The history of tattoos dates back thousands of years, but you don’t have to wait that long to book an appointment. Luckily, Athens is home to a good amount of tattoo and body piercing shops, all with their own, distinct atmosphere and of course — pricing.
Here are six tattoo shop options Athenians and visitors to the Classic City might want to check out.
1. Pink Goblin Tattoo
Where: 149 Oneta St. Suite 6C8
Price: $60 minimum
Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 1-6 p.m.
Pink Goblin is a female-owned tattoo shop and is self-described as a “safe space for all genders, religions, races and orientations” on its website. Kim Deakins is the owner and specializes in floral and geometric tattooing and is available by appointment. If you’re looking for a walk-in, Lydia Hunt, a tattooer of three years, accepts walk-ins during business hours. For those interested, Pink Goblin also has shirts for $20-$25 shipped.
2. Pain & Wonder
Where: 285 W. Washington St.
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, 1-7 p.m.
Price: $60 minimum, $150/hour
Customers who visit Pain & Wonder can pick designs from its art selection or have the available designs tailored to their liking. Pain & Wonder’s artists can also bring individual ideas to fruition. The studio also offers body piercings. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are preferred.
3. Chica Lou’s Fine Tattoos
Where: 1580 Prince Ave.
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, noon-7 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, noon-9 p.m.
Price: $100 minimum, $125/hour
Owned and operated by Athens artist Sara Fogle, Chico Lou’s Fine Tattoos is a studio that offers quality tattoos in the Normaltown neighborhood. Chica Lou’s allows walk-ins, as long as an artist is working at the time. Although the shop doesn’t offer piercings, it does have cover-ups available after a consultation. Fogle also specializes in pet portraits that she creates mainly with colored pencils, and she sells her work in her Redbubble store.
4. Classic City Ink
Where: 50 Gaines School Rd.
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, noon-8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, noon-10 p.m.
Price: Varies
Classic City Ink is owned and operated by Dustin Stewart, and offers both custom tattoos within a wide range of styles and genres, and piercings. The studio is closed Sunday and Monday, but appointments are welcome any other day of the week during business hours.
5. Midnight Iguana Tattooing & Body Piercing
Where: 800 Oglethorpe Ave.
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, noon-8 p.m.
Price: Varies
Midnight Iguana was Athens’ first tattoo studio, founded in 1989.The studio offers not only tattoos, but also piercings, tattoo removal, educational lectures and classes. Midnight Iguana is operated and owned by University of Georgia alumnusi Ron Hendon and is a family-owned business.
6. 3 Ravens Tattoo & Piercings
Where: 159 W. Clayton St.
Hours: Monday, Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, noon-6 p.m.
Price: Varies
3 Ravens Tattoo & Piercings specializes in a multitude of tattoo styles, from new school to traditional to black and grey. The studio also offers body jewelry and body piercings, from belly button piercings to more “exotic piercings.”
