There’s nothing wrong with owning your body—and decorating it with unique art is a brilliant way to achieve that. Though it may sound cool, getting a tattoo is a huge commitment and you need to consider the pros and cons thoroughly before letting the needles sink into your skin.
If you’re really dead-set on getting inked, then it’s time to decide where to get your tattoo. Bangkok has an array of high-caliber tattoo studios that can do body art of any scale and style, from a cute minimalist pattern to an over-the-top, intricately detailed design. Take a look at six shops that have gained many followers on the online world as well as great reviews for their masterly skills.
Style: Asian sensibilities
Tattoo enthusiasts know this spot very well. Cape Town-born Dillion Pienaar is the kingpin of Common Ground Tattoo whose expertise is known for illustrating intricate Asian paintings on body. Pienaar also usually invites international tattooists to help him out at the Chinese-house-turned-tattoo-parlor.
Style: Classic meets modern
Inkception is one of the most popular studios in Bangkok, frequented by both tattoo newbies and veterans, as well as Thai celebrities. Five resident artists can basically ink any design you wish to mark on your skin: old school, cartoon-inspired or even cute iconography.
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Style: Realistic to conceptual
Narongdate Khumpun, one-half of Sweethome Tattoo Parlour, also runs another endeavor named Lonewolf Studio. Here, he’s joined by a horde of talented artists whose artistic skills cover anything from a simple geometric design to more complex life-like drawings.
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Style: Traditional
If cute and minimal isn’t your style, then Mimp Tattoo Bangkok is the place to get leveled-up ornamental body art bordering on the extreme. You can just imagine a Japanese yakuza gangster coming to this place to get tattooed with an intimidating dragon tattoo or a sinuously styled bird feather.
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Style: Cute, vivid, multicolored
If you think that tattoos are mostly intense tribal-inspired drawing on the grim grayscale, think again. At this parlor, the skin art veers towards colorful and cheery, with a layer of humor and happiness. Shopyoyoyo can give you a unique tat in the brightest hues that would really reflect your unique personality. No need to copy anyone.
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Style: Old school with a contemporary twist
Tattoo parlors are not always dodgy, dimly lit affairs as portrayed in movies. Sweethome actually looks like someone’s cozy living room, complete with the vibrant wall art, area rug and book-lined shelves. Tattoo pros Boss Chawat and Narongdate Khumpun can do anything, from small but adorable illustrations to large-scale images that display immense attention to detail.
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Style: Minimalist, cartoon, iconography
First-timers can kick off their tattoo journey with something low-key at this studio. Wine Tattoo specializes in cartoon-inspired art that resembles the cute doodles on your notebook margin. The resident tattooist, Mine, is a woman, so this shop is ideal for ladies who are shy about revealing their skin.
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