I can't say enough good things about Apollo tattoo. It was my first tattoo, and I was very nervous. But as soon as I walked in, it looked clean and very professional. When I explained why I was getting a tattoo I got emotional and they were very sweet and understanding. They explained every step of the process and produced a beautiful tattoo. It healed perfectly. I get lots of compliments everywhere I go. If I ever get another one, I'll be back. read more

The Apollo Tattoo & Piercing Studio - Tattoo Near Me - Santa Monica, California

After researching different places that come recommended for children's ear piercings I decided on The Apollo for my kid sister's first ear piercing. We arrived as walk-in and met Blue who was very easy to talk to and very friendly. He spoke to us adults about the cost and process, and spoke directly to my 8 year old sister to answer any questions she had and help ease her anxieties. Blue is very good with kids. Both Blue and Bunny talked my sister through the whole process as they were preparing. She was given the option to do one at a time or both at the same time (extra cost) and she chose both. Blue and Bunny communicated well with each other to make sure they were piercing at the same time, which was reassuring to witness. When my sister got nervous, Blue stopped and spoke with her very calmly, reassuring her about the pain. He was so sweet and patient with her. Afterwards they told my sister and us adults the process for cleaning the piercings and told us to come back in 6 weeks to shorten the post (they initially put a large post to have room for swelling). And then they gave my sister a certificate of bravery which is a lovely touch. Overall I would definitely recommend this place. It's clean, kid friendly, adult friendly, with a nice selection of jewelry, and very patient staff for a nervous 8 year read more

The Apollo Tattoo & Piercing Studio - Tattoo Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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I had one lobe pierced and chose their least expensive stud earring. Total cost for ONE lobe piercing and ONE earring - $173, plus tip. If you are considering Apollo Studio for a simple piercing, do some research beforehand. Unfortunately, I didn't and found out too late that there are other safe local studios with trained professionals that are more reasonably priced. read more

I LOVE my piercing. They have an awesome array of high quality jewelry. Blue was very friendly and the service he provided was exceptionally quick, clean, and professional. I'm very happy with my experience and my piercing has healed beautifully! Thank you. Definitely coming back for future piercings. read more

The Apollo Tattoo & Piercing Studio - helix piercing with a heart stud - Tattoo Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Bri was amazing; very professional and easy to work with. We love our tattoos! Only reason it wasn't a 5 was because I didn't appreciate the way the owner addressed his very excellent female staff, like they were less than. But everyone else in the parlor was wonderful. read more

The Apollo Tattoo & Piercing Studio - Absolutely love! - Tattoo Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Do not give your money to Apollo Tattoo Studio. This business is unethical and fraudulent. The Owner Blue Mason is the cause. Everything I say here is true. If you doubt me, feel free to call/text/email me at (510) 589-5911 or hireLJC@gmail.com Don't be deceived by their polished interior, fancy flooring, or expensive jewelry on display--it's all a facade. My experience was terrible. They charge $300 an hour and promote themselves as highly skilled professionals. I was assured multiple times that the artist was experienced, especially with tattooing on brown skin. The artist was a Black man, and I specifically asked whether he understood how to properly apply color to my skin tone. They confidently said yes and pointed to his credentials and past work. But during the tattooing, my skin was clearly being overworked. I asked the artist to move to another part of my arm because of the pain. He insisted we "push through" and said he was trying to make it perfect. I trusted him and the owner Blue Mason--wrong move on my part. Two weeks later, my arm was damaged, see pics. The owner, Blue, stood there watching and even laughed at my discomfort with his employees. I've have over 20 tattoos from reputable places like Lincoln Tattoo Company, The Tattoo Lab, and Del Rey Tattoo Co. I've never had skin damage or a bad experience like this. These shops were affordable and professional. Apollo Tattoo studio was the complete opposite, do not take the risk! After the damage, I visited three other tattoo shops. All of them told me this damage wasn't a healing issue; it was clear that the artist damaged my skin by overpacking color. They said a more experienced artist would've done a light first layer, allowed it to heal, and then applied more if needed. Apollo tattoo studio did not care. To make it worse, halfway through the session, the artist left for nearly an hour to buy an energy drink--this hour wasn't deducted from my bill. We also took a 30-minute break for lunch. I was kind enough to buy him food. Despite this, he still asked for a tip on top of the $300 hourly rate. Over lunch, he talked about his business goals and needing money and schemes for LA 2028 when the Olympics are in LA. It was clear they are more focused on profits than on providing good service. I later messaged the artist Raa @hand_of_raa_tattoo on Instagram, and he admitted to damaging my skin. I showed this to the owner, but still got no refund, no apology, nothing - these are simple not good humans. I will say Raa is simply a worker and literally does everything Blue Mason says as Raa has kids and family to support. Although Raa was the artist, I blame Blue Mason as he monitored every step of the process and I had conversations with him and he laughed as I was in pain. Lastly, Blue had the nerve to say the damage was my fault. I've had color tattoos before and never experienced pain like this from my 20 tattoos. When I asked why they didn't offer numbing cream, the artist said he assumed I could handle the pain because I had so many tattoos. That's careless and unprofessional. Do not go to Apollo Tattoo Studio or any place Blue Mason is apart of. They overcharge, underdeliver, and show zero care for their customers. This was my most expensive tattoo and most damaging experience in 13 years of getting tattoos. Save yourself the pain--literally and financially--and go anywhere else. If you think I'm lying, exaggerating, etc, call me text me, email me, this is no BS! read more

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Poor service and ridiculous charges. They charged me $20 to see if my ear was pierced just to find out it wasn't. The staff wasn't very friendly. read more

My tattoo artist was Raa and I definitely mean it when I say he exceeded my expectations. He took his time and made sure to design my concept in a cohesive manner. Thank you so much! read more

I texted the shop the questions I had and got a response so fast! The shop is so clean. The staff is all so friendly. Bunny did my nipples piercings and she was absolutely amazing. Made me feel so comfortable and welcomed. Although it's a little more pricey than other places I was quoted they took Afterpay and the staff made the price so worth it! I will be back forsure! read more

The Apollo Tattoo & Piercing Studio - Sterilization machine - Tattoo Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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The whole studio crew was very friendly and helped me with the design as soon as I arrived as a walk in. Hannah brought that into reality and I couldn't be happier with the result. The studio itself is great environment and was very reasonably priced. Could not recommend Apollo Tattoo enough! read more

The Apollo Tattoo & Piercing Studio - My tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Santa Monica, California

My appointment went smooth and bunny was awesome! Super sweet and prioritizes sanitary along with making sure to consult that I was a good candidate for my piercing. Loved her!!!! read more

The Apollo Tattoo & Piercing Studio - Got belly piercing - Tattoo Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Great clean shop. Blue created an amazing Polynesian design and the tattoo work that he did is perfect

Went in for a septum piercing and had a great experience. The entire staff was very friendly and made me feel comfortable and welcome. My piercer was Steph, and she made sure to explain the entire process to me and took the time to make sure the placement of my new piercing was perfect. She answered all of my questions thoroughly and made sure I understood the care instructions before leaving the shop. read more

Sent an inquiry yesterday and got a call back within an hour. Same day appointment for a piece that I've been waiting on for years. The shop is beautiful, clean and the vibe is top tier. My tattoo is beautiful, the quality is beautiful. I am so thankful for divine alignment and finding my Cali shop and tattoo Artist. Highly recommend! read more

The Apollo Tattoo & Piercing Studio - Can't wait for it to heal - Tattoo Near Me - Santa Monica, California

We were looking for an experienced and clean place to do a first piercing and it was absolutely a great experience all around. We had Bunny and she was wonderful and very knowledgeable and patient with us throughout the whole experience. Blue was also very friendly and welcoming! Thank you both for a very unforgettable experience! read more

The studio is beautiful - looks like a jewelry store. The staff is great. Briana did my tattoo - it is perfect! read more

The Apollo Tattoo & Piercing Studio - Tattoo Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Bri has been amazing and the whole experience at Apollo has been great. I felt taken care of and everyone really cared about me. Loved it!

Thank you Apollo Tattoo for a pain free piercing experience. Bunny was very helpful and professional. The space is modern and super clean with a great variety of upscale jewelry to choose from. I originally wanted a 3rd piercing higher up my ear, but decided on a super dainty one between my first two piercings. I love it! read more

The Apollo Tattoo & Piercing Studio - My piercing! - Tattoo Near Me - Santa Monica, California

My trio friend group made a tattoo request with them and it was answered immediately! We were just visiting and wanted to get matching tattoos, they created the most beautiful design for the 3 of us, the place was so clean, everyone there was absolutely amazing/friendly/kind, and they were so awesome at getting us in for the time constraint we were there. Would definitely go to them all the time if we were locals read more

I've been working with Blue on a cover-up tattoo, and the experience has been fantastic. He clearly explains his process and takes a real interest in the project, which makes a big difference. He's incredibly patient and brings great creative input to help shape the design. There's never any pressure--he takes his time to make sure the final piece is the best it can be. I'd definitely recommend him to anyone unsure about how to tackle a cover-up. read more

Everyone at The Apollo's Tattoo & Piercing were amazing. Blue & Bunnie made sure my septum piercing g was nice and even! They made me feel comfortable and took very good care of me when I got light headed. Amazing place! Can't wait to return for my next service. read more

This shop is immaculate; it's extremely clean, bright, and absolutely spotless. The receptionist was extremely kind and professional to everyone who walked in. I came in to Apollo today for two rib tattoos, and left a with an additional new helix piercing and the prettiest, high quality white gold earrings (4 total). Bunny (piercing artist) is literally the sweetest. She has the calmest demeanor and described every step as she pierced my ear (helix), gently changed out my two infinity hoops, and replaced them with white gold hoops. She was so kind, patient, efficient, and highly knowledgeable. I've known Blue for almost 4 years now, and have returned to him 5 times since our initial consultation. He always makes me feel comfortable and is extremely hygienic and neat. He is always calm, patient, and respectful towards every client, new or returning. I love all of my tattoos, and will continue to return and recommend Blue's work. Thanks guys!! See you in a few weeks! read more

I don't usually write reviews, but I want to share my experience to warn people not to come to Apollo Tattoo. I initially went in July 2024 for a simple second ear piercing. One side was pierced completely crooked. When I went back, the owner Blu acknowledged the mistake, removed it, and re-pierced it himself a few weeks later after it had closed back up. That experience was frustrating, but handled fairly and they gave me a credit for a future piercing, so I gave them another shot. A mistake. When I returned in May 2025 for a third hole, the consultation was wildly unprofessional. Blu dismissed my friend's metal allergy as "fake" and made inappropriate comments to my other friend about using credit cards when she said the earrings were out of her price range. I told him my budget, and he still steered me toward a pair of studs with no price listed, only to ring me up after the piercing for $850, which was well above that. I was completely blindsided (these were TINY studs). When I said I hadn't agreed to that, he said they were diamonds and "all sales are final." I felt pressured and paid, only to find out later another shop sells the exact earrings for nearly half the price. Even worse, the piercing was crooked again. I ended up removing them and going elsewhere to get them fixed. I attempted to dispute the charge (offering to return the earrings), but Apollo makes you sign a waiver that made the dispute impossible. After disputing the charge for fraudulent practices, I received a threatening text message from Blu referencing police involvement, which felt extremely inappropriate and intimidating. Bottom line: there are no prices on their jewelry (probably because they are way overpriced), no pricing transparency, poor quality piercings and there is zero room to change your mind once you're pierced. Read the bad reviews, there's a reason they offer a $100 credit for leaving a good one. **Update: based on his response, you can see the type of person Blue is and business he runs. Read the other bad reviews and his responding ~novellas~, they're the same. To clarify, I didn't dispute the service portion like he alleged, just the cost of the earring because he did not disclose the price. Just save your money and go to one of the two other tattoo parlors on Main Street that have great reviews and a much better vibe. read more

I am not surprised straight jerk on the phone very condescending. I'm not surprised that Santa Monica for you I'm glad I called. Didn't waste my money for my gas to drive over there and get a messed up attitude vibe read more

I really love the work that Blue did for me! The studio is pretty and clean and I will happily return for future work.

Bunny was very helpful and precise. Super sweet young lady. I'm really glad I stumble across this facility to get my piercing done. Everyone was so nice and welcoming. She made sure everything was exactly how I wanted. The facility is super clean and sterile my type of place! I really highly recommend. read more

My tattoo experience with Apollo was fantastic from the jump. Blue, the owner and my tattoo artist, was super insightful, explaining pricing and offering great advice on placement for my fine-line tattoos. He was really chill and cool to work with, guiding me through the entire process and being meticulous with alignment and design to ensure everything was perfect. Afterward, he bandaged my tattoos with medical-grade supplies and thoroughly explained aftercare. The tattoos healed perfectly, and I've already received compliments! The studio is clean and quiet--I'd definitely return and recommend it to others. read more

The Apollo Tattoo & Piercing Studio - Fine line tattoo by Blue - Tattoo Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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I've gone here twice now and been really impressed with their level of professionalism. Yes, it is definitely on the priced side for piercings but I continue to come back because I'm confident the price is worth it in the end. With less expensive piercings I've gotten done at the wrong angles, I end up spending even more to get them fixed or redone than I would if I could have come here in the first place. My piercer was bunny and she's amazing! She's so sweet and patient. I really appreciate how she walked me through everything and kept asking if I had any questions; it made me feel valued and cared for versus other places I've gone to where I've felt rushed and uncomfortable. Thank you for making it an easy and enjoyable experience!! read more

From the time I reached out to inquire about having my 9 year old daughters ears pierced to the time she walked out beaming with happiness for her new pierced ears, we were incredibly happy with Apollo Tattoo Studio! Professional, timely customer service, very friendly and welcoming and very clean environment! And the earring selection was amazing!! She picked gold sun studs that she receives compliments on daily. We are so happy they are part of our milestone memory for our daughter's pierced ears! HIGHLY recommend! read more

The Apollo Tattoo & Piercing Studio - Happy with new pierced ears at Apollo Tattoo Studio! - Tattoo Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Este lugar fue genial. Súper lindo limpio y todo. Los muchachos trabajando aquí son súper lindos. Gracias a Briapokes porque hizo un trabajo tan limpio. read more

Amazing work and Blue was so funny and made my mom's first experience go well. Really glad I found Blue! read more

The Apollo Tattoo & Piercing Studio - Matching tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Came here with my friend to get matching tattoos and had such a great experience! Hanna was our artist and she absolutely killed it -- super talented, professional, and made us feel really comfortable the whole time. I also ended up getting a belly button ring while I was there, and the person who helped me choose it was super friendly and made the process really fun. Highly recommend this place if you're looking for a great vibe and quality work! read more

Ojos/Lee did amazing The piercings I received I had gotten before and was hesitant about redoing them because of previous complication. But she killed it; was very Informative, I felt comfortable and well taken care of. Her experience with piercings shows but also her attention to detail made all the difference. My go too piercer now read more

The most EXQUISIT Tattoo shop I have ever seen! Extremly clean,well lit, and in a great location. The staff was friendly and greeted me right away, which is important to me I walked in with my 17 year old daughter to fix a nose piercing gone bad. We had her piercing done with a gun.Then they told her to use alcohol to clean it. Apparently that is too strong. It caused itching and irritation. So we immediately removed the ring this morning. The young lady with the purple hair (please forgive me for not remembering your name) assisted us. She was good with explaining the stores policy regarding minors. Moms be Aware that even though it's your kid they require an id for you and the child....passports, photo id, or birth certificate with your id's having a matching last name. She was patient and kind,showed us several different nose rings dealt with me asking first the price of each and going back n forth about which ring and metal choice were going to select. We finally went with 14k gold can't go wrong with that. . There stuff is not cheap! But you get what you pay for. I also got to see some Tattoo work of a cover up. I will be going back! read more

Horrible experience. The person selling the jewelry used extremely high pressure sales tactics, and would not tell me the prices of all the jewelry I asked for only the most expensive pieces. He forced me to buy more expensive jewelry than I wanted, and made me tip the piercer on the price of the jewelry as well. The piercer was absolutely lovely so it's a bummer but I will never ever go back. A week later, they contacted me asking me about my experience. After telling them how I felt about it, they watched a video and proceeded to tell me that my feelings were not valid. I was so deeply disgusted and insulted. I would never recommend anyone go here? It's a bummer because the piercer was great, but the establishment has treated me horribly twice. read more

My daughter had the best experience getting her first piercings at Apollo Tattoo Studio. Her piercer Lee, was kind, gentle and friendly. She communicated every aspect of the process and made sure my daughter felt comfortable and supported. Simply the best piercer!! The studio was inviting and pristine, with top notch piercings to choose from and incredible tattoo artist showcasing their skills. It was nice to watch and see the efforts the tattoo artists were putting into their designs and how dedicated they were to creating the right artwork for each client. I would definitely recommend this studio and I plan on going back. Thank you Lee!!! read more

unfortunately very rude, condescending staff in person and on the phone, I was honestly very unsettled by the whole interaction, although I do think that the male piercer was a lot kinder and more helpful when talking to me than the female staff member I met so that was good. read more

Love my piercings. Bunny is uniquely talented. She has been so helpful curating my piercings.

5/5 piercing studio. I got my belly button pierced and it looks great. The place has a clean simple aesthetic which is great if you want to bring your conservative parents to get piercing with you. The workers are qualified and nice. I faint easily so my piercing (one of their newer employees I forget her name) let me lay down and that was great. The jewelry was maybe a tad expensive but everything else was great. read more

The Apollo Tattoo & Piercing Studio - Tattoo Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I love this place man! First time getting a tattoo and I loved it. The owner walked me through the entire process and David gave me my tattoo, it came out perfect. I'd come back for all my tattoos going forward. read more