Full Circle Tattoo

Luxury

10 years in business

Absolutely amazing experience at Chapter One. I had a massive cover up done by Colton. His work is…read morebar none. If you looking for a killer tattoo artist look no further. You will not be disappointed.

I went in for a back piece done by Tyler and it came out wonderfully. All of the staff were warm…read moreand professional; the interior of the store is exquitely maintained yet still retains a sense of welcoming. I will be going back for more work and would recommend it to anyone.

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Lions Den Tattoo Studio

4.8(275 reviews)

3.0 mi•Old Town

Locally owned & operated

Free estimates

The best experience I've had. Took a concept and brought it to life. Steve is an extraordinary…read morevisionary and artist and the whole studio of artists treated me like family. I couldn't recommend them more. If you're thinking of getting your first tattoo or looking for your next, visit Lionsden. You will not be disappointed. Epic attention to detail, amazing atmosphere, kind professionals and talented artists.

Terrible attitude + subpar tattoos. If I could leave 0 stars I would. They're welcoming at all…read more There's an ongoing joke that tattoo spots these days make it feel like they're inconvenienced by walk-in and I never experienced it until I visited this spot, except I was attending a Friday the 13 flash event. The tattoos were not great quality either. My artist which I believe is the owner or one of the main guys gave me attitude when I asked if he could make my tattoo half and inch small. Then I asked if he could rotate it as in physically turn it before placing it and he got annoyed again, said I'd have to pay extra if I'm going to be asking for all that. I explained it wanted it at 90 degree angle vs how how was going to place it. He wouldn't need to make any further changes. Obviously it was a misunderstanding but the way he spoke to me was not friendly at all. But the real issue was how bad the tattle was, didn't look like what was on the flash sheet at all. On the sheet it looked like fine line and well. Just look at my picture to see the issue. You can hardly read the inner part which was supposed to say Veneno. Overall it just came out sloppy and I'm genuinely embarrassed by it. I lie to folks and say that it's supposed to look like that to give spooky vibes but in reality that's not how the tattoo was portrayed on the flash sheet, I think they tatted a little too deep too.

Lions Den Tattoo Studio - What a honor! We just won San Diego's best tattoo shop voted on by its readers - Incredible! #besttattooshop #besttattooartist #walkintattoo

What a honor! We just won San Diego's best tattoo shop voted on by its readers - Incredible! #besttattooshop #besttattooartist #walkintattoo

Black and grey work from Nancy

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Traditional Tiger piece by Henry

Sideshow Tattoo and Piercing

Isaac was awesome! He did such a great job with both of my daughters and made the whole piercing…read moreexperience so easy and comfortable for them. He was patient, professional, and made them both feel at ease. Highly recommend Isaac to anyone looking to get a piercing!

Jedi did mine and it was my first tattoo. He did a great job and I love it and still in love with…read moreit. Healed really well with his instructions and he also gave me his card if I have any questions or concerns. Matthew did my sister's and it was also her first tattoo. She's very happy and loves hers as well and he did a fantastic job! When I was getting my tattoo, you can feel the community vibes if that makes sense. People would come in and everyone in the shop knew who they were and they were making plans for a community block party for the 4th. Seeing and hearing that made me so happy cause not only are they talented but they are down-to-earth and wants the best for everyone who visits them.

Outline minimalist Elephant Tattoo from Jadd.

Tattooed by Ronin

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It's open.

BUJU Tattoo

4.8(348 reviews)

1.7 mi•Mission Hills

Locally owned & operated

Certified professionals

I had the BEST experience getting tattooed by Klaudia at Buju Tattoo! This has honestly been my…read morefavorite tattoo experience so far. I picked one of her spooky sexy bat girl designs because I absolutely loved it, and it came out even more beautiful tattooed! Klaudia was so sweet and made me feel super comfortable and relaxed the entire appointment. She has such a light hand that I literally almost fell asleep while she was tattooing me I couldn't believe how easy and comfortable the whole session was! I'm absolutely obsessed with my tattoo and all the little details. Such a great experience from start to finish, and I would 100% come back to Klaudia for another one of her designs!

The best place. Loved our tattoos. Cool place. Great vibe…read more Parking is street, with metered in front. But lots of parking in the neighborhood for free.

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Bearcat Tattoo Gallery

4.9(110 reviews)

2.7 mi•Little Italy

Certified professionals

Boutique

Bruce Becerra is as absolutely amazing. I explained what I wanted and gave him free rein to design…read moreit based on what I've told him. It's an amazing tattoo, it's even better than what I imagined. Little details I never would have thought of. Also, the vibe in the shop was so chilled and comfortable. I've been to some shops that feel somewhat intimidating. Cynthia at the front was so friendly, even introduced me to the neighbourhood cat, Turbo, who is an absolute chonk. I highly recommend the place, the people are top notch, and the work is even better.

I'm disappointed more and more every day with my tattoo by Mike from bearcat tattoo. I showed up to…read morethis shop with an exact idea in mind and my artist was difficult to work with. He shot down my design and placement idea and kept suggesting different things that were not aligned with my vision. I was unfortunately persuaded by Mike and I'm so disappointed with the end result. Should have stuck to my gut. Now I'm stuck with this piece forever because this guy essentially pushed me into a direction I didn't want want to go. 0/10 would not recommend to anyone. Also, this guy charges you from the second you walk in the shop - I provided the entire tattoo inspo and design and he went with what he thought was cool and pushed me. Unfortunately I trusted him. Last time walk into this shop

Nate Anderson is the shit!!!!

Flower tattoo by Nate Anderson

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Artist Nate Anderson

Nothing Sacred Tattoo

4.4(139 reviews)

3.6 mi•Gaslamp

Great shop and Toni is top-notch with fantastic listening and artistic skills making possible what…read moreothers said isn't. Highly recommend - you won't go wrong here!!

0/10. Do NOT come here…read more I found this artist through Instagram for anime tattoos. His work looked good, so I reached out. He was quick to respond and asked for a $200 deposit, which I sent via Apple Pay on March 5 to the shop owner. We booked for March 16. Leading up to the appointment, he would send random updates on the design, but nothing was finalized. I gave feedback and stayed patient, even knowing they had a Friday the 13th event going on. I didn't hit him up again until March 15 (the day before my appointment) because we STILL didn't have a finished design, which is wild. He tells me he'll have it done that day. Cool. Then a few hours later, I get a generic email saying my appointment is canceled. No explanation. Nothing. So I reach out to the number I sent my $200 to asking for a refund, and instead of handling it like professionals, they get confrontational and start acting like I'm the problem for asking for MY money back. They try to hide behind a "no refund" policy... even though THEY canceled on me. Make that make sense. I added my conversation with the artist, since the owner wants to claim harassment. Judge for yourself. No policy was ever clearly shown to me, and communication was trash the entire time. Instead of owning their mistake, they blamed me and got disrespectful. I only got my money back after I told them I'd file a chargeback with my bank and take them to small claims court. Go read their bad reviews--you'll see a pattern, especially with how the owner talks to customers. Super unprofessional. Save your time, save your money, and go somewhere else.

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Guru Tattoo

4.9(270 reviews)

2.6 mi

Locally owned & operated

Certified professionals

Super kind and professional, my tattoo artist Bean was super welcoming and interactive he really…read moreknows how to get you comfortable and start convos. Will definitely be going back to him!

I had a great experience getting tattooed by Fernando. He was incredibly professional and made the…read morewhole process very comfortable. On top of that his skill is next level, he created a design that exceeded my expectations and I was very happy with the end result.

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Absolute Tattoo & Piercing

4.4(307 reviews)

4.8 mi•Kearny Mesa

Still love this place but unfortunately parking is unbearable. I have come and left due to no…read moreparking....

The lady who pierced me was very welcoming and nice, she talked to me for a bit abo it the piercing…read moreand how the healing goes, overall very friendly and nice lady customer service wise. as for the piercing I got a naval/belly button piercing here and it came out extremely crooked. I understand that everybodies anatomy is different and it could cause a slight tilt on the piercing but it's been weeks since I got the piercing and looking at it now with no more swelling or redness it is almost ridiculous how off the piercing is. It's very obvious and disappointing how crooked it is. I even went home to my home piercer and even he left a comment saying that it was done very poorly. Loved the service and friendliness but unfortunately Im going to take out the piecing let it heal and then get it redone somewhere else. I want to prefaced that I really hate leaving a bad review and I tried to convince myself that it was fine but honestly just the comments I get from my friends and even another piercer about how it looks just kind of made me feel like I needed to share my honest experience.

Double piercing by Lexi! Amazing person and process was seamless

Double Anti-Tragus piercings by Lexy

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My conch done by tevita this week

Tahiti Felix's Master Tattoo

4.8(139 reviews)

3.4 mi•Gaslamp

I have an amazing time at Tahiti Felix's Master Tattoo every time I go. Everyone here is super…read morefriendly and professional. Lots of great artists and Jasper, the piercer is great. Super quick, let's you know what's happening and is obviously experienced. The shop is clean and well maintained and not intimidating at all. The walls are covered in flash to choose from, both historical American traditional and original handpainted flash by the artists. The place is basically a museum, its covered in history and amazing photos of Tahiti Felix himself. I recommend this place to everyone who asks about my tattoos.

Jasper turned it up to an 11 out of a possible 5. I felt thoroughly safe in their presence and they…read moreensured that I knew everything about the aftercare that I need to be doing. Service, Peak. Quality, Peak. Vibe, Peak. Expenses, Worth It. They even sent me a pdf file with aftercare instructions! :3 If I am ever in San Diego again I will definitely stop by for more body mods.

Oldest shop west of the Mississippi.

Outside

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Before and after cover up tattoo!

7 Seas Tattoo

4.6(146 reviews)

3.4 mi•East Village

All the tattooers at 7 seas are legit. Doesn't matter the style there's someone who can do it. Dan…read morePryor is a legend!

Went here for a matching friend tattoo while I was in town. We had two we were choosing from and…read morethe artist let us know that the first one looked like the tinder logo so we chose the other one! He was quick, clean, helped with placement, and did a great job! Highly recommend

See more unrecommended reviews

Ganesh rework by Tonya

Fairy Sitting on a Mushroom Tattoo on Shoulder Blade Area

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Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

33 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Tye G.

0

1

0

1 year ago

This is my second visit. Jordan is the best and does great work. Just a good guy! He made me feel comfortable and wanted to make sure I got what I wanted. The space is clean and spacious. Eventbough it was quite busy with other people getting tattoos. The vibe was nice. And some great work being done. Btw, my frenchie tattoo is outstanding. Jordan definitely out done himself. If I could show you the picture I sent him and what he did! It's ridiculous, the way it turned out. He might post on his instagram. So be on the lookout. @jordaeone, checkup his work. If you are looking to have tattoo if your pet. Jordan is the guy to do it! Crazy, Crazy, good!! I wish I could have posted my pictures. read more

Karl S.

0

7

0

1 year ago

Simply stated - Full Circle Tattoo and James Tran are the best. I got my first tattoo from James at Full Circle 12 years ago. He has done four tattoos for me over the past decade and I have been very happy with each one, and can't imagine having anyone else do my work. He is a great collaborator on the art work for the design, and always manages to bring my ideas to life in a fantastic way. James is also a kind soul and a great source of information on literature and restaurants. He is great to talk with while doing your tattoo and has a very light hand. I barely felt a thing when he did my last tattoo on Thursday. The shop has a great vibe as well. Highly recommend. read more

Jennifer H.

0

8

3

2 years ago

I came to the new Full Circle location a few weeks ago for a flash sale with Itzel. I liked her work so much that I immediately booked another appointment with her. I was interested in getting one of her previous Flash tattoos and Itzel was able to make some adjustments I wanted. I'm very happy with both of the tattoos I have gotten with her. She is very friendly and made the tattooing experience great. I would love to get tattooed by Itzel again in the future. Also the studio was very clean and has a cool vibe. read more

Kevin R.

0

2

1

3 years ago

I recently got a tattoo by James, and it was fantastic! He is incredibly skilled and attentive, ensuring the design is perfect before starting. Their technique was flawless, and the final result exceeded my expectations. He is also extremely easy to talk to. The studio was also clean, and safety was a top priority. I highly recommend him to anyone seeking a talented and professional tattoo artist. Thanks again for the amazing tattoo, and don't be surprised if I contact you again soon. read more

Lucas C.

484

4

0

2 years ago

Bill Canales was my tattoo artist and I had nothing short of an amazing experience with him. It was my very first tattoo and Bill was very welcoming and gave me tips on ho to make this as smooth as possible. I explained to him exactly what I wanted and he was able to execute my thoughts, on paper and into fruition. I cannot wait to work with Bill again, and Sirena was fantastic as well getting my scheduled as well as overall communication. read more

Contessa R.

0

4

1 year ago

I been going to full circle tattoo for decades. Then I found my tattoo artist Emiliano he so great of what he does he is a skilled tattoo artist . He did 5 tattoos so far for me and I am over the moon everything he designed is so personalized and his work is so delicate fine details is so incredible. I keep coming back for more . Thank you Emiliano and full circle tattoo for amazing work until next time again ! read more

Olivia D.

0

4

3

1 year ago

I came in yesterday for a rework of a tattoo from a different shop. Vives absolutely transformed the original tattoo and turned it from a tattoo I was quite frankly embarrassed of, to a tattoo that I love and can't wait to show off! I'd definitely come back for more work from her again! The shop is very well designed, super cool looking and clean. Everyone there was very friendly. Thank you! :) read more

Natalie G.

0

4

1 year ago

I got my dream tattoo from Dean Fleischmann and literally cannot say enough good things. I sent him photo references, along with general ideas of my vision. He turned it into something more amazing than I could ever dream. He made me feel so comfortable and checked in with me every step along. The shop was so clean and had great vibes. Couldn't recommend this place enough!! read more

Meridyth A.

0

1

0

1 year ago

Vives at Full Circle- fabulous! They listened to my pre experience questions and responded with care and compassion for this 65 yo first timer . The entire experience from scheduling to end product personal and professional. the vibe, studio set up, and friendliness of all. Thank you Vives for my "memorial" tattoo. Who knows maybe next time am in San Diego -another? read more

Frank N.

0

5

3

3 years ago

I had an amazing experience with James! (@visualamor) His attention to detail and skill are top-notch. I absolutely love my new tattoo; it exceeded my expectations. The studio was clean and all the artists made me feel comfortable throughout the process. I highly recommend them for anyone looking for quality ink! read more

Alex G.

0

3

5

6 months ago

the ambiance and energy in the shop were great, just waiting in the waiting room i was absorbing all of the decorations and details, but my tattoo artist James was goated, he went over my design and was very patient with me, and it came out exactly how i wanted! will be back trust read more

Jonathan W.

0

3

0

1 year ago

Full Circle Tattoo for sure the best tattoo shop in Cali. I received a tattoo from Bill Dean and James and all 3 tattoos came out amazing. Great vibe kind artist and staff. Five star tattoo shop.. I would recommend Full Circle to anyone looking to get a tattoo done. read more

Brian G.

0

1

0

1 year ago

Some of the best tattoo artists in San Diego! atmosphere is super chill too. shout out to Manh! If your looking for traditional Japanese style he's your guy! Even specializes in Tabori. Love the start of my back piece, can't wait to keep going read more

Selena I.

0

2

1

2 years ago

I highly recommend Full Circle Tattoo! The shop was so clean, the customer service was very professional, and my artist, Itzel Vives, did an incredible job on my tattoo. Super satisfied with my experience and I will definitely be going back! read more

Olivia B.

0

1

0

5 months ago

Cecilia is super talented and a mastermind when it comes to freehand work. Her line work is so clean and delicate. She made me feel comfortable the entire time. I can't stop staring at my tattoo and couldn't recommend Cecilia more! read more

Jared Z.

0

3

0

2 years ago

Highly recommend James. Very nice, professional, and did a great tattoo quickly. He also went the extra distance to make sure I got exactly what I wanted. Considering the quality of his work, his rates are extremely reasonable. read more

Keshia F.

0

3

0

2 years ago

I had my tattoo done by Sarah. I sent her a conglomerate of pictures for my idea and she came through with a beautiful peice. I'm super thrilled with the outcome and placement. Her work speaks for itself. 10/10 recommend. read more

Humberto R.

0

6

1

1 year ago

I got my first tattoo done by none other than James Tran. He was patient, had a gentle touch, and left me very pleased with my work! Attached is a photo taken 2.5 months after my session with some Aquaphor applied. read more

Johnathon V.

0

1

0

2 months ago

Had the honor of getting a tattoo by Cecilia, very kind, responsive and most importantly extremely talented. My tattoo came out amazing and the whole process was amazing. Thanks again full circle and Cecilia. read more

Efren V.

0

1

1 year ago

Nothing but the absolute highest quality in both craft, and artists. Got a sleeve done by the legendary Bill Canales and couldn't be happier. One of the best shops in all of Southern California, bar none. read more

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Lions Den Tattoo Studio

4.8

(275 reviews)

The best experience I've had. Took a concept and brought it to life. Steve is an extraordinary…read morevisionary and artist and the whole studio of artists treated me like family. I couldn't recommend them more. If you're thinking of getting your first tattoo or looking for your next, visit Lionsden. You will not be disappointed. Epic attention to detail, amazing atmosphere, kind professionals and talented artists.

Terrible attitude + subpar tattoos. If I could leave 0 stars I would. They're welcoming at all…read more There's an ongoing joke that tattoo spots these days make it feel like they're inconvenienced by walk-in and I never experienced it until I visited this spot, except I was attending a Friday the 13 flash event. The tattoos were not great quality either. My artist which I believe is the owner or one of the main guys gave me attitude when I asked if he could make my tattoo half and inch small. Then I asked if he could rotate it as in physically turn it before placing it and he got annoyed again, said I'd have to pay extra if I'm going to be asking for all that. I explained it wanted it at 90 degree angle vs how how was going to place it. He wouldn't need to make any further changes. Obviously it was a misunderstanding but the way he spoke to me was not friendly at all. But the real issue was how bad the tattle was, didn't look like what was on the flash sheet at all. On the sheet it looked like fine line and well. Just look at my picture to see the issue. You can hardly read the inner part which was supposed to say Veneno. Overall it just came out sloppy and I'm genuinely embarrassed by it. I lie to folks and say that it's supposed to look like that to give spooky vibes but in reality that's not how the tattoo was portrayed on the flash sheet, I think they tatted a little too deep too.

Chapter One Tattoo

(733 reviews)

Absolutely amazing experience at Chapter One. I had a massive cover up done by Colton. His work is…read morebar none. If you looking for a killer tattoo artist look no further. You will not be disappointed.

I went in for a back piece done by Tyler and it came out wonderfully. All of the staff were warm…read moreand professional; the interior of the store is exquitely maintained yet still retains a sense of welcoming. I will be going back for more work and would recommend it to anyone.

Adams Avenue Tattoo

(35 reviews)

Thank you so much David!!! I couldn't have asked for a better experience…read more -Had my half sleeve started by a different artist, giving David the challenge to complete it. Needless to say, he killed it beyond words, and this is only the first session with him. I previously talked to David a couple weeks prior to my appointment showing him some flowers I liked. Later, walking into my appointment, he had multiple ideas already ready to go for me to choose from. I can't tell you enough how happy I am with the progression of my half sleeve by David. I can't wait to get this baby finished!! Thank you so so much again David! Highly recommend Adams Ave Tattoo!! (:

I've been getting tattooed at Adam's Ave Tattoo for a few years now (specifically by Shelby) and I…read morecan't say enough good things about the shop as a whole and each artist who works there! The shop is not intimidating at all and everyone is super friendly, knowledgeable and talented. They can do basically all styles but their specialty (and what I get) is American Traditional. They have great flash or are willing to work with you to create a custom design you will love. Shelby has basically done my whole leg and arm sleeve and every piece is amazing and so well done. Highly recommend if you are looking for pieces big or small!

Port Side Tattoo

(89 reviews)

Port Side is the only place I will get tattooed. Tim completed several large pieces on me that…read moreturned out amazing. Great vibe, clean shop, and very talented artists. Highly recommend!

This is a great shop. I got tattooed by JC, he listened,…read moregave creative input & took the time to create my tattoo. Everyone who works here is extremely talented and professional. Stop in & meet them all, you won't regret it! Thanks JC & the port side crew! I'll be back.

North Park Tattoo Parlour

4.5

(59 reviews)

Let me give negative stars Yelp. I booked an appointment 3 weeks in advance. The day of my…read moreappointment I get a text message 25 minutes before my appointment saying that my "artist" can't make it. @rebelizms can't make it because his "buddy has a show". I caught a train, booked a place for the weekend and he can't make the 3 week out scheduled appointment because his buddy has a show??! Never again. To everyone who wants to get something done here, just know, they have better shit to do than keep your appointment. Epitome of unprofessional. I would give zero stars if I could

Awesome people here. Vibes are amazing. Very clean studio…read more Great spot to check out if you're in North Park.

Oyabun Tattoo

5.0

(16 reviews)

Came in with a different tatt asking for after care product. JC not only gave me the ointment but…read morealso cleaned my new tatt and gave me high quality derma shield. I was so worried about how to take care of it but he really saved me. Thank you man. He's really cool.

Space is clean and welcoming. I met with Baki a couple months ago to start the process and he was…read moreattentive to what I wanted we initially decided on yellow for the tiger but I decided to keep it black and red and it came out great. Thank you Baki (:

Family Business Tattoo San Diego

(45 reviews)

The whole tattoo parlor was so friendly and clean. God loving people and they did an excellent…read morejob!! Will definitely go back the next time I'm in the area.

Found this shop off Instagram and boy am I glad I did. This shop lives up to its name. It truly is…read morea family and wonderful atmosphere inside. They have great artwork and decor, a very clean bathroom a couple spaces of parking in front. They have tons of amazing artists that specialize in all different types of styles and also can do cover ups. They also sell shirts that have one of the artist work on it. Beautiful Japanese traditional drawings. The shirts are absolute fire. Make sure to grab one after getting a tattoo and join the family! My artist is Mariana and we are on my 3rd leg sleeve session. She does amazing work and she will forever be my go to artist.

Lavish Tattoo

4.6

(35 reviews)

Lavish Tattoo was an awesome experience. A couple of friends and I wanted to get walk-in compass…read moretattoos while we were on vacation down here. Ryan took care of us and was kind and patient from start to finish. The tattoos are great quality and very fast. The line work is very clean, and I love the color on mine. If I'm ever back in town (which I hope to be again soon) I will definitely be returning to Ryan! I will definitely post a better picture of mine after it heals up. I bleed a lot so the color is a little obscured right now.

June is amazing! This place is so clean and has such a great vibe! He listened to what I wanted and…read moredrew it for me. He is an artist and gentle soul. I was very nervous and for some reason I instantly felt I could trust him to permantly place exact what I was imagining. Thanks for being so awesome. I will definitely recommend my friends to you and I will be back!

Nite Owl Gallery Tattoo

4.7

(99 reviews)

My whole experience here was super great! I came with my best friend to get matching tattoos. I was…read moreworried that because of our tattoo choice we might get some weird looks or be made to feel like it was a dumb tattoo bc I've had a similar experience before, but not here! Leslie was super sweet and helped us finalize the size and design. The shop is small but clean and the staff is super nice! And they all do great work! We saw someone else getting a tattoo and it looked so sick! Dan and Leslie were the ones who tattooed my best friend and I. They were both professional and super kind. They worked quick but the result is exactly what we wanted. I would definitely come back for another tattoo by anyone in this shop and their prices are very reasonable.

My friend has gotten countless tattooes here and I have watched every person serving her be kind,…read morepatient and thorough with her indecisiveness and awkwardness. Clean, efficient and honest about pricing. Absolutely recommend.

Wolf & Shadow Tattoo Collective

(129 reviews)