Ready for some new ink? Whether it’s your first or your tenth time, finding a tattoo shop + artist that suits you is important. We’ve rounded up seven local tattoo shops to help you get started.
Before we get to business, here’s a crash course on some of the most common tattoo styles
:
- American traditional — think bold black outlines, simple shading, and limited colors like red, yellow, blue, and gray. Common designs include pin up girls , eagles, anchors + skulls.
- New school — inspired by graffiti, hip hop, cartoons, and pop art, this style is characterized by vibrant colors and cartoonish themes.
- Geometric — made popular in the 21st century, this style incorporates repeating patterns , basic geometric shapes, and symmetry.
- Realism — wait, is that a real photo? Nope, just the work of shading, fine lines, contrast, and 3D shapes .
Choose your fighter below. ⬇️
Atomic Tattoos Lakeland , 2405 S. Florida Ave.
These local artists have been active in Lakeland for 20+ years and offer custom designs .
Black Swan Tattoo
, 2947 S. Florida Ave.
Pro tip: Visit them on Friday the 13th anytime for $13 flash tattoos.
Beyond The Veil Tattoo , 5313 S. Florida Ave.
Color us inspired. We’re here for this Lakeland-inspired tat .
Gaslight Tattoo Company , 509 S. Florida Ave.
Pro tip: Shop for vinyl while you’re there via The Wax & The Needle .
Holy Grail Tattoos and Piercing , 121 E. Alamo Dr.
These award-winning tattoo artists specialize in tats that look just like the real thing .
Lyons Den Tattoo Company , 6635 S. Florida Ave.
This shop, owned and operated by local tattoo artist Craig Lyons, offers new school, geometric, and realism-style tattoos.
The Emporium Lakeland , 4035 S. Florida Ave.
Looking for something unique? Some of The Emporium’s artists specialize in combining styles to form a unique and cohesive piece.
Have a shop we didn’t share? Tell us all about it
, or better yet, send us photos of your own Lakeland-inspired tattoos. We might just get one ourselves.