I can't say enough amazing things about Ray and his work. I reached out to Ray after seeing reviews and asked him if he was able to rework a fairly large tattoo I have in my thigh. It was my first tattoo and I was disappointed in some of the line work and shading. In just one hour, Ray transformed my tattoo into one that I absolutely love. The atmosphere was clean, he was professional, and his work was precise. He is clearly a talented artist. Above all (and most importantly, to me), I felt safe and I trusted Ray. We chatted the entire hour about his travels across the world to different cities/countries to find and explore best practices as a tattoo artist. I'll definitely be back for my second tattoo! Highest recommendation! read more

Ray did a great job. He was incredibly pleasant to deal with, created and created a tattoo that was exactly like what I imagined. His place was very clean, he was perfectly on time, he charged exactly he said. He gave good advice and was very reassuring. read more

The Tattoo Nation - Tattoo Near Me - Bowie, Maryland

Ray is the best Tattoo Artist in the DMV. Undisputed. Would highly recommend him for any and all tattoo work! He doesn't just trace a design on, he knows how intimate and personal tattoos are to the individual. He takes the time to known and understand different cultures, ethnic and the meanings of their art. I definitely plan on going back very soon! read more

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As a person who looks for an artist rather than a shop when it comes to tattoos, there is a certain level of expectation out of the process(and results), that I've come to expect. Ray Hawse has exceeded every expectation, starting with response time and flexibility, followed by his cleanliness and preparedness, and cherry-topped with impeccable artwork and a quick healing time. In the DC area, this is who you are looking for. Why even risk it going somewhere else? read more

First tattoo. I was a little nervous. Ray sat down with me and made sure my idea was going to work. Once we agreed he started and it was clean and professional. In the end I loved my results. read more

Talented artists, solid music playlists, and overall a reasonable price for a quality tat.

Ray is by far the best tattoo artist I have ever come across. He does quality work that heals well. I have had 1.5 sleeves done by Ray and the work is consistently top notch. His realism and portraits are impeccable. You would be making a mistake to go anywhere else for a tattoo. This is the the only spot to go. read more

The Tattoo Nation - Tattoo Near Me - Bowie, Maryland

Ray made me feel extremely comfortable with my first tattoo! I absolutely love it and will be back for sure! Best part of my multiple hours with Ray was getting him to crack a smile! :). read more

Ray is an amazing tattoo artist who is a people person. Spending time in his shop will leave you relaxed and at peace while getting a tattoo. He's honestly a hidden gem in comparison to others in the area. I'm glad I found him and can't wait for him to do many more of my tattoos! read more

I have had the pleasure of getting two tattoos from Ray Hawse Tattoos. The first one was done over a year ago and it was done by another artist who was working there at the time. It was an extremely simple tattoo, and I was pleased with the customer service and I even got money back! My deposit paid for the tattoo....that had never happened to me before at any other salons that I received ink. Just recently, I booked an appointment to have another tattoo done and I was lucky enough to have Ray do this one. It was especially important to me to get this tattoo as it was a portrait of my beloved dog, Rhoda who just passed away at the end of February. Ray drew her up beautifully and captured her smile that I will have with me forever. The studio is really relaxing and maintains a great vibe while getting inked. Also, Ray was very helpful when it came to me deciding where to place it on my body and how large it should be, etc. He gave me instructions regarding the bandage and he advised me that he thought it would heal easily. It never went thru any "ugly stage" as some tattoos do.....he was right, healed so nicely! I highly recommend Ray Hawse Tattoos! Vinda B. read more

Today I visited Ray's shop for a tattoo in memory of my beloved Father who recently passed away. The location is easy to access with great parking right outside. The shop is VERY clean and decorated with a soothing neutral color palette, photos of previous work, as well as some merchandise that's for sale. Ray is very personable and a great conversationalist. He guided me in selecting the perfect placement for my tattoo on my forearm and he assisted in selecting the ideal font size. I would definitely recommend this place to others. My husband is now planning on also getting a tattoo from Ray later this summer. read more

Highest level of professionalism! My tattoos were small but they look exactly how I wanted them! The time went by so fast!! Please check out his IG page! His art is immaculate! 10/10 recommend! read more

I am a retired female and I have never had a tattoo in my life. When I decided to get a small symbolic tattoo I visited two parlors for a consultation. Ray's parlor was amazing; clean, bright, and very welcoming. What a contrast to the other parlor that struck me as a total dive! Having met Ray in person, I found him to be a genuine good guy who cares deeply about the quality of his work. He actually refused some of my tattoo ideas because he was certain that he (and I) would not be satisfied with the results based on the tiny detail of the image. Together we settled on a design that would satisfy both of us. The process of the inking was made very pleasant by friendly small talk. As a result of the entire experience I am delighted with this symbolic image I wear proudly on my forearm. I highly recommend Ray, and wish him nothing but the best in his artistic future! read more

There is a reason Ray Hawse has so many 5-star reviews. Environment: The Kensington shop is super clean and has a modern, updated, open concept layout so there is plenty of space. Very professional, sanitary, and hygienic shop with a collection of great art and some of Ray's awesome tattoos decorating some of the walls. I've been in many tattoo shops and his place is impressive and welcoming. Artist: Ray is the real deal! He came up with a fantastic Gene Simmons custom tattoo for me and was really cool about some small changes I wanted to make. He understood where I was coming from and had no issue working them in for me. He's easy to talk with and has a good sense of humor. I was surprised how much progress he made in such a short time. He's a truly talented artist and paid great attention to detail in my tattoo. Final Product: His custom Gene Simmons was off the hook. He finished everything he could for the first sitting and it is flawless. We are set up to put the final details on in a few weeks but even as it stands now (80% complete) it's very solid and everyone I've shown it to is blown away! He's got 5-start reviews because he can deliver. Highest recommendation for him. Do yourself a favor and set up a consultation with him and get an appointment booked! read more

First and foremost, I genuinely respect the atmosphere that Ray has created in his establishment. As a black man seeking tattoos, there's an untold story of tattoo artists turning us away because of our darker skin tone. The man was completely engaging on this topic, he even taught me a few things about how ink reacts on melanated skin. Great guy and even better artist! RESPECT! read more

Phenomenal tattoo artist. Ray fixed an absolute mess of a tattoo for me that I got from one of his competitors in late 2019. The end result -- a beautiful, realistic wolf cover-up -- was nothing short of a masterpiece. Put it this way, at least half a dozen DC area tattoo artists wanted no part of this cover-up job -- even after seven sessions of laser removal. Ray not only took on the challenge but also delivered the tattoo that I actually wanted. Nice guy, very professional, honest and an extremely talented artist. If you are researching tattoo artists in the DC area, Ray Hawse Tattoos should be your only consideration. read more

First let me start by saying I just love Rays shop it's so clean and quiet like I was really relaxed falling asleep getting a tattoo. "VERY RARE" Definitely the best artist in the DMV area you couldn't pay me a million dollars to go to anyone else. Ray is very professional has great ideas and bring them to life. If you plan on getting a tattoo do it the right way with RAY! I will post my tattoo once it's finished read more

Ray has been tattooing me since 2010 and to this day, he still my go-to and the one I recommend to friends, clients, and strangers on a regular basis. Ray is excellent at transforming your ideas onto paper and then onto your skin. He's extremely talented in his style and continues to adapt and learn new styles as well. Color, black/grey, portraits, Japanese style, realism, etc, you name it! Ray is also flexible with scheduling and also willing to work with you and on top of that, he's also light-handed. His pricing is very reasonable, especially with his skills. I was surprised that he does not charge more than what he does for his work. Doesn't get any better! read more

I went to get my first tattoo and staff was very friendly. They were helpful and calming especially b/c I was nervous about it. Would totally recommend this place!!! read more

I got a tattoo here yesterday and it is beautiful. I've had 3 tattoos done at other places and this is now my go-to spot. In fact, I'm going back next month for another one. The shop is very clean, they take COVID precautions and sanitize everything between clients. I've seen many samples of their work and they are all really well done. My tattoo artist, Bryan, was really helpful in turning the picture I had into a beautiful piece of art. I can't recommend them highly enough. Too bad a rating of 6 stars isn't an option! read more

I first reached out to Ray via text on two possible tattoos I was interested in getting. He responded promptly and I came in to discuss it further with him the same day. The studio is very clean and nicely decorated. There aren't other people in the studio for COVID reasons so that made me more comfortable. I scheduled a session with him for the following week to get my Harry Potter tattoo. When I arrived he showed me the design and explained to me how we should probably move the location of the tattoo or else the details of the design wouldn't be visible. I am SO GLAD he suggested this. It lasted three hours and talking with him made the time go by and he also played movies! I love my tattoo and already have gotten SO MANY compliments! read more

Where do I begin... Ray Hawse is a true professional. I called for a consultation and within a hour I had it. I definitely got the sense that he is no nonsense, meaning I'm not going for a heart with a cupid arrow. I actually looked up the BEST portrait artists in the DMV and Ray was in the top 5. I took a look at his work and was impressed. Let me tell you... he is talented. Not only was my large tattoo piece completed beyond my expectations his nack for detail is mind-blowing. He is a serious artist with a ton of experience exhibited by his professionalism in the studio and with his clients. He has a beautiful work space shared by a experienced skin care professional and another talented tattoo artist. His studio is incredibly clean, spotless in fact. There is a great vibe in there and he and the artist and skin care professional make you feel very comfortable and relaxed. I completed three long sessions with Ray, and I hope to stay in touch with him long term for future artwork. He's super chill but about his business. It shows. I'm in love with my piece, I could not have asked for a better artist and it turned out amazing! read more

Awesome Artist! Words can't explain and pictures don't show all the work. The details are amazing. His creativity and talent is on another level. The best artist that I've worked with and I have a lot of ink!!! read more