Coming soon! J.D. Markwardt JD Markwardt is the co-owner of Solana Tattoo Company, which he runs with his wife, Aimee. A Colorado native with more than 20 years of tattooing experience, JD has helped open four successful tattoo studios from Denver to Fort Collins. After closing his private studio, Surfbilly Tattoo, he founded Solana — named after his favorite California beach — as a place that reflects his vision of an art-forward, artist-run shop where creativity and respect for the craft come first. JD is best known for his unique take on American traditional tattooing and his signature drawings of women, inspired by the important women in his life. His daughter, Betty, is part of the Solana team as the shop’s staff photographer, making the studio a true family endeavor. JD tattoos exclusively by appointment. View some of JD's work below. See more of his work here: instagram.com/jacked_kirby_ Read more about JD here .

Coming soon! Olive Pearson Olive’s tattoo journey started long before she ever picked up a machine — she’s been hanging out in tattoo shops since she was 12, watching her sister Tayler create magic. After attending art school, Olive followed her passion and made the move to Fort Collins to start her apprenticeship. Under the guidance of Tayler Pearson and Kaden Storer at Area 69 Tattoo, she honed her craft and grew into the excellent artist she is today. Now, she’s ready to make her mark right here at Solana. More about Olive coming soon! See some of Olive's work below. View more Olive's work here: www.instagram.com/olivetatt2

Transform your story into art with Liv Laeta, a Fort Collins female tattoo artist. At Solana Tattoo Co., she specializes in unique nature and printmaking-influenced designs. Schedule your session today Liv Laeta With a background in fine art and printmaking from the Savannah College of Art and Design, Liv Laeta brings a thoughtful, precise, and creative approach to every tattoo. A Colorado native, she spent her high school years traveling the world to study classical and contemporary art techniques, building a strong artistic foundation long before she learned to tattoo at Solana at age 29. Now a talented tattoo artist in Fort Collins, Liv blends her love of design, attention to detail, and curiosity about the science behind pigments and the technology of machines to create timeless, meaningful tattoos. Whether you’re drawn to her unique black-and-grey work, printmaking-influenced designs, or nature-inspired pieces, Liv transforms personal stories and ideas into art you can carry for life. See her work below. See more at www.instagram.com/liv.laeta.tattoo Learn more about Liv here .

Here are some answers to common piercing FAQs. If you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to Solanatattoo@gmail.com . What is the service charge? Any non-piercing appointment, such as a piercing change. Our service charge is $15 to cover the sterile packs and tools that we use, specific to each service based on gauge and exact sizing. We collectively spend hours sterilizing every single taper, tool, and piece of jewelry.  What does your 90-day post-treatment care include?  Free cleanings Bead replacement Upgrade tops with zero service fee Can I get pierced with a hoop (ring)? It depends on the piercing. The piercings that are typically started with a ring are daith, septum, and select below-the-belt piercings. For most other piercings, we advise against starting with a hoop. Why hoops are usually not recommended for initial piercings: • Straight piercings vs. curved jewelry: Many piercings are performed straight initially. Placing curved jewelry (like a ring) into a fresh straight piercing puts tension on both ends of the piercing. This can lead to persistent irritation, excess bleeding, and additional swelling. • Rings rotate: Rings can turn or rotate within the piercing, whether the piercing is fresh or healed. When the jewelry rotates, bacteria that comes into contact with the portion of the ring outside the body can eventually enter the piercing channel. • Hinges and openings can trap bacteria: Any complete ring has an opening or hinge. These areas can trap bacteria and are impossible to fully clean without removing the jewelry, which we advise against until the piercing is completely healed. • The hinge can irritate the piercing channel: As the ring rotates, the hinge or opening may pass through the piercing channel. This can cause irritation or micro-tears, which may prolong healing. In some cases, the hinge or opening could even get stuck inside the piercing, and the piercing may begin closing around it. • Proper sizing is difficult with fresh piercings: Initial jewelry needs to allow room for swelling, which means starting with a larger diameter ring. Because of this, the ring won’t sit snug to the area and is more prone to snagging during the healing process. Are there exceptions? If a client specifically requests a ring, we may potentially make an exception after advising them of the risks and what to watch for during healing. The conch piercing can be particularly challenging in this situation. Starting jewelry must be larger to accommodate swelling, and we may not always have the appropriate size in stock. Rings for healed conch piercings are already among the largest sizes we typically carry, and they are often a larger gauge, which can make initial placement more difficult. When should I come in for a downsize? We recommend waiting at least 30 days after your initial piercing before downsizing, and no longer than 60 days for that first change. How much you downsize depends on your preference — some people like a slight gap, others prefer a snug fit. Either way, all changes should be gradual — one size at a time. Swelling must be fully gone, and the fistula (healed channel) should be healthy and established before switching to shorter jewelry. Keep in mind that cartilage piercings take longer to heal due to lower blood flow. For gauge (thickness) changes, go one size at a time with about 60 days between adjustments to allow proper tissue adaptation. Tapering may be tolerated up to around 10g, but beyond that, dead stretching is the only safe method, with size increases spaced about every three months. Do you stretch gauges?  Yes, up to 6g.  When should I switch out my conch jewelry? Solana Tattoo Company suggests downsizing cartilage piercings after a minimum wait of 30 days. However, we suggest you do not wait more than 60 days before downsizing. How young will you do facial piercings/nose piercings?  13 and older with parents present and proof of relation. No tongue or surface piercings for minors, however. How many piercings can I get in one session? We will do up to four piercings on the same person per session. Let them all heal for 30-60 days minimum before getting more to assure proper healing.  Is your jewelry flat back? Yes, with internal threading. Our basic jewelry has a 3mm bead.  Can you pierce the ears of a baby? No, the youngest we will pierce is age 5. A baby isn’t old enough to consent to a procedure, and we consider consent sacred.  Do you do antibrow piercings? What type of barbell do you use? Yes. The bar we use is flat in 14 gauge. We use implant titanium with 14g tops in a variety of options.  Can I bring my own jewelry in to get pierced with? Yes, if it is appropriate for the piercing you are getting. We will still provide you with some of our basic starter jewelry. If you bring your own jewelry, it doesn’t change the price of the installation.

Before she ever stepped behind the needle at a professional piercing studio in Fort Collins, Lexy Acevedo was a teenager studying her reflection in the mirror and experimenting with jewelry. She was captivated by how something small — a hoop, a stud, a stretch — could subtly reshape the way a person carried themselves. “My fascination with body modification started from a young age. I always loved experimenting with different jewelry and hair styles,” she says. Soon, curiosity turned hands on.  “By the age of 14, I started performing piercings on myself, and began stretching my lobe piercings,” she says. But experience has reshaped her perspective. “Though I do not recommend piercing yourself at home , I fell in love with doing it.”  Today, that early experimentation is exactly why she is so meticulous about safety . Piercing at home lacks sterile equipment, training on blood-borne pathogens, and proper anatomical knowledge. Now trained at one of the most elite and highly rated studios in the state, Lexy approaches every procedure with care. The standards she works under at Solana — from sterilization protocols to high-quality jewelry — are the opposite of improvised. The teenager who once experimented is now the professional who double-checks everything. That early spark never left. It just had to wait for the right time — and the right place. Waiting for the Best Piercing Studio Lexy spent more than six years in the service industry before stepping fully into professional piercing. Hospitality taught her how to read body language, how to soften anxious energy, and how to make someone feel steady before they even know they need it. As a Fort Collins piercing artist, those instincts now shape every appointment. After moving from Missouri to Colorado, Lexy continued getting pierced around town, quietly observing. She knew she wanted an apprenticeship. She just hadn’t found the environment that felt right. “I never asked for an apprenticeship at any shop I went to, not because I didn’t want one, but because I hadn’t entered a shop that didn’t make me a little nervous yet,” she says. Then she walked into Solana Tattoo Company. The lobby at Solana Tattoo Company “I found Solana and was immediately impressed by the experience,” she says. “It was like nothing I’d ever seen before.” It wasn’t just the atmosphere (although that was unique, too). It was the education and precision. Lead piercer Adam’s depth of knowledge, especially around advanced piercings she was personally interested in, stood out. Eventually, after recognizing her enthusiasm, he offered her an apprenticeship. That moment marked the shift from fascination to profession. Lexy doing a nose piercing Today, Lexy has been extensively trained by the very piercer who she admired so much; is certified in blood-borne pathogen handling; and continues to study piercing history, anatomy, and evolving techniques. As a female piercer working in body piercing Fort Collins, she understands that comfort is not a luxury in this environment. For many clients, it is essential. The Energy in the Room Spend time watching Lexy work and there is a noticeable steadiness in the room. She moves deliberately, explains each step, and checks in often. “A lot of clients come in nervous, whether it sets in the moment they enter the shop or not until they sit in the chair,” she says. She treats that nervousness as normal, not inconvenient. Her tone is always calm and conversational, and the shop’s energy accentuates that. “I love that Solana has a laid-back and welcoming vibe that helps people feel comfortable and cared for,” she says. Lexy is aware of the expectations some people carry into a tattoo environment for the first time. “Clients are never made to feel ashamed for asking for what they want,” she says. Consultations unfold as dialogue. Placement is discussed carefully. Jewelry is selected with intention. Aftercare instructions are detailed and clear. “I pride myself in my ability to create a safe and welcoming experience and gently walk my clients through each step of the process, from selecting jewelry to aftercare,” she says. At the center of her work is something deeper than aesthetics. “My goal with every session is to help the client feel the way that they want to feel,” she says. Sometimes that feeling is confidence. Sometimes it’s boldness or softness. “For a lot of people, getting a new piercing can be a way to regain a sense of control when life feels hectic, and I find a lot of power and beauty in that,” she says. That perspective guides her approach as a Fort Collins piercing specialist, whether she is performing someone’s very first ear piercing or designing a detailed ear curation .  Jewelry, Identity, and Choice Ear piercings by Lexy Jewelry, in Lexy’s hands, becomes a language. “I love that we offer a wide range of jewelry styles, something for everyone,” she says. Some clients gravitate toward gold tones. Others prefer understated pieces that blend into their everyday look. Working inside a respected piercing studio that Fort Collins community members rely on allows her to offer high-quality materials across a range of styles and budgets without compromising safety.  For Lexy, the right piece is the one that aligns with how someone wants to show up in the world. A Female Piercer in Fort Collins with Heart Lexy doing a piercing At its core, Lexy’s work is about the moment after the procedure, when the mirror turns and a client’s shoulders settle into a new kind of certainty. Lexy aims to combine her technical training with emotional awareness, reshaping what people expect a piercing studio experience to feel like. If you are considering an appointment , whether for a first ear piercing or a thoughtfully planned nose piercing, Lexy approaches each session with patience, knowledge, and care.

Just like there are different types of painting and art, there are many different styles of tattoos. You may have heard people talk about a "traditional" tattoo . But what is a traditional tattoo? This is also called old-school, American traditional tattoo, Western traditional, classic, or "trad" for short. A traditional tattoo eagle by Matt What Distinguishes a Traditional Tattoo? Traditional tattoos are known for their bold, dark lines and bright colors, but in a limited color palette (although you can get a traditional design in any color or black and grey). These tattoos typically have classic tattoo images: anchors, pin-up women, roses, patriotic symbols, eagles, the American flags, swallows, hearts, mermaids, nautical stars, daggers, snakes, panthers, Navy symbols, and symbols of good luck, like a horseshoe or four-leaf clover. Who are Traditional Tattoo Artists? Some of the most famous tattoo artists in history specialized in traditional: Sailor Jerry and Don Ed Hardy, for example. What Is Dark Traditional Tattoo Style? A more recent spin off American traditional tattoos is known as dark traditional tattoos . Dark traditional tattoos keep the foundational elements that define traditional work — bold linework, strong shapes, and timeless imagery — but shift the overall mood into something deeper and more dramatic. A dark traditional tattoo by Aiden Instead of the bright primary colors often associated with traditional tattoos, dark traditional leans heavily into blackwork and high contrast. Large areas of solid black, heavy shading, and a more muted color palette (deep reds, forest greens, browns, and off-whites) create a darker, moodier aesthetic, while still honoring traditional structure. The imagery often overlaps with classic motifs (roses, daggers, snakes, skulls, panthers, sacred hearts) but with a more gothic edge. It feels less sailor flash and more shadowed symbolism. For those who love the bold, timeless nature of traditional tattoos but prefer a grittier, more atmospheric look, dark traditional offers the best of both worlds: strong, long-lasting design with a darker presence.