Woman apologises to tattoo shop over damaging comments

Left, the design Epic Ink says they were asked to follow and, right, the photo Sarah Blackley shared on social media. Photos / Pintrest / Facebook

The Christchurch woman who got a $400 tattoo she was "utterly disgusted and embarrassed" by says she regrets encouraging people to try to close the tattoo parlour down.

Christchurch woman Sarah Blackley shared photos online of the tattoo on her left arm. It has black outlines of a Cinderella and Snow White, and black and purple lines.

The Cinderella figure has a black mouth, no eyeballs and is holding a knife, while the Snow White figure also has no eyeballs and a black mouth.

"I recently got this tattoo and I am so utterly disgusted and embarrassed," Ms Blackley posted on Facebook yesterday.

"$400 for what?! I know how bad this is... please share and help these guys get shut down."

The post was shared more than 5000 times before being removed today.

Ms Blackley told the Herald she had contacted the shop and apologised.

"I regret saying I wanted them shut down. Most of the things I said were in spite.

"I never meant to damage the rest of the business. The other artists are great."

A spokeswoman for Epic Ink in Christchurch, where the tattoo was done, said at least seven hours more work needed to be done on the tattoo.

"The top half of the tattoo are guides that were going to be shaded in, coloured and completed in her next appointment...

"This came as quite a shock as before she left the studio at her last appointment, she made another appointment to have some more of the tattoo finished two weeks from that day."

Ms Blackley requested a zombie princess sleeve, not a standard Disney-themed sleeve, the spokeswoman said.

Ms Blackley encourged people to share the post. Photo / Facebook

An Epic Ink attendant, who wouldn't give his name, earlier said they had struggled to make contact with Ms Blackley.

The attendant said the situation had caused a lot of stress for the artist and other workers at the store.