When looking to get something so permanent as a tattoo, of course you want the best. After much searching, I chose Charlie's. Now, I will say that I have always heard great things about the shop. My Dad has bragged about his original Tattoo Charlie's tattoo for many years. So, of course when I moved to the area, Charlie's was my first place to check out. My first tattoo with them was in 2013. After losing my teenage sister, I wanted a great shop to create a memorial tattoo for me. One of the guys there did just that! I ended up with something better than I had even hoped for. The second time I went, just this year, I wanted to coverup/rework of an old tattoo. I can not tell you how many comments and such I have gotten. It is so detailed and the shading is perfect. Needless to say, I am Im love with the work I have gotten with this shop. No matter if this is your first time or you are a tattoo veteran, stop by and visit the guys. They will help you select the right design, placement, and size. The customer service is 2nd to none. As a medical professional, I don't play around when it comes to my health. At Tattoo Charlie's, I know I'm in good hands. read more

Jesse is wonderful! Other employees try to be helpful. Clean area. Did xactly what I asked for. Very small jewelry selection. read more

Was treated rudely the moment I walked through the door. Ended up getting my piercing elsewhere.

This place is a Louisville landmark. Basically one of the most, if not the most well known tattoo shop in Louisville. Came here a while back to get a cat tattoo on my arm in honor of my 15 year old cat. I had the basic idea and design of what I wanted but it needed some alterations. Was my first tattoo so wasn't sure how this worked. Tattoo Charlie's was easy to get in touch with and pretty good at walking me through process. Came in early morning no appointment, signed in and a while later was able to work with tattoo artist on design alteration. Tattoo artist drew up an alteration that was exactly what I wanted. An hour later I walked out with a new tattoo. Healed up perfect. Good to be in experienced hands. Plan to go back for a new back tattoo this year. read more

Tattoo Charlie's - Cat tattoo by Tattoo Charlie's. - Tattoo Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Charlie died. Sad. A Louisville legend. These guys have probably tattooed more Kentucky fried ass than anyone else on the planet. Several convenient locations for "Tattoos While You Wait". read more

I went up to get pierced yesterday and the wait was a bit, but totally worth it. Darlene was my piercer and was as sweet as could be, she talked to me the whole time and it hurt a whole lot less than I originally thought. I will definitely be going back for my future piercings. read more

Tattoo Charlie's - Tattoo Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

This my first and last Tattoo Shop that I will ever use. I did alot of browsing different shops, but still came back to the first place I went. The shop is super clean, and the staff were amazing. This is my 5th Tattoo from them (But I think when its done, I can honestly say I got 1 big ass tattoo) Lucky is very experienced and does phoenominal work! He takes pride in his work and it most definitely shows. If i had to point out a downside it would be that wait. The artists are so talented and popular, getting a walk-in is very difficult which is where I see majority of low reviews. And I have been very impatient waiting for nearly 3 months to get my next session in. But in reality I wouldnt want it any other way. You pick an artist based on their style and quality. If you are just walking in and dont care about who does it, in my humble opinion you probably havent given it much thought. The artists here are all top quality, with repetitous patrons, so drop ins will have a hard time finding their place. Research the styles, talk to the artist and get your name scheduled in their book. Dont be lazy... put your piece of the work in and you will be rwarded with an A+++ piece of work! Next full day is less than 2 weeks away, and I cant wait! read more

See all

My brother had come to tattoo Charlies first and told me that he really liked his artist and how nice the place was. I had been thinking about getting one and have heard a lot of positive things about this place from several people. After work one day I came in as a walk in and waited about a couple hours. The walk in tattoo artist was Justin and I had looked up his work online. He seemed to be a very good artist and I was looking forward to meeting him and getting my first tattoo. When it was my turn he was so nice and I felt very comfortable. This is my first tattoo and he went through all the steps and showed me all the packaging and how each item is sterile and has expiration dates even when I didn't ask him to. I feel he went above and beyond to make this a very good experience for me. The entire time we had talked and I enjoyed getting my first tattoo. The piece I wanted was very simple but very personal to me. I am very happy with the experience I had getting my first tattoo and I am very pleased with how it turned out. I will definitely be coming back in the future and I look forward to booking with Justin as he is an amazing artist, and very friendly. read more

Tattoo Charlie's - First tattoo done by Justin. - Tattoo Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

See all

This place is crazy. I called for an appointment. The artist had me do alot of leg work to lie and tell me I needed laser removal when I've already had one cover up fone on the other arm with identical work. Smh I just lol. I think she just didn't want to do the service because I was apprehensive of doing the email process of sending pictures because I knew she would give a premature response. Glad I didn't get any work done here. Laser removal for a 30 year old tattoo lmfao!!!! And said it was too busy where???? It's a simple cover up that should've just costed me a pretty penny smdh read more

See all

I just got my nose pierced here today, and I can say it was the most painless piercing and best service I've ever received during a piercing! read more

Totally enjoyed working with Devyn! They are diligent about maintaining a clean and sterile environment.

I've gotten two tattoos done by Darin. He is an amazing artist and definitely worth the wait to get an appointment with him.

Worst customer service and appreciation for a customer who paid over 450 for 2 ear piercings and jewelry. Not to mention the 50% tip I gave. Not to mention one of the piercings (nose) is closed because the jewelry caught on everything when I slept and shop could not care in the least. Now one of the $100 pieces fell out for no reason and the can't get in till the end of next week. It's Tuesday ya'll!!! read more

Just got ink #3 done at Tattoo Charlie's and couldn't be more thrilled! My previous pieces (done by Lucky and Joel) were much simpler, and the quality and the atmosphere of the shop brought me back for a half-sleeve full-color sunflower. I emailed Buddy for an estimate and he responded within an hour and recommended Elli. I swung by the shop at the start of Elli's next shift and talked with her about my ideas, showed her some references. She was able to fit me into a cancellation, which meant I only had to wait a couple days instead of 3-4 weeks! Awesome! Right away, Elli knew what she was talking about. I wanted a specific and realistic sunflower (not a cartoon) and brought some reference pics of actual flowers and other tattoos. She looked into the specific genus of the Lemon Queen Sunflower and knew how to size each part of it to make it look realistic, brightly colored, and tall just in the space on my arm. She incorporated accurate details so everything looked right, from the leaves to the textured center. The petals were unique and natural (instead of just copies of each other) and they fit in with each other just like they would in nature. I'm really impressed with the center, which has beautiful depth and texture. She has an eye for color and I couldn't be more thrilled with the greens, yellows, browns, and the blue shadowing that she chose to bring this sunflower to life. It looks so good y'all. Elli's station was clean and professional, full of fun and unique art. I feel like I got a glimpse at what an artist's shift is like at this shop: we took a short break so she could eat and also talk with a walk-in who was looking to schedule an appointment. These artists work hard and stay busy, but they are aware of their limits so you don't end up with a wonky mistake because of an overworked artist. She's an awesome person to talk to in the six hours she spent working on me, and she knows her stuff. I loved being able to go to a female artist, I felt like she understood my skin and she gave me aftercare advice based on her own experiences. I also got a $10-off coupon with the printed aftercare instructions. Another awesome experience at Tattoo Charlie's, I'll be a customer for life! Thanks for all your hard work, Elli! read more

Tattoo Charlie's - Sunflower tattoo courtesy of Elli! - Tattoo Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

I just wanted to come here and rave about my favorite piercer, Darlene. She's done 8 different piercings for me and is FANTASTIC. I definitely recommend her as the most honest and real piercer I've ever been to. She definitely cares about how it's going to look and how it will heal. I drive all the way from Lexington to see her anytime I want to do something new. Definitely recommend. read more

Previously I wrote about my last experience at Tattoo Charlie's on Preston. It had not been great. However, Buddy, the owner, asked me to give them another try after he saw my review on yelp. I went this week and had a touch up done on a tattoo. Lucky was my artist. I cannot begin to say enough wonderful things about the quality of his work, the finished product and the caliber of artist that he is. He made my tattoo look so much better and bolder and he was an absolute pleasure to talk with while I sat. Thank you to both Buddy and Lucky! I will be back and hopefully, Lucky will do all of my art from this point forward! read more

The piercer I saw here is no longer employed, but I would still recommend coming here to get tattooed or pierced. My best friend got her nose pierced here, and we both got our nipples done together. It could have easily been a terrifying experience, but we felt very safe and well cared for. We miss you Moi! read more

Overpriced for work that's subpar. Felt extremely unwelcome when coming in to ask about getting a tattoo covered up. Went somewhere else due to the lack of respect I felt. read more

I'm on a quest. My quest is to get a tattoo in all 50 states. Last weekend (09/21/2014), I was in Kentucky with the parents-in-law and my wife for the bourbon festival in Bardstown. As I currently only have 3 states down, I was excited to get my 4th. It's always a crapshoot when you're getting a tattoo out of town. You never really know what to expect. It can be a scary experience. Thankfully, Yelp has never really led me astray. I strolled in on Sunday around 10:30 A.M. I was pleasantly surprised with how clean everything was. It was well lit, there was a water cooler, the booths looked clean and professional. So far so good. I talked with Dave about what I wanted. I then emailed him the pictures of what I was trying to do, and he got to work. About 15-20 minutes later, we got down to business, Dave was professional, friendly, well versed in many topics of discussion, and, most importantly, a skilled artist. There was an obvious emphasis on making sure that everything was clean and sterile. The hours ticked by and we had good conversations about a wide range of topics. Before I knew it, it was over, and I had a fresh, badass tattoo. Even after the inking, everything was great. I got a fresh tin of lotion, comprehensive care instructions, and Dave's card in case anything went wrong. All-in-all, my experience was outstanding. I've gotten 4 tattoos from across the country (Chicago, Knoxville, Jacksonville, and Louisville), and this is the only studio that's impressed me enough to write a review. These guys are top notch, and I'd recommend them to anyone. As soon as my arm is healed up, I'll post some pictures. read more

Went to get my first tattoo today, a small crescent moon on my wrist. Walked in with no appointment and only had around a 45 minute wait. Darin was my artist, very nice, turned out amazing, and when i left he walked my friend and i out to our car as it was dark. Very pleased & will be returning! read more

Tattoo charlie's was a super welcoming and accommodating. Darin did a great job! i will definitely be coming back for more!

My first time getting a tattoo at this location. The staff are awesome and my cover up I had done is amazing.. It's not finished, so I will definitely be back to see Darin again. read more

Tattoo Charlie's - Cover up and add on by Darin.. The tattoos represent my family and myself..Two more flowers to be added. - Tattoo Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

I got my 9th tattoo with Eric at the original location before they moved (they're no longer at Berry) and had a very pleasant experience. From looking at his and others' portfolios, this is a good place to get your custom work done for sure. My tattoo looks fantastic (it's about 6 months old now) and I'll definitely go back to get some more in the future. The only thing I will do differently is to use my own A&D instead of the lotion they provide as they give it to you in a little pill bottle (so cute, right?) that pops open in the pocket of your dress at the wedding you're photographing later that weekend, getting all over your lens cap, and you'd think that would change your mind about throwing the remaining bottle full back into your purse because it might just get all over everything else you own, but you throw caution to the wind only to have the wind change and throw caution right back at you as you later find all your cash to be quite slippery and moisturized and smelling quite nice because the cap to the lotion pill bottle just doesn't like to stay on. Not that any of that happened to me. At all. Good tattoos. Great conversation. read more

I don't live in the Louisville area so my review is on ordering body jewelry from Tattoo Charlie's. I love high class body jewelry & no one close to me had near the selection or prices that I found here. I ordered an Industrial Strength opal septum clicker & was told it would arrive the first week in August. It got there almost 2 weeks early. He even shipped it overnight for me because of some delays, that's amazing customer service!!! My clicker is purple titanium with lime green opals and its stunning! You can order from here regardless of where you live in the US & they will ship to you. There are so many greedy sellers out there overcharging for body jewelry, especially septum clickers, I've seen them for over $200+ but not here. I will definitely be back for more from Buddy. He was a pleasure to deal with! I may be moving to the Louisville area & if I do, I know exactly where I'll be going for my tattoo & piercings :) Highly recommended!!! read more

Tattoo Charlie's - My beautiful Industrial Strength Septum Clicker ordered from Tattoo Charlie's! - Tattoo Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

My go-to spot for tattoos (love Dave!) but today I got my helix pierced. I should say RE-pierced. I sat with Moy and told him it was pierced 10+ years ago and when he looked, it was still open. He could have charged me the full price (and I would have paid it gladly) but instead he said we should just reopen it - at a FRACTION of the price. Score! Love this place! read more

John Embry is a great artist. He did a great job on adding to my tiger tattoo. The artwork and design he drew up was amazing. Can't wait to go back. Clean shop and excellent customer service. Grade a shop. read more

Was visiting from California , my sister in law recommended this place and I truly regret that now . I have to get my tattoo fixed somewhere else out here . I wanted a simple rose on my arm . Big Dave printed out the rose exactly how I wanted it but completely ignored how the lines went. Some that were suppose to have a wiggle to them are straight not to mention when I looked closer it looked sooooo bad there was ink missing from a spot . When I called back to see if they could fix it the girl at the counter told me I needed to wait more mine you it was already the 3rd week . I explained to her ink was not going to grow magically on my arm she said it was because it wasn't done healing . Welp here I am going to another shop getting it fixed because just like I said the ink is horrible everyone compliments my husbands tattoo being the same as mine who was done by the same guy . I cannot believe this is really how they treated a costumer and just brushed it off like it was no big deal . I wanted something meaningful for my marriage and well done . I'm an artist myself and I cannot tell you how pissed I am that a tattoo artist couldn't do decent line work. Never again read more

Sloppy tattoo!! Had a tattoo done by an artist here after getting so many recommendations for tattoo Charlie's. So disappointed!! The font was crooked, inconsistent, and very sloppy looking. I'm the process of having it removed by laser! read more

Absolutely love Tattoo Charlie's! My wife & I both have tattoos from your studio & we couldn't be happier! Darrin has taken the time to talk out the tattoos & the process with us each time. Also, we've both gotten pierced by Darlene & Aniela - both fabulous ladies. Aniela is personable and professional and always does an outstanding job. Darlene is always available for questions & her experience as a nurse is always comforting. Thanks for taking so much pride in what you do! read more

Clean facility. Friendly staff. Video game and movie entertainment for good friends who will wait through a tattoo for you.

There is no better place to get a tattoo than here! I've received several tattoos from Darin Ennis and Joel. There's not a bad artist employed at this place. You want straight, even lines, and perfect shading? Then you have to come here! You will not find better line work and shading/coloring anywhere....period! They care about you as a customer, and they want to provide a quality tattoo and experience. The artists aren't on ego trips, and they're competitively priced. Safety and quality come first at Tattoo Charlie's! I'd give 10 stars if Yelp would let me! read more

Pike did my tattoo... it was my first one and he was very helpful, very friendly. If I ever get another one, I'll definitely go back to Tattoo Charlies. read more

Great shop, clean, professional. I have had 9 tattoos from Tattoo Charlie's, every time I go in with an idea it comes out even better than expected. Great local business. read more

Jinx did a rework and added a quote to an old piece I had. Another artist had told me what I wanted wasn't doable but Jinx did it It made the piece look much better and added meaning to what was a boring tat picked from a book. I have a wish list of future pieces and will definitely go back to Charlie's. read more

I just got my tattoo done by Eric and I couldn't be happier, he is on point, keeps good conversation, really friendly, and does some fucking awesome work! They have absolutely amazing artist and everyone is super friendly and their facility is very clean! They have snack and soda machines and video games that just make it that much better, very thoughtful! Had a great experience and defiantly highly recommend tattoo charlies! read more

I went to this location of Tattoo Charlie's looking to getting my flat pierced. When my friend and I entered, we weren't greeted and when we went up to the front the person working there said nothing. There was a little tension for no reason, but we signed our names and waited. We ended up waiting around 20 minutes before someone saw us, which I was fine with considering we had a walk in appointment. We worked with Moy, and he did some jewelry changes for her and advised her to take out some jewelry, but was very condescending in the way he handled it. He spoke to us like we knew nothing about piercings, and not in a way to try and educate us, but rather put us down. He really wanted me to take in deep breaths while he was piercing me, and he had me practice them with him before. When I didn't exhale loudly enough he called my breathing "mousy," and insulted my other piercings saying whoever did them had "clearly no idea what they were doing." The whole experience with him was really negative and my friend and I left feeling belittled and insulted, which is not how I want to feel when leaving after being excited for a piercing for so long. My piercing itself was painless and you could tell everything was extremely sanitary, but working with Moy made both my friend and I agree that we will not be returning. read more

Everyone is so welcoming and friendly here from the moment you first walk in. They have so many tattoo ideas set up to go through while you wait (sometimes the wait can be a while), and they have piercings in a glass counter to look at, along with the artists' portfolios, so you know they do the kind of work you're wanting and if you like it. I've gotten all my piercings here, and my brother and sister-in-law have gotten their piercings and tattoos here and highly recommend it. The piercers and tattoo artists make you feel as comfortable as they can and try to make the fact that they're shoving a needle into your skin as painless as possible; they go over after care with you and give brochures, pamphlets, their phone number for questions, and the cleaner needed for your wound. They are very skilled at what they do and keep everything sanitary and organized, and they love to joke around while still being able to remain patient and professional. read more

My husband and I were there a few months ago. I got a new unicorn piercing by MOY and love it. I also had a Dragon tattoo done by Justin who did a beautiful job. My husband had Dave do an Ironman marathon M-DOT tattoo which turned out great! 5 stars on everything, service, artistic ability and final products! Thank you!! read more

So me and the Mrs. were in Louisville for our 10th anniversary and decided we needed to do something special and had been talking about a set of matching tattoo's for years. We decided that this was the time and place to do it. We searched all the local shops and Tattoo Charlies came up the most often with the best praise, so we went for it. The lady we talked to on the phone said that walk ins were okay but to get here before the shift change and get our name on the list. We did and had like 3 or 4 names in front of us. We went out shopping and killed an hour or so and came back and there was one name in front of us and he wasn't there so I'm up. We talke to the artist (Jinx) and he was very helpful and we went over our ideas and made some tweeks until me and the Mrs. was happy. So Jinx began working on my tat while another artist was working on my wifes. We kinda wanted two artists to see their slightly different interpretations of the same design. A little extra special touch of uniqueness. They did a great quailty job for a fair price in by comparison to other work I've had done. They were not cheap and they were not out of range. The shop was very clean and laid out well and Jinx and the other guys were great. Thank you guys being part of our anniversary weekend and a quality tattoo to remember forever. read more

It's ok. Unfortuneately I've already had the tattoo redone, but thank you for offering to fix the problem. Torry