together with you.  If there are any modifications that need to be made, just give us a few minutes to rework the idea and you’re good to go.  If it’s good to go, then let’s boogie!

From there we get the stencil ready and place it on you.  Of note, relax when the tattoo is being put on you.  One customer had this to share about his first tattoo experience before coming to us:

“I had to take my shirt off to get the tattoo on my ribcage and there were some hot chicks in there so I was flexing my abs.  But I didn’t realize that would change how it laid out on my body…” 

No worries, if you aren’t satisfied with the placement of the stencil, we can wash it off and reset it.   It’s important that you be happy with what’s going forward because you are the one who has to wear the custom tattoo piece for the rest of your life. And while we also specialize in tattoo cover-ups, who really wants to do that?

Looking forward to creating art with you!

Adam Siehr, President and Proud Owner
434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

Directions:
434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

Contact:
mailto:adam@tattooadam.com
1-808-391-8287

Add Some Custom Color Tattoos (To Your Life)

What’s life without a little color?

While a tattoo can be beautiful with or without color, why not consider adding some color to your next custom tattoo to give it that extra pop?

You have a broad array of design options to choose from the tattoo flash on the walls, our tattooists’ portfolios in our Waikiki Tattoo Studio, to just bringing in your idea and having a discussion during your free consultations.

Our specialties range from traditional Americano, Hawaiian Custom Tattooing, Asian Tattoos, our own custom styles, and more!  434 Tattoo is open everyday from 10a-10p so give us a call, stop on by, and let’s get you set up to add a tattoo, more color and/or/all of the above flash in your life!

 

Adam Siehr, President and Proud Owner
434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

Directions:
434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

Contact:
mailto:adam@tattooadam.com
1-808-391-8287