Services
Sal's Tattoo & Barber Shop
Sal's Tattoo & Barber Shop doesn't cut hair. They used to, a while back, but not any longer. There's just an antiquated barber's chair that sits alone in the front of the shop, a memory of days gone past. Sal's has cut everything else out - no gimmicks, T-shirts or piercings - just straight-up classic tattoos.
Perched technically in Chinatown, Sal's sits unassuming at College and Spadina. It blends in with the Chinatown environ. And when you enter, you get a no-bullshit tattoo experience. A layered-down, "gritty," come-as-you-are shop that houses only two artists, Greg Kidd and Jenny Boulger.
Like many of the city's top tattoo joints, Sal's is a mainstay. First opened in the fall of 1998 by Steven Brazda, now a New York-based artist, the shop originally offered a haircut with its inking. (Something that New Tribe does too). Sadly, it didn't last long.
When Kidd took over the shop in 2004, he liked the theme of combining the old-fashioned barber and tattooing and decided to hold onto the aesthetic, but not the service. Boulger joined shortly after and the two have been running the shop since to a steady clientele, which does service local CAMH patients. "We're here for them, the patients," says Boulger. "They have more of the touching, LA Ink-like stories. It's cute."
When I meet Jenny on an unseasonably warm winter night, the shop is empty. She's wearing a black graphic T-shirt and sipping on a Red Bull. Some Spanish guitar is quietly playing in the background. The vibe is immediately laidback, welcoming. "We're not here to scare anyone away. We don't have this tension when you walk in the door," says Boulger, leaning back in her swivel chair. As a mainly word-of-mouth shop, the clientele is like family. "We try to keep an old school vibe. We like it how it is; we don't really like change. Want to keep as much heart of an old shop as we can."
Technically a street shop fused with custom capabilities, Jenny and Greg's styles differ. They do everything, but Greg's talent lays in portraits and black and grays. Jenny hits up the colourful, "more girly" side. "Neither of us have egos. We're here to give you a good tattoo, that's all." It's a point blank, take-us-or-leave us tattoo experience.
Describing the shop as a working man's shop, all rough and tumble, Jenny and Greg are a little cheaper than your average Toronto tattoo artist. They don't like to rip off their customers, they say, and all tattoos are $120 an hour.
"We are Queen Street tattoos at Chinatown prices."
Sal's Tattoos are $120/hr with a minimum of $60. Store hours: 12-8 Monday-Saturday; 12-6 on Saturday.
Writing by Ryan Bolton / Photography by Dennis Marciniak
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Advice to anyone getting a tattoo: check the place out thoroughly! Ask to see the autoclave; don't take their "word" for it that they sterilize equipment (if they won't show it to you, run like hell!).
A reputable tattoo parlor is as clean, if not cleaner, than a doctor's examination room. Gloves, antiseptic, gauze... the works. ALL should be visible while getting a tattoo, and instructions on how to clean the tattoo should be printed out and given to you when you leave, preferably with a small container of cream.
Another thing: a reputable parlot will break the used needles with pliers after use, and dispose of the sharp objects in a hazmat box.
I cannot speak for Sal's, but I still suggest Tat-a-Rama.
Do they use lead based paint?
Cleaniness was good and gave great instructions for care afterwards. A place i would def. recommend to friends. :D
Did not like either. Greg was not helpful, and the second visit, I decided to give Jen a shot. She I believe, had just started out, and not to my knowledge. The tattoo ended up not coming out too great, and my wrist swelled up insanely bad.
This is coming from someone who has many tattoos. My best advice, if you like someone, stick to them, which is why I hunted down the previous artist who did my work and have been seeing them for years since.
"If you can't speak for Sal's then maybe add your little BEWARE comment in a forum pertaining to Tat-A-Rama."
Honey, my comments apply to ALL tattoo parlors. Consider asking questions about hygiene a public service.
Great service, great attention, and great people...especially the apprentice, Matt.
Greg did a wonderful job on a small piece of mine and made me feel extremely comfortable and cared for.
all in all, a great and fun place to get inked.
Why women and men (society in general) still pre-judge people with tats. girls especially?
I am a 26 year old F, have 10 tattoos, most of which can't be seen on my daily travels. Five To Six during the summer are pretty much constantly on display. I don't strive for attention and i also have a loving boyfriend WITH NO TATTOOS .I get the impression that a lot of people believe that tattooed persons are blind, once we get stared at, even when we return a glance many people carry on staring. When will society change?
For those of you "People Bashing" please step aside and take a look at yourself.
By the way, I can't wait to get my tattoo done at Sal's, and for your information, I'm already working on my other sleeve to be done at SAL'S TATTOO shop !!!!!!!!
P.S. The boys at Sal's are constantly busy tattooing............what does that mean ??????