Get Inked on Barracks Row

Photo by Kyra Deblaker-Gebhard

Have you recently enlisted in the armed services? Did you break up with your boyfriend whom you promised to love for all of eternity, but you can’t get rid of the tattoo of his name on your arm? Then DC Ink (409 8th Street, SE) is just the place for you. DC Ink’s staff of talented tattoo artists and apprentices offers clients a professional and affordable tattoo experience right here on Capitol Hill.

DC Ink’s owner, Chris Bradley, opened his first parlor in Maryland four years ago, but he knew that he would need to move the tattoo parlor to the District if he wanted to attract the right talent. “The first parlor was small, and I wanted to offer more upscale, custom tattoos, so I opened DC Ink on U Street (1350 U Street, NW).”

However, Bradley knew that the U Street location wasn’t enough. “I always planned on opening a second parlor. I was just waiting for the right time and the right location,” said Bradley, whose tattoo parlor expanded to include a second location on 8th Street, SE in February.

The top tattoo artists at DC Ink, U Street, were happy to follow. Read more about the artists at DC Ink after the jump.

Tattoo artist Anya, who hails from Russia, wanted to support Bradley, so she made the move from U Street to 8th Street. “We are a family at DC Ink. I respect Chris, and he respects us as artists.”

“We want to earn the respect of the tattoo community and our clients as well,” says Bradley. “We counsel our customers toward a look that is right for them.”

For Anya, the experience is also about connecting with clients. “If we aren’t connecting with a client, we will refer them to another tattoo artist, so that the client has the best experience and walks away with a tattoo they love.” The added bonus: a happy client is a repeat client. “When we do good work, people come back, and they tell their friends about us.”

While Bradley and others believe strongly in fostering good relationships with clients, he also believes that he doesn’t have to charge outrageous fees for quality work. “We don’t need to be the most expensive tattoo parlor in the city,” says Bradley, “it’s about making quality tattoos accessible to District residents.”

Because DC Ink is so close to the Marine Barracks and the Navy Yard, many of their clients are in the service. To honor those who serve our country and the community, DC Ink is offering a discount to all service men and women, as well as DC police officers and firefighters.

What better time than now to get a tattoo?* According to the staff at DC Ink, tattoos heal better in the winter months. “And because we see fewer clients in the fall and winter,” Says Bradley, “we have more openings and can spend more time with clients designing and executing a tattoo.”

*When you visit DC Ink, remember that The Hill is Home recommends you avoid professing your undying love for the gal you met last month, or even the Redskins, for that matter.