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Best Tattoo Shops in San Antonio, TX

Our Recommended Top 19

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 San Antonio Tattoo Shops on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

297Reviewed

185Curated

19Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider
Charles Huurman TX logo

Charles Huurman TXExpertise.com

San Antonio, TX
Website
Use contact form on charleshuurmantx.com for the Full estimate

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Charles Huurman is an award-winning celebrity tattoo artist who has been offering his services to clients in San Antonio and nearby areas since 2008. He is a realism tattoo artist who utilizes the latest innovative tattooing techniques. He has worked with famed international tattoo artists and studios, including Andy Engel Tattoo, Ami James' Love-Hate, Freedom Tattoo, Utopian Tattoo Tribe, and Soul Addiction. Huurman has received over 53 Globally Recognized Medals & Awards from renowned industry events, conferences, and festivals for excellence in his field of work.

  • Watercolor Tattoos
  • Abstract Realism
  • Portraits
  • Black and Grey
  • Color
  • Celebrities
  • Realism
  • Animal
  • Surrealism

San Antonio, TX

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Need help contacting a Tattoo Shop in San Antonio? Call our Concierge team at 848-Book-Pro (848-266-5776 from 6 am - 4 pm PT | Mon - Fri). They are standing by to help you get the service you need.

7218 Blanco Road, San Antonio, TX 78216

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.5 (65)

Why choose this provider?

Boardwalk Tattoos is a tattoo parlor in San Antonio that has been in business since 2015. The shop specializes in a variety of tattoo styles, including portraits, realism, watercolor, dot-work, and traditional designs. Owners Abel and Su are full-time tattoo artists who lead their team of piercers and artists in creating the best possible tattoo experience. Abel used to make tattoos as a hobby and focused on this body art in 2003. Su has been tattooing for eight years.

  • Traditional Tattoos

15717 San Pedro, San Antonio, TX 78232

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (75)
Yelp
4.5 (20)

Why choose this provider?

Ink Couture Tattoos is a San Antonio, Texas-based shop offering luxury tattoo services to clients throughout the metro area. It delivers an experience reminiscent of spas and its artists are familiar with a multitude of styles including realism, watercolor, photo realism, and Japanese. Ink Couture Tattoos only works with artists experienced in other mediums, which it believes ensures a higher quality of custom artwork to clients desiring unique of intricate pieces.

  • Watercolor Tattoos
  • Body Art
  • Traditional Tattoos

1806 Southwest Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78227

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (172)
Yelp
4.5 (11)

Why choose this provider?

Firme Copias is a San Antonio tattoo studio that operates seven days a week. Its artists practice a variety of tattoo styles, including portrait, neo-traditional, and black and gray. Its artists also work with clients to establish coverup ideas and designs. The shop also offers body piercing services with a wide selection of body jewelry available for purchase. It accommodates walk-in clients, while consultations are available for clients who are interested in larger custom tattoos.

  • Piercings
  • Neotraditional Tattoos

12244 Nacogdoches Road, San Antonio, TX 78217

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
4.8 (42)
Yelp
3.5 (15)

Why choose this provider?

Since 2009, Inception Tattoos has been creating custom tattoos for its clients. The studio's award-winning owners give free nipple tattoo reconstruction for breast cancer survivors and give discounts to active military members. The tattoo artists practice a variety of styles, including black and gray, portraits, realism, new school, and neo-traditional. The shop's piercer has more than five years of experience and uses quality jewelry from companies including Anatometal and Body Circle Designs Neo Metal.

  • Body Art

238 North Loop 1604 West, San Antonio, TX 78232

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.0 (340)
Facebook
4.0 (146)
Yelp
4.0 (42)

Why choose this provider?

Wicked Ways Tattoos is a tattoo shop catering to clients in San Antonio and the surrounding metros. It has a roster of tattoo artists who have experience and expertise in a broad range of tattoo styles, including portrait, American, black and grey, realism, and neo-traditional. Its artists can accommodate simple and complicated pieces and also customize designs. They also do tattoo coverups. The studio has piercers in its staff who offer ear, facial, oral, and surface piercings.

  • Watercolor Tattoos
  • Piercings
  • Traditional Tattoos

1731 Babcock Road, San Antonio, TX 78229

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
4.0 (61)
Google
4.0 (56)
Yelp
4.5 (10)

Why choose this provider?

Family Tradition Tattoo is an artist-owned and artist-operated custom tattoo studio located in San Antonio. It offers a sterile environment for clients who wish to get some ink on their skin. Each of the shop's artists has several years of experience, and their works can be seen on the shop's Instagram account. Family Tradition Tattoo also has other merchandise available in-store such as clothing, body jewelry, and artworks. Tattoo aftercare products are also available, including soaps and lotions.

  • Body Art
  • Traditional Tattoos

619 Southwest 24th Street, San Antonio, TX 78207

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.0 (393)
Yelp
3.5 (30)
Facebook
4.8 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Live Through This Tattoos is a studio in San Antonio that handles custom requests for tattoos and body art. Its resident tattoo artist is well-versed in many types of tattoo styles, including traditional, portrait, cartoon, and anime tattoos, as well as cover-ups and custom designs. Blacklight ink and watercolor tattoos are also available upon request. Additionally, the studio offers a wide variety of body piercings, such as eyebrow, high nostril, tongue, and belly button piercings.

  • Traditional Tattoos
  • Portraits

13231 Nacogdoches Road, San Antonio, TX 78217

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
4.9 (45)
Yelp
4.0 (17)

Why choose this provider?

Located in San Antonio, Master Minds Tattoos offers tattoo and piercing services. It aims to ensure proper healing by practicing aseptic techniques, including the use of a new needle for every client. Its artists, Kika, Pink, and Chris, are members of the Alliance of Professional Tattooists. Its lead tattoo artist, Kika, has been in the tattooing industry for 20 years. He creates tattoos using trash polka and American traditional styles. Tattoo aftercare instructions are available on the shop's website.

  • Body Art
  • Traditional Tattoos
  • Portraits

441 McCarty Road, San Antonio, TX 78216

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
4.8 (132)
Yelp
4.0 (52)

Why choose this provider?

Twisted Tattoo is a San Antonio tattoo studio that has been servicing the metro since 2005. Dedicated to giving balance to work and family, the studio operates half the time of usual business hours to ensure that they deliver quality work without compromising time with their families. Striving to provide a professional but friendly environment to its clientele, Twisted Tattoo focuses on multiple styles of tattoos, as well as piercings and tattoo cover-ups.

  • Watercolor Tattoos
  • Neotraditional Tattoos

10151 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78251

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.0 (84)
Facebook
5.0 (67)
Yelp
4.5 (8)

Why choose this provider?

The Ink Retreat is a San Antonio-based tattoo shop that offers professional custom tattoo art and re-works of any tattooing style. The team of tattoo artists also conducts tattoo classes for professionals and aspiring artists. Lessons could cover everything from famous tattoo tactics to less-known tricks and techniques. The Ink Retreat also performs piercing services and offers tattoo supplies and brow microblading. The veteran-owned company maintains a clean and relaxed environment.

  • Traditional Tattoos

3030 Thousand Oaks Drive, San Antonio, TX 78247

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.0 (76)
Yelp
4.0 (18)

Why choose this provider?

Nostalgic Ink is a tattoo studio servicing San Antonio. It provides custom tattoo services and consultations by appointment. Its artists specialize in different tattoo styles, and clients can schedule an appointment with the artist they want to collaborate with for the artwork. One of them, Nina Cisneroz, has been in the tattooing industry since 2011. She has an extensive background in drawing, painting, sewing, and design. The studio's website and social media pages contain photo galleries of completed tattoo works by the artists.

  • Traditional Tattoos

6909 North Loop 1604 East, San Antonio, TX 78247

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
3.5 (24)
Facebook
4.4 (21)

Why choose this provider?

Xtreme Tattoo & Body Piercing - Rolling Oaks Mall has been serving San Antonio clients for more than 15 years. Custom tattoos and body piercings are both available at the tattoo parlor, which can accept walk-ins and appointments. Moreover, Xtreme provides an online gallery on its website where the artists' works can be viewed. Aside from tattoos, the shop offers a wide assortment of body jewelry and performs piercings for microdermals, bellies, tongues, eyebrows, cartilage, and other body parts.

  • Body Art
  • Realism Tattoos

4741 Fredericksburg Road, San Antonio, TX 78229

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Element Tattoo Studio has been serving San Antonio clients since 2006. The tattoo shop's owner has been working in the industry for more than 15 years, and the artists practice art styles such as traditional, Japanese, watercolor, realism, tribal, geometric, and script styles. Element Tattoo Studio removes tattoos using laser technology with its Hoya ConBio MedLite c6 machine. Clients have praised the tattoo studio for its quality tattoos and polite, friendly staff.

  • Body Art
  • Portraits

2856 Thousand Oaks Drive, San Antonio, TX 78232

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
4.9 (42)
Yelp
4.5 (15)

Why choose this provider?

Mr. Lucky's Tattoo offers a fun and welcoming atmosphere to its clients in San Antonio. Its artists employ the updated techniques and technology to produce authentic and custom tattoo designs. Its artists have extensive experience in their niche, but they are committed to ongoing training to ensure they are on top of the current trends, practices, and styles of the industry. Mr. Lucky offers monthly specials. It also offers consultation and accepts appointments and walk-in clients.

  • Neotraditional Tattoos
  • Traditional Tattoos

1620 Fredericksburg Road, San Antonio, TX 78201

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.8 (428)
Yelp
4.0 (156)
Facebook
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Dandyland Tattoos has been serving the San Antonio area for more than 20 years. The studio has been voted the number one tattoo and piercing studio by the readers of San Antonio Current 14 times. The tattoo shop regularly rotates guest artists from around the country. The piercers are members of the Association of Professional Piercers and regularly attend the APP conference to continue piercing education. Clients say that the studio has a clean space and easygoing, professional staff.

  • Body Art
  • Piercings

7706 Bandera Road, San Antonio, TX 78238

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (189)
Facebook
5.0 (23)
Yelp
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Ink10city Tattoo is a veteran-owned and operated shop servicing San Antonio. Bringing over a century of experience, it provides tattooing services specializing in different art styles. Piercing services are also available. One of its artists, Tonee, has been in the tattooing industry for more than 14 years. He specializes in custom art with the idea of creating unique artwork for each client. The shop's website contains a photo gallery of completed processes as well as a video of Chuck Norris praising the business.

  • Piercings

5545 Northwest Loop 410 Suite 103B, San Antonio, TX 78238

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.8 (4167)
Facebook
4.5 (1144)
Yelp
3.5 (220)

Why choose this provider?

Platinum Tattoos & Body Piercings caters to individuals in San Antonio and nearby locations. It strives to provide a clean environment for hygiene purposes. The studio designs and creates different types of anime, neo traditional, black and grey, watercolor, patch, and feminine tattoos. Its artists put tattoos on the lower back, stomach, neck, finger, foot, and ankle. They also offer body piercing services. They hold the Blood Born Pathogens certification. One of the company's tattoo specialists, Remy, has been in the industry for five years.

  • Watercolor Tattoos
  • Body Piercings
  • Traditional

Compare our Top Tattoo Shops

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Charles Huurman TX
San Antonio, TXUse contact form on charleshuurmantx.com for the Full estimate
Boardwalk Tattoos
7218 Blanco Road, San Antonio, TX 78216
Ink Couture Tattoos
15717 San Pedro, San Antonio, TX 78232
Firme Copias
1806 Southwest Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78227
Inception Tattoos
12244 Nacogdoches Road, San Antonio, TX 78217
Wicked Ways Tattoos
238 North Loop 1604 West, San Antonio, TX 78232
Family Tradition Tattoo
1731 Babcock Road, San Antonio, TX 78229
Live Through This Tattoos
619 Southwest 24th Street, San Antonio, TX 78207
Master Minds Tattoo
13231 Nacogdoches Road, San Antonio, TX 78217
Twisted Tattoo
441 McCarty Road, San Antonio, TX 78216
The Ink Retreat LLC
10151 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78251
Nostalgic Ink
3030 Thousand Oaks Drive, San Antonio, TX 78247
Xtreme Tattoo & Body Piercing - Rolling Oaks Mall
6909 North Loop 1604 East, San Antonio, TX 78247
Element Tattoo
4741 Fredericksburg Road, San Antonio, TX 78229
Mr Lucky's Tattoo
2856 Thousand Oaks Drive, San Antonio, TX 78232
Dandyland
1620 Fredericksburg Road, San Antonio, TX 78201
Ink10city Tattoo
7706 Bandera Road, San Antonio, TX 78238
Platinum Tattoos & Body Piercings
5545 Northwest Loop 410 Suite 103B, San Antonio, TX 78238

FAQs

  • 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.