Ready for some new ink? Whether it’s your first or your fifteenth time, finding a tattoo shop + artist that suits you is important. We’ve rounded up seven local tattoo shops to help you get inked.
Types of tats
Before we get to business, here’s a crash course on some of the most common tattoo styles:
- American traditional — think bold black outlines, pin-up girls, motorcycles, and fashion designer Ed Hardy (limited colors like red, yellow, blue, and gray).
- New school — inspired by graffiti, hip hop, cartoons, and pop art, this style is characterized by vibrant colors and cartoonish themes.
- Geometric — made popular in the 21st century, this style incorporates repeating patterns, basic geometric shapes, and symmetry.
- Realism — wait, is that a real photo? Nope, just the work of shading, fine lines, contrast, and 3D shapes.
Choose your fighter
Ink Wolves Tattoos, 11900 N. Nebraska Ave., Suite 5, Tampa
Pro tip: Visit Ink Wolves on any Tuesday for $20 flash tattoos.
13 Arrows Tattoo, 4505 Park Blvd., Suite 4, Pinellas Park
Add some hue to your abstract idea. Pro tip: Artists at this parlor understand nerd culture + boast a vast knowledge of animated characters.
1603 Tattoo Collective Studio, 1901 E. 5th Ave, Ybor City
This vibey tattoo parlor sits around the corner from one of our favorite co-working spots, Pete’s Bagels.
Euphoria Ink FL Tattoo Studio, 8 6th St. N. Central Ave., St. Petersburg
This shop specializes in the traditional Japanese art style.
St. Pete Tattoo Company, 245 Central Ave., Suite B, St. Petersburg
SPTC’s tattoo styles include Americana, neo-traditional, and Japanese. Pro tip: Celebrate your tattoo downstairs with a drink + a burger from Five Bucks Drinkery.
Stigma Ink, 3434 W. Columbus Dr., Suite 201, Tampa
Walk-ins are always welcome at this parlor. Plus, they offer body piercing + micro dermal needling.
The Secret Tattoo Studio, 525 N. Howard Ave., Tampa
Looking for something unique? This studio has 11 trained artists specializing in a wide array of styles, including hyper-realism, portraits, and tattoos for dark skin.
Have a shop we didn’t share? Tell us all about it, or better yet, send us photos of your own Tampa Bay-inspired tattoos. We’d love to share on Instagram.
