Mad Ethel’s Tattoo

Mad Ethel’s is awesome! Went in for my first big piece on my leg, and i absolutely LOVED the experience. Candice is super talented and i felt zero worry that it was going to come out looking anything less than fantastic! :)

My first tattoo so I cant say I have a lot to compare it to, but my daughter who accompanied me certainly did. I had Ember, part of the husband/​wife team that owns the place. Everyone is so friendly, the place is busy but so professional. They close at 9 on Saturday because everyone has families. Thank god I didn’t find out what an awesome experience this would be or I’d be covered head to toe

Brent got his first tattoo today by Chris. Chris is truly a talented artist and Brent felt extremely comfortable from start to finish. The shop is clean and inviting, the people who work there are talented and friendly, and I’m so jealous of Brent’s awesome tattoo that I’m ready to get my second! I highly recommend Mad Ethel’s and Chris. Not only is he a talented artist, he is a nice, funny person as well. Best place to go in Raleigh. Don’t waste your time or money going anywhere else. You may have to wait a while to get in because the artists are booked far in advance, but a tattoo is forever and it’s worth the wait to get a piece of art like Brent got today! Thanks to Chris and everyone — we will be back!

For the past 2 years since I’ve been back in NC, I hadn’t been able to find a shop. I’ve put off some work because the quality was crap or the shop/​people were complete d-​cks. This is my new place. All the people here were mellow and happy. The outside and inside is adorable! I mean bronze waterfall trough faucets everywhere?! It’s effing amazing. It’s an all-​custom place and I like that as well. They take cards and give you goody bags when you leave! Ember was fantastic and she’s just happy and go with the flow. It’s just nice not to walk into a shop and be bombarded by jerks. I recommend this shop highly and my best friend and I absolutely love our work. The money is priced right for the quality, location, and people you get to work with. Absolutely in love.

This has to be the best place on the east coast to get tattoo work done! Just started my first session toward a half sleve. Chris did an awesome cover up job to start the sleeve. Loves what he does and takes it serious. You cant just walk in and get a tattoo. I actually had to schedule an appointment and wait my turn. THESE GUYS ARE LEGIT! I would wait 6 months for chris before I go somewhere else. Best tattoo parlor in Raleigh and NC! Cant wait for my next session, too bad $ doesnt grow on trees…

I went in last Friday to get a piece done by Marco. I LOVE this shop and the people in it. Everyone was super nice, welcoming, and all of their work is incredible.
I was a bit nervous about getting another tattoo after having a TERRIBLE experience at another local shop about 10 years ago. Marco put together exactly what i was looking for, took the time to place it in a spot that really fit and worked well with my arm, and we were off. The detail is ridiculous! You can tell that they genuinely care about their art and their clients. I will be going back for many, many more with Marco!
MAD ETHEL’S is THE BEST!!!

I was at Mad Ethel’s about three weeks ago and had a piece done by Chris Peck. The shop is impeccable and clean and the staff is very professional and intelligent. The entire shop has a great vibe. As for the actual tattoo itself, there is no way I could be any more HAPPY with the finished product. First off it was initially a year wait but he was able to work me in just 4 days later. When I came into the shop I knew exactly what I wanted in my head but had no pictures. I met with Chris and after about 30 minutes of brainstorming and looking up images online we were able to find ones that worked. That’s all it took, Chris looked at the pictures and started tattooing which made me a little nervous at first but he is the professional. He did an AMAZING job better than I could have ever IMAGINED! (seriously it looks better than I ever thought it could). Last but not least, he was more than fair on the price, he calculated in breaks and didn’t charge me for any of the prep time. (even though the price should not be a deciding factor for when you want a permanent piece of art on your body). This is a LONG review to say this was the BEST tattoo experience I have ever had and will be going back to Chris/​Mad Ethel’s for all my future tattoos. I have no reason to believe each artist here does just as good a job as Chris. Thanks Mad Ethels for the great experience.

Super late review. I went to Mad Ethel’s last year for a piece by visiting Artist Marco Sullivan. The shop is really clean and bright and the staff are super welcoming. I had the pleasure of watching Candice do a really awesome bear piece on someone while I was getting work done. They even sent me a sweet Thank you card afterwards which I have never gotten anywhere. I tend to frequent a lot of tattoo/​piercing places in raleigh (mainly for jewelry but most are combined two in one) and I have to say the friendliness and seriousness of the artists at Mad
Ethel’s really shines through.

Went on a random trip with my husband and roommates too Raleigh and we decided to get our tattoos done there because my roommates husband said it would be better. So we Unilocaled a couple of places and we went to mad ethels first. When they told us they charged by the hour we said okay we waited about three hours because we didnt make an appointment with them but the receptionist made room for us since we were getting small tattoos, (roman numerals for my roommates and one petal+lettering for my lotus flower done by someone else) My roommates got Steve and they were both charged 60 &40 same thing just different sizes. I got Anton and I was looking through his porfolio and I liked what I saw nice crisp lines. As soon as I laid down it went a little down hill. During our time he took 6 bathroom/​smoking breaks 5 – 10 minutes each. Which was included in the session. So I was basically paying him too go to the bathroom and smoke. It was a two hour session and I was charged 180. The reason I’m writing now is that it’s been less than two months and one of my words is already fading. Just one! The shop is nice and people are cool but it was really expensive for what I can got. Mind you I wasnt told how long it would take, only that it would be slightly more than an hour. Even though Anton did a phenomenal job it was too pricey and it’s already fading and I take excellent care of my ink. I have four tattoos in total and none of them, except that word, has faded.

I got a tattoo on my foot from Anton about 5 days ago. It was my first and I was terrified. Victoria and Anton were wonderful! Anton kept me distracted with great conversation while he worked. Victoria convinced me to go for it in the 1^st place. The best part was, it barely hurt. I am all ready considering another and will never go to anyone else. The shop is clean and trendy. All the staff we encountered were friendly and knowledgeable. I would offer constructive criticism if I had any, but I couldn’t have imagined a better experience.

I’m a little slow in posting but Steve is the best artist on the planet! I gave him a photo of Raleigh and he drew it perfectly just like an architect… And the detail and shading, impeccable. I get asked at least once a day about it and send everyone to Steve. I’ll never be able to choose another tattoo shop. Super clean and everyone is very friendly. :)

Well, I finally have my first Tattoo. I have to say that this experience was awesome. The staff was very friendly, the establishment was very clean, and I was not uncomfortable at all. Chris created my tatoo from a vision that I described and he listened so carefully and made the art come alive on my skin. Chris was very patient and personable and really seemed to love his job. Thank you, Chris! Steve and Ember were fabulous as well! I strongly recommend Mad Ethel’s for your tattoo desires:)

A tattoo is not just some random picture on your body, it’s a great work of art done by an artist. When you get a tattoo, you want it perfect, because it’s forever, & if your like me it has to be flawless. I was referred by my girlfriend, who’s had 2 pieces done by Candice. She made me an appointment with Candice, and couldn’t be more happier with the finished work of art. My girlfriend and I got matching skulls on our elbows, but Candice didn’t make them identical, she made them more customized to us. I gave 5 stars, because your not just treated like anyone, but your treated like family from the time you walk in. Everyone there is so personable, and coming from a hospitality background that’s a MUST. I definitely recommend if your looking to get a tattoo, go to Mad Ethels, Candice loves to create your idea’s and has an eye for it!

A friend and I had matching tattoos done by Anton and he was great!
The staff at this shop are all incredibly friendly, which is quite rare in the tattoo world, so it was a refreshing change of pace.
The shop is very clean, great location (though parking is a bit tricky-​ask a staff member for recommendations), and the vibe is very cool.
I’d recommend this shop to anyone!
Oh, I almost forgot to mention that Anton uses a clear bandage for the healing process and it’s almost magical! No constant washing and moisturizing, no itching and no scabbing! You simply leave the bandage on for 7 days after your tattoo and that’s it! It sure makes the healing process sooooo much more tolerable!
Friendly and VERY talented staff, great prices, cool vibe. I’ll be back!

I just had the outline of my piece done by Candice. I am so in love with it. Candice drew the whole thing and it is absolutely beautiful. I can’t say enough nice things about the shop in general. The atmosphere of the shop itself is very comforting and inviting and not intimidating or creepy at all. I love that they showcase the artists original art as well as their tattoo work. Candice was wonderful. I go back in a few weeks for color.

I’m picky when it comes to my tattoos. I spend months designing what I want.
When I came to Steve, I had twenty four photos to show him. I had photos that inspired me, and I had pictures of my body that I had sketched on.
We’ve been working on a full sleeve, shoulder, half back piece since March.
Its incredible. I told him the day we started: I want this to be good enough to showcase in a tattoo magazine. He took me at my word, and its everything I wanted.
You want this guy doing your next tattoo.

Steve is an amazing artist. We got so lucky with an opening that day. We had come across Mad Ethel’s here on Unilocal and went on a whim. We are glad we went with our gut! His wife is great as well offering us coffee during our wait.

I found Mad Ethel’s when a friend recommended Steve to me, because he did a great job on her custom tattoo a while back. It turned out that his schedule was full, but Anton had some availability. I went for a consultation with him that night to discuss my design ideas, what would work, and what wouldn’t. The shop is clean, lovely, and comfortable, and everyone I met was friendly.
My favorite thing about Anton is his honesty. He is certainly an expert at what he does, and is not shy with his opinions. Knowing little about tattoos myself, I definitely needed some guidance as far as what would look best. The tattoo I ended up with is different than my original (vague) vision, but so much better.
Since this was my first tattoo and it’s supposedly in a fairly sensitive area, I was a little nervous when I came back a few days later for my appointment. As soon as Anton and I started finalizing the design details, my nervousness was replaced with excitement. He kept tweaking it until it was just right, so that by the time I got into the chair, I knew it would be great. It also helped that he has a fun, outgoing personality.
Though I have no previous experience, I think the actual tattooing process was as pleasant as getting a tattoo can be. Anton was professional as far as sterilization precautions and whatnot, but kept the mood light by chatting and cracking jokes with me. He was really meticulous and took his time, even though it was way past closing. I could tell he was taking care to make it as comfortable as possible for me.
I would trust any of the artists at Mad Ethel’s with my next tattoo, and of course I highly recommend Anton. I am SO thrilled with my new tat!

If you want just any tattoo, just go anywhere.
But if you want a work of art, go to Mad Ethel’s.
Each of the artists have their own style, and they’re all great. My wife has had work by Steve; I’ve had work by Candice. We haven’t gotten work done by Errol yet. But I’m going to put emphasis on ‘yet’. I’ve seen what he can do, and I want one.

Steve Wetherington, artist, and owner of Mad Ethel’s Tattoo, is currently working on my Japanese themed sleeve. I’ve researched artists in this area for over a year. I’ve looked through well over 100 portfolios and visited dozens of tattoo shops around the state, from the mountains to the coast. I’ve also traveled to Miami, New York, and California looking for an artist that could pull off the design that I’ve been working on for a couple years now.
After taking a look at Steve’s portfolio and speaking to him on a couple occasions, I knew he was the guy that I could trust to work on my sleeve. He runs a professional shop and could easily charge double for the high quality work that he does.
Steve is passionate about his work, knowledgeable regarding the art of tattooing, and as far as I’m concerned he does some of the best portraits and Japanese style tattoos I’ve ever seen.
The artists that he works with are friendly, knowledgeable, and patient with those seeking tattoos for the first time, as well as those interested in adding to their collection.
In my opinion, Mad Ethel’s is the place to go if you want high quality work done in a friendly and professional atmosphere.
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