Hitler could have been the greatest artist on the planet, but no one would know because no self respecting individual would hang that assholes work on their walls. The same perspective should go for tattoo work. If the artist is a dirtbag, don't display their work. Joe Beatty and his crew of beautiful artisans, are courageous and exquisite. Their professional and always on point. Creative and intuitive trades people of highest order.... And above all I not only trust them with my canvas, I'd trust them as a gift to their community. read more

Took my daughter in for a nose piercing before high school started. The entire experience was amazing. The woman piercing was outstanding, took her time, made my daughter feel at ease. Cannot say enough expect damn professional. The gentlemen checking us in awesome as well read more

Highly recommend!!!! Went it for a walk in nose piercing and TJ was amazing. Super friendly, explained everything, and very knowledgeable. 10/10. read more

This place has a really cool vibe. Started going here when the piercer we liked from another shop switched to this place, and couldn't be happier. I've had at least 6 tattoos done here , and even took my daughter here for her first one. The artists are all very talented and will be honest what will work and what won't. read more

Took my daughter there for a rook piercing. staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. After discussing everything with the artist, it was decided to go with a different style of piercing. My daughter couldn't have been happier. read more

I usually love the Crystal Lake location and have taken my kids there, until recentl. My tattoo appointment, that was scheduled weeks in advance, was canceled due the artists "main appointment" changing their mind and requiring more time. Why doesn't that appointment get changed? I don't feel this to be best practice and am really disappointed read more

Just got my doubles pierced by Augusto and Eva they are both so sweet and thorough and friendly!

Dark Heart is a fantastic studio. Everyone who works there is super cool and friendly and the cleanliness is top notch. I had an outstanding experience on a half sleeve with AJ, who is the absolute best. Communicative, collaborative, and exceedingly talented, AJ took my idea and made magic. She went above and beyond to keep me comfortable during a marathon session, and the end result is stunning. 10/10 experience from start to finish. I would absolutely recommend AJ and Dark Heart for your next tattoo. read more

Dark Heart Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

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I wanted a vibrantly colored Hummingbird on my leg. I brought in a picture of what I wanted and my tattoo artist, Alex Orozco, worked with me through the whole process. He was kind and patient (this was my one and only tattoo) about the process and my wishes. He did a wonderful job on the tattoo and I'm very happy with it! I highly recommend Alex for your next piece of art. read more

I started my half sleeve with Max back in Dec of '22. It took us 4 sessions to complete which took us to April of '2023 to get my finished product. I am more than happy with the work he did! I highly recommend him! Please keep in mind that they are artists and they all specialize in something unique to them. Max was very honest, friendly, and respectful when we sat down during my original consultation of what I wanted. I trusted his artistic direction in the piece and I love it. I walked in saying I wanted very big and realistic roses that were bright and colorful and he delivered!!! I did also do my researched as you should when doing something permanent! I get so many compliments it feels great! I definitely plan to do more work and hopefully with max if possible but from my few experiences at dark heart all the staff seem great so I have no doubt that working with any of them would be an amazing experience! read more

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Chelsea took great care of me today and Brent at the front is a total gem! Chelsea's work is so incredibly beautiful and wanted to go to her after seeing some of her art on my friend. She kept great conversation as she was working and kept my mind off of the tattooing. The place is also very clean which is a huge plus! I definitely recommend her! read more

My husband and I had an incredible experience with Marky. His skill and technique in application resulted in beautiful tattoos. He was extremely professional and personable--It was an awesome session. Highly recommended 10/10. We will be back. read more

Dark Heart Tattoo - My husband's buck eye moth. - Tattoo Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

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The staff and the artist , Rachel , did an excellent job of accommodating me during my visit there today , extremely happy with my née tattoos, courtesy of Rachel . Quick response time concerning communication for appointments got myself dnd my two friends !! Again extremely happy , will recommend. And eill be back for more . !! read more

I came here on a whim when I usually go to Kidd Joe at the tat cave in Chicago. I was glad to see the yelp reviews and upon entering the space was clean. Chuy was my artist and I cannot say enough good things about him. I gave him an idea and he ran with it. My tat is better than I ever would imagine. I would highly recommend Chuy specifically and this shop. I plan to come back for number 7 (even if it's to Peru IL! ;) Thank you again - K read more

Dark Heart Tattoo - I said I wanted a giraffe for myself, moon for my daughter and "stand tall". Love love love the work !! - Tattoo Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

I'm reviewing again because this time I got a tattoo done by Kyle. It was a great experience. Kyle eased my anxiety about the tattooing process ana he made sure I was doing good every step of the way. I highly recommend Dark Heart and Kyle. Chill vibes. read more

I literally sing praises of this place and try my best to always wear a short sleeve so people can see how amazing my sleeve truly is. I want everyone to see it- and they do, I literally get asked daily who does my tattoos. CHUY! He turned my original pudgy alien into an absolutely stunning geisha (see photo) and then into the most legit Japanese sleeve I could have asked for. His professionalism, humor, and silent tattoo machines were what kept me sane through 8 sessions to finish! It is hard to express into words how creative he is and how intentional he is with placing the color, and small details that you do actually end up noticing. His line work and noticeable "style" is consistent and exceptional. If you are looking for any sort of tattoo, I would recommend that you see Chuy. I found him on the Instagram "Discover" page on night when I was looking to find a local artist to help bring my god-awful tattoo and turn it into what I had always been dreaming of (@tatu_chuy). I can't say thanks enough to Chuy for taking over my arm and turning it into a beautiful piece of art! We still have a session or so left, but trusting him with designing the entire thing and choosing colors was the best thing I did! I cannot wait to come back and get some new ink - this place knows what they are doing. Thank you, Dark Heart Tattoo and Chuy! read more

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I got my tattoo yesterday and I love it. Joe did a great job and made the experience a good. Highly recommend them.

My artist was Kyle Gibbs and he did an incredible job on my angel baby. I needed this piece to be absolutely perfect and he did just that. Highly recommend this place and their artists!! read more

Dark Heart Tattoo - Forearm tattoo sleeping angel - Tattoo Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

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I came and got a tattoo about 2 weeks ago so the tattoo is still very much in it's time of healing. BUT, I had an amazing experience. My tattoo artist was Ashely, she was very kind, and patient and making sure I was always comfortable and went at my pace. Everyone in the shop was so respectful and had amazing knowledge on their craft. I would heavily recommend and will definitely be coming back for more! read more

I've been tatted by most of the folks here with the exception of Joe. I haven't made it into his chair as of yet. Marky, Chuy, Racheal and Ash have all thrown some ink down on me. I highly recommend this shop and all the artist that work here. Rachel is currently sleeving our my left arm... Great place... Just remember, your paying for pain but it's well worth the discomfort... read more

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Max Brouchardt Good morning Max made my first experience with Darkheart horrible. I made a 3 session appointment 6 weeks in advance and told him what i wanted with pictures. then 3 weeks to go to tattoo day i had to get a new job and we arranged a new time from 10am to 5pm on the day's originally planned. At consultation he said he may use a little time before the session to draw which was okay but i should have asked what little was. Yesterday was my appointment and it was to start at 5pm. I get there last night and he was not there, and was 30 minutes late. When he arrives he had not even had my tattoo drawing 50% ready. His drawing was not original, just different stock photos of a different lion or a woman. if he was going to copy and paste an image why not use the pictures i already sent him. i arrive at 5, he arrives at 5:36, draws for 2 hours, so here comes 7:30 and he still is not ready. I had enough and walked out. This was the sloppiest and most unprofessional experience i have ever had with a tattoo artist and i have had 7 other tattoos. I like all my prior artists and like to experiencing new artists. He was not ready, and if drawing for 2 hours is normal then why not give the client a heads up so the client can go get food or something. He knew he messed up, he sat there at the front desk looking awkward and rushed and apolo for sitting there. i even saw him giving another artist a drawing tip on my time for a tattoo! I do not want a tattoo on me that will be forever by someone who is so unprepared or a rushed. This tattoo was huge for me, it is a celebration for my 2 years of sobriety! Now i am out of time to book with anyone else in time to have this done in time for my 2 years celebration. NO ONE waits 2.5 hours for a tattoo to begin, i can understand 45 minutes but not 2.5 hours! If this is standard then i am sure professional artists inform their clients of the time so they can do something other than waiting there at the shop for 2.5 hours. I want my $100 deposit back, he screwed me over and doesn't deserve a dime for the time wasted last night. read more

Randomly walked in wanting to get my nipples pierced. The staff was super friendly. TJ was super professional, made sure I was comfortable, and talked me through everything he was doing. I 100% will be coming back here for more piercings. read more

Omg this is the best place to go if you have an amazing idea for a tattoo that you want done I gave them a idea that has been flowing through my head for a long time and meant something so deep for me I recommend this place for anyone who is looking a great place that makes you feel comfortable and cares about your ideas and feeds off it to make something better than you can imagine these people make sure that you are completely comfortable while doing the tattoo and they make sure it is 100% clean when they take care of you read more

Dark Heart Tattoo - Dark heart tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

While I may not be able to sing praises, I would undoubtedly SHOUT them from the rooftops. I really needed to get a new tatt ( it had been almost 20 years since my last...) and first, let me say Zac did an AMAZING job. He not only did a stellar job, but carried an engaging conversation all the while doing so. Then there's Joe. One can tell off the bat that calling him a stand up guy is an understatement. He truly has a passion for his craft, runs the cleanest shop I have seen - yes I would eat off the floor (after even a 10 second rule) and the decor makes the wait almost as cool as the tatt experience itself. With so many tattoo shops to choose from, this one makes the choice a no brainer. Go see these guys. They will treat you right. read more

Firstly I'd like to say that this shop is awesome, my experience probably wasn't as amazing as the other people who've been here, but I digress. This place is clean, friendly, and overall gave me zero anxiety that most newcomers like me experience when going into a tattoo shop. My experience itself is why I give the place a 4/5 stars, and even so I would still return here in a heartbeat if I decided to acquire any more tattoos. I was tattooed by Zac, who did an exceptional job at helping me find exactly what I wanted. Getting my tribal heart was quick, clean, and was done at a reasonable price that I liked. I got the tattoo, came back for a touch up due to a tiny bit of fade, once it healed I noticed there was a minimal error in the line work of the heart, and I returned once more to receive a final touch up from Joe, only because I felt like making Zac tattoo me again would give him the impression that I was dissatisfied with the work he gave me. Mistakes happen and it's what makes humans human. No bad emotions towards him or the shop as a whole for this barely noticeable mistake. After the final touchup healed, there were a few more mistakes present, but so barely noticeable unless looked upon up close. Overall, I'm happy and satisfied with the work I received from this shop, and I'd recommend anyone to them for an example of how a tattoo shop should be run. Special thanks to both Zac and Joe for putting up with my picky ass self. read more

Dark Heart Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

My artist Chuy was great! The shop was very clean and everyone who I talked to was very friendly. Chuy was very accommodating to my needs during the tattoo and the tattoo itself turned out great! He did an amazing job and I'm so thankful I chose such a great place for my first tattoo. read more

Went yesterday for a walk-in and was greeted kindly and promptly. I love the shop it's very clean and everyone is really nice. I had Kyle do my second tattoo of my precious little rabbit, Albert, and it's perfect! Kyle was great to work with and I really appreciated him taking the time for the walk-in. Will come back for other tattoos! Thanks Kyle!! read more

Dark Heart Tattoo - Day after - Tattoo Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

I have been to dark hearts many of times and Rachel never lets me down! She does amazing work and has great ideas. I would never pick anyone else to do my tattoo. She's so good I fly from Florida to get them done. I definitely recommend Rachel and her prices are good. read more

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Ashley and Company are the best in the biz. Her execution on both my back tattoo and right shoulder was excellent. Very affordable, very well knowledged, and like good friends from the moment you start talking with them. I couldn't be happier. read more

Returned for another tattoo and had an amazing piece done by Chuy. Love it here!

This is by far my best tattoo and he did it freehand! It's so clean and exactly what I wanted! Chuy did an incredible job! Definitely going back to him. read more

Dark Heart Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

Couldn't recommend this place more! I loved my experience there. My artist was Marky. Great environment; super friendly! Everyone in the shop was super helpful and happy to see you. The art I got was amazing and I couldn't be more happy with it. The price was very fair as well. If you want amazing custom work, this is THE place to be!!! read more

Dark Heart Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

I recently came to Dark Heart for a tattoo to celebrate the birth of my daughter and I must say that it was a fantastic experience. The shop is first rate with a great chill vibe to make it comfortable. All the staff I interacted with were extremely friendly and helpful, particularly my artist Rachel who did such a fantastic job on my tattoo for an extremely fair price. I highly recommend this shop for anyone in the Crystal Lake area! Thank you all so much, I will definitely be coming back for more! read more

I shopped around many places(blue magic,electric tattoo,ect) and found not only the best price but the homiest feeling parlor. Each artist is extremely talented, and the overall atmosphere is wonderful! Would definitely go here for all future tats! read more

Very nice people but way over charged for a tattoo of a birth date! Would not recommend to anyone

We recently moved to the area, and found Rachel through recommendations, and we LOVE her, this place, and can not say enough good things. Hands down will recommend to anyone and everyone I know. read more

I feel really bad writing this review since I've been coming to get tattoos done here for 4 years now and have always had a great experience. I love Chuey's work and everyone is always super friendly and helpful. Unfortunately, Ashley doesn't know what she is doing and I received a tattoo that looks absolutely awful and like a 3rd grader did it, when it should have been a really simple tattoo. I tried to get it touched up and due to a death in the family I was unable to come. I had called the next weekend to reschedule and Ashley's words were "you didn't show up so you messed up my whole schedule I can't book touch ups on weekends anymore". As someone who works in customer service, you don't say that, and you accommodate your customers, especially when your mess up is the reason they now need to come in. I live over an hour away now and still made the drive to come to Dark Heart Tattoo, and have referred numerous family members and friends to Dark Heart, I won't be returning due to the lack of customer service and just an over all shitty job on my tattoo. read more

Had an excellent experience. Everyone I came in contact with was professional, patient and friendly. Neat and clean to boot.

This shop is hands down the best shop around. Please please please don't go anywhere else. All the artists here know what they're doing and are bomb at what they do. Joe is the bomb! I've gotten 2 tattoos from him and I'm so happy with them! read more

Dark Heart Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

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I have been to Dark Heart Tattoo for several tattoos and have been extremely happy with their work. All the artists there are very talented and the space is very clean and sanitary. I highly recommend Dark Heart Tattoo to anyone who is looking to get a tattoo done by true artist, read more