Brie no longer works at the primal instincts- she opened up her own shop (sad but very happy for her!) I recently finished another piece with Laura alone and she does not disappoint! Worth every amount of money. They do require negative covid test in advance. 48 hours for unvaccinated folks, 72 hours for vaccinated folks. read more

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I cannot say enough about the talent and professionalism of Ariel at Primal Instinct. She saw my vision and just created the most beautiful piece of art to put on my body. It was nothing I could have imagined and everything I wanted. Still need to go back for the rest of the color but I'm already so in love. read more

Primal Instinct Tattoo Studio - Flowers to represent the important women in my family. Close to my heart forever. - Tattoo Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

If you want a place that does OK tattoos, this is the place for you. If you want a place that will refuse to refund your deposit and be an unfeeling robot about it when you get ringworm THE NIGHT BEFORE, this is the place for you. I didnt know ringworm was going to be a problem and wish I hadn't told them I had it, the risks of getting a tattoo with ringworm are apparently low. I came here a year ago and was going to get my tattoo touched up today. The original wasn't even great, the artist went outside the lines a bit, not to mention the color wasnt perfectly even. Then on Facebook I accidentally put "recommend" instead of "do not recommend" on my review and had to delete it, and now I can't repost there. I guess I'm blocked. I had to make a new account. Then they removed my facebook review. Don't trust them. read more

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This place was great. Lawrence was the artist who did my tattoo. The communication response time was quick enough for me to never feel the need to check twice to make sure I had successfully hit send and/or if the message had been read. The vibe was laid back and comfortable. I don't live in Alaska, so I was a little concerned about disrobing for this to be accomplished. But the space was nice and warm, both literally and figuratively. I have nothing but good things to say about this place and if I lived closer and not all the way across the country, I would absolutely come back here again. read more

Laura Craver. Super talented. Laura makes her customers feel very comfortable and welcome. My wife and I love our visits with her. Can't wait to go today for another sesh! read more

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Great shop! I've been skeptical about getting a tattoo away from my normal artist, but Danielle was AWESOME! Very clean atmosphere and great artists all around. A buddy and I just walked in and they happened to have an opening, but schedule an appointment if you want to get in with these awesome artists! read more

Primal Instinct Tattoo Studio - Tiki Man! - Tattoo Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

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So this was supposed to be a tattoo cover up but as you can see the tattoo isn't covered up. Not only is it not covered up but the person from the shop that did the tattoo offered a free touch up because they themselves admitted it needed it at the original appointment and they ended up not doing the touch up. They also recommended a sticker to keep it covered which I don't think was necessary but we did what they recommended anyways and ended up regretting it. As you can see in the photo where the ink is supposed to be was peeling off which is just weird. Oh we didn't end up getting the "free touch up" because the artist who did the tattoo decided to cancel on us an hour before the appointment as we were on the way with a Lyft all the way from eagle river. My fiancé and I did the research before picking an artist but I guess sometimes the pictures they post are only of the good parts of their work. Maybe I should have looked deeper but we didn't and this is what we ended up with. Was about $400-500 and 100% not worth it at all. Look elsewhere for a tattoo. This ain't it. read more

Primal Instinct Tattoo Studio - Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

Let's start with the shop itself; Clean, organized, lively atmosphere. The music playing was upbeat and family friendly (for those of you bringing your toddlers with you to your tattoo appointment...). There was a TV available for those waiting, and comfortable, clean couches. I had never stepped foot in a tattoo parlor before coming to Primal and I felt instantly at ease and welcomed. The people; The receptionist and artists are warm and welcoming, good humored and over all wonderful people. I initially called in to have an appointment with Brie but she was booked nearly 4 months in advance so at the recommendation of the receptionist I scheduled for Will. I will just say, I have never been more impressed with an artist as I was with Will's portfolio. He was friendly, understanding (my first ink), and overall fantastic. The equipment/tattoo; The cleanliness of the parlor impressed me right off the bat. Everything was sterile. The tattoo I received myself was PERFECTION. No smudging/out of lines, brilliant color and exactly to my specifications. Now, nearly a year later, I am still absolutely proud of my ink. For my colored, 4-5 inch ink, on my back (upper spine) it cost $260 which I consider perfectly reasonable for the quality tattoo I received. I would, and have, recommend this tattoo parlor to anyone who asks. read more

I received two tattoos from Primal Instinct, and after a year I am very satisfied with both of them. The first was done by Carlos, who covered up a horrible tat from years ago. I was very hesitant about doing this, considering how bad (and permanent) the original was. He was clear about his idea of what to do, and did it just as he said -- and the quality was solid. With that success, I went back with an idea for a tattoo of my own design that I knew would be difficult, but didn't know exactly how difficult: perfect circles and micro-lettering. Carlos referred me to Will who took my poor quality sketch and made it into a high quality design, and then put ink to skin with confidence and quality. When people ask about my tattoos, they are impressed, as they should be, and I refer them here. read more

My wife and I have been coming to Primal for over a year now. I have received over 20 hours Of work from Danielle. Everyone in the shop is friendly and professional. You won't be disappointed with any of the work you get done here. read more

Primal Instinct Tattoo Studio - Tattoo Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

They day before I got my tattoo I called around and this place gave me a good vibe immediately. The man I spoke to on the phone really took the time to talk to me about the shop and making sure I was happy before I even mentioned what I wanted or asking about an appointment. He told me to swing by and check them out before I committed. You can really tell even over the phone these people put customer happiness above all else. The next day I came in as a walk in for the small tattoo I wanted. The receptionist got me a same day appointment and was super friendly and bubbly! When I came back for my appointment I met Will, my artist, who was very friendly, professional and intelligent and whom I would recommend to anyone. He was really a very cool guy and he and another artist there made the whole experience a blast. It was my first tattoo and I was understandably nervous but Will made sure to calm my nerves and told me to as picky as possible so I would be happy in the end. He walked me through every step and started slow so I could get the swing of things. While he was working I had a very pleasant convo with another artist and together they made the whole thing pain free! Overall the shop is a lot of fun and the people there are extremely talented and friendly and I will definitely be going there for future tattoos. Couldn't be happier! read more

Primal Instinct Tattoo Studio - Unalome - a Buddhist symbol for the path to enlightenment - Tattoo Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

Love, love, love this studio and the artists that work there. They ARE artists. If you want custom, this is the place to go. I have multiple pieces by Brie (half sleeve, cupcake on the back of my neck, original design behind my ears, and were working on a full arm sleeve) and love every one of them. She has also done multiple tattoos for my husband. She's a great tattoo artist and friend. Her specialty is color, american traditional and neo traditional. Danielle is awesome, I have a few pieces were working on for the future. Her portraits, realism, color, black and gray is fantastic! Her husband Carlos is just as talented! Portraits, black and gray, realism, floral pieces... Just awesome. Will does great realism and watercolor. Chantel's floral, new school and color tattoos are top notch. I have the up most respect for the artist here. Johnny has a stellar crew. You will pay good money for a great piece of art you can be proud of and want to show off! read more

Primal Instinct Tattoo Studio - My husbands pinup in my likeness - by Brie - Tattoo Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

I totally just made a yelp account to share how good my experience was here! I just received my first tattoo from Will, and I couldn't be happier. My only regret is that the location of my tattoo makes it hard for me to see, and I wish I could see it all the time! Will was very kind, patient and talented, and he was super nice when I was a weenie with the pain. He was really cool about working with the design I brought in, and he tweaked some things to make it look even better than I could have thought. The shop was super clean and professional and not intimidating. 10/10, highly recommend! read more

I stopped by Primal Instinct because I had worked with a woman with an amazing leg piece. It blew my mind, and was one the most beautiful tattoos I had ever seen. I had an idea of a piece I wanted but just hadn't met an artist who I jived with. She told me Daneille at PI had done her piece and that she was crazy talented. I insta-stalked Dani for a couple months before getting the courage to stop by and set up a consultation. Daniella immediately made me feel welcome, which was important because I was really out of my element. I had no tattoos and I come from a culture where tattoos just don't exist. We discussed designs, placements, pain, healing, etc. She talked with me for an hour and I felt like I was getting coffee with a friend. She knows her stuff and was willing to share her knowledge with me. As a nerd who loves a good lecture, I was happy to listen. At the end of our meeting she gave me an estimate (and the final price was within $20 of this, so no surprise charges). I came back a week or so later to make a deposit and schedule a day. It was about a month and a half out. When the day came I was nervous like a mug. Then she showed me what she had drawn, and I was incredible! It took my anxiety from 9 to a 5 in seconds. She took my idea and made it into this beautiful thing. After approving the design and talking a bit about after care, she went to her station to prep. During my session she was personable and professional. Absolutely the ideal artist for a first timer like me. She gave me some hint for pain like exhaling, she even checked to make sure I was breathing once. The shop is clean and fun. The tattoo healed beautifully. I will gladly suggest Danielle and Primal Instinct to everyone. read more

Outstanding experience! Every artist here has outstanding work and it is clear they put the customer's needs first. My tattoo was done by Brie and I couldn't be happier with the outcome! Can't wait for my next appointment. Come here and you won't be disappointed. read more

Great staff and artists. Each member of their team will take the time to provide all the information you need. My artist even stayed after closing to finish my tattoo. Chantel was a great conversationalist throughout the process and did a fantastic job. She even reminded me about the military discount even after I had forgotten. If you are going there for a new artist or your first tattoo, I would highly recommend this establishment. Thank you Chantel for a great tattoo and experience. read more

Laura is hands down amazing! I have had a few tattoos done by her and I trust her with all the art on my body. I can tell her my ideas and she always blows my expectations out of the water with what she comes up with. Great atmosphere and such friendly staff. I highly recommend this place read more

It's taken me over a year to write this review but better now than never! My husband and I were getting ready to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary and we had been talking about getting something tattooed on our ring fingers. So I went in and explained to them that we were looking at getting an infinity symbol on our ring fingers. They quoted me $100 per tattoo. Being new to tattoos, I didn't think much of it and went ahead and scheduled the appointment. When I surprised my husband and told him I had an appointment to get the tattoos and told him how much it was, he said that it was overpriced but at that point, it was too late because they already had a deposit. So we went in and my husband wanted a black band with the infinity symbol in the middle (it would be his skin showing through the black band that made the infinity symbol). HORRIBLE. If you look at his finger, you can't even tell what the hell it is. They completely ruined his band and his tattoo is a hot mess. There is no fixing it other than to just black it out completely. SO disappointed but once it's done, what can you do!? So I am on here to warn the rest of you. Be careful. Not only do they overprice but some of their artists take on tattoos they are obviously not qualified to do. This guy was hispanic and has long hair, I don't remember his name. Oh, and mine is not perfect either but definitely turned out better than my husband's. At least we have our actual wedding rings to cover them! read more

Had the worst tattoo done here by Mindy 'Massacre'- sooo disappointed!! I went to get a butterfly done and it came out terrible. So I spoke with the owner, who just tried to justify why a butterfly's wings didn't have to match! The colors were terrible. He tried to say that it looked good and that he liked it. So I pointed out all the mistakes with it. Then all I got was him trying to justify it. He did offer me to go back there and they would try to 'fix' it with no extra charge. Nope, no way- they already made it unbearable to look at- I didn't want it made any worse. The antena of the butterfly is super thick- like 2 fat purple/red candy canes! Hope they change owners! Many years later and I'm still not happy with it. Thank God it's in a place that is usually covered. I'm in the process of finding someone else to do a 'cover up' for me. It's so bad that I haven't gotten any ink done since then. I just couldn't believe that a place with good reviews and good pictures would be like that. read more

Just got a tattoo by Bre! She was amazing and super nice!! I can't wait to go back to see Bre to get my forearm done!! I would recommend this place to everyone!!!! read more

I am not convinced that there are any truly gifted artists here. In other words, I question their drawing, conceptualizing, and creative capabilities, but not the quality of their tattoo work. The art that I have seen come out of the shop is very good. That said, I WOULD NOT give them a deposit. I put down $400 toward a 3/4 sleeve. When I had to move out of the state for my job, I got zero money refunded, even though no tattooing had been done. The artist drew a sketch of his idea for my piece - that is all! To me, a concept sketch/drawing DOES NOT have a $400 price tag attached. I feel very much ripped off. I talked to the owner about it and they simply would not refund even a portion of my deposit. I think this is poor business practice, and I would recommend other shops. You may want to consider Reed Leslie at Hole Look tattoo shop, in Anchorage. That man, is truly a gifted artist and worth your money. Take a look at his portfolio. You will see what I mean. Good luck. read more

LOVE this place! Chantel did an awesome job!! I will definitely go there again!

I walked in to Primal Instinct Tattoo hoping to get a custom upper back piece done. Didn't even get to talk to an artist. When the receptionist finally assisted me I told her what I wanted and she was like uh um look at these portfolios. Really she was not much help at all. Then two customers came in and without hesitation they spoke to an artist. The receptionist was attending to her kid and it was obvious that I had questions and needed further help which I did not get. I just said thank you and started my walk out the studio. No did you have any questions, would you like to wait a minute or two for an artist, nothing. Needless to say they lost about 10 hours of work they would have gotten if they were on their game..thanks for nothing. read more

These idiots gave me a Belgian flag tattoo when I asked for a German flag tattoo. Admittedly I should have recognized that the flag stripes were vertical instead of horizontal, I was just baffled by Will's incompetence in sketching the flag and making the mistake of putting the ribbons vertical instead of horizontal, which I half-noticeably gave the go-ahead for. Yeah, it's half my fault for not catching it either, but come on dude, how do you fuck up the orientation of the lines when Google images shows you 2 billion German flags how I wanted my tat to look. Shitty awareness is all I have to say. Make sure you triple check your design before they ink you, because they sure as hell won't even try to fix it or work with you on a discount for a future tattoo because of the obvious fuckup. read more

My tattoo here was amazing they let me get up for a break half way through. The outline was done precisley and the coloring looks fantastic. They brought water and asked how I was doing. This is my third tattoo here and I will be returning again. read more