15 Best Detroit Tattoo Artists

Aaron Broke is a tattoo artist who works out of the Vicious Ink Tattoos & Piercings shop in Sterling Heights. Mr. Broke took up tattooing in 2008 and specializes in traditional art mixed with neotraditional or color bomb work. He only provides tattoo quotes in person after taking into account a range of factors, including style, body location, and ink colors. Mr. Broke requires clients to post a cash deposit before scheduling any tattoo appointment.

Ageless Image Tattoo provides professional body art services in Hazel Park. The company’s artists design tattoos using a range of styles, including custom, fine line, color, black and white, tribal, and blacklight ink. Ageless Image Tattoo is open six days a week, with Sundays reserved for clients by appointment only. The company also does body piercing and jewelry, including exotic body modifications.

Caryl Cunningham is a tattoo artist who works out of Eternal Tattoos in Taylor. Ms. Cunningham works at the studio Tuesday–Saturday. She works on custom designs and enjoys the collaborative process with her clients. Ms. Cunningham provides free consultations and requires a $50 deposit for single appointments and $100 for portraits, pinups, or session work.

Eternal Tattoos is a tattoo and body piercing studio that opened in 1980 and has since expanded to five locations in the Detroit area--Livonia, Taylor, Clawson, Howell, and Eastpointe. One client raved, “I got my first tattoo done about 10 years ago at Eternal and had a great experience. I’ve been back since then for more work and always find the place clean and professional.” Eternal Tattoos also sells its own line of tattoo inks and has offered laser removal of tattoos for more than 10 years. It consults with clients on full removals or cover-ups of unwanted tattoos.

Jay Wheeler is a tattoo artist who works out of North Main Tattoo Studio & Art Gallery, the Plymouth company that he co-owns and operates. Mr. Wheeler began working in the Detroit area in 1992 before traveling worldwide to learn alongside some of the best tattoo artists in the industry. His tattooing and artwork have been featured in several tattoo magazines. He specializes in realism and does not work on cover-up tattoos or finish pre-existing tattoos started by another artist. Mr. Wheeler charges $200 per hour with a two-hour minimum.

Lady Luck Tattoo is a Waterford business that has been named among Michigan’s top shops three years in a row by WDIV-TV in Detroit. Clients can bring their unique designs to either artist in the tattoo parlor, which opened 16 years ago. Contact Lady Luck Studio seven days a week to set up an appointment or to receive pricing information.

Larry Farley Tattoo is a Detroit area custom tattoo artist who works out of and owns Collective Studios Ink located in Downtown Rochester. Artist Larry Farley uses a realistic style with a surrealistic twist on his artwork and tattoos, and he also creates freehand tattoos in either color or black and gray. Mr. Farley also works on custom fine art prints and murals using airbrushing or acrylic and oil paint in his spare time.

Neurotic Ink is a Westland tattoo parlor that takes pride in attention to detail on all services. Neurotic Ink does not accept credit cards or barter services, and all transactions are cash only. Deposits are required for any appointment, and the $125 per hour charge is non-negotiable. Neurotic Ink also will host tattoo parties for six or more, and the company provides piercing services using only implant-grade internally threaded jewelry.

New Skool Tattoos in Brownstown opened 17 years ago and provides tattoos to customers from around the world. The company never reuses needles, and its body jewelry is made of nickel-negative, implant-grade steel that is allergen-free. New Skool Tattoos has received “4 The Best” status as one of the Detroit area’s top tattoo parlors by WDIV-TV. One of its artists won six awards at the 2014 Motor City Tattoo Expo, including four in Best Traditional categories and one for Most Patriotic.

Vicious Ink Tattoos & Piercings provides tattoo services and body piercings from studios in Sterling Heights and Rochester Hills. Both locations are open seven days a week. The company twice was named to the WDIV-TV “4 The Best” list of top tattoo parlors in the Detroit area. It sells top-of-the-line aftercare products for both tattoos and piercings, and the artist will provide detailed aftercare instructions. Vicious Ink Tattoos & Piercings also sells a full line of clothing, jewelry, and art. Join the company’s Loyal Family Point Program to receive discounts on tattoos and piercings.

Wonderland Tattoo in St. Clair Shores has offered custom body artwork in the Detroit area for 27 years. All Wonderland Tattoo artists receive training in bloodborne pathogens, infection control, first aid, and CPR. Artists also receive yearly medical checkups, and the studio undergoes monthly third-party spore testing. All equipment is single-use only to ensure the health and safety of its clients. All appointments require a cash deposit that will be applied to the final price of the tattoo. The studio also performs piercings for just $20 that include a stainless hoop.

XS is a tattoo parlor providing services six days a week from either its Rochester studio or its new location in the Chinatown section of Detroit. The company offers state-of-the-art custom artwork and body piercing in a sanitary and comfortable space. XS carries a range of body piercing jewelry, including steel and titanium captives, barbells, spirals, and one-of-a-kind hand-carved items. The company also partners with Erase the Ink for laser tattoo removal.