Black Barby Ink draws on owner’s artistic background

Published 9:54 am Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Antoinette Reames came to Milledgeville in 2009 from Orlando, Florida and was a student athlete at Georgia College & State University. Armed with a bachelor of arts degree and an existing passion for tattoos, Reames started taking a greater interest in the tattoo industry after graduation. 

Her interest began when Reames took her sister to a tattoo shop in Orlando. During a conversation with the owner, Reames said her sister turned to her and said that she needed to become a tattoo artist. 

After some coaxing, she gave it a try, tattooing the shop’s owner. 

“I tattooed what looked like a stick figure monkey. It was horrible,” Reames recalled. “He cracked up when he saw it. He was impressed that I took on the challenge and recommended me to get into the industry.”

When Reames attended her first tattoo convention 10 years later, she ran into the owner and artist she met in Orlando and he took her under his wing becoming her mentor over the years. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Reames decided to move back to Milledgeville with the intent of obtaining her master’s degree and to homeschool her children. 

“Eventually, I decided to upgrade my tattoo equipment and began tattooing for individuals per their request,” she said. 

As the demand increased, Reames made the choice to open her own private studio, Black Barby Ink.

In doing so, she became the first African American female to open a private tattoo studio in Milledgeville. 

The name of the business came from her mother.

“Growing up my mother would always refer to me and my sister as her black Barbies because we were tall, beautiful and dark skinned,” Reames said. “During my mother’s upbringing being dark skinned was frowned upon. As a response, my mother wanted to ensure that my sister and I knew we are beautiful.”

Reames said that she noticed over the years that there was a demand for “a service only provided by one studio,” which inspired the opening of Black Barby Ink. The business offers tattoos, piercings and (PMU) permanent makeup. The shop minimum is $75 and the hourly rate for each artist is $150 an hour. The price is also subject to change based on sales or complexity of the tattoo, according to Reames. 

For clients with questions on what tattoo would be best for them or where to place it, Black Barby Ink provides professional consultation on placement and educates clients on the tattoo process.

Business has been consistent, and Reames said that Black Barby Ink is seeing increased support from the community. 

Reames said is extremely fun and it draws on her arts background.

“Tattooing is like creating art on the best canvas, people. It’s almost like art therapy. It’s very relaxing while expressing yourself at the same time,” she said.

Black Barby Ink is located at 1000 W. Montgomery St., Suite C in Milledgeville. The shop is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. 

For more information call at 478-295-2712, visit https://www.blackbarbyink.com/ or check out the Facebook and Instagram pages.