
Skilled Tattoo Artists in Pill Hill, CA
You know what's worse than a bad haircut? A bad tattoo. At least hair grows back. We deal with cover-ups and laser removal consultations daily because people picked the wrong shop. Choosing a trusted tattoo shop isn't rocket science, but somehow people still screw it up. They go with whoever's cheapest or closest instead of doing basic research.
We opened in Berkeley back in 2008 and we're still here because we never stopped caring about the work. Every piece that leaves our studio represents our reputation, so we don't let garbage walk out the door.
Fifteen Years of Not Screwing Up
Talk means nothing in this business. Show us your healed work from five years ago, and we'll tell you if you're worth trusting. Old Crow Tattoo Shop survived this long because we actually know what we're doing. Hannah Wolf didn't hire her friends or take chances on people who "seemed promising."
Every artist here proved themselves before touching a single client. Mick's been doing this longer than most people have been alive. Eduar makes other artists jealous with his technical skills. Ocean brings ideas nobody else thinks of. Arie creates pieces that make people stop and stare. Carlos is our apprentice, and he's learning from the best. We didn't get good by accident.
Reality Check Time
Your Pinterest tattoo idea probably won't work. That font is going to be unreadable in three years. That placement will look weird when you gain weight or get older. Most shops won't tell you this stuff because they want your money more than they want you to be happy.
We'd rather have the awkward conversation now than watch you hate your tattoo later. Some designs just don't translate to skin. Some placements are disasters waiting to happen. Some color combinations fade into ugly brown blobs. We've seen it all, and we'll save you from making expensive mistakes.
Just Normal People Who Happen to Be Really Good at Tattoos
We're not trying to be the coolest kids in school. Half the tattoo industry acts like getting inked is some sacred ritual that requires special knowledge to understand. That's garbage. We sterilize everything because that's literally our job. We keep the place clean because anything else is gross. We treat people with respect because we're not jerks.
Pretty simple stuff that apparently not everyone figured out. You can bring your mom or your nervous friend who faints at the sight of needles. We'll take care of everyone.
Whatever You Want, Done Right
Big custom piece that needs months of planning? We're in. Simple flash tattoo you saw on our wall? Done perfectly. Carlos watches everything we do and asks great questions that keep us sharp. Guest artists come through and show us new techniques.
Flash days let you see our work before committing to anything. Monthly hangouts give you time to get comfortable with whoever might be tattooing you. No sales pressure, just real talk about tattoos.
About Pill Hill
Pill Hill people don't mess around. You guys research everything before spending money, which makes total sense when we're talking about permanent body art. This neighborhood gets that cheap tattoos aren't a bargain - they're expensive mistakes waiting to happen.
You understand that good work costs what it costs, and trying to save money usually backfires. We love working with clients who take this seriously and want to do things right the first time.
Stop wasting time with shops that don't know what they're doing. Come to our Berkeley studio and get the tattoo you actually wanted.
other areas we serve: