I have been meaning to write this review for a long time. This is the BEST tattoo shop. I have been coming here for all my tattoos for the past three and a half years and never gone anywhere else. I have fallen in love with the passion, the artwork, the vibe and most importantly the beautiful souls that work here! I have been tattood by Jesus, Johnny, Franko and Alex. By far the greatest artists and most awesome people I have ever met. They are so welcoming and make the experience of getting a tattoo so much fun. All the guys here really listen to your ideas and help to create your dream tattoo. I will never go anywhere else for my tattoos. I've been referring anyone I know who wants to get a tattoo to Redwood Tattoo. Thank you guys for being so awesome and making my ideas come to life! Read Less

They were very patient I talked over the phone was very nice,he was patient with me as well when I wanted something like correctly moved,he did it.I love my new tattoo Thank you again helpfully I can come back & get another one Read Less

Went in, Brandon worked me into his schedule! Really nice guys in this place! Covered up an old tattoo, offered professional advice on my idea....thank you, awesome job! It's an hour and half drive from my house and I will drive all the way back for my next one! Read Less

I recommend my sister to come and get her tattoo here with Franko but apparently when my sister got to the tattoo shop a guy named Jesus approached them and the way he handled the situation  was super unprofessional, my sister had previously been talking to a tattoo artist from Redwood tattoo and he had told her to stop by on Monday at 2:30pm and that he would charged $80 for her tattoo that she wanted . Well when my sister got there a guy named Jesus said she needed to make an appointment and that the tattoo would be $100 instead of $80 then he continued to talk to my mom and sister in a rude unprofessional way. I feel bad because I know Franko due to the fact that he occasionally stops by the Wells Fargo branch I work at and he's always saying to stop by etc, and when I do recommend someone like my sister they get treated poorly when they stop by the tattoo shop. Good thing is we found a better tattoo shop in San Francisco supper friendly and attentive and very welcoming tattoo artist they make your experience one of a kind and at the end they make u feel more then just a customer . Which is how you should be treated. when you pick a tattoo shop and a tattoo artist to invest your time and money in a tattoo I feel that they should always talk to you with respect and more than anything be professional no matter how small your tattoo might be. Read Less

I went in for my first tattoo and was lucky enough to be able to do a quick drop-in, no appointment or call ahead of time, since my tattoo was pretty simple with no fill or colors. Quinn was super cool and professional! He was amazingly calm and I was super happy to have someone like him for my first tattoo. The tattoo come out incredible, and I can't recommend him more. I will, without a doubt, go back to Quinn if I ever decide to get a second tattoo. Read Less

Absolutely amazing experience with Kim! She was so kind and funny and her work is beautiful! Not only did she do an amazingly delicate job (just what I wanted) but it barely hurt compared to my first tattoo from a different studio! She also gave me ideas and advice on what to do about a different tattoo that I’m not especally happy with. Couldn’t be more impressed with her, her work, and the Hold Fast studio! Never going anywhere else again! Thank you thank you thanks you!!! Read Less

So I walked in on a Friday morning with a friend to get some work done. I had called the previous day and the person on the phone just said do a walk in instead of getting a appointment, so we did just that. Upon entering right when they opened there was a guy at his table stenciling out a tat. We just stood there for a a few minutes as he made no attempt to greet us. Eventually we asked if they can take us, and he just kinda said he's busy right now, and we should try coming back a bit later. It was extremely off putting. Thankfully while we were still discussing our next steps, Lisa and another artist came in and she was so really nice and sat and talked to us about our work. She wrote down what we wanted and got started on mocking something up. She was professional and quick. She gave a lot of advice on different styles and what we were envisioning. Excellent work, no complaints there. Only took off one star for the way we were treated when we got there, and she was just a few minutes later after she walked in, we would have left all together. Read Less

I had a touch up of a tattoo done by Quinn. He did a nice tattoo for me before and found out he moved to Redwood Tattoo.  I needed a spot fixed that did not turn out how I had hoped after healing.  It is a water color of a fish with crisp lines.  Quinn did a great job with the touch up and the tattoo looks better than before. This is a clean and spacious business with a very comfortable vibe.  I will be back when I decide what I want for my next tattoo. Read Less

Lisa,  is a professional, tattoo artist. I could tell she takes pride in her work. She pays very close  attention to detail and ask for input so you are truly guiding her about what you want. She is delightful to converse with. A part of my tattoo was for  a dear friend whom I am losing to cancer. Lisa was sympathetic and helped me make clear decisions instead of emotional regarding things I wanted to add in the tattoo. The other part of my tattoo was for my hubby who is also my bff. She offered suggestions that really help make a difference. Prices are decent and place is clean and comfortable. Thank you Lisa for making my tattoo everything I wanted it to be and more. Read Less

Lisa was amazing, she did exactly what I wanted! I am a baby when it comes to pain and she made it so easy and fast! the "Mind Over Matter" was prior 5 years back and finally wanting to do something to it!Can't wait to get it colored in 2 weeks! Read Less

I think that's it's important to share reviews so that people know what to expect I was a little hesitant about this because I am usually not one to complain however, this place is outrageous. A couple months ago I came in to get a tattoo, with one of the artists, I don't want to call anyone out but one of the most popular ones here. It was a small piece and the price was RIDICULOUSLY high. I assumed it was because his work is very well known and he has lots of prestige. So I went with it, during the session he had a lot of negative things to say his attitude was overall very unprofessional, the whole vibe was uncomfortable. I understand that being a tattoo artist requires you to give the best advice based on your knowledge, however there is one thing to be helpful and another to be completely rude, it shows complete lack of education. I will never come back here again and if you're thinking about getting a piece done go in and see the vibe. Read Less

My tattoo looks great and the price was reasonable for the Bay Area because everything in the Bay Area is expensive. I think I paid $120 which is the same that I paid for another small tattoo I have from Humble Beginnings in San Jose (also a great shop just far away for me). The owner did my tattoo I think his name is Jose. Only issue is the other artists were kind of rude when I went the first time and when I tried to book an appointment but I've had that experience with a fair number of tattoo shops because I'm a small girl with a high pitched voice - doesn't make it okay but I wouldn't expect a warm sunny welcome from any shops in the area. 10/10 would recommend. Read Less

Lisa is awesome! Wanted to get a traditional rose for sometime so I called here after 3 and was told to just stop by since they weren't booked yet. Walked in and Lisa helped me right away. I showed her a rose and told her how I wanted it to cover an old piece, so she set up and drew over it before getting started. Rose came out great! Really digging it, so I'm already thinking about my next piece (which will be here). Read Less

Alex Chavez has tattooed me a couple times and I'm always super pleased with his work. He takes his time to make sure you like the design and doesn't get annoyed when you tweak little things (I'm annoyingly picky). His work is very clean and he works quickly and efficiently. I haven't been able to make it down there to get another tattoo from him but I'm sure I will soon. He's also done a lot of my friends' work and they all look phenomenal. Read Less

I've been getting tattooed by Alex Chavez for a couple years now. He is an amazing artist and super humble guy. Even when I'm in the area I stop by and he always is happy to see me. I will def be back to get tattooed by Alex! Read Less

This was a great shop with good vibes. I went in on Friday for a consultation then booked an appt for the following Monday. The only issue I had was that my tattoo didn't start until 2.5 hours after my appt time. The only person in the shop was doing tattoos, answering phones and talking to people walking in with questions. So that's my only issue, that it was a long wait time for a tattoo that took less than two hours to complete. I am happy with the work John did just wish the wait time wasn't so long to start the session. Read Less

No matter how much you plan for a tattoo, it doesnt mean anything if you don't find the right shop. Tattoo shops lack the poetry and art in tattoos. But not this one. Here's a list why:1. Customer Service - imagine fine dining treatment but in a tattoo shop. You get that confidence that everything is top quality. 2. Artwork - that place is covered in beautiful art so you know that they will not mess what you want. Take their advice . Please. Never act like you know better than them. You dont. 3. Music - the best kind. Not the music that blares through the speakers scaring you out the door. 4. People - these are the people you wish you were related to.5. Last but not least at all Alex Chavez - super patient and super professional. Super talented and on point. Honestly wish we couldve tipped him more. Straight up. Read Less

Great environment, amazing artists and such a friendly atmosphere!My best friend and I were going to be in the area and planned on getting tattoos. I looked up local spots, but the reviews for Redwood Tattoo Co. as well as checking out the artists portfolios on Instagram really sold us on the place. I called the day before to see if they had any openings and was greeted by John (@jwilky_tattoos) who told me to come in when they open and he'll schedule us in. The shop is very clean and we were immediately greeted when we walked in. My friend and I discussed our ideas with John and he was very patient in listening and drawing up our concepts. He took his time and we were extremely happy with how our tattoos turned out. We were looking for someone who has very clean lines and sweet details and John definitely delivered. The other artist at the shop were just as kind and friendly, conversing and laughing with us while we waited. Also, the playlist they had playing in the shop was spot on in giving off a cool and chill environment. Since my friend and I weren't from the area, it was a bit tricky to find. So if you're driving West down Broadway, turn left once you see the Bangkok Bay Thai Cuisine and it's along the way, across the street from a gated school field. Read Less

Had an idea for a tattoo for awhile, and after seeing Lisa's work, I knew she was the artist I wanted to have do it. Not only was she a great tattooist (her skills surpassed my expectations) she has a great personality and is very professional. It's obvious that she has a great passion for what she does. The shop is clean, well lit and has a very comfortable vib. I have already been recommending her and Redwood Tattoo Co. to people I know, including my wife. I look forward to getting more tattoos in the future from Lisa and would feel comfortable getting tattooed from any of her coworkers also. A huge thumbs up and thanks for really nailing this tattoo for me. If you're looking for a great tattoo, this is the place (and artist, Lisa) to get it done!Thanks again,Brian Decker San Carlos, CA Read Less

I went to Redwood Tattoo Co for my first tattoo after having a bad experience at Hold Fast and deciding to take my business elsewhere.  I could tell even just based on the initial phone call that these people seemed more friendly according to my perspective. After showing Johnny what i was thinking of he drew up a very nice template asking questions as needed. He was very friendly and i was very comfortable working with him. I like how he took my initial idea and used his own artistic perspective to make it even better.  He took extra time to walk me through the hygiene protocols in response to a question i had.In the end my tatt turned out even better than I could have imagined. Johnny really made getting my first tattoo such a positive experience and the outcome was perfect! Read Less

A little back story: I got my rosary tattoo right when I turned 18.  I went to this guy who didn't listen to what I truly wanted, and insisted on using his own design.  He drew up a couple of options, but neither one gave me that "wow, I want that on my body for the rest of my life" factor.  Being that I was 18 and just wanted a tattoo so badly (instant gratification is everything at 18, ha!), I went for it anyway.  BIG mistake.  I know it pretty much goes without saying, but unless you are 100% SURE, don't get a tattoo.  Anyway, the longer I had it, the more I grew to resent it.  Long story short, I spent the past 5 years and just over $1,000 on laser removal.  Even 5 years later, after having it completely removed, I was still dead-set on my original design.  I found Lisa through a very close friend of mine, who happens to be her cousin.  I dropped by to check out the shop, and I told her my story.  She told me to look through each of the books to see each different artist's work.  She was very, very honest with me, which I appreciated, and she gave me a very good vibe from the start.  She told me, given all that I have been through with this process, that anyone in the shop can and would be willing to follow the lines of the design since it's something I really want (it's pretty simple), but to go with the person who's art really spoke to me personally.  I looked through each and every book, and all of the artists' work was beautiful.  There is talent throughout the entire shop, for sure.  In the end, I decided to go with Lisa, because I just got a really wonderful vibe from her, which is something that was completely lacking from my awful first experience at 18.  On the day of my appointment she was very patient, and even had to re-draw it once to make sure it was exactly what I wanted.  Let me just say, not only was it exactly what I envisioned, but the shading was even more beautiful than I expected.  She went above and beyond.Lisa, thank you so much for giving me what I have wanted for almost 10 years.  My simple tattoo may seem silly to some, but it is exactly what I wanted.  The poor experience I had 10 years ago added even more resentment towards that first tattoo that I already hated - the pleasant experience you delivered makes me love my NEW tattoo even more!  Keep doing what you do!  I will definitely recommend this place to friends.M- Read Less

First of all, I would say that Alex was super chill. He was fun to talk to, worked efficiently and made the overall experience a pleasant one. Alex was also open to input before and during the tattooing process. The shop was clean and at no point did I have any hesitation in regards to my safety. With that said, there are two elements that I hesitate about in reflecting on my time in the shop. First of all, the whole event happened really fast. My wife and I walked in and made an inquiry about possibly making an appointment for me to get a simple black band tattooed on my finger, in the place of a traditional wedding band. We were encouraged to take a seat and look at some of the portfolios before making an appointment. There were a few other customers at the desk looking to get some work done as well. When they found out it was cash only, they suggested that they needed to go to the bank, first. At this moment, Alex calls to me and asks me if I'm ready, suggesting that we could just get my tattoo done in 20 minutes while the other customers leave for a bit. Now, some people might say, "Great! Who wants to hang around waiting all day?" But my first instinct was hesitation. We hadn't really talked about any specifics and Alex was suggesting that we could just get it done "real quick." Still, I liked the idea of not needing to come back, and my request was a super simple one. So, after a short conversation, clarifying some details, I signed the paper work, sat down and got my finger tattooed. Done and done. Still, the whole thing felt a bit too rushed. In all honesty, this is a permanent thing that I'm putting on my body, I'm not sure that I want the artist to rush to get it done quickly. And in the end while I'm generally satisfied with the job, the lines could've been a bit cleaner.Possibly of larger concern, I take issue with the general customer service I experienced here. Before I walked in, I called two times trying to set up an appointment. The first time I called, I was encouraged by someone on the other end of the line to come in the shop the next day because they were pretty booked up that day. They asked me to leave my name and info and suggested that another artist would be calling me back. Unfortunately, I never received a call. The second time I called, it was suggested that I couldn't make an appointment without a cash deposit. I should "just come into the shop" and make an appointment to come back another time. This might be convenient for some, but I knew that my request was simple. I didn't really want to go into the shop twice. Yet, no one really seemed willing to listen/talk to me on the phone. This became slightly more ridiculous when I finally did show up and someone was willing to ink me up right then and there without prior consultation or appointment. Some part of me feels like a tattoo shop should only be graded on the quality of the work that the artists are producing. Yet, another part of me feels like, what sets two great studios apart? Comfort, cleanliness, customer service, price, stylistic offering, overall experience; these are all examples of ways that a shop could stand out amongst the rest. I'm happy with my tattoo, but I do think that Redwood Tattoo could improve their approach to customer service. And, I understand the business model of having a minimum fee, but $80 is a bit much for the work that I had done. Lastly, who only takes cash these days...? As a result of all of this, I might've even given Redwood Tattoo only 3 stars, but I appreciate the work that Alex did. My finger looks good and feels great. Quick and painless. No issues. Thanks, Alex. Read Less

Jesus is the man you want to see! Very creative and understands your vision as far as designing your tattoo. He has done several pieces on my family members including myself.Braces yourself for a good looking piece and a hell of a laugh when you see him. My sister, 2 nieces and I spent Saturday (yes we all got matching tattoos) at the spot. We shared some good laughs with Jesus! Cant wait to go back and finish my piece. Will post photos after! Read Less

I'm SO happy I found Lisa on Instagram - she is amazing! She fixed up my Jim Morrison signature that another artist had totally botched. (He was not from the same parlor - he made my hippie daisies look like freaking cherry blossoms. Ugh.) Anyway, Redwood Tattoo Co. was clean, the music was fab, and the people were friendly. Minimum is $80 & please note it's cash only but Lisa let me swipe my card on her square. (Dunno if other artists there would do that - so just bring cash.) I am forever grateful to Lisa for fixing my tattoo! (I'm going back for a free touch up, as per her request, to add a bit more white and details after I'm healed. I'll post another pic then.) I'll be sending all my friends to this shop & continuing to see her. ;) Thanks a million! Read Less

John is one of the best tattoo artists I've come across. I gave him a couple screenshot pics of what I wanted done and he blew me away with a really dope sketch, an integrated tribal design. He is cool, friendly, and definitely knows what he's doing. I came in for two sessions and completed my tattoo. I still want another done or two by him. I definitely recommend him💯💯💯 Read Less

ALEX is the BEST!! I am so happy with his work!! Thank you again, Alex!  He is an amazing and a very talented artist! I recommend Alex! All the Artists are very friendly & welcoming! The shop is very clean!  Great environment! Read Less

As soon as I walked in the first day going to this shop, I automatically felt welcomed. They are all very accommodating and make you feel like they have been friends with you their whole lives.  I followed my friend who was at a tattoo shop in Fremont and he told me that he was going to be tattooing at a shop in Redwood City. I was beyond excited, 1 because he's literally down the street from my house, 2 because he does amazing work :)I'm very much excited to return to the shop in the future and start many more projects with John very soon! :) Read Less

The artists at Redwood have got the goods: creative, communicative, thorough and excellent technicians. There's quite a few choices for tattoos in RWC- but  these folks are my go to for fresh ideas and for hella clean execution.Alex has been my artist for the last few years- but I been around long enough to know Jesus and Lisa are well known local artists too.I recommend this clean, no BS, no attitude shop to everybody. Read Less