Incredible artists with artistic talent and tattooing expertise. Cozy spot with great art and vibes.

H, the shop owner, ended up reaching out to me to refund the deposit when they realized I had asked nicely for it within a day of scheduling it, which I truly appreciate. read more

I absolutely loved coming here!!! I don't have a lot of tattoo experience but everyone at the shop made me feel so welcomed and comfortable! I was tattooed by Ale Rosa and was blow away by her artistry and how sweet she was we spent hours chatting and the work was so stunning I highly highly recommend Castro Tattoo AND Ale !!! read more

Castro Tattoo - Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is now my favorite tattoo place! Booked an appointment for a custom piece with Who - he was incredibly easy to work with, enthusiastic, talented and so fun to talk to. Also chatted with Emily for a bit and she is a gem. Looking forward to more and more tattoos at my new favorite place! Incredible vibes and talented artists. Thank you Castro Tattoo! read more

Emily Pax is my hero. I spent weeks and hours researching tattoo artists and shops before selecting Emily Pax. Their instagram portfolio is full of beautiful pieces with the botanical and animals standing out. I noticed that several other tattoo artists sought Emily out for their tattoos which was a great sign. When I reached out, Kim Chee (their admin help) responded to my request and was super helpful and quick to respond. Castro Tattoo was clean and everyone was welcoming, a few artists even stopped by to compliment Emily's work. Emily was super easy to talk to, the conversation flowed easily. Emily was full of positive energy and encouragement. I will definitely be returning and recommending this shop to my friends! read more

Castro Tattoo - Fresh peice! It's healing beautifully - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've worked with several artists at Castro Tattoo and it's always been an amazing and welcoming service. As a queer person it's nice to feel represented and seen in the workplace! They listen to my wants and needs of what I want for a tattoo. All of them are friendly and the vibes are immaculate. I recommend coming here to anyone living or visiting San Francisco. Hands down a spectacular read more

Castro Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I love Haley and Castro Tattoo! Haley has been tattooing me since 2013. I am about to travel to San Francisco from Oregon to complete my tenth tattoo created by Haley. Haley is so committed to their clients, this shows in the many, many interesting and beautiful pieces they have created. I usually collect images and give basic ideas about a piece and give a general idea about where, on my body, I want the piece tattooed. Haley then creates pieces that go above and beyond my imagination. Haley's placement of each of my tattoos is impeccable. As I was sweating in hot yoga yesterday, and the bacon wrapped trout on my forearm swam by, I thought about how Haley has made my body rich with images, each piece its own story. My tattoos are mostly color realism, the dog portraits, pheasant, and bacon trout all look like photographs. Tattoo day is one of my favorite days, and entering the colorful and historic Castro Tattoo, seems to brighten my mood even more. Haley became the owner of Castro Tattoo in 2017, they have made the shop welcoming to all kinds of folks from all walks of life. Creating a space full of kindness and talent. Each artist at Castro has a different style, the best place to check out everybody's work is @castrotattoosf on Instagram. Thank you Haley and everyone at Castro for making such a great place to get tattooed. read more

Castro Tattoo - When in doubt, bacon trout. - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Fantastic business! Very kind artists who are very skilled as well. I got a tattoo of a bulldog as my 48th tattoo and it was my favorite one I've ever gotten. I am glad to be a client here read more

This review is to counter the negative review about Ale Rosa, which doesn't make any sense. I had my first tattoo from her today and I have to say that my experience with her, from scheduling to the final touches, was top notch. She listened to what I had in mind initially and when I got there to see what she had drawn, it exceeded my expectations. Very considerate and conscientious, and not to mention the place was very clean. If you are lucky enough to get on her books, you won't be disappointed. 10/10! read more

Ale Rosa is the best! She took one of my photos and put her gifted touch, and created a beautiful piece of art on my ankle. She also did another of her own creation on my other ankle. She worked very fast, but with no loss in anyway to care. Both tattoos took 90 minutes.The detail on my tattoo is awesome. Also, everyone at the studio was very nice. I will be back for sure! read more

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I cannot speak highly enough about Sam or her tattooing abilities. I have amassed quite a few tattoos over the years, but none compare to the forearm piece that she did for me. I wanted to memorialize my poor sweet kitters in a tattoo after losing him suddenly earlier in the year. I was introduced to Sam's work through a close friend and I was impressed by her unique style. I was particularly drawn to her combination of geometric lines, soft, natural forms, and her water color technique - something I have never seen from anyone else! Sam was absolutely amazing throughout the entire process. We went over some of my favorite pieces of hers and what I liked about them, and she created a super unique design that was not only exactly what I had in mind, but also drawn to fit perfectly on my teensy forearm. She tattooed me in two sittings, recognizing when my skin had reached the point when it needed a rest. I've not had a tattoo artist before that was sensitive to this and I think that this was the reason why this tattoo healed in record time. Sam was professional, compassionate, and fun to talk to - she made my time in the chair fly by! All of this amazingness aside, what I was most impressed with is how the tattoo came out. The picture in this review does not do it justice. Her lines are SO clean, her colors pop like crazy and Smokey's face looks EXACTLY like the picture that she used as a reference for the tattoo. I get complimented on this tattoo everywhere that I go. Seriously, every time that I go out in public, someone asks me about the tattoo. It's just so different from anything else that is out there, and so so beautiful. I can't wait to get back in her chair for some more work. If you are looking for an amazing artist with a super unique style who creates some of the most original and beautiful tattoos on the planet, hit her up! read more

Castro Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Jess Koala is incredible. I have ten tattoos and I've been tattooed by some nice people and she is 1000 times nicer than the nicest. And she is so talented! Jess listened to my ideas and created a totally rad design. Her style is unique and so much fun. And she was the most gentle tattooer I have met. I loved the first tat she did so much that I immediately got a second from her. My only regret is that she lives across the country from me. Thanks, Jess! read more

Haley Adams is Awesome, I let her know what my idea was and she made it happen, Far better then what I could imagine . read more

Castro Tattoo - Cheshire cat. There's a little crazy in all of us. - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Autumn was great! I went in on a whim to get a fox tattoo in remembrance of my great uncle. She drew a beautiful fox and did an amazing job bringing him to life. read more

Castro Tattoo - Meet Roger the fox after my great uncle Roger - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tl; DR: just go here. The artists are awesome and you're going to love your piece. Where to begin. I had been looking for over a year for a place to have my first tattoo done, but I couldn't really find one I liked. During a visit to SF to see family, I decided that I should get it done. Per my pickiness in regards to tattoo places, I looked on Yelp and tried to find the perfect place. That's when I found Castro Tattoo. Just as you're approaching Castro Tattoo, you're met with a coffin door. That was exciting, but not as much as walking through the door. As you walk in, you're met with Victorian architecture, with purple and black walls and a beautiful, eye-catching window that you can't take your eyes off of. I was helped as soon as I rang the bell. The person who helped me was very kind and prompt in helping me, and I was helped by my tattoo artist just as quickly. Autumn is the artist who did my tattoo, and oh my gosh she was talented! I gave her a reference photo and specific characteristics of the piece I preferred; she sent me off for 30 or so minutes so she could work her magic. My design was pretty straightforward, and Autumn's version of it was absolutely gorgeous. It was a palm-sized hummingbird, which yeah is pretty simple, but the time and effort Autumn put into it was visible. After I looked at the design and told her how much I loved it, she went to the back and got her station ready. I was then taken to the back and prepped. Another person was getting their tattoo at the same time I was, which was cool because the more the merrier. Looking around the room was a treat- you couldn't take it in all at once. There were trinkets and art all over the walls that would interest you and also take your mind away from the pain. My design was on the smaller side, so it took maybe half an hour to complete. The total cost was 100$, plus a tip. If you didn't get the point of this review already, I highly recommend this place. The people are great and the atmosphere is welcoming and homey. Will come here again for my future tattoo plans. read more

I had a tattoo done by Regina (@InkbyPush) a few weeks ago. A friend first recommended her to me about a year ago, saying Regina did gorgeous work and was very easy to work with, easygoing and not intimidating. I started following her on instagram and kinda just fell in love with her work. I finally got up the nerve to contact her about an idea that had been floating around in my head for like two years... She emailed me back quickly, asked for more details and gave me an estimate of about how long it might take. Booking the appointment through her website was really simple (I also had to reschedule once and it was super simple to do that, too). On the day of, we spent about 40 minutes hashing out the design because I was being indecisive... Regina was very patient with my waffling, and made a point to not pressure me into anything I wasn't sure of. I knew the general shape I wanted but was having trouble with the pattern to fill it with and she helped me go through several options until we found one I loved. The actual tattoo took only about an hour to do, she is super impressive in how quickly she works (but precise and delicate, not sloppy). I am super happy with it, and have gotten many compliments on my beautiful piece. read more

Castro Tattoo - Freshly done, by Regina Push - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Ian Reynold is the BEST! He's an amazingly talented artist and it really shows in his clean lines and attention to detail. I asked him to do a portrait of my cat based off of a picture I took of him and I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out! Ian worked with me on a few different options and was careful to make sure it was exactly what I wanted before starting the tattoo. His calm demeanor and professionalism makes the entire experience really enjoyable, plus he's just a cool dude to spend some time with in general. Also, Castro Tattoo is a really great shop with a chill atmosphere which definitely adds to the experience. I guarantee you won't be disappointed if you get a tattoo from Ian, I'm thrilled to have a piece of his art! Check out his other work and you'll see what I mean, Ian is the shit! (Instagram: @ianreynold) read more

Castro Tattoo - My awesome cat tattoo by Ian :) - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is a long overdue review for Ian! Ian was friendly, professional, and communicative throughout our whole tattoo process. My fiancé and I both wanted tattoos of Half Dome done as that is where we got engaged. Neither of us are super artistic, and gave Ian the bare bones of what we wanted and let him run with the artistic design. We did our initial consult through email and Ian was timely and thorough with his responses. He outlined the entire process and was very clear with all payment and policies we would need to know. On the day we received our tattoos Ian had created several different designs for each of our tattoos based on our vague descriptions. They were all beautiful and had varying amounts of detail and shading to give us options from very simple to very detailed. We were able to give our input and mix and match elements from different designs to come up with the perfect design for ourselves. The tattooing process itself was very organized and clearly hygienic and clean. He walked us through all the anger care tips we'd need to know thoroughly. Ian was efficient but meticulous. He was very generous with his time for both the design and the actual tattoo time, and probably didn't charge us as much as he should have for the time we spent there :) Our tattoos both came out better than we ever imagined, and 4 months later we are both still thrilled with them. If you want a tattoo that is truly a piece of art and gives you a fun and stress free experience see Ian at Castro tattoos. I'll definitely be back for my next one! read more

Castro Tattoo - My fiancé's tattoo (not healed) - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Really enjoyed my experience :) I got my forearm piece done by Regina Push and it turned out brilliant with their vision and influence, which I love since I came all the way from San Jose just to get a piece done by them! I was very pleased and comforted by how they made me feel during my session, this was my first large piece and they made sure to explain why certain areas hurt more, how to get through those painful parts, and how to manage aftercare. I left feeling confident in my ability to heal up and happy about my new piece! Highly recommend for a clean, safe experience. Thanks Push!! Just something to prepare for before hand: They only accept cash! Although, if you're in a rush there are multiple atms a few doors down read more

Castro Tattoo - Turned out great! - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

I had such a terrific experience with Jazz Fuller. I wanted to have a more elaborate Ouroboros tattoo. She did a design which was amazing, but not really "me". After we spoke she did this design freehand direct on my arm, capturing exactly what I was looking for. Her price was more than reasonable and I think the results speak for themselves. It's important that your artist gets what you're wanting to achieve and she did that and more. I had to wait a month for her to be available and the wait was totally worth it. read more

Castro Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

I went to Regina (@inkbypush on Instagram) for my very first tattoo. I've always wanted to get one but I wanted to find the perfect person to do it and Regina did not disappoint. I'm so happy with my tattoo and I always get so many compliments on it! I sent her a photo of my dog and everything was on the spot. She made me feel so comfortable. I'm definitely coming back for more ;-) read more

Castro Tattoo - Love love love this portrait of my dog - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

For the past four years I get a new piercing every April fools day, after last year's botched cleavage surface bar in France, I decided on round 2 but with 2 dermal anchors instead of one bar. I've been here before for a genital piercing back when it was Cicatrix and was very pleased so I returned. Tori was my piercer and so far the most positive piercing experience I've had. She explained everything I needed to know about anchors and was genuinely friendly. She took her time positioning and re-positioning and re-positioning the two markings for the anchors just to make sure it was perfect My pain tolerance is pretty high considering I'm not new to piercings, and the first one went through with just a pinch. The second one we had a little bit of trouble getting in there because my skin wasn't cooperating very nicely, but eventually it settled in place. Normally I would think the effort to get the second one in could have brought a lot of pain on someone else. Tori was so sweet through the whole thing though and really wanted to make sure I was comfortable while i was smiling and sweating :] definitely recommend to anyone with any level of piercing experience! Such a warm, safe, sterile, environment with great staff read more

Castro Tattoo - dermal anchors by Tori :] two different colored moonstones(?) - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

This was my first tattoo experience. I received a recommendation from a friend for Hannah Wolf. I knew what I wanted for years and where I wanted it placed but did not know how to incorporate all the elements. I came in for a consultation with a few pictures I had printed. Consultation was about 15 min and I immediately clicked with the first sketch she presented to me. It was that cliche moment of "this is the artist for me!' but it was true. I have friends in the industry and I probably sound like a naive client because this is my first tattoo, but I have done A LOT of research. I went through two 5 hours session to complete my piece. Hannah takes her time and is so calm, but professional and easy to talk to at the same time. :) I told her I wanted my piece to be as colorful as possible, but still look realistic. That is really her specialty. Excited to go back and finish the rest of my half sleeve. Thanks Hannah! read more

Castro Tattoo - I am obsessed with the colors! By Hannah Wolf. - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Haley Adams did my first tattoo here. I searched for an artist with good photo realism chops, and I was not disappointed. I wanted my favorite stork sewing scissors inked, and I admit, it's not a supercool or hardcore tattoo, but Haley was psyched to do it. Our consult was great. She took a pic of the scissors and played with the image a little on the computer. She gave me some great advice about outlining, shading, and so on. When I came in a few months later (she really books up!), she had it all ready to go and did a fantastic job! I still love it and am so happy I chose her to do it. I know she was the perfect artist for the job. The studio is a super cool place right in the heart of the Castro. I enjoyed chatting with other artists and staff, and the overall vibe was great. Highly recommend this place. read more

Castro Tattoo - Photo realistic stork scissor by Haley Adams. - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tee Jay ROCKS. The guy is an awesome artist--and a deft tattooist. In fact, of all the tattoos I've had, Tee Jay's was the least painful. And his work is phenomenal! When I went in for my consultation, he not only got excited by my idea (dancing Ganesha)--he showed me in his portfolio a piece he did eight years ago that is a very similar design. He went on to discuss with me the mythology, color theory, and symbolic elements of my design. I was thrilled! (We also discussed Pacific Northwest tribal Indian designs, and a few other tattoo topics.) He knows his stuff! (He even knew one of my old tattoo artists, and recognized a idea sketch I brought with me as being another artist he knows.) He also doesn't book up months in advance (like a lot of other artists), and is quite competitively priced for an artist of his caliber (and with 20+ years of experience). Go with your gut and find the artist you feel most comfortable with, of course! But stop by Cicatrix and see if they are the artists for you. I felt immediately at home in their Castro location. Not sure why someone keeps harping on Tee Jay as being homophobic. I'm gay and it is a total non-issue with him. read more

Castro Tattoo - Outlining and shadowing done in one session! In three weeks, it's coloring time! - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Ale Rosa was my first artist ever, I do not recommend her at all. She is not professional, did not have fair prices and her design and shading is terrible. I tried to do a simple color tattoo with her and she somehow blamed me for not having the right skin that takes to the color??? Like it's not my job to have the "skin" that will make the color stay, it's hers for finding the right color. She's a bitch. I tipped her too well and she's in San Francisco so she gets to get away acting like this. 0 stars for all of them read more

price of my tattoo was great My artist FRANK was amazing I came in as a walk in with the idea of just getting a letter tattoo buuuuut he opened up my creative side and OMG loved the idea he helped with me for my tattoo . LOVE LOVE LOVE !!!! Recommend him to any walk ins trying to get inked Environment is very clean friendly !!! read more

Castro Tattoo - Frank Getting Busy - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Jess Koala is our favorite person. My friend Angelini and I come here for heart break therapy. The real conversations we have while getting our imaginary somethings is cathartic and lovely in this little place hidden in the Castro. There's just something about supporting this kindred queer and we're always down to help keep things weirder. Jess is an amazing person in addition to being a talented tattoo artist. She has a unique style unlike anything I've come across. I had her tattoo something in memory of my beloved grandpa and it was absolutely perfect. The ink she uses is magical, it has a way of tuning up with the universe. I've seen my grandpa's car everywhere since I got that piece. Angelini can confirm. She takes our ideas, honors them, adds a Jess spin on them, and lets us walk out the door carrying something with us. That's not exactly an easy task, but she brings out her fun colors, tacks our tattoo sketch on the cork board after the sesh, and out the door we are. After listening to Kate Nash or discussing lesbian movies in the back, we always walk out with a new queer scout badge. It always turns out to be exactly as it should be. We'll be back soon and can't wait to see what we'll earn next! PS: Sorry we forgot our Dapper Dog on the couch last time! PPS: Thanks for the Jolly Ranchers! PPPS: We'd like to interview you during our future radio show. :) read more

I no longer remember who referred me to Hannah Wolf, but I wish I could, so I could take that person out to dinner. Everything I experienced with Hannah, and the rest of the staff at Castro Tattoo, could not have been better. I have been pondering a tattoo for quite a long time but I am not artistic IN THE LEAST. However, I had been looking at Hannah's portfolio (and pics on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tattoosbyhannah/) enough that I felt like her pieces were both deeply meaningful for the people who received them as well as incredibly artistic, and I loved her style. Originally, I had been planning on meeting up with her when she was in Hawaii later this summer while I was there visiting my own family, but she (thankfully) pointed out that I wouldn't be able to do much on the trip if I had just been freshly tattooed :) So, I went to visit her in the shop for a consult. During the consult, I told her some of the imagery I had in mind: two koi, one to represent each of my children, and koi specifically as I had grown up in a house with koi ponds and they figured prominently in my childhood memories. Since she knew I had Hawaiian family, she asked me what different flowers I like, and showed me a couple of pieces she had done in the past to see what aspects I liked of each. She sent me home with the homework of looking at koi patterning and Hawaiian flowers, and we set up our next appointment, which was to be an all-day affair. :) Yesterday, I arrived an hour before the shop opened and she showed me the sketch she had done, which was really beyond my expectations. Then, she showed me some flowers and fish based on the conversations we had had, and we decided on the designs. We fitted the sketch to my arm (it was a half sleeve) and she told me some of the design considerations she had made, in terms of placement and overall design. Then, we got to work! It was really amazing to watch the sleeve develop. Looking down at my arm, and then actually seeing it in the mirror, was like being surprised every time -- I could only see small portions of what she was doing because of my vantage point and then I'd get up and see a fantastic wave that I had no idea was being created. I was at the shop from 11am-8:30pm, and we worked from 12:30-8:30 nearly straight. Hannah is a superhero in that she apparently doesn't eat ;) She was incredibly friendly and thoughtful throughout the process and I learned a lot about the shop while walking to her. My overall impression of everyone was great -- they are a collaborative team that were, to a person, friendly and approachable. I was able to see some of the work other people had done and was impressed by their skill, as well. There is no doubt that when it's time for my next tattoo, I absolutely want Hannah to work on it, and I would recommend her and Castro Tattoo without hesitation. read more

Castro Tattoo - This collage does not do the piece justice :) Half sleeve by Hannah Wolf. - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Went in on a whim, was thinking of my deceased brothers and had their names tattooed on both my wrists by Victor Trujillo. Victor is an outstanding artist and it shows in his work. He listens and excels at incorporating your thoughts into your tattoo. He has great vision and an eye for detail. Four tattoos later, all by Victor and and I love each and every one! I highly recommend Victor for all your ink needs! Bring him a snicker bar, he loves them! On another note the entire staff is highly knowledgeable and all make your stay enjoyable. read more

Castro Tattoo - Victor Trujillo - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

I already had a design from an artist. Haley brought that design to life. Her keen eye saw elements of the design I did not see. Haley works fast. She's EXTREMELY talented, honest and is a real sweetheart. Since it's the time of Covid, Castro Tattoo is VERY hygienic. I was the only client at the time. Everything/everyone is covered and masked; I had no worries at all. As I told Haley, now I need to think of another tattoo so I can work with her again! read more

After brunch in the Castro, I spontaneously decided to get my right rook pierced. I had never been to Cicatrix before, but it was conveniently located, so I wandered in. My experience at Cicatrix with Tori, was excellent. Tori is very personable, and she runs a very clean shop. Her demeanor is calming and comforting. Pricing is also very affordable. Tori was able to pierce me right then (a nice change from appointment only shops)...so I selected my jewelry, filled out the appropriate paperwork, and was ushered into a private room. Tori answered all of my questions and concerns/anxieties. The piercing was quick, professional and mostly painless. Months later, while at a club in SOMA, I saw Tori doing piercings -- so, I decided to get my left rook pierced (I like symmetry). She worked with the same precision and professionalism as she did at her home base. I love my rook piercings, and really appreciated and loved both experiences -- I highly recommend Tori and Cicatrix! PS: They have gift certificates! read more

Castro Tattoo - Pierced Rook - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

I had the most incredible experience with Regina. I got a shoulder piece and I changed my mind a few times about how I wanted it to looks, but she made sure we were 100% on the same page before she started. I drove an hour to get to Castro Tattoo, and it was totally worth the drive. Regina made me feel totally at home and, three weeks after my first tattoo from her, I've emailed her to set up my next appointment. I've gotten all my tattoos done from different people and different shops, and I can hands down say she is one of the best tattoo artists I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I love everything about my tattoo and I will be returning very soon. Thanks so much Regina! read more

Castro Tattoo - The amazing shoulder piece done by Regina! Dahlia, rose, carnation and periwinkles. I am obsessed! - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Push, aka Regina is basically the most detailed, fun, and talented artist I've worked with; she did my most recent piece, my first from her and certainly not my last. Ive had work done by other artists before but have never met someone as open to suggestion, comforting and straight up enjoyable to work with. She was super flexible with my narrow schedule, she was open to my suggestions and even took a little extra time to make some artistic choices that totally took my original idea to the next level. I could be happier with it! I highly recommend. read more

Castro Tattoo - @inkbypush did a great job, I'm for sure going back. - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

This review is many months overdue. I had my first tattoo ever done by Frank on my birthday in January, a lavender carnation, and couldn't have had a better experience. I was visiting from out of town for a weekend, so no time to meet in person ahead of time. I sent him pictures via email last minute ahead of my trip and when I came in for my appointment he had it all drafted up, and it was perfect. He was great through the whole process, and I couldn't be happier with what he made. I can't go anywhere without someone complimenting this thing, and I am so overwhelmingly happy that I get to wear this flower forever. Hope to be back soon for another! Thank you Frank!! read more

Castro Tattoo - Lavender carnation done by Frank. Couldn't love it any fucking more. - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Ian Reynolds is a multifaceted human being who is also multi-talented not only in the arts and music arena, but also in crushing and sending problems at the local Mission Cliffs. His kind,warm, and personable demeanor easily made our 7 hours together like talking with a friend. What I loved about the process: 1) Ian's thorough AF booking info. (prior to consultation/actual apt) (Price, Shop hours, deposit, skin care, answers to frequent Qs) 2) Quick response through email/text (2-4 days) 3) My in person consult didn't feel rushed and went over the quoted time in the booking information. Ian is very patient and professional! 4) Ian quoted me pretty accurately so I was able to just about have enough cash for my session. What I didn't love so much: 1) Parking ( I'm an hour south of the city) *I parked close to GGP and hitched a 3$ uber to the shop! Easy Peasy 2) I should have brought snacks and food for me and Ian (7 hour session = 7 hours fasting.) Ian did ask me if I wanted breaks and go get food across the street, but I just said, "nah, carry-on!") Basically Ian gets 15/10 for the amount of effort and time he spent prepping and waiting for me to be comfortable with what we were about to permanently ink on my body. I didn't feel rushed or pressured. Every hour I gained more and more confidence in him and his ability to let his passion and love for the arts to create the beautiful and meaningful masterpiece on my arm! read more

Ian is the best-- super amazing tattoo artist who makes you feel super comfortable while he's literally stabbing you with needles full of ink lol. Ian was a consummate professional throughout the entire process: from emailing (his consultations, unless you specifically ask for it in person are through email) about the tattoo I wanted, to scheduling and how he works, to the actual process of tattooing and going through aftercare instructions. He is very affordable and reasonably priced for San Francisco, and is upfront about his costs. Booking an appointment involves a deposit that will end up going towards the last parts of your appointment. Ian draws up your design with a mix of an iPad and also by hand on paper. He's super helpful, very chill and gives you plenty of options and is very quick and thorough. He won't show you your design until the day of, so you've gotta trust him, but he's super easygoing and is great at making you feel at ease. I got a large tattoo on my thigh of a skull with flowers blooming out of it and he has a great range . He can manage to do heavy, medium and light shading and the lines come out crisp and clean. He is great with realistic blackwork, and I would definitely recommend seeing Ian here at Castro Tattoo! I'm definitely coming back to get another piece done with him. read more

Donny Newman tattooed me and my sister. I had called in the day before and he answered and let my sister come in after hours on his own time to help draw up and finish a last minute tattoo for me and my sister. He was so accommodating and chill. The artwork turned out perfect and exactly what we wanted. He took care to maintain cleanliness and made sure we got exactly what we wanted. Beautiful work with a phenomenal guy! Thank you Donny read more

Castro Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Super diverse and talented artists. I went in for a walk in and Autumn designed a badass passion vine tattoo. She was patient and attentive to detail and I was amazed at how it came out. On top of that, she finished it within a couple hours. Good vibes all around, and I saw a lot of amazing work being done by the other artists too. Prices seemed competitive compared to other shops in the area. Whether planning way ahead or walking in I would recommend Castro tattoo and Autumn over any other shop in the city. read more

Castro Tattoo - Autumn designed this passion vine tattoo on the spot and I love it! - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Walked in looking for a tattoo of a sparrow, but didn't want a generic one. Beth, my tattoo artist, was very accommodating and helped design a unique sparrow design. Once she sketched out the sparrow and received my complete satisfaction, she showed me some amazing colors for the sparrow! The tattoo took about 45 mins and i was absolutely stoked about my end result. She didn't have a heavy hand, she was extremely meticulous about her work and in the end i got an amazing tattoo. Make sure to come in and check out Cicatrix Tattoo, Beth is an amazing tattoo artist! read more

Castro Tattoo - Tattoo by Beth on March 19, 2010. - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California