Bethesda Tattoo Company

I loved my experience here.
I have had a rough summer and wanted to give myself a treat by getting a tattoo. I called them on a Thursday and got booked for a consultation with Kevin that Saturday. When I got in there, I was happy to have a seat with someone who asked questions and cared about what I wanted. We talked about size, shape, coloring, and other things that I’ve never thought about.
The atmosphere is open. You’ll be able to see what is going on and so will everyone else. It is clean, well-​lit, and has a great community feeling. Everyone is friendly and no one is a art-​snob (with their talent, they have every right to be). In my 2 appointments and 6 hours in the shop, they were kind to everyone, did some quickies, appointments, and kept their whits about them.
If you are considering a tattoo, this is the place to go. Kevin is great, but if you don’t get him, you will find comfort of the skill set of the other cool cats in there.

Just got my 2^nd tattoo from Bethesda Tattoo, and I think it’s about time I leave the positive review that they most definitely deserve.
I just moved to Maryland for work, and I was very stressed out about finding a tattoo shop that I could somewhat «regularly» visit. After a lot of research online, I decided to try out Bethesda Tattoo. I first got a piece done on my left thigh by Matthew, which he custom made for me; I am very happy with it. And I just got a piece done on my left calf, also done by Matthew.
I’ve gone to tattoo shops in Singapore, Los Angeles, and now here in Maryland, at Bethesda Tattoo. I have to say that Bethesda Tattoo is hands-​down the best place I’ve been to. They really take their business seriously, and it shows; they are professional, knowledgable, and actually really care about their customers. The first piece I got there was something I wanted completely custom made for me — Matthew and I sat down and hashed out all the details; he even began to ask me questions about details I had not even thought about. He really wanted to make sure it was perfect. Even with the 2^nd piece Matthew put on me, although I knew what I wanted, he came up with other renditions just in case I wanted to have other options.
Yes, they are professional, but they team there is also extremely down-​to-​earth. At other tattoo places I’ve gone to, the moment I walk in, I would get the vibe of «you-don’t-have-enough-tattoos-to-be-in-here.» Other shops’ employees tend to be a bit standoffish. NOT HERE! Everyone here, even though they all have a ton of art on themselves, are very welcoming, and you will never get the vibe that you don’t belong there.
Matthew is very friendly and the sessions with him are great. I don’t know if it’s because he’s a lot more experienced than other artists that have done work on me, but when the needle hits my skin, it barely hurts as much as other places I’ve gone to. I’m assuming that other artists I’ve gone to were less experienced, and perhaps pushed the needle way too hard on my skin. But Matthew is really gentle, and his work comes out crisp and clean.
If you’re reading this review right now and trying to figure out which tattoo shop to visit, seriously just give Bethesda Tattoo a call or drop by right now. You will be taken care of!
Also — these people work their asses off; don’t forget to tip!

Quick, friendly and efficient piercer :) thanks for putting my nose ring back in today!

Got my nipple pierced and repierced here by Vanessa after I wanted the angle changed slightly. Vanessa advised me, removed the jewlery, suggested healing time, and repierced it all for free. It hurt and bled more the second time, but that’s to be expected. Excellent service.

This place is really great! Friendly staff incredibly clean. Christian took his time and made me feel comfortable with my first tattoos. I would definitely go back but ask for full cost of tattoo before you get the work done. I was surprised that two little tattoos were $ 200! Also I had them done on my ankles which I guess cost more but I didn’t know that. I also didn’t know that there’s a slight chance the ink would be rejected from the skin because it’s below the ankle. Christian recommended I get a special Band-​Aid at CVS which I got too bad they don’t sell them there.

Called on a random Saturday to see if they had any availability for my friend and I to get decent sized tattoos (A little bigger than my palm). The receptionist was sweet and said that they had some opening spots. They got us in within 2 hours of checking in. I had CHRISTIAN.
I LOVE THE work he did. He does amazing LINE WORK for anyone who has a detailed tattoo in mind. He concentrates on his work but still comes off friendly. Christian will definitely be my tattoo artist for any work I want done while I am stationed out here. Definitely go to christian for any creative or artistic tattoos! Will add pictures once my tattoo is fully healed.

This shop is great. I had a semi custom tattoo done on October 10 with Kevin on my inner bicep. He really listened to what I wanted and asked the right questions during the consultation earlier this summer. That tattoo turned out great and it’s healing really well. The price was also REALLY reasonable.
The receptionists were super nice as well as the other artists in the shop. It’s a very comfortable and clean environment. I’m sticking with this place and Kevin for my future work.

A few friends suggested Bethesda tattoo when I mentioned I was looking for a place to go. I called ahead for a walk in and was able to see an artist that afternoon. I saw Christian and he was amazing! I got a music note on my inner right ankle and had him fix a previous tattoo from a shop in Cleveland, which really needed help! The place was clean and everyone was really nice. Highly recommend!

I called this past Saturday afternoon to see if they had any time to take a consultation. The receptionist Vivian was very nice. I Walked in 2 hours later showed my idea to Vivian who then showed it to an artist who gave a pretty steep quote. I wasn’t expecting to get tatted this day, but I had been putting this off for a long time and no one thought I would actually go through with it.
After some thought I decided to do it. I Booked a same day appointment and met with Kevin. He drew a sketch for me and after some discussion drew another one. He was very chill and patient. Explained the entire process and did a great job.
You get what you pay for, I’d rather not sacrifice quality for price. Great quality and comfortable environment, give them a try.

I was concerned about the price because it seemed high for such a small tattoo ($ 80 shop minimum), but it was definitely worth it. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience with James getting my first tattoo. He was professional but extremely kind. The receptionist was also very friendly. I would recommend this place to anyone who’s been nervously considering a tattoo for weeks (like me). Seriously, just go for it. But definitely go for it here.

I had been looking for a good tattoo shop ever since I moved to the DMV about 2 years ago. I decided to check out Bethesda Tattoo based on a recent review of the best tattoo shops according to
. I work in Bethesda and so it was convenient. I went in to make an appointment for a consultation for two designs I want — one small and one bigger for a later time — and came back a few days later to meet with Christian. Right off the bat, I was impressed with the shop as it was open and filled with a lot of natural light.
My first tattoo experience (in NC) was not good. The tattoo I have from then is horribly blown out and scarred, so I was afraid of a repeat. Christian was awesome. He took the time to talk about both tattoos I wanted and sketched out some ideas right then. He also gave me some great suggestions for the bigger piece I want. Just from meeting him, I felt at ease and trusted him. I even showed him my other tattoo and he said that would never happen at Bethesda, and he even apologized on behalf of the artist who did it.
I came back about a week later (⁵⁄₂₄) for my tattoo. Christian made sure it was exactly what I wanted and where I wanted it. Once we got started, we chatted the entire time and it was a much much better experience than I had with my first tattoo. Even though my design was small, Christian treated it with the same consideration as if it was an elaborate large piece. I can’t go on enough about how great of a job he did to make sure that it was exactly right and perfect. I am beyond happy! I will be heading back to see him again for my larger tattoo.

I had been thinking about a tattoo for awhile now but never really told anyone. I thought long and hard about where (on my body) I’d get it and what I’d get. And after that, of course was the decision of WHERE (shop location) I should get inked.
I had two glowing recommendations for Bethesda Tattoo from people I trust (my former boss who had both of his sleeves done here and a photographer friend). They said it was a little expensive, but it was very clean and the artists were great.
After my 30^th birthday, I decided to just do it. I told 3 friends that I was doing it and NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THEM believed me. And even AFTER I got it, until I sent follow up photos, no one believed me.
I showed up one random Saturday evening to get a quick quote and it turned out they were able to do it right then. I paid the shop minimum ($ 80). I came by myself because I didn’t want anyone to talk me into it or out of it. But I have to admit, after I paid and I was waiting around, I had a moment of… maybe I shouldn’t do it. You know, he hasn’t done it yet… you can still run out of here!
But then this tall, tattooed, bearded guy walked up to me and just started chatting and getting everything ready for me. And I was instantly calm. He didn’t know the thoughts of doubt in my head, he was just talking to me. And for some reason it worked and I was ready to go. His name is James by the way. And he was AWESOME.
I got a heart on my left wrist. And yes, it hurt. At first, I was like… ok this isn’t so bad… wait NOPE. NOPE. That’s sharp! I stared at the ceiling and focused on breathing. Yeah, that worked. And then boom! It was done. (I think it took longer for him to set up than to actually do it.)
Post inking, James went over all of the after-​care items. He sent me home bandaged and with an «after-​ink» care package — A&D ointment, after-​ink lotion and a bottle of soap and typed instructions. He also told me to contact him if I had any questions or concerns for after care maintenance.
I can totally see why people love Bethesda Tattoo. Their new spot on Woodmont is open and bright and everyone seems to love what they do. I don’t foresee myself getting any more tattoos but I would definitely recommend this shop to anyone else looking for more ink.

I had my first tattoo done by Christian this past weekend on my foot. I was a walk-​in, however, I had called that morning to confirm that they were taking walk-​in appointments that day. Although I had never seen their old location, I thought the new one was really great. It was very clean with a fun, open-​concept environment.
Christian was fantastic and made me feel comfortable and at ease. He spent time drawing out what I wanted and then carefully applying it to my skin. We moved it around a bit until I was happy. We chatted the whole time which really helped me not worry about any discomfort, although I didn’t think it hurt bad at all (everyone told me the foot would be super painful! pansies).
My ONLY complaint is that I thought they were really expensive. I got a tiny 4 word phrase about 2 inches long and it was $ 150. The girl at the front told me that was their minimum price for the foot or hand. I was fine with it considering I had a great experience, but I was really unprepared for that considering other places I had called were a LOT cheaper.
Not Christian’s fault– I tipped him well and would go back to him for more if I ever decide I want another. I highly recommend his work and the shop in general, just remember it’s a little pricey.

I just finished my tattoo (this was the second session) and I had Tina working on me. She must be a goddess in disguise. Not only is she a speed demon (they charge by the hour so this is a plus) but her work is incredible. I got a spine on my back. Everything is anatomically correct — from the placement of the vertabrae in relation to my back to the little bumps and crevasses on each individual one. It’s incredible. I’ve gotten so many compliments and I love it.
The place itself is clean, they use sterilized needles, and all of the artists, piercers, and everyone I have come in to contact with there are very friendly and helpful. It may be on the pricier side of things, but it is WORTH IT. You don’t want to skimp on something that will be on your body for a long long time.
I highly recommend Bethesda Tattoo and Tina as well if you’re looking for a tattoo artist!

I have no idea how to rate Bethesda Tattoo. Love the tattoo, love the tattoo artist HATE front desk/​management there.
First of all my husband and I scheduled tattoos which were each 4 hour sessions. We scheduled them several weeks out, and 4 days before we had our tattoo we got a phone call, «Tina currently has pneumonia, WE’RE NOT CANCELING you’re tattoo! Just giving you a heads up, that she might still be sick in a few days».
–That’s fair, totally understand, thanks for the heads up.
On the day of my appointment, I never received any notice that my appt was canceled or still on. So I call before I head there, no answer. As soon as I pay the parking attendant after driving the 30 minutes across town, I get a call returning my call. «Yeah Tina is still out sick, and your appt is canceled.»
So they never bothered to actually cancel my appt.
I wait several more weeks to finally get my tattoo. I was called and informed earlier in the week, «Our credit card machine is down for the entire week, you have to pay in cash»
The entire week!!! Seems like a very odd situation.
On my way to the tattoo place I stop at an ATM, and the max you can take out is $ 400 a day. LUCKILY, my tat was under that, but I was never given an estimate, and i was horrified that I would have to wait EVEN LONGER for my tattoo.
I guess I’m rating this a 2, but TINA IS Great! My husband and I have 2 tats from her.
I definitely won’t be going back to Bethesda because of this situation. Plus I want to mix up who does my tattoos so they won’t look the same.
If you live nearby, and you can pop in, no big deal. I live in DC and will hit up any other place. I initially went with Bethesda because of they’re Unilocal rating.

Vanessa B was a great piercer who reassured me that I could later revisit for them to swap in my own jewelry the first time (a relief considering my then physical handicap). She provided aftercare instructions with a small ziplock packet of sea salt, and adjusted the projected timeline for context. She also followed up with a phone call close to the end of my estimated healing time to see how I was doing. All BTC policies and physical equipment are very hygienic, and the surgical stainless steel is clutch for my metal allergies. My only complaint– the one detail I would’ve liked to know in advance, is unpublished and was not mentioned to me until the first piercing had already been done. They pierce one gauge higher than what you ask for, which is useful after it’s all healed, but I would have liked to have considered that factor when choosing a shop.

I just got my very first tattoo done last night and I can’t recommend this place enough! The establishment itself is very clean, which definitely put my mind at ease. Everyone I came in contact with was very nice. The receptionist (I can’t remember her name right now) was so sweet. I’m pretty sure I had the face of someone going to the guillotine because I was VERY nervous. She talked to me and cracked jokes, I know to help my relax. I appreciated that.
My tattoo was done by Tina, who is awesome. I told her what I was kinda looking for and she got it. I wanted a simple. feminine scorpion tattoo for my foot and I really like what I got. She was so cool and even better quick. It was over before I knew it. I would highly recommend anyone looking to get inked to come here. Keep in mind, this isn’t really a place you can walk right in and get a tattoo done. The artists schedules are really tight, which to me is a testimony to how good they are.
Bethesda Tattoo rock!

Bethesda Tattoo is unique, approachable and professional with a group experienced and talented artists. I have had several tattoos done over the years, but I needed a couple of pieces covered, and could not find the right artist. I had an Alexandria shop on Route 1 do some work, but they really weren’t skilled at doing the best job on a cover up. It also felt like I was bothering them even though I had pre-​paid and was on time.
I came across Bethesda Tattoo, did some research, and met with James, the owner for a consultation. Overall, they gave me some great ideas, listened and worked with my designs, and really stood behind their work. I was in and out in a reasonable amount of time, and got two new pieces that were well-​integrated and covered some older work. The price was fair, quality fantastic and an overall great experience.
James and his team were fantastic and both hospitable and talented. He free handed a few pieces for me, and work with his apprentice to ensure the room was set and ready before I entered. He gave me a lot of freedom to make adjustments to the piece and really did a great job. Again, his talent and focus was there, and I am really happy with the work. I will definitely be back and recommend him and Bethesda Tattoo to anyone looking for quality, reasonable pricing and a professional environment.

When I decided it was time to get my first tattoo, I looked to Unilocal for help! Unilocal said this place was good so my friend and I decided to go check the place out. She got an industrial piercing done by Vanessa, who was super professional, very quick, and personable. She’s great! Setting up the tattoo appointments were a bit of a hassle, but meh, nothing to complain about too much.
Our tattoo artist, Tina, is fantastic! She was really cool about helping us get our tattoo designs just right. My original tattoo design was kind of ugly, but Tina made it beautiful and I am so pleased and happy that I cannot stop staring at pictures of it (since it’s on my back)! Tina is an awesome artist and if I get another one, I’m going to her again! I love the words and the design of my Trust/​bible reference tattoo. My friend got the birds tattoo and we love how clear and perfect such a simple looking tattoo looks! Totally awed by Tina!

I love this place!!! I went here in January for a tattoo party of 4 people and got Kevin!
First of all, the fact that they could schedule me on short notice was great. I was initially planning to going somewhere else but last minute, they told me that they couldn’t do it. –_​– So there I was, looking for a shop that I could take my party and that’s when I found this one! The moment I walked in I fell in love with the atmosphere! I spoke to the owner James (who was so cool and modest that I didn’t realize he was the owner until later) who said we can do it ON my birthday, get everyone done, and the deposit would only be $ 50 each!!!
When we came in, Kevin was already ready with the sketches and was fine doing everyone the same day :) I wanted my baby sea turtle to be a little smaller and he happily re-​did the stencil even though I felt bad for making him do more work! Kevin was perfect and got everyone done under an hour each and the average price for the tattoos were only $ 100 (including the deposit so basically $ 50). I must’ve asked Kevin 100 questions about his wife, dogs, and his job and he didn’t seem to mind at all! I love this shop, how everyone was so nice, and I love love Kevin’s work and personality! I would say get him when getting a tattoo but I bet everyone is great there! But for an artist to do 4 tattoos back-​to-​back in one day with no complaints must be pretty unique!
I’ll be back soon to finish my tattoo Kevin!