White Lotus Tattoo and Piercing

Usually when you’re getting a new tattoo done you’re usually covered with the scent of alcohol and have the ability of a two year old baby when it comes to walking around. This wasn’t my personal case as I stepped through the doors of the White Lotus tattoo parlor (who apparently do piercings as well). Located in Highlands Ranch off of East County Line Road it’s basically the last place you would ever expect to find especially in the wealthier part of Colorado.
While doing research on “liable” tattoo parlors around Colorado I found that many of these parlors could be found along Colfax. So, without thinking about the poor quality of most stores along the Colfax area, I decided to head to one of the closer tattoo parlors along East Colfax. When I entered it looked as though it was the embodiment of Colfax. Without naming the place, I will say the walls were rippling with an unfinished coating of paint, it smelled of various drugs, there was never any other language except for profane language and the services they provided were less than note worthy. Otherwise, it seemed like a friendly place to be, besides the fact that the manager of the place gave the impression that he wanted to murder me or already has murdered a person of the like. I do believe I saw a stolen child hidden under the counter, as well as a white powdery substance smeared around the employee’s nostrils; otherwise it seemed like a nice place of business.
Figuring Colfax wasn’t the best place of business I took some time away from the tattoo business and decided it was for another time. When that time came though I was able to do plenty of research on more “professional” establishments; after talking to various tattooists and looking upon different sites I came to White Lotus. Their home page is somewhat compressed, meaning if your sight is less than 20/20 you might want to find a magnifying glass somewhere, each other page is likely the same. It’s even somewhat a challenge to view the pictures set on the top corners of each page. So after my laser eye surgery was complete I was able to scan and evaluate the artists, location, hours and such for the place. White Lotus, I also discovered, was once Twisted Sol (a legit tattoo parlor known for their creative and expert work). Twisted Sol was one of two established tattoo parlors that I had the liking of hearing of in my lifetime.
Paying a visit I recognized the Asian themes set across the store, the pictures on their website give the theme away, and even though a load of white men work there it still had a traditional Asian output. They sell a variety of piercing accessories, displayed well inside their glass counter up front, with many Buddha Statues and Asian oriented paintings (including separate pieces of their own works, which are anything less than abstract and cartoonish). The place did not smell of weed and other drugs, it smelled clean and looked the very same. While waiting I even had the pleasure of watching a fellow employee mop the floor beneath me; perhaps not the greatest timing. All motives forward the employees were friendly, there was limited profane language and the tattoo appointment was quickly executed. There was a $60.00 tuition, which of course went towards the entirety of the tattoo cost, and reasonable rules were set (such as a 24 hour notice if you wished to cancel or change your desired tattoo time).
When the day came I was able to take a couple of buds with me into the place, in order to witness the pain and disgruntlement my body would soon face. I was not mistaken, this was my first tattoo ever and even on my chest the pain was horrid. Though through the agony I survived and the price total was set reasonably. Before my leave my artist, Andy (who was brand new to the store), handed me a slip of paper that read off instructions and he told me step by step what needed to be done to keep my tattoo clean and healthy for the next few weeks. It was as if my father was talking me through puberty, but all was well and it was helpful information.
Overall I felt welcome and safe, not disillusioned with a gun to my head feeling that comes to you around Colfax. Although the store was more like a fanboy department, white people filling an Asian place does not make sense, it makes a paradox of sorts, the store was still neat and full of good “chi” so to speak. The prices seemed reasonable, which is a bit more than I can follow through with saying, and the process was as safe as surgery in a hospital. I didn’t have any fears afterwards of contracting any sort of HIV virus and my wallet still had a nice amount of cash left over for the lubricants and lotions needed for your tattoo. Honestly I would think a tattoo parlor would provide some type of small bottle for the situation, maybe they believed I would already have these solutions prepped at my house, or they thought I would have a good time driving in pain to my nearest Rite Aid store to purchase these over-priced and over-sized medicines. Grudges aside it was a legit parlor to attend and my tattoo turned out to be perfect in every sort of way, I would recommend this place to both of those people with experience or none in the tattoo business.

-Nega-