Photo by Devin Mitchell
When first starting out, many tattoo artists turn the needle on themselves as a means of testing their skills. For better or worse, they live with the results. Not Romeo Lacoste. He lasers them right off. “I know a lot of artists who don’t mind their early or bad tattoos, [but] I’m very OCD when it comes to perfection. Any tattoo I have that isn’t to my standards, I just laser off.”
It’s those high standards that have turned Lacoste into one of the most sought-after celebrity tattoo artists working today. As owner of the renowned tattoo studio The California Dream in Los Angeles, his client list includes Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande. With off the charts social media numbers (over 3 million collectively across various platforms) and a new reality TV series, one might be tempted to call his rise meteoric, but it’s been a gradual process.
“It’s crazy how many people see the fame and success on Instagram and YouTube and not realize how hard it was for me,” he explained.
Inked recently caught up with the Montreal native and discussed his rise in the industry, the evolution of his own skin art, and everything in-between.
Were you drawn to art as a kid? How’d you get from here to there? I’m pretty much a self-taught artist. I used to draw cartoons and video game stuff when I was 11 years old. I decided tattooing would be the best career choice for me at the age of 17. I then got an apprenticeship. Getting my start in the tattoo industry, I would say was harder than most. I actually didn’t get my first apprenticeship until going back to the same 30-40 tattoo shops in my town. Finally one gave me a shot. After that, they had internal drama one year in and they let me and a few other artists go.
I wasn't far enough to start tattooing so I spent another one-and-a-half years looking for a second apprenticeship to finish. I [eventually] did another year and it was about three years for me to finish my apprenticeship…
You appeared on Season 3 of Oxygen Network’s Best Ink. It definitely got your name out there. How’d you manage to stay in the spotlight after your time on the show ended?
Best Ink was really weird. I remember thinking before I got on that this was going to be my big break. It never really came. My success came from just a bunch of small accomplishments consistently over and over again. Best Ink was a great experience, and great credibility [but] they didn’t promote any of the artists on the show. It’s not like Ink Master where they post your Instagram or Twitter.
People got off the show and had barely any increase in followers or business. It kind of shocked all of us really. The winner kind of disappeared. You never hear about her. I got off the show, and saw it only as the first step, not my last, which is what set me apart.
Let’s talk about your social media presence a bit. It’s lead to a new reality show you’re currently filming…
We have celebrities coming into our shop literally all the time. I had five huge Internet celebrities last night and a couple a few nights before. The shop definitely has a life of its own. You never know what to expect. My whole team is great and we’re all fun, exciting people. I’ve had a vision for a new tattoo reality show for a long time. I think the world needs one. The tattoo shows out there now seem stale to me and are getting old. It’s time for something new and exciting.
You’re completely covered in tats. Was that your intention or is it that old story of ‘bet you can’t just get one?’
I didn’t know, but I knew I kind of wanted to have the full body sleeve look. I remember going to rock shows and seeing bands like Good Charlotte or As I Lay Dying, and just seeing guys covered with tattoos and thought I wanted to be like that someday. I still look at myself and feel like I’m not tattooed enough.
What's your most personal tattoo and what's your most embarrassing one - if you haven’t lasered it off yet?!
I have a full Harry Potter sleeve, which means a lot to me. I actually had a whole black and grey sleeve before [that] I got lasered off. I got a full color Harry Potter sleeve over it. It’s almost done, but basically when I was a kid, Harry Potter was what got me through the hard times. When you’re a teen and your parents are hard on you and you’re dealing with kids messing with you and having no friends…I remember checking out the books from the library and thinking that the art on the books were just so magical. This sleeve reminds me of where I came from.
Lastly, do you have a philosophy as an artist or an approach that’s all your own
I don’t follow many other tattooers. I have a few I’m friends with. I want to keep my inspirations and influence as organic as possible. I always try and push the boundaries with my micro tattoos and other tattoo projects. My approach is to always be ahead of the curve, [to] give the best quality tattoo and customer service, and [to] provide every customer with an experience that they will remember forever.