Meet Carebear: The Friendly & Warm Neo-Traditional Tattoo Artist from House of OMA

By Aqasha Nalani  •  13 Aug 2025 in Features

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If you’ve ever gone under the needle, you’ll know that finding a trustworthy and reliable tattoo artist can make or break the entire experience. It’s not just about the final design; it’s about feeling safe, heard, and comfortable from start to finish.

Recently, I had the honour of getting inked by Carrelyn Chow, also known as Carebear, one of the talented artists from House of OMA. The collective has built a cosy community space in Jalan Tavers, bringing together artistry and a welcoming atmosphere.

I first met Carebear at a tattoo event at W Hotel Kuala Lumpur. When I went up to say hello, she complimented my style and told me it suited my aesthetic perfectly. We exchanged contact that day, and I later decided to get tattooed by her, as our conversation left a great impression on me.

A few weeks later, I shared my ideas with her, and together we came up with a lotus design to sit in the middle of my chest, perfectly complementing my other tattoos.

When the day of the appointment arrived, I was greeted not only by Carebear but also by the rest of the team at House of OMA. The warm welcome made me feel as if I were visiting the home of a long-time friend.

But this article isn’t about House of OMA, as we’ve already covered their story before. This one is about Carebear’s journey in tattooing and what sets her apart.

Her tattoo career officially began when she graduated from college at 21, but her fascination with the art form started in high school when she saw her brother get his first tattoo.

In a conversation with JUICE, the 29-year-old recalled telling her mother she wanted to pursue tattooing as a career. Her mother agreed, but only after she promised to complete her graphic design studies.

“I went to college, and I chose graphic design because I thought it was related to tattooing. I figured if this career path doesn’t work out for me in the future, at least I have something to fall back on,” said Carebear.

She then started her apprenticeship with Simon from Electric Dreams Collective right after college, but it took her mother two years to fully accept that she could make a living in the tattoo industry.

“She initially was not very sure about my career choice, but she slowly saw that I was very serious about tattooing. I think with parents, they just want to see that we’re able to make it on our own,” she added.

Despite describing her work as neo-traditional, Carebear doesn’t limit herself to just one style

“When I first started learning how to tattoo, neo-traditional was the style that I was drawn to the most. But I also enjoy doing other styles because they’re all fun for me.

“Lately, I’ve been loving blackwork tattoos, and merging the two styles is something I’m trying to do more of now,” she said.

Carebear shared that she would love to work on a full-body suit tattoo, with ornamental and floral designs covering most of the body. However, she finds it challenging to convince someone to commit to such a project when they have never been tattooed before.

When speaking about House of OMA, Carebear said her favourite part about the collective is the strong support she receives from the team

For her, a supportive environment where other artists share ideas and feedback is vital for growth. The collective has also given her opportunities to explore her creativity in a collaborative way.

“Everything here is very experimental, so when you want to try something, there are no limits. They are always supportive, and whatever you want to do never gets dismissed,” said Carebear.

Aside from having a supportive team, she said the studio allows her to meet people from all walks of life, opening more doors for her career

House of OMA’s communal space—complete with a cigar room, bar, and garden—often attracts visitors who drop by to hang out. Many of them leave inspired to collaborate with the team.

“Sometimes when we meet people, the opportunity goes beyond tattooing on skin. For example, you might meet someone here who’s working on an alcohol brand, and they might want your design on it.

“The people who come here are mostly community-based. Everyone has their own projects, and somehow we always find a way to collaborate,” said Carebear.

When asked where she sees herself in five years, Carebear shared that she hopes to build a strong identity through her tattoo work

“In the next three years, I’d like to focus more on my identity. I don’t want to specialise in just one style because I feel like that would mean missing out on exploring other opportunities.

“I’ll still work across different styles, but I want to develop that unique touch where people can look at a tattoo and immediately say, ‘Oh, that’s Carebear’s work,’” she said.

Lastly, beyond tattooing, the artist hopes to explore her creativity in other fields, including product design and fashion.

After our conversation, Carebear led me into the tattoo room, where she began placing the stencil on my chest and prepping her tools

Note: If you’re nervous about the pain of a chest tattoo, don’t overthink it. For me, it was much more tolerable than expected. Pain tolerance is subjective, of course, but I’d rate mine around a 4/10.

Because the placement meant I’d need to be partially undressed, she asked if I’d like a room divider for privacy, a small but thoughtful gesture that showed how much she prioritises comfort.

Once everything was set, she got to work. For two hours, the buzzing of the machine filled the air as she carefully etched the design onto my skin. Her clean linework and precise blackwork stood out immediately, a testament to her attention to detail.

When the tattoo was done, we capped the evening with a few bottles of beer and more warm conversation while I waited for my Grab. Overall, the experience felt less like a transaction and more like hanging out with a friend who happens to be incredibly skilled at her craft. Carebear’s warm, welcoming energy made the entire process comfortable from start to finish.

Follow Carebear and book your appointment with her here.

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