We contacted 37 Tattoo Shops in San Antonio, Texas and hand-picked the best for you to choose from
The Email
The following email is sent to all tattoo shops in San Antonio, Texas. 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!
When looking for tattoo shops in San Antonio, make sure to look at multiple designs along with checking out prices per hour. Many people get scared off when they hear about the cost of tattoos because many shops charge ridiculously high prices. With some research you can quickly find great artists who offer fair prices for their work while still producing beautiful pieces.
Adrenaline Tattoo & Body Piercing
| Score: A+ |
Adrenaline Tattoo & Body Piercing has been a staple of the body art scene in San Antonio since 1997. Owned and operated by Steve Owen and his wife Sonia, Steve specializes in Japanese style, black and grey work, as well as portraiture. His team can do any style that you are looking for like anime, neo-traditional, tribal, fine lines, as well as realistic style. Steve also has been piercing for almost two decades, so no matter what kind of bodywork you are going to get done, you know that it comes with quality and experience.
Website Address (210) 564-0389
Boardwalk Tattoos
| Score: A+ |
Boardwalk Tattoos was voted the best tattoo parlour in San Antonio in 2021 after having opened their doors in 2015. This feat is thanks to the owners Abel and Su and their incredibly talented team of artists and piercers. They specialize in portraiture, realism, watercolor, dot-work, and traditional style. The team at Boardwalk works hard to give you the best tattoo and most comfortable experience possible.
Website Address (210) 934-7695
Buddha Box Piercing & Tattoos
| Score: A+ |
Buddha Box is a one of a kind tattoo and piercing studio. With two tattoo artists that have over three decades of experience in the industry, they create great works of art in a number of different styles, but are most known for their geometric designs and works of realism. The piercers on staff are professional and friendly and can do everything from ears and lips to dermals. They also feature an impressive array of jewelry from high end jewelry designers Diablo Organics and Gorilla Glass.
Website Address (210) 647-2929
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Email Response
Hello, this is Miles at Buddha Box Studios. I can do something in that style for you without issue. Do you have a picture you want to use for the cat or do you need to have something drawn up based on your ideas?
I don’t specialize in one type of tattooing over another and you can look at my work on our shop website or my Instagram @milesvader77.
It’s hard to give you an exact estimate on something like that because I haven’t created any artwork for what I would be tattooing. I can let you know our rates start at 80 dollars and I charge 150 an hour for everything else more or less. Detail, size and color can affect price so if you have a budget then let me know and I can stick to that for your tattoo. The shop takes an 80 dollar deposit to set up appointments or start artwork and that goes towards the cost of the tattoo.
The pigments I have been using for the last 10 years or so are very natural and I haven’t had anyone have an allergic reaction to them before. That doesn’t mean that it can’t happen and no ink is perfectly safe to be put into everyone’s body.
I use a brand called Eternal Ink and you can find them and more information on them through their website.
If you still have concerns on the ink itself causes a rash then you can do a color test first. You must realize if I tattoo you with any pigment it will be permanent and once you leave the studio You alone are responsible for taking care of the tattoo.
All tattoo artists that work in a studio are licensed under the studio. As of this time Texas doesn’t require individuals to be licensed.
If you have any other questions just let me know.
Dandyland
| Score: A+ |
Dandyland Tattoos has been operating in San Antonio since 1996. They have an impressive track record of being voted the best tattoo and piercing shop 14 times by the San Antonio Current. This is probably because of the impressive and friendly resident staff, their amazing rotation of guest artists that come to visit, as well as making sure that all their piercers are members of the Association of Professional Piercers.
Website Address (210) 934-2428
Electric Panther Tattoo
| Score: |
If you are looking for bold designs and bright colors, then Electric Panther is the place for you. They specialize in American-style tattoos and new-school styles. They pride themselves on accessibility and flexibility, being open six days a week and able to accommodate walk-ins as well. With raving reviews and great client feedback, it’s no wonder they have been open for over 30 years!
Website Address (210) 590-6900
Element Tattoo
| Score: A+ |
Element Tattoos has been operating in the San Antonio area for fifteen years. The owner, Jedidia has been in the business of tattoos and piercing since 1999. Coming from humble beginnings, Element Tattoo has grown tremendously since its initial inception. The artists specialize in traditional, Japanese, watercolor, realism, tribal designs, geometric tattoos, as well as script. They also offer tattoo removal services, and are backed by raving reviews about the professionalism, quality of work, and amicable artists.
Website Address (210) 979-9877
Family Tradition Tattoo
| Score: A+ |
Family tradition is located in northwest San Antonio and seeks to provide clients with a safe and clean studio and the best quality tattoos. They pride themselves on being an artist-owned and operated shop that works with clients on unique custom pieces. On top of their tattoo services, they also have a selection of aftercare soaps and lotions to ensure that your tattoo heals properly. They also sell clothing, body jewelry, as well as artwork from the artists in the shop. Be sure to check out their Instagram account, as they are very active and display all their artists work there as well.
Website Address (210) 257-9333
Firme Copias
| Score: A+ |
Firme Copias has been voted as the best tattoo shop in 2018 by the San Antonio Express-News. The artists do portrait, neo-traditional, as well as black and grey work and are also accommodating to cover ups. They also have a piercer on staff with an amazing variety of jewelry available. Firme Copias is even open seven days a week and allows walk-ins if they have the time and the space. With four convenient locations throughout the San Antonio area, there’s no wonder that they have such amazing customer satisfaction!
Website Address (210) 560-1570
Flesh Electric Tattoo
| Score: |
Flesh Electric Tattoo is another tattoo studio that has received awards for being one of the best in San Antonio. With more than 35 years of experience combined and a sterile shop, they do a lot of work in various styles such as Japanese, black and grey, Sailor Jerry, portraits, color, scripts, as well as cover ups. With the variety of styles offered and the quality of work delivered, they have amazing reviews from many satisfied customers.
Website Address (210) 314-5685
Fortune Brothers Tattoo
| Score: A+ |
Founded by two artists, Robert Corso and Dan Barnett, Fortune Brothers Tattoo is a shop that comes from humble beginnings. Corso and Barnett worked together and became friends while working with Jedidia from Element Tattoos. Recently Barnett decided to step away from the business leaving Corso as the owner. Corso and his two other artists predominantly work in American and Japanese traditional styles, and offer flash as well as custom work, and cover ups.
Website Address (210) 796-0148
Inception Tattoos
| Score: A+ |
Inception Tattoos is a one of a kind tattoo shop in the San Antonio area. They provide customers with only custom tattoo work; absolutely no flash. With an impressive team of award-winning artists, they specialize in several styles ranging from black and grey, portraits, and realism, to new school, neo-traditional and even cover-ups and restoration. They proudly support breast cancer survivors by offering free areola reconstruction absolutely free of charge. You can’t forget about their piercing artist and her commitment to quality by using jewelry exclusively from Anatometal, Body Circle Designs, and Neo Metal.
Website Address (210) 864-8476
Ink Couture Tattoos
| Score: A+ |
Ink Couture has three locations to serve the greater San Antonio area. They offer a luxurious experience at each one of their locations. They hire a number of artists who are experienced and specialized in specific styles like realism and photorealism, watercolor, as well as Japanese style. Ink couture strives to hire only the best artists who will deliver the best work and customer satisfaction.
Website Address (210) 864-7862
Ink10city Tattoo
| Score: A+ |
Veteran-owned and operated, Ink10City is a high quality shop that boasts over one hundred years worth of experience in the industry. Among the team of artists on their roster, they specialize in a number of styles and believe strongly in creating artwork as unique as each individual that comes in to get work done. They have a spacious and comfortable studio that is also impeccably clean and they are even approved by the man, the myth, and the legend: Chuck Norris!
Website Address (210) 940-0868
Live Through This Tattoos
| Score: A+ |
Live Through This Tattoos has a team of talented tattoo artists that handle a variety of styles like traditional, portrait, cartoon and anime, as well as cover ups, watercolor and blacklight ink work. What sets them apart from the competition is their birthday as well as one year pass specials and loyalty programs. If clients register with these programs, they get steep discounts on getting work done in their shop. They also have a piercer on staff that offers amazing deals as well. While this is a tattoo shop, they also have a range of body jewelry and tattoo and piercing supplies for sale through their online shop.
Website Address (210) 601-0451
Master Minds Tattoo
| Score: A+ |
Master Minds Tattoos is one of the cleanest tattoo parlors in the state. The tattoo artists are proud members of the Alliance of Professional Tattooists and use fresh needles for every client. (Re-sterilizing needles is legal in the state of Texas.) The three artists on staff are Kika, Chris, and Pink. They all offer their own unique style of tattooing and provide clients with high quality and thorough aftercare instructions,
Website Address (210) 988-2848
Mr Lucky’s Tattoo
| Score: A+ |
Mr. Lucky’s Tattoo is a shop that does what they can to make sure that they stay on top of the latest trends, styles, and practices in the tattooing world. They use the newest techniques and machines to create the best tattoos possible, while constantly training to make sure they are up to date. The team at Mr. Lucky’s is easy going and fun and welcomes walk-in clients as well as appointments.
Website Address (210) 736-6900
Nostalgic Ink
| Score: A+ |
Nostalgic ink is another tattoo studio that doubles as an art gallery. The team is flexible and can work in almost any style that clients ask for. Their most experienced artist on staff is Len Hernandez and has three decades under his belt as a professional artist. He worked previously as a caricature artist, portrait artist, book illustrator, as well as an airbrush artist with quite an impressive portfolio. If you are looking to get work done at this shop, be mindful that they operate on an appointment only basis.
Website Address (210) 404-9988
Righno’s Bracken Tattoos
| Score: A+ |
Righno’s Bracken Tattoos first opened their doors over twenty years ago to proudly serve the San Antonio area. The owner, Righno, previously lived in Chicago where he owned and operated two highly successful shops before he settled in the Lone Star State. Between him and the other artists on staff, they have a lot of experience in portrait, color, as well as black and grey tattoos. They work with clients to bring their visions to life by using the highest quality ink on the market to ensure that the tattoos stay looking great for as long as possible.
Website Address (210) 517-8080
The Ink Retreat LLC
| Score: A+ |
The Ink Retreat is a unique place that not only offers their services to put ink on customers, but to also train current and up and coming artists in the art of tattooing. They cover a wide range of styles and techniques in their classes and come highly recommended no matter how experienced you may be. They also have a piercer on staff who can also do brow microblading. The Ink Retreat also proudly sells tattoo supplies and equipment in a friendly and sterile shop.
Website Address (210) 663-0481
Twisted Tattoo
| Score: A+ |
Since 2005, Twisted Tattoo has been providing their artists with a healthy balance of work and family time. They have extremely limited business hours for two reasons. The first is because they put value on time spent with their families. The second is because they want to give clients the best possible tattoos without being pressed for time or stressed with long hours. At Twisted Tattoo, the artists have a number of specialities and can do cover ups as well as piercings if needed.
Website Address (210) 923-8618
Wicked Ways Tattoos
| Score: A+ |
With two locations in the San Antonio area and six artists, Wicked Ways has years and years of combined experience as well as expertise in styles such as portrait, American, black and grey, realism, and neo-traditional. The staff works closely with customers to give them the work that they want no matter how intricate the design might be. They also offer piercing, cover ups, and laser removal services.
Website Address (210) 272-7105
Xtreme Tattoo & Body Piercing – Rolling Oaks Mall
| Score: A |
Located in the Rolling Oaks Mall for over fifteen years, Xtreme Tattoo and Body Piercing has you covered when it comes to body art. Whether you have a custom design, want a piece of flash done, or want an extra hole in your ear, they are reasonable and friendly. Their website contains an extensive portfolio from the artists working in the shop.
Website Address (210) 651-6907
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