Called up for a walk in for two small tattoos. They got us fit in at the end of the day and the…read moreartist and staff were nice and helpful. We did set up a last minute appointment and wasn't a huge fan of waiting outside in cold weather for like 15-20 mins but it was due to very strict hygiene/ sanitation reasons. They also had us sanitize as we walked in so very clean! It's actually a pretty small shop inside but their prices are great for the art, they also are willing to work with your budget by adjusting size or design which is helpful if you are on a budget. Would recommend especially after they messaged later reinforcing that they are there if we needed anything later on. Thank you to Jimmy who did the tats and Max who got us the info to get us in!

Great experience from start to finish. I had an appointment and was greeted at the door. I was…read moreimmediately impressed with the overall cleanliness of the shop. Letoy had his super clean station all prepared. I sent ahead my concept and Leroy had a transfer ready. With all the peripherals looking good, the real test is the quality of the tattoo. It was fantastic. I can't imagine a better experience.

I can't recommend Brooke Sombati enough! She had the vision and skill to turn the disappointing tat…read moreI'd gotten elsewhere into one that I now love. Brooke is talented, friendly, patient, and a great communicator. The shop is very cool and fun to spend time in. I will definitely be back!

I recommend Art Fuel hands down! Yesterday Brooke did our matching "mother & daughter" tattoos…read more We walked right in and she was professional, sweet and VERRRY patient with our indecisiveness. I also had the pleasure of meeting owners Chad and Sarah. The space is a very clean and laid back atmosphere! Art Fuel is THE best in town! - Megan H.

Did a walk in for a decent size back tattoo, price was amazing. Tattoo was amazing. was the first…read moreshop i've been to that didn't call me stupid for the tattoo ideas i had. 100% will come back for my next ones. Shout out to Ed, dude was great!

I had a great experience with Joe at Port City Tattoo. Joe listened to my idea and brought it to…read morelife from my proposed design. I would definitely recommend Joe & Port City Tattoo! Lisa

If you're looking to get great tattoos in Wilmington, this is where you need to be going. Super…read moreexperienced artists, all of whom are also really cool people. The playlist in here is always great, and unlike some shops, they're always down to accommodate any walk-ins as well.

Ted has done a couple tattoos for me now. Best looking and quickest healing tattoos I've gotten.read more

Went to Invoke Tattoo to get my very first tattoo from Adam. I had been following him for a couple…read moreyears on Instagram before snagging an appointment with him. It was an all around perfect experience from beginning to end for my first tattoo. The shop was very cool. Very clean. Also enjoyed the time I spent with Adam. I would recommend them to anyone!

The shop itself is really spacious and clean. There are several artists who work there and it's…read morereally cool seeing all of the art in the space. I went to see Hannah while she was apprenticing and I was blown away by her work. She's such a natural at tattooing and a very talented artist. You can tell this is her passion. I got one of her designs tattooed on my inner arm. She was really quick and efficient while doing an amazing job. I was really comfortable getting tattooed with her. My tattoo healed beautifully and I hope I can get tattooed with her again soon.

Got a tattoo here last year and it looks amazing. It healed nicely, lines are clean and crisp. I'll…read morebe getting another soon!

This is such a nice and clean shop. All of the artists were nice and professional. My artist was…read moreSky and she knocked it out of the park. I will definitely be a returning client.

Great experience and vibe! Scott, Jordan, and Hollie are very kind and extremely…read moretalented/competent. Super clean practices, just a fantastic shop all around

I was beyond pleased with the overall experience I had with Hardwire Tattoo today, plus it had been…read moreover 6 years since I last received some artwork. My artist / tattooer was Matt Fischer. Matt is very authentic, eclectic and has an amazing personality. Throughout the 45 minute session, Matt and I conversed multiple times, mostly about our passion for all things "Horror". This is where my tattoo came in to play. I presented Matt with one dozen Horror-themed ideas approx. 2 months ago and I went with the one he was most passionate about...Ghost Face from the Scream series. This was perfect!! Our youngest son's favorite villain is Ghost Face, plus...Scream 5 just finished filming right here in Wilmington in 2020. Matt nailed this tattoo...I mean, he absolutely crushed it and I could not be any more pleased with the end result. All of Matt's lines are super clean, proportioned perfectly and it looked like a sticker afterward. My skin did not endure much, if any, trauma and bleeding was kept to a minimum. This was a flawless tattoo session and experience all around!!!! The shop was very clean, all employees were masked properly and everyone was down to Earth and friendly. Matt.......the rest of this leg is now saved for your future Horror work. THANK YOU for an amazing job!!! 5 STARS!!!

I got a tattoo with Em a while back. While the tattoo was good quality and what I wanted, the…read morecustomer experience was off. I did not feel welcome and I would not return.

I suggest emailing/calling them with any questions instead of just walking in, because artists are…read moreusually booked! For a good reason as well, each artist has their style so make sure to look at the website for their portfolios. I really loved Meaghan Angel's work, & luckily I was able to get tatted really quickly (perfect timing hehe). I gotta say, if you're just stopping by Wilmington or live here & want to get a tattoo, this is the place. I don't think I'll go anywhere else, because that's how solid this place is to me. I decided to get two tattoos, which only took about 2.5 hours or so. Meaghan is amazing, I have so much respect for her and her work. She made me feel so comfortable and made me laugh so much, I dont think I've laughed like that in awhile :,) I love her input & she really made the tattoos come to life. I'm in love with them, I can't stop looking at my arm now!! I have a couple other tattoos, but by far these are my favorite now. Thank you so much Meaghan (if you ever read this) I'll be back again!!

Could not have had a better experience with my piercing. Zoë made me feel immediately comfortable…read moreand the space was very welcoming. She takes her time to ensure everything is perfect and walks you through the process beforehand so you know what to expect. Definitely will be back for more things in the future

I have gotten three tattoos from Zoe as well as touch ups and she is simply the best. Her beautiful…read moreand detailed work speaks for itself keeping you coming back again and again. Her communication and organization is stellar making scheduling a breeze. She is always really clear in making sure to grasp your vision while designing and her artistic expertise makes her designs stand out from the crowd. She creates a space that is vibrant and fun but also so comfortable and cozy. She has a little snack and drink area and femine hygiene products available which is just so thoughtful. She also has aftercare packages available to make sure your healing process goes smoothly. I have sent my mom, brother, and friends her way as well. I could go on and on and say so many great things about her and will always give my highest recommendation.

Stopped in on a Saturday evening as a group of four walk-ins and had a great experience with Will,…read moreLee, and Justin. I wanted a finer line style (and will admit I was nervous since it seems to be more of a traditional walk-in shop) BUT Lee did amazing -- super clean, consistent, and dainty. All of the artists were so friendly and easy to talk with!

If you appreciate real artistry, look elsewhere. Hardwire Tattoo in Wilmington, NC is an absolute…read moredisappointment. It feels more like a factory churning out tired flash designs than a shop where original art matters. The artists lack skill, the atmosphere is unwelcoming, and there's zero focus on customers who want something personal or meaningful. Worst of all, the owner is clearly the source of this shop's shortcomings -- unprofessional, disinterested in the craft, and incapable of creating a space where true tattoo art thrives. Save your time, money, and skin for a shop that actually respects the art of tattooing and its clients. This place is an insult to the tattoo community.