Manny crushed my latest tattoo done by him and I couldn't be happier with the results. It was a 3 hour sesh and he did a great job at ensuring I felt comfortable and was all good. The whole staff was friendly and kind, and it made for a pleasant experience. The shop has lots of cool decorations and the music adds to the atmosphere. I'll definitely be back here for another piece in the future! read more

Hammerhead Tattoo - reference image - Tattoo Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Thank you Betty for being so sweet & working with me to make the perfect tattoo! I will be coming back! Couldn't be happier with my tattoo. She let me try different sizes & move it around till i found the perfect placement for it. read more

Hammerhead Tattoo - Betty - Tattoo Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First tattoo (starting a half sleeve) Quality work very clean shop Chill vibes Artist: Ben Duarte read more

Hammerhead Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been going to Manny for years and was excited to check out the shop. I know I'm a señora now because I noticed immediately how clean the shop was. My tattoo took two sessions, and when I showed up at opening everything was freshly mopped and I was frankly, stunned. Everyone on staff was super friendly and funny and supportive and they play great music. Great experience, definitely recommend and will be back. read more

I was tattooed by Kathleen, absolutely amazing artist!! I've gotten most of my tattoos done by her and she's super communicative and helpful! Every tattoo i've gotten from her has healed great and I can't wait to get more tattoos done by her! read more

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I've gotten 5 pretty decent sized tattoos from Johnny so far and I love every single one of them. Johnny is such an easy person to interact with and he's very easy going as just an overall good tattoo artist as well. Everyone in the shop that I've also had the pleasure to interact with has been amazing as well. Definitely will be coming back read more

Hammerhead Tattoo - The biggest tattoo Johnny has done on me as well as my first major tattoo. My favorite tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Bad experience - my friend and I booked an appointment a month in advance by filling out the online form and paid our deposit per the procedure. We got email confirmation from Benjamin Duarte (the owner) for an appointment with Dave. Was really excited for my first tattoo, then after checking in and waiting patiently for 50 minutes - we ask what's going on. Another tattoo artist (Chris) was gracious enough to text message Dave (then apparently we find out he wasn't even at the shop). Then, Chris informed us that Dave said he didn't have us on his schedule at all. It was a very special day for my friend and I (our birthday) - this place left a really bad impression on me. Another artist (Kathleen) kindly offered to tattoo us but by then we were very disappointed and thrown off by the whole thing so we decided to ask for our deposit back and leave. The manager didn't even have the decency to come out and explain to us what happened; he just sent Kathleen to give us our deposit back and had his team apologize for him. This was bad management and coordination, if someone is going to run a 'business', then operate effectively and at least communicate with your customers upon arrival regarding your mistake so we don't waste our time (this is basic customer service, come on guys). Will be pursuing business at another shop instead. read more

Got my first tattoo in my 54 years. Never thought I'd get one but tragic circumstances pushed me. Had Artist Ben. He was fantastic. I had an idea and he worked with me and made it perfect. I seriously didn't feel one bit of pain. He was professional, thoughtful and artistic. Can't Recommend Ben and Hammerhead enough! read more

I had my first tattoo done here a week ago with Chris. He was recommended to me by my girlfriend who had some beautiful work done by him in the past. The shop is really relaxed and everybody is super nice! The tattoo speaks for itself so I included a picture. I'm so happy with how it came out and will definitely be back. Chris made the experience really easy and provided a lot of guidance with the actual tattoo- I made the appointment with some reference pictures and a very vague idea of what I wanted. Chris was really helpful in this regard. I plan to have more work done by him in the future! I'd also like to take a second to shout out Betty. She didn't do any work on me, BUT while my tattoo was being done three of the most obnoxious dude bros I've seen in ages wandered in wanting a tattoo because of a bet. They simultaneously bragged about how much money they made and tried to haggle the price down...it was really sad. Anyways, I mention Betty because she did their work and was somehow still really nice and professional, and I've got to respect that. This shop has a lot of great people in it all around. read more

Hammerhead Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Im very happy to have missed my appointment with this shop. Worth losing my 100 bucks. No real conversations about what I wanted done. Asked for professional advice and got the "whatever you want to do" treatment. Then paid a non refundable $100 deposit. I ended up needing to reschedule because of medical needs and not a single response. Not even a "no, sorry we cant". I gave about 72 hrs notice of my situation and nothing. Just no communication, took my money and ghosted. The new (that is not hammerhead) shop Im spending my time and money on to do my sleeve was awesome! Really took the time to go over everything. Even had me sign a ligit contract stating I can reschedule and will never loose my money if needing a new date. This new shop also was super chill and felt way more inviting too. Again, so glad I dodged this Hammerhead bullet. read more

It had been 10 years since I got my first tattoo. I was researching tattoo artists for a while. I finally stumbled upon the perfect artist for my half sleeve. The shop was clean and tidy. Lights were great. The other artists treated me pretty great and wasn't all that nervous. If you want to check out the artist who did my arm? IG: @thesickleave ALAN CHEN All of the artists are pretty great as well! read more

Hammerhead Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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John Sundara has been doing my tattoos since 2005! He recently started tattooing out of Hammerhead so I brought my son to get his first John Sundara original! The shop of clean and has tons of amazing art work on the walls. The other tattoo artist were nice and talkative with everyone. They all had clients at the same time and all did amazing tattoos. A few people did walk in and ask about piercings but they do not do piercings here. There is plenty of street parking and across from the red line stop at Halsted. My sons tattoos came out amazing as I knew it would! I'll be coming back to Hammerhead to see John soon! read more

Hammerhead Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If I could give zero stars I would. I don't even feel comfortable using my given name here because of how embarrassed I am to have been duped by this shop. Last week I came here to get a (what I thought) pretty simple tattoo as a walk-in. They set me up with this girl Kathleen. Although she seemed a little fidgety and nervous setting her equipment up, making my stencil, and placing it; I still felt pretty good about it because 1- I had heard great things about the artists here and 2- like I said it was a simple design so what was the worst that could happen... right? WRONG. While Kathleen did my simple, mostly line-work, tattoo we got to talking and she told me among other things that she had been a professional tattoo artist for a little over 2 years. Remember that part. Although it took her a bit longer than I would've thought a pretty basic tattoo would've taken for an artist who had completed their training over two years ago, again, I thought nothing of it despite some minor alarm bells going off in my head. I have quite a few other tattoos and I know different artists do things different ways. So anyway I paid, tipped, and left. A few hours later when I finally got to remove the bandaging and really got to inspect the new ink however, I suddenly wanted to puke. This thing looked worse than if I had gone to a scratcher based out of his garage. It's a line work tattoo so the LINES are what make it.... I don't think I could call these lines even. Squiggles? Jagged edges? Sure. NOT LINES! Today is almost exactly a week later and the tattoo is red, raised, goopy with PUS at times, and already most of the ink has begun falling out either as scabs or from the girl not going deep enough (an amateur mistake). To me it looks infected and I'll be going to see my doctor to get some antibiotics because this is NOT how I normally heal. Or how ANYONE should heal ever!! So at this point I'm beyond upset having been recommended to this place by a friend who got a GORGEOUS piece from one of their artists. It was my bad not asking specifically which one though. Anyway this inspired me to check out some other work Kathleen had done over her two plus years around the internet. This is when I found out exactly what I had been suspecting all along.... KATHLEEN IS THE SHOP'S APPRENTICE, WORKS MAINLY ON FAKE SKIN OR PAPER, AND HAS ONLY DONE A HANDFUL OF "TATTOOS" WITH GUIDANCE IN HER LIFE!! I'll attach some evidence of this from her most recent instagram post. But man do I feel stupid. The lesson here is just because a SHOP has a good reputation does NOT mean everyone working there does too!! Ask to see photos of other tattoos they've done AT THE VERY LEAST. Any good (and real/certified) artist will have a TON of past tattoos they'd be happy to show you!! Don't be dumb like me!! read more

Hammerhead Tattoo - Someone asking to be her FIRST client a few weeks ago - Tattoo Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Went to Hammerhead a few days ago after a friend recommended me and I must say I'm glad to say it was a good recommendation. When I first entered the shop, I was impressed by the decor. It's clean and quaint. My mom even commented on it. Eric, who I was greeted by, was extremely nice and helpful. I sat and waited for Ben to arrive. While there, I looked through some of the artists work. All the artist seem to be extremely talented. Once Ben arrived we discussed what I was looking for. He gave me his professional opinion on some things but all in all wanted to ensure I was satisfied. He was also very helpful with making sure I was ok while he was inking me. At one point, I got squeamish and almost fainted (I'm embarrassed to admit that). Ben immediately grabbed me some candy & water to ensure I didn't. I mentioned that mild embarrassment because I want people to get an idea of how awesome the people are at Hammerhead. I left a happy and possibly returning customer! Thanks Hammerhead read more

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Ben is the man, and this is the shop to go to. At another shop, an artist couldn't figure out the drawing I wanted, and after that I went to a shop where the artist cancelled on me, TWICE. Third time was the charm. Ben was cool yet professional, and worked with me on my design. The other artists at his shop made the experience great, as well. My skull tattoo came out great, and for the first time ever, it didn't scab up bad or bleed the next day. (My other two tattoos were extremely bloody and scabby the next day. They came out painful, and lost a lot of ink, probably from crappy work.) Not with Ben at Hammerhead. Save your time and research and just go there. I can't wait to go back, and wish I made another appointment when I was standing there. (If you look in the photos, the tattoo I'm referring to is the bad-ass skull tat with green eyes on the great looking, buff arm. Enjoy. read more

Hammerhead Tattoo - Skull tat from Ben - Tattoo Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you want the most amazing tattoo experience of your life, please go to Hammerhead Tattoo. I've been there twice in the past couple of years and I will never go anywhere else. You will find talented, friendly and professional artists and staff in a clean and welcoming environment. Chris Rodas designed and completed my latest tattoo just about a month ago. He is incredible. I can't wait until I'm ready for my next tattoo and can make an appointment with him. My brother and his girlfriend also visited a couple of months prior and had their tattoos done with Chris. They both were very happy as well. Walk-ins are welcome (like me, both times). Incredibly reasonable with rates. I promise that every single penny spent here is worth it. read more

Hammerhead Tattoo - Chris Rodas custom tattoo. - Tattoo Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This review is a long time coming. I've been working with Ben for several years based on a recommendation from a friend. His art brings my ideas to life. He's incredibly thoughtful, creative, and pristine when it comes to his work. I get compliments on my tattoo from anyone who sees them locally and internationally. They heal well and stand the test of time. I have so much love for Ben and the crew at Hammerhead! read more

Hammerhead Tattoo - Ben did the Arab geometric patterns and astrolabe in the center (2 sessions) - Tattoo Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Called the day of for an appointment and they were able to fit us in. I needed my tattoo lightened for a bad cover up job and they were successful. My boyfriend got a new one on his bicep and it looks outstanding. The place was clean. The staff was cool. And the pricing was on point. Will be back. read more

Hammerhead Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Check out @chrisrodas on Instagram! He's great with all sorts of styles. I went from DC to Chicago for a trip and decided to pop in for an impromptu semi-complicated line work tattoo, and he did a great job. Very precise and took his time to perfect it. read more

Just wanted to give some overdue praise to John Sundara. Met him years ago and this past year I was finally ready to get my tattoo. John was patient, worked quickly but paid attention to detail. The piece is exactly what I had hoped it would be and the price was more than fair. Thanks John! Keep up the good work and I'll be seeing you for the next one. read more

Went in for a coverup with John he did such an amazing job. Took his time to really get every detail perfect. Very skilled at his craft, definitely going back for more! read more

Hammerhead Tattoo - Couple days after appointment - Tattoo Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My husband and I went in for tattoos on a Wednesday night. Everyone was very nice and welcoming, the place was clean and all that jazz. I saw Jeremiah and my husband saw Ennio. I can't speak to Ennio's technique but the result was beautiful. My husband loved his first tattoo and it can our beautifully. Jeremiah was phenomenal. I was getting some work done near my spine and he checked in to make sure I was doing good, let me take breaks when needed, and did everything with great precision and the end result is seriously stunning. Everyone there was friendly and conversational, it was like hanging out with a group of friends. I highly recommend this shop. read more

Hammerhead Tattoo - My dot work crow courtesy of Jeremiah - Tattoo Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Love this place! Everyone is extremely friendly and welcoming. I've gotten work by Ben and it's nothing short of amazing. He's on time and very professional. Chris, Phil, Ennio and Allen are all awesome artists as well. This shop is filled with talent, highly recommend! PS- Erik is awesome too. read more

Tried to reach out through Instagram to inquire about matching tattoos. At first, they did respond but as I asked follow up questions. I was never responded to. I went any way because of the recommendation of a couple of friends that went there. I had sent message I would be there on Wednesday at 1pm when they opened. No one was there. I tried to give this place a chance because of the recommendation I got from friends. Ended up going to Archer Tattoo. Won't ever waste my time going here. read more

New tattoo shop off of Archer and Halsted; Bridgeport/Chinatown area.. Right next to the Halsted Orange Line I love this shop!! One of the friendliest, most comfortable tattoo joints I've ever been in. Hammerhead Tattoo is clean and professional. The inside decor is really nice, the layout is set up well, and the overall environment is welcoming and relaxing. Each artist has their artwork on the walls; everyone here is extremely talented I've been in twice now to see Carlos. He's super easy to work with and does amazing work! He is very open to my ideas, then works his magic.. Other shops I've been to have refused to do cover ups or finish the start of another artist's piece. Carlos has fixed many of my "bad" tattoos and is understanding and patient. He has a gentle hand which makes my experiences much easier, less painful. The owner is real chill, the other artist is cool, and the apprentice is helpful Everyone at this shop shows true dedication and passion. They're a great group of guys. I definitely recommend this place and will be returning soon. Hammerhead accepts walk-ins, but I'd call or message them on social media websites for an appointment. They are reasonably priced for Chicago. There's a 'pay to park' box right in front of the shop. I'm from the burbs but it only takes me 15-20mins to get there, pretty convenient location off of I-55 (Stevenson Expressway) I'm very happy with my tattoos and can't wait to get more.. I don't think they're doing piercings just yet, but that's in the works? After all, the shop just opened a couple of months ago. :) Check them out!!! read more

This place sucks. Chris Rodas and his buddies pick and choose their customers based on $$$. I know people who got tattoos from chris and he will always cancel appointments. He claims he is always very busy without even looking at his calendar. Many other great places to go people. Don't bother coming here. read more

1st time at hammerhead and it will not be my last. Chris is an amazing artist and we had several conversations about the details of my design and anything else I wanted or needed to discuss with him. Super super nice guy upon meeting him and full of talent!! Give him a call you won't be disappointed! read more

Great place overall. Relaxed vibe, great prices, friendly artists, etc. Carlos is great, he took my vague ideas and turned them into exactly the pieces I wanted. I currently have a half sleeve and leg piece from him, but will be back for more! Other artists in the shop also seemed very talented and friendly as well. read more

I had my first tattoo here in winter. I love it and will come back when I'm ready for the second one. I waited for half a year to give the review because I got so much compliments when summer comes and people notice I got a new tattoo. Chris deserves the credit. read more

I got a half sleeve tattoo done by Chris. He was super fun to talk to, worked really well and was very good at detail, I'm definitely going back! read more

Jeremiah absolutely crushes it. If you're looking for geometric black and grey he is your man. Clean lines. Professional. Definitely coming back. read more

I promised Ben I would write a 1000 word review, but I won't, cause fuck Ben! But seriously these cats are some of the coolest I've personally met. I have been coming here for about a year and I do not have enough kind words for the entire experience. They are all great artists and awesome people. Thanks HT and a special thank you to Jeremy! read more

Love this place. Jeremiah has done all my tattoos and I love them. Listened to what I wanted and took the time to make my pieces perfect for me. So professional and still friendly. Highly recommend! read more

Hammerhead Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The piercer here did a horrible job. I got one piercing on the flat upper ear around the rook and two cartilage piercings. Despite using a measuring ruler the piercing was off. We took a lot of time to discuss it and she seemed very anxious and I wish I had walked away when I noticed that. I had two cartilage piercings as well. Rather than the piercing going straight through my ear it's going through it's at an angle (hopefully this makes sense). I ended up having to get the piercing on the flat part of my ear re done and I will have to wait for the two cartilage piercings to heal. I also asked her to ensure 5mm hoops would be able to fit and she confidently said yes. They did not due to the angle of the piercing. I asked her to keep in mind that I had a previous industrial piercing around the cartilage piercings we were doing and either she didn't care or didn't consider it at all and the new piercing is conjoining the old industrial hole. It was extremely uncomfortable and painful, keep in mind I have had about 20 piercings and this was by far the worst. She struggled to get the earring on as well and that caused a lot of discomfort. Very very disappointed and I spent a decent amount of money for nothing. Of course it's not the end of the world, they are just piercings but for the sake of others hoping to get their ears pierced and not wasting money, I highly suggest you don't go here. read more

So as I walk in to my first tattoo removal appointment @ vamoose I notice a business card to your shop in the waiting area. I find that funny since I was there to remove the sorry work done on my arm by Ben Duarte. A year and a half with this tattoo and I just couldn't bare seeing how lazy the work was. Surely I spoke up to the people in the waiting area about my horrible experience with Ben and hammerhead Tattoo. I will also post pics of the removal a long with the story behind it. You might it took my money but I'll be sure to let people know of your pathetic work. What I should do is stop by your shop and drop off the bill of what it's going to cost me to remove this shit tattoo. read more

My boyfriend and I got small heel tattoos, our artist was Carlos and I have no complaints. He was absolutely amazing, he was precise, informative and was very open. read more

So I got a tattoo a couple of months ago from Ben and I honestly couldn't be happier. It was a cover up from a previous tattoo and you can't even see the old one! The new one is absolutely beautiful and colorful. Ben did an amazing job not only with the cover up but with the amazing detail that was put into it. I get tons of compliments. Ben was super nice and made me feel very comfortable. I would definitely recommend him to any one wanting to get a tattoo. Thanks again Ben! read more

Hammerhead Tattoo - My new beautiful tattoo done by Ben - Tattoo Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love this place!! Took my boyfriend to get his first tattoo here on his birthday and the tattoo was spot on to what he wanted! Definitely will return! read more

Chris did an amazing job at drawing up my tattoo! Shop was clean, and it was a comfortable experience for sure! Would highly reccomend!

I debated not writing a review so that I could keep this place my little secret, but... Getting my first tattoo with Ennio was a fantastic experience, on my ribs nonetheless! He added beautiful enhancements to the original idea that I brought in which made the tattoo better than I had imagined it. My friend and I got similar tattoos to commemorate our friendship and both of us are super happy with the result! Thanks, Hammerhead! Y'all are WAY underrated!!! read more