So I've read some reviews and I just wanted to say, I got a helix piercing here today. I thought the staff at the desk was very helpful and answered all my questions and really made me comfortable. Erika was also great who did the actual piercing. Everything was clean and she told me how to breathe to relax and it really didn't hurt as bad as I expected due to her expertise and her knowledge. I had a great experience and would for sure recommend this place to anyone. Thanks! Read Less

Tattoo Paradise certainly does hold their own in a city of walk-ins getting Om symbol ink by artists who sacrifice the aspect of their work they love to serve folks who treat their profession like a fast food joint. The industrial revolution has arrived!  There are a lot of reviews about the attitudes of people working there, but I had none of those issues. I actually quite liked everyone who works there, and had some great convo with front and back of the house staff. If you take a genuine interest in humans, and don't treat them like servants, they treat you like humans too! Go figure. I gave tattoo Paradise three stars because I paid $250 (and a $50 tip out of courtesy) for a tattoo that took maybe 30-45 minutes to do. That is by far the most expensive work I've ever had. Additionally, it is the first tattoo that I will need to get touched up (missed filling color in a couple spots, color not consistent in some spaces, some lines not fully connected, lines crossing over). The woman after me came in to get her piece touched up by the same artist.  I don't believe this represents the actual quality the artist can produce if they cared, but clearly this was a rush job that I could've gotten anywhere else, better, and less expensive. I know this shop is better than that. I understand the shop is busy, and the folks here deal with a lot of bullshit. It's all love at the end of the day!  I appreciate the hustle... but my bottom line is respect and quality of work!  I won't go back for work in the future (other than to get touched up), which sucks cause the people who work here are chill! Read Less

This was a great first-time tattoo experience! The guy at the front desk was incredibly nice (and cute) and my tattoo artist John made me feel totally comfortable. He really made sure that I got exactly what I'd asked for and re-placed the stencil probably 10 times so that it was perfectly positioned. I liked that the shop had relaxing reggae playing - in the past I've felt very uncomfortable in tattoo shops with like death metal playing, I just find it anxiety-inducing. I will definitely be going back for my next tattoo. Read Less

I came here to replace my nose ring that fell out a few days ago, and I can't say anything about their artists or anything related to the tattoo side of the business, but I was very unimpressed with my experience buying nose jewelry. I've been pierced here before and remember it being pretty smooth and the transaction seems simple enough: go in, buy nose ring, put in nose ring. When I get there it was a chill Sunday afternoon, most people were waiting for tattoo appointments. The guy at the front counter was friendly and professional. I told him what I wanted and he said the piercing person had just run out for an errand and would be back in 10-15. Ok no prob. So, I wait. Eventually she gets back and counter guy calls me up to pick out the stud I want; she barely acknowledges me and doesn't even look when I point in the glass display box to the one I want, so she asks again. I point and describe which one I want, again. She is terse and rude, but I'm just here to buy a nose stud, so whatever. She comes around and pulls the piece out I asked for, marked $25, and just walks into the back room--no "follow me" or anything. I'm hesitant because I don't want to break any protocol by just following her into the backroom, but she vaguely beckons once she sees me hesitate. Once back there she, again, barely talks to me, and seems exasperated if not annoyed any time I answer her questions "how long has it been out" (3 days) "how old is the piercing" (over ten years), etc. Never tells me her name, never asks mine.She puts it in and I already dislike that it's the corkscrew type and not the screw in like I had before, but it's the second shop I've been to that day and I just need something to keep the hole from closing at this point. I have small features, I'm a relatively small person, and I have a proportionately sized nose and narrow nostrils. I tell her the inside part is poking me. I'm hesitant to say anything, as she seems ready to push me off the table and show me the door ASAP even though I've done literally nothing else but answer her questions and follow instruction. She makes no attempt to hide her annoyance with me and has a tone like "you don't know what you're talking about" and says "they're all long, it's just the way they are." Uh, no. This is not my first rodeo. I've definitely had piercers cut down the stem when it's been too long for me in the past, but this is apparently "not a thing" according to her. She she twists it up some more so at least it's not poking up past my nasal cavity, but it's still uncomfortable. Again, I decide it's temporary anyway, I don't even really like the stud I picked, but it was the most decent one I could find in my price range, so I say it's good and we meet at the counter. "After taxes and everything $40." I assume "everything" is a fee for putting the thing in (not standard at all shops, some will just put it in and then you add a tip). The receipt doesn't itemize anything, and really I'm just annoyed that I paid $40 for rude service and a subpar stud that doesn't fit. Won't be back. Read Less

This place was great! I came in on a whim for a nose piercing and met Erika. She was amazing and walked me through the whole process! She knew what she was talking about! I enjoyed my experience and will be back for any additional piercings! THANKS ERIKA!!! Read Less

Yesterday, I wandered into Tattoo Paradise for a daith piercing. I'd wanted to get one done for a while and read some good reviews of this place on Yelp.Erika did my piercing. She was friendly, explained the entire process and gave me thorough aftercare instructions and her card. She made the entire process as comfortable and pain-free as possible. She also assured me I could come back if I needed help changing the jewelry or during the healing process.This place has a friendly staff, high quality work, and affordable prices. It's exceedingly difficult to find a place in the DC area with all three. I'll definitely return for all my future piercings. Read Less

I recently went to this shop to get some piercings re-done. I had taken them out years ago and decided it was time to get them back. These are great and friendly people, and were ready to help when I was having a mishap with one of my piercings. I had a wonderful experience and would definitely return for other things. Highly recommended! Read Less

Went in on a Tuesday night with no appointment, the guy at the front desk was by far the friendliest front desk staff at a tattoo parlor I've ever met. You know how usually they can be jerks if you're not visibly covered in tattoos.... I was in the back getting tattooed in less than a half hour, can't remember his name and I was only getting a very basic design, but he did great. Fast and still did a great job. Nothing but positive things to say about this place! Also I was looking through the tattoo art they have to flip through up front and saw some beautiful dog portraits which, on top of such a positive experience, makes me want to come back. Thank you Paradise Tattoo! Read Less

I'm very please with my birthday day Tatoo.Tom is the man he was very professional and did s great tattoo I'm pleased will recommend him to my family and friends. Tom works out of the Rockville locations. Read Less

The service and product I received at Tattoo Paradise was perfectly acceptable. However, the artist-client connect just wasn't there and - as much as I despise being cheap with creative services - I really just feel like I got ripped off. Walking into the shop, the front desk was professional and took down my information. My first indication that something may be strange was the quote I received for my requested ink -- $300 for 1.5 hours of work. In itself, this is reasonable; what confused me was the disconnect between the complexity of the piece (I had gone in with the assumption of ~0.5 hours of work), the price and time quoted, and what was actually provided.Little things continued to bother me. The front desk had me pre-pay for my tattoo which may be standard practice for them since it's an area with high foot traffic but I've never been asked to do this before. My artist forgot to shave the area (I don't have very hairy legs, so somewhat understandable) before applying the stencil and getting down to business. In our brief meeting to discuss the desired elements of the tattoo, it felt like he was surprised by how much detail I wanted and the communication wasn't there between the artists and the front desk staff. And finally, the tattoo only took between 30-40 minutes for him to ink. Like I said, the work was of fine quality and essentially what I had asked for, but this gave me a lot of insight as to how the shop is run and what kind of clientele they're really looking for.I likely will not return and would not suggest this place to anyone getting a serious piece done (sleeves, large back/chest, etc). For anyone looking for a quick, good quality tattoo at a shop that allows walk-ins for their first wrist/foot/lip tattoo this shop is GREAT. Not looking to make a big stink because of how I felt about the little things. Not looking to shut down their business because of pettiness. Just leaving this review here so that everyone has a fair chance at knowing what to expect.Tattoo quality - 8/10Quality of service - 5/10Price/Value - 3/10Location/Convenience - 10/10Overall - 6.5/10 Read Less

Erika was everything! And Carl was super helpful when I needed some questions answered about my piercing. My nose piercing looks amazing and is healing perfectly! Thanks!! I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking to get a piercing done! Read Less

Pros: super nice. Super fast.Cons: their shop essentially has signs everywhere that say "we are expensive because you'll get a quality tattoo"...the tattoo I got was definitely expensive ($130 for essentially 3 lines of a constellation) but it is also the only tattoo I've gotten that has quality issues to the point that I will be going elsewhere to get the line work fixed. It essentially looks like I had a friend do the piece free hand...but paid over $100 for it...Super disappointed since this place has great reviews and everyone was so nice. Read Less

I showed up one day to try and get a walk-in appointment, ended up making a firm appointment for the next week, and walked out thinking, "This place is rad." Super friendly staff in the front start out the visit. I had work done by  Nikki and she couldn't have been cooler. Great artist plus she made sitting there for a few hours a good time. I don't think I laughed so much during a piece ever. Definitely recommend her and the place if you want work done in D.C. Read Less

I went into the store to get simple word tattooed (Champion). At first I was going to get two words but finalized on one. The original price for the two tattoos was 280. I decided just to get the one tattoo. The price dropped down to 230-200.. I was taken back that price dropped only 40-80 dollars. When I discussed this with male receptionist, he insisted that he told me 300. What was so funny is that the Lady who was doing bank deposits looked over at him like "really?"..  I didn't argue because I can take my money else where.. IDK if it was because I was young black but I felt mistreated and played with. I would not recommend a place after my experience.Counter response.. Yes I was get a wrist tattoo hence why I said two tattoos.. The wrist tattoo was more complex that the neck tattoo.. 300 never came out his mouth. Even the lady gave him look.. I noticed all the side eye and her body language.. He said he said told me 300 and 280 never came out his mouth..  I told him I remember a lot, I'm licensed Counselor here in DC.. I told the male receptionist that it was way to high for the one tattoo and I question him about the pricing. He said that's what it is and shrugged his shoulders.. At this point, please share what I could've have been done? When he saw me start gathering my wallet and ID he could said something. If my business was really wanted he would've worked with me in the moment and you would've had an comment reading great service they really worked with me.. But instead you spending time running damage control.. Read Less

I asked for something super simple from Matt Knope. He was incredibly rude and would not take me seriously. This is not worth $100 at all, now I have to spend even more to get it fixed, such a waste of money and time. Read Less

Checked out three places before deciding where to get a basic hand tattoo, and like this one the best. They were a good combination of knowledgeable and relaxed.  Quoted price was comparable to the other places, but I liked the atmosphere better, and the guy at the desk (name forgotten) was much more helpful in figuring out font, style, etc.  When it came time for the tattoo I got another guy, who was overall good, but could have done just a bit more to ask me about placement, ink color, etc.  he jumped in pretty quickly to inking it, and it turned out perfect, but just a bit more time spent making sure the details were right would have been nice.  But overall, very good place and glad I went there. Read Less

My friend and I got our first tattoos here together and it was a pleasant experience. I had a friend who got a small outline tattoo on her forearm and was happy with the work so she went back and got a much larger and more detailed tattoo on her shoulder blade. This definitely was why I picked this place! We went in to talk pricing, font, and size. The guy working the front was incredible and super helpful - he even recommended a certain artist to us based on the type of tattoo, size, and location! Read Less

Erika did an excellent job on both my body piercings yesterday. I will definitely go back for more. It took her less than ten minutes to do a nipple and tragus piercing.  They both were quick and painless. Today I still feel no pain at all in either piercings. As long as I don't lay on them during bedtime, I feel nothing, all feel normal.  I see her again in about two weeks for another tragus piercing. Read Less

Got my first tattoo here as a walk-in on Saturday night. Gordie Jones did an excellent job. He worked quickly and produced very clean lines, definitely an experienced artist. If I ever get another one I will be sure to see if Gordie is available to do it! Read Less

Bulls*** they don't know anything about professional experience! Or they are just bad at picking artists! My first tattoo from there was fucked up and I am blown that I have to get it re done again fucking losers Read Less

I have several tattoos from here. I can't remember the different artists' names, and it has been a while since I've been there. That being said, this tattoo shop is where I started getting hot and heavy with getting inked and I miss it very much. I moved to New York two years ago and I haven't found a place quite like this yet. Every artist I had at Tattoo Paradise was amazing. The artistry, lines, and coloring is top notch. One tattoo I got in particular by Dave is a conversation starter and people gawk at it whenever they see it. It's a really colorful sun and moon on my right shoulder. I went to Dave with a specific idea and he molded it into something really beautiful. Every time I wear something sleeveless, that tattoo is the first thing people comment on. Everyone asks where it's from, and I'm happy to say it's from "Dave at Tattoo Paradise in D.C."I can't recommend this place enough! Truly, truly great. Read Less

I came here for a lip piercing. I was very anxious but the piercer made sure to explain the process to me as well as the aftercare. I was in and out in less than 10 minutes. For only $60 including the jewelry I consider this to be a steal. They also offer an aftercare saline solution for piercings. When my piercing began to sink in after a while I came back and they replaced my piercing with a longer one (free of charge) and told me to come back in a few weeks to change it back to the smaller one. Read Less

I moved to DC a while back and was interested in getting some new tattoos, when I searched online, David had the best style for me. David did my chest piece, and I couldn't be happier with the final result. I did squirm around quite a bit, and he was very professional and precise!! Also quick shout out to Kim at the front desk, she was very friendly and organized and helped me get set up very easily. The price was perfect for the quality of the tattoo, which is top notch. Definitely will be back for more Read Less

Got my septum pierced by Erika last Sunday (7/22/2018). It was a great experience. She was friendly and funny. She clearly knew what she was doing, which provided some comfort. 10/10 would get pierced again by Erika. Read Less

Super rad folks work there. Great service, great tattoos at absolutely reasonable prices. Never a bad day when I get to stop by. Have gotten two tattoos there and in both cases the artists worked with me to get my pieces where they should be and their expertise meant all of the difference. Scheduling appointments is easy (walk-ins seem easy too, just haven't tried it. Thanks for everything! Read Less

Got my first tattoo ever while on a trip to DC last week. The staff was absolutely professional and walked us through everything. The tattoo artist, Sam, did an amazing job and really made the effort to make it a great experience as a first time customer. If I lived in DC, I would be back 100% Read Less

I recently got 3 piercings (addicted) and a tattoo here. The front desk staff are friendly and personable, unlike many tattoo shops. Despite being busy, he answered all of my questions about the piercings and jewelry I wanted and got me scheduled for a tattoo. There was no wait for the piercings, and she was quick, funny, and GOOD! Least painful of my 14 piercings. Will post pictures of the tattoo when healed-- They were careful to advise me that finger tattoos don't always accept ink well, they tend to bleed, and that white ink doesn't always last anywhere, but especially on fingers. With that warning, they still were willing to do it. The tattoo itself took about 10 minutes. After 2 weeks I went back for a quick touchup to make sure we really got the ink deep enough. It hurt substantially worse than others I have, but I'm told fingers are particularly rough. Thanks to Frog, the guest artist, and Nick for the great work! Read Less

I love my little simple tattoo I got. They were quick and professional and the front desk was friendly and courteous. But, they are solidly overpriced. It took all of 5 minutes to do my tattoo and they charged well over shop minimum. Read Less

One of the friendliest shops I've been in. I've popped in here twice in the last month for some minor work and feel confident in sticking with their artists for future projects. Professional, courteous and straight forward staff. A clean and organized environment and good pricing. What more could you ask for? Read Less

I initially reviewed the different artists' portfolios on the website. Every one seemed qualified enough but for my specific idea, Nikki's work seemed ideal for my appointment. I walked in on a Thursday night and was amazed at how genuinely friendly the man at the front desk was (I think his name is Ben). Nikki wouldn't have been available for another hour or so but he took my number down and called me promptly on time to tell me they were ready. The price was a bit expensive as expected but reasonable. It was my first time and I could barely handle it so we split it between two sessions that Nikki was very understanding about. She gave me solid advice for preparing for the second session, and that helped me take it like a champ. I was in LOVE with how it looked - she did an AMAZING job, especially considering how much of a pain I must have been during the first session. The shop was very clean as well and they were more than accommodating. I loved the service so much that I had my friend Kayla come to get her piercings done (she was also very impressed). I cannot express enough how awesome this shop is and encourage anyone in the DC area interested in a tattoo or piercing to come to Tattoo Paradise. Read Less

I have been to many different piercers and I have to say this was the best experience I have ever had I got my nose pierced back in October and decided to go back this past Friday for an industrial bar. Rachel did a fabulous job and was incredible in making me feel comfortable and explaining everything. I will definitely be coming back here for future piercings. Read Less

The tattoo artist wasn't very friendly or interested in discussing our tattoos. Also they are definitely overpriced, with over a hundred dollar minimum for foot tattoos. He rushed my friends back piece and he made a mistake on my tattoo. It was clean, but I will never go again. Read Less

I love Tattoo Paradise so much that I finally got an actual yelp account just to leave this review. Very clean, professional, and friendly. I've gotten 6 tattoos here, 5 from Dave and 1 from Shawn. Fantastic results all around, and the guys couldn't be nicer. I also recently got my septum pierced here, 1000 apologies that I don't recall the piercers name but she was so kind and patient and helped me relax. It was only my second piercing ever and I was far more antsy than I am getting tattooed. Can get crowded especially on Saturday nights since they're open so late. It seems that people like to come when they've left the bars and clubs of 18th St. Even still, walk-ins are usually no problem. And one last thing, the prices are amongst the most reasonable I've ever encountered, not just in the DC area. Read Less

I have tattoos from head to toe  I have gotten tatted all over the country and this was by far my best and favorite experience. I walked in at 745  i got a very Fair quote on a rather large piece on my forearm  but it was handled. Like a boss. Thomas kenney sat down traced it and had me ready to go. Not heavy handed. Very smooth work and extremely quick. Perfect experience and A+ work. The environment was super clean and very neat. Bottom line I will be back to get blasted again get your ink at Tattoo paradise. Read Less

This is my go to spot for great tattoos and a really comfortable and clean place environment. Ryan and Tim are amazing and the (female receptionist is as well) they’re always nice and helpful. Prices are fair especially if you want quality works it’s definitely worth it. You can’t go wrong here! ✌🏾❤️🌞☺️ Read Less

I went to Tattoo Paradise to get my first tattoos after seeing it had good reviews and was close to me. I was very happy with the experience from start to finish. The shop is very clean and bright. I was a walk-in and the woman who helped me at the front desk asked all the right questions and printed out exactly what I had in mind. The artist who worked with me was Thomas. He was very nice, professional, and I felt comfortable the whole time. From walking in to walking out it took about thirty minutes. I thought it was a bit pricey (I got four very small motifs in black) after hearing what my friends paid for larger, colored tattoos, but I was happy to pay the price for the level and quality of service. I'd go back to this shop if I wanted another piece and definitely recommend them! Read Less

Awesome place! Super clean and everyone was very professional and organized. All artists were very skilled and free handing comes easy for them.  They are all so nice and great at their skill. Pricing is high but for the quality it's all worth it and it makes sense. I would say they run a tight ship because they were so busy but so efficient with customers. They are all very respectful and help you to get exactly what you came for. Great place!!!!! Come here for your tattoos!!!! Read Less

I was a little put off when I first walked in and realized that there was a wait. (Which means that they have good foot traffic here) I eventually warmed up to the front desk guy after I realized that he was trying to do so many different things at once, and when he finally had the chance to talk to us, he was surprisingly very pleasant. (Most front desk guys at tattoo shops aren't so pleasant.) He was quick with his service: printing the tattoo my partner wanted, getting the payment and information, as well as making some changes on the final product. The tattoo artist, Billy, was really quick. Granted, my partner just got three phrases, but it was surprisingly quick. Good work though. A couple of things, I understand all the rules. I get it. The reason just may be that AdMo is co-ed/college students and the rules are guidelines and reminders. It was just a lot for me, a lot of "no --". My partner also stated that there are also confederate flags tattoos on frames; take it how you want it. I'm happy that I was able to get my partner a tattoo in DC as a bday present, but $185 for three sentences with two words each (a total of 6 words) is way too much in my opinion (but that's DC pricing for you). I'm all for paying good money for good work and I completely agree that great tattoos aren't cheap; I'm just stating my opinion about the price for 6 words. Read Less

Was visiting D.C. for the weekend when my two friends and I spontaneously decided it would be fun to end the trip with a tattoo cause why not. We walked over after brunch, and walked out about an hour and a half later freshly inked. Guy at the front, I don't know your name, but you are awesome. He understood what we wanted, was courteous, and prepped our stencils easy peasy. Our tattoo artist, Billy worked efficiently and had the three of us in and out like clockwork, which was also appreciated. Pricing is fair, I've paid both more and less at other places in other cities. Issa craft bruh, don't haggle. My little piece from D.C. is healing nicely, and if I ever find myself itching for a tattoo during another visit, I will definitely stop by! Read Less

Never had anything but my ears pierced, decided kind of on a whim to get my nose done this past weekend which I've actually wanted since I was 14 but for some reason or another never did. Came in with no call-ahead or anything, was helped right away, the piercer was away for a few minutes so we waited for 10 minutes or so. He arrived, took me to the back, was very clear with what the procedure would involve and very reassuring. Picked the perfect spot for the stud, everything was quick, relatively painless and easy and the guy who did it couldn't have been nicer. The shop itself was clean and nice and the staff were all friendly. For my first experience I don't think I could've asked for much more, and totally worth the $60 it costed. Also really like that the guy gave me his info and stressed if I have any issues, questions or the piercing gets infected or whatever, to come see him ASAP. Read Less

I got a double helix piercing from Brian and was really happy with it. He took his time and it looked great. I left to go abroad after a few weeks and it still wasn't healing and got very infected and swollen. I went to a different piercer abroad who told me that the bar/ post he put in after he pierced my ear was the one that they usually use for healed piercings and wasn't long enough. Because of that mistake, my ear started to heal over the backing. I LITERALY HAD TO HAVE IT CUT OUT OF MY EAR. Lots of pain and money later, I do not recommend this place to anyone. Read Less

So I was strolling down the street, looking for an awesome place to get some new ink, and stumbled upon Tattoo Paradise. I was getting a small hand tattoo, so I didn't set an appointment. I wanted to go for the walk in experience. I ended up working with Scott, and couldn't be happier. The shop person told me there would be a $100 minimum, so the expectation was set on price. The shop was super clean and professional. Scott was a really cool dude, and I enjoyed my time with him. We talked, had some laughs, and I was happy with his work. The fill and line  work was on point, and it is healing great so far. I know he's only in town for a little while, but I guess he comes back fairly often, so I'll probably be back to see him again next time. Apparently he's good friends with Fred Durst, so be sure to ask him all about his love for the Limp Bizkit.If a really cool tattoo parlor with friendly, quality artists at fair prices is your jam, check out Tattoo Paradise. Maybe even ask for Scott if you want a great artist with that beachy Fl vibe. Read Less

Such a wonderful place and awesome staff. I got my 2nd tatoo and Nick did great job with my vision. I can tell he is so skilled and knew exactly what I wanted. I couldn't be happier. Thank you!!! I will definitely coming back and highly recommend...everybody loved my tatoo....10🌟👍 Read Less

My cousin and I wanted to get matching cousin tattoos on a whim this past Sunday afternoon. We showed up just after noon - opening time and were pleased they could take us right away, after we decided where to have the tattoos placed :) They took us both at the same time, I had Ryan. Not sure the artist name my cousin had. Ryan was great. I've been getting tattoos since 1994 and Ryan was definitely one of the better artists I've had. Gently touch, personable. If I was not leaving the area I would get more work done by Ryan for sure. The prices are fair for the area. I'm used to Vegas prices where you can get a little more tat for the price. Read Less

I frequent Adams Morgan (shout out to Idle Time Books and Southern Hospitality), so I've seen this shop before, just never had a reason to go in. The evening I went, I called ahead to be sure that I didn't have to make an appointment for a piercing. The gentleman I spoke with not only answered my question (you don't), but gave me additional info on pricing and hours of operation. I swear I spent more time waiting for my ride to pick me up than I spent being serviced!  Shortly after I arrived, I was helped by a very friendly artist (didn't catch her name) who explained the different types of jewelry they have and explained, in detail, the cleaning process. Okay, now for the nitty gritty... my friend couldn't come back with me, but when I saw the piercing area, I realized why. It was only big enough to accommodate 2 people.  My artist chatted with me, made me feel comfortable, I inhaled, exhaled and I was done! I was checking out some of the tattoo art on the walls, and I'll definitely return if I decide to get a new one or when I decide to touch up my old ones. Read Less

I frequent Adams Morgan (shout out to Idle Time Books and Southern Hospitality), so I've seen this shop before, just never had a reason to go in. The evening I went, I called ahead to be sure that I didn't have to make an appointment for a piercing. The gentleman I spoke with not only answered my question (you don't), but gave me additional info on pricing and hours of operation. I swear I spent more time waiting for my ride to pick me up than I spent being serviced!  Shortly after I arrived, I was helped by a very friendly artist (didn't catch her name) who explained the different types of jewelry they have and explained, in detail, the cleaning process. Okay, now for the nitty gritty... my friend couldn't come back with me, but when I saw the piercing area, I realized why. It was only big enough to accommodate 2 people.  My artist chatted with me, made me feel comfortable, I inhaled, exhaled and I was done! I was checking out some of the tattoo art on the walls, and I'll definitely return if I decide to get a new one or when I decide to touch up my old ones. Read Less

Brian was great!! I walked in for a piercing and told him I'm scared of needles. He was understanding, talked me through the entire process, and made me feel at ease. Brian took his time to ensure that we were both happy with the placement of the piercings. Afterward, he made sure I was feeling okay and didn't rush me out the door. Probably the best piercing experience I've had--highly recommend! Read Less

This is my second time getting ink at Tattoo Paradise and I couldn't be happier. Nikki is excellent. From design to execution, she's a great artist and her manner is fun and easy-going. Highly recommend!!! Read Less

I have had two piercings performed here forward helix and nose and recently had a tattoo done by David. My experience here at the shop has always been great. Very welcoming and professional crew. David's work is incredible. My new tattoo was a cover up and he was very professional about the entire process, taking a picture of the existing tattoo, discussing the design I wanted to inform me of pieces of the design that would/wouldn't work with my existing tattoo, set up follow up time to see the new sketch, and quick response time with questions I had. I highly recommend Tattoo Paradise for any piercing/tattoo needs! Read Less

I got two dermals in my chest from Erika and they were done quick and beautifully. She precisely marked the spots and kept me relaxed though the presses. She was a sweet person and I'll definitely go back to get my next set of them Read Less

All of 6 of my tattoos have been done at different shops in different cities that I've lived, but I went back to tattoo paradise for my 7th because my experience for there was the best I'd had. Both times I've gone I've worked with Nikki, and both times she was awesome. She understood what I wanted and both tattoos came out exactly how I had pictured them. The shop is clean and well-set up and their customer service rocks. I didn't feel rushed or pressured to make a decision, and I was a walk-in both times. Their prices are reasonable and the work is great. Big fan. Read Less

Received a nose piercing here. Staff was friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Went back to get my jewelry changed and they were great and honest with me about making the change. I will be going back again to get my jewelry changed out once more. And when I am ready to get anther tattoo guess where I am going!Read Less

It's been a while since Carly put my masterpiece on me. I can choose a ton of adjectives to describe Carly's work, but I'll choose "phenomenal" for now. I asked, and Carly came thru. Not done yet with my tat's Read Less

I initially wrote a negative one star review on Nikki and the tattoo I got and its outcome and how disappointed I was with it . I decided to remove it due to the fact she did reach out to me and told me how she wanted me to come in and take a look at it and see if she could fix it. I did go see her and schedule a date for a touch up. Unfortunately I missed my appt after rescheduling, but the receptionist  said I could just come in later that day. Bottom line, I decided not to go, it looks droopy to me and adding a touch up will make it thicker which I do not want. Nikki has a great positive attitude and fun to talk too, she makes the experience comfortable, as far as my tattoo, I wasn't as happy in the end. Overall good tattoo parlor, fair prices. Read Less

Solid, quality work from experienced and friendly artists. Not douchey. Walk-in friendly.Prices are for quality, not unfair or overpriced, you're paying for a good tattoo. And they don't charge as much as jinx proof.Also, only had one piercing done here, but it was the only piercing I've had done that healed quickly and without any issues. Read Less

These guys were really busy on a Saturday night, which I get is annoying. But instead of dealing with it, they just acted like dicks and wanted to grossly over charge for small tattoos. I've worked in tattoo shops before and know that these guys were just ripping people off cause they knew they could get away with it, and with shit attitudes. Read Less

My wife and I are no strangers to tattoos and think we found our new home and artist. These guys are the best and not only will give you a masterpiece but will be stunned of their creativity. Awesome artist and tattoo shop in DC. Definitely will be back and would recommend this for anyone! Read Less

I love my collarbone microdermals! I've gone through many piercers and Erika is definitely the best I've ever interacted with. She is so friendly and professional. While she was putting in the 2 anchors, she did some breathing exercises with me so that I would not focus on the pain. It definitely helped because I hardly felt any pain at all. She also re-pierced my nose a few months ago cause I had accidentally let the hole start to close up. She was very fast and professional then too. The prices here are more expensive than other places but it's absolutely worth every dollar because Erika is so amazing. I could not recommend her enough! I think I'm going to come in again soon to get something else :) Read Less

Never got a tattoo here, but highly recommend piercings here.  They're great people with super reasonable prices.Brian helped me get a daith piercing out before an MRI, and was very honest about how it was going to hurt since my ear was inflamed around the piercing. He did what he could to minimize the pain, and was very supportive. He didn't even charge me when I came to put my piercing back in, and was so gentle it didn't hurt at all. 11/10 on customer service - I've been to a number of piercers and he is above and beyond my favorite.They're all very nice and try to accommodate you ; prices are also very reasonable like I said. Good selection of piercings, and if they don't have something they will special order it. Don't be an asshole and they'll treat you really well. I will be going back here for all of my piercing needs in DC. I wish I could give a 6/5 because they deserve it. Read Less

I had an appointment with Erika to get a new piercing.  I called 3 other top tattoo/piercing shops in DC and Maryland.  The other shops were too busy to answer my simple questions and could not be bothered to speak with me.  I called Tattoo Paradise and spoke to Erika.  She was patient and answered my questions.  I went to the shop and she explained my options then made some suggestions.It seemed to me that she was there to walk me through the process and spoke about my options.  She was very courteous, washed her hands, changed her gloves,  and made it a "painless" experience.  Erika was very professional and treated me as a customer and not just a number. Read Less

I walked in for a nostril piercing around 8 pm on a Monday night, and the guy at the front desk was immediately helpful and friendly.Brian, the piercer, was awesome as well - very engaging, extremely professional, and eminently informative. This was the most positive experience in a tattoo/piercing shop I've ever had. (I have several tattoos and have had three piercings.) Read Less

Extremely polite people but exorbitantly overpriced. Definitely made for the first timers or the people too drunk to know any better. I've had many tattoos done all over the world. I went in to price a small piece in black and white and was quoted $250! That's more than I paid for my neck piece. Thanks but no thanks.Update: I later went to another place and got the same tattoo done for a little over $100 less. This place truly does prey on the drunk and ignorant. Read Less

I came to Tattoo Paradise for a spontaneous piercing. The piercer was able to see me immediately. The guys working the reception were not the most friendly, but I think that was just their nature being tattoo guys. The piercer made me feel very at ease while I was a nervous wreck. She explained the entire process to me before it happened. I was very happy with my piercings by the end of the session. She made it quick and painless. I absolutely love the piercings. They are very straight and even, except one of them is slightly off. It's unnoticeable to the naked eye though. My friends loved the piercings so much that one of them also ended up getting a piercing the same day.Also it's barely more expensive than other places I checked out. Note, I forgot my ID and was refused the piercing, but I'm grateful they have integrity when it comes to their business. I know a lot of other places that would have gladly pierced me without proof of being legal age. They also will not let anyone into the piercing room with you, which is pretty standard for the other piercing places I went to in DC. Read Less

when walking in on a Friday night, the reception was nice and very helpful.  annoying as walk ins are, explaining who is available, what you want, where you want it, ect.  I am not a tattoo artist, I have no idea what really goes into making a great tattoo.  I do have 8 tattoos, so I feel I can tell the difference between a great and a poor tattoo.  I have 2 really bad tattoos, and the one I got from Vinse that Friday night matches the really bad ones.  sometimes the really simple tattoos are the hard ones.  I did look at his portfolio, and thought his line work looked clean and strong.  the tattoo that I ended up with (which is 1 month old) looks like have had the tattoo for 30 years.  it is a simple outline of the state of Hawaii. After 10 minutes on Vinse's table, I have a tattoo with lines that are blurry and raised, but hey, now a blind man can "see" this tattoo... Read Less

So, I researched a few shops in the DC area for my next set of tattoos, and settled on Tattoo Paradise based on criteria that were of interest to me, reviews, and reputation. What I wanted was basically traditional style flash, with some modification - panther and snake fighting surrounded by roses, 3 nautical stars, and an anchor on my forearm to compliment the swallow already there.Waited about a month to write a review to have them heal enough where the work that was done was mostly coming into it's own. I can not say I am remotely satisfied. While the biggest piece (panther and snake fighting) is ok for a 3 star rating on it's own, the quality of shading drops it down to a 2. As for the other 4 pieces - mediocre, sloppy, tending to scar and blowout, and inconsistent work not to be expected from the reputation and cost of this shop - which drops the whole rating to 1. It also lends me to believe the artist does not understand different technics for different areas and type of skin, uses too much voltage, and goes too deep.While this is not my first time at the rodeo (having had 40 hours on the table) - things I learned from my experience at Tattoo Paradise;01. If your artist feels the need to defend themselves that they know what they are doing - go to another artist, or have them stop what they are doing so that you can explain your expectations, understand them, and have them be able to explain what they intend to do - it's your body, it's permanent, and you are paying for it.02. If you're not completely sold on the design, placement, or quality of the stencil application - then do it over until it's to your satisfaction - it's your body, it's permanent, and you are paying for it.03. If your artist feels the need to brag about being fast - well, you're there for quality work, not to ensure that they make their next appointment. Needless to say, speed does not correlate with accuracy. Expect quality not speed trials  - it's your body, it's permanent, and you are paying for it.04. Don't let your excitement overrule judgement - it's your body, it's permanent, and you are paying for it.05. If you feel you are getting gouged - you probably are. Read Less

This was a last minute decision to get tattoos so I looked online to see which shops did walk-ins & Tattoo Paradise had popped up. Me & my sister wanted to get matching tattoos & we had a great experience. We got to the shop around 7 to talk about what we wanted to get & showed pictures of our idea. The manager (whose name I unfortunately forgot..) greeted us & he was so friendly. He told us that it would take them a little while to sketch up what we wanted to get. Overall the wait was about an hour since it was starting to get a little busy but we were completely fine waiting. We filled out the paperwork & were quoted prices. Mine was $150 & my sister's was $180 since her tattoo was going to have a little more detail added onto it. Our tattoo artist was Billy & he was by far one of the best artists I've gotten tattooed by. He was very nice & made the experience wonderful. Our tattoos took about 45 minutes to finish & came out looking amazing. This is probably my favorite tattoo I've gotten so far. The detail is on point & he replicated exacted what I wanted. The workers know what they're doing & will make your visit here great! I highly recommend everyone to come here if you guys are looking to get awesome tattoos done by amazing artists. Read Less

This place came highly rated so we were excited to get tattoos done here after our stepdad passed away. The place was clean and the work was good, but the customer service was horrible. We had an appointment to get over $600 worth of ink but the shop manager was rude to us from the jump. All three of us have multiple tattoos but we were treated like hot garbage. Their rules aren't the problem...it's the shitty way they talked down at us the entire time. The shop manager made ...us go outside to talk on the phone but she took several personal calls herself. When the only other customer in the shop left, the other artist and the shop manager laughed and joked while they played Scrabble behind the counter...then asked us to quiet down because apparently our YouTube video was too loud. We were watching youtube because we weren't allowed behind the counter to chat with each other as we got our tats even though the rest of the shop was empty. The place resembled a library more than a tattoo parlor and although Scott's work was alright...I would never recommend this place to anyone else because overall the experience sucked. See More Read Less

I walked in to Tattoo Paradise on a whim to get a matching tattoo with a friend. I was tended to immediately, and they helped bring our idea to life. They were able to do our tattoos within minutes of walking in. The artists were very friendly, and did an excellent job. Our tattoos turned out identical! Can't say enough good things about this place. I will return for more! Read Less

i got tattooed by chad koeplinger on my birthday this summer. it was the best experience i've had at a tattoo shop by far. i just moved to DC about 5 months ago for school and i've been tattooed all over the country. i had heard chads name before from a few magazines and i met this other guy grant at a local bar on 18th street. he tattoos there as well, he does reallllly good work but chad was more of my style. when you walk in the shop you are greeted by a nice clean sanitary smell. the guy at the counter was really friendly. you could tell he meant business but also wasn't mean at all. its a tattoo shop for crying out loud. also i too paid with a credit card and they didn't charge me a fee...they charged me tax. the floor was clean, the shop was clean. the other tattooers were nice too. i would tell ANYONE to go here. with confidence Read Less

I'm not sure what shop you ment to review, becuase I've used my credit card and been tattooedTen times since this shop opened, without a problem. Read any other review of this shop on any other Website, this is why I feel this review is complete BS. As for extra credit card fee, I'd freely share my recieptsTo prove or show this non fee. The tattooers in this shop are the best in Washington Dc, and hands down the best in the metro area. Www.tattooparadisedc.com Read Less