Deluxe Tattoo

i’m old school in pretty much everything i do and i don’t abide pretentiousness or hipster bull shit. since i’ve not been in a tattoo shop in more than 20 years i was concerned i’d be faced with exactly that. for me it was essential that i have an artist who was committed and had his own thing but who also understood that the old flash deserves as much respect and attention as any new designs do. my artist was ben wahhh. he filled the bill.
my sailor jerry pin up girl was getting a little worse for wear and tear as she was done some decades back. ben suggested we refresh her as she would be right next to the new piece and we didn’t want her looking tired by comparison. as i was batting around a few ideas for the new one he patiently helped me settle on a just the right classic. he took plenty of time helping me decide on placement and size. it seemed just as important to him as to me… good guy.
the shop is big and clean and full of action and good vibes. the staff seemed to like each other and it was a very pleasurable couple of hours.
i love my new tat and my refreshed pin up girl is better than new. way better.
thanks ben!

Been tattooed there a number of times — highly recommended. Outstanding artists, fun Shop and great management. I like the whole process and business.

This was my first time using Deluxe tattoo. I am very pleased with the work that i received from Jim Little. He is very talented. I have already made my second appt.

Jimmy Little Rocked my 2 new Tattoos. First of all I would not go anywhere else. The parlor is very clean, and the staff so nice and easy going. I felt very comfortable there and informed as it was my first time. There is talent oozing out from the walls in this place, so you are lucky to get any of these artists. Jimmy Little was my artist, so patient, supportive and made sure I was 100% satisfied. He drew my tattoos (Phoenix rising, script) so flawlessly there were no changes at all! He and I were on the same page. His free hand script is what blew me away… feminine, strong, and unique. He listened to my vision and delivered. Mu husband is excited to now get his!

I had two of my tattoos done by Jim Little during Thanksgiving time. He is a talented artist and would actually listen to what tattoo you want then draw them up and give you different versions of it for you to pick. He is very patient and unlike other artists I’ve encountered, he is trustworthy and won’t intimidate you if you are as timid as me. My friends think these two are the best tattoos I have (although I only have 3). Also the front desk’s service is very nice and welcoming, and if you are a walk-​in like me, the wait is not long at all, besides, it’s totally worth it. I’m definitely going back there.

Went in on Sunday, ¹²⁄₂₀. Had an appointment with Dustin to add a few things to a previous tattoo I already have. Shop was super clean, staff were very nice and attentive, and Dustin is a great artist who knows his way around a tattoo machine. I have zero complaints about this place. I will go back again. Keep in mind they have a minimum of $ 100 dollars so make sure you are getting your moneys worth. If you’re only looking for a small outline of your hamster you may want to go somewhere else. If you want that hamster to look like a badass and take up half your arm this is your place.

Like others, I had a fantastic experience at Deluxe. I’d been thinking about getting this tattoo for a couple of years. When I decided to pull the trigger I did research and chose Stephanie based on the praise for her script work. Since this was going to be my first tattoo, I didn’t even care what Stephanie was like as a person– just that she delivered on my vision. Turns out, she’s friendly, down-​to-​earth AND a great artist. I emailed back-​and-​forth with her for quite some time and finally chose a date. She was courtious the entire time and super responsive. She even emailed me when she had a cancellation so I could come in early. When the date came I was pretty nervous, even thought about turning around and going home. But once I walked into Deluxe I knew I’d chosen the right place. The studio itself is large, open and has a lot of natural light. In not so many words, it’s comfortable. There were quite a few customers already waiting at noon (always a good sign) but even so, I was greeted immediately and never left waiting.
My tattoo itself is small and only took about 5 – 10 minutes to complete. Stephanie took nearly an hour with me though to get the font, placement and overall aesthetic correct. She worked on it until the font was as I’d hoped, then let me bounce back-​and-​forth between the mirror, the bathroom and my friend. She never acted impatient; on the contrary, she encouraged me to take a multitude of looks at different angles. Once I was committed to placement she got to work. She made conversation almost the whole time and I was super comfortable with her. She even started tattooing for just a few seconds to show me how it would feel (just like a lot of little pinches, as others have said). I smiled ear to ear when I saw the finished product.
All said and done, I love what she designed, how she worked and how everyone else in the studio treated me. (Even those waiting for tattoos in the front of the shop were super friendly and offered little tips of advice).
I highly, HIGHLY recommend Stephanie and Deluxe, especially for first-​timers like me. [Tip: It may take some time to secure an appointment with her, so book ahead if you’re serious.]

I came here after the recommendation of some friends when my friend and I were planning to go get a tattoo. The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming right as we walked in. I had an idea of what I wanted and came in with a few designs that I wanted to pull bits and pieces from for a new, original piece. My artist drew up a design and we got going. The whole process was easy and I felt very comfortable the entire time. Everything was super clean and all my needs were accommodated. It’s been about a week and the tattoo is healing perfectly. Will definitely be back!

Got a tattoo here from Stephanie and had an awesome experience. The shop is clean and comfortable. Stephanie was easy going and accommodating from the day of the consultation. She worked with me very willingly on the design and the finished product looks absolutely gorgeous. I will absolutely be going back to her in the future.

I had to update my review and tell the Unilocal world that Deluxe Tattoo is stacked with talented artists. When I found out the previous artist I had worked with no longer worked here, I still booked an appointment knowing I’d still get good service.
Yes, best friend/​matching tattoos are cliched, but no I don’t care. My best friend of 10 years and I wanted cupcake tattoos in honor of my moving away. The day before our appointment I got a call that our artists’ wife had had a baby so we could either reschedule with him or get someone new.
Our new artist Zach stepped in and sketched an awesome looking tattoo. A few hours later we were done, full of pain, and looking awesome. Zach was great with his suggestions and took the time to explain placement from an artistic prospective. There’s a reason my boyfriend hangs the art in our house, folks… I’m not one to have the full artsy vision others do. That’s why Zach is awesome at what he does and I… am not a tattoo artist.
Even though I no longer live in Chicago, I’d still make the trip here to get anything new. Why fix what isn’t broken?

My brother and I went in to get tattoos today. Everyone was extremely helpful. Jim was our artist he was a great listener and a talented artist. He had us in and out in no time. We both are extremely happy with our tattoo I would recommend Deluxe and Jim to anyone!

OUTRAGEOUS! … In the best possible way. I can’t even wait to write this review because Troy Taylor was that awesome. I just walked in today to get a tattoo I’ve been wanting for a while. After just letting Troy know what kind of flower I wanted and an example of a tattoo I saw that I thought was cool he got to drawing. We went thru a couple of drafts before figuring the perfect size for my arm. He was really patient about it though and just wanted to make sure I loved it. That was really encouraging because I didn’t want to be annoying. Once we got the right one and he set up everything he asked me to make sure I liked the placement by checking it out in the mirror and directed me to the mirror. It was perfect, so he got to work. I was just amazed at how fast and efficiently he worked without losing any detail or quality. It seriously took him only 45 minutes from the moment he get got going. I am so impressed! Loved the place and experience, especially since I was a walk in and didn’t know what to expect. Good job Troy and Deluxe Tattoo!

Professionally run operation. I absolutely love my tattoo. Thanks Troy. I’ll be back.

Troy Taylor did a masterful job with my compass shoulder cap. I sent two rough renderings of my ideas through the form on the Deluxe website and within hours, Troy emailed me back personally and said he would be taking on my piece. They have a modern and organized approach to setting up an appointment so when I got there, Troy already had a piece drawn up for me and was very opening to changes or modifications. But he pretty much nailed it on the first try. He was very professional, appropriately quick, super easy to get along with. I will definitely be going back for more ink from him and recommending to anyone and everyone to give him and Deluxe a visit. There’s a reason they are so highly rated — they live up to the reviews! (Also incredibly fairly and appropriately priced.)

Just got my first tattoo done by Bunny!
I brought a rough idea of what I wanted and I said I want it more like this or like that, and Bunny did a sketch with which I was extremely happy and went with it! It’s nothing intricate — just four words and a lip imprint — but I LOVE it.
Bunny was very professional, made me feel comfortable (guess he saw the fear in my eyes…) and made sure I was OK through out the process.
As for the price, since this is my first one, I don’t have anything to compare to, but I thought $ 150 plus tip was a fair price for the experience, quality and service.
It helps that Bunny is a long haired, bearded eye candy!
Thank you and I’ll be back!!!

Dustin is the man! He has done an amazing job on my boyfriends sleeve and we couldn’t be more impressed. He’s extremely popular, so I suggest you get into him as soon as you can. The parlor itself is very clean and on close inspection, it looks as if everybody here does a good job. We have been in here at least 4 times and I have yet to find someone that is dissatisfied with their art. Also, please keep in mind that you are not allowed behind the counter unless you are being worked on. I personally like this rule as I could see it posing problems as far as proper sterilization and also it alleviates random people walking around, potentially messing up someone’s tat.

My current artist is Jason Longtin. He is the only artist who has worked on my ink at Deluxe Tattoo — and though I would trust almost every artist employed here given their excellent portfolios — I will continue to get my ink done by Mr. Longtin, for as long as I can.
His sketching is phenomenal and his outline and shadowing work is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. His attention to detail is eerily fascinating and his dedication to the job is outstanding. For my second inking, he took up on a cover-​up that (too) many shied away from — and has not only done amazing work, but surpassed all expectations as well.
Furthermore, he is always more than willing to listen to your ideas and concerns and will brainstorm with you until his design meets his standards and yours.
Thanks Deluxe for being my ink home in Chicago!
‘Til next time.
XoXo

I got my first tattoo done here a week ago. I did my research on tattoo shops in Chicago and from what I seen and heard, this is the place to go. I wasn’t disappointed. Everyone was professional and really attentive. The shop was well managed and very pristine. Stephanie White worked on my tattoo and did a awesome job on the line work and blending. As an artist myself, I could tell she had a great eye for detail and really treated the piece as a work of art.
This is the standard to which I will judge all other tattoo shops.

Out of all the tattoo shops in Chicago, this one came highly regarded and recommended by several people, among different groups of my friends.
Walking into the shop, you will find a clean and sanitary studio with artists abound. They are customer service oriented and ensure that their guests are taken care of from the original consult to after care.
My artist is Jason Vaughn. He has an amazing talent in art and tattooing and uses it well, creating exactly what you ask for using vibrant colors and careful precision. He is a very quick tattoo-​giver, so you won’t be spending extra money due to time.
Now…when I get a tattoo, I know that I’m going to have this piece of art on my person for the rest of my life, so I greatly appreciate when my artist says it’s time to stop. Additionally, I also understand that as much as I’d love to have my friends and family come back and sit there while needles are piercing my skin applying ink, well, besides being boring, it can be distracting to both me and the artist. In addition to being a health code thing, I appreciate the enforcement at the shop
This is not your «run-​of-​the-​mill» tattoo studio. This place is for the person that seriously understands what getting a tattoo means to them.
The music playlist can use a bit of a make-​over, however… but I tend to bring a pair of headphones and zone out to my own tunes…
So, if you’re looking for an amazing looking tattoo, you’ve found the right place — and Jason is your artist.

Before there were camera phones, before the iPad, before selfies, before hybrid cars, I won $ 200 on video poker slots (when they still paid out in change) and got my first tattoo. Admittedly, it was a tramp stamp. Admittedly, I did shots of tequila to give me liquid courage. At that time, I fell for the «tattoos are addicting» and got another set of tattoos next to the first tattoo when I was at a tattoo convention. I almost passed out in front of thousands of people.
Needless to say, I was hesitant to get another because I didn’t know what I wanted. Fast forward 13 years, and I was ready. I knew what I wanted, mostly on the where, and was recommended to Deluxe by a few people. I initially had considered a different artist, but Troy was available when I wanted to go. He was very patient with me while we worked out where it would go, how it was going to look, and what font I wanted to use, and was done within an hour. I am very happy with my new tattoo and will going back to Troy for my next one.
Why one less star? Because I contacted the other artist via email, and needless to say, the response was a rather curt «just call to set up a consultation.» I think it should be clearer on the website who needs consultations, what their hours are, etc. Just a thought.