Mainiak Ink

The art of business in Houlton
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — If tattoos are your thing, then Mainiak Ink on Union Square in Houlton is the place for you. Located inside Infinity hair salon, Mainiak Ink opened for business the second week of June and has seen a steady stream of customers.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
TATTOO YOU — Sammie Carmen, right, owner of Mainiak Ink in downtown Houlton shares a laugh with customer Dan Janus. Carmen opened her new business inside Infinity hair salon.
    Owned and operated by Houlton native Sammie Carmen, Mainiak Ink is the realization of a two-year dream.
    “I’ve done art my whole life, and I was always interested in tattoos,” Carmen said. “Back in September, I went to Schenectady, New York to attend the Tattoo Learning Center, where I got my license.”
    Carmen said she chose to open a tattoo store in Houlton because she was “born and raised here.” The fact that the town has no other tattoo shops was another reason for choosing her hometown.
    “I thought Houlton would be great place to start,” she said. “I was offered a spot here at Infinity, so I jumped at the opportunity.”
    Carmen added renting a spot inside the salon made far more sense instead of opening her own, separate location elsewhere in the town, especially for someone just starting out in the trade.
    To open her business, Carmen had to become licensed by the state of Maine. That license only extends to her current location, meaning she cannot do tattoos from elsewhere in the town, without getting another license. License requirements include having a sink and tile, proper sterilization equipment, as well as an ultrasonic cleaner which she had to purchase.
    “Technically, I use all disposable stuff so I don’t even use the cleaners, but I had to have them as required by the state,” she said. “I had to come up with quite a bit of money to get started, but I’m now making money. Business has been great so far.”
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
TATTOO ARTIST — Sammie Carmen stands in front of her downtown Houlton tattoo shop. Carmen opened Mainiak Ink the second week of June and has seen a steady flow of customers.
    Carmen estimated she has inked tattoos on 20 individuals since opening. Her clientele has been quite diverse as well.
    “Houlton has a real friendly environment,” she said. “This isn’t a ‘biker bar’ style tattoo parlor, so I’ve actually had quite a few older ladies coming in for tattoos. Just the other day, I had a 72-year-old woman come in for a tattoo of a heart with her mother’s name in it. More and more women are getting tattoos, which I think is great.”
    By law, individuals must be 18 years of age to get a tattoo. Customers must also sign a release form.
    Carmen has several catalogs featuring various styles and designs of tattoos. She can also create custom works of art, first sketching an image with the customer and then using that drawing as the template for the tattoo.
    “Usually, people come in with an idea of what they want for a tattoo,” she said. “Sometimes, I sit down with them and talk over ideas and then sketch something for them. I’d rather do that, actually. It’s more personal that way.”
    One of her more elaborate tattoos came while in school in New York.
Photo courtesy of Sammie Carmen
SAMPLE ARTWORK — This tattoo is self-created piece of art by Carmen for a customer in New York. The tattoo took nearly six hours to complete.
    “This guy came in and wanted an octopus holding money on his leg,” she said. “That piece took me about six hours straight to finish. That was a long day.”
    Since tattooing involves the use of needles, pain is often associated with the process. However, Carmen said there are several creams that can be used to reduce sensation, making it a more pleasurable experience. There are also various styles of ink that can be used, from glow-in-the-dark ink to ink that only shows up under black lights.
    “The whole operation has gotten much more refined,” she said. “It’s crazy what they are coming up with these days.”
    Depending on the size, the average tattoo takes about one hour. The cost for a tattoo is $40 minimum, and $60 an hour beyond that. Tattoos are done by appointment only. To make a reservation, call Carmen at 694-4202.