We recently connected with Surla Kim and have shared our conversation below.
Surla, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.
“I’ve been specializing in fine-line tattoos for seven years in Los Angeles. While there are now other fine-line artists, when I started, there were no female tattoo artists, so 80% of my clients are women. I always appreciate the opportunity to tattoo on their beautiful skin.
Consequently, I use needles very gently and delicately. Many clients express surprise at the lack of pain when getting my tattoos, thanks to my special skills aimed at minimizing damage to their skin. My needles penetrate significantly less into the skin compared to other artists. I avoid causing repeated damage by using minimal touches and applying the needle very thinly to the skin. This not only shortens the tattooing time but also reduces pain and damage.
You might wonder if tattoos done this way are easily removable. Well, I have my secret. It’s a professional technique where I increase the power on the tattoo machine to prevent easy removal. Elevating the machine power increases its vibration, making it an advanced skill that requires expertise to handle.”
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
-Tattooist Surla K. (Owner/Tattoo Artist)
Surla K was born in Korea and studied fine art in Berlin, Germany.
She is here to give you a great experience with her professional skills.
Check all works in her Instagram @surla_ink
We specialize painless fine line tattoo
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
“My tattoo clients often want to preserve important moments in their lives, especially when experiencing or going through a significant event. I’ve seen many handwritten letters, often from grandparents or letters given by parents, which I’ve translated into tattoos exactly as they were written.
I’ve also incorporated elements like a mother’s name along with her favorite flower from her lifetime. While creating these meaningful tattoos filled with memories, I’ve always found sincere conversations with clients to be effective. Sometimes, we even cry together, especially when clients are emotional, which often moves me to tears as well.
Most of my clients are women, and being of the same generation, I feel closer to them. We often share experiences and even exude a sense of sisterhood. These interactions keep them coming back and lead them to introduce me to friends and family as if I were a friend.”
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
“I came from Korea and have a fondness for Korean calligraphy, which is why I’ve done many Korean tattoos using my own handwriting. For example, I’ve tattooed BTS lyrics in my calligraphy style.
Additionally, because I’ve learned East Asian painting, I enjoy tattooing floral or animal motifs with an Eastern feel. I particularly love tattooing cherry blossoms; I can do it with my eyes closed.”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.surlaink.com
- Instagram: @surla_ink
Image Credits
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