The Ink Lab

Very disappointed by the service here. Went in on my 18^th birthday, knowing the accept walk-​ins. Not knowing much about tattoo pricing, I got a small wrist tattoo, two arrows, each about two inches long each for 180 $. Around the same time, a few of my friends also got tattoos (from other shops). Their work was amazing, some even 4 times the size of my piece, and less than $ 100. I am very disappointed that I agreed on such a high price for my tattoo. Although the piece itself was wonderfully done, I definitely would not recommend. There is no question I will go elsewhere for my next tattoo.

Worst service ever.
I have never been tattooed here. That said, the treatment that I and my friends received when we came in (after confirming they do walk ins) for a walk in tattoo was inexplicably rude. To the point that I would never choose this place for any future work.
I was accompanying two of my friends who were getting matching tattoos. The tattoos were very simple, fifteen minute (I know because we went somewhere else afterward) affairs. A simple link of black text, no font work, shading, coloring, etc. needed.
We went in, confirmed (again) that they do walk ins, showed them the design and asked for a quote. The receptionist (and tattooist, I think– not sure) said $ 165 per person.
Hold up. This isn’t a complicated design, or a particularly renowned tattoo shop (it was a little dirty, to be honest). I am familiar with tattoo pricing, and that is ridiculous for the design. I have a simple swan design on the back of my neck that cost me $ 70 (from a reputable shop), my friend has a full color, very detailed, with shading, quite large tattoo on his calf that cost him $ 250. You see the discrepancy?
We asked what the minimum was, and what tattoo would cost that little. He said $ 70, but that no tattoo is ever that cheap (not true) and minimums are a lie. I said I could get the same quality tattoo for that price at another shop, he cussed at us and told us to «go get a shitty tattoo at a shitty shop if you want.»
So, we went to Fluid Ink in St. Paul. Same tattoo, $ 70 per person. Much friendlier service. I would not set foot in Ink Lab if you are looking for friendly, clean, and reasonable service.

Horrible. Horrible. Horrible. Got a tattoo from Kryss. Got insanely infected. Went in to show her and all I go was a shrug and «yep that’s infected.» Not even an apology. Had to get on meds, arm turned green and smelled like cheese. When I would try to sleep I’d roll over on my infected arm and the pain would wake me up. Quite possibly the worst experience one could have from a tattoo shoppe. Can’t believe they’re still open. Go to Saint Sabrina’s. They know what they’re doing, they care, and their shop isn’t dirty.

Can’t speak for the shop as a whole seemed different then most not a lot of displayed work, etc. The receptionist was kind of a troll but Charlie seen me as a walk in and did a really great job at a very reasonable price. 5 stars for the artist, but more of a 3.5 for the shop.

I got a piece designed here. Douglas Hardy is a great tattoo artist. Very reasonable price.

Had my masonic tattoo done here. It is an architectural tattoo and is pretty difficult due to the exactness of the straight lines involved. The tattoo artist did a great job, it looks perfect and here I sit 9 years later and it hasn’t faded. I suggest checking them out

The Ink lab is one of the best tattoo shops in the twin cities. Go check out the extensive portfolios of work from the accomplished artists there if you don’t believe me. David Dettloff, I would argue is one of the Best Tattoo artists in the Midwest. I would recommend him if you are thinking of doing any large work. His skill, attention to detail, and use of color bend traditional ideas of what was once thought possible to achieve with ink and needle. He creates lifelong works of art not just mere fashion flash tattoos.

This is for piercing… I’ve never been tattooed here.
There’s a special place in my heart for The Ink Lab. I got my first and longest lasting body piercing here (navel). I was 16 at the time and after relentlessly begging my parents and proving to them that I’d done my research on a reputable shop, they agreed to sign-​off on me getting pierced.
The three of us walked in and filled out the paperwork together. Everything checked out and I was led to a clean room in the back. The woman that pierced me (Kryss) explained everything and put my nerves at ease. I had that piercing (complete with the simple, original jewelry) for seven years.
I returned to The Ink Lab when I got my tongue pierced and had another great experience.
My most recent trip here was when I wanted a jewelry change on a piercing I’d received at another shop because I thought it looked too big. Turns out I was pierced with completely inappropriate jewelry (the balls on the bar were too big and sloooowly pushing the piercing outwards… nothing I was able to notice but I was so glad my piercer pointed it out). My jewelry was changed to a smaller bar that looked and felt much better.
Jewelry selection isn’t as impressive as some other places but they tend to have more reasonable prices.
As far as I remember they take walk-​ins but it never hurts to call ahead of time.

This place sucks. When I came here for my second tattoo they wouldn’t let anyone come back with me while the work was being done. I also came here with a friend and while she was getting her tattoo she suggested changing one color in the tattoo and the artist threatened to mess up the tattoo if she didn’t let him do it the way he wanted to.

This shop has lots of reviews on other sites. I’m not sure why there are none here… So I will write mine!
My boyfriend and I came in for tattoos. We live out of town so we did all our communicating with the shop and artists over phone and email. There was some confusion over exactly how to schedule our appointments without coming in first but I just followed up with our artists and everything was resolved.
My artist was Charlie. He had improved on the original design I emailed to him and had 3 different versions of my design drawn when I came in.
My boyfriend’s artist was Ernesto. He talked with my boyfriend about how he wanted the background of his tattoo to look and drew something up while we waited.
We were both happy with the tattooing process. It took about an hour, we talked about aftercare and took a couple pics. I gave pretty loose color guidelines on my tattoo and was surprised at how much detail Charlie put into the color. He could have just used one color because techinically that’s all I asked for but he did a great job of making my tattoo beautiful.
My boyfriend left color choices up to Ernesto. I think Ernesto did a nice job of matching the color of the different elements of his tattoo.
Only complaints are that set up took a while because we were the first clients of the day and we were trying to spend as little time there as possible since we were just in for the weekend. If you just count the time I was actually being tattooed, the tattoo was expensive. If I count all the set up and drawing time, it was about average.
Overall, great place, friendly staff, talented artists!