I got a tattoo here when they first opened and didn't like it at all, but that artist left so I decided to go back. My how things have changed! Dan Bythewood did my arm and I LOVE it. He knew exactly what I wanted and was able to offer awesome suggestions. The whole holier-than-thou vibe has definitely died down from what it used to be a few years back, which is great. I'll definitely be going back. read more

This is the third place I've been tattooed at in Boston and needless to say, I got the fourth here as well. It started with two lilies and has since turned into three and someday soon might be a whole garden, complete with birds and trees. But SERIOUSLY - Cathi is super nice and didn't mock my desire to have flowers on my ribs. She is also amazingly good about scheduling - I was on my way to the flu on the Wednesday I planned on getting the third lily so she fit me into the next week when I wasn't dying. The art itself looks great and is EXACTLY what I wanted. The interior design of the shop is cool too- love the reds and yellows and the zen-ness of it all. And instead of being pretenious hipster lovers, the staff is laid back and friendly. Good People, Good Tattoos, Good Times. read more

I choose to get my first tattoo here after looking at a couple other shops. Of the other shops I looked at no one was as nice and professional as the people at Regeneration. I chose Edwin because he had a lot of examples of word tattoos in his portfolio and I was looking to get a word tattooed on me. I was extremely nervous because I'm not the typical person who gets tattooed, plus I have some severe anxiety and fear of needles, but Edwin could not have been nicer. He was really patient and funny and helped keep my mind off what was going on. It didn't even hurt as bad as I thought it would! The shop is very clean, and the prices are pretty good, plus, every one of the staff I encountered was so nice and helpful, I would absolutely go back here for another tattoo! read more

This place is cool all the guys who work here are cool and they know how to tattoo and draw plus they explain everything to you before you get tattooed and the price isn't bad at all. Deff will be getting my sleeves done here!!! read more

Got mine done October 2013. Edwin did my tattoo of a lotus here. It was my first one so I was kind of nervous and also on a budget, but he was very helpful. He told me what to expect pain-wise and always made sure I was feeling okay. His instructions on aftercare were clear and ensured a quick healing process. I am hoping to come back here for my next tattoo, whenever it is. So far my tattoo still looks really good and I always get compliments on it! read more

Regeneration Tattoo - Tattoo right after it was finished. - Tattoo Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

I just got two tattoos done here earlier today by Sue. I could not be happier with how they came out, and with my experience in the shop. Sue was so awesome in designing my small shoulder tattoo (about 3in by 2in, my sister's name, year of birth and death, no color) It took her (probably) 45 minutes on top of the half hour she sent me to get some food in my system, to design it so that she felt it was perfect and I was 100% happy with it. (Same with my smaller 1x1in shamrock behind my ear, some color.) The entire process, I felt so comfortable, I was confident that Sue wouldn't let my tattoos come out shitty looking, and she explained exactly what was going on while tattooing me. (It was my first tattoo.) All while keeping great conversation. I really have nothing bad at all to say about Re:Gen. (The total cost of my two tattoos was $90, which isn't too bad, considering some of the minimums around the Boston area...) read more

I popped in here to get my second tattoo back in 2006. I wish I could remember the woman's name who tattooed me, because she was really great. She was very nice, I told her what I had in mind and she exceeded what I wanted. I get so many compliments on the tattoo - which was a build off of my first one, and it's on the inner side of my foot. A client of mine even asked that I take a picture of it so she can get it done just like mine! The shading work she did is beautiful. read more

Found this place after I moved to Boston from LA. Edwin has done all my work on my left arm. I get so many compliments. Great staff!! They are all very nice, funny and friendly. The place is very clean and neat!! I have spent many hours and lots of cash there!! All $$ and time well spent. Thanks guys :) read more

I liked Regeneration. The place is clean, cool, comfortable and the staff was nice and overall friendly. I had gotten my first tattoo done here last year by Edwin and it came out really nice. Since it was my frist tattoo I wanted to make sure I was going to a place that made me feel comfortable and that was how Edwin had made me feel when I had gone to check the place out. He was nice, funny, and really attentive. It's been a year and my tattoo still looks great. read more

I went in at 6pm with a tattoo that embarrassed me because of the bad coloring job of an artist at another shop. Walked out at 6:50pm with an awesome recolor job from Brian and a smile on my face. Will definitely come back for another job. read more

7 years after I got my first tattoo, I finally decided on a second. I went to meet Brian Hemming at Regeneration with a very rough idea of what I wanted and two weeks later we started on the piece which was, simply, perfect. Perfect. Far better than I ever could have imagined. Brian is a true artist. Professional, easy going and incredibly talented. read more

Regeneration Tattoo - Brian Hemming. - Tattoo Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

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If you're looking for a quality tattoo in Boston without the hassle of a six week waiting list then this is your place. Regeneration is a great shop with an awesome bunch of artists. The fact that all of the artists have no egos and tons of talent are the first two things you'll notice about the shop. Each of the artists have their own distinct style that shows in their portfolios (which you can find just a few steps inside the shop- next to the couches). After you figure out who's going to work best for you it's a piece of cake. Chances are you'll even be in the hot seat sometime in the next week or two. Hell, I made an appointment with Dan for a full sleeve and two weeks later we had all of the line work down for it. And of course, it looks great. So if you're looking for a tattoo and aren't already stuck on a shop check out Regeneration. It's worth the visit, since tattoos are permanent and all. Oh, one thing I forgot to mention.. Chaly surveys the land. read more

I've gotten all of my tattoos here and absolutely adore it. The artists are extremely nice, clean, and know their stuff. The whole place is very at ease, and doesn't judge. I've seen some artists scoff at someone's ideas for tattoos, but that NEVER happens at Regen. The artists are friendly and willing to work with you so that the tattoo you are getting is YOURS, and something you are more than happy to live with for the rest of your life. Two HUGE thumbs up. Also, if you're in here, check out the bathroom. ;) read more

I used to see Brian when he worked at a different shop in Boston, but when he moved to Regen I was sure to follow! This shop is a lot less rowdy than the other one he worked at which is a plus when youre being drilled at with a needle. Everyone who works with him at Regen is really down to earth and friendly, a nice change from some of the elitist shops in Boston. I've seen Brian for over 4 years and over a thousand dollars worth of tattoo work. He's a bit quiet, but it's because he is very focused on his work- always. A true genius at his craft and a fellow art school grad- I can't say enough good things about him. He's even done some tattoos for me in sensitive areas on my female body and handled it like a total professional and I was comfortable the entire time (neccessary in situations like these!) HIGHLY RECCOMMENDED!! *My boyfriend has been going to Cathy @ Regen for new work and a cover-up as well, and loves her! Everyone there rocks! So if you can't get in with Brian try Cathy or anyone else there. read more

I could not give any higher recommendations than that which I give to Regeneration Tattoo and Brian Macneil. In November 2012, I came to Regeneration with an idea for a quarter-sleeve tattoo and met with Brian Macneil to hash out some ideas. I brought him a bunch of pictures and basically told him to combine these pictures into one while maintaining the basic ideas I wanted. I was very vague, but when I came back for my tattoo appointment, he had perfectly drawn the outline of what I wanted. Because my tattoo is so colorful, I had no idea what he was really going to do, but the lines looked great. It was a very long six hours because of the technique Brian had to use in order to get the desired effect. For six hours Brian and I talked about nothing and everything, he was very gentle and we only took three breaks. I (and Brian!) couldn't believe he was able to finish the tattoo in one session. It was absolutely beautiful and every day I wake up, thankful that I went to Brian and Regeneration. Regeneration was in the process of building their beautiful art wall when I was there. I had no idea it was going to take up the entire wall of the place because there was no mess at all! They are so clean and professional and Brian showed me lots of new music in the hours I was there. If you want a tattoo involving any color at all, go to Brian Macneil. read more

Regeneration Tattoo - My beautiful Northern Lights. - Tattoo Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

Super duper! Finally a shop with sweet accommodating front desk staff! Everyone's portfolios here are incredible and the artists all seem so talented and cool. I just had a custom mehndi style tat done on my arm by Cathy Johnson and she surpassed my expectations. I was so scared to trust someone to start something from nothing but I'm so glad I did. She's truly a gem. Go here! read more

Regeneration Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

Horrible place. Went in for simple stars and wouldn't give me what I wanted. The guy goes "well I'm leaving in a half hour so decide quick" then two minutes later when I said this is what I wanted instead he goes "I'm leaving" and wouldn't tattoo me. Would absolutely never go there. read more

Came in to get a tiny star on my arm. Ended up getting it from Frankie Mejia. It was pretty clear right away that my teeny little star was waaaay below his pay grade (read: borderline insulting to an artist of his caliber) but he was a very good sport about it and I am thrilled with the result. read more

Regeneration Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

Regen is without a doubt one of the top street shops in Massachusetts. Top level talent that can cater to any need. If you're looking to walk in off the street the walls are literally filled with custom sheets created by the artists that work there, past and present. They are also very capable of large scale custom work and creating something just for you. I've been getting tattooed here for years......it's a great shop; with great artists. read more

I got an amazing tattoo here from Brian Hemming. I have had several friends get amazing work from him and I am beyond thrilled with the snake he did on my forearm. I will definitely see him again for any future ink. Also, regeneration has a great atmosphere and everything about my experience was enjoyable. read more

i really like their record collection! I bought a great reissue of Bad Brains on vinyl and they have a cheap ass section of vinyl where one can indulge in guilty pleasures such as Fleetwood Mac, Olivia Newton-John and Bruce Springsteen. I like the decor (kind of a clean punked out intererior where the vinyl and t-shirts on the wall take center stage). I like their small little book/zines section as well. Bought a great social justice daily planner and a book on Critical Mass. Their DVD section ain't shabby and bought that psuedo punk guilty pleasure Suburbia for like 5 bucks here. The staff is pretty friendly and they take credit card and check. I have heard only good things about their piercing and tattoos from friends in the body modification know. Stop by after New England Comics! read more

I just had Brian fill in the color on a tattoo I had done somewhere else back in February. He did a great job and I love the way it turned out, I've never had color before so I didn't know exactly what to do but he suggested a few things and colored it beautifully. Really clean shop, more detailed paperwork than I've done anywhere else (a good thing), reasonable prices and really awesome staff. Brian is relatively new so it was really easy to get an appointment with him, we'll see how long that lasts but I will definitely go back here for more work. read more

In and out in less than an hour! (To be fair, it was not a large tattoo). The people were super nice! Loved Edwin!! I had a very good experience. Didn't need an appointment, which was a bonus as I didn't feel like waiting a whole day for a tattoo. This is my first time getting one OUTSIDE of my normal place and I would say it was a great experience. It was a bit more pricey than I anticipated, especially for one that size and it only took like 30 min to do, but all considering, it was worth it. read more

Regeneration is a clean and beautiful tattoo shop with ridiculously skilled tattooers. I've been tattooed here by many of the artists over the past 10 years. It's worth a visit just to see the amount of outstanding flash on the walls - it's like I'm visiting a tattoo art museum! Bonus - tons of plants and fish tanks to chill you out before hand. 10/10 recommend. read more

Best shop in Boston period. Fair pricing, good atmosphere, very clean. Everyone who works here is a talented artist - no one is bad at all. I go to Brian Hemming and could not be happier - have 5+ tattoos from him and every one is great. Great shop for traditional, american, portraits, everything. Can not suggest enough. Great location too tons of bars/restauaunts/cafes in the area. read more

I came in on a Saturday afternoon with a very rough idea for my first ever tattoo, and I was in and out in just about 2 hours. Brian H and one of the female artists (I did not catch her name) were extremely helpful in offering constructive suggestions and making me feel comfortable. The art came out great, and even better than I expected. I would recommend this place to both tattoo virgins and experienced tattooers. read more

After looking at a couple of places in Boston and finding some other spots to either be rude or overpriced, I went to check out Regeneration. They were very friendly and set me up with a consultation within the week. I was getting a tattoo covered and met with Cathy Johnson. She is amazing talent. We went over all the pieces I wanted to incorporate into my arm sleeve and at the next appointment we tweaked it and I started getting it done. I have one appointment left till it is completely finished and I cannot recommend them enough. They are uber-hygenic and professional and their prices are reasonable. read more

this place absolutely rules. everyone at the shop seems to turn out consistently high quality work, but i'm a huge dan bythewood fan. dude rules. i mean he also works part time at new york adorned soooo..... yeah. if that tells you anything... (if it doesn't tell you anything then it just means he's really good!). i've been in a few different tattoo shops, and the thing i really appreciate about my multiple visits to regeneration is the vibe. everyone's just cool and down to earth and it's a fun place to hang out for a few hours while you're getting work done. real chill atmosphere where the artists are all really friendly and excited to show each other their work. REALLY high standards for artistry, but none of that "too cool for school" kinda stuff where they're all scoffing and rolling their eyes because you're not hip enough. i mean last week i was waiting for an appointment and they were all singing along to bob seger... the assistants are cool and friendly on the phone, and they def make you feel welcome if you're just coming in off the street. super clean too. like anally clean. which is really the appropriate standard when you're dealing with needles and blood and open wounds everywhere. that's basically all i want - top quality work, a good atmosphere, and first class cleanliness standards. i'd PREFER it be super cheap as well, but if i have to compromise somewhere, it's going to be on the last point... don't forget to tip! read more

Ever since moving up here from Richmond, VA where most of my sleeve was done, I had been looking for that certain tattoo parlor that would get as excited as me about working on the rest of my arm and the content to work with. Luckily, Regeneration was my first stop in my search for just that, and it paid off tremendously. When I first stopped in with my ideas, the blond haired guy at the front desk (sorry I don't know your name) was extremely helpful and friendly, and strayed away from that overall vibe mentioned in other reviews. The vibe that I speak of is that of pretentious elitism, which I have experienced a lot in Richmond especially, in which their sleeve or almost full body art elevates them above yours, giving them that nose turned upward glare that is truly off putting. Anywho, he offered an appropriate artist for the job, as I had mentioned that I would be sticking with the artist for all of my work. In steps Brian, who was very excited with the images I sent him via email, and couldn't wait to work with me. This is exactly what I was looking for; a passion for not only what he does but with what he is working with. Brian was (or is) completely hospitable, and loves horror films just as much as I do, with the tattoos to prove it. He was quick in getting back to me (thanks, mobile technology!), and set me up for an appointment not even a week after meeting with him to talk about sizing and placement. The images he was working with came out amazing, and fit perfectly with the room I gave him. He was definitely inspired by what he was working with, and it showed. Sure, for me there is always that brief awkwardness when being tattooed, as I never know how much conversation is too much, but it quickly dissipated as time went on. The three outlines came out better than I imagined, with his thin line work resting beautifully amidst my already inked arm. Safe to say Brian and Regeneration Tattoo is where I will be going for all of my work, as I prefer to stick with an artist and have that trust and comfortableness grow and develop into a fantastic working relationship. The price was very generous for the almost 3 hours it took to get the line work down. That helping hand Brian showed is a clear sign of passion and dedication for what he does. Thanks again, Brian. read more

Got my very first tattoo here this afternoon, and was scared shitless because I have a low tolerance for pain. Edwin made me feel comfortable and safe, and talked to me about movies while he was working. It helped to distract me-because holy crap, it did hurt. Everybody there was really nice and patient, and I appreciated that no one was condescending because I had never gotten a tattoo. The tattoo itself is beautiful, and I am so happy with the work. 100% will be going back here. Thanks guys! read more

I had an idea for a tattoo that could be best described as Inappropriate. I tried a number of different artists and finally found one willing to do the work and on the particular body part I wanted to have the art done. Then his boss saw it and said "No way, not in my shop". The artist recommend Regeneration Tattoo in Allston. I walked in and was warmly greeted by Edwin Marquez. I explained the whole story and he couldn't wait to get started. It took two seasons at over 3 hours each. I was more than a little apprehensive, but the finished product is far more that I had imagined. Edwin took the time to make some changes and suggestions to the design. I'm so glad he did. It's something I'll wear proudly for the rest of my life and will happily give credit to the artist. I can't speak highly enough about the shop or the artist. What a great find for all my inappropriate tattoos. Thanks Edwin read more

Frankie Mejia is an awesome artist from LA I got a huge tattoo and was scared to get it when I first thought of it but he worked faster than other people would have Thank you! And I barely felt most of it thankfully read more

I had money. I had a sketch. I needed an artist. My tattoo would be entirely black and white because I have some concerns about allergies to colored inks. My only other tat was black and white. I decided to look for artists with a particular fondness for black and white work. I started calling all the top-rated studios and asking them if they had someone who met my criterion. Every last place said "All of our artists are great with black and white" until I called Regeneration Tattoo. The woman who answered (who turned out to be the owner) thought for a moment and recommended Edwin Marquez. Regeneration Tattoo has all of their artists' portfolios on the web, so I could look over some of his work without leaving home. i was struck not just by his black and white work, but by how he created eyes. Since my sketch was centered around an eye, I decided to have a chat with Mr. Marquez. We met up for a consultation. The studio is cleaner than a doctor's office and much more inviting. I showed Mr. Marquez my sketches. I ran into a hitch. I'd changed my mind a couple of times about where to put the tattoo. To me the tat symbolized a guardian spirit to protect me from my constant migraines. I get a lot of tension and muscle spasms in my back. However, a tat on my back wouldn't be as visible as one on my arm. Mr. Marquez explained that I had too many freckles on my arm and offered to do the tat on my back. Since I had originally envisioned it as a back tattoo, I was happy to do it. My back would allow a larger tat. There was a downside though. Backs hurt. Of course I'd heard that back tattoos hurt more than ones on arms. My previous tattoo was an upper arm. Holy hell that back tattoo hurt. It took three sessions--one for the outline and two for the shading--to finish it up, for a total of about 4.5 hours. It was the most intense consensual pain I ever experienced, and I'm not about to volunteer for anything that hurts more than that. Edwin was exceedingly patient with my frequent requests to stop so I could have a sip to drink and a deep breath. I went into the third session determined not to need a fourth, and I suspect that he worked extra-fast so I wouldn't tap out. The result is absolutely stunning. I feel like I have one bad-ass spirit watching my back with its eye custom-designed by Edwin Marquez. I would also like to point out that Regeneration is the only tattoo business I checked out which stated the hourly rate somewhere on the web site (that I could find). I can't compare their prices to anyone else's because I have no idea how much these other places cost. read more

It has now been a month, and there is slight chipping in one section of one tattoo. Weird...disconcerting

I was visiting the city and planned on getting a tattoo for months. I walked in to talk to anyone who had time since I was only in town for a week. I talked to Brian and he had a spot opened for me. He was professional and did a great job on my very first tattoo. For me, it was painless, which is a huge plus. I definitely recommend getting a tattoo from Brian. He is awesome! read more

edwin did my half sleeve here, and i can't even tell you how many compliments i am constantly getting on it. i couldn't be happier with how it turned out. after wasting my time (and available skin) at other tattoo places i finally made my way here (while reasonably priced, it was still more than i'd paid for a tattoo before) but it was completely worth it. i highly recommend any of the artists here, just check their books, all extremely talented. great vibe, well decorated, everyone is totally great. read more

I have the world's shittiest tattoos and I have never ever had a good experience in a shop until i went into regeneration. Everything about the place, it looks great, its clean, the staff is really helpful. From the desk girl to the other tattoo artists. Irwin, the artist that did my work, was FUCKING KICKASSSSS! he's super nice and really quick. The lettering i got looks fucking sweet and i am going back, and so is my girl! Fair prices.Top notch. Not full stars since i got a fukin parking ticket outside! fuck you boston! oh well, it was worth it. GO TO THIS JOINT! ::)) read more

edwin marquez is an amazing artist. he's done all of my work so far. he always seems to know exactly what i want. i would trust him to tattoo me with his eyes closed read more

Not enough good things to say about this shop. Awesome fun vibe, always great tunes on and incredible artists, what more could you want? I've had work done by several of the guys and you really can't go wrong. They'll take the time to sit down with you and make sure you get the best quality piece that is really going to last. They don't hold back on putting in their two cents, which I LOVE because I totally trust that they know what's best for the piece and they're going to absolutely kill it. I get compliments every single day on the work I got in this shop. Also, if you're getting a larger piece and have to hang out there a lot, you couldn't ask for more fun and genuine people to hang with. read more

Regeneration Tattoo is the best place to get tattooed! The whole crew is amazing, and they do a really great job of making your experience comfortable and welcoming. I've gotten tattooed by Frankie and he does outstanding work every time - but honestly everyone at this shop is incredibly talented! read more