Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Laurel Tynes. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Laurel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry?

Being tattooed is “trendy” and “cool” right now, which means everyone wants in to get their financial gain from it. There are so many different avenues to take when answering this, but I’ll stick with a very simple one for the sake of trying to keep it short. Corporate America is taking advantage of uninformed consumers by labeling products as “for tattoos” and putting a hefty price tag on it. For example, there’s a number of companies that sell lotion and “tattoo lotion”. If you look at the ingredients, they are the same, but one has the word “tattoo” on it and tattoo flash images on it. Take a guess which one is astronomically priced. Quick profit is put over individual people, which is not a code of ethics that I live by or support. It is not a code of ethics supported by what I consider to be a “real tattooer”.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started working at a tattoo shop when I was 18 as a shop assistant. With time, that turned into me being a shop manager and eventually an apprentice. I spent three years in that shop, then quit my apprenticeship for safety reasons and moved to San Diego in September 2019. I tattoo at Golden Days Tattoo Parlour in San Diego.

I’m in the business of permanently adorning people’s skin, but it’s so much more than that. Tattooing is so much more than that. There is a sacred union of two people when a tattoo is made. Someone is getting a permanent modification, and they are trusting me to do it. There are feelings, words, and energies exchanged during the process that cannot be duplicated with another. Relationships are created daily— some of them blossom into friendships — and whether I tattoo you one time or twenty times, you are able to carry with you that little piece of me. It is like carrying a time capsule to that time and place, the conversations had, the laughs shared, the surrounding events in your personal life, the music playing in the background, the wild guy off the street coming in to say some outlandish thing before carrying on his way. Getting tattooed will be positively life changing— if you allow it to be.

As long as I am tattooing, I am thrilled and thankful. I like making strong, readable tattoos that last a lifetime. “Traditional” tattoos are my favorite, but not something I limit myself to creating solely. I can create the same spark of tattoo magic with a walk-in bringing in their own design as I can with a client that gets one of my original designs.

I will do anything that is within my capability to provide a clean, professional tattoo that will enhance someone’s life and expression of themselves. I’m proud of and grateful for my ability to build relationships with people from all walks of life through tattooing and provide positive experiences before, during, and after the tattoo process. I think that tattooing being my one true love, sets me apart from a lot of tattooers, but that is not something that is exclusive to me. I share that same adoration with so many tattooers— just not all of them.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

The most pivotal moment of my career, and one of the most pivotal moments of my life, was making the decision to quit my extremely abusive apprenticeship in Washington state and move to San Diego. Leaving behind everything and everyone I know was frightening, especially without a plan in place. I left to San Diego with a one-way ticket, a suitcase with tattoo supplies and some clothes, a very short stay at an AirBnB booked, and a lot of drive to figure it out and make it work. I had the potential to flop majorly, but instead have flourished thanks to my incredible clients, everyone at Golden Days Tattoo Parlour and the rest of my “tattoo family” near and far. Tattooing will take care of you if you take care of it.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

With tattooing, there is no “clocking out”. You are viewed as a human and as a business at the same time. The best way for me to build reputation, is by being honest and authentic with myself and with those I engage with. I care a lot about tattooing and all that it encompasses. I think that shows in my work and in conversation with me. Being completely genuine, sincere, and acting with integrity is the only right way for me to build my reputation amongst clients and other tattooers.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @laureltynestattoos
• Other: [email protected] ————— Golden Days Tattoo Parlour 2848 El Cajon Blvd San Diego, Ca 92104