Expertise.com
2024

Last updated:

Best Tattoo Shops in Tucson

Our Recommended Top 10

We did the research for you!

  • Licensing
  • User Reviews
  • Mystery Shopping Calls

Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Tucson Tattoo Shops on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

121

Reviewed

76

Curated

10

Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

Website
2921 East Fort Lowell Road, Tucson, AZ 85716
  • Body Art
  • Piercings

Why choose this provider?

Art and Sol Tattoo Gallery is a tattoo studio in Tucson. It is home to up-and-coming artists who design custom tattoos. They specialize in a wide range of styles, such as black and gray realism, line work, portraiture, and cosmetic tattoos. As an active member of the community it serves, Art and Sol Tattoo Gallery hosts local artists monthly in its art gallery. The studio aims to provide a space that allows artists to focus on their artistic strengths.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (139)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (7)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (6)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
1726 East Speedway Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85719
  • Traditional Tattoos

Why choose this provider?

The Painted Lady brings decades of experience in tattooing to the people of Tucson. Established in 2008, it is formerly known as Inkaholics Anonymous. Today, the studio has six artists who specialize in a wide array of styles, such as black and gray imagery, color realism, neo-traditional, watercolor, and blackwork. They also have a designated artist who can perform microblading, cosmetic, and paramedical areola tattoo procedures. The Painted Lady is open from Mondays to Saturdays and closed on Sundays.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.5
Yelp
4.5 / 5 (34)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
7455 West Twin Peaks Road, Tucson, AZ 85743
  • Traditional Tattoos

Why choose this provider?

Trinity Art Collective is a tattoo parlor in Tucson. Established in 2015, it has award-winning artists who specialize in a wide array of tattooing styles and techniques, such as black and gray realism, color realism, Asian, new school, lettering, and portraiture. To ensure the health and safety of their clients, they make use of both modern and traditional equipment and maintain a clean and inspiring environment. Customers can bring their tattoo references for their selected in-house artist to customize.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.5
Yelp
4.5 / 5 (16)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
510 North 7th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85705
  • Body Art
  • Traditional Tattoos

Why choose this provider?

Haunted Hands is a tattoo shop that serves clients throughout Tucson. It offers custom tattoos to clients that require a consultation with the artist to discuss the chosen design and style. The founder and owner, Lisa Cardenas, has a background in illustration and animation. In 2008, she moved back to her hometown to work as a tattoo artist. Her quest led her to establish Haunted Hands in 2012, where she has developed a distinct style that pays tribute to her passion for the Sonoran Desert.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
4.5
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
561 North 4th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85705
  • Body Art

Why choose this provider?

Red Sky Studio is a small tattoo business in Tucson that offers unique and customized tattoo patterns for local clients. Each of the studio's three tattoo artists has their own style in preference and colorwork to suit every tattoo order. The facility is well-ventilated and operates through arranged appointments. It also utilizes safe and vegan ink brands, such as Eternal, Dynamic, Solid, and Fusion. The studio also facilitates consultations, conducts tattoo and scar cover-up projects, and assists with aftercare treatments.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.5
Facebook
4.4 / 5 (218)
Google
4.8 / 5 (50)
Yelp
4.5 / 5 (13)

Website
204 West Grant Road, Tucson, AZ 85705
  • Traditional Tattoos
  • Body Art

Why choose this provider?

Offering body art in Tucson, Copper State Ink carries over 15 years of tattooing experience. The studio is owned by tattoo artist Marcos Raymond, a Los Angeles native who brought his talent to Arizona. He can take on a broad range of styles, such as portraiture, colorwork, and lettering. The studio enforces strict policies against drugs, guns, and the bringing of pets. Minors will not be accommodated and clients are required to present a valid ID to prove their age.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.9
Facebook
4.9 / 5 (61)
Google
4.9 / 5 (19)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
970 East University Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85719
  • Body Art
  • Traditional Tattoos
  • Portraits

Why choose this provider?

Sanctity Tattoo was established in 2007 by Jay Cavna and specializes in Traditional Japanese and American Traditional Tattooing, but they welcome projects of all styles and sizes. They pride themselves on providing their clients with world-class professional and custom one of a kind tattoo experiences in a clean and sterile environment. Sanctity is open seven days a week from 12:00-8:00.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Google
4.9 / 5 (83)
Yelp
4.5 / 5 (46)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
7455 West Twin Peaks Road, Tucson, AZ 85743
  • Traditional Tattoos

Why choose this provider?

Tony 4 Fingers offers tattoo services to clients in Tucson. Owned by Tony Stannard, a former US Marine who started his journey by tattooing people in Okinawa and his fellow marines on a Navy ship. Tony offers various tattoo styles such as Oriental, realism, traditional, custom lettering, and tribal tattoo. He also specializes in complex Asian pieces and designs from the client's ideas. Tony follows the Red Cross and OSHA safety precautions by using disposable pigment caps and single-used needles.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
4.5
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
2108 South Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85711
  • Traditional Tattoos

Why choose this provider?

Ancient Art Tattoo offers body art services to the people of Tucson. The studio’s owner, Dennis Dwyer, brings over four decades of tattooing experience to clients and has won the Best Overall Tattooist at Nationals. He is a member of the National Tattoo Association and leads a team of tattoo artists specializing in various styles and techniques, including traditional, lettering, portraiture, and cosmetic tattoos. Ancient Art Tattoo also sells tattoo supplies, such as disposable tubes, needles, and machines.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.0
Yelp
4.0 / 5 (4)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
421 North 4th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85705
  • Piercings
  • Traditional Tattoos
  • Neotraditional Tattoos

Why choose this provider?

Established in 1995, Black Rose Tattooers is a team of experienced artists from three locations that specializes in fine line, black, grey, and colored tattoos. Serving Tucson and the surrounding areas, the parlor offers a wide array of tattoo styles such as traditional street-style and customized designs. In addition to tattoos, the parlor also offers piercing services. Black Rose Tattooers has been voted as the best tattoo parlor by Tucson Weekly from 2010 to 2017 and 2020.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.5
Yelp
4.5 / 5 (38)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Introduction

    A tattoo is body art that leaves permanent designs or pictures on the skin. They're applied via needle by depositing ink onto the second layer of skin. While the first tattoos were applied manually with a single needle that was first saturated in ink, today's tattoos are done by a machine. These machines feature multiple needles that pierce the skin simultaneously, speeding up the process and creating tattoos that are more visually appealing.

    Tattoos are usually done in licensed tattoo shops. These shops adhere to health and cleaning standards and are typically regulated by state and municipal governments. While tattoos are generally safe, there are associated risks, including skin infections. Any person getting a tattoo is legally required to be at least 18 years of age. It's also inadvisable for anyone who isn't in good health to get a tattoo, as the body requires time and energy to heal and prevent infection.

  • What should you know before getting your first tattoo?

    Before getting tattooed, it's important to think about design and placement. A tattoo is a permanent fixture on the body, and it's important not to rush into things. You should also consider the artist's background and take time to look into their portfolio to ensure their style best suits the tattoo you want.

  • What are some examples of tattoo styles?

    There are many types of tattoo styles, and it's important for a person to familiarize themselves with them before they select a design. Styles include:

    • Americana: Bold lines, vivid colors
    • Japanese: Large images that cover the back, arms, and legs
    • Black and Grey: Colorless grayscale designs
    • Stick-n-Poke: Thick, bold, black lines and small designs
    • Blackwork: Bold black lines and larger geometric shapes

  • Is tipping expected & how much to tip on your tattoo?

    While most tattoo artists don't expect tips, it's often appreciated. If you're happy with the work your tattoo artist has done, consider tipping between 15% and 25%. If the tattoo requires multiple sessions, a flat amount per session is appropriate.

  • What are some basic tattoo aftercare tips?

    It's important to follow all aftercare directions provided by the tattoo artist. Usually, artists will advise clients to ensure that tattoos are kept clean and dry. After showering, the tattoo should be gently patted dry and treated with Vaseline or another tattoo aftercare product.

  • What are the best practices for healing a tattoo?

    After removing the dressing, it's important to keep the tattoo clean, dry, and uncovered. Applying Vaseline or another recommended ointment can help to speed up the healing process. As they heal, tattoos can sometimes itch, but it's vital that you don't scratch or pick at it.

  • What are the most and least painful places to get a tattoo?

    Parts of the body that have the most nerve endings are generally the most painful to have tattooed. That includes the head, ears, and face. Places that don't have a lot of fat, such as the fingers, shoulder blades, and feet, are typically more painful. The least painful parts of the body to get tattooed include the outer arm, buttocks, and thighs.