A tourist from British Columbia, Canada, known only as Melissa, intends to take legal action against a tattoo parlor in Las Vegas after experiencing a nightmare tattoo session.
Melissa recounted her ordeal to KLAS-TV/Las Vegas, stating that she visited Illuminati Tattoo in April with her son for his 17th birthday, drawn by the studio’s positive Yelp reviews.
While her son’s tattoo turned out well, Melissa’s experience was marred by incompetence and unprofessionalism. She reported that her artist struggled during the session, sometimes without using ink and neglecting to clean her thigh before tattooing it. Melissa also noted concerning behavior from the artist, including sweating excessively, dilated eyes, and slurred speech.
Halfway through the procedure, Melissa noticed her son’s puzzled expression, prompting him to start recording the session on his phone.
After leaving the shop, Melissa received texts from the artist, expressing regret and urging her not to tarnish the shop’s reputation.
In response to her complaint, the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) conducted an investigation, revealing that the artist lacked a valid body art card and failed to have Melissa sign a consent form, both mandatory for tattooing.
The SNHD document obtained by KLAS indicated that the artist was no longer employed at the shop due to a “zero tolerance for substance use while on duty” policy. The inspection also uncovered other violations, such as missing expiration dates on sterilized equipment.
Furthermore, the Secretary of State’s office listed Illuminati Tattoo’s business license as in default for 2023 and 2024, ultimately revoking it by May.
Reflecting on her experience, Melissa expressed regret, expecting a higher standard of tattooing in Las Vegas, known for its reputed artists and establishments.