There is no shortage of skilled tattoo artists in Houston, Texas. The largest city in the American South has a long-standing reputation as the cradle of tattoo arts, and its ink festivals welcome thousands of talents and enthusiasts from around the country. If you are looking for a creative specialist to work on your first or one-of-the-many tattoos—we have experienced professionals to recommend.
In this article, you’ll enjoy the gallery of stunning artworks of the 10 best tattoo artists in Houston. Our collection is diverse, featuring photorealism, floral designs, traditional and neo-traditional tattoo styles, and a vast variety of themes and techniques. We’ll also give you some recommendations on how to choose a tattoo artist to fit your personality and things you need to know before you get to a tattoo shop.
Best Tattoo Artists in Houston, Texas
Nathan Beavers
Nathan Beavers is one of the most experienced, talented, and versatile artists in the Southern tattoo scene. He’s been practicing since 1994, and during his successful career, he adopted an impressive stylistic portfolio. In the selection below, you’ll see Nathan’s approach to realism, portraiture, surrealism, ornamentalism, and even trendy and easygoing watercolor. When you explore Nathan’s works, you’ll find that he doesn’t shy away from complicated, unorthodox, and intriguing themes, instead, he enjoys unique and challenging ideas. So, if you have such an idea in mind—feel free to reach out to Nathan Beavers via Inkmatch!
Gabriel Massey
Once a student of Dan Martin, now an owner of the Battle Royale Tattoo shop in Houston’s East End, Gabriel Massey has been in business for 16 years and has a flawless reputation. His style has two distinct faces: strict black & grey and shining color. Gabriel’s recent projects feature many colorful projects that give us a chance to appreciate his artistic versatility. From classic Sailor Jerry tattoos to intricate Japanese designs, Gabriel shows off his impeccable color-blending skill. Feel free to enjoy one of the widest ink palettes in the South in the selection below.
Anthony Pham
Anthony Pham weaves his magic in the very heart of Houston. He has carved his own niche by seamlessly blending classic tattoo techniques with modernist and surrealistic elements. You can notice how his art style was influenced by American traditional tattoos, but Anthony has expanded this color palette to work in other styles, including neo-traditional. His masterful use of the red ink is especially prominent. If you are fascinated by this vivid variance or would like to have Anthony’s personal “ghost” design tattooed on you—his art studio will be your best place to get a tattoo in Houston.
Lauren Boulden
Lauren Boulden has a very different style compared to Nathan and Anthony. She is a young artist and has been on the tattoo scene only for 3 years, but has already established a reputation as a skilled fine line and dotwork artist. Thematically, Lauren likes working on dark art designs, but she can also perform animalistic, floral, or even American traditional tattooing. Of all the Houston tattoo artists, her use of color is probably the most deliberate. If you feel that Lauren’s clean yet attentive-to-detail approach suits you, check out her best ink works!
Bill McBee
It is always fascinating to see how different artists bend the boundaries of the same genre. If Lauren’s tattoos can be classified as dark art, Bill McBee gets closer to the horror genre. He’s the best tattoo artist in Houston when it comes to creating an unsettling vibe through the client’s skin. Again, Bill is an experienced and versatile professional, but such creepy tattoo themes are his visiting card. Now you know where to look to make a Lovecraftian cosmic horror appear on your skin in the most impressive way.
Cristian Saldana
Cristian Saldana is one of the most prominent artists on the Southern tattoo scene. He is a specialist who is not just good with many styles—he perfected them. Cristian mastered realism, American traditional, watercolor, ornamental, Japanese, and even trash polka tattoos. Our collection proves that there is really no boundary that he can’t break through, whether it is about color, technique, style, or tattoo subject. Such an expansive skillset is something that you can only attribute to pure talent. One way you get an appointment with one of the best tattoo artists in Houston is via Inkmatch, so feel free to contact Cristian about the details!
Ryan Scroggins
Ryan Scroggins is one of those artists who keep doing their own thing, regardless of what is trending. A musician and a philosopher, he searches for deeper meaning in life. That is why most of his tattoos contain religious symbolism (Ryan is especially passionate about Egyptian mythology).
Compared to other artists on the list, Ryan stands the closest to what is canonically the American traditional tattoo style. His tattoo shop in Houston is a very interesting place to be in, and if you want your tattoo session to become a memorable conversation—check out the selection below and then reach out to Ryan to make your own tattoo design happen.
Diamond Hawkins
The trademark of Diamond Hawkins’ H-town tattoo shop is a medium-sized tattoo with a surrealist design that combines grey elements with vivid colors. At the same time, he is willing to try other techniques like fine line or watercolor. Diamond is still a young member of the Sintown Tattoo shop, and his style remains very fluid, but we might see him settling on one particular stylistic branch in several years. By the way, tattoos are not his only passion—Diamond is also a rapper, so hip-hop might be a topic for your conversation while the tattoo process is ongoing.
Louis Christopher McGlone
Louis Christopher McGlone started tattooing in 2017, 3 years before moving to and opening a tattoo shop in Houston in 2020. By far, black and grey is his favorite tattoo style, although he can add a little bit of color to his ink piece to play on the contrast. Portraiture is considered one of the hardest styles to master, but Louis has done it, which says a lot about his talent. Moreover, he is just as fluent with the traditional palette and floral print as he is with the realism and illustrative styles.
Gabriel Flores
Gabriel Flores is an experienced artist and the owner of the Sintown Tattoo shop in Houston. He’s been on the scene for more than 20 years and not only built his own style but also helped younger artists like Diamond Hawkins rise to prominence. Whether it is lettering or a realistic black and grey piece, Gabriel can perform a large and detailed ink piece in any placement you wish. He has many impressive designs behind his back, and you can check out several of them in the selection below.
How to Find the Best Artist for You?
Now that you know how wide of a choice between the best tattoo artists in Houston you have, you need to figure out whose art style will suit your personality. We decided to focus on three core aspects that you should consider in your decision-making:
?? Artist’s specialization is important because not all artists can easily switch from style to style. As you can see from our tattoo collection, tattoo artists in Houston are famous for their versatility. However, the amount of experience an artist has in a genre matters quite a bit. Scroll through the artist’s profile, see what styles they are comfortable in, and factor this information into your final decision.
? Openness in communication is crucial. Helping the customer to properly prepare for a session is also a part of the tattoo artist’s job. Never hesitate to ask questions that worry you, because, well, those are usually the most important questions. We’ll touch on some of those questions in the section about things you should know before the visit.
? Visiting the studio beforehand is a completely normal request. You entrust the tattoo artist with your money and your health, therefore, you deserve to know what the tattoo shop looks like (is it clean, well-equipped, etc.).
Okay, now that you know that a tattoo shop in Houston is ready for your visit, how should you prepare yourself?
What Should You Know Before Getting a Tattoo?
Some artists send their clients extensive guidelines that explain what they need to do before the tattoo session. Here are the 3 most important things you need to do before you arrive at the Houston tattoo shop on day X.
? Get some good sleep
Good sleep is essential to preparing your body and mind for the tattooing experience. It will be easier to manage pain and stress, and you’ll have a much more positive experience in the studio overall.
? Shave the tattoo spot as instructed
Sometimes, the artist shaves the tattoo spot right before the session. The exact instructions depend on the body placement (for example, often you won’t need to shave your ribs, etc.). The key here is to avoid irritation and cuts.
? Don’t change the design dramatically in the tattoo shop
The artist needs to prepare several versions of your design before you come to a tattoo shop. For example, you want to get a tattoo with some catchy quote but are unsure about the font. You will be provided with several options and make up your mind right before the session starts. But if you discussed an elephant tattoo and upon arrival, you change your mind, and now you want a crocodile—the artist won’t be happy, believe us.
Summary
The American South has been home to many talented tattoo artists, and today, Houston, Texas, remains a welcoming place for skilled tattoo specialists. In this article, we selected the 10 best tattoo artists in Houston and explored their styles. From old-school professionals like Nathan Beavers and Gabriel Flores to rising stars like Lauren Boulden.
We also discussed more general but important details about how to choose a tattoo artist and how to prepare for a visit. We hope you enjoyed our ink collection and that your experience in Houston tattoo shops will be top-notch!
FAQ
? Who Is the Best Tattoo Artist in Houston?
It is hard to point to one particular person, so we explored the styles of the 10 best tattoo artists in Houston and presented their best artworks in our collection.
? How Much Are Tattoos in Houston?
The price of the tattoo depends more on size, the artist’s experience, and the piece’s complexity. The InkMatch has a very useful tool that factors these details to estimate a tattoo price.
? What Are the Styles of Tattoo Artists in Houston?
The tattoo scene in Houston is vivid and versatile. You’ll find tattoos in realism, traditional, ornamental, neo-traditional, and other styles in our collection.
? What Should I Know Before Getting To a Tattoo Shop in Houston?
We highlighted the three most important things you need to know before getting to a tattoo shop in Houston: sleep well, shave the tattoo spot as instructed, and don’t shock the artist with sudden design changes.
