The Ink Lab is an awesome shop! I recommend them for your next (or first) tattoo! The place is very cozy, private, clean, and friendly! David Dettloff did a fantastic job on my memorial tattoo! The level of detail is amazing! The resulting tattoo has turned out better than I could have ever imagined! His fantastic reviews and portfolio on Instagram is what brought me to him, but his demeanor, talent, professionalism, and comfortable studio will keep me coming back. He is great responding to emails. He responded quickly to my consultation request, got me in soon after, and made me feel so comfortable before and during our sessions! The Ink Lab is easy to find (with easy, available, and free street parking). I have also had the pleasure of being tattooed by Erica (Roses and Name on inner bicep) who is also very skilled in her own right! I brought my own music to my first session but found their music so pleasing that I never turned mine on. I would recommend The Ink Lab to anyone! David is now working on my right arm. I was a bit taken a back the first few times by the fact they usually keep the front door locked, but I am used to it now and just knock when I get there. read more

The Ink Lab - Name Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

See all

David Dettloff is one of the finest tattoo artists in the state. His tattoos span both black & gray and full color. He does beautiful coverups, photorealistic tattoos, nature and botanicals, as well as fantasy, sci-fi, and horror work. David does all of my tattoos now. Since my first tattoo with him, he's been incredibly professional, given me clear feedback on my ideas/designs, provided excellent service, and produced beautiful art that I get to love forever. I would 100% recommend the Ink Lab and its artists to anyone looking for a quality tattoo. The Ink Lab has a friendly and chill vibe. The employees are knowledgeable, friendly, and experienced. The location is convenient, with plenty of free parking nearby. read more

The Ink Lab - Cherry tattoo refresh. New on left--old on right. Full color tattoo. - Tattoo Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

See all

The technician was disrespectful and had a temper. I made an appointment to get my nose ring put back in after I had to take it out for an MRI. I told them that when I called to make the appointment. Showed up for my appointment and was told by the technician in an angry and disrespectful tone of voice that he wouldn't put in a piece of jewelry that I didn't buy there. He insisted that he couldn't trust any jewelry that he hadn't sourced. Didn't matter that I had purchased it at a highly reputable place and it was a high quality piece of jewelry. He treated me like I was stupid and disrespectful from the moment I walked in. If you need to tell a customer that you can't do what they came for: first, tell them that when they call for the appointment; second, be nice about it. read more

I did lots of research before choosing a place and an artist because I wanted a portrait and someone that seemed great with that. I chose David Dettloff - he owns the place, is a true artist, and has a wait list to match it. He also chooses the projects he will work on, so after emailing back and forth we found out we both have a love for Nina Simone which was the portrait I wanted. Not only is he worth the wait (he did most of the portrait freehand and it's gorgeous) he has now wrecked me in that no one else may tattoo me in the future except him. I'd post a picture of it, but you can find a link to his work on his FB fan page https://www.facebook.com/david.dettloff read more

The Ink Lab - Nina Simone custom tattoo by David Dettloff 2018 - Tattoo Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Five stars for Kryss Cho. I had been going to her for years. This time, I wanted to cover up my sister's name; Kryss was booked a ways out so I decided to give RT a shot considering he's a 16 year veteran & all. I skimmed his portfolio & figured I'd give him a shot. I put down a $100 deposit & waited two weeks to go in. Not a multitasker, RT spent most the time chatting with my boyfriend & stopping work every few minutes. He had asked if I liked hues of blue & I said yes, thinking he'd add depth & shading to the piece & it'd look better. Remedy Rook came knocking saying his 2:30 was there. I felt RT hurriedly finished & sure it looked good fresh & dark, but after some healing time, well, you see the photos. I wanted a gladiolus, $160 & two hours later, I got: a floating cactus that's supposed to be the stamen of the flower, mediocre shading & her name still showing. After writing a reply to how my experience was, shop owners DL offered for me to come back in & have RT or himself fix the piece, I declined that offer quick. The photo collage with my sister's name & RT's cactus on the top right shows comparison. Later on after healing I went elsewhere & had my piece fixed. Stamen looks like a stamen, & flower (though still not a gladiolus), looks like a flower with life. So tell me how RT's recent piece on someone else (last photo) of flowers looks more full of life & he charged me $160 for a floating cactus? read more

See all

4 years ago today I got this skull boy done. Trust me it wasnt worth 300 dollars that's for sure. I have a lower back piece that cost just as much twice the size and more detail. I remember artist Kryss. She was very polite at first then for an attitude cause I wanted to cover up something on my back at first. She was gonna charge me 300 to 400 dollars for a half dollar coin tattoo. So agreed to get the skull boy on my forearm. He has many blow outs lines that are thicker than others. Theirs an S in one of his eyes. One leg the ink is thicker then the other leg. I wanna get this tattooed covered cause it's so bad. read more

Wow! What can I say!? I went I for a consultation, but no one was available at the time. (Totally understand...I just walked in.) The lady at the counter set me up for a consultation in two days...with Rodney. When I arrived for my consultation, Rodney was attentive, understanding and willing to assist as best he could after I told him my story along with what I wanted to have done. He was so thoughtful and caring when we spoke (I was distraught when I arrived). We scheduled my appointment for a week later (when we were both available). When he started to work on my arm, he began drawing the image with a marker free hand (IMPRESSIVE) along with shadowing and depth. He asked me to confirm if I like it or not (UM...YEAH) and then he went to work. The result: absolute beauty! Rodney is an asset there! Professional, courteous, insightful...hell, just damn good!! Thank you so much Rodney, and The Ink Lab staff! You helped to make a great ending out of a pretty bad situation. Excellent job! I will be back!! read more

The Ink Lab - Tattoo Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Kryss did an amazing job. Listened to what i wanted. Cranked up some doom metal and gave me a perfect tattoo.

Made an appointment to have a tragus earring put back in. Was quoted $5 per earring. Showed up on time to meet the Taren. He was late, hurrying up to the counter in a huff. He proceeded to tell me it would be $20, plus a $5 sterilization fee. When I tried to tell him what I had been quoted, he got argumentative and nasty, making comments such as "this is a business, this is how I make money". He then proceeded to tell me he could do it for $10. I agreed, and he asked me if I had jewelry. I pulled it out and he said it was too small for him and he doesn't work with that size of capture ball hoop. I told him I had gotten it done here by Kris. Angrily he stormed into the back (she tattoos now) and then came back saying it couldn't be done today. He made a comment about being there 13 years and putting in jewelry hadn't been that price in all that time. I told him he was ridiculous, and he proceeded to try and throw me out saying name calling wasn't acceptable. I told him it wasn't name calling, his behavior was appalling. He went to the door and said he'd "walk me out". As I gathered my things, he continued to spout off. I told him that I had been a customer longer than he worked there and he held the door and said don't come back. I said I wont Jackass. I got every piercing and countless dollars in tattoos here over the years. It's a bloody shame that one rude, nasty lifeform could ruin a 19 year relationship in less than 10 minutes. I will never go back unless this cretin is gone. read more

Worst service ever. I have never been tattooed here. That said, the treatment that I and my friends received when we came in (after confirming they do walk ins) for a walk in tattoo was inexplicably rude. To the point that I would never choose this place for any future work. I was accompanying two of my friends who were getting matching tattoos. The tattoos were very simple, fifteen minute (I know because we went somewhere else afterward) affairs. A simple link of black text, no font work, shading, coloring, etc. needed. We went in, confirmed (again) that they do walk ins, showed them the design and asked for a quote. The receptionist (and tattooist, I think- not sure) said $165 per person. Hold up. This isn't a complicated design, or a particularly renowned tattoo shop (it was a little dirty, to be honest). I am familiar with tattoo pricing, and that is ridiculous for the design. I have a simple swan design on the back of my neck that cost me $70 (from a reputable shop), my friend has a full color, very detailed, with shading, quite large tattoo on his calf that cost him $250. You see the discrepancy? We asked what the minimum was, and what tattoo would cost that little. He said $70, but that no tattoo is ever that cheap (not true) and minimums are a lie. I said I could get the same quality tattoo for that price at another shop, he cussed at us and told us to "go get a shitty tattoo at a shitty shop if you want." So, we went to Fluid Ink in St. Paul. Same tattoo, $70 per person. Much friendlier service. I would not set foot in Ink Lab if you are looking for friendly, clean, and reasonable service. read more

As much as I loved ink lab, terrible service and will plot to make more money. No thank you

This shop has lots of reviews on other sites. I'm not sure why there are none here... So I will write mine! My boyfriend and I came in for tattoos. We live out of town so we did all our communicating with the shop and artists over phone and email. There was some confusion over exactly how to schedule our appointments without coming in first but I just followed up with our artists and everything was resolved. My artist was Charlie. He had improved on the original design I emailed to him and had 3 different versions of my design drawn when I came in. My boyfriend's artist was Ernesto. He talked with my boyfriend about how he wanted the background of his tattoo to look and drew something up while we waited. We were both happy with the tattooing process. It took about an hour, we talked about aftercare and took a couple pics. I gave pretty loose color guidelines on my tattoo and was surprised at how much detail Charlie put into the color. He could have just used one color because techinically that's all I asked for but he did a great job of making my tattoo beautiful. My boyfriend left color choices up to Ernesto. I think Ernesto did a nice job of matching the color of the different elements of his tattoo. Only complaints are that set up took a while because we were the first clients of the day and we were trying to spend as little time there as possible since we were just in for the weekend. If you just count the time I was actually being tattooed, the tattoo was expensive. If I count all the set up and drawing time, it was about average. Overall, great place, friendly staff, talented artists! read more

This is for piercing...I've never been tattooed here. There's a special place in my heart for The Ink Lab. I got my first and longest lasting body piercing here (navel). I was 16 at the time and after relentlessly begging my parents and proving to them that I'd done my research on a reputable shop, they agreed to sign-off on me getting pierced. The three of us walked in and filled out the paperwork together. Everything checked out and I was led to a clean room in the back. The woman that pierced me (Kryss) explained everything and put my nerves at ease. I had that piercing (complete with the simple, original jewelry) for seven years. I returned to The Ink Lab when I got my tongue pierced and had another great experience. My most recent trip here was when I wanted a jewelry change on a piercing I'd received at another shop because I thought it looked too big. Turns out I was pierced with completely inappropriate jewelry (the balls on the bar were too big and sloooowly pushing the piercing outwards...nothing I was able to notice but I was so glad my piercer pointed it out). My jewelry was changed to a smaller bar that looked and felt much better. Jewelry selection isn't as impressive as some other places but they tend to have more reasonable prices. As far as I remember they take walk-ins but it never hurts to call ahead of time. read more

I had David do a tiger tattoo on my hand. The shop was clean/comfortable & David is polite, talented and professional. My tattoo exceeded my expectations and it was legitimately the best tattoo experience I've ever had. read more

The Ink Lab - Tattoo Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Clean, professional, with a family feel. I recently got a tattoo by the amazing Kryss at Ink Lab. She was one of the nicest people I've met and the work was perfect! I waited a couple months until I was in town specifically to go to her since she came so highly recommended by a friend of mine. The entire staff was incredibly nice and it was a great experience! read more

The kind of bitchiness that gives queens a bad name. He opened the door and was obviously upset. I said I had an appointment. He said "Well my client was late, and I was late and now you're going to have to wait." Or not. read more

I am confused as to why this site has so many negative reviews when there is far more sites out there that has good reviews of this place. I walked into several other tattoo shops for a consultation for a new piece idea. The few places I did stop in were extremely rude no acted like they were too good to talk to me and just basically ignored me. I met with Rodney and so wither girl and I was treated like a person and not a f'ing idiot and listened to what I was looking for and helped me come up with a new piece. Unfortunately we were running late and only got half of it done, but what is done looks super good and have been stopped on the street asking who did it! Rodney has done an amazing job and can not wait to get the rest finished today! read more

I was very pleased with the work I received from Greg. he did a sun with full color and a face on my back shoulder. I had told him it was my first tattoo and he was very nice and reassuring. the price was very reasonable as well. I'm planning on going back and would highly recommend​. read more

To be fair, I had a very small and simply tattoo done on my wrist. Nonetheless, I had an excellent experience and would definitely go back. After deciding last minute to get a small tattoo I had been wanting for awhile, I called up The Ink Lab since they were only a few blocks from where I lived. I was in luck, and they had time to squeeze me in later that night. I arrived on time, only waited a couple minutes, and then they immediately got to work. I paid about $60 for a very small tattoo on my wrist - which was the minimum. They were quick, professional, and extremely friendly I had a very positive experience and would definitely recommend. read more

This place sucks. When I came here for my second tattoo they wouldn't let anyone come back with me while the work was being done. I also came here with a friend and while she was getting her tattoo she suggested changing one color in the tattoo and the artist threatened to mess up the tattoo if she didn't let him do it the way he wanted to. read more

The Ink lab is one of the best tattoo shops in the twin cities. Go check out the extensive portfolios of work from the accomplished artists there if you don't believe me. David Dettloff, I would argue is one of the Best Tattoo artists in the Midwest. I would recommend him if you are thinking of doing any large work. His skill, attention to detail, and use of color bend traditional ideas of what was once thought possible to achieve with ink and needle. He creates lifelong works of art not just mere fashion flash tattoos. read more

Had my masonic tattoo done here. It is an architectural tattoo and is pretty difficult due to the exactness of the straight lines involved. The tattoo artist did a great job, it looks perfect and here I sit 9 years later and it hasn't faded. I suggest checking them out read more

I got a piece designed here. Douglas Hardy is a great tattoo artist. Very reasonable price.

This is my fourth tattoo from four different places and this was by far the best experience I have had. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Rodney Taylor was my artist and he was amazing. I came in with a general idea of what I wanted and he seamed to understand just what I wanted by my description. I went with a friend and we were both walk ins. That was not a problem at all. They let us know there would be a wait, but that was not a problem. We just hung out and talked with staff. Everyone was super friendly. If your in a big hurry it's not the place for you. Rodney was very very precise with his set up and he took his time. If for any reason during the tattooing he touched anything other than me and his equipment he changed his gloves. Cleanliness was a top priority for him. This is very important to me. He even gave me a pillow so that I was comfortable during the process. I highly recommend The Ink Lab. I will be returning there for any future tattoos. read more

We called ahead and said that we have 5 people that need small tattoos and they told us to come in. Well, only 2 people got tattoos within 3 hours & they were spendy! There were people hanging out in the back and supposedly had appointments coming or were "going out" so they couldn't help us. The receptionist was rude, and didn't acknowledge us as we walked in and seemed like he really didn't want to be there. He didn't update us on what was going on either. Needless to say, I won't ever go back there. read more

Horrible. Horrible. Horrible. Got a tattoo from Kryss. Got insanely infected. Went in to show her and all I go was a shrug and "yep that's infected." Not even an apology. Had to get on meds, arm turned green and smelled like cheese. When I would try to sleep I'd roll over on my infected arm and the pain would wake me up. Quite possibly the worst experience one could have from a tattoo shoppe. Can't believe they're still open. Go to Saint Sabrina's. They know what they're doing, they care, and their shop isn't dirty. read more

Horrible experience . Went in for a tattoo consultation and the tattoo artist (short, skinny, black hair, full sleeves tattoo) sounded like a car dealer who ripoff people. Kept asking "so do you want to get a tattoo or not"...I'm like give me a freaking time to think. Jesus Christ! He wanted $300 deposit for a drawing fee, $150 per hour and wanted to make my decision in a second. He was like "I client waiting over there so make up your mind". He got an attitude and no patience. He shouldn't rush and pressure his customers like that especially to those who has never been tattooed before. read more

My wife and I got our ears pierced today and we had a great experience. The whole process took maybe 15 minutes and the staff members were very helpful and kind to us! Thank you :) read more

I can sum up my experiences with The Ink Lab with one word RUDE. My first visit while I was researching getting my first tattoo left me waiting a ridiculous amount of time while they horsed around with no clients. As I was leaving someone finally came out to "help". We were discussing my options and after about 5 minutes I made it clear I wanted custom work and didn't want to look at the walls he lazily said to me "why don't you get a daisy chain?" I left. If he had been paying attention at all I'm not a daisy chain girl. I went in a second time to get some new body jewelry because the location was convenient Once again I had a long wait and this was from a counter person not an artist. Well the piercer wasn't there so I'd have to come back. I came back and had the one positive experience I have had there. I needed the piercer to put the new jewelry in for me and she was great. She no longer works there. Finally I went there after a knee operation when I was still recuperating and was struggling with a cane. I needed a few beads that got lost. Once again the long wait and this guy was the RUDEST. I told him what I needed and he said he was going on break and the shop would be closed for 15 minutes. He could have taken care of me in under 5 minutes. I had the jewelry in question with me in small bags. He then ushered us out of the store into an exceptionally hot summer day. After 15 minutes he came prancing out and joined a group of his friends to socialize and smoke, completely ignoring my friend and I who were sitting outside the store. We left. No more waiting at Ink Lab. I will never go there again and I tell everyone I know WHY. RUDE RUDE RUDE. If I could give them minus stars I would. I have 20 tattoos and 8 piercings so I know how good shops are run. read more

Can't speak for the shop as a whole seemed different then most not a lot of displayed work, etc. The receptionist was kind of a troll but Charlie seen me as a walk in and did a really great job at a very reasonable price. 5 stars for the artist, but more of a 3.5 for the shop. read more

I have had 3 tattoos done at the Ink Lab, 1 by Adam, 2 by Ernesto - I still love them all!!! The artists are RIDICULOUSLY talented, patient, and the work is so beautiful! I'm very happy with my experiences at the Ink Lab and am already planning the next! read more