Laurens Tattoo & Piercing Studio

I came here on the 29^th of October in 2013, I know this because I got the date tattoo’d on my body, BUT I would’ve probably remembered it anyway because of the g money experience I had there.
So I hopped on a plane to London one day on my own because I heard Drake say something about YOLO on the radio and I’m an impressionable teen. My hotel was a walk away from this tattoo studio so I thought «AYYYYY my dad hates tattoos let’s get it started hot» and walked in wanting to get my first tattoo at a foreign place in commemoration of the day.
Should’ve probably thought what I wanted to get through more, but spontaneity is a beast of burden in that way and as a result I had no idea what I wanted to get as an image to go with the date.
Two wonderful, wonderful, chill as hell, beauties by the name of Mike & Anna (I THINK. I SUCK BALLS AT NAMES) were working and Mike sort of just went back and forth with me on what I wanted. Which I was really grateful for because it meant my tattoo would have more of a relation to the artist as well. We settled on a Poppy (nothing to do with remembrance day or anything I’m just a dumb tourist that saw it everywhere when I landed) and simple print date because I’m also a dumb hipster that likes minimalistic shit. Also holy shit I didn’t even have an appointment and they were still like come on in!
ANYWAY, I asked Mike to put it at a discrete location in case I needed to hide it from my parents or my workplace so it’s on my side next to my left breast. The poppy’s like my third nipple lol.
I even got away with going completely naked to a bathhouse in Japan where tattoos are a no no, so size and placement get a ¹⁰⁄₁₀
For a first tattoo it was like a weird tickle, it never hurt, but Mike kept asking if I was okay anyway through out the whole thing. So rad! And Anna & Mike were so easy to talk to, easy going, honest, and even made me a damn list of places to see during my stay. I don’t remember how long it took because time flew by. Anna even gave me a contact in case I needed a locals help cause she felt bad for me and seriously y’all were nice x 1000.
I wish I could’ve met the others that worked here, because if these two were anything to go by, the other artists are probably a blast too.
My tattoo is so clean and well done, can’t believe I lucked out on walking in here for my first one. Next time I stop by London I’ll be sure to bring gifts and get another.
In the end, the tattoo doesn’t just remind me of the trip, but it reminds me of the really brilliant time I had in Lauren’s studio with two awesome tattoo artists. So much more worth it.