I’ve Sat Through 50 Tattoos. Here’s the One Local Artist I Recommend Above All

By Lara Kramer  •  03 Aug 2026 in Features

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Yep. As of today, I’ve sat through a total of 50 tattoos, which means I’ve spent a frankly ridiculous amount of time letting people stab me repeatedly with tiny needles just to look slightly cooler.

Over the years, I’ve been tattooed by different artists, in different styles, in different settings, and I’ve realised something big: a good tattoo is not just about whether the final piece looks cool.

Obviously, that part matters. You want an artist who understands placement, knows how to work with your body, and has the technical ability to create something that still looks good years later. But there’s another thing that people don’t always talk about enough: how you feel while getting tattooed.

Because tattooing is a weirdly vulnerable experience. You’re sitting there, sometimes for hours, while someone you might have only met once permanently changes your body. There’s pain involved, there’s trust involved, and there’s that tiny moment before the machine touches your skin where you think, “Wait. Am I sure about this?”

So 50 tattoos, there is one artist I always find myself recommending when someone asks me who they should go to:

Zoe Salwynn.

I first got tattooed by Zoe when she finished my sleeve with a custom bow piece on my hand. I already loved her work, but what surprised me was how quickly I felt comfortable around her.

And that’s not something I say lightly.

I can be quite picky about who tattoos me. I’m not someone who sees a pretty Instagram post and immediately books an appointment. For me, the person behind the artwork matters just as much as the artwork itself. With Zoe, that trust came most naturally.

Her current studio is tucked away in a KL condo unit, which I know might sound intimidating to some people. A lot of people feel more reassured walking into a traditional tattoo shop with the flashing signs, the tattoo chairs lined up and the general “yes, this is definitely where people get tattooed” atmosphere.

But when she greets you at the door, it feels like walking into her brain, and maybe even a piece of her soul.

The studio is colourful, playful, and full of little things that make sense once you get to know her. There are collectible toys, plushies, snacks, classic box drinks, a shoe wall that somehow looks like part personal collection and part gallery, and little decorations that make the whole place feel warm instead of overly curated.

It doesn’t have to to convince you it has personality, you just know it does. Pretty much the same thing as looking at Zoe herself.

Zoe is genuinely the gentlest tattoo artist I’ve ever had, and the funniest thing is that I don’t think she realises it.

It’s not just about having a light hand, although that definitely helps when someone is working on your skin. It’s the way she talks to you, the way she checks in, and the way she makes the whole process feel less intimidating without making a big deal out of it.

She has this ability to keep you calm and chatting while needles are literally pricking away at your skin, which is honestly a very specific talent.

And trust me, I know pain. I’ve had tattoos in some pretty questionable places, but there was one placement I had wanted for years and kept putting off: my navel.

I had always wanted a navel tattoo, but I never dared to actually do it. The area itself is tricky, and obviously, there was the fear that it was going to be one of those tattoos where you sit there questioning every decision you’ve ever made.

But after getting tattooed by Zoe the first time, I knew that if there was anyone I would trust with that placement, it would be her. And that’s probably the biggest compliment I can give an artist.

Not just that you like their work, but that you trust them with the spots you’re most nervous about. And that you look forward to seeing them.

I’ve said this before in my previous article about Zoe, and I’ll say it again: being Zoe’s client feels different because she never makes you feel like you’re just another appointment.

She treats you like a friend. Maybe that’s why every session feels so easy.

You walk in thinking you’re just there for a tattoo, and somehow two hours later you’ve discussed everything from random life updates to whatever gossip has happened recently. During my first session with Zoe, I found myself talking far more than I expected to someone I had only met once before. The second session felt even more natural.

That first JUICE feature was written as a client, but this time, I’m speaking as a friend. And for someone who can be quite particular about who I let tattoo me, that comfort means a lot.

Of course, being a lovely person only gets you so far. A tattoo artist still has to tattoo. Thankfully, that’s where Zoe’s skill speaks for itself.

Her work leans towards ornamental pieces with intricate details, delicate balance, and a strong understanding of placement. What I appreciate is that she doesn’t just think about how a tattoo looks fresh. She thinks about how it belongs on your body. Because tattoos change.

The piece you take a photo of immediately after leaving the studio is not the same piece you’ll have five, 10, or 20 years later. The way an artist works with skin matters. Line weight, depth, placement, and technique all play a part in how something ages.

Zoe approaches her work with a lot of patience. For both my hand and navel tattoos, she added freehand dotwork and extra ornaments after the main outline, giving the pieces more dimension and making them feel less like something simply transferred from a stencil.

That’s what I love about her work. It’s precise, but it still feels alive.

Her tattoos have this refined, detailed quality, while her illustrations show a much louder and quirkier side of her creativity. It’s fun seeing both because it feels like you’re seeing two sides of the same artist: the careful tattooer and the person who just likes making weird, colourful things.

Another thing I appreciate about Zoe is that she knows how to read people.

If you want to talk, she’ll talk. If you’re someone who prefers to sit quietly and let the music play, she won’t force a conversation out of you. She matches your energy instead of expecting you to match hers.

A good tattoo experience isn’t just about having a pretty studio or a nice Instagram portfolio. It comes down to communication. It’s someone being honest about what works and what doesn’t, explaining placement, making you feel comfortable, and treating your tattoo like something you’ll live with rather than just another piece of work to finish.

Zoe does all of that naturally. With her, you don’t just leave with a new tattoo. You leave feeling like you had a genuinely good day. And after all those hours spent in the chair, that is something I value more than I expected.

So if you’ve been thinking about getting your first tattoo but are fighting the nerves, or you’re already collecting ink and looking for someone you can trust, Zoe Salwynn is someone I cannot recommend enough.

Because yes, the tattoo matters. But the person holding the machine matters just as much.

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