Flash tattoos becoming Western Pa.'s new social bonding experience

Planning a day out with friends? You could catch a movie, get some lunch or head to a game of mini golf. But a new option is becoming increasingly popular, according to Diane McQuade, part-owner of Pittsburgh Tattoo Co.: getting flash tattoos together.

“It seems like more of a bonding experience,” she said. “With the rise of social media, people want experiences. They want to be able to go out with their friends and film the day and have something that’s more than just a tattoo.”

A Pew Research study from 2023 found almost one-third of Americans have at least one tattoo, and there’s a higher instance of people under age 50 getting ink, or at least considering it. The availability of flash tattoos in shops and at events also has increased, according to tattoo artists from the Southwestern Pennsylvania region.

The concept of flash tattoos, McQuade said, has been around for over a century. Typically, flash tattoos are pre-made designs that are available for walk-ins or at special events. They’re popular images that are quick to apply and take decision-­making pressure off for prospective clients.

“They actually started in the very early 1900s,” said Emilie Darlene, tattoo artist and shop owner at Wicked Widow Tattoo in Bridge­ville. “Tattoo artists would buy these flash books made by other artists so they could put them up on the wall and people could come in and pick them straight off the wall.”

Those tattoos were a bit more rudimentary, Darlene said. These days, flash tattoo designs can get complex — and are often created by the artists themselves.

Flash tattoos are available at shops anytime, but tattoo studios will also hold special themed days or set up at outside events to provide that little extra flash.

Typically, flash tattoos will be available at a flat rate, but customers are able to customize designs or add color at an extra cost.

“It doesn’t matter how big, but typically it’s … under 6 inches big,” said Steven Treutelaar, owner of Obsession Tattoo in Youngwood. “It’s just all outlines.”

Holly Corcoran of Saged Crystal Tattoo in Coraopolis said flash tattoos are a good way to save a bit of cash. “It’s things that people like that you can offer for a discounted price to kind of give back to your clientele and bring new clients in,” she said.

Designs found in flash tattoo sheets could be anything from hearts and flowers to cartoon characters, seasonal items or local references.

“We do a ton of Mac Miller flash,” McQuade said. “Oddly enough, Picklesburgh is really popular. … I drew this pickle sheriff, and now I do the pickle sheriff like once a week.”

Laine DeTillo, tattooer at Three Rivers Tattoo, believes that Friday the 13th — whenever it comes around on the calendar — was a catalyst for the current event-based flash tattoo craze.

“We get calls a month ahead of time asking, ‘Are you guys doing something?’ ” she said.

The Friday the 13th tattoo fad is said to have started with Oliver Peck, a veteran artist and former judge on the competition reality show “Ink Master.” According to Vice, he first held an event on the auspicious date in 1995, where he spent 24 hours tattooing the number 13 on as many people as possible.

Now, parlors all over the country will offer heavily discounted designs on that sometimes-thrice-annual date and heavily inked enthusiasts have caught on.

DeTillo said that traditional tattoos are the most popular for everyday walk-in customers who are looking for quick ink: “Items like daggers, roses, skulls, things like that.”

Darlene agreed. “I see a lot of horror imagery and kind of spooky, witchy imagery,” she said.

At Wicked Widow Tattoo, she’ll also run special flash events for milestones like the shop’s anniversary. Once, she had a Shrek-themed bachelorette party that came in for flash tattoos.

“We try to have some flash tattoos for every holiday, like Halloween, Christmas, for Thanksgiving, it’s usually just pumpkins and harvest stuff and a little bit of floral,” Treutelaar said.

DeTillo said that Three Rivers Tattoo will participate in events such as Millvale Days, offering some special drawings for the occasion.

“Some of it is town-related, sort of like ‘if you know you know’ kind of thing,” she said.

Shops often get creative with their specific themes. Corcoran ran a flash event based on the “Twilight” series of books and films in early September. She even played the film series in the main area of her shop during the event.

Obsessive Tattoo in Youngwood offered patriotic designs — including flags, eagles, and firemen’s hats — on Sept. 11, extending discounts to first responders and military members. They also have Pittsburgh-specific designs, including logos for the Pirates and Steelers, cartons of Turner’s Iced Tea and the Kennywood Park sign.

Treutelaar said that they hold monthly flash events at Christian Klay Winery in Chalkhill, Pa. The designs change for the season; September’s event offered Halloween masks, gravestones, skulls and other scary items ahead of Halloween.

Some artists also use their skills to give back to various causes. Corcoran said Saged Crystal Tattoo has participated in numerous benefits through flash.

“We did one for our artist’s family who passed away this year. We did one for a friend and a family member of that friend who lost their daughter and their house in a fire. Both times we raised over $3,000 for each family,” she said.

On Sunday, Pittsburgh Action Against Rape will hold its third annual Ink for Impact, a pop-up flash tattoo bonanza that’s gotten lots of buzz in the past couple of years. The event will be held at Velum Fermentation on Pittsburgh’s South Side. Dozens of artists from around the region will offer event-specific images.

Darlene is one of the participating tattooers. She’s looking forward to participating in a fundraiser for a cause she believes in. Each artist will draw thematic inspiration from the event to make their own flash sheets.

Darlene took a head-on approach to her offerings. “They’re more of an empowering kind of thing. There are phrases in there like ‘My Body, My Choice’ and ‘No Means No.’”

Detillo and other artists from Three Rivers Tattoo will also participate, along with artists from shops including Queen of Swords, PMA Tattoo, Kyklops Tattoo and several others from the area.

PAAR got connected with the local ink art scene after a national fundraising campaign called “Still Not Asking For It” used flash tattoos to benefit the organization in 2018 and 2019. PAAR quickly realized the community-minded generosity of local tattoo shops and artists.

“We also realized the intrinsic connection between the artistic medium of tattooing and the power it presents to those who are healing from sexual trauma – as it provides in a sense a way to reclaim what was taken from them, and how it can give them empowerment and help guide them in their healing process,” said Corey Hart, director of development and marketing at PAAR.

So, in 2023, they held their first Ink for Impact event at Spirit in Lawrenceville, and the annual event has only grown since. That year, 17 artists participated; this year, attendees will be able to choose from 47 different tattooers, all accepting clients on a first-come, first-served basis at the event.

“Each event sparks conversations, connects us with new supporters, and reminds people that creative expression can be a meaningful step in healing and advocacy,” Hart said.

Hart said in its first year, Ink for Impact raised $20,000, and that number doubled to $41,000 last year.

“We are hopeful to double that number again for this year,” he said.