Q&A: Main Line Tattoo Artist Michael Cox

Do a search for tattoo parlors on the Main Line, and you'll end up with a list of dermatologists who specialize in removing ink and only a couple tattoo artists.

One well-known member of the latter group, Cowboy's Tattoo Ranch, located across from the Paoli train station, recently closed down—yet another empty storefront on that block. That leaves Michael Cox, proprietor of Main Line Tattooing and Body Piercing in Frazer, as the only tattoo artist for many miles.

Patch dropped in to ask about how business was going.

Patch: Do you plan to stay at this location?

Cox: I might look for a smaller location. ... These are bad times, as far as tattoos are concerned. People have to eat first before they get tattoos. I would expect the economy to turn around and things to pick back up. It's not too bad right now, though; we're holding our own. 

Patch: What are the most challenging types of tattoos?

Cox: I prefer to do large work, but of course you’re not going to have that every day. ... One time, I had a guy, he wanted to have a round Mexican thing with all this detail. It was supposed to be this big [stretches arms out wide], and he wanted to have it done that big [makes a circle with his thumb and forefinger].

Patch: Are there any tattoos you won't do?

Cox: Nothing below the waist. And I don’t do septums, because I can’t get them straight.  I can’t get them things straight for the life of me.

There’s stuff I turn down. People want to have face tattoos, or on their hands or neck. You've got to make a judgment call there sometimes, because tattooing an 18-year-old girl on the neck might mean she can’t get a job, or next week her family’s in your shop.

A lot of people are getting necks tattooed, or faces. Back when I was a kid we didn’t do that.  I try to talk people out of getting necks tattooed. Look at it long-term: You get your face tattooed, it's the first thing people are going to see.

Patch: Have you ever had a problem because of a tattoo you did?

Cox: We had one problem one time. My buddy's a cop in East Whiteland Township, and he had a lady come in. She said I tattooed her kid. He asked her how old, she said 19. Well, he's not a kid, he's an adult.  She's ticked off her kid got a tattoo.

Patch: How often do you turn people down?

Cox: Probably every day. Like some kid comes in, wants a tattoo, and I get ID. He doesn't have it? Boom—out the door.

[ Phone: Ring ring ]

Cox: Main Line Tattooing ... What would you like to have done?  ... Four o'clock, and what’s the tattoo? And what’s your name? OK, and your number?  See you at four o'clock. You’re 18 and have ID, right? [Hangs up]

Patch: What tattoo are you most proud of?

Cox: I did a lighthouse on a guy's back. Cape Hatteras, it was the guy's whole back.  The water, the rocks, it was pretty good. It took probably 8 to 10 hours, all at one time.

Patch: Have you ever tattooed a celebrity?

Cox: [Thinks for a moment] Cecily Tynan, I sold her belly jewelry, but I didn’t pierce her. A few other people, just can’t remember who. Some basketball player worth $100 million. Think he played for the Utah Jazz.

Patch: What was your first tattoo?

Cox: I was 8 years old, my buddy poked it in. It was my name. My name; I didn’t want to forget it.  It’s covered now; it’s gone. Way gone.