454 Tattoo and Body Piercing

Gabe is the man, walked in, quick and personable. Made me extremely comfortable with my first tattoo! Wife got the matching one with Sean, just as happy.

I had a tattoo that was very poorly done and I came to 454 to get it fixed. Lauren was the artist that redid it and I was amazed at how well she straightened it out. It is a very intricate geometry design and she whizzed through it like a pro! I was stunned when I looked at it in the mirror! She exceeded my hopes and I could not be happier with the result! In addition to being a gifted artist, she has an amazing spirit as well. She is truly a beautiful person! Thank you very much Lauren for the excellent work and for being awesome!!!

I got two cartilage piercings on February 14. It is now June 9 and they are insanely swollen and bloody still. I’ve been cleaning them like crazy too. I went into 101 piercing which is the only place where I go for piercings for many reason, it is very clean and classy, Bradlee truly knows what he is doing and is clearly experienced. Anyways I waited for over 3 hours to get the piercings when I was 3^rd in line. Max decided to take the people before me because I wasn’t sure of what I wanted because I wanted to talk to max about options but he still chose to take the others first. My ears were finally pierced and looked super cute. I went into my regular piercing place 101 piercing and Bradlee says one of the piercings looks crooked. I had Bradlee take the piercing out because it was so swollen from being crooked. Blood dripping everywhere. I will definantly be contacting 454 and Max asking for a refund. It is not fair to me that Max decided to pierce my ear crookedly and not tell me or mention it and act like it was perfect. Will never return here for a piercing unless I want a messed up crooked one. DO NOT GO HERE AND DO NO LET MAX PIERCE YOU… He is very unexperienced and doesn’t know what he is doing. I could’ve pierced it better

Loved getting my first tattoo from Kory Kinder! My hubby has had many from him and they all look amazing!
It was on my ankle and it hurt but the amount of detail that has gone into this tattoo made it totally worth it! I love it!
I took breaks when needed and Kory even gave me an apple caramel lollipop to take my mind off the pain which totally helped! They redid the back rooms and it’s open and spacious. Going back in a few weeks for another one!

Went in yesterday to get a tattoo the size of a nickel (actually a nickel covers it up) and Lauren one of the staff members walked in so I asked her how much it would be and she quoted me at 80.00! When I said «oh» she said «why is that too much» with a condescending attitude she shrugged her shoulders as if she could care less. Needless to say I went some where else and got my tattoo for 60.00 and found my forever artist who was so gentle and sweet. My new place is black filigree in vista they actually have a staff that cares about you and is friendly, so go there! I will never recommend 454 to anyone. On that note I did go in there one other time in the past and had the same attitude I experienced yesterday. Never again. Also responding to your customers on your reviews for all to see instead of just private messaging is extremely unprofessional. Now I am more than glad I went somewhere else.

I am very disappointed with how the staff took advantage of me having my first tattoo. They were very hospitable to me during the whole process until I realized that they charged me for $ 160.00 for a tattoo that I would only find out a few days later would cost at the MOST $ 45.00. That being my first time, I did not know any better. They will definitely take advantage of you if it’s your first time which is very shameful and I highly recommend other customers not to go to this place. The guy who gave my tattoo had long hair, I sadly forgot the name. They also «only» accepted cash payments and did not give me a reciept for the procedure. This tattoo happened on the first week of December.

Omg they were so good and they did such a good job on my 2^nd peircing and my rib tattoo

This place is rad. The staff is super nice and really laid back and Sean did an awesome job on my tattoo. It was my first one and I couldn’t be happier. Would totally recommend this place

Well to start, tattoo shops are always a little intimidating. I’ve been to multiple tattoo shops and it’s generally the same. Its not a coffee shop, they aren’t going to hold your hand and encourage conversation. Their time is literally money, and I don’t think that’s something many people understand, but should.
My artist was Lauren, she was really sweet and she checked with me 100+ times to make sure it was perfect before she began.
She asked if I liked a certain kind of music and made me as comfortable as possible before she began, and it was probably as painless as it gets for tattoos!
She got a 100 dollar tip because she was good at her job, and I understand that her job isn’t exactly easy. This Unilocal isn’t so much to help her as it is to help future customers understand that when an artist suggest something or gives an opinion it isn’t sarcasm or poor customer service, they aren’t making fun of you or your ideas! However they are artists and they do this for a living, they’re offering a helpful opinion!

Its no real secret to me when small businesses aren’t successful… its not because of Big Corporations either.
I am an Sales Rep for small businesses and more often than not I buy where I help businesses. Today after a long week and plenty of disgusting small business owners treating me as I wasn’t worth a «hello» I wanted to finish at a business that might be more receptive of me while effectively looking for a new tattoo artist. Well this will not be the place where me or my military buddies go! The owner was awesome, but I didnt care for the guy with the terrible attitude. My advice is to treat people as customers when you are in business especially a competitive business. Not only did I have good intentions towards your business, but I also had every intention on putting money into your business. Again the owner was awesome and the place seems nice, but I wont invest my commissions into a place with employees that don’t appreciate the value of everyone coming through their doors.

I gave Gabe a picture of a bad tattoo and picture of a fish and he drew up a masterpiece in about a day. Got the outline down and paid deposit. I had second thoughts about finishing it and two years later called him back to get it colored, and he not only booked me around my schedule, he honored the deposit I made in 2013. This is one of the nicest tattoos I’ve ever seen and it’s on me. Extremely detailed in a reasonable amount of time and consistently checked how I was doing throughout the process. I would ten out of ten recommend this place to anyone considering getting inked!

Sean did an awesome job on my tattoo the other day. Super friendly staff and a really laid back environment.
Parking is a little limited but if you go around midday-​afternoon it’s usually fine.
I’ve gotten a few different tattoos here and all of them turned out awesome!

I got a double cartilage piercing and Kristina was my piercer. She was awesome! Explained everything thoroughly, walked me through the steps, and answered every question I had. Didn’t make me feel rushed! The piercing barely even hurt. Highly recommend requesting her for any piercings :) mine was $ 70 for each cartilage

So kind service I drove all the way from
Mira Mesa because this stores customer service over the phone was immaculate every other place I called had monotone short answers I felt unwelcomed already. It was worth the drive insane inside very clean and very catchy on the eye. The piercer was a gift super cute and kind and honestly the switch of my nose hoop has never been so painless before. Thank you for helping me!

Kristina has always been very helpful when it comes to my jewelry needs, she always greets me warmly and I’m happy to buy jewelry from her! I have not gotten a piercing from Kristina but I’ve heard that she does great piercings!

My friend and I drove all the way to Encinitas because she was thinking about getting a tattoo and I was thinking about getting a belly button piercing. We decided to go this place because it had good reviews! We walked in and the girl was super snooty to us and became even more rude when I said we were just «looking» for now. Just because I wasn’t ready to get a piercing the very second I walked in there she seemed to have judged me and as if I wasn’t worth her time. So my friend and I left and we went to 101 piercing where the front lady and piercer were super sweet and made the whole process of getting my belly button pierced quick and painless. If you have time to look around and want to get something pierced I would recommend 101 piercing way more, it is only about a 5 – 10 minute walk from this place!

Gabe was awesome! I walked in without an appointment and showed Gabe what I was looking for, telling him I wanted it a bit bigger, slightly different colors, etc… He listened to everything I wanted and asked if I minded if he drew it free-​hand on my torso. I got to see every step of the way (because I needed frequent breaks!) and, he took pics of the whole process for me. I’m going back in 2 weeks to have my mermaid scales added to 2 different, old tattoos for cover-​up! Thank you, Gabe!

This is the only place I will trust for any piercing needs! I’ve been here twice and both experiences were wonderful. My first piercing was on a whim, so I stopped in and spoke with Kristina. She was extremely helpful and knowledgeable, and immediately put me at ease. She explained the entire procedure step by step, and ensured that I was comfortable. We laughed and joked throughout the service and it was over before I knew it. She explained the entire healing process, and was very thorough in explaining how to properly clean my new (gorgeous) nipple piercing. Honestly I can say that it healed faster than any piercing I’ve had, and I haven’t had a day of trouble with it.
I returned to 454 last week on my birthday for a little treat to myself, and was greeted by Shelby. She was extremely welcoming, and helped me pick out the perfect piece of jewelry, as well as some recommendations for single pieces for existing piercings I have. I have high expectations from my previous visit, and Shelby was equally as professional and quick! I got a conch piercing with a beautiful rose gold and diamond piece from BVLA, and I could not be happier! Both ladies are excellent at what they do, and obviously take pride in their craft and it shows!

If it wasn’t for the good things I’ve heard, it would be 1 star. I was in North Park with my friend when I decided I wanted my nose pierced, she said I had to go to this place 30 minutes away while there was traffic because she always had good results there. I’ve heard Kristina is great but she wasn’t there, it was a new piercer, some girl. Now before I start my story let me just state that I would have been understanding and not been angry if she went about this the right way. But no, here’s what happened:
I came in all excited and I recently lost my license so I was still waiting on a new one to come in the mail, (just my luck, it was there when I got home), so I bring out my old permit which has a picture of my face, and my date of birth on it. In no situation have I ever had a problem showing this as proof that I’m over 18. Since I do very much understand it is technically not a form of ID, I brought out my student ID and a picture of my birth certificate all showing that I am of age. She told me she couldn’t take it which I would have understood completely if she showed even the SLIGHTEST bit of sympathy but she was very rude about the whole situation. She says «It’s not a big deal, why don’t you just come back when you have your license?» I said I would not drive all the way back there and she said «don’t you live in like, la jolla?» And then she laughs. And as she was working with my friend in the room, she proceeds to tell her about how she drives to work from North Park every day to come to work the entire time so she thinks essentially I shouldn’t complain. I don’t think she realizes that she comes to work to get paid, not to get sent back home when gas is pushing $ 5. There’s a million other places I could have gone to closer to me that wouldn’t have had a problem but I went out of my way to come here because it was recommended to me and I was not happy with the customer service at all. So I went to 101 piercing which is where Bradley works now, and he was confident with all my proof of age, and he’s amazing! Well worth the drive. Don’t waste your money at 454. I will not be returning EVER. Simply for the poor attitudes and poor customer service. The first impression is what their drives sales but they did not seem to care. Go somewhere where the people are deserving.

I love the friendly vibe at 454 and the staff really make an effort to make you feel comfortable in what usually can be a pretentious pit of scum waddlers.
Kory did a piece on my right bicep that we’d been talking about doing for a while now and g’damn am I happy with the outcome. Kory was able to schedule me on a whim and had me on the table within a couple hours after calling. It was great as he’s always loaded with appointments but he was still able to squeeze me in. He had my draft all sketched out and ready when I arrived and it was more than perfect. Fortunately, Kory had a cancellation so we decided to add more and I was more than stoked with what he had come up with. Kory’s dedication to his work has been inspiring since i’ve known him as an artist and to finally work with him was an honor. His confident yet humble approach made me feel comfortable, and he is probably the most underrated tattooist I have come across in a while. i will most certainly be back for many, many more!

Came in on a spur of the moment today to finally get a tattoo I’ve been thinking about for years. Everyone here was super chill and friendly. They were able to get me in on a walk in with Lauren, who did a great job! She sketched out my idea and it looked fantastic and she took her time and let me take my time deciding the perfect placement. Like I said, all the staff was great. While I was waiting for my sketch, multiple people came up to me to make sure I was being helped. I’m glad I decided to come in today! I’ll definitely be coming back for my future tattoos.

What a great experience! I walked into the shop a week ago to consult my tattoo idea. They hooked me up with Kory who fit me into his schedule within the week. I emailed him all of my reference photos and he came up with the perfect design. I love having an uniquely drawn out tattoo. I picked a design that isnt uncommon but he made it unique for me. He followed my color reference perfectly and I’m super happy with the outcome. It’s gorgeous! Overall the staff is friendly, price was very reasonable, and the art is perfect.

Got an awesome mandala tattoo today by Lauren. She listened to exactly what I wanted and gave me the tattoo that I was envisioning in my head! Minimal time for something that I will enjoy for the rest of my life. Thank you so much for adding beautiful art to my canvas which most people call a body :)

THE place to go in San Diego for piercings, pretty much because Kristina ROCKSSSSS!
I came here to get my nose ring changed and recently visited Kristina again to get my rook pierced. Cost for a rook piercing and standard bar came out to be $ 65 not including tax. She starts you off with a standard rook bar, and told me the jewelry can be changed once it’s a bit more healed.
Gathering from my previous visit, and what I saw other reviews say, sometimes there can be a little wait before you are helped. I know there are several tattoo stations, but there is only one piercing room. My most recent visit, there was a new piercing assistant so I was immediately helped when I walked in. Also, the waiver is now completed on an ipad and can be automatically emailed to you.
About changing jewelry: I didn’t get my nose pierced at 454, but came in to get my ring placed in again because I couldn’t get do it myself. Even though I had a surgical steel ring, Kristina explained they only carry titanium jewelry and since they are liable for what they put in your body she didn’t want to put in my old ring. Apparently surgical steel still contains a small trace of nickel, whereas titanium does not (idk if this is true). She only wants to put in «good metal». Though an inconvenience since I had to buy another ring, I understood her concerns/​policy. My most recent, a few walk in’s came in after me wanting to get their jewelry changed to what they brought in as well. She told them the same spiel about «good metal», policy, etc. I appreciated her consistency and professionalism in explaining her reasons.
About Kristina’s chair side manners: The piercing room is always clean, organized, and enhanced by some unique playlist in the background. Kristina explains every step of the process and tries to make it as painless as possible. She also meets you personally at the counter after the piercing to explain aftercare and ensure healing goes smoothly. FYI: 454 sells saline solution for $ 12, but the aftercare paper also names other brands you can pick up at the store.
Even though parking is always a drag, since lot spots are always limited due to the parking restrictions placed by surrounding businesses, this is the only place I go to for piercings!

I wish I could give zero stars. I popped in for a piercing the other day looking for my regular guy. Turns out he doesn’t work there anymore and the current piercer Kristina was very inappropriate. She dug up dirty drama that I didn’t really care about… I just wanted a new piercing and probably jewelry too. So, even though I love my piercer, I decided to give them a shot. I waited around for about 45 minutes and then finally left.
On top of all of that, the tattoo artists were rude and didn’t even acknowledge me when they walked by. I felt awkward and uncomfortable. This place used to be the best in town. Now, not so much.

I was pierced about a year ago by Brad Lee, who was great, but I lost my piercing and never got a new one, so I had to get re pierced.
My piercer was Kristina.
Can you say professional? This girl did and incredible job.
Absolutely amazing. I’ve had not a single problem with my piercing thus far.
See her for sure!

Always wonderful customer service and such a cool looking place. They’re always taking walk ins, which works great for me because my tattoos and piercings have always been spontaneous decisions. They all compliment one another which is awesome. Brady recently tattooed me and really took the time to listen and draw up my idea, he spoke highly of another girl that works there when i mentioned that I follow her on Instagram and am considering going to her to start my sleeve.
The bonus bonus side?!? BRAD LEE IS GONE. He was a piercer, he worked there forever and he was honestly the only reason I stopped coming here for a few years. I won’t go into detail about him but I feel much more comfortable going here and recommending my friends to go here for piercings now.