The Bay Area is full of individuals who love showing their unique styles and personalities off, so it's no wonder tattoos are a big part of the culture. My manager pitched the idea of compiling a list of the best tattoo shops in the Bay Area, since I have 25+ tattoos I figured I'd give it a shot! Hopefully this helps one of you find an artist who can make your idea come to life.
1. Ed Hardy's Tattoo City
700 Lombard Street San Francisco, CA 94133
OK, so, while doing the research for this article, this was the most popular tattoo shop on most lists. I found out that Ed Hardy isn't just associated with a fashion line that came and went after Jersey Shore went off the air, apparently he was a legendary tattoo artist before his dip into the fashion world! Although Ed Hardy is now retired, his son, Doug, continues to manage the shop and word is that Ed drops by every now and then, too,
2. Pop's Old Town Tattoo
800 Tennessee St, Vallejo, CA 94590
I put this place on the list because it is my personal favorite. I have been getting my work done here for the last three years and will continue to go back! The artist I work with, Odie, is talented in several different tattoo styles and is also very good at helping you come up with or work shop tattoo ideas. He's also really easy to book an appointment with and works fast while at the same time delivering a quality piece.
3. Inkestry Tattoo Shop
922 Larkspur Dr, Livermore, CA 94551
Our very own Sana G recently got a tattoo by one of the artist from this Livermore tattoo shop. You can check out a video of the process as it happened LIVE here!
4. Moth and Dagger Tattoo Studio
610 Bush StSan Francisco, CA 94108
This spot has been mentioned by a lot of my friends, one of which got his arm piece done here. The artist are very professional and are also all trained in a variety of tattoo styles. They also have an annual Friday the 13th and Halloween special!
5. Shannon Archuleta Tattoo
3150 18th StSan Francisco, CA 94110
Shannon Archuleta's shop is known for her stunning work with florals or intricate patterns, make an appointment to get on her schedule! She also does some AMAZING work with shading.
These are just some of the talented tattoo artists in The Bay! It's always important to go over your design idea with your tattoo artist so you can both be on the same page. Another tip, ask the tattoo artist if they are comfortable doing the style of art you want AND ask them if they would enjoy it. A tattoo its like a well prepared meal, you can see/feel when it's made with love and if the artist enjoys making the piece, you'll end up with your own personal masterpiece!