They are a well run tattoo shop with the best artists anywhere. Kind.,friendly & accommodating. I am a fan of this shop & will use them over any other.. read more

Daniel was amazing to work with! He was very professional. He booked the entire day to work on both of our tattoos. My partner's tattoo is bigger and more detailed. Daniel sketched the design after listening to what he wanted. He was patient and put his own twist on it. It came out better than we could imagine. Daniel took his time as well. Mine are simple and he was able to complete 2 smaller ones in about an hour but the quality is still top notch. I highly recommend Daniel. The shop itself is also clean, nicely decorated and even have phone chargers! There are a few parking spots in a small lot or street parking. read more

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I've been getting tattooed for 30 years and this is one of the best experiences I've ever had. London spent an excessive amount of time design a custom tattoo. It's truly a work of art. I'll be continuing my bodysuit here no doubt!! read more

I've been getting tattooed by Christian for a little over a year now. Every tattoo he's done on me has blown me away. I followed him to The Black Lantern from his last shop. I love the clean, professional environment at The Black Lantern. The owner even put WandaVision on the TV for me to watch while I was getting my WandaVision tattoo! I will definitely be back to get some more work from Christian! Thank you Christian and the Black Lantern. read more

The Black Lantern - WandaVision Tattoo by Christian Crittenden - Art Galleries Near Me - Dana Point, California

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I found the Black Lantern after a long and exhaustive search for an artist that had talent doing gemstone work. It was my first tattoo and I wanted to make sure it was perfect, or as near perfect as it could be given the circumstances. Along the way, I found an artist named Nakota who had recently moved to this studio and whom agreed to do a design based off of a sketch I had been working on for a few months. She was able to finish it all in one session which I found very impressive, personally, given the extreme detail to the gem as well as the coloring. However, since it was my first piece and because of the location, I bled quite a bit and so I required a quick 30 minute touch-up session about a month and a half later to restore some of the ink loss (it was minor at worst). I'm blown away by the final product and Nakota's attention to detail. I can't wait to let her design my next project. read more

The Black Lantern - Art Galleries Near Me - Dana Point, California

This place is wonderful. I reached out to them about a pair of memorial tattoos and they were very compassionate and easy to work with getting appointments scheduled. The artist, Christian, is the nicest person, a lot of fun to talk to, and very meticulous and talented with artwork creation and the tattoo process itself. Would totally come back here again. If you are thinking of coming here... do it! Thank you so much Black Lantern crew! read more

Ryan Lopez also known as Ink Trip has been my Tattoo Artist for around the time he started his professional career. Ryan has a deep passion for Art and Realism and it has shown over all the years his been doing this work. I haven't met anyone else who can do better work than him. Every Tattoo I gotten has always been meaningful and I can always trust his judgement when I ask for advice to tweaking that tattoo or to making it look better. He uses the newest of Tattoo equipment like his wireless Tattoo Gun. One of the most rad equipment he has; is his Ipad Sketch pad or whatever is called where he can take a picture of your body (forearm for me) and show you how that piece is going to look like on your body, and if its needs any tweaking he can show you right there and then how it will look like and it makes it even better to have that right away visualization. Another thing I love is when the sketch is ready (and it takes no time at all) he prints the outline too, no need to hand draw it! As far as the procedure goes he is always making sure if you are ok and makes it as comfortable as possible for you. His routine is very Hygienic throughout the whole process. He uses nothing but the best ink and needles and talk about the after care! he uses a "Saniderm Tattoo Aftercare Bandage" that helps with the hygienic and healing part of tattoo for the next 32hrs. That is far superior for your tattoo care than doing things the old school way. Oh and also he checks up on you to see how you are doing after the appointment, talk about above and beyond! This shop that his currently located at has a phenomenal welcoming atmosphere as soon as you come in people are greeting you and making sure if you need anything, from appointment to water. Aesthetically the whole place looks sick as hell, it has various Arts all around the wall and a comfortable waiting room. On top of that they have a huge tv for all the clients to watch while they are in session. Parking is great but place a little Hidden. Could use a bigger Sign or something that says Hey! we are here! lol. Oh! and they have 2 bathrooms! lol. I have no complains so far with the Artist or this amazing location. 10/10 Recommend both! read more

The Black Lantern - Art Galleries Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Searched through several artists Instagram pages until I came across Ryan Trip López and his portrait work. I was looking for a memorial piece for my dog and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. The experience from start to finish is geared towards people that aren't fans of the tattoo process. Trip is the most realistically minded artist I've ever met when it comes to pain and discomfort. Constantly checking in on you, adjusting however you need to and even buying you lunch. I'd recommend him not only for experienced tattoo clients but also a first timer who are nervous. In addition to Trip the whole shop vibe was chill. Didn't interact with them too much but would also recommend Christian or Forest who were both super chill and welcoming read more

The Black Lantern - Art Galleries Near Me - Dana Point, California

SO incredibly happy with my tattoo from Trip Lopez (insta: @inkbytrip). This was my first tattoo and I had no idea what to expect. He's such a stellar dude to chat with and made me feel so much more comfortable during the entire session. . I took my time to research shops/artists and because of Trips love for detail, realism, and his love of Disney, I knew I found the right guy. He NAILED my design perfectly and I couldn't be happier/prouder with his work. . I really appreciate not only his professionalism but his assistant Rachael's professionalism as well. She was so kind and patient with me with all my questions and emails. She was a huge part of why I ultimately ended up booking with Trip too. . The owner of the shop - London - was at the shop also and was kind and personable and awesome to chat with too. Both London and Trip made my first tattoo experience a huge blast and I'm so glad I went with this shop. . Thanks again dudes! read more

The Black Lantern - Disneyland, Sleeping Beauty castle, Mickey Mouse, Plumeria, Aulani, Disney - Art Galleries Near Me - Dana Point, California

Christian was great and did an awesome job on a piece I have been wanting for a very long time! The studio is very clean with a fun hip welcoming vibe! read more

I can't tell you how exceptional this location was, welcoming folks, super clean location, & incredible work by InkTrip. I actually only came here for RYAN (InkTrip), I been following this artist since he first started my leg sleeve in 2011 and he work continues to amaze me. He is so kind, gentle, super intuitive about your comfort state and constantly making sure you are having a good time. He makes an effort to include you in the process and draws things right in front of you so you Can say yes to that and no to this. He has always been positive and constantly shares images he takes with you so you have professional shots. He's line of work ranges but he's always open and excited about what piece he's doing with you. I can't say enough of this guy and I know he'll eventually have a waiting listed for years but I'm stoked he's been working on my leg and co creating ideas with me that fit into the sleeve. He is a go/to reference for the people who ask me who they should get tattooed by!! read more

The Black Lantern - Art Galleries Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Great experience! From the moment I walked in I was greeted with handshakes and warm hello's by everyone. Sat down with Brad and I explained the ideas I had for my new tattoo. He took the time to listen and after a short time came up with an incredible idea and design that I immediately loved! When it came time to start tattooing the time went by so fast. Brad is an amazing artist and person. I can not wait to come back for my next one! read more

The Black Lantern - 1/2 way done - Art Galleries Near Me - Dana Point, California

How does this place stay in business ?????????? it's impossible or an absolute nightmare to talk to an artist . i am trying to plan out thousands of dollars in art with an artist, and the only form of communication they use is email. no in person consultations. no phone calls. email is Redundant and I am asked the same questions over and over only to eventually be told to contact a different artsit, ok great, i ask for his contact info. i am told to "find him on instagram and contact him" if i ran my salon this way we would be out of business in a day. clearly they do not need or want business. This is just crappy customer service what a joke read more

I spent 4 years trying to find the right tattoo artist and luckily my friend introduced me to this place. I was super nervous at first, as would anyone, and couldn't imagine walking out with anything more beautiful than what I received as my tattoo. Trip is literally the best!! He takes the time to design and thinks so out of the box! I had a different view on what I wanted as a tattoo, but he came up with really amazing designs and took my creation to the next level with his! I get more compliments on my tattoo than I ever thought possible and I owe it to him. I can't imagine going to anyone else. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. read more

The only place to go... I was recently tattooed by London. He is beyond talented in so many styles. I got a very technically-difficult portrait with a lot of small detail and shading. He 100% knocked it out of the park! I've had friends tell me it's the best tattoo they've ever seen, although if you look through his portfolio you'll see that each piece is equally amazing. It helps that he's super cool, too. Great conversation spanning the entire sitting, which definitely helped to distract from some of the pain. As far as the shop goes; really cool vibe and the other artists were super chill as well. I am so happy with the end result that I couldn't imagine going anywhere else for future work. Thanks Black Lantern! read more

In love with the studio! It's absolutely amazing, private, professional, and immaculate. The energy in the shop is amazing. My work has personally been done by Brad Reis. He's been working on a sleeve for me. He's very methodical with his approach. His goal on large pieces is to make sure you walk out with a piece you can be proud of between sessions. My sleeve has a ton of intricate detail. I completely respect his process and trust him. I've had three sessions and can't wait to get back in for my next one. I plan on doing several more large scale pieces with him. I highly recommend him. read more

The Black Lantern - Art Galleries Near Me - Dana Point, California

This is the best tattoo shop in South OC. 3 of my previous tattoos are from the same artist at a shop in Laguna and I stopped going because he got cocky and rushed on my last one because it was too simple for him...so I did my research and found Jon on Instagram because I wanted a vibrant water color tattoo. He went above and beyond my expectations. They are all super nice, but also professional. The shop is SO CLEAN and it's super aesthetic as well with a super chill atmosphere. All of the artists here are beyond talented and I'd highly recommend this shop to anyone looking to get quality work! I can't wait to get more tattoos from Jon! read more

The Black Lantern - Art Galleries Near Me - Dana Point, California

Got my 1st, 2nd, and will be getting my 3rd tattoo here. All have been by and will be by London in the future. I was a little intimidated going in because you see pics of London and some of his crew. Partner that with what you see in movies & T.V. (which is absurd I know) about tattoo artists being hardcore, tough, arrogant people. Nothing can be further than the truth about these guys. Everyone I've ever encountered are super chill, humble, and talented in their own style and right. The studio is CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN, with style and an ambience that you don't find in typical shops I have been in with friends. The price is up there but not out of control. Obviously you get what you pay for in life, so if you're going to put something on yourself potentially forever, why not take care of yourself? Skimp out on something else like your $5 Starbucks for a month and enjoy the finer things in life like a detailed tattoo instead of a rudimentary one. Yew! read more

Best Tattoo experience in OC. 2nd Tattoo from Christian and definitely going back. Great vibe in the shop and he really knows what he's doing. Aftercare on point my tattoo didn't peel and the colors are vibrant. Can't wait to go back. read more

Trip is an amazing artist and awesome guy ... cant wait to return for more of his stellar work ... read more

The Black Lantern - Art Galleries Near Me - Dana Point, California

Trip is the best! He is talented, personable, and a perfectionist. I wanted a portrait of my dog and he nailed every detail. The studio is very clean and super cool I love the decor and vibe. All the artists are friendly and makes you feel comfortable. Thank you Ink by Trip and The Black Lantern! read more

The Black Lantern - Art Galleries Near Me - Dana Point, California

I'm ready for more! Brad is the artist for me! With a steady hand, detailed work and amazing vibes, Brad's mix has been perfect for who I've chosen to create life long art on me! If you like his art alone, I recommend that you get to know him and you'll soon find yourself saying "I'm ready for more!" Big Ups Brad Reis! -Ozzie read more

The Black Lantern - Art Galleries Near Me - Dana Point, California

So I looked for a good tattoo artist last year to help me with a cover up. I have a small 1 inch kanji symbol that i would like to cover with a bigger piece on my forearm. This artist, Brad Reid, I contacted was a complete jerk. I'm so glad I didn't give him my money. He's also a rip off. He requires you to give him $200 non refundable fee just for a consultation, so if you decide that you don't want him to do the tattoo after the consultation or he decides he doesn't want to do the cover up or whatever, you just lost $200. Here are the emails back and forth. He was so rude to me that I went off in my last email because I'm not going to let anyone talk to me like this. It was completely unwarranted. His reply was very shocking. I complimented him and shared my feelings of being sad that he decided not to do a cover up for me after his wife asked me if i could come in. Don't tell me one thing and then change it. How does that make me hard to please or not empathetic??? I'm sooo confused, but grateful it happened before I gave him a penny. He is very talented, but kindness is very important when you are in this kind of business. You want someone working on you that you feel comfortable with and that is respectful. For him to say that he prays for whomever has to work with me was completely unwarranted and cruel. He doesn't know me at all and if he did he would know that what he said about me is the complete opposite of who I really am. I'm disabled and have severe chronic illness and this cover up was to be my last tattoo symbolizing my life and family. He can say whatever he wants about me because it doesn't phase me, but the fact of the matter is that this is not how you conduct business with anyone. I would never talk to any of my clients like this no matter what. I'm sure he won't "lose" many clients because of this and that isn't the point of this review really, it is the principle. I kept quiet about this for a year and felt bullied, so this is my way of having a voice. No 20 something year old man should ever talk to an older woman like this. Ever. Photos posted of the emails back and forth showing how rude he was. Not sure if they uploaded in order. His wife was very kind at least. read more

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Trip is awesome! I had a rib piece done and he made it such a pleasant and easy experience. Hardly any pain even! Such a solid guy to begin with but his art is amazing! My piece came out so beautiful! I'm so thankful to have had him work on me. I was comfortable and content the entire time! 10/10 would recommend and I will definitely be getting more tattoos from him! read more

This is a QUALITY shop. Lots of talented people and beautiful art. I'm in the process id getting an scientific sleeve from London, his skills are amazing and he is such a sweet person. When I get tattooed im there for 10 hours or so, London is a blast to hang out with, you'll never get bored there and he makes sure to keep you distracted and comfortable! read more

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Such an awesome shop. I get tattooed by Jon. He is such an amazing artist. We initially started with a watercolor tattoo on my forearm of my husky. He did such a great job that I decided to make him my permanent artist. He was very professional and is a pretty sick dude. All of the artist in the shop are real professionals and it's always a good time in the shop. The layout of the shop itself it also really cool. It's super clean and really captures the lifestyle of the artists. I would 100% recommend anyone to get tattooed by any of the artist. They all are extremely talented and their work really speaks for itself. read more

True artistic talent and vision..... my hubby's tattoos are gorgeous. London is gifted. The studio is immaculate and the people are so fun and genuine. read more

What can I say? Getting a tattoo is a lifelong decision. Picking the right artist and tattoo shop can be an overwhelming task. I did so much research before finding myself at the black lantern. This shop is not only amazingly decorated and furnished but extremely clean and sterile as well. I've seen work from all the artists and they're truly works of art. The entire staff is super friendly and professional. I'm so grateful to have found this place. I have the most amazing art on myself that I could be proud of forever! read more

The Black Lantern - Art Galleries Near Me - Dana Point, California

I've been dying to get my eyebrows microbladed for a year now. Literally, I read other people's recommendations on public sights, I stalked all over social media, and I read a ton of reviews. I stumbled upon Casie at The Black Lantern a few months ago and I FELL IN LOVE WITH HER WORK! Casie is truly a microblading master!! She knew exactly what I was looking for before I even had to say anything in my consult. Within five minutes of meeting she had a vision for my eyebrows--still looking natural. Natural looking brows was the most important piece for me when finding an artist, I didn't think anything looked as natural as Casie's work. Scheduling an appointment with her was effortless. She answered my questions along the way to make me feel comfortable, and best of all the entire session was easy and soft. The results speak for themselves though. Beautiful, natural and fluffy looking brows that my husband can't stop complimenting! He was amazing by how gorgeous the brows looked! Schedule your appointment with Cosmetics by Casie ASAP for the most stunning brows around!! The finished product on the left of the picture of course. :) read more

The Black Lantern - Art Galleries Near Me - Dana Point, California

Brad and London are very professional, very talented artists. It is well worth the wait to schedule with them. Brad did my half sleeve, he has a really light hand and is very fast, but extremely detailed and precise. Highly recommend!! read more

The Black Lantern - Art Galleries Near Me - Dana Point, California

Always a great experience at BL. London, Trip, Brittany and everyone else I have interacted with at the shop are stellar people and talented artists. Go to Black Lantern and and expect to receive premier customer service and artwork--it's that simple. read more

Do NOT go here to get your tattoo. I can say a lot of things, but the short story is they don't have their act together and they quoted me TWICE what The White Lotus in Laguna Hills charged for the same tattoo. Plus I was told from others they wouldn't recommend that place (I guess I should be grateful they're so screwed up that they caused me to walk out!) Do NOT recommend! read more

I recently acquired a Wonder Woman tattoo from London Reese. He does amazing work. The shop is simple and clean. London is a complete professional and easy to talk to. He works with you to create a piece of art but will be honest if certain concepts won't work. He works quickly and I was able to watch movies on a big tv during the session. Best of all London has a fridge full of ice coffee to help me on the drive back to LA. I'll hopefully be back one day to get another tattoo. read more

First time at this location and as I walked in my thoughts immediately were clean and modern! My appt was with London and he greeted me as I came through the door. With that, he provided great hospitality by providing waters and watching movies to keep me entertain as I waited and while getting tattooed. Came in to finish up a sleeve that he had once started at a different location. So far the tattoo isn't finished but overly satisfied with the outcome thus far. I will post photos once completed! read more

The Black Lantern - Art Galleries Near Me - Dana Point, California

I'd rate this shop a 10/5 if I could. Honestly this is the most incredible tattoo shop I have ever been to. From the artwork itself, to the artists, the location, and the shop. Everything is amazing. The shop is located in a beautiful beach town called Dana Point. Every time I come visit, I am in awe of how gorgeous this place is. The shop is smaller, but it's full of life. It's homey and comfortable, and most importantly, it's very clean. The artwork in this place is fascinating. Ranging from paintings to special guitars and old type writers. You will find so many cool things here. And of course the best thing of all is the artists... I personally have been a client of London Reese for several years and I won't ever go to anyone else. His precision, versatility, and passion will keep you coming back for every tattoo you could ever want. He seriously does it all and in the highest caliber possible. He is one of the most down to earth guys I've ever met too. The other resident artists, Brad and Jon, are also extremely talented. Brad will fill the room up with laughter and really brighten the whole experience in the shop. He's a wonderful dude and does amazing work. Jon is also a super easy going guy. He has some cool and unique styles and will give you a tattoo you'll love forever. I'm sure there are a decent amount of places to get good tattoos done... but if you're looking for the best of the best, The Black Lantern should be your new go to. You'll get a top tier tattoo by some of the most rad guys in California. I couldn't recommend it highly enough. Now go book your appointment and thank me later! ;) read more

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Couldn't have asked for a better experience getting my first tattoo. London is a true artist and completely captured my ideas in his own unique way, exceeding all of my expectations. I have gotten so many compliments on his work already. The vibe at the studio was hands down one of the chillest I have ever experienced anywhere I have been. The conversations London, Jon, my roommate, and I had were beyond priceless and make the experience even that much more memorable. The Black Lantern has it figured out, good vibe, good tribe. Do yourself a favor and get some work done by these dudes. I already have my next appointment booked! read more

The Black Lantern - Art Galleries Near Me - Dana Point, California

What a great shop. It definitely takes a team to build a great business and London had done an exemplary job constructing one. This place doesn't come with the usual "tattoo shop" stigma - where you aren't treated with respect. For example, during my 6 hours session with Brad, I saw all walks of life enter the shop - including an older family member of one of the employees that was a tad nervous initially (there were a few shirtless dudes in the shop getting inked and some loud music playing) but London and team were more than welcoming in their greetings and genuine interactions with her that made her feel at ease that really felt authentic. This is while they were both tattooing / designing! As an engineer, I realize how hard that can be - but it's important to have that balance in a shop where people are able to walk in and out. The only hard part about the experience is the scheduling part. You know how it goes - once you get the idea / design in your head, you want it executed immediately! But with good artists, one must wait. Which I'm OK with - but at times I have experienced a lack of communication (or extreme delays) during the scheduling portion which I believe can be improved upon a little bit. I won't let that get in the way of my transformation but I just wanted to offer something a little constructive. London allows his shop to be a business within a business and empowers his artists to run it as they see fit, so this may or may not apply to all artists there. But I'm sure it will improve with time. My particular artist at the moment is Brad Reis - which I discovered online during my search for a particular design aesthetic. I initially reached out via e-mail but hadn't heard back so I figured to go down and visit the shop to meet Brad face to face, which was just perfect. Talk about a driven person with just an amazing personality. That just made the wait even harder! All in all - a very clean and professional atmosphere. I can't wait to get back into this place and spend another 6+ hours surrounded with a team of caring people all the while just having random conversations about interesting topics in life which really helps make the time fly. read more

Jon did a great job not only on the finished product of my tattoo, but helpful suggestions on what to actually get. I had a basic idea of what I wanted so he drew it up and added so much more to make it look better. I will certainly return to him for future work and recommend him to friends. The other artists working that day were very friendly and outgoing. The place has a great vibe read more

I absolutely fell in love with this shop the second I walked in. Everything is very clean and smells fresh. The decor is what gives this place its vibe. It's extremely unique, warm but yet dark. If I had a house, it would look like this place! The waiting area is so masculine with a cool cow rug and amazing lamps. I came here to see my boy Jon! Jon is such a wonderful, kind hearted, and skilled tattoo artist! I've been going to him for a couple years now and will continue to do so. I met the owner who was so cool and welcoming too! He did such a great job in making this shop one-of-a-kind. My cute tattoo came out perfect! I will definitely be coming back here and telling my friends about this place and the amazing creative artists here! read more

Go for the vibes, stay for the ink! Top notch shop, clean, professional, feels like chillin at home with the boys! Hats off to Brad Reis for the most badass tattoo. I have been waiting for the right artist and the right time and it all paid off yesterday. Thank you for an incredible day, chill vibes and a true masterpiece. Thanks to London Reese for his hospitality and (excellent decorating skills) and to Jonlivefree for some cool conversation. I personally loved the experience and am so stoked to carry this art for evermore! You guys are awesome and without a doubt I will be back soon to keep leveling up! Thanks again Brad! Till next time, Peace! read more