Outer Limits Tattoo & Body Piercing

After dealing with some other crappy shop (really bad experience). Let’s just say I had a personality conflict with the artist. I looked for a long time for an artist/​shop to finish my sleeves. Thankfully I found Shorty at Outer limits tattoo in Costa Mesa. Shorty really came up with some awesome ideas, and really tied everything together. I have some pretty rad tattoos now, and I’ll be in soon to start my legs, or maybe chest, or… Really anything I get tattooed. No matter what, I’m going to the short girl there!
PS– don’t let the few one and two star reviews fool you, they are a professional «tattoo» shop, not a fast food restaurant. Guess what, putting ink into your body that will last a lifetime, takes a bit of time and consideration. I’ve dealt with some really bad shops over the years, Outer limits Costa Mesa isn’t one of them. They just want to make sure you get a quality permanent tattoo. Just remember, they are tattoo artists, and body piercers, not your kiss ass barista at Starbucks.

Now i’ve never gotten pierced here but this shop is still amazing nonetheless. I know this because I wanted to get a belly button piercing here and one of the staff members told me not to because my belly button wasn’t the correct shape. He also advised my friend not to get her desired piercing because it usually just leads to trouble. This shop is amazing because they honestly could have just taken our money, but instead they advised us with the truth and I am so thankful for that.
When I went in the first time I didn’t have my id so they didn’t even consider piercing me. The second time I came in with everything he looked at my belly button and told me since I don’t have the right shape for it, the piercing might reject. Since I am highly prone to keloids I am so thankful he told me that. He said he would rather tell me and let me consider the consequences instead of just pierce me and let me experience the consequences later. I did not get his name, but he is still a savior to me.
He also talked to my roommate he was considering hip dermals. He told her how bad of an idea dermals are and how easily they could get rejected. He also exposed a famous piercer for all greed and fraud. This man had so much truth embedded in him that he truly is a remarkable person. The point is they know their stuff in this shop.

the piercing homie there– tall handsome dude with the plugs– youre so rad and have been dealing with my piercing mishaps for months and SUPER patient and attentive, knowledgeable and super sincere. This kind of work you deal with a lot of– well incompetent kids but he is unfazed. THANK YOU FOR NOT BEING A DICK:)

I’ve been here multiple times in the past and experienced pleasant service. However at our recent visit we experienced extremely unpleasant service. If you must get a tattoo here, get an appointment.
Despite advertising that walk-​ins are welcome, the man working turned us away more than an hour before closing saying that they were done for the day. We had the very simple and small piece ready, and we knew the job would take less than an hour. The guy claimed the job would take over two hours to finish and turned us away. He lost three loyal customers with his rude and condescending attitude.
We instead found another place ten minutes away that had no problem finishing the job in less than 30 minutes.

Don’t let all the 5 star reviews fool you! This place seriously lacks customer service skills! I was looking to get my nose pierced… nothing major… just a little stud and was greeted by this blow hard that rudely informed me that they weren’t piercing anymore that evening even though they didn’t close for over an hour. He was totally rude. And there prices are outrageous.$ 25 for a little nose stud… really??? That’s not including the actual piercing. So if you want to pay exorbitant prices and be treated like dirt then this is the place for you!

I finally decided to pierce my ears for the 4^th. .. and last time. I did my research and decided to go with Gregg, because of all of the amazing reviews I saw on Unilocal.I have to agree, Gregg takes his time to make sure each customer is taken care of. I was very confident with his skill and the level of cleanliness in the shop. Gregg listened to my concerns and I’m confident this time will work. I got my piercings about 2 weeks ago and so far, everything is going well.
Definitely allow plenty of time since it is walk-​in only, but I have to say, it’s worth it.

Gregg is the best piercer! I’ve been pierced by 4 or 5 other people (including at some famous shops in SF) but Gregg is definitely my favorite. He won’t hesitate to turn you down if your anatomy doesn’t fit a piercing. He has a super calm vibe which makes you feel comfortable around him (considering you’re about to be stabbed by a needle.) He’s done 2 lobe piercings and my nose piercing. This was the 2^nd time I had my nose pierced and it was such a better experience with Gregg. The first time I had it done it was really painful and had a hard time healing. When Gregg pierced it, it still hurt a little bit but nowhere near the same amount of pain as the first time and it healed perfectly. The placement is so much better and I love it!
I think the piercings here are a little more expensive than Barbella, but I’ve been to Barbella with friends and comparing the service there with what I’ve experienced with Gregg, I would hands down come to Outer Limits every time. Gregg is also really responsive over email if you have any questions or concerns.
One con about this place is that the wait can be really long… I think I had to come back 2x to get one of my piercings. But although inconvenient, I would rather wait and get pierced by a professional and trustworthy piercer than go somewhere else.

My tattoo was done by Andrew. He was super detailed and nice and made the experience very pleasant. I wanted to write this review specifically to draw attention to his attention to detail, which is a reflection of his artistry but also of his attitude that my tattoo was special and he knew it meant something to me — that mattered a lot to me. He tattooed a drawing of my dog that someone had made for me years ago. I also sent him pics of the doggie for angles etc, and at the end he pointed out some details he noticed in the pics that he included on his own in the tattoo. That made the tattoo so much more special to me because it wasn’t just a needled in piece of work on my ankle, it was art and meaningful. So thanks Andrew :)

Hate to have to amend my prior review but seriously disappointed with the customer care I received.
Walked in around 2:30 to get a check up on my piercing. The tattoo artist closest to the jewelry table asked me to sign my name on a pad. The pad however had LUNCH scribbled across with a notice that said all piercing services would have to wait until 5pm. (Longest lunch break ever, where do I get a job?) There was no room for a name. I turned back around to bring this to the attention of the tattoo artist. He began to answer when the piercer (Chris, I believe his name is) emerged from the back room and shouted across the shop «JUST SIGN IN»
I left as I’m not usually too keen on being berated in front of a room full of people.

My sister and I decided spur of the moment to head in. The place was very clean and there was a steady flow of people coming in for services.
I got my nose pierced by Chris. He was friendly and professional when he let me know all the junk I needed to know for hygiene care.
He did a great job, it didn’t hurt and he made it funny.
Great service all around. I’d say I’ll be back, but I don’t have anything else I want pierced ;)

I usually get piercings at outer limits. But one day i decided to get a tattoo and shorty took care of me. Shortys an awesome tattoo artist with fast tattoo hands! All my tatattos are done by her. Her attitude and personality is positive, also very chill. She never made me feel uncomfortable or my that ideas were lame! So go check her out if you want to get some ink done!!!

I’d been contemplating a helix piercing for a long time now, probably about half a year. The last time I got a piercing was when I was 7 and begged my mom to take me to Claire’s so I could get my ear lobes pierced with their earring gun. Many years later, I didn’t know exactly where to go. Luckily, my sister had gotten several piercings since at Outer Limits, so we went in together.
Our piercer, Gregg, gave us price ranges for what we wanted and I ended up choosing a simple gold/​crystal stud, which was about middle of the road in terms of price.
Since I work in the medical field, I am pretty wary of maintaining clean technique, so I’m glad that the piercer took the time to sanitize the needles and also walked us through the process, which took about 45 minutes to 1 hour for the both of us. The piercing is somewhat pricey, but I liked that they are careful and do everything by the book. Outer Limits is definitely not a seedy back-​alley tattoo shop where you make a drunken decision.
I think I have a moderate pain tolerance and the helix piercing only hurt a little bit. The piercer first pierces with the needle and then puts the jewelry through, so the second time it’s a little more painful because the jewelry is going through raw flesh (sorry to be graphic). But the pain was very minimal for me and I didn’t need to take any ibuprofens like I thought I would. I may come back in 3 – 6 months after this one as healed and get the other ear done. If I do, I will definitely come back to Outer Limits because they make the piercing experience great!

I researched getting my hood pierced exhaustively. My friend referred me to Chris. He has about 30 certifications for piercing on his wall. He is also a surgical tech. He was friendly, VERY knowledgable, calm, walked me through the entire process and aftercare. The pain was minimal. He was quick and it was over before I knew it! I am obsessed with it and so happy with how it turned out! THANK YOU CHRIS!!! Oh– and the price was less than anywhere else. I would have paid double to have him again.

My best friend and I both got our belly buttons pierced to celebrate my birthday. Gregg did an amazing job on the both of us. He was super friendly, gave us plenty of advice, and didn’t hesitate at all to help us get the best deals, since we’re young, broke, college students. We paid $ 65 each. The shop was super clean, as soon as I walked in I could tell they were always sanitizing. Gregg was super sanitary before doing both of our piercings, washing his hands before and after.
Overall, Gregg made this a great experience and I would definitely come again.

What can I say about Gregg other than that he’s a real pro. Not only is he professional and excellent with customer service — he’s just a cool dude with mad skills.
Are nipple piercings painful? Of course. But not any more so than getting your ears pierced. Ok, maybe a little more sensitive — but the point I’m making here is that if you’re gonna put yourself through the piercing process — Gregg is your man.
The entire shop is clean, professional and employed by really talented and nice people.
I live in Long Beach and still make the trip to see these guys and gals.
Five Stars, for sure.

My best friend and I went to get piercings here. Greg greeted us and answered all the questions we had. When it was our time to get pierced he was super friendly, super informative, and super gentle. He made me feel comfortable and even complimented me after we were done :)
They are super professional here and they care a lot about making sure that you are bacteria free! I would recommend anyone to come here. I’ll be back in the future.

I wanted to change my long post to a shorter post because my hair kept getting caught on the back of my cartilage piercing. The first time I walked in, I waited 30 minutes and no one was able to help me, so I left and came back another day. Unfortunately, Brett, the man who changed my cartilage post, is not a regular worker and was covering for Chris. This time around, I waited about 20 minutes and Brett was able to help me. The cost of the post ($ 15) was higher than expected, but still paid tip anyway because Brett was so friendly and great.

I love this shop. I’ve been going to shorty for my tattoos since 2007 and she has been consistently better and better year after year.
You always hear about artists getting burnt out over the years. This couldn’t be further from the truth regarding her talent, drive, and overall attitude. As much as I hate getting tattooed, i love the experience she provides.
I would highly recommend her to all of my friends and family, and have. She has probably tattooed 15 of my referrals and each person has been beyond impressed and happy with their results.
Go in and ask for her. You’ll be treated like family.

Went here today for new jewelry. I have a daith piercing (sits deep in your ear), which is a captive bead ring. I’ve had this piercing for yeeearrs… like more than 5. Last week, the stupid little ball decided to fall out.
I found this place off of Unilocal — with the high rating I thought I couldn’t go wrong.
Prior to coming I saw you can’t book an appointment for a piercing — which is a bummer. I went on a Monday at 2:15. The piercer (Chris) was on lunch when I checked in but was told he will be back in 15 minutes.
It wasn’t until AN HOUR LATER, I finally get in there. Meanwhile, more people just keep coming in, girls specifically to get piercings.
I ended up picking a heart shaped captive ring — no bead — sadly my ear can’t fit large rings.
The process went smooth, but I found it weird how he didn’t introduce himself.
Also it was $ 25, which I thought was really really expensive — I wasn’t getting it re pierced, just the jewelry put in.
I would of appreciated them telling me up front the costs, but I will keep in mind next time this place is a bit more expensive, & you will have to wait.
Also there needs to be more piercers working — you would think you could get in & out right away — nope! So if you are thinking of coming to get jewelry put back in, be prepared to wait an hour, worst case scenario!

I research everything before doing it, and tattoos are no exception. I’ve literally spent the better part of the last decade deciding what I wanted my first tattoo to be, and after that was decided spent a lot of time researching where to get it done. This place came as a recommendation from one of my wife’s friends at the Starbucks she frequents during her lunch breaks, and I can see why. The reviews were stellar, I reviewed all of the artists on IG and their webpages, and visited the studio to chat about it first.
Russ Fitch’s name bubbled to the top of the list after all the research, so I chatted with him about making it a reality. He was phenomenal, and I’m really stoked about how the end product came out. (I just had the last session a couple days ago, so waiting on the healing to finish before posting any pics.) He specializes in black/​white photo-​realism, and has been tattooing for around 13 – 14 years now. I would 100% recommend him as your artist!
Over the course of my several sessions I’ve gotten to see most of the artists there at work (and I follow a number of them on IG) – Sara, Mario, Will, and Shorty. I assure you, there is no lack of talent at this establishment. I work in medicine, and can tell you with confidence that their sterile technique and safety is on point. The studio is clean. The people are friendly, and they can usually work within your budget (within reason). This is a great place to go for either tattooing or body piercing.
This awesome little place is located in The Camp, so expect parking to be a nightmare, and be sure to get there early enough to compensate for it.
Things to keep in mind:
1. Tattooing is an ART form. Art takes time, and the person doing your tattoo is an artist. If they don’t care about your tattoo, and won’t take the time to discuss it with you, watch out!
2. Ask for their advice! They have the experience to let you know what will or won’t work in an area, and what colors may or may not look best. They may have a way to take something you like and make it something personal you love.
3. A tattoo is an investment. You get what you pay for, plain and simple. Don’t complain about the price for an amazing artist. If you find some place «cheap» to get your awesome tattoo, you’ll likely just end up spending more money later to either cover it up or fix it. Save the money and do it right the first time. They charge somewhere in the neighborhood of $ 125−150/hour here.
4. Tattoo time estimates are just that – estimates. It may take more, it may take less. Be prepared for that. My piece took about 2 – 3 hours longer than I expected, but it’s an elaborate half-​sleeve piece and the quality is amazing. It’s worth it.
5. It hurts. Not gonna lie here. My tattoo was 13 hours (split into 3 sessions over the course of 2 months) of moderately intense pain, but it has given me a lifetime of amazing art on my body. If you don’t tolerate pain well, this may not be for you.
6. Be realistic about both time AND money. Elaborate and detailed tattoos take time and cost money. Don’t expect a large and detailed piece to be done in an hour for under $ 100. If you find a deal like that, run away fast.
On that note, happy tattooing (and piercing)!