In Mandan-Be Good To Yourself – Experience Benevolent Tattoo

One of the oldest expressions in the human being language came into play yesterday

Last September I found out a little bit more about myself, I guess I'm NOT too old for change. Until just recently, I never gave a second thought about getting a tattoo, I thought they looked cool on other people, but I just had zero interest in having one myself, until I walked into Benevolent Tattoo -3206 Memorial Highway a while back. The very first thing I saw was Russ Irelan doing his magic on Darin, a return customer with a huge smile on his face, he was "adding on to his body canvas". I have found through talking to so many who have tattoos, that it is "addicting"....you can't just live with one. I talked to Ashley for a few minutes, she and Russ have been open since 2014. I listened to so many different motivating reasons why people made the decision to get permanently marked. Something clicked in my head, and it made perfect sense to me now why people have tattoos, at that moment I told myself I was going to get one, and I had the perfect design, more on that in a bit. I went ahead and made an appointment for September 10th.

"Never Say Never" was about to unfold

My whole life my approach to tattoos was "Never, Never, Ever will I get one", but something changed my mind when I heard some really sincere reasons for the artwork on their body - for example, the date of a loved one's death - on the arm to look at and always remember the person who passed. I chose something that I want to wake up to, that keeps giving me hope, a reminder of just how dark my life was before, and to never forget how easy it is to fall. The triangle of AA and my sobriety date was what I decided on for my left arm. So there I was, on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, standing outside Benevolent Tattoo, would I go through with it?

Life is short, and I finally figured out that I owe myself something special, that makes me feel, well, like this is an expression of who I am. Now I know what other tattoo customers feel like. My whole appointment lasted a little over an hour. Russ walked me over to a workstation where he defined what I chose to have done, he took a picture of the triangle and shaped it on my arm, then we decided on the way the numbers looked, for the inscription on my arm. From there Ashley ran me through a couple of pages that needed my signature, I had no idea how careful they have to be with the procedures behind getting a tattoo - the laws are even different from Bismarck to Mandan. It was now time to walk over to the chair. 

Strategically making some marks on my arm before the actual work began. Finally, Russ says "Well are you ready?" - as I was a second away from entering unchartered waters, I had no idea at all what to expect. Just a few moments before he began, right next to where we were, Benevolent's apprentice, Mike, was midway through performing his work on someone

Several fellow tattooers ( is that a word? ) leaned over the divider and watched my first reaction as Russ began doing what he is so skilled at. Sure it hurt a little, more like discomfort really, but the amazing part was being able to witness first-hand a genius working on my arm as an artist does on a canvas.

From start to finish Russ patiently crafted out something that was a million times more than what I imagined - take a look at his finishing piece

I now felt part of a special bond, check out my new friends who have been to Benevolent many times - Amber Somers and Sarah Bossie

I rose from my chair after Russ had wrapped my arm in the clear bandage, and Ashley immediately took me through the aftercare instructions - I have to tell you how impressed I was with how safe this place is.

Benevolent Tattoo Is Awesome

I can't tell you enough how much I recommend if you have never had a tattoo, OR if you have had a bunch - allow yourself to drop by their place and check it out. They also have body piercings available with Savannah Drader. You deserve to treat yourself to a real gift, something so special, and such skilled artists like Russ Irelan at Benevolent Tattoo are rare to find, and WE, Mandan, are lucky to have him. Lastly, NEVER SAY NEVER.