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Laurels

Best Tattoo
Artists in
Detroit
2021

We scored 200 Tattoo Artists in Detroit, MI and Picked the Top 13

Here are the Picks:

Aaron Broke

Caryl Cunningham

Ironclad Tattoo Company

Jay Wheeler

Lady Luck Tattoo

Larry Farley Tattoo / Collective Studios Ink

Neurotic Ink

New Skool Tattoos

Vicious Ink Tattoos & Piercings

Wonderland Tattoo

XS

Why These Tattoo Artists?

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

Reviewed Curated Top Picks 200 125 13

Our Selection Criteria:

  • 1. Availability

    Consistently approachable and responsive, so customers never feel ignored.

  • 2. Qualifications

    Building customer confidence with licensing, accreditations, and awards.

  • 3. Reputation

    A history of delighted customers and outstanding service.

  • 4. Experience

    Masters of their craft, based on years of practical experience and education.

  • 5. Professionalism

    Providing service with honesty, reliability, and respect.

Read more about our selection process

Aaron Broke

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.

Click to Call

Sterling Heights, MI 48312

Website

(586) 488-4782 Website

Caryl Cunningham

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.

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Taylor, MI 48180

Website

(313) 666-7251 Website

Ironclad Tattoo Company

Ironclad Tattoo Company is a tattoo parlor and body piercing studio in Troy. The company is open seven days a week. The studio has six permanent tattoo artists on staff, rotates in guest artists on a regular basis, and also has two full-time piercers on staff. Ironclad Tattoo Company was voted Best of Detroit in body piercing by the Metro Times in 2016. Check out the acid-etched Ironclad Tattoo Company flasks that are available at the shop and can be shipped anywhere.

Click to Call

Troy, MI 48083

Website

(248) 780-8883 Website

Reputation: A+

More Info

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.

Online Profiles:

2 (Better)

Average Review Score:

4.8 / 5 (Best)

Total Reviews:

234 (Best)

Score Consistency:

Consistent (Best)

Jay Wheeler

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.

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Plymouth, MI 48170

Website

(734) 927-7155 Website

Lady Luck Tattoo

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.

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Waterford, MI 48327

Website

(248) 673-0670 Website

Larry Farley Tattoo / Collective Studios Ink

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.

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105 E. 2nd St.
Rochester Hills, MI 48307

Website Instagram

(248) 963-7096 Website

Neurotic Ink

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.

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Westland, MI 48185

Website

(734) 727-4845 Website

New Skool Tattoos

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.

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Brownstown Township, MI 48183

Website

(734) 782-3550 Website

Vicious Ink Tattoos & Piercings

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.

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Sterling Heights, MI 48312

Website

(586) 553-9100 Website

Wonderland Tattoo

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.

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Saint Clair Shores, MI 48080

Website

(586) 774-8288 Website

XS

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.

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Rochester, MI 48307

Website

(248) 656-5740 Website

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