This blog isn’t here to sell you anything.
It’s here to help you.
To help you choose a tattoo studio that actually fits what you’re looking for.
Because not everyone gets tattooed for the same reasons – and not everyone’s after the same thing.
Some people care most about technical quality.
Others need someone who can shape a personal idea, even if it’s vague or hard to explain.
Some are after trust, comfort, speed, or something affordable.
And some want the experience to feel relaxed, meaningful – even emotional.
All of those reasons are valid.
The problem is, from the outside, most studios look pretty much the same:
Glowing Google reviews, flashy Instagram photos, big words on their websites…
But scratch the surface and you’ll see the differences are huge.
Not every studio is prepared for everything.
Not everyone knows how to respond when the client’s unsure.
Not all of them have the skill – or the honesty – to say, “This might be out of my league.”
And let’s face it – most people end up choosing blindly. A mate recommends it, or it pops up high on Google – in a list that’s basically just advertising, with zero real artistic or professional judgement behind it.
In this blog, I’ll recommend studios I genuinely believe in.
But you’ll also not see some I initially considered – and not because of style or taste, but because there are lines that, in my opinion, shouldn’t be crossed.
There are choices, attitudes, and ways of working that disqualify a studio, no matter how good the final tattoo looks.
You’ll also find a bunch of thoughts and tips – things that come to mind whenever someone asks me for advice.
They’re not in any particular order, and sometimes they’ll overlap.
But they’re based on how this industry works behind closed doors – and they apply anywhere in the world.
Tip 1: “You’re the experts, right?
Tip 2: Where Do Tattoo Designs Really Come From?