About Us

Primal Decor was established in 1995 by Jason Whitcomb. His mother was a chiropractor back in the day and Primal Decor was her old office.

She retired from her Chiropractic career and the buildings future was unknown.

Jason who at the age of 18 with a little college money saved up decided he wanted to open a safe , open minded Body Art Studio.

His mom was not convinced that is how his college money should be spent.

But if any of you have ever met Jason you would know he has some amazing persuasive skills.

So it happened. The birth of Primal Decor.

Back when Pagers were the norm, hoops were your only option, and lower back tattoos and tribal arm bands were all the rage.

Jason put himself through college with the money he generated from working at Primal and the local movie theater.

Jason managed to bring on two tattoo artist in 1996.

Luis Lopez was one of those artist and he is still with us today. Primal was taking off.

I came into the picture in 1998 after a stint with cancer I decided I didn't want to be rich I wanted to have fun. I left my corporate job with benefits and never looked back.

I managed to spruce the place up. Like any woman I guess.

Out went the bachelor couches, burgandy carpet ,and in came paint, custom cabinets, needed flare, and Humboldt County's first female piercer.

We lived in the back of Primal for a couple of years. All the jewelry we owned fit on one wall, and if you enter our bathroom now you can see the different color tiles that was once where our shower use to be.

My current office is our old bedroom, and the cases stuffed with jewelry use to be our linen closets.

Dan Dozier came on as a tattoo artist in 2005.

We have all been working hard, all the while having a blast.

Faces have come and gone at Primal, and even old ones have returned.

Like Tiffany Hess. She was a Primal client at 15. She worked for us when she turned 18. When she got older she went to pursue her 20's doing other things.

Now she is back. Apprenticing to become a piercer and a tattoo artist.

We have tons of fun.We love what we do. We are so grateful to all of you for keeping us trucking along.

Our motto has always been to create a safe, creative space for people to explore their more deviant side.

And while some things have changed like the color of the walls, our motto is still the same,our staff is always happy to help, and we plan on being around for the long hall.

Continuing to rock the oldest art form on the North Coast!

Thanks Humboldt,

Sincerely,

Jennifer & Jason

and the whole Primal Crew