I was in last week for my second tattoo and was encouraged by the good reviews at Utility. My work…read morewasn't big or complicated, but - like anyone - I still wanted to feel good about quality, cleanliness, etc. Len was free, so I made my appointment with him. The space felt clean and professional but isn't intimidating. The reception was friendly and efficient. My consult with Len was quick, easy, he listened and gave me options. The work was quickly done, and I was very happy with the result. Both Len and the receptionist checked in with me about after-care. I felt really good about the entire experience.

was recommended to Len at Utility . He drew exactly what I wanted . Was professional, quick and…read moreaffordable. Thanks so much to you and the staff at Utility. April

I have been going to Merchant Marie for over 20 years. She has done at least a dozen of my…read moretattoos, and she did my nose piercing. I have NEVER had an issue with her work, (except once, back in the '90's she had some shitty ink that she admitted was shitty, and she gladly recoloured the piece at no charge). I did find when she was downtown on Portland St. she could be a little cranky at times, but it was because she was so busy and overworked. Now that she has her shop in Woodside, she is so laid back and funny, she had me laughing the whole time I was there. I recommend anyone who has heard negative things about her, to give her another chance. Yes, she smokes, but it's her shop! I'm sure if I asked her to not smoke she would oblige....And I did not smell weed at all.

Just wanted to thank Merchant Marie Reid for the fun afternoon I spent getting 2 tattoos in her…read moreshop today! She had everything ready when I got there & was kind & patient even though I was an hour late!!!!. Her shop is bright and airy & is surrounded by beautiful greenery & flowers! Her freehand art shows how talented she is!! I absolutely love my tattoos & would not hesitate to recommend her shop to anyone!! - Karen BB

My husband and I stopped in here a few weeks ago during the Switch Open Street fest in August. I…read morehad always wanted a tattoo but never knew what or where I would get. We stopped in just to get information and pricing. Janette was at the desk when we went in and she was incredibly helpful. After going home and mulling over the information I decided on a tattoo that I wanted and I emailed Jan right away and we set up an appointment. She was just as friendly and helpful through email as she was in person. I went to get my tattoo on a Friday evening - she kept the shop open late for me so I could get it done as soon as possible. I walked in and the shop was clean and inviting. As a first-timer I didn't feel intimidated or looked down upon or judged at all. It was great to just be able to walk in and get a small tattoo and have the artist encourage you and make sure you're okay. I left with an amazing tattoo - albeit small and simple - but it certainly makes me want to go back. We had a lot of laughs and I felt very comfortable and at ease the entire time I was there. For anyone looking to get their first tattoo and is nervous and worried about which shop to walk in to - I highly suggest you walk in to this one.

Great work with a good atmosphere! Ethan put down an awesome tattoo! Would highly recommendread more

This shop is overall awesome. Everyone in it has an energetic and positive attitude overall. Damen…read moreis a hell of an artist, talent and he genuinely gets excited to work with you (as any tattoo artist should). 2 tattoos with him and they both turned out great. Will be back for sure

Hilarious. And insanely talented. Helena darling is my…read moreartist, she's crazy amazing. But the whole crew at this shop is awesome. They keep you very entertained, and you can tell there's an amazing dynamic in there. If your looking for an artist who can bang out killer colour and be totally honest with you about placement and style Helena is your girl. She also really loves Starbucks hot chocolates if you want to score some brownie points!! I highly recommend this shop!

Tattoo artist Aaron took a deposit from a 17 year old, the appointment ended up being cancelled and…read morehe said he would return the deposit, he is now ignoring all message from her and her mother. She is to be 18 to be able to consent to a tattoo, and should not have taken a deposit on the first place. At least honor your end and return her money. - Absolutely Frustrated

Called the phone to ask if Sasha would be able to do walk-ins. Get there and Sasha isn't even…read moreworking. Pair us with a guy instead. When asked where the bathroom was he stated, "Be careful I dont know what they do down there.". Told if we pay cash our tattoos would be cheaper because "we don't have to pay the tax man" when we tried to pay cash he stated he only had a 5 dollar bill. Found it odd we were not ID although we appear quite young. Sketchy place, tattoos seemed rushed.

got ink done first week of june 2013. Mike did a fantastic job. despite that, i had to have it…read moretouched up twice cos the colour dropped out both times. was in again tonight. i loved the stencil but the actual art still kinna bothers me. looks kinna twisted near the top. the other thing i had a problem with was the price. was asked how much i wanted to spend...told him around the same as my first ($92 taxes in). at the end, was quoted $220!!!! WHOA!!! he originally said he'd accept $200 even. still a wee bit outta my range. he then said, "how much you got?" all i had was $160. that was my entire bank acct until next pay...i feel i was ripped off. if you see mike be careful and SET A PRICE BEFORE HAND. tell him youre not paying above your set price and stick with it. i shouldnt have paid the extra. it will be covered over next year, guaranteed, just not through brass anchor. NEVER AGAIN!!!!

You'd be hard up to find a good piercer in Halifax if it wasn't for Nicole. After working as a…read morepiercer in the past myself, she is the only one I trust currently working in the area. She has Blood borne Pathogens training and offers a wide variety of piercings at very reasonable prices. Cleanliness, precision, and great bedside manner. She also has access to some really high quality and gorgeous jewelry she can order in for you as well, I'm currently ordering some pretty opal labrets for the Philtrum (Medusa) piercing she did for me. I might also add she pierced me freehand and it's just PERFECT! I recommend Nicole to all my friends. Also, Steve and Greg are just awesome if you're looking for some New School stylized tattoos, and really great dudes too!

Going with my GF so that she could get a Tattoo she chose to go to Naughty by Nature located in…read moreLower Sackville. Having a few myself I was there for moral support. Great shop with lots of ink to chose from. Clean location and experienced tattoo artists which is a great thing when you are getting a tattoo. My GF had the ever so popular butterfly placed on her shoulder it turned out really good. Prices were great $70 overall it was a good experience and left me with wanting another which will be coming soon.

This shop is easy to miss, it is on the right side going up Cobequid…read more It is a nice shop,not huge, but seems to be very professional. I know standards are high for this profession, prices seem reasonable as well. I do not have a lot of experience with this, but people seem to like this shop.

Amazing Studio and was really great working with Jack. Great space and Jack is a world class artist…read morewho I frequently recommend

From the owner: 808 Studios is a luxury tattoo studio located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, founded with the mission to…read morepush the creative boundaries of the tattoo industry. Our studio is passionately dedicated to providing our clients with an unparalleled experience that empowers limitless self-expression through the highest quality of art. At 808 Studios, we believe that tattoos are more than just body art; they are a profound form of storytelling. We offer our clients a unique outlet to communicate their personal stories, values, and memories, transforming their visions into timeless pieces of art. Our talented artists work collaboratively with each client, ensuring that every tattoo is a masterpiece that resonates deeply and personally. By focusing on exceptional artistry and individualized attention, 808 Studios strives to elevate the tattoo experience to new heights, fostering a community where creativity and self-expression are celebrated without bounds. ​ A massive part of our studios mission is breaking the negative stigmas that continue to plague our industry. Too many people still view tattoos and the industry like how it was in the 80's. Having tattoos no longer mean you are a criminal or untrustworthy. 808 Studios will work on dispelling these stigmas through a variety of social project and content.

I had my first tattoo done here and I THINK it was Colleen who did mine...? I went with my…read moreboyfriend and friend who also got tattoos. My boyfriend also had his done by Colleen and my friend had hers done by...Bradon? so I feel like I can comment pretty well overall. I had to have my tattoo drawn up and she did a very nice job with it. However, she didn't seem super friendly overall and I get the impression she doesn't smile very often. I felt like if I was unhappy with something, she'd be ticked off if I mentioned it (but thankfully I was happy with the drawing, placement, and size!). The prices are very reasonable compared to other places, say, in the center of Halifax, but I feel like there is a reason for that. While I LOVE and am very happy with my tattoo it is not AS professional looking as other places. The lines are sometimes a little shaky or suddenly transform from thick to thin. Nothing major or super noticeable but worth mentioning. One thing that's really great about this place is that they offer free touch-ups within 6months of getting your tattoo done (or at least they did back in 2010 when I had mine done). I actually had to take advantage of this (for a really faded portion of my tattoo), as well as my boyfriend (to fix an uneven portion of his tattoo that had been bothering him). My friend who also got a tattoo with us did not need to get hers touched up, and she had hers done by the guy (who seemed much nicer). All in all, this isn't a bad place to go for a tattoo. It's very clean and most of the people there seem pretty friendly. Although I have stated that the lines are not as clean as I've seen from other places, it's not something you can really tell unless you're looking for it or viewing it closer than anyone else would be looking at it. I'd probably go here again if I really wanted a tattoo and wanted to save a bit on cost. I'd just recommend avoiding the girl who works (worked?) there if possible. She's not a bad tattooist or anything...just a weird vibe. Maybe that's just me.

I wish I could give zero stars but unfortunately I can't. These really creepy guys pierced my…read moreseptum and he smelled like weed and he seemed very high and it made me uncomfortable but I was 16 and was an idiot so I ended getting the piercing and it got very infected and it was so painful and crooked so I would STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE thank you.