TOOF shows her tattoos in Hard Headz Tattoo Studio located in St. Paul on March 12, 2024. TOOF keeps tattoo stencils and arranges them on a large canvas to commemorate tattoos she has done. Photo by Maya Modelli

Exploring the deeper connections between tattoos and us through the lens of local tattoo artist, TOOF at Hard Headz Studio

Do you take pride in enduring pain? Consider yourself tough as nails? Think you’ve got the inner strength to face off with a daunting tattoo artist?

Meet TOOF, the hard-core artist and owner of St. Paul’s brand-new private tattoo studio, Hard Headz, reserved exclusively for the toughest of souls. You may be prepared to shiver in your boots upon entering the shop, but you will instead be met with a welcoming smile, an array of custom tops and trinkets, and your personalized choice of curated appointment experiences from rave lights to silent mode to the option of watching Adventure Time while receiving the tattoo of your dreams. 

TOOF keeps tattoo stencils and arranges them on a large canvas to commemorate tattoos she has done. Photo by Maya Modelli

The large-lashed, lovely face behind Hard Headz is 23-year-old Kinsey TOOF Nephele, who bought and renovated the new parlor off of Payne Avenue just two years into starting her professional tattoo journey.

The name of the shop playfully challenges the “old head” mindset among those who take tattooing very seriously and perpetuates the misconception that getting a tattoo must be an intimidating endeavor with a big, badass dude greeting you at the door. This is a stereotype that runs throughout the history of tattoos in Western culture.

While it is critical to acknowledge the deep roots that traditional tattoos hold in the community’s history, artists like TOOF dare to venture into new territory, thus taking part in the changing landscape of the tattoo industry. Many college students in the area are interested in this newer, more freeform tattoo style that leads them right to TOOF’s door. Her clients typically range from ages 18-30 years old and come from very diverse backgrounds.

Another shift of perspective is that tattooing is not a one-sided event. People might be seeking many different things when they walk into a tattoo parlor, but tattooing is not a simple monetary or artistic transaction. “Tattooing is a transaction of energy,” TOOF said. She believes the energy she brings to the studio and the energy she puts into the tattoo will stick with the client within the artwork. Whether they are a one-time client or a loyal regular, a tattoo is a moment that two people share with each other and is often permanently ingrained in not only the client’s skin but also in the exchange of energy.

This is not solely an addition to the client’s body, but a learning experience for the artist. TOOF considers it a privilege to grow and change through each connection and tattoo, even long after the service is over.

Widespread misconceptions about tattoo shops and their artists can make it difficult to see the larger picture of what it means to get — and give — a tattoo. TOOF learned after just two years in the profession that it does not need to be an intense, scary experience, but rather one that fosters a connection between two people in the form of artwork.

“To have people who want to get artwork done by me and continue to live the rest of their days with my art on their body is really just an honor and a privilege that I will never ever fully conceptualize, just because of how many tattoos I’ve done and how many people have come to my chair,” TOOF said.

 Artwork that lasts for years to come, just beneath the surface of the skin.