One thing we CAN’T choose is our parents. This means we can’t control how we initially look. 

One thing we CAN choose is our tattoo artists. This means that 15% of our body (our skin) is under our control. 

However, the challenge is that you can find a plethora of tattoo artists online/offline, yet you can’t know their work and quality. 

In this guide, we’ll show you the. Best way to find not only reliable tattoo artists and studios near you but also tattooists that fit the style of tattoo you want.

Tattoos Wizard 

Tattoos Wizard is the ultimate website for anyone trying to find a great tattoo artist. It’s the largest tattoo directory after Pinterest and Instagram, and you can easily search for artists based on the tattoo style, theme and location. Another benefit is that you have a price calculator embedded on the website, and you can get in touch with the artist directly.

Moreover, Tattoos Wizard offers free exposure to artists, since they can register without paying anything. That means they have a large database, and you won’t have a problem finding a tattoo artist in your area. The downside is that most of the artists are already on social sites like Instagram. However, it’s a great place to find tattoo artists, and you can plan a tattoo removal, cover-up or new project along with the desired artist. Doing that in a single place is great, and it can help save a lot of time!

Instagram

Since Instagram has over 1 billion active users, there’s no denying you will find many tattoo artists on there as well. Plus, Instagram is focused on pictures, which makes it the perfect medium for artists to showcase their work. It’s the largest image directory in the world, however it also has caveats. For starters, you can’t filter artists based on location or style. Searching Instagram for artists can be hard, and comparing the work of two artists is also difficult due to the site’s layout. Still, it can be a good place to find relevant artists/studios, and it’s free to use. 

Tattoodo 

Tattoodo’s main appeal is certainly its accessibility, since it has a very clear design and it’s a pleasure to use. They do a very good job at removing the clutter and keeping things minimalist.

However, they don’t have a lot of studios and artists from smaller cities. So if you live in a smaller city, they might not have any info for you. It’s still a good website to check out, but keep in mind that it has a significant focus on larger cities.

True Artists

One of the advantages of True Artists is that it automatically detects where you are and it shows tattoo artists/studios in your area. Their search function is also very good, since you can search for specific artists or studios, or you can initiate a search based on tattoo placement/style.

Since it’s an older website, the database is not very large and not updated often, so you may not find any artist in your area. However, its database is growing, so it might be a good option to keep an eye on.

Google Maps 

Google Maps can also be a stellar option when it comes to finding a good tattoo artist. The benefit is that it shows you all the nearest tattoo shops, and you can also check their reviews, opening/closing times and other relevant information.

The downside is that you don’t have a direct way to check all the artist’s work, so you will have to visit their website. On top of that, sorting options are minimal, so you may have to manually check for details yourself.

Reddit 

There’s a specific subreddit called Tattoo Artists and here you can find a plethora of tattoo artists from all over the world. It’s a great idea to use this subreddit because you might find more affordable and lesser-known artists that aren’t featured anywhere.

When it comes to cons, the problem with this subreddit is that you don’t really know what kind of artists you will find or if there’s even something in your area. However, you might be lucky and find some great artists here, so it’s at least worth giving it a try.

Tattoo Filter 

The website is a great option for anyone living in the US and there are some tattooists from some European cities too. The advantage of this site is that you get to use their filters to find the exact body part and and style inside each artist. The downside is that most artist don’t fill this information so in lots of searches you end up getting no results.

In addition, the lack of artists outside big cities makes this a very niche option. With that in mind, they are adding new tattooists all the time, so it’s one of those options to keep an eye out for in the future.

Tattoo Cloud 

With Tattoo Cloud you have direct access to artists and studios.

There are hundreds of great artists from all over the world, although the website is more prevalent for US users. However, you get to see the artist, their info and location, but also their previous work. That way, you can make an informed decision whether they are a good option for you or not.

Skin Motion 

When you visit Skin Motion’s Directory, you will be overwhelmed with the numerous options they provide. They have a large array of artists worldwide, but like many other websites they do focus more on US artists.

You can view the artist information, their website, contact info and other relevant information. Skin Motion doesn’t show any tattoo samples, you will have to check the artist’s own website for that. 

Ink Happened 

The interesting thing about Ink Happened is the website focuses a lot on promoting female tattoo artists. And on top of that, you have artists from all over the world, be it Europe, Africa, the US or a variety of other regions. They also show what tattoo styles the artist is specialized in, and each artist can share a link to their socials or website.

There are also samples for each artist, if you want to see them. The only downside is that their artist directory is not very large, so the options can be limited. 

How can you choose the right tattoo artist?

Now that you know where to look for a tattoo artist, it’s a good idea to understand how you can narrow down the best options. Here are some tips:

• Figure out the design and style you want from the beginning. Once you do that, you will find artists that specialize on certain styles, which narrows down your list.
• Does the artist offer free consultations? It’s a great way to know your artist, see if you connect with them, and if they can bring your dream tattoo to life.
• Talk with the artist about cleanliness and hygiene as well. These are important factors, and you want to ensure the artist/studio you are working with take that into consideration.
• Browse online reviews. It’s a great way to see opinions from previous customers. Reviews also help you figure out certain pros and cons for every artist/studio, and that can make your decision much easier.
• Ask around for recommendations, it might be a great way to find amazing artists that you don’t know about.
• Always check samples, it will give you a feel of what work the artist does and whether it fits your specific taste. Even if they work with the tattoo style you like, that doesn’t mean their work will fit your requirements.

Conclusion

We recommend using the websites shown above if you’re looking for a great tattoo studio/artist. Whether you use tattooist directories, social media, or any other source, it will be much easier to narrow down what tattooist fits your requirements. Create a shortlist and then slowly remove artists from it depending on your criteria, be it price, style, cleanliness, and other similar things!