Redemption Tattoo
Maybe it's a full sleeve piece you've been dreaming of since you
were a wee thing. Maybe it's a little symbol of great personal
significance (or no personal significance at all, maybe it just looks cool.
That's okay too. We're not here to judge). Whatever your body art preference may be, if you've
got a design you're itching to put on your body ‘til the end of time, Boston has some top-notch
places to do it. Check out our nominees for the Best Tattoo Parlor in town.
BOSTON TATTOO COMPANY | SOMERVILLE
Boston Tattoo Company may be the new kid on the block,
having just recently established itself in Davis Square in May 2010, but their
reputation precedes them. The shop won multiple awards at last year's Boston
Tattoo Convention, and our readers voted them the Best of 2012. Owner Jason
Zube and his team of artists come from a variety of artistic backgrounds, but
the one thing they all have in common is a standard for inking quality custom
creations in their distinct styles.
FAT RAM'S PUMPKIN TATTOO | JAMAICA PLAIN
This shop is named for owner Fat Ram and his favorite
holiday, Halloween, which also happens to be his birthday. The Hyde Square shop
prides itself on being a custom tattoo destination, and each artist has a
colorful repertoire of pieces available for perusal on the web. The shop isn't
short on personality, and with an extremely minimum price of $80 for top-notch
work, it's definitely worth the visit.
PINO BROS INK | CAMBRIDGE
Pino Bros celebrated their 10th anniversary last
October, but their whimsical designs are anything but stale. Scroll through the
gallery of images on their website and you're treated to an explosion of color,
just a peek into the art they've been creating in Inman for a decade. Their
two-floor studio offers a relaxed atmosphere and breathing room that many other
smaller shops lack.
REDEMPTION TATTOO | CAMBRIDGE
The all-male, all star team at Redemption Tattoo has worked
all over the country. Some of their artists have been awarded at conventions on
either coast, while others have been featured in books for their inspired
designs. Owners Mike Shea and Erick Lynch strive to keep Redemption Tattoo, our
2010 Best winner, an elite, forward-thinking establishment.
REGENERATION TATTOO | ALLSTON
Regeneration's décor is tranquil, with paper lanterns hanging
from the ceiling and a living room-like feel in their waiting room. The staff
is similarly laid back...but that doesn't take away from the outstanding
quality of the work. The only word for their wall of flash designs by the staff
is epic. Their tagline on Facebook perhaps sums them up best of all: "Clean,
Classic, Custom."
STINGRAY BODYART | ALLSTON
With nine artists and three piercers, StingRay boasts the
largest staff of any of the nominees. They also offer the largest array of
services, including permanent makeup and laser tattoo lightening and removal. Stingray
has a searchable database of flash designs, and their flexible hours make it
easy to set up a consultation for your custom dream tattoo.
Get inked, and then get voting! And don't forget that if you don't see your fave tattoo shop repped here, you can write it in!