My second tattoo with Gilda. As always she was receptive to what I was looking for and thank god she was honest with me. The original Ram looked like the devil and she was gracious enough to work with me to come up with something better and it fit the bad-asserry I wanted. Will be back for more. read more

Lady Octopus Tattoos - My Aries Ram AKA Devin - Tattoo Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Lady Octopus is a premier parlor. The energy is calm and all of the artists are talented. I was lucky to work with Eugene. He specializes in realism and I couldn't be more pleased with the outcome. I'm definitely going back for another when there is availability. Be sure to book here if you take your body art seriously! read more

I called to ask if we could walk in. I was told no, but that they could fit us in the next day at a specific time. given time. We showed up at the given time and they turned us away. this is horrible customer service! we took off work and made plans based on times they gave us. don't trust them if they give you a time slot. read more

Caitlin Astrid was an amazing goddess of a tattoo artist and I'm so pleased by everything associated with the experience. I fully plan to make Lady Octopus and Caitlin my tattoo home base headquarters. Lovely space, welcoming vibe. No regrets. Five stars! read more

Lady Octopus Tattoos - I got a kettlebell tattooed on my left hand to forcefully remind me to lift and swing. Caitlin Astrid was amazing. - Tattoo Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

What a FANTASTIC experience! I feel like it can be a hit or a miss when it comes to any service that involves artists. Sometimes they're completely focused on their art and it's a big ole ef you if you aren't on board. However, Lady Octopus Tattoos delivers on all levels - service, art, environment, vibe, pricing, communication, the list goes on. I had a terrific experience here and loveeeee my piece by Olena. We WILL be back for more! read more

Lady Octopus Tattoos - Cicada by Olena - Tattoo Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

The booking process was great and I was even able to make a switch to the artist I truly wanted sooner. But the real catch was the experience. Not only was the shop such a cool and unique space but Olena was spectacular. She made it such a seamless and painless experience. Not only that but since it was my first tattoo I was very nervous but she put me at ease. I highly recommend this place and hope everyone has a great experience here. read more

Lady Octopus Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Caitlin did a great job. The details on the tattoo are incredible! I highly recommend her.

There really aren't enough available characters in this review box to provide the appropriate amount of positive thing to say about this shop & the artists but I will try my best! The shop itself is beautiful - comfortable, clean & private stations that are unique to each artist which I feel is important for clients during sessions to just relax and be at peace with their tattoo experience. The front desk girl was so friendly and informative and really knew her stuff. The artists themselves of course are absolutely fantastic. Gilda & James are two of the best artists I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. If you have ever heard horror stories/experiences of artists being late or unprofessional - lack communication or just skill overall - put your mind at ease and do yourself a favor and schedule a consultation with either of them because I promise you will NOT regret it. Whether this is your first time or your 1000th time getting ink - Custom tattoos are personal and you can expect the high quality & professional experience and product that you are dreaming of without a doubt from them at a reasonable price. I am currently halfway through my full sleeve by James (as pictured) and I can't wait to get it finished. Couldn't wait to get started on it after he finished 2 large thigh designs on me previously and I get nothing but compliments and requests for his business cards on them. Give the shop a call or shoot them an email! Get on the books with James or Gilda - you will not regret it. Added bonus- No piercing mumbo jumbo here either - just strictly tattoo atmosphere which was something I ended up really appreciating after being in previous shops with walk in piercing going on all day - it felt like it was less of a stressful high traffic revolving door always opening/closing constantly during appointments. read more

Lady Octopus Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Gilda is not only the consummate professional -- she is an extraordinary artist !!!! She listened to me and created something very special for me !!! I will be going back again and again and recommending her to everyone. read more

Lady Octopus Tattoos - Gilda touched up an old tattoo with this hamsa. - Tattoo Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I went here a few weeks ago and saw Caitlin, and she was amazing ! She's brand new and i couldn't believe it. She was p patient and supper sweet. I've gone to a few different tattoo shops, and i often feel really rushed and the customer service isn't the best , She took her time and was supper friendly. Other tattoo shops i've been to didn't always have the best bed side manner, but i felt supper comfortable here. I already scheduled my next one with her. read more

Finally decided to go ahead and get our ring-finger tattoos, so where do we turn to make sure we wind up with a great experience, and even better tattoos?!? Yelp of course! And I'm glad we did. This shop is about 40 minute drive from us, but it was well worth the drive. They are super clean, very kind and professional and did an awesome job. Let alone the fact that they have the most beautiful plush regal purple couches to wait on! Jonathan, the owner was always pleasant, from the time we called in to make our appointment, to welcoming us in, and even when I went back for a touch up (I wanted one of my lines to be a bit thicker). Even though it hurt like crap (I'm not good with pain), I'm thinking of getting another, and I know exactly where I'm going to get it! Get your work done here! You'll be happy you did! read more

Lady Octopus Tattoos - Lady Octopus Tattoos, such a cute shop - Tattoo Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Just dropped in for something small, was very impressed Really clean and a very comfortable setting!! Will be returning for some touch up work. If GPS'ing the address it will take you to the pack parking lot Update; from 4 to 5 Being a manager in the Service/Hospitality industry I rarely give out 5's unless I have received exceptional service. But I must say I am impressed, I received a personal email from the owner's..... read more

Super happy with my new tattoo done my Angela Lee. First time customer and everything was super! read more

Lady Octopus Tattoos - Tiny paw prints - Tattoo Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Love this place! First time going and I'm already recommending to all my friends and following the artists on Instagram. I have three tattoos already from my various travels and I wanted to look up a good place in VA while I was in town. I had previously planned to go back to another parlor, but it closed down. Lady Octopus did not disappoint! I just wanted something small and simple, I came in two days beforehand to ask about pricing and the process. Staff was friendly, helpful, and most importantly the place was CLEAN. I made an appointment and returned to get my tattoo. It took an hour, but the consult and artist took longer than actually getting the tat. Personally I was very glad that for my first visit here the artist spent time asking me questions and showing me prints beforehand. Overall great experience and highly recommend. read more

Lady Octopus Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I just got my first tattoo at Lady Octopus and I can't recommend them highly enough! Not only was getting an appointment online through their website super easy, but they were also very prompt and professional with their replies and subsequent communication. I got my tattoo done with Susan, who was not just a great artist but also really cool and adept at guiding a newbie through the entire process. The aftercare instructions were detailed but also very easy to understand. They even included some cool swag like a pin and stickers! Overall, my experience with Lady Octopus left me with a newfound appreciation for the art of tattooing and I look forward to visiting them again whenever I decide to get more ink done. read more

Lady Octopus Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I was recommended to Gilda by a couple of colleagues. From the moment the consultation was over I knew I wanted her to work on my tattoo. I had a specific picture of my late dad in mind and Gilda did and incredible job, I was afraid it was going to hurt, but it really didn't, her attention to detail is incredible and her work is amazing. Thank you Gilda an everyone at the shop. See you soon read more

Lady Octopus Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I hired Jonathan for an event. Jonathan went WAY above and beyond what I was requesting, was easy to work with, and an absolute delight to know in person. I highly recommend hiring Lady Octopus Tattoos for literally any event; Jonathan will 100% deliver!!! read more

I had such a great experience with Olena at Lady Octopus today. This was my first tattoo and was a bit nervous. She was so great in consulting with me about what I wanted and delivered my vision perfectly. I couldn't be happier. Great experience from start to finish! read more

James did a FANTASTIC job with my first tattoo. Was super helpful in dealing with the "first tattoo jitters" and did such a great job with my tat. I'm so pleased how it turned out and my husband who has quite a few tats of his own is also impressed. I highly recommend James and Lady Octopus Tattoos to anyone looking for a reasonably priced, high quality tattoo in the Arlington area! read more

Lady Octopus Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

My tattoo is finished! I'm so happy with the work and glad I met Gilda. She finished it in a total of 3 sessions and this being my first tattoo ever, I'd say that the pain wasn't awful because she is gentle. Her tattoos look very delicate and are a piece of art, this is why I chose her. I had to be patient and waited about 2 months to get my first appointment because she is very busy. If you'd thought about hiring Gilda, best you book your appointment soon because she books fast! read more

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For my 62nd birthday I decided to get a tattoo. Researched and picked Lady Octopus Tattoos. So glad I did. They were professional from beginning to end. The shop was clean and presented well. Loved Ellie and her first sketching was exactly what I wanted. She paid attention to detail, especially with the colors. I couldn't be happier! Happy Birthday to me! read more

Lady Octopus Tattoos - So Elegant! - Tattoo Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I came to Gilda for my very first tattoo. Throughout the entire process she was responsive, friendly, and made me feel comfortable. I was a bit timid, with this being my first time, and I couldn't be happier. Gilda is an incredible artist, and Jonathan is a great owner. I highly recommend this shop- whether it's for your first tattoo or your next piece. read more

I saw Gilda for my first tattoo and the experience could not have been better. She was professional, friendly, set my mind at ease, and was enthusiastic about making my vision come to life. She's an incredible artist, and the tattoo turned out better than I could have hoped. I can't recommend her highly enough. read more

Ellie was my artist and while the experience of getting the tattoo was fine, I'm disappointed by how it turned out. It's just a very sloppy job. The stars don't match each other at all, and they're not even symmetrical within each star. The bars should be parallel, but they dip toward each other at the edges, which is especially disappointing because I had told her that I'm planning to extend them to go around my wrist in the future which will be more difficult now. The star on the right was originally even smaller than it is now, and when I asked her to make it look more like the others, she got defensive and said "I followed the stencil." Okay but... you didn't? Everyone was nice and the shop was clean, and it's healing fine (I got it done a month ago), but I definitely can't recommend this place. read more

Lady Octopus Tattoos - Disappointed with this sloppy work. - Tattoo Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I explored a few shops around the area before committing to Lady Octopus, and I'm very glad I did. This place had a fantastic atmosphere and my artist, James, got me in for a last minute appointment. What I wanted was fairly simple, but he had a fantastic attitude and we chatted throughout the session. I would absolutely return here for more pieces in the future! read more

I found Lady Octopus on Yelp after I could not get a response from the artist at another shop in Arlington. This man has a $100 deposit from me and kept emailing me to say he would email me later with a time/date. That was three weeks ago. Anyway, everything happens for a reason! Every staff member at Lady Octopus was friendly, professional and helpful. I got good juju from the start. The shop is clean, cute and in a convenient location. I saw Fely for a tat on my ribs. The process to get started was a little slow but I think I'm just a novice customer and don't know the process. Fely was really understanding, as gentle as he could be and did a phenomenal job. I'm so proud of my piece and will recommend this shop to anyone and everyone. I'll be back for more! Thank you! read more

Lady Octopus Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I have been going to Gilda for a few years now working on my half sleeve. I started with a different artist (the birds and flower that I blotched out) who moved to a different state to start her own business. I found Gilda who is finishing my sleeve and I will NEVER go to another artist. Gilda is so personable, professional and knows tattooing. She has been doing this for over 15 years and I trust her. She has a soft touch with a needle and makes you feel comfortable sitting in her chair. Her shop is beautiful and immaculate. She listens to what you want in a tattoo and delivers. I get to wear a piece of her art and I love it. It is a dedication to my mother who has passed. Gilda thank you for all you do, you are an amazing person and tattoo artist. read more

Lady Octopus Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Gilda is EVERYTHING! Amazing talent! I couldn't be more happy with my piece! Already booked my 2nd piece with Gilda and plan to have more done by her! She and Jonathan are good folks. Nice, professional and all! read more

Lady Octopus Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I don't even think I can say enough good things about this establishment!!! So professional, employees are so kind, helpful and talented. All around great vibes, and the ambiance is so artistic! I had my tattoo done by Gilda and she is the best! She broke down all the safety & sanitation protocols of tattooing, so now I know what to look out for in the future. I love that she cared enough to talk about things like that before starting my tattoo! I'm so pleased with her work and I can't wait to come back and continue working on my sleeve! Thank you guys for being so dope! =D ps. the new space looks great so far!! read more

I think it was fate that I stumbled upon Lady Octopus on a walk one day since I was already planning on finally getting my first tattoo. And let me just say that this was the perfect place to get it. First of all, the service is top notch. Jonathan was extremely helpful in discussing the pricing and answering all of my questions. Not only that, I forgot my bag with the after care lotion after I left, and he dropped it off at my apartment himself so I would be sure to have it the next day. It really doesn't get any better than that. I really couldn't have asked for a better artist than Gilda. She is extremely talented. She is very considerate and discussed every aspect of the tattoo (placement, look, etc) with me, and gave me suggestions when I asked for them. I felt very comfortable throughout the whole process due to wonderful conversations alongside her kickass talent. I came out with two beautiful tattoos and will definitely come back! read more

Yeah, my wife surprised me for my birthday to get my daughter's name and Roman numerals done on my shoulder. It was a surprise, so my wife made the reservation and spoke with Jonathan- nothing but positive and helpful. She said the process was easy and the customer service was outstanding. I see what she meant, we walked in, greeted, and filled out some forms. Everything was great - the shop is super clean, the decor is awesome, just a great feel when you walked in! Gilda did our tattoos, very professional, was super easy to talk to, spent time on my tattoo and her custom script was looking on point. If you are looking for a great tattoo, a clean and friendly place - look no further than Lady Octopus Tattoos. Very happy and highly recommend. read more

This place is just all around awesome and definitely somewhere I'll be coming back to. I don't always like the vibe of larger tattoo shops that feel impersonal and Lady Octopus has a great atmosphere where you can actually get the people experience too. Jonathan was awesome with responding and setting up an appointment, answering my questions about pricing and sizing honestly and reasonably. Gilda was an absolute blast to work with - not only is she super talented and really knows what she's doing but she's a pleasure to talk to as well. I never felt rushed or out of place. I cannot stress enough how glad I am I came here for my second tattoo. It looks great, is exactly what I wanted, and the price was so much more reasonable than other places! I live about 100 feet away from a well reviewed tattoo shop and passed it because Lady Octopus was about the experience and not just the tattoo itself. I left with a smile on my face, a rockin' t-shirt, a great looking tattoo and the knowledge I'll be coming back sometime soon. 100000% recommend! read more

I had an all around great experience! Jonathan was extremely responsive and helpful by email and when I arrived at the shop. Ellie tattooed me, and it was by far my best tattoo experience (I have 3). She took the time to make sure I was getting exactly what I wanted (size, design, location), and was not pushy but offered helpful suggestions. The studio was open and inviting, very clean. Even friends of the shop that stopped by were friendly and welcoming. Couldn't be happier, and can't wait to go back for another. read more

I got my first tattoo with gilda. I was EXTREMELY nervous, but she is so gentle and talked to me the whole time, easing my nerves. I am SO happy with my tat! I went in and got an estimate, came in 4 days later to get the work done. I will continue to come here and recommend everyone! I was really happy with the service, the cleanliness and the price. Great price for what I got. Thanks Gilda!! read more

Lady Octopus Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Amazing Staff and Very individualized experience . Lovin Gilda Acosta!!! Super talented artist willing to work with and create whatever your vision is. Really pleased and blessed to have this artwork!! read more

I love this place! Gilda and Jonathan were great every step of the way. Gilda did my tattoo- this place is pristine- probably more sterile than my doctor's office- hands down the best and cleanest parlor I've ever been in. If I didn't move so far away, I definitely would be coming back for more work. I sat for a little over three hours and was able to watch Gilda's apprentice do a few tattoos that were also gorgeous. Prices are reasonable, and a fun atmosphere. Thanks, for the beautiful work, Gilda! Your attention to detail is amazing. I'm so in love with this piece. read more

Lady Octopus Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Amazing experience getting my first tattoo at this shop and my second tattoo overall. I can definitely be a little bit of a baby about pain, but Ellie and the vibe of the shop overall calmed me down right away and made this a great experience! Ellie worked with me on the design and ensured it was exactly what I was looking for before getting started, and was a true professional. The tattoo itself is gorgeous and healing really well! Overall, very impressed with the level of service, the atmosphere, and the cleanliness of the shop! read more

Worst experience ever, PLEASE do not go here they ruined my life. I payed them $550 for an AWFUL outline with unfinished lines and black splotch marks! It was supposed to be a cover up of a tiger and it looks like a rat, when I wrote an honest review on their Facebook page the owner (or somebody) called me and bashing me and was saying threatening things to me like "I know you live in Ft. Myer" (where I used to live) and telling me I didn't have the funds to finish the tattoo and that's why it looks like this, FALSE I payed them up front and Gilda (My artist) told me I had to wait in between sessions for it to heal before I could continue, it had nothing to do with money, he continued to tell me I needed 5 more sessions (of paying over $500 each session) to complete ! Every professional tattoo artist I have been consulted by since then tells me that is absolutely rediculous and she was milking the clock for more money!.. I ultimately decided not to return and to cut my losses after seeing how horrible the first session was and every single person I know advised me to never give this artist over $500 to destroy my arm any more. I then sent them pictures through text and she told me that the unfinished lines were supposed to be fur. WHAT A JOKE! I told her that people called it a rat tattoo and she replied to me "enjoy your rat tattoo and have a great life" after arguing with me for hours. I have not been able to go shirtless or wear tank tops in 2 years confidently because of this tattoo PLEASE DO NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE I DID AND GO HERE. read more

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i got my first tattoo here with ellie and she did an amazing job! based on a few photos and descriptions she drew up a beautiful design and i could not be happier with it. the shop was very clean, and the whole process was efficient. i will definitely be back to get my second soon! read more

Lady Octopus Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Gilda has been tattooing me for almost ten years. She's an artistic genius, and an absolute pleasure. She has vision and can help you realize what it is you really want tattooed. Come in with a random half-baked idea and Gilda will turn it into a true work of art. Opening up Lady Octopus Tattoos seems like a natural progression for such talent. Along with Jonathan and Ellie, Gilda absolutely rules this small business. Every aspect of this place is completely professional. It's very welcoming and a comfortable place to get tattoos. It's impeccably clean and well-appointed. You will be completely at ease. Gilda has now tattooed me, my husband, my brother-in-law, three of my very best friends, and soon my mom. I'd trust her with anything (and anyone). read more