We contacted 21 Tattoo Shops in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and hand-picked the best for you to choose from
The Email
The following email is sent to all tattoo shops in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The responses to this email will be shown in the “Email Response” section of each shop.
Read the Email
Hi!
I am interested in getting a single-line tattoo on my leg. Something like the cat here: https://www.xotly.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Single-Line-Tattoo.jpg
So my question is:
Do you guys specialize in these kind of tattoos?
And how much does it cost to get a tattoo like that?
Size – 3×3 inches
Is it possible to get colors in the tattoo, like in the example?
Happy to hear back from you guys,
Drew
I also have some other questions, so feel free to answer those:
1. What ingredients in the ink you’d use for the colors in the tattoo?
2. Does color ink causes an itchy rash? I have kinda sensitive skin.
3. Can you perform a patch test?
4. Are you a licensed tattoo artist?
5. In case you did some single-line tattoos, can you share some examples?
Thanks!
Art FX Tattoo Inc.
| Score: A+ |
With over 50 years of combined experience across its six resident artists, Art FX Tattoo Inc. has been open for 22 years. This talented and experienced team can design in black and white, color, tribal, and other styles. Large area tattoo designs are welcome in addition to smaller traditional sizes.
Website Address (412) 435-4635
Artisan
| Score: A+ |
Artisan is a rich eclectic mixture of a tattoo fine art studio, art gallery, and cafe. Both resident and guest artists from around the world lend to Artisan’s reputation as a destination for finely crafted tattoos. Customers are asked to look through artists’ portfolios to generate ideas of what they would like. The studio offers a selection of small artwork, patches and prints, lingerie, accessories, and handmade clothing. WiFi is available throughout the shop.
Website Address (412) 534-3649
Black Cat Tattoos
| Score: A |
Jason Lambert and Cara Cable opened Black Cat Tattoos in 2009 with a strong emphasis on friendly and open collaboration with their clients. Black Cat’s artists use traditional techniques to bring customers’ ideas to life. The studio’s website features numerous examples of each artists’ work, which include full color and black and gray designs. Black Cat specialises in animal images, floral designs, oriental letter characters, and celebrity portraiture.
Website Address (412) 621-1679
Brothers Keeper Tattoo
| Score: A+ |
Found in the Westview area of Pittsburgh, Brothers Keeper Tattoo has been open for nearly five years. Brothers’ five in-house artists are very accessible and can be contacted directly for consultations. Each has a large portfolio which can be seen on the studio’s website. Studio staff are thoroughly trained in preventing cross-contamination and are certified in bloodborne pathogen prevention. Brothers Keeper utilizes hospital-grade sterilization practices and equipment.
Website Address (412) 680-1441
Gypsy Tattoo Parlor
| Score: A+ |
The artists at the Gypsy Tattoo Parlor have over twenty years of experience in tattoo design. With an art degree from the Parsons School of Design, artist Michelle Joy specializes in intricate, illustrative styles which resemble woodcuts and engravings from which they are inspired. The staff at Gypsy has a standing policy of close consultation with clients to ensure that the customers get exactly what they expect.
Website Address (412) 516-3801
In The Blood Tattoo
| Score: A+ |
In The Blood Tattoo has won a number of accolades over its fifteen years of existence. Voters awarded it the winner of the Readers’ Choice PGH City Paper Best Body Art from 2009 to 2011. It has a reputation for cleanliness, professionalism, and friendliness. Appointments are available but walk-ins are welcome.
Website Address (412) 481-3380
Email Response
Hi Drew, thanks for your interest!
We could definitely do something like that. Both of our artist specialize in line-work, and have done a lot of watercolor style tattoos as well, so the color is definitely doable.
Judging by what they typically charge for similar tattoos, this would likely be in the $100-$150 range depending on the exact size, and whether or not you include the colors.
I’ll answer the listed questions in order:
1. Here is the information/ingredient page for the brand (Solid Ink) that we use for all of our color inks. https://thesolidink.com/pages/info
2. In the 16 years that we’ve been open, we’ve never had a client react that way to color inks. (That kind of thing hasn’t really happened since the 70s & 80s when people were using a lot more questionable ingredients in certain colors, and the industry was less regulated.)
3. We absolutely could if you would like.
4. Neither Pennsylvania nor the city of Pittsburgh require tattooers to have licenses, but everyone working here (even the people that don’t tattoo) have certificates in OSHA compliant Bloodborne Pathogen training. Both of our tattooers learned how to tattoo in one-on-one apprenticeships with professional tattooers for roughly 2 years. Mike has now been tattooing professionally for 14 years, Justun has been tattooing professionally for over 20.
5. All of our recent work is posted to our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/inthebloodtattoo/?hl=en And we have a lot of our older work catalogued here in the shop in physical portfolios.
If you have any other questions or are interested in booking an appointment please let us know and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Thanks for your time!
-Max, ITB
Jester’s Court Tattoos – South Side
| Score: A+ |
Jester’s Court Tattoos & More has been serving Pittsburgh clients for 25 years. Offering a wide range of styles including insects, reworks, coverups, florals, portraits, and black and gray, Jester’s Court’s award-winning artists have over 50 years of combined experience in the industry. Their work can be viewed on the studio’s website. Jester’s Court partners with Hot Rod Piercing Company to provide piercing options as well.
Website Address (412) 615-3353
Mantis Tattoo and Piercing
| Score: A+ |
Located in the Jeannette area of Pittsburgh, Mantis Tattoo and Piercing’s doors have been open for almost ten years. Work of the three in-house artists can be viewed online. Mantis follows strict sanitation, safety, and cleanliness standards. All perciers are members of the Association of Professional Piercers.
Website Address (724) 523-8287
Pittsburgh Tattoo & Piercing Company
| Score: A+ |
The Pittsburgh Tattoo Company is well known for its clean, professional, and friendly atmosphere. The studio has posted a large gallery of past work of its four in-house artists which customers can view on the studio’s website. Appointments can also be made online.
Website Address (412) 413-9224
Pittsburgh Tattoo Studio
| Score: A |
With twenty years of combined experience in the tattoo industry, Pittsburgh Tattoo has established itself as a solid choice for tattoos and piercings in the Pittsburgh area. Customers are drawn to Pittsburgh Tattoo for its high quality artistry, clean space, and relaxed atmosphere. In-house artists focus on small tattoos, large custom pieces, cover-ups, black and grey, color, and fine line lettering as well as numerous piercing options. Pittsburgh Tattoo offers a wide selection of aftercare products and body jewelry.
Website Address (412) 343-2064
South Side Tattoo and Body Piercing
| Score: A+ |
Located in the South Side Flats section of Pittsburgh, South Side Tattoo and Body Piercing has over 20 years of groundbreaking history. Owner and founder Veronica was the first female tattoo artist in Pittsburgh and the first woman to own a tattoo parlor in Pennsylvania. Known for her wide range of style and utilization of color, Veronica employees three other in-house tattoo artists. South Side operates seven days a week and happily accepts walk-ins.
Website Address (412) 960-1656
Up In Arms Tattoos & Piercings
| Score: A |
Located in the Moon Township in metro Pittsburgh, Up In Arms Tattoo and Piercing has been in business for almost 10 years. With four in-house artists, Up In Arms covers most styles and tattoo genres. Examples of these can be seen on the parlor’s website. Tattoo removals are also offered. Up In Arms welcomes both walk-ins and appointments. Customers have praised Up In Arms’ friendly staff.
Website Address (412) 528-6465
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Wyld Chyld Tattoo Pittsburgh
| Score: A+ |
A long-time fixture of the Pittsburgh tattoo scene, Wyld Chyld Tattoo features award winning artists with decades of experience. Each artist specializes in their own favorite styles including cover-ups, photorealism, black and gray, and color. Owner Sarah Miller was a guest on Spike TV’s show, Ink Master as well as the Pittsburgh A-List 2014 winner of Best Tattoo & Piercing. In-house artist Lauren Toohey earned first place in the watercolor category at United Ink Cradle of Aviation. Artist Ty’esha Reels, also featured on Ink Master, specializes in color, realism, and covers. Wyld Chyld Tattoo is also an official retailer of Sullen clothing, custom Sarah Miller phone cases, and other custom jewelry and clothing.
Website Address (412) 668-2263
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