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Propaganda Tattoo
Categories: Beauty and Spas Tattoo Beauty and Spas Piercing Tattoo, Piercing [Edit]
3704 Voltaire StSte 102
(between Poinsettia Dr & Worden St)
San Diego, CA 92107
Neighborhood: Point Loma
(619) 226-6192
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 12 pm - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 12 pm - 11 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- By Appointment Only:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
lindsay b. said: "got my first dermal here... healed in a week, looks great!! will def return!" read more »
26 reviews for Propaganda Tattoo
26 reviews in English
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Review from Kelly A.
West Sacramento, CA
8/29/2011
Looked into getting a tattoo in San Diego while I was visiting, and found Propaganda Tattoo on Yelp. The reviews and ratings were great, so I decided to check them out. Originally set up an appt on Sunday, but decided Saturday worked better for me, and with just one call, they switched our appointments no problem. We emailed our images down to the shop, and everything was ready for us when we got there. Quinn was the one who did our tattoos and he was really great. Totally made us feel comfortable, made tweaks for us on the image size and placement, and just a really an all around good guy. Quinn did a FANTASTIC job on the tattoo and I am SUPER happy with it. Would def come back for more work......
Shop is SUPER clean, they have an ATM on site which is nice, and everyone was cool & helpful in the shop. Good prices too. Check these guys out!Comment from Marc B. of Propaganda Tattoo 9/24/2011
Kelly, Thanks for the kind words and the awesome review.… More » -
Review from Giovanna M.
San Diego, CA
11/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
I opted not to have my ink done here - personal style choice. However, when my 14 year old wanted her tragus pierced we visited.
Travis was gentle and nice to my daughter.
His ideas on how to keep the piercing clean are in conflict with what I've learned from the best over many years of getting pierced elsewhere. So we'll keep the piercings clean in the way we've been taught by the leaders of this industry.
Parking is tight sometimes and usually limited. Small lot. Can be difficult to get in and out. And although it looks clean, I wonder. He used clean/new needles, tools, but the general clean feeling I like to get when in a tattoo, piercing shop was not there. -
Review from Wil M.
I've come here on four occasions now to get inkwork - one 3 session piece and another single session piece, and have been delighted with all of my experiences.
Travis was my artist, and I will continue to keep coming back for his work. The first piece I had was a calf mural containing very important personal symbolism. I told him what I wanted and he drew it up perfectly. The transfer to my skin was exactly as I had envisioned it - I couldn't be happier with a piece that I've been waiting on for three years.
The other piece was a single color forearm mural that required great attention to detail, steady linework, and a lot of patience. Again, I couldn't be happier.
On top of it all, his customer service is great - funny, laid back, professional and warm simultaneously. The other guys in the shop are great too and are fun for conversation during long sessions.
I will continue to come to Travis for my work as long as I live in Southern California (I drive down from Los Angeles on the weekends for him). I couldn't recommend him high enough.Comment from Marc B. of Propaganda Tattoo 5/18/2011
Thanks for the great review Will. I will pass this along to… More » -
Review from Brittany G.
San Diego, CA
9/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
I got a couple tattoos here about a month ago with Quinn. He does amazing work and is a great guy. Really clean shop. All nice guys. Experienced, knowledgeable, professional. I think he'll be my tattoo artist for life. I don't want to risk going to anyone else when I know I can get great, quality work at a reasonable price right here at Propaganda.
Comment from Marc B. of Propaganda Tattoo 9/24/2011
Brittany, thank you for the awesome review. We really… More » -
Review from Mia P.
San Diego, CA
11/15/2010
Clean shop = check
Awesome tattoo done exactly as envisioned = check
Good prices = check
People who work there with great attitudes that make you comfortable = check
Grizzly Joe is the way to go. 'Nuff said. -
Review from Alan S.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 8/27/2010
This is the first time an owner of a shop I was displeased with took the time to read Yelp, respond to my issue, and then act according to his promise. My last review was for a finger tattoo that I got 2 years ago. They guy who gave it to me is no longer working there.
I decided to drop by the shop after being assured by Marc that I would not be treated poorly because I was dissatisfied with my first nexperience. Marc wasn't there, and two of the guys kinda had a "Oh yeah? Neat story" attitude. However, Joe heard about my yelp review and immediately volunteered to honor his boss's word. He was a cool guy and didn't make me feel like a jerk for being there.
Joe ended up recommending that we just make a solid new tattoo over the old one. Conversation was good during the process, and when he thought it was done he gave me the opportunity to tell him I thought one part was crooked. He fixed it with no guff.
One thing that was questionable was the make shift paper towel bandage he sent me off with. 30 minutes later, it's now bleeding through the towel. I'm afraid to change it for a new one because the directions tell me to wait 2 hours.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/13/2010
Got a simple ring tattooed on my finger. A guy who seemed cool, but took a quick break and came back… Read more »
Comment from Marc B. of Propaganda Tattoo 8/24/2010
Alan, Are you sure you were at our studio? We cannot find… More » -
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Review from Carrion R.
Portland, OR
I drove to San Diego from Utah just to have Shaun Kyle tattoo me again. He's the greatest!! Not only as an artist but as a person... He will treat you right and give you all the information you need. He's funny and good to talk with! One of my all time favorite artists!
The shop was incredibly clean and friendly! The owner and artists were very friendly to my friends and me.. They even tried to help us find nearby vegan food!!
I will recommend Propaganda Tattoo to everyone and I will return!
Ask for Shaun Kyle. -
Review from Crystal B.
West Sacramento, CA
9/17/2010 2 photos
I have put in many hours with Steve Martinez. I first found him on a whim and immediately formed a friendship with him. How can you not? He is one of the friendliest, professional, and artistically awesome people I know. I have such a trust in Steve that I have gone in and given him a loose idea of what I wanted, and I let him take creative control...the end result is always better than I had imagined. I am also such a fan that I have two of his original drawings tattooed on my body....I saw them in paint and said "I want that"! I can honestly say that a day doesn't go by that someone doesn't comment on how vivid the colors are in his tattoos...I have to carry his cards around, because that is always the next question.
Not only do I love him for the work he does on me, but also the work on my friends and co-workers.....he is definately the person that I refer my loved ones too.Comment from Marc B. of Propaganda Tattoo 9/17/2010
Crystal, thank you for posting the pictures. We look… More » -
Review from Casey D.
San Diego, CA
8/18/2009
I'm not a spur-of-the-moment kind of gal. The concept of "impulse buy" doesn't really exist in my repertoire. Never once have I gotten to the counter at Target and thought, "Yeah, I need some batteries, chapstick, a Toblerone, and 14 bouncy balls." However, a few Saturdays ago, I was feeling kinda sexy, and I had been holding onto this tattoo idea for a while, and it wouldn't be able to stop thinking about it until I bit the proverbial bullet. In addition, my other half just had about $200 worth of work needled into himself earlier in the week, so I was inspired.
So I went to the place where I got my last tattoo (Tattoo Royale), and despite the fact that I wanted 4 small words in french, and he had 2 hours until his next appointment, I was turned down! I understand that he may prefer to work on appointment alone because of set up time and all that, but DAMN, don't you remember how well I tipped last time I was in? It would've been a whole 5 minutes to print out the text, 10 minutes to set up your station, 25 mins for the tattoo, and another 10 to clean up. That's an extra hour before your next appointment!!!
So I yelp away on the boyfriend's crackberry, and I come across Propaganda. I think I walked by this place about a million times on my way to the bagel shop next-door. I never knew how reputable it was until I started reading the reviews. Yelpers did not lie. Eric was the shiznizzle. I drop in, he takes me to the computer, we figure out a size and a font, I fill out the paper work, and he gets cranking.
The price was right, the service was great (Mike and I just sat there bullshitting with everyone before and during the tattoo), the place was immaculately clean (I should hear your autoclave constantly running), and the work....IT IS PERFECT. It is so easy to screw up lines, especially thin lines for script writing, on a tattoo. Eric, however, has a steady, calm, and gentle hand. Yes, gentle. Granted I've hit some of the most painful spots with my other ink (ribs, yowzas) so the upper back wasn't going to be nearly as bad, but this was nearly painless. And it took just as long as it should have - 1 hour from printing the text to applying the bandage.
Another thing I should comment on is the art on the walls. Wow. I'm seriously considering letting Eric just freehand down the rest of my back, and I wouldn't even care if I ended up with a bunch of zombie bunny rabbits eating candy canes. His art on the walls is abstract, creative, detailed, colorful, and all-around fucked-up awesome. I saw some of Chris' artwork as well, and he is equally commendable.
So even though my new ink reads, "L'enfer c'est les autres" (Hell is other people), the guys at Propaganda do not fall into that category. Thanks a million for accomodating me, guys! Can't wait to drop a few more bills in your shop.Listed in: Star Power, Non-Food Favorites, Teh OB Hoodz
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Review from Dylan M.
Albany, CA
6/19/2008 1 photo
Propaganda is one of the nicest shops I have visited in San Diego, very clean, comfortable, and a very funny staff. They were totally helpful and I worked with Zoger to have a custom design created, it's by far my favorite tattoo I have to date. I will definitely be coming back here again as soon as I can.
I had read several other great reviews on other websites and they were spot on, I couldn't have had a better experience. If you are looking for the best San Diego tattoo shop I'd definitely swing by and just check it out to see for yourself, you will be surprised at how nice the shop is and how friendly the staff is.
Its best to make an appointment but you can drop by and if they are slow or have an opening they will fit you right in, which is great for those spur of the moment decisions.
Compared to some of my other tats they were quite affordable. You can also check out each of their artists work on their website which helped me make a decision as to what artist I wanted to have design my work. -
Review from Cindy K.
La Mesa, CA
3/3/2011
I didn't have a tattoo person or someone who was local that friends could recommend, so I Yelped local places and read reviews. I came across this place and actually read ALL the reviews since I was putting something permanent on me. Grizzly Joe was awesome! I went in with a tattoo that I'd gotten 23 years ago and wanted covered with one that meant something to me at this stage in my life. I emailed him the 6 pics I had on my phone and he pulled them up on his phone. We discussed options, price, and he quoted me $150 & requested a $60 deposit for the work up drawing that would go toward my final price. Two days later he sent me his rough drawing and was very receptive to the slight changes in size/shape I requested. He never even questioned my suggestions and within an hour sent the final version that was PERFECT! We scheduled a day, and he even took off $30 afterward because it ended up taking less time to complete than originally estimated! Who does that?!! I would have paid the $150, but I have so much more respect for him for being straight with me. I wouldn't have known any different. Thanks, Joe!!!
Also, this shop was extremely clean and sterile...nothing like the last place I'd been downtown 23 yrs ago! -
Review from Blue S.
San Diego, CA
8/4/2008
This is the greatest tattoo shop I've been to. First off, there aren't a bunch of douchebags working there. Yes, they crack on each other a lot, and the humor can get a little salty, but it's all in good spirits and they don't have that too cool for school vibe that every single other shop in the world seems to have. You don't hear them talking bad about previous clients, or clowning your old crappy tattoos (if you're me anyway), etc. The focus is on what you're there to have done now.
Teer is the artist who did my tattoos, and he is f-ing AMAZING at what he does. His hand is steady, the work is clean and beautiful. His script designs are, in my opinion, perfect. The work of the other artists is comparable, too, but Teer's the man. You never know what you'll get music-wise, either, but that's cool. I've heard filthy hip-hop, Reagan Youth, Michael Jackson on different visits. It's a comfortable, friendly environment. -
Review from Douglas H.
Chula Vista, CA
4/3/2011
I will go back to see Travis for any work I have done, he did the piercing off my nipples and the whole experience was great
Comment from Marc B. of Propaganda Tattoo 5/18/2011
Thanks for the kind words Douglas, I will let Travis know… More » -
Review from Michael W.
Chula Vista, CA
3/21/2010
It had been 11 yrs since I had gotten a tat. I went in about Jan to get a Charger bolt done on my calf, met Shaun Kyle, he did mine and my GF's. It was her first one...great guy, made her feel comfortable and at ease...did a great job on both of ours. We have been back 3 times now for more ink. The latest pieces were custom pieces that he created from our concepts. Hers was 4 hearts intertwined and each had color for each of her kids birthstones. Mine was a tribal Sagittarius that I brought him the concept design and he made it my own...
He's a great artist, and we are already in the designing stage of our next pieces from Shaun.
All the guys there a friendly and the shop is located near some shops to eat if you have to wait for a design to be drawn up. I have and will continue to recommend Shaun and Propaganda tattoo to all my friends. -
Review from derick d.
San Diego, CA
5/22/2010
I wanted a full sleeve done and decided to check this place out after reading great reviews. I walked in with my ideas and was immediately pointed to the best designer for my style of work. Joe was very professional and worked with me on creating my ideas into a tattoo design. A few days later he emailed me his drawings and we tweaked them a little back and forth.
We setup an appointment to get the outline done... really great work. He tattoos to the perfect depth and all my lines are crystal clear and it is healing amazingly.. no scabs, etc.
I haven't returned for the color yet but I'm looking forward to it.
The shop is noticeably clean and well-lit and all the staff seems experienced in their own area (some are better at Asian styles, others at photo-realistic, etc.).
Highest recommendation. -
Review from Christopher O.
San Jose, CA
9/17/2010
It really is as good as it gets here. To put it plain and simple, Propaganda makes you feel at home from the moment you walk through the door, till the moment you walk out (with that sick new tattoo under that bandage). Ultra-professional, ultra-clean, no "I'm cooler than thou" attitudes, and top quality custom tattoos are what you will find here (among tons of crazy artwork and hilarious stories from the staff). I know because I have gotten two of my favorite tattoos here, which I get compliments on every day (I wish I could take credit for them). The guys that run the place really do care, not just about themselves but about the quality of the work they produce and about the community they live in (Anyone here about what they do when the Charges go to the playoffs?).
Long story short, if you want quality tattoo work, done at a fair price, in a excellent environment, then Propaganda is worth a stop. Whether off the beaten path in the O.B./Point Loma area, or in the heart of the college area, they do it right at Propaganda. I'll be back, that's a fact.Comment from Marc B. of Propaganda Tattoo 9/17/2010
Thanks for the review, looking forward to seeing you again… More » -
Review from Amber G.
San Diego, CA
6/14/2009 1 photo
This place was great! I'd been thinking of getting a new tattoo for a while, and finally picked a day to do it. This was going to be my first tattoo in San Diego so on the morning of said day, I got on yelp to find a shop. I've never had an appointment to gt a tattoo and as I was searching through the reviews of San Diego's 9 million shops, I was surprised to see that so many places here require appointments. But I'm a fan of instant gratification and I really wanted it done that day. So I wrote down the names of three places that looked promising and headed to Propaganda first.
I asked if they had time for a walk-in and was so happy when the guy said that Chris did. I did have to wait a little while because Chris was busy tattooing a the state of California within a circle with a slash through it (?!?) on some guy who apparently has no taste in states. Once he was done, he had me email him the picture I had shown him and put it onto the paper. He had some really good input on placement and coloring and it came out beautifully. It hurt, of course, but not enough to make me cry. -
Review from Becka H.
San Diego, CA
2/17/2011
My brother passed away when I was young and I wanted a tattoo that would really honor him. A friend recommended Propaganda and said that Travis is really talented and would work with me to create something special. The first time I met with Travis, I really had no idea what I wanted the tattoo to look like, only that I wanted my brother's name somewhere in the design. Travis and I went through his portfolio, talked about my brother and what he liked to do, then discussed where on my body I wanted the tattoo. We decided on a really cool Celtic tree design with my brother's name etched in the leaves, because that way the tattoo would both honor our heritage and my brother. I loved the idea and the sketch that Travis did for me and I booked an appointment to come in and get it put on my back, two weeks later. Now, a month after having my tattoo done, I can say I am so happy with the end result. My tattoo healed quickly, I had no problems with infection, and I can't stop looking at the tattoo. Thanks Travis for helping me honor my brother in a way that will be with me for the rest of my life.
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Review from Kyle B.
4/13/2009 ROTD 6/21/2009
I finally jumped on the tattoo bandwagon and got some ink for my 25th berfday. I know: I'm such a rebel! Now all I need is a motorcycle, a switchblade, and some of that "Damn rap music" and I will have achieved full derelict status (according to my grandma). Anyways, my homies managed to talk me out of the "Robocop Fighting a Panda" sleeve that I wanted, so I ended up settling on a bitchin' eye design that I found on the interwebz. Following some extensive research, I settled on Guru Tattoo and Propaganda as the two finalists for the "Who Wants to Piss Off Kyle's Parents" contest. Here is some real talk I'm gonna lay down for you: Guru does great work, but they think they are goddamn Miami Ink or some shiz. Their prices were a little ridiculous and they couldn't even offer me a consult until about 2-3 weeks out! Hey Kat Von Dee, my design was a fairly simple black tattoo that you could have done in an hour/ hour and a half. I liken this scenario to the "giant line at the club" syndrome. Tattoos are so popular nowadays, if you make your clients wait, they will think that they are getting work done by the freaking Gustav Klimt of body modification. Or maybe they just are REALLY busy. Either way, Propaganda was more than happy to take the wheel and offer the artistic services of a magical Brazilian named Sergio for my first tattoo.
I had already looked at a lot of Sergio's work online, so when the guy at the front counter mentioned that he was working on the rainy Friday night I came in, I immediately opted for a sit-down with him. Sergio is one cool customer and he really has an eye for tattoo design. He definitely had no qualms about the placement of my tat or smoothing out the roughness of my initial concept. The price he quoted was also extremely reasonable. Considering I'm pretty much a n00b when it comes to tattoos, the entire intro process conducted by Sergio really put me at ease. He had my design drawn up in under half an hour and had me on the table before I could even think about backing out of this lifelong spontaneous decision.
Once that needle started buzzing, the professionalism of Sergio really took over. On the inside I was wincing like a little bitch, but on the outside my stoic visage did not belie any semblance of pain. Partly this was because it actually didn't hurt that much (thanks to the wizardry of Sergio), and partly this was because I was with my lady and I didn't want her to think I was a wuss. So the process only took about an hour and 15 minutes and the final product was simply amazing. I will definitely be going back to Propaganda for some more excuses to be excluded from my parent's will!Listed in: Like Giving Yourself the…
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Review from Chelle S.
Coronado, CA
9/30/2010
Steve Martinez was awesome!! I originally came to him for a touch up on a tatt I had gotten 2 weeks prior & wasn't completely happy with. I ended up with an entirely new tatt, touch up & being very happy with both. He listens to you!! I will be back for my next one :)
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Review from Mark H.
San Diego, CA
4/21/2009
Love Propaganda Tattoo. Was introduced to Eric and this shop through some friends. He has done tattoos for 3 of my friends, plus me. He is an amazing artist and I will probably not go to anyone else. Would not recommend another shop to anyone other than Propaganda, especially someone looking to get a challenging one. Everyone who works there is cool, extremely talented and genuinely welcoming when you come in. Can't wait for my next tat.
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Review from Abigail N.
San Diego, CA
2/16/2010
I got 2 cover up tats done at Propaganda Tattoo with Johnny Blaze and I am EXTREMELY satisfied. I had Chinese lettering on both shoulder blades and Mike did a wonderful job covering them up with beautiful peonies and lotus flowers. People can't even tell they are cover ups because he did such an amazing job! He is such a talented artist. Very professional and friendly. I took a lot of breaks because it was my first big tattoo, but Mike didn't mind, he'd have smoke breaks with me outside and made the entire process fun. Thanks Johnny!
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Review from Danielle W.
Lakeside, CA
3/10/2010
Love the shop!! The guys there are all amazing!! I was scared to get my first tattoo, but they made the experience very welcoming and relaxing. Love my first tattoo by Sergio, and before I knew it I was back for another. He was very professional and friendly, and was patient when I needed to take a break. Keep up the great work guys!
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Review from Chi-Chong s.
San Jose, CA
5/6/2010 1 Check-in Here
Cool people, great artists and clean environment. Awesome shop!
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Review from Dave W.
Los Angeles, CA
9/17/2010
I strolled into Propaganda on a lark a few weeks ago, having just decided to do something adventurous, get a tattoo! I never thought I even wanted one before, but at that moment, it seemed like my destiny. The artist Joe greeted me, and was very friendly. After he finished up his customer, he and I got to chatting. By that time, I had chosen this tribal looking thing. Joe asked me why I had chosen that particular one, and the only answer I had was that it looked cool, and I didn't know what else to get. Joe suggested, and not in a pushy way, that maybe I not get the tattoo that day, and that I go home and think about it. He said to me, "You know, this IS forever, so you should be really certain it's something you want". I was really touched that he would pass up the chance to make some money, just to be the good guy, and talk me out of doing something I regret. I did go home, and within a few weeks, I discovered this really cool design that my mother had created when she was younger. I decided that's what I wanted, and I returned to Joe at Propaganda. He did an amazing job, and I guarantee I will NEVER regret it. In the end, I give these guys FIVE stars, for heart, integrity, and talent. Thanks Joe, and thanks Propaganda!!
Comment from Marc B. of Propaganda Tattoo 9/17/2010
Thanks for coming in Dave, you rock!! More » -
Review from I T.
Plano, TX
6/15/2009
My only regret is not having my first one done here. Everyone was great. Mr. Shaun Kyle Superhero was my tattoo artist. I had a small purple heart done on my arm. Teeny lil guy (the tattoo), very discreet like a secret. The Superhero was very very sweet and patient. Thanks Shaun (and staff). :O) I love the artwork that hugs the walls and different media used by each of the artist. It's like a live portfolio. Print transfers are fun! I want to grow up like you. PS3!
