Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacqueline Langlois.
Jacqueline, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m a tattoo artist based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Huntington Beach, California, but I grew up in San Diego. I’ve been an artist my whole life, and by 13 I knew I wanted to be a tattoo artist. When I discovered Miami Ink and LA Ink, I got hooked on the tattoo culture, especially Chicano culture, which goes hand in hand. In high school, my friends would ask me to design tattoos for them, and sometimes the artist didn’t change a thing. Seeing my work on skin made me want to get better and really pursue tattooing as a career.
Around that time, I met a friend who was LDS and introduced me to the Church. I didn’t think my faith would get in the way of becoming a tattoo artist, but the advice I got from some leaders made me second guess myself. I was told that if I focused on tattooing, I might lose the desire to go on a mission and might not find someone who would want to get married in the temple. At the time, serving a mission was a big dream for me, so that hit hard.
Joining the Church was already tough because I was the only member in my family, and I leaned heavily on church leaders for guidance. I didn’t want tattooing to make my life even harder, so I put that dream on hold.
I moved to Utah, served a mission in Chile, got married, and studied graphic design. I worked in that field, but it never truly fulfilled me even though all of those experiences shaped the tattoo artist I am today.
It wasn’t until my 30s that I found an apprenticeship at Sugar Studios. I told my husband I wanted to tattoo, and to my surprise, he was completely supportive. Taking that leap wasn’t easy because I still had doubts about balancing my faith with my career, but I decided I would rather be authentic than hide my tattoos or my work.
At church, I still get the looks. When people hear I’m a tattoo artist, the first question is always, “What does your husband think?” But becoming a tattoo artist has opened doors I never imagined. I’ve mentored other women chasing the same dream and helped them through the struggles of learning the craft. My clients are a big part of why I love what I do. A lot of sessions turn into therapy sessions, and we end up sharing deep, meaningful conversations that really touch me and stay with me long after the tattoo is done. Being able to connect on that level is one of the most rewarding parts of this career.
Looking back, I see now that everything, the detours, the doubts, and the decisions, led me exactly here. And this is exactly where I am supposed to be.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. I had my share of arguments with some church leaders, and I spent years trying to convince myself I could be happy never becoming a tattoo artist. By my late 20s, I thought I was too old to even consider it, even though I still daydreamed about tattooing. I loved the art so much that I followed tattoo artists on social media and watched tattoo videos to see how the process was done. Some people laughed when I told them I wanted to be a tattoo artist, especially before I went on my mission.
When I finally started my tattoo career, I would get mini panic attacks, worried I was going to lose everything. Tattooing is hard, and to this day I still struggle with imposter syndrome. There have been moments where church interactions didn’t feel genuine, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s because of my tattoos or my career. It’s not easy choosing this path when I let doubts and what others think of me creep in.
I also didn’t learn to tattoo in the traditional way, so I got a lot of hate for being a young mentor. But I’ve seen incredible talent in so many of the girls I’ve mentored. No matter how hard the criticism hit, it never stopped me from tattooing and mentoring.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a tattoo artist based in Salt Lake City and Huntington Beach specializing in fine line, realism, and blackwork. Choosing this career challenged my faith in ways I didn’t expect, and I worried it would change how people saw me and even how I saw myself. What sets me apart is how personal the process is for me. I create a space where clients feel comfortable opening up, and many sessions turn into meaningful conversations that stay with me long after the tattoo is done. Mentoring other women in the industry has been just as rewarding, and while the journey hasn’t been easy, it’s made me more authentic, resilient, and grateful for where I am now.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I like about Salt Lake City:
I like the slower pace here; it’s not as hectic as California. I also love the music scene and how close I live to some of the venues. So that’s nice.
What I don’t like:
The restaurant scene is… hit or miss. Some spots are great, but finding consistently good food here takes work. The lack of diversity is also lame.
Pricing:
- Min $100, I charge by piece.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jqln.ink/
Image Credits
The first pic and the one of me teaching were taken by Ashley Paige Photography
