I highly recommend Elijah, he freehanded my entire tattoo! I was a little skeptical about going somewhere else due to the placement of my tattoo. I read about a bunch of shops not caring if their client is in pain or not. But Elijah stopped and asked me a couple times if I was okay/how I was doing. He did such an amazing job, this place is very professional. Plus they care about their customers! Read Less

Went to Elijah Cole for my first tattoo. So happy with the final result, and he was great throughout. Very chill and helpful, was happy to adjust the design the day of the appointment and clearly wanted to make sure I was happy with the final product -- which I really am. This is a great shop, super reputable, and I'm sure all their artists are awesome, would totally go back for my next one. Read Less

I got my first (and probably only) tattoo here on a trip to Seattle! As you can imagine, I was full of nerves! This tattoo is something I've thought long and hard about and was definitely nervous to get. Lance took me as a walk in and was so accommodating and kind. I couldn't have asked for a better tattoo artist. He was so personable and helpful through the entire process beginning to end. Read Less

Went here for my first major piece and Greg did an amazing job. Brought my idea to life perfectly and was even able to see me the same day. All in all, it was a dope experience and I was definitely satisfied with the artwork. Amazing shop and will definitely come back when it's time for more ink. Read Less

There are a lot of tattoo shops in Seattle, but I can personally vouch for the serious talent at Slave to the Needle. Greg Kinnamon has designed and tattooed a couple of pieces on me, including a half sleeve, and his work is absolutely gorgeous! He's a master at Japanese-style peonies, and as soon as I saw his portfolio, I knew he was the artist I had been waiting for. Tell him your vision, and let him do his thing--you won't regret it. He's also a really nice guy, which makes the hours under the needle much more bearable. Other things I appreciate: he uses organic pigment instead of synthetic material, and he'll take you to school if you're interested in learning more about the permanent artwork he's putting on your body, so ask away. Dude's passionate about tattooing, and I love that. Read Less

If you need your idea brought to life beautifully come see Elijah Cole! His attention to detail is mesmerizing. The final project was better than anything I imagined. He listens to your input which is great. I've been telling everyone I know about him & his work. Will definitely be coming to him for future tattoos. Already have a few mind!Also the shop is really clean & the staff is fantastic. Keep up the great work! Read Less

Jason Metka is an amazing tattoo artist! I started get work done by him when I lived in another state, and can't tell you how stoked I was to learn that he is working at a shop 5 minutes from where I live. He takes all of the ideas I give him and makes it 1000 times better than I could ever picture. He's done a cover up for me and was able to turn a dark oval shaped tattoo into a beautiful color tattoo that I get compliments on still. When my husband and I decided to get each other tattoos for Christmas, there was no hesitation. It was great to see him take our ideas and make them into something so much better than we thought of. I highly recommend him to anyone ready to get tattooed. He's creative, friendly, works fast, and the artwork comes out great and lasts! As a whole the facility is awesome, convenient, clean, and staff is great. Scheduling and payments were super easy and a reminder call was great! Read Less

I have received two tattoos from Lance at Slave To The Needle. I have to say, his work is incredible. I walk into the shop with an idea and he creates it into something I could have never imagined myself. He creates works of art and he is an easy guy to shoot the breeze with. He makes you feel as though you are sitting with an old friend you haven't seen in awhile.I seriously cannot recommend him or Slave To The Needle enough. Read Less

First time at Slave and it was great! Clean, real chill and relaxed; Jason (my artist) was quick, did great work and was easy to work with. I've been looking for a good studio for a bit now and I definitely found it. I'll be going back. Soon. Read Less

This shop was extremely clean and staff very professional! Dan did an amazing job on both my Mom's and my tattoos. He freehanded my piece and it turned out beautifully! Great experience for sure! My only complaint was not knowing that they charged $175 an hour if your tattoo went longer than 2 hours, instead of the $100 an hour otherwise. My tattoo took just shy of an hour and a half and I was charged the over 2 hour rate. The final price was a bit of a shock. I'm tattooed over half my body too so this wasn't a first time thing for me. Would I go back? Yes, especially with the quality of work that was done. It would just be nice to know the price difference before I had scheduled so I was prepared. Read Less

My first tattoo (I'm 63).  Lance was highly recommended by a colleague, and therefore I scheduled with him.  He's truly an amazing artist, and the experience was wonderful from start to finish.  The atmosphere it the building was very cool, and everything was very clean.  Lance is the best!  My sister is scheduling with him for her first tattoo in September.  Great experience and perfect results! Read Less

I usually get my tattoo's done in Tacoma, but made an appointment for Rok to get a portrait, and to just try something different. The day before, I asked i could switch the tattoo from a portrait, to a quote, in which they said that should be fine and i could just talk to Rok about it at the appointment. I appreciated they were accommodating. Although, Rok didn't see me until an hour after my scheduled appointment, but i blew it off because i didn't have much to do that day anyway. Then he told me he didnt have enough time to do a sketch of a cartoonish puppy for me next to my quote. After talking, he brought me up different fonts that i could choose, i chose one and he begin tattooing me about ten minutes later. Lets just say, he is not one for small talk. He seemed a little irritated that i changed my tattoo plan last minute, and when i asked for my deposit back after i paid, the front desk girl was very irritated and not very friendly about it. I absolutely LOVE my tattoo, Rok is very talented, and that's exactly what i went there for. Although, i don't think i will go back because the person i usually go to does just as great of work, and she is sweet as ever! In closing, i just think that if you're looking for someone who is friendly, i wouldn't go here. GREAT work though. Read Less

Jason (I think-sorry unsure!) was my artist, this was my first tattoo that my friend paid for my 21st. This place has a really cool vibe to it, it's clean, the staff is so friendly. My artist had really warm, gentle steady hands- and was super nice. We are returning in a few weeks for my friends tattoo. 100% recommend- you won't regret coming here (as for your choice of tattoo- you're on your own lol) Read Less

I was feeling really nervous about getting my septum pierced but read good reviews for this shop and am so happy I came here. Justin took the time to find the perfect placement for my septum ring and I barely felt the needle going in! Everyone was super friendly and professional, shop was really clean, definitely would recommend to a friend! Read Less

Friend and I did a walk in for our first tattoos, the staff was super nice and did an amazing job. They eased our nerves and made us feel comfortable would recommend anyone to come here. We didn't have super detailed tattoos done but they did an amazing job with ours :) Read Less

Great place to go as long as your not picky about design or color. shop was clean. I asked for a rain cloud with Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet, ROYGBIV, The design that I provided had 8 lines, The person giving me the tattoo said he would just add in some other colors, I told him, no, lets just drop one line and stick to ROYGBIV only. No extra colors. He confirmed ROYGBIV. and now I have ROYGBBI and a dot of V. If you just wanted a tattoo to get one and no request sure, go for it. Otherwise I would take caution. Read Less

This place is the best bet for your money. Everyone was nice and very friendly. Also, be prepared to walk out of the tattoo shop with an unique piece that no one else could ever have like you (in a good way)!Eli did my first tattoo and he went beyond what I expected. He caught my idea very fast at the consultation and was very professional about the scars that I needed to cover up. They might be a bit more expensive than other shops, but overall you get what you pay for. Read Less

Elijah Cole is seriously talented! My mom and I got matching forearm seashells with lots of lines and both of our tattoos healed looking exactly like they did the day we got them (well less swollen) he took our idea and drew up an amazing design and totally made the same tattoo personalized to each of us perfectly! Thank you Slave to the Needle! Read Less

I spoke with an artist at Slave for the better part of a year working on a sleeve design. I live two hours away. We spoke frequently, via telephone and in person, getting the idea just right. Then, the time comes for needle to skin, and I get the "this piece really isn't my style". While I do appreciate an artist that doesn't want to do a piece, why string me along for a year? I now have the sleeve, done by a different Seattle shop, and the results are better than I could have imagined. Not only that, this reminds me of the utter condescension of individuals that work at Slave. If you're not part of some tattoo clique, you're viewed as a nuisance. I actually stopped by Slave after finishing a tattoo session at another shop to pick up a different nose ring. I received raised eyebrows by all the moment I walked in because "oh my God this guy got tattooed somewhere else!", and was told "go sit in the lounge". I complied, and waited almost 30 minutes before finally coming to my senses and leaving, never to return to a shop who makes their customers feel like shit while riding some high horse they think they've earned (they haven't - their work is sub par). Learn some humility, Slave. Read Less

If I could rate any higher I would! My tattoo by Justin turned out absolutely stunning and better than I could've hoped!! The second I walked in the door everyone was super helpful and kind. This was my first tattoo experience and it was great! Will be returning for my future tattoos for sure! Read Less

Amanda Riner is amazing! Such a creative artist and colorful spirit :) Her line work and quality is impeccable and she is crazy fast! No one can believe my tattoo took less than 1.5 hours to complete and it's on point! I'd recommend this shop and Amanda to anyone. Thanks Slave to the Needle :) Read Less

Kristjan is an incredibly talented artist, would definitely recommend him to new and old tattoo shoppers. He is friendly and welcoming to newcomers, and will do his best to owe your spirits up if your in for a long session. (He voluntarily worked with me from 10pm-1:30am to finish a job, and was actively conversational the whole while) Amanda is also an excellent choice. What makes slave to the needle worth the extra price is the safety, quality, and the integrity of the ar...tists; many of them aren't afraid to push back against what their experience tells them might be an ill advised tattoo idea. In the end, your tattoos end up better and longer lasting thanks to the integrity and courage of the artists who aren't just here to do what you want and take your money irrespective of the end quality of the work. I came in with what I thought I wanted but after some conversation I was given a tattoo beyond what my limited knowledge of artistry could have achieved. 10/10! See More Read Less

have quite a few pieces ranging from 30 minutes under the needle, to a half sleeve incorporating an older small piece (both pieces done by Slave artists)- incredible work, friendly staff, worth every penny Read Less

I had a tattoo done here back in November of 2016 by Kiwi Matt.  I unfortunately had to make an emergency move after the tattoo and didn't get to come back for a picture of it.  That being said, the tattoo is flawless.  His use of color, shading, and design were nothing but the work of a true artist.  Kiwi took my idea and really made it come to life.  I could not be happier with the result.  If I still lived even remotely close to Seattle I would have my next piece done by him. Read Less

AARON BELL is the funnest artist i've ever worked with. Laid back, awesome environment and aaron is full of interesting stuff to talk about with. When it comes to tattooing your body for hours and hours that's always a plus. Not to mention his samurai sleeve we have been working with is maybe halfway done and i've never had so many comments or praises on any work i've had done. 10 stars. Read Less

I just got a nape piercing done here, and I couldn't be more thrilled with it! Josh was incredibly kind and informative, and I will absolutely go here for any future piercings I get. Would highly recommend!! Two of my friends got piercings as well, and are extremely satisfied. A wonderfully warm and professional environment. Read Less

I got my septum pierced last Sunday by Adam and it was an awesome experience. I had no idea what I was doing or anything about the process, but he helped me out every step. Plus the whole thing took like half an hour including chatting. Thanks! Read Less

This place doesn't disappoint. The staff is super friendly and accommodating, and the artists are in a league of their own. Kris's line work is phenomenal and I'm looking forward to several more pieces Read Less

Elijah is THE man. He totally understood what I was looking for with the designs for my hands and had it all prepped by the time I got there, I am so happy and excited about the results.  Really amazing quality work, will be gong back to Elijah for more work very soon.  Would highly recommend to anyone looking for anything between classic traditional and portraiture.  Thanks man! Read Less

Great experience from start to finish. Levi just completed an octopus 3/4 sleeve for me and he is an insanely talented artist and consummate professional. So sad that he's moving to L.A. but I wish him the best of luck on his future endeavors. Everyone at the shop is very friendly and helpful so I'm sure to be back, when I get inked again. Read Less

Shout out to Elijah from slave to the needle for my tattoo. Very professional and experienced for sure. Great tattoo and great time here, my tattoo has gotten non stop compliments. I would definitely recommend Elijah to anyone looking for a great tattoo. Read Less

Eli Bischoff is an amazing artist. He's booked for months but if you want a one of a kind piece then it's worth the wait. I flew in to get mine from him after seeing several of his pieces on friends and on his Instagram page. Couldn't be happier. The rest of the crew were friendly and helpful. Read Less

Received a surface anchor from Adam and he was amazing! A flawless experience, such a great, clean and friendly shop! I highly recommend going and seeing Adam if you want ANY piercing! I would rate them more than 5 stars if possible. Read Less

Amanda is so very very talented! I was always hesitant on getting tattoos in fear that they would turn out terrible.. but I whole heartedly trust Amanda- her skill level is amazing! Her line work, creative abilities, shading, etc. is unbelievable. She definitely took any doubts I had away and I highly recommend her to anybody. Her passion and love for her work transpires in each and every piece she does, and a quality like that is hard to find! I'm so lucky to have had both of my tats done by her! Read Less

This place is AMAZING!! The shop is immaculate!! My husband had his tattoos done by Aaron. So when I finally decided I was ready for mine, Aaron recommended Elijah because of the kind of tatoo I wanted. I emailed the information about what I wanted and was nervous that I wouldn't like it because I hadn't even talked to him or met him. But when I got there what Elijah drew up for me was better than anything I could of ever imagined!! I LOVE IT!!! Thank you Elijah!!HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!! Read Less

Aaron Bell at Slave to the Needle has tattooed me several times and many hours. This is the only shop I would ever go to and I drive 2 hours to get there. The shop and all the artists are first class... Read Less

Over the years of getting tattooed at a few places, this place is hands down the best all around. From great customer service, the amazing artist and super clean shop! Everyone is very welcoming and no judgement whether your a first timer or a regular- very professional. I have had 4 tattoos done with Kiwi Matt and could not be happier!!! Read Less

I absolutely love this place.   When I finally decided to start getting tattoos in order to celebrate my life, I knew I wanted a quality shop; Slave to the Needle was highly recommended by my co-workers.  Although I have started with small pieces on my arms and shoulders, I know that my big piece is going to be a phoenix, so when I was looking for a particular artist to work with, I checked out the website.  The website is very user-friendly and I was able to easily navigate through all the artists' books and admire their artistry.  The site also has some terrific information as to the tattooing and piercing processes as well as aftercare for both procedures.  Very handy for a novice who wants to do her homework like me.Therefore, I looked for an artist who did beautiful mythical creatures; Elijah Cole was it.  We forged an awesome working relationship, and he has worked with all of my ideas, even if they were a little unusual, whether the color palette or actual design.  I now have 6 tattoos: all are absolutely beautiful and I'm proud to show them when I can.I am taking a bit of a breather from the needle while I save up for my phoenix, but I am looking forward to working with Elijah in the future.  All the other artists and the support staff at both places are awesome as well (went to the Ballard location to get my ears re-pierced, go to Wallingford for my tats), they are very clean shops and they all know what they're doing.  They are a bit on the pricey end, but this is something you don't want to skimp on.  They do high quality work and are well worth the money I've paid.HIGHLY recommended. Read Less

This is by far the best shop in Seattle. Rok, who specializes in black and grey is one of the most talented artists in the Pacific Northwest. It's incredibly hard to come by an artist who can do portraits like he can. I highly recommend Rok, he's a major talent! Read Less

Since last year I've had my half sleeve in progress.  A lot of people come here because of word of mouth and the popularity.First off having a asepsis environment is different from a clean environment. The front desk thought it would be a good idea to take the trash out come back in and touch the sterilizer without washing hands or using gloves. OSHA VIOLATION. Next the artist, Eli. Young and just moved here. "Completed" my half sleeve. The lines are like when a pen runs out of ink and it doesn't write the word all the way so you have to go over it again. I've requested a touch up and he said I am being nit picky and he won't do it unless I pay for the work again. I already paid of the work why the hell would I pay for it again. First off I am not nit picky, it's on my body so if I request something a tattoo artist needs to fix you should be proud of your work and be happy to fix something regardless of what it is. Every time I had an appointment the artist needed to leave for periods of time. It's called time management. Clean up your shop correctly and clean up your unprofessional attitude. Read Less

My wife got a tattoo done here in November by Elijah and I've worked with him to get two tattoos over the last couple months (both were custom art pieces and Elijah totally rocked them).  The shop is clean and the quality of the tattoo art is incredible.  I got my first tattoo at this shop about 7 years ago and I still get compliments on how great it looks.I wouldn't send friends anywhere else except here for their tattoo work. Read Less

I got a tattoo here last September while I was visiting family.  I went to the Ballard shop and worked with Daniel.  I got a chrysanthemum on my left arm and I wanted to sprinkle in some sakura here and there.  He doodled it out for me so I could see how it looked and I'm glad he did - didn't dig the sakura.  Daniel was a little more heavy-handed than the other two artists I'd seen, but he was incredibly fast and his coloring was really well done.  I went in at 8:00pm and was scheduled to be there until closing but he finished in just about two hours.  He was also really friendly.  He asked me what I study in school (religion and history) so our two hours flew by with ramblings about religion and that Ricky Gervais movie. I'm not sure if it's just a Hawaii thing to have tattoos wrapped in a paper towel and tape after you're done, but I was really happy that he wrapped pink gauze tape around my arm instead of just slapping a paper towel on my arm.  This place really raised my standard for tattoos and I'm hoping to get more work done by Daniel.  He does really nice floral (really nice anything, actually) and you can check out his work both on the website and his Instagram (@bloodminer).  It's been over a year and I'm still completely enamored with my tattoo. Read Less

Slave to the Needle is the best of the best. I wouldn't go anywhere else for a tattoo. Top-notch artists, clean shop, friendly staff - everything is perfect.I got my first two tattoos done by a guest artist.  My third was done by Rok and my fourth by Eli. All four were great experiences and I'm totally satisfied with my body art. :) Read Less

I hope my review doesn't make it even harder to get in with my artist, Rok than it already is, but I just love my new tattoo so much that he deserves credit for it. I'll post a picture after I get it touched up. Every where I go, I literally keep getting compliments on it and with my profession of being able to have my tattoos be visible, I get remarks on it every single day from clients, positive remarks of course. I can see why Slave to the Needle is the premier shop to go to for your tattoo here in Seattle! The shop is super clean and professional in the work they do. They have another location in Ballard I believe, but I went to the one in Wallingford. It is a super easy location right off the freeway and finding street parking is easy too. I have been wanting this piece forever and it took well over a year for me to finally get it because I am not sure if high end tattoo artists' nature are just flaky/unreliable are not, but I've visited so many shops with artists not replying to me or doesn't even show up for an appointment. I actually lost a deposit somewhere because I lost trust in the artist's lack of professionalism. It took me about 4-5 months to get in with Rok, but he definitely showed up and was ready to do my tattoo! If you are looking for someone who specializes in black & gray, portraits, or realism, he is your guy. I'm also surprised with the size of my piece, it took shorter than I expected so yay.Current price is $150 per hour for projects like mines that required more than one sitting. Read Less

This was the second time I had a tattoo done at Slave to the Needle. The fist time I went to the original location in Ballard and had a tiger done. The young man did the whole thing freehand and I was very happy with the details of it.I had my tattoo done by "The Spaniard" at this location. I went in looking for a cover up tattoo since my very first one I had was mistakenly done without much research in Renton and it was a half butt job without proper coloring and it was shamefully small and the lines were not smooth.I really liked the cover up tattoo results of course and my dragon was far better and proper compared to the old one underneath.Anyway, the work was well worth it and I have attached a picture so you can see it is a cover up. It is a bit obvious since just the black area was used to cover it; it's no Pussykat Tattoo cover up.Scheduling is a bit difficult since they are so popular and well word of mouthed. I am happy with my tattoo but overall, personally, these are not the best I have ever seen so I can't give it 5 stars. But I am definitely a fan. Read Less

I have two tattoos from at this location. He is a great guy who is quite talented with traditional tattoos. Also he works quickly and efficiently. Everyone in this shop are professionals and friendly to boot. I have never received attitude walking into this shop and I've never been sent to voicemail when calling either!There is a reason this business wins awards so often. I have never tried to do a walk-in here, there are more of a custom tattoo purveyor. Setting up a consultation is always your best bet. Read Less

I've been tattooed here are few times and it is amazing! I literally count down the days before every sitting. Everyone here is super down to earth and friendly and the counter staff usually remembers my name whenever I come in. I've never seen a bad tattoo come out of the shop and people stop me wherever I go to ask me where I'm getting my work done. It's a little expensive, but I mean money shouldn't be an issue when it comes to marking yourself permanently and in my opinion, it's more than worth every cent. This is the only place I'll ever get tattooed and you'd be wise to do the same. Read Less

Had my 3rd tattoo done here by Erika and her amazing talent . Her work is stellar. Everyone here is a true professional and does beautiful tattoo work. I have recommended this tattoo parlor to several of my friends and all have been 100% satisfied with the work and the overall experience. Read Less

Getting ink etched into your skin is not the most pleasant physical experience, but the expertise and friendliness of the staff at Slave to the Needle make it a great social and psychological one. Though I have only gotten one tattoo from these guys, if the desire ever hits me to get another, I will gladly darken their doors. Read Less

I am so completely impressed with the needlework on my most recent tattoo. It?s been a tradition of mine to get tattooed after what I view as ?milestones? in my life so I?m very particular with who I go to get the work done. I now have two tattoos from Aaron at Slave to the Needle and I cannot recommend him enough to people interested in getting a solid tattoo. His hand is steady, colours are vibrant and can shade like no other. You?re unlikely to find anyone else who can make you as proud to have his art on your skin. Read Less

My wife and I decided to get matching tattoos for our 30th Anniversary. We followed the recommendation of my son (which in this case was actually a good idea) and went to the Slave to the Needle in Wallingford. I won Read Less

I had touch up work done at Slave to the Needle yesterday and though I am still a little sore, I am really happy with the job they did. I was recommended Slave to the Needle by my friend Amanda and decided to give them a try on touching up an older tattoo that has started to fade a bit with time. The darn thing looks absolutely amazing, and I think it might look better than it did when I first got it. Slave to the Needle definitely passed my trial run, if I get a new tattoo in the future, I am for sure going there. Read Less