Ashley B. McMullen’s new Summerville studio, Fade to Black Tattoo, is reminiscent of a 1980s maximalist wonderland of cheetah prints, loud colors and rhinestones. As McMullen, whose artist name is “Ashley B.,” puts it, the shop mimics the style of a quintessential “Jewish New York woman” — or her mother.
“My mom is one of my major inspirations for tattooing, because she’s alway been supportive,” McMullen said while seated comfortably in a black leather chair in the waiting room, taking a break from unpacking the finishing touches of her North Maple Street studio, the first female-owned shop of its kind in the Charleston area.
Her home, where she lives with her boyfriend, has a clean look of “mid-century modern,” but all of her “hectic” stuff is in the studio — the place where she said she feels most inspired.
Fade to Black Tattoo takes its name from one of McMullen’s longtime inspirations. It’s the title of a song by Metallica, a band she got into because of her first mentor. (And wherever she goes, McMullen carries with her a reminder — the “fade to black” tattoo on her lower leg.)
In essence, her entire studio is the product of 16 years of tattooing experience and dedicated, relentless passion.
Focused practice and important lessons
An obsession with tattoos started during McMullen’s senior year of high school in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. She noticed an older friend’s new tattoo and began accompanying the friend to tattoo shops. Then, she got a few tattoos herself — and became engrossed in the entire experience. Eventually, she became an apprentice who tattooed other patrons, “and I never stopped hanging out,” she said.
“Things don’t really work like this anymore,” McMullen said of her initial training. “My first mentor passed away of an overdose, so I had to find another place to work. And then that guy didn’t really teach me anything. My third apprenticeship, they sent me off into tattooing immediately.”
McMullen moved to Charleston eight years ago from her hometown of Saratoga Springs, N.Y. At first, she didn’t plan to be here for long. “Then I ended up staying because, like, why the heck not?” she said, laughing.
Most recently, she spent a year working at Holy City Tattooing Collective in West Ashley. “And the owner, Jason, he’s like my older brother.” McMullen also felt like Jason took the role of her best friend and her mentor. “He’s the one that basically taught me the most [about tattooing],” she said.
At Holy City, she learned an important practice: taking her time.
“I think the pressure to tattoo every single person who comes in the door is a real thing,” she said. And while working at a street shop, which accepted walk-ins, earlier in her career, there were “a lot of times where I just felt like a machine,” she added.
This constant labor also meant that McMullen wasn’t forming relationships with her customers — an aspect of tattooing she said she deeply values. “I was just churning and burning. But that’s pretty common in street shops because, like, people get greedy.”
Despite the negatives of this experience, McMullen told the Charleston City Paper that “everyone [who is entering the tattoo business] should work at a street shop” — as opposed to Fade to Black Tattoo, a private studio that only takes appointments — because “sometimes you just gotta say yes for a while.”
On the other hand, though, “know when you’re burnt out and when it’s time to stop,” she advised.
The process of opening a studio
McMullen has already successfully navigated many of the challenges involved in having her own tattoo studio: those associated with opening it.
The first step was “finding a building that’s 1,000 feet from a church, school playground, daycare, retirement home and potentially neighborhood, depending on the county,” McMullen told the City Paper. Then, “you have to put it in the paper to see if anyone wants to contest your opening.”
Her friend Jason was a big help throughout the process, she said, which also involved getting permits from the city and county. “When I was doing paperwork … it said it must be posted that you must be 18 [years old to receive a tattoo]. And in my head, I’m like, [posted on] what? On Instagram?” she said, laughing sheepishly. “And Jason’s like, ‘f*cking put it on the wall!’ ”
Now, the signage is posted adjacent to the front entrance, on par with the regulations. McMullen said she wants to take on her work slowly at the new studio to prevent creative burnout. She plans to take on more apprentices, she told the City Paper, in addition to the one she has right now. Moreover, she hopes that Fade to Black Tattoo can be a healthy space for people, “whether they work here or they hang out,” and inclusive of all races and genders.
She envisions the tattoo studio extending beyond her and into its own community of patrons and artists. McMullen added, “[tattooing] is really hard, but the payoff is amazing.”
The Lowdown
ASHLEY B. MCMULLEN
Past professions of interest: Drawing and painting.
Pets: I have three chihuahuas, and there’s always room for more.
Something people would be surprised to learn about you: I love to sing! My boyfriend and I initially bonded on emo music and harmonizing.
Favorite thing to do outside of work: “Exercise. Firm visitor of The Works downtown; it has changed my life.”
Books on bedside table: The Four Agreements, on audio of course.
“My ADHD can’t handle a book without wondering what’s for dinner
the whole time.”
Favorite food to eat: “I’m a carb monster! But basically addicted to the specials at The Royal American.”
Favorite food to cook: “I love baking. Cookies and treats.”
Favorite cocktail or beverage: “JAGER BOMBS (in a Jersey accent).”
Foods you always need in your refrigerator: Eggs, cottage cheese, that processed white cheese in the plastic and grapes.
Three people (alive or dead) you’d like to dine with: Lady Gaga, Peter Steele and The Eisenberg.
What meal would you want served to you for your last supper: Korean corn dogs or cereal.
Guilty pleasures: Twenty One Pilots, Hanson and Diet Coke.
Describe your best day in 50 words or less: “I start by waking up and then staying in bed all day, Uber eats to the door like a gremlin then ending the day with a sweet treat and a movie with my boyfriend and dogs.
Childhood hero: Whitney Houston
Pet peeve: “People who grew up rich and use the term ‘self made.’ ”
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