The 10 Best Tattoo Shops in Houston

Our experience at Mr. Gray’s Tattoo Studio left us feeling inkredible from start to finish.

This place is a smorgasbord of creative talent, offering everything from traditional designs that make your grandma swoon, to mind-bending geometric masterpieces that’ll leave your friends in awe.

They even have a magical touch when it comes to portrait tattoos, making your loved ones immortalized on your body, without the awkward conversations at family reunions.

Convenience is the name of the game. Mr. Gray’s is like a tattoo oasis in the desert of your busy life, which blew us away.

We love that they have flexible appointments and a cozy atmosphere. They make it as easy as pie to get that fabulous ink you’ve been dreaming about.

Plus, they’re conveniently located near all the hippest coffee shops, so you can sip a latte while pondering your design.

Ah, reputation. It’s like the crown jewel of any tattoo studio, and Mr. Gray’s wears it proudly.

Their artists are a talented bunch, boasting a combined experience that would make even Picasso blush. The studio buzzes with positive vibes, and you can tell they genuinely care about their craft, which impressed us.

Moreover, Mr. Gray’s has found the holy grail of affordable tattoos without sacrificing quality. They offer fair prices that won’t leave you eating ramen noodles for the next month.

Mr. Gray’s is currently looking for artists to hire. Plese shoot them a message if interested.

Rampage Tattoo, nestled on the vibrant Westheimer strip in the Westchase District with Dairy Ashford as its nearest cross street, is not your typical tattoo shop. It’s a private studio that transforms your tattoo ideas into stunning works of art.

They undoubtedly stand out for their exceptional tattoo artistry. Their tattoo artists are not just skilled technicians but true artists who can turn your vision into a masterpiece.

Whether it’s intricate details or bold designs, they excel in bringing your ideas to life!

The private studio setup at Rampage Tattoo is a big plus. It provides a more personal and comfortable experience compared to traditional tattoo shops.

Clients often appreciate the focused attention they receive in this setting.

The shop’s booking process is straightforward and convenient. You can initiate the appointment process by leaving a deposit online, followed by a consultation to discuss your tattoo.

Moreover, Rampage Tattoo is your go-to studio for high-quality, custom tattoo artistry, offering both appointments and walk-in services to fit your schedule. Whether you have a design in mind or want to collaborate with our talented artists on something unique, we welcome walk-ins and encourage clients to call ahead to check availability. Our team is dedicated to creating meaningful, exceptional tattoos in a comfortable and professional environment.

While this Houston tattoo shop’s name may seem intimidating and uninviting, its studio is the complete opposite. When we walked in, we were welcomed by a warm and bright space and enthusiastic greetings from all artists on shift. 

Everyone is incredibly friendly, and that is hard to come by in this industry. The artists will welcome you joyfully and make you very excited about getting inked. 

Their vibrant personalities are complemented by their tattoo skills. We think they are among the best in Houston, with long portfolios of outstanding tattoo work. 

Battle Royale has five in-house artists, each a master in his or her chosen tattoo style. They have artists that specialize in illustrative, American traditional, line work, florals, and grayscale tattoos. 

Should you have specific designs or tattoo genres in mind, you can consult with the artist of your choice and they will be able to accommodate your requests. 

We like the style diversity that the shop has to offer. Plus, they’re very open to exploring their clients’ ideas and visions — tattoos are subjective, after all. 

The tattoo work is immaculate, but of course, this level of quality comes at a price. Getting tattooed here can be expensive, but the price point does not stray too far from the standard cost of good tattoo work. 

From its friendly and welcoming environment to the craftsmanship of its artists, this shop definitely tops our list. We really hope they extend their operating hours.

At the moment, Battle Royale is only open seven hours a day from Monday to Saturday. 

Some tattoo artists are skilled in recreating other pieces with accuracy. But the artists in Sintown create their own designs and add a personal touch to every piece they work on. 

That means that working with an artist in this tattoo studio in Houston yields a masterpiece that is unique — you won’t find others with tattoos exactly like yours. 

We really like that because, in essence, you’re not only paying for the tattoo work done on your skin, but you’re also getting a piece of art created by some of the most reputable artists in the industry. 

Because the artists here like to add their own personal touches to their work, we think the studio is best for art collectors and those who want something unique inked on their bodies. 

If you’re looking for basic or simple tattoo work, this might not be the place for you. The artists here don’t do simple — they are extravagant and bold when it comes to their craft. 

Despite their impressive track records and accolades, the tattoo artists in Sintown are incredibly friendly and accommodating. They have a knack for making their clients feel as comfortable as possible, easing the nervousness and fear that come with the experience. 

We do have to comment on the cleanliness of the studio and the sterility of the tools they use. We noticed that some of the artists don’t practice basic precautions, like cleaning their equipment or changing their gloves every now and then. 

Some of the shop’s previous customers have reported getting infections after receiving a tattoo from Sintown. And we think that’s a huge problem in an industry that is supposed to be sterile and safe. 

One look at this tattoo store’s portfolio and you’ll immediately be in awe of its colorful and vibrant designs. Apt to its name, Primary Colors Tattoo creates the most beautiful colored pieces we’ve seen to date. 

Unknown to most people, colored tattoos are more difficult to create and maintain. There’s always the risk of the colors fading over time, and for so long, that has been considered a normal occurrence. 

But great tattoo artists can distinguish themselves and their skills by taking on the challenge of tattooing in color. The artists at Primary Colors Tattoo are not intimidated by bold and colorful designs because they master their craft. 

They know how to play with color to create vibrant pieces that last. Whether they work on American traditional pieces or Japanese oriental tattoos, the results are always stunning — and stay that way after the tattoo completely heals. 

But it’s not only the final tattoo reveal that is exciting. The whole process of working with the artist is phenomenal. 

The staff at Primary Colors Tattoo is very friendly and accommodating. Not once will you feel like you’re entering a scary or nerve-wracking experience. 

We would definitely come back here to get another piece done — for both the amazing work its artists can do and the friendly and welcoming studio environment. We also don’t mind the high price tag, considering the quality of their work. 

Do note, however, that Primary Colors’ tattoo artists don’t create custom designs. You’d have to look for a peg or come up with the drawing yourself. 

That means if you want to get a tattoo with a lot of meaning for you, you can’t count on this studio to render it. This can be inconvenient for non-artists who have to go elsewhere or engage other services to create the artwork design. 

We recently visited It Always Hurts Tattoos and were immediately impressed by the studio’s modern and clean facilities. The staff greeted us warmly and maintained a professional yet friendly atmosphere throughout our visit.

Moreover, the quality of their tattoo work exceeded our expectations. The artists displayed incredible skill and attention to detail, resulting in stunning designs that perfectly matched our vision.

Additionally, the efficiency of their services was noteworthy. Despite the meticulous nature of tattooing, they managed to complete our sessions in a timely manner without compromising on quality.

Furthermore, their pricing was surprisingly affordable given the high standard of work they provided. We felt we received excellent value for our investment, making the experience even more satisfying.

Likewise, the aftercare guidance offered was thorough and reassuring. They ensured we knew how to properly care for our new tattoos, which greatly helped in the healing process.

Notably, the overall ambiance of It Always Hurts Tattoos contributed significantly to our comfort. The studio’s decor and music created a relaxing environment that made the entire experience enjoyable.

Lastly, their commitment to customer satisfaction was evident in every interaction. They were attentive to our needs and made sure we were completely happy with the final results.

Getting a tattoo might be unfamiliar territory for most customers, which is why we value tattoo shops with artists that are patient, knowledgeable, and accommodating. That’s exactly what we found in Houston Heights Tattoo. 

Everyone in this shop was very welcoming and friendly. They took time to help their customers ease their nerves and explained every step of the process so they would know what to expect. 

They gave advice on how to bear the pain during the session, as well as tips for proper aftercare. We really liked how informative they were as this helped us become more confident in the process. 

The tattooists were also a joy to talk to. We found it amazing how they could strike conversations with us, while still staying focused and delivering great results. 

The tattoo work itself exemplified skillfulness and mastery, from the delicate strokes to the shading. We liked how every artist added their own personal touch to the design, which made the tattoo come out even better than the original concept. 

While the tattoo styles that the artists specialize in are not as diverse as we’d like, they do have the capacity to be flexible to their client’s preferences. 

We know that tattoos don’t come cheap, but we honestly think that this shop’s price points are too high. Even a small piece that takes 20 minutes to complete will cost you hundreds of dollars, and we are not too willing to spend that much on a tattoo. 

Tattooing can be a long process, but there are artists who can work fast yet still deliver great results. We found some of those artists in Rose & Dagger Tattoo. 

From our experience, the artists here can complete a simple tattoo in a matter of minutes and less than three hours for a bigger and more complex piece. 

Despite being able to complete tattoo works fast, we still noticed how crisp the linework was and how detail-oriented they were with the shading. 

To us, this shows the mastery of their craft. They know exactly what to do after hearing the client’s vision and they can execute it with speed and accuracy. 

The artists are also skilled enough to not rely on stencil outlines. Most of them do free-hand work, drawing their own outline on the skin instead of printing them out. 

This is perfect if you want to have a unique tattoo or you can’t find a good peg for the concept you have in mind. 

While we liked the tattoo artists and think their work is amazing, we found ourselves having a bit of trouble relaxing and getting comfortable in the studio. 

There was too much going on around us — people walking to and fro, artists conversing with their clients, customers entering and exiting the studio, etc. This made the place feel a bit chaotic, so it was hard to just sit peacefully. 

We also think the studio ambiance was a little disorganized. We liked that there were art pieces displayed on the walls, but there was way too much that it made the studio look loud and uncomfortable. 

Biolab Piercing Studio is a tattoo and piercing studio in Houston, Texas. It’s the area’s only standalone piercing studio.

We like that they offer a full range of piercing and tattoo services and they’re good at what they do since they’ve been awarded as the best piercing studio in the area 7 years in a row by the USBA.

We think you don’t have to worry about safety because they’re state and health certified. What’s more is that they work under the highest measures of sterility using disposable products on each client.

On the topic of safety and cleanliness, they’re also approved and certified as a BARBICIDE safe service establishment.

What we like about this studio is how great their staff is. They’re incredibly friendly and welcoming so you’re sure to be comfortable with them once you step inside.

The studio itself is also a nice place. It’s clean, well-lit and has an overall fun vibe and atmosphere.

Overall, we think that this is one of the best places to get tattoos or piercings!

Do note that they only accept walk-ins and they don’t set any appointments.

Sacred Needles offers a private tattoo and art studio environment, providing clients with a comfortable and intimate setting for their tattoo experience.

We like how this private setting allows for a more personalized and focused interaction between the client and the tattoo artist, fostering creativity and collaboration.

The studio boasts a one-of-a-kind artistic environment that welcomes all individuals to explore authentic body art.

This environment is designed to inspire both clients and artists alike, fostering a sense of creativity and imagination throughout the tattooing process.

We think that clients at Sacred Needles can expect a compassionate and positive experience throughout their tattoo journey. They create a welcoming and supportive atmosphere where clients can share their stories and celebrate their transformations through body art!

We highly recommend!