Christine is such a vibe! Super friendly super nice super personable. Easy and fun to talk to and does amazing quality crisp work. Love her! I got a palm sized tattoo and it turned out great! Def gonna be returning to go to her! read more

I came here to get my naval pierced a while ago, the piercer obviously messed something up as I had to come back in a get a longer bar because the one they pierced me with was too short. I was charged for the new jewelry. Now I cannot buy other pieces from anywhere because the bars are too short. Its extremely frustrating especially since I paid this guy a second time for his mess up. Now I'm stuck with a terrible piercing job. read more

I went here to get my daith pierced and overall had a good experience!! the vibe was so chill and so was my piercer, Rob! the only thing I would say is that I would have preferred if he would have told me to take a deep breath and then out while piercing me, but other than that my experience was wonderful. I did get pretty lightheaded and had to lay down for a bit (I forgot to eat beforehand), but they were so nice to me about it and very comforting. would 10/10 recommend for anyone looking to get pierced for a great price. read more

So rude!!! went for a walk in and they didn't have any available time at that moment which is understandable and not in their control. But, they made no effort to keep my business or try to make an appointment with me in the near future. Talked very condescending and like it was my fault I couldn't show up any earlier because I came straight from work. read more

If you want clean lines and a reasonably priced tattoo then DON'T go here! I asked for a wedding ring. TWO LINES that don't even go the whole way around the finger. it was a 10 minutes TOPS tattoo. The lines are wonky and look terrible! Oh and this pathetic excuse of two lines cost me $85! I wouldn't be as upset about the price if it was better quality but it's terrible!!! read more

Amazing I say!!! I got my ears pierced Here and they did an amazing job!! Was over super quick. $60 a little pricy, but it is great quality. Better then Clair's that messed up the first time. If you take a minor for a piercing, they do need a birth certificate. Again, Amazing!! read more

Christine is amazing! I booked a tattoo with her at the beginning of the year. This tattoo is in memory of my mom who just recently passed. I wanted shades of purple because that was my mom's favorite color. Christine suggested bursts of red and I could not be more in love with my new tattoo. Thank you Christine!!! read more

Defiance Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Kent, Ohio

update of my review from over a year ago; she made my first tattoo experience miserable because not only was she extremely rude but since she was pushing way too deep it made it incredibly painful, i've gotten other tattoos since then from another place that were much bigger and hurt way less and are completely flat since they were done properly. Also, it looks nothing like the image. I hate showing it off because it's embarrassing because it's so ugly not to mention the fact it's lifted and uneven. Highly recommend going somewhere else. read more

Defiance Tattoos - what I showed her - Tattoo Near Me - Kent, Ohio

See all

Aaron and Rob both are very professional and personable. Got my nose pierced today by Aaron. He made it quick and painless and was open to placement. read more

Defiance Tattoos - Nose piercing done by Aaron - Tattoo Near Me - Kent, Ohio

well I came in a week before I got my piercing today and had a really good talk with Aaron. you have a really good staff and are easy to talk to which made it less nerve racking. I wanted to take a moment to express my appreciation for your exceptional services. Your dedication to providing top-notch products and remarkable customer service is truly commendable. Every interaction I have had with your business has been nothing short of delightful. From the warm greetings upon entering your establishment to the seamless execution of every transaction, your team consistently goes above and beyond to ensure a memorable experience. Not only do you deliver incredible value, but your attention to detail and commitment to excellence truly set you apart. Your passion for what you do shines through in every aspect of your business, creating an atmosphere of trust and satisfaction. I wanted to extend my heartfelt thanks for all that you do. Your business has made a positive impact in my life, and I am grateful for the unique ways you have contributed to the community. Your involvement and support have made a difference, and it does not go unnoticed. Please know that your hard work and dedication are appreciated more than words can express. I truly value our relationship and look forward to continuing to support your business in the future. Wishing you continued success and prosperity. Warm regards,Sereena Graham read more

They should close now, because staying open is genuinely embarrassing. I got a tattoo here 3 years ago, and feel I should now share my experience because of the recent abuse allegations against them. I went in for a tattoo a few times my freshmen year and I was turned away multiple times. Once, I went in and asked for a lavender leaf, and I was told it would "look bad" because of the lines. Mind you, I have gone to other shops now and actually got those leaves from a different shop, and they ended up beautiful. Besides the point. I ended up getting a tattoo that meant a lot to me. Before getting the tattoo, the artist literally told me it was "kind of stupid". Nevertheless, I got it. I wanted it to be much smaller but the artist told me that he could not do it smaller without messing up the lines. Being inexperienced at the time, I thought this was the norm (spoiler alert: it is not). The end result was horrible. I have horrible blow out and the lines are thinning. The tattoo is absolutely huge when I asked for it to be smaller. Also, the artist NEVER DISINFECTED MY ARM! I reached out to them via instagram because I was not happy with my service, and I was BLOCKED! I am now stuck for life with a horrible tattoo that reminds me of a disgusting place that abuses their employees. The absolute gall....telling me my tattoo is stupid and then allowing multiple customers to be given horrible permanent ink. They act as if they are smarter than everyone, when in fact, they allow a bunch of frat boy types who like to draw little doodles permanently brand people. Go to War Horse instead. read more

I got my septum pierced here about 2 years ago and the experience was horrible. I only now feel inclined to leave a review because of recent allegations of abuse towards staff members. David did my piercing. The entire time I was there we was very rude and judgy to my mom and I. He questions my mother's parenting because she let me get this piercing done when I was 15 (this offended me considering he had no idea the story of why my mom let me get it done in the first place). He scoffed when I didn't have a hair tie to put my hair back with, and whilst tugging on the clamps trying to get the balls screwed on he dropped them 2 times. The entire time the vibes were very off and it all felt very unprofessional. read more

walked in on wednesday, waiting about 1.5 hours because there were two girls in front of me, went upstairs to the room and she got it done in 10 minutes. everything was professional! will be coming back, the pain is addictive read more

Defiance Tattoos - picture of my tattoo done by christine - Tattoo Near Me - Kent, Ohio

Cory fit me in for a walk in and exceeded my expectations! He did two tattoos for me and they turned out better than I imagined! Would absolutely recommend him and this shop. 10/10! read more

Rachel was amazing! I will definitely be going back to her! I love her work and she does an incredible job!

Loved the tattoo I got here, and I am really happy with it. but quite frankly the guy who did it was not very polite at all. It did not make me feel comfortable and kind of ruined the experience for me. Even though I made an appointment, I waited almost 2 hours. I paid a deposit, which is "non-refundable" under any circumstances so I sat and waited. Great tattoos, shitty customer service. Will not be going here for the next tattoo I am planning. I wish I would have done more research first. 0/10 would recommend read more

Tl;dr The shop has terrible customer service, and the owner is super shady. There's a lot that can be said about Defiance, and not any of it is good. I've been here once, and my artist was sufficient. However most artists that tattoo in an actual shop are proficient, it's a matter of the experience. When it comes to Defiance, there's a lot of shady shit that goes on behind closed doors. I've heard from plenty of people, (plus have seen) about many instances of poor customer service within the shop, whether it's giving poor jewelry advice, or turning down Pinterest tattoos that are extremely prevalent when you're on the main strip of a college town. People aren't coming here for the American traditional that they have a lot of posted on google, they're coming for peace signs and quotes. They suffer from being a seemingly traditional shop in a Pinterest hotbed. So instead of adapting, they turn people away. If you've been here more than a couple times chances are you're seeing different people every time. This is in fact because the shop owner is always apprenticing, because usually you give 50% of what you make to be an apprentice and work in the shop. This review may be a bit of a mess, but I think that's emblematic of defiance as a whole. Do yourself a favor, do your research, don't go here. read more

Everyone here is all so welcoming and nice. A very clean and nicely decorated place. I've gotten 3 piercings from here and all of them have looked fabulous. I'll continue to go here for all my piercings read more

Very rude artist. Even worse tattoo. He got my time wrong and tried saying I was wrong despite showing him our convo. Almost gave my time slot away. Made rude comments the whole time. Got the worlds simplest "11:11" tattoo and no one knows what it says... read more

Aaron did a wonder job piercing my cartilage. He was super personable and made for a great experience. The shop felt very clean and sterile.

Giving it two stars for mike he moved stands and is not here anymore but the extra star is for him. This place continues to disappoint. Overpriced, not detail oriented, walk-ins are hardly respected. The girl tattooer who I don't even know what her name is anymore messed up the only tattoo I there for after I had booked with Mike all previous visits. I've heard this is a front for gang activity. So much drama always going on. They're not very welcoming and pretty rude to clients who are not regulars. As for their piercings. They do not use implant grade jewelry and it causes many people to get infections after having them done here. For sure nose piercings they allow you to get nose rings for your first piercing, which doesn't let it heal properly. Overall, hanging on by a thread. read more

I went to Defiance for a jewelry change and had to wait a bit for their piercer to get back from lunch - no big deal. While I was waiting in the lobby, two other girls came in to ask some questions about getting a tattoo done. They wanted a consult and to book an appointment for a later time. The workers sent them away saying that had to book through their Instagram. After they left they started complaining about how they hated when people came in for consults. Like what?? I have done that for a good number of my tattoos, and they were saying these right in front of me (another customer). All in all, I felt a bad attitude in the shop the whole time I was there and didn't feel welcome, especially since I was there for something small like a jewelry change. read more

Got 3 tattoos here and was overcharged. I got an estimate for a new tattoo I am wanting and defiance told me 400-600$ which is absolutely ridiculous. I went to warhorse and they said between 200-250$. My first tattoo i got there the shading is horrible and i need to get it fixed. Lastly, Hearing about the recent abuse situation just set me over the edge, it is sick. Never coming back and don't recommend this place for anyone read more

I wanted to get a tattoo that was a cover up incorporated into another tattoo. I went to other shops but didn't feel comfortable with what they had in mind. I walked in and talked to Ryan about what I wanted, and his vision was exactly what I had in mind. I did have to schedule almost a month out, but it was well worth the wait. He free handed a sketch around the one I had using a photo of what I wanted. I couldn't have asked for a better experience or outcome. Ryan was very personable and professional. If you want a great experience and welcome the artistic approach, Ryan at Defiance is your guy. Thanks again! read more

See all

Absolutely wonderful helpful staff! I was turned away from other shops when they said my idea was dumb, and I went there and Christine was so wonderful! read more

Absolutely love love love love defiance best atmosphere and artists ever especially Christine

My roommate and I went to defiance today for me to get my labret (lip) and her to get a stud in her nose. Rob took care of us and had us in and out in what felt like minutes. He worked with me when i wanted to change placement after he had made the mark and everything. I worked myself up a bit and he was very nice about not rushing us and making sure I was okay. He gave very clear aftercare instructions and answered all of my questions. (Btw sorry for the picture it's the only one I've taken since and my septum was done somewhere else) read more

Defiance Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Kent, Ohio

THE BEST TATTOO SHOP IN KENT! You can not beat their prices or the quality of their tattoos and piercings. I got a piercing done at War horse and it was completely messing up! They did a terrible job. It was crooked and digging into my ear. I went to Defiance and they fixed it! After that I don't go anywhere else. I've gotten several tattoos there and have been extremely pleased with each one! There is a reason they have been voted #1 tattoo shop in Kent for years! read more

This shop was incredibly professional and kind. I called ahead of time to see if they had time for a walk-in, and they got me in and out in about 45 minutes. Chase was a great artist, and you could tell he really cared about the finished outcome. read more

Defiance Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Kent, Ohio

Just got my second cartilage piercing tonight. I have had my right cartilage pierced on two separate occasions at the mall with a gun. The first time it closed up because I forgot to put the earring back in after an hour and the second time I left it out because it left a big bump on the back even after a year.. I decided to switch to my left ear and I came here to get it pierced in August. It healed pretty well (no gross bumps or puss) and I decided to get another piercing underneath that one. The piercer does a great job and he's super friendly! He'll keep adjusting points until you're satisfied with the location to be pierced. He even put up with all my anxious moms questions... It's a few bucks more than a piercing gun piercing but it's so worth it for the cleanliness you get with the piercing. I absolutely love the piercing and will be back if I want anymore! read more

Defiance Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Kent, Ohio

Got a couple piercings here recently and was very impressed! The employees clearly knew what they were doing and made sure I liked the placements first. I felt very comfortable throughout. I have had bad piercing experiences in the past, but I won't go anywhere else now! read more

I had a great experience getting my daith pierced at Defiance! It was super quick- they took me immediately and I didn't have to wait long to have the piercing done. The shop is clean and my piercer was friendly and relaxed. I also found the prices very reasonable! Will definitely be returning! read more

Every time I go in there the staff has been so rude. Except for the guy who does piercings. Tattoos are done well. Very over priced though.

Steve did my tattoo and spent the whole time telling me my old tattoos belong on Pinterest and that I will want them covered in a couple years. Then went on to treat me as though I was a child who had never been inside a tattoo parlor before. So if you would like to be made a fool and overcharged for mediocre work go check out Steve at Defiance! read more

i went here with my friends and most of the staff was very rude. i was trying to send a picture of my tattoo to the artist and my phone wasn't working and one of the staff members, Chase made me feel like crap about it. I wanted a simple quote and he said that the small, 5 word, quote would have to be the length of my lower arm with huge font. Any smaller and the tattoo would "bleed together". It's not that I doubt that, but I just don't think they're skilled enough to do it right - people get small tattoos all the time. Thanks for coming to my TED talk. read more

After 11 weeks with my conch piercing, I went back today to have the jewelry changed. Had it done by Rob, the original piercer, and it was so quick and easy. It only hurt a little bit, because it's still pretty new, but he made sure to get done as soon as possible. I am pleased with the fast service and the look of the new jewelry. Thanks again, Defiance! Until we meet again (soon)! read more

Defiance Tattoos - Conch jewelry changed at around 12 week mark! So pleased with the look and feel of it. I'll be back in soon to get more(: - Tattoo Near Me - Kent, Ohio

I have gotten 1 tattoo and 2 piercings from Defiance. My tattoo itself healed fine, but the artist was not the most personable and neither was the rest of the staff. I have had around 20 piercing in my life between my ears, nose, and lip. All of them I have gotten at a studio before I moved to the area healed great and I never had a problem with them. Both the piercings I have gotten here have been a pain to heal and kept on getting irritated/infected months after getting the piercing. I take care of them just like all my other piercings I have received. If I plan on getting another tattoo or piercing in Kent, I will more than likely find a different place to go. read more

The guys I had for my tattoo was pretty rude. I was really nervous because it was my first and he kept making rude comments. Also, my tattoo cost $80. There's no reason it should be, it's a tiny tree (no fill, only lines). I also had my belly button pierced here. They were really cool about it but it got infected and then rejected. I for sure question their sanitization. read more

I was with my 16 year-old when she got her ear cartilage pierced, after I'd stopped in prior to take a look around. Everyone who worked there was so friendly and professional that I felt quite comfortable bringing her in. Rob, who pierced her, was kind and patient and very professional. The vibe was cool (as in jazz is cool) and experienced. Would choose the same place if I had to do it over. read more

Uh what!!!!!! I just went to get a tattoo with my friend and the artist said her TATTOO WAS STUPID AS HE WAS TATTOOING HER!!!!¡!¡!!¡ never going back here!!!! Lost some impulsive college girl's money!!!!! Bad!! read more