Enso Tattoo

Getting a tattoo can be a nerve-wracking experience, but Enso Tattoo makes the inking process a little less intimidating. Former Bushido Tattoo artists James Jacobs and Trevor Varem operate this cozy parlour, and have brought fellow skinscribe Kevin Johnson on board as the shop’s third tattoo artist. “Our biggest goal is to make sure everybody has something that’s not the same — that’s just a little bit different,” says Trevor.

Rather than featuring private rooms, Enso is an open-concept affair, rather like a barber shop. “People are a lot more comfortable here, because they see everything happen,” says Trevor. Subsequently, clients usually end up talking to one another during tattoo sessions, as the shop’s tattoo tables are close together. Trevor says that the socialization aspect tends to relax the clients. “Some shops you go into, and you’re waiting in a separate room. I think it makes people a little more nervous,” he says.

The shop has the feel of an eccentric living room. Its central antique-style chandelier is surrounded by walls that feature colourful framed artwork as well as an assortment of tattoo design sketches in-progress, a stuffed deer head and a selection of assorted knickknacks that includes a vintage cameras.