Bethesda Tattoo

I had a wonderful experience getting a tattoo coverup with Liaa yesterday. The shop is clean, everyone is friendly, and the atmosphere is great. Liaa listened to what I wanted and created a beautiful piece of art for me. She made sure placement and color were exactly what I wanted, and was patient and kind whenever I needed to take breaks during the tattoo process. She is a lovely and fun person, and talking to her made the (sometimes painful) three hours go by fairly quickly. I love my new tattoo.I also had third earlobe holes done by Erika a few months ago, and she was wonderful as well.I highly recommend this shop!

I went for an ear piercing and could not have had a better experience. Erika was patient, explained everything, and answered all my questions. No one was in a rush. Great selection of piercing jewelry at multiple price points. Incredibly clean and health conscious. Erika was wonderful. Highly recommend!!!!

10/10 stars for Sophie and Erika!Sophie was wonderful and sweet. It was my first tattoo and she checked on every step of the way to make sure I was doing ok.Erika was wonderful for my nose piercing. Explained everything and was as gentle as she could be.The staff were all warm and friendly and an incredibly clean studio.

Really liked my experience here. I was getting my second piercing on my lobes and they made the whole thing easy. They answered all my questions and even got me in before my appointment because I was early. The place is clean and well lit. They use a needle for the piercing.

Jermaine is incredible. He executed my vision to perfection and was an absolute joy to work with. The shop is clean, spacious, and the staff so welcoming and lovely. Thank you so much for an incredible tattoo experience!

I’m a little over 3 weeks out from my tattoo and it’s healing up very nicely. Sophie was wonderful to work with. I wanted cherry blossoms on my leg, so she pulled some reference photos during the consultation and when I arrived for the appointment, she gave me 3 options with varying degrees of detail and number of flowers, buds, leaves, etc. It was definitely helpful to see multiple options before making a final decision, which I’ve never gotten from an artist before. She was also pretty light handed and only a couple small spots near my ankle hurt at all. I’m definitely going back to her in the future.

Took my daughter to get her ears pierced today and it was a fantastic experience. The piercer, Erika, made sure my daughter knew how to take care of the piercings and really made her feel comfortable. Very clean and professional!!

I scheduled a last-minute appointment to remedy a botched helix jewelry change from a less reputable piercing shop. From the moment I walked into Bethesda Tattoo, I knew Id made a good choice. I felt incredibly welcomed and comfortable — everyone was so friendly and so helpful!Erika fixed me up in no time, and with zero judgement for having gotten bad results from having gone to a trendy lil piercing shop for my initial jewelry change. Shes a true expert — removed the old jewelry, gave the whole area a thorough cleaning, and painlessly installed new jewelry. Her aftercare instructions were clear and thorough. What a huge relief. Thanks yall! Ill absolutely be back.

I haven’t gotten any piercings here, but I’ve gone in to purchase jewelry, get consultations, and change out jewelry. The jewelry is a bit pricey but very worth it, the employees are super kind, and very helpful. Erika gave me suggestions that helped me get rid of a very stubborn piercing bump, always a great experience here!

I’ve been coming here for 8 years and had several tattoos done by James and Amber. Always had a great experience and been really happy with the results. The vibe is always welcoming and the manager, Simone, is lovely. 100% recommend :)

Had a great experience recently at Bethesda Tattoo for my first tattoo. They were recommended by a friend and did not disappoint. Overall process was explained clearly, booked time and met with Liaa who absolutely nailed what I was looking for! Clean shop, friendly professionals and artists. Def recommend, Ill happily go back again.

I got my navel pierced today and I am REALLY afraid of needles and piercings but Erika was absolutely amazing. I have never in my life had a more caring and relaxing piercer. She really did try to make the whole experience as calm, enjoyable, and pain free as possible. I 100% recommend her to absolutely everyone!

I have gone to Erika for two ear piercings and she did a great job both times. She clearly has lots of experience and makes the experience as stress free as possible

My friend and I got pierced by Erika today and we had an awesome experience! She was super nice and informative and walked us through everything she was doing :) The jewelry they offer is also super pretty!!

Loved working with Sophie! Easy to make an appointment, everything went smoothly, great facility, every person I met was friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. Highly recommend!

I have gotten two tattoos done by Amber and she did an EXCELLENT job! She is so sweet, easy to talk to, and very communicative. I cant recommend her enough!Everyone at the shop is so kind as well, I definitely felt welcomed and plan to come back!

Love Erika!!! I have gotten six piercings in total from Erika and I cannot stress my appreciation for her enough! She is such a kind and genuine person. I have a lot of anxiety, and she has always helped me through it each time. She is extremely attentive and takes a lot of personal interest in people. She allows me to share life stories and shares some of hers with me to help keep the appointment flowing and my anxiety low. She actually gave me life advice the second time I went that really helped me in the long run as well! It’s crazy that sometimes people don’t even realize what they did for you ☺️I also appreciated that she was patient with me while choosing the jewelry and also the placement of the piercings. I think she redrew the little dots at least four or five times before I could finally settle on one! She never once complained and told me it’s okay when I get apologizing! She is also extremely cautious about keeping the jewelry, your piercing area, her workspace, and honestly everything about the procedure clean/sterile. She has strict rules regarding that and it’s all to keep clients safe! I’m grateful for her carefulness. Anyone who didn’t like her on these reviews probably needs a self evaluation lol. She is good at her job and if she didn’t let you get away with going against policy that’s on you.Honestly, I’m so glad I found her and cannot recommend her enough! Thank you, Erika!

I got my first piercing ever from Erika a couple months ago, and feel I couldnt have had a better experience. I chose to go to her because shes been piercing so long, and her experience really showed. She was friendly, comforting, clear, and thorough, especially with her placement of the piercing. She answered all my questions, took her time, and generally felt like a true professional. My piercing is healing great and I love it. The person I interacted with at the check in/check out was also friendly and kind. Thanks so much, Erika. Recommend!

Great walk-in experience, clean place and nice staff. Definitely can’t wait to visit again. Sophie did an amazing job with my wrist tattoo. I can’t wait to book with her again.

Bethesda Tattoo will be the only parlor I will go to. The environment is forever interesting in the best manner possible and every artist has their own story tied to their amazing personalities. Looking forward to finishing my arm there.

Just got my first tattoo from Victoria here! The experience was absolutely incredible. Everyone who worked there was so nice from the scheduling process to the appointment day, and for such an amazing piece I was so happy with the price. I would highly recommend anyone come here to get a tattoo! The area was nice, the shop was clean, and I couldn’t be happier with the result! Thank you Victoria and Bethesda Tattoo!!

Came here for my first tattoo during the Friday the 13th flash and had Sophia, she was amazing! I had a moment where I wasnt feeling great during the process and she was wonderful about me taking a quick break for some water. Would definitely recommend! Intend on coming back to her for another tat to finish the pair I started with this one.

The staff was very friendly and punctual. Erica was very thorough in explaining the helix piercing process, jewelry selection, and her sterile procedure was impeccable. She was meticulous in her measurements to ensure accuracy to match my current piercings in my left ear in comparison to my right. I’d highly recommend and endorse this business.

I have been coming to Bethesda tattoo for 10+ years and I will never get tattooed anywhere else. The knowledge, quality of work, and friendliness of the staff are amazing. Every artist there does fantastic work but James is truly exceptional. From small dainty pieces to full, complicated and multi-session art, his tattooing skills are off the charts. I get DAILY compliments on my tattoos and I would never go anywhere else.

The tattoo artists are professional, the studio is clean, and everyones pleasant to talk to. I got a cover-up tattoo done there by Painless J. I described what I wanted to him, and a week or two later, he came back with a great design. A few short sessions, and I had my new tattoo done!

I agree with the low ratings. Although the location is convenient, the employees drop the ball. Passive aggressive all-around and shoving pronouns down your throat, not a professional place.

Clean shop with friendly staff. Their piercer, Erika was so helpful and really took her time to make sure we were happy with placement & jewelry. Will definitely be back!Editing to add: got tattooed with a friend and our experience with Pedro was also amazing. He took his time to ensure we were happy with placement and really took his time on the tattoos themselves, making sure he was gentle on our skin. 10/10 would recommend getting tattooed by Pedro, very friendly and professional.

Absolutely love my first time tattoos with Sophia. And Erika was a treat to interact with regarding my piercing. Everyone there was super awesome and really nice and felt no pain. Will def come back again for more tats.

I got my first tattoo here in May 2022 with James. He was awesome to work with and it came out great. Came back for my second tattoo with James in February of 23 and LOVED it. Clean, professional, great work- planning my third now! Great shop- professional- great experience

Erika is the best! I scheduled a last minute appointment for a forward helix piercing change (after dropping and losing my previous piercing). She was super knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about her craft. She even was able to customize my piercings for a better fit. 10/10 recommend and will definitely return for my next piercing.

Very friendly and helpful staff! Amber did an amazing job on my piece.

Erika is amazing! Went in to look at jewelry and get a piercing and they were able to accommodate me without an appointment. The other staff I met were very personable and I was greeted with smiles once I walked into the door. The environment is clean and Erika was very accommodating of my questions and requests. The process was smooth and as pain free as a cartilage piercing can be. I will definitely be back.

Very sanitary, they wore gloves and sprayed down surfaces. I went in for a consult for my first tattoo yesterday. Felt very welcomed and super comfortable there. Everyone was happy to see me and Pedro was super nice and helped talk me through the process. Overall amazing experience and very nice studio!

I received a septum piercing. Had to wait about 20 min. Staff was pretty chill. Erika kept me relaxed while piercing my nose. The piercing was irritating but not painful and took about 10-15 min. Overall, not a bad experience:) One negative though is the pricing. $60 for piercing and $55 for jewlery. I thought it was $60 in total, but when I got there I had to pay an extra $55. It was my fault for not checking properly online first.

Ive been pierced by Erika a number of times now, and could not possibly recommend anyone else. She is extremely patient and calming, and went out of her way to calm me down and ensure that the placement was in line with my anatomy. She is also very trauma-informed both before and during piercing, and that meant a lot to me- she is able to build a really good level of trust with clients. The two times Ive been pierced by her have been super quick, done freehand, and healed well. Just a super high level of professionalism and care, and Bethesda Tattoo is overall an amazing tattoo/piercing shop to support!

This is a great place, and I got two studs on my lobe today. They have earrings in all price ranges and have a lot of super nice 24k gold, I thought it was a bit pricey at first but when I finished it was worth it! The person who helped me with the piercing was very enthusiastic and she taught me how to relax and I felt almost no pain. Even though my English is poor, she patiently helped me find the desired location. I rarely take the initiative to write reviews, but this store is definitely worth it.

I got tattooed by Amber and it was a great experience! She was very sweet and so were the other artists there! The vibes of the shop were really nice and open and I definitely plan on coming back for future tattoos :)

Just had a piercing done. Very friendly staff all around with a professional experience. I was welcomed and felt appreciated. Shop was extremely clean and the staff I worked with were knowledgeable and thorough. I’ll be back.

Arrived early and got paired with Erika for my ear piercings. She was super nice and did a great job helping me with the prices, along with making sure I was getting a good experience with my first piercings since they filled in after middle school. Plus, it’s a cool looking shop with expertly placed safety measures.I did have a little trouble working around the website, specifically setting up appointments and finding the needed paperwork to fill out. If there is some accessibility options with finding things I’d be eternally grateful. Thank you!

I cannot explain enough how wonderful of an experience I had. From the folks in the telephone to actually working directly with James, every interaction was just so genuinely friendly and professional. You can tell that the folks at Bethesda Tattoo love what they’re doing. James in particular was SO AWESOME and produced a stunning piece for my first ever tat. He was very attuned to the fact that I had never been tattooed and explained everything before he started. Beyond that, he’s just an awesome person and so lovely to talk to. 100/10 would recommend

Got a piercing here and it was clean, the staff were experienced, but it was way too expensive: you have to pay for the jewelry and piercing separately and they ADD UP. I haven’t come back to get pierced again because of the price, but if I had the cash then I totally would. If you have the money, I recommend this place!

Erica was amazing for my daughters piercing. My daughter has been too nervous for years to get her ears pierced so I am so glad Erica was the one to do it. She was so calming and engaging and put my teen at ease. Absolute professional, they look flawless, and my daughter couldnt be happier - and that is what is important!!! Fabulous place to go for a piercing!!!

Although the piercing was done in a very sanitary way, I informed the piercer that I thought I would need a longer bar. She insisted i didn’t which lead to my bar being too short and caused the piercing to sink into my skin causing discomfort & a literal hole in my skin .i had to buy a new bar so my piercing would heal correctly which shocks me because the jewelry was so expensive (the same thing happened to my friend.) I paid $115 for the piercing and the normal metal jewelry (nothing cute or fancy about it just the standard one) my friend paid $145 for the piercing and jewelry with a pink little stud . When my friend called the store back with concern for our piercings, she was told we would get a call back and never did. I will not be returning.

I just got my first tattoo done by Sophia after finding this shops website online. Amazing service. Everyone was very kind and Sophia is a wonderful tattoo artist. I love the design and she was amazingly calm and caring throughout the process. Highly recommend this tattoo shop and artist to anyone. Thank you!

Good Luck trying to buy jewelry or ask when the piercing person will be there without paying a deposit.The Male who answers the phone is extremely rude. You must make a consultation appointment to buy jewelry.First and last time there!! Beware

I got my nose pierced here and two tatttoos. Great community of artists and piercers- talented, professional, and friendly. Clean, inviting environment. A great place to get a high quality tattoo or piercing.

Pedro who did my tattoo was awesome .This was my first. It didnt hurt like I thought it would and when it did Pedro stopped ,he cleaned it and wiped it down which felt great.Pedro did explain everything in the beginning and as he was working on me. Pedro was very kind as this tat took awhile to do. Everyone in the shop were nice And very helpful.

These are all FAKE reviews 💯💯💯 they are the most unprofessional, rude and the place looks old and dusty. Erika was late to my appointment and had a total meltdown bc one of her employees told her that I expressed my displeasure with her being over 15 minutes late (no one communicated anything to me regarding) I asked for a refund bc I didn’t like her attitude and she was very aggressive and it didn’t make sense in context. She became physical with me. Threw my purse outside and told me she wasn’t giving me a refund. Her behavior was erratic and irrational. I definitely think she was on something bc she was way out of control. I should have known since I was the only person there at 11:30 on a Thursday. I did receive a refund the next day.

Our daughters first tattoo and Sophia and the entire crew were so wonderful, she got two!

Went in for a navel piercing on the 29th with a friend. My friend requested a longer bar due to her past experiences and knowing that she usually needed a longer bar for swelling. However she was told she didn’t need it. We both got the same length and within a week, the top barbell was almost completely sunken in for both of us, we now both have large holes at the top of our piercing. Kind of annoying considering you pay $60 for the piercing and then another $55-$85 on top of it for jewelry you might not even be able to use. However I can say, the process was very quick and clean. I ended up having to switch out my jewelry and had no problem switching it out so I know it was pierced well.

Ive been pierced by Erika and tattooed by Liaa and they are INCREDIBLE. Erika re-pierced my lip, as well as did my new nose piercing, and did a fantastic job. Best piercing experience Ive ever had. Liaa did my first large tattoo. I have several others, but they are all small. She was so kind, even though I asked incessant questions. The design she put together is amazing and the tattooing process itself went smoothly. I felt comfortable and LOVE LOVE LOVE my new tattoo! If youre looking for a tattoo or piercing in the DC metro, it really doesnt get better than Bethesda Tattoo.

I LOVE this shop! First of all, the energy when you walk in is great! The artists there are nice people and theyre seriously good. This place is very queer-friendly, too. I go here for all of my tattoos now and Ive referred my family and friends here for their piercings and now they only go here for their piercings. 10/10.

Erica is awesome! Had an amazing experience and would definitely recommend! Love my naval piercing and Erica really took the time to make sure that my piercing would be even and aligned. Service was efficient, kind and informative!

Came here to get my nose piercing jewelry changed for the first time. Erika was very helpful in explaining how to take different jewelry in and out. Wish I had originally gone here to get my nose pierced! Will definitely be back to buy more jewelry.

Got a cover up of an old tattoo with James today, he was friendly, welcoming and helped refine and build a design I really like. Great taste in music as well..Great place, with staff that treat each other and the customers very well.Already looking forward to my next one..

Awesome! Kai did a an ear piercing for me in a similar location to where I got my other ear pierced years ago. That time I almost passed out from it- this time was SO easy. He made it as painless as a piercing can be, talked through the process so you knew what to expect, cleaned and talked through aftercare after doing the piercing to give you time to lay there and make sure all was okay. They don’t have infinite jewelry options but definitely enough to find something suitable for the first piercing and at a nice range of prices. I would definitely recommend.

I’ve gotten two tattoos at this shop and have had a great experience both times. Jermaine did an amazing job with my newest tattoo and the front desk staff was super friendly and easy to work with.

Bethesda tattoo was my first tattooing experience and I couldnt be happier. The staff is friendly and professional. They are always reachable and flexible and the value for my tattoo was amazing. My first ever session of 4 hours was made very comfortable by James (who is just sweet and open for input) and everybody contributes to the great atmosphere at the shop. I already scheduled my next one. I can think of a better place.

This was the best tattoo/piercing experience. The receptionist was incredibly sweet, patient, and helpful. Adam did all 3 of our tattoos and did a fantastic job. We decided last minute to get a piercing too and they were so cool about it. Every employee was nice to us. We ended up chatting with everyone in there and laughing all afternoon. I highly recommend them!

I had such a great experience with Kai. I had a lot of anxiety going in and they were super kind and helpful and made me feel really good about getting my piercings. They even helped me with some questions I had about piercings I already had.The shop itself was really nice and clean, and the receptionist was really helpful. They answered all of our questions and were just generally very friendly.I’ll definitely be coming back and recommending the shop to my friends!

I only write reviews when I feel strongly and this is one of those times. My experience with Liaa was phenomenal from start to finish. I wanted a cover-up of an old tattoo and I was somewhat anxious about the cover-up and the process. I met with Liaa for a consultation and our conversation was refreshing. She was honest about cover-up’s and explained the process to me. She also put me at ease and made me feel extremely comfortable. I just had my tattoo appointment this week and her artwork is outstanding. The shading and coloring look absolutely amazing. She is a true artist. Beyond that she is an awesome person and has great energy. Everyone I interacted with at Bethesda Tattoo was terrific - from Liaa to Shasha to Chris. Even the other artists were friendly and fun while I was there. You definitely feel welcome and the pricing is extremely reasonable. Liaa also told me if I had any issues to contact the shop. I cannot say enough good things about my experience. I highly recommend Liaa and Bethesda Tattoo.

Best experience Ive ever had at any tattoo studio. Painless J is an amazing artist and a wholesome human being. On my last visit Kai pierced my nipple, she was thorough and professional and it was done before I knew it. My friend got ink at the same time and was ecstatic with the results. Would recommend over 9,000

I went here for my septum piercing last June along with my sister who had her eyebrow pierced. We were really impressed with how clean, professional and knowledgeable the staff was! Our piercer answered all of our questions and they provide you with everything you need to take care of your piece as it heals. She even called me a few weeks later to ask how my piercing was healing, and if I had any additional questions. I have 12 piercings and this studio was by far the best experience Ive had to date. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to get a piercing in the DC area.

Kai pierced my cartilage this afternoon and I’m so happy! Have been wanting this piercing for almost a year but it took me a while to get up the nerve to do it. Kai made me feel very at ease and the process was quick. I have a significant fear of needles but didn’t faint or even panic because they were so good natured and chill. Good vibes and good service. Also enjoyed the easy process of completing all paperwork and reservations online for a fast COVID-safe visit.

I’ve gotten 5 tattoos done at shops of various quality, and this place looked promising of having a good hassle free experience. I wanted a relatively simple text tattooed that could have been a walk in. Eight words and they were asking $300 for it. Way overpriced, considering I have two full size quality chest pieces that weren’t even that much. I had to go back and forth with them through email to work out the details, when any other shop I could’ve walked in and had the artist work with me to get it right. Instead I was asked to do part of the tattoo artist’s job of formatting everything exactly how I wanted it. I should be able to go to a shop with a specific idea or image in mind and have them get it to a place that would make a good tattoo.

Victoria nailed the image I wanted. Thank you! This piece has many meanings and inspirations. Very happy with it.

This was a great experience from start to finish, ESPECIALLY considering the challenges COVID poses! James took the time to design and refine my idea to exactly what was in my head, and then he executed it perfectly.The shop took amazing safety protocols for COVID - other than client and artist, social distancing was in effect, in addition to the staff wearing N95 masks and the clients being required to wear masks. I also felt extra safe because everyone allowed in was being pre-screened with a touchless thermometer, and only one client was being seen at a time.I have had tattoos at other shops, but this is my place moving forward. The quality, professionalism, cleanliness (again, the COVID protocols were followed to a T and the place was practically sparkling clean), friendliness and overall experience are great. Id recommend to friends & family and I cant wait to see James in the future for more artwork!

I had such a good experience with everyone here, especially my artist Pedro! I came in as a walk-in and the process was pleasant and fast. I was given great instructions for healing and my tattoo tuned out lovely. Thank you! Can’t wait for my next tattoo

Got my first tattoo at this place. Super thrilled with the experience overall. Great team, great artist with a lot of attention for detail and comfort. Loved it and can’t wait to come back for my next tattoo! Highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a tasteful, affordable and painless tattoo experience !

Love my tattoos from James. Clean, fairly priced, professional, and excellent experience all around. Everyone I’ve encountered at Bethesda Tattoo has been friendly and professional. They care about the work they do and it shows.

I have two tattoos, both of which I have gotten from here. They make it a painless process to set an appointment up, and they really made me feel welcome. On top of that, the precautions they took to keep everyone safe during the corona virus pandemic amazed me. I didn’t feel like I was at risk at all. Everyone there is so nice and funny, I enjoyed it there even when the tattoo hurt. 5 stars worthy. Definitely getting future tats here.

James Hughes is a 6ft bearded angel.I received my first tattoo in March of 2021.A tattoo to commemorate my mother, so basically, this was really important to me.The process was explained clearly, I understood everything that was told and I was comfortable the entire time. I didnt feel rushed, they answered my silly questions and responded amply.I asked for a very intricate tattoo and Mr.Hughes delivered exactly what I asked for after a quick chat during my appointment.The shop was clean, the stations were well managed and organized, James harped on the Covid-19 precautions and made sure I knew I was in good hands.My only problem is not leaving my review sooner.

I got my first tattoo done with Victoria last year. The design I wanted done wasn’t anything too flashy or fancy; it’s a small symbol on my wrist that’s filled in with black. While my tattoo’s content isn’t something people would usually comment on, I have gotten A LOT of compliments on it, particularly because of the line work and how clean it is. Most people comment on how well done it is! Even a year later it still looks like new! I am so glad I decided on this shop and artist for my first tattoo! It’s given me high expectations!Also, I should add that the shop was very clean, the staff was friendly, and they had great music!

Ericka is amazing—she is so kind and calming! Not only did she heat sterilize the tools before using them, but she changed her gloves between setting up for the piercing and performing it. This place is fantastic!!

Kai is a fantastic piercer! Last year I got a curated ear (cartilege, forward helix, and conch) and Kai explained everything step by step and did such a beautiful job! I came back after healing to change out my jewelry and brought my sister along to see Kai work their magic on her too! I cant wait to get more piercings here, the front desk staff is also always kind and helpful.

So helpful and great service!! One of my piercings fell out and I couldn’t get it back in myself. I called them and they immediately got me an appointment to come in within 15 minutes and quickly put my piercing back in. So professional and kind. Saved me so much stress

It’s been over a year now since i got my first tattoo ever, so I decided to put this review out there for the folks that are considering to be in my shoes of trusting a random tattoo artist… Though Bethesda Tattoo shop is pretty good standing in the DMV area for their quality of tattooing, i was very unlucky to pick Jermaine as my tattoo artist.The day i showed up to get tatted, Jermaine didn’t even have the sketch prepared that he promised through our conversation over the emails… That was very surprising and disappointing, but i thought that he knows what he’s doing considering that he works at “Bethesda Tattoo” shop. I agreed to let him do the tattoo from the picture i sent him over the email, because i was so stoked to get it done after months of waiting for that day.The final product of his “artwork” is very poor and I feel regrets for over a year now. Even tho I learned my lesson, I just can’t get over it because it’s permanent Ink on my body.p.s. He also told the other tattoo artist who worked that day that he doesn’t have the time to make the sketches at home for his clients and kind of laughed it out, which was very rude and unprofessional.Better luck next time i guess. (don’t make the same mistake i did)

First off, the tattoos are amazing! I got a traditional japanese dragon going on my shoulder and a bit on my chest, and James took what I had in mind for it and made it 20 times better. I could not be more happy with the outcome. Also, most of the places I have gone to during this pandemic I am very nervous inside and dont feel safe. I didnt feel this at all there, which made the process of getting a tattoo a lot more enjoyable than it would have been. Nice people, safe place, great art, Ill definitely be back in the future.

I had a great experience getting my ears pierced here. The staff was very personable and professional. They did a great job and the whole process was very smooth.

I recently had my ear lobes pierced at Bethesda Tattoo, and the staff made the experience super comfortable from start to finish. Kai was extremely professional—very informative with a gentle touch. I had no pain whatsoever, not during the piercing or in the days that followed. I even brought my daughter along since she’s been asking to have her ears pierced as well, and even though she opted to wait, I know there’s only one place in Bethesda I’ll take her when she’s ready. I highly recommend Kai and Bethesda Tattoo. Thanks again!

James gave me my first tattoo yesterday. He did an incredible job overall, from start to finish. Aside from his artistry and thorough explanation of the process and after care, his company made me feel completely safe by taking all of the recommended COVID-19 precautions!

Great local shop. The entire staff was so friendly, accommodating and communicative. Had some questions on my design, got honest feedback and so happy with the work. VERY clean, and use a new Saniderm process which made healing a breeze. Worked with James - plan to use him again and again!

I just wanted to say thank you so much to Kai, the piercer who pierced my septum, they were so talented and caring! I was really scared but they calmed me down and reassured me that it would be ok. And thank you to the tattoo artist Painless J, he was so funny and talented, he made my first tattoo experience so special and amazing! I would recommend anyone who wants a quality tattoo/piercing experience to come to bethesda tattoo :)

This tattoo parlor, although very clean and seemingly professional, overcharges their clients by absolutely ludicrous amounts. And whats worse: twice now, I have been quoted an already too expensive price for very small tattoos, and then after the tattoo is completed, the artist hiked up the price by LITERALLY $80- this has happened, no joke, twice. And these tattoos each took maybe 10 minutes to complete, which was what the artist had estimated beforehand. So there would be no valid reason to increase the cost. I want people to please be careful and dont allow yourself to be taken advantage of. This happens most often with women and people with foreign accents (I have several personal experiences here along with anecdotes from friends who have been tatted here as well). Also, Ive gotta say, all the tattoos Ive had here have blow outs.

I personally got a tattoo from Painless Jay. Jay is a fantastic artist who walks you through his process, is very open about his communication, and caters to the details you want. Beyond that, every other artist Ive met there is incredibly friendly and all have an impressive array of work. This is a highly professional and friendly shop, I definitely recommend going her for a tattoo or piercing.

Went twice to get to different tattoos. I had two different tattoo artists taking care of me. Both were amazing, the entire staff is extremely welcoming and the energy of this place is unique, just feel like home the second you get in!Would definitely recommend!

Great experience! All the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. Fun and welcoming atmosphere and convenient location. My tattoo artist, Cas, was super friendly and talented--knew what I wanted before I could even put it into words. I will definitely be coming back again, and I recommend it!

Thank you for making my real first tattoo experience even better than I had hoped! Bethesda Tattoo is filled with such talented artists doing beautiful work and most importantly thank you James for making my exact vision come to life. James was patient, helpful, and is so talented. I’m so happy with my result!

I went here for my second tattoo. Loved how clean it was! My favorite thing about Bethesda Tattoo is that you can tell the artists care about their art and are genuinely interested in giving you the best experience. For only doing tattoos professionally for 4 years, Adams work was extremely impressive. It was great feeling that I can go in for my tat and trust that the artist totally understands what I want, especially since my design was a little complicated. I love the end result and I had fun during the process of getting my tattoo. My boyfriend recommended the place after going to Steve, and both he and I are going back to Bethesda Tattoo for more later this year.

Ive been to many tattoo places, even in other states. This was by far the worst place Ive been to. The receptionist was rude and was not helpful what so ever and when I mentioned why something wasnt disclosed to me over the phone, she said and I quote thats not my job, but told me when I got there, so which one is it?Is it not your job or are you just lazy? She was probably just trying to rush me off the phone. Im in customer service and would not dare act like she did, the person at the front desk should be pleasant and helpful, even if its at a tat shop. The piercer was some trash too. It was almost like I was bothering them by being there and asking questions. They did not seem interested in helping me. I called another tattoo place in the area and they were beyond helpful and even recommended something to me that Bethesda Tattoo did not. Whatever you do, dont waste your money at this place. There are so many other tat places in the area. This place SUCKS!!!!!!!

I got tattooed by Amber and it was such a great experience!!

James is an amazing artist! He is patient, does his homework and is an intelligent man and does his research. His work is so detailed and meticulous! This man is a Genius - he did a tattoo of Shiva on my shoulder yesterday and almost everyone was speechless on how well the detail came out. Thank you James!!

I went here to get my first tattoo a year ago. Just a simple Crest and it was quick and affordable and the lines are amazing. Seriously. Every wonders how the lines have stayed so strong and clean. It was worth every penny. High quality artists, ink, and tools.

Absolutely amazed and super pleased with the tattoo I got at Bethesda Tattoo Company!! The studio is clean, the artists are professionals and the level of talent/experience speaks for itself.. The pricing was fair and the atmosphere was very upbeat. I couldnt be happier with what I got. I will definitely be coming here for my next one!

I got my nostril pierced by Kai. They artfully placed it to compliment my other nose piercings. They explained the entire process and aftercare process, so eloquently. I would recommend Kai to anyone looking for any kind of person. Excellent piercer/artist. :)

Amber is the best! Great experience and lovely customer service!

I got my ears pierced by Erica and I had a very good experience! The facility was clean and offered quality jewelry to choose from. I will be coming back here for my first tattoo.

Absolutely amazing service!! Jermaine did an excellent job on my tattoo. This was my first one and he explained every step of the process. Would highly recommend this shop to anyone wanting an extremely quality experience.

Went in yesterday for a a simple piercing that I had booked day of. Staff was welcoming and helpful. Kai (sorry if I spelled that wrong) walked me through everything and made it a quick and pleasant experience - just what I needed. Will definitely come back here for my next one!

Walk in today with Josh went fantastically. My first tattoo and I decided to get 2. Very personable, professional, and had a lot of great input to make my design look the best it can be. Highly recommend the place!

I have been to two places in the DMV area for tattoos here and Fattys. Bethesda Tattoo is the place I will continue to go to for my tattooing needs. The receptionist was helpful and very nice, she seemed like she wanted to help you. The artist I booked with was named Jason or painless j and he was really great, super professional, and personable. The tattoo hurt way less then my previous one because he took his time instead of digging into my skin and rushing. I would highly recommend this place for your tattooing!

Ive known James for years, throughout his career at different places...Ive always been pleased with the work hes done on me, and the recent work he did of my dog left me speechless...Ive been in shops where the artist and customer dont talk to each other much...all I heard was friendly talk and laughter between the artists and clients...theyre professional, very covid conscious, yet at the same time its a warm friendly environment. Their receptionist, Shasha is a sweetheart. Everyone whos seen the recent work James did are raving. I will never go anywhere else.*Once again James has done a phenomenal job...this is adding to my last post. Let me start out by saying that many years ago, more than 20 years ago, I had an eagle that looked like Chaka from the Land of the Lost and Sigmund the Sea monster got drunk together with Godzillas wife one night and decided to pro create. James was the only guy I went to who was honest with me and wasnt throwing me malarky to make $. I was so pleased with the cover up and still am. Yesterday, he did beautiful work of a writers quote it gaelic. When you walk in there, the vibes are always positive. People are always laughing, and the artists check each others work out. Shasha the receptionist was a sweetheart as usual, and all of the artists are so friendly. Ive never seen anyone walk out of there looking disappointed. Its the kind of place I wouldnt mind just hanging out at because the vibes are so good. Diverse music playing. My experience yesterday was a great topper to my birthday. I always tell people about how great this shop is. Thanks Guys!...Youre the Real Deal!

Convenient parking across the street, easy scheduling, clean facility, and very talented artists

Received a beautiful cherry blossom tattoo, covering up an old tattoo, from Adam today. Wonderful experience, putting you immediately at ease. Tattoos are expensive, but you get what you pay for, and in comparison to other places, the prices are competitive. Would definitely return and not consider going anywhere else.

If I could give this place a 0 I would!!! We live in Frederick, MD, so we called first to make sure they take walk-ins. We were advised that they take walk-ins and to come in. So we drove to Bethesda arriving at 4:40...mind you they dont close until 8pm and we just wanted lettering. We walked in... everyone was standing around with only 1 person getting a tattoo finished up. The young man at the desk tells us that they arent taking walk-ins today....of course we are now confused...so we told him we called earlier and he told us they were taking walk-ins. He then says...Oh, sorry the person that does the walk-ins left already. REALLY!!!! So why the hell didnt you tell us when we called that u only take walk-ins up until a certain time. What a waste of my time! You have 10 plus tattoo artist and yet you only have 1 person doing walk-ins on a Saturday and they leave at a certain time. DONT WORRY...Im sure another tattoo establishment will appreciate our business. Be honest with your patrons.

Bethesda tattoo is a wonderful shop. The staff are helpful, friendly, outgoing and very skilled. I just got my second tattoo at Bethesda Tattoo and the quality, the artistic skill of the staff and the organized, professional and orderly way they do business really appealed to me. My artists, Liaa Walter, is great to work with. Liaa collaborated with me for months on the artwork and the design. Liaas line work is exceptional and she does the most beautiful and detailed floral work Ive ever seen. Ive gotten many compliments on my ink. I recommend Bethesda tattoo to novices like me and veterans alike.

Got my first two tattoos here, and I have to say it was absolutely an awesome experience! Pedro was professional, courteous, and took his time to explain everything from start to finish.

This is mostly a rating of Liaa Walters work, though Cas and Jermaine are both amazing people&artists and the rest of the staff has always been wonderful whenever Im in.Liaa has done seven of my eight tattoos, and man, that eighth tattoo wouldve been that much better if shed done it instead. Ecstatic for the ninth.(The other artists here are amazing! Do not misunderstand. This shop is an unreal collection of talent.)

Clean space, awesome staff. Shasha at the front is wonderful, and Painless J knocked it out of the park with my tattoo. Also, only a half mile from medical center metro stop, which is awesome for me. HIGHLY recommend this shop to anyone.

Had my ears pierced by Erika and was pleasantly surprised with how smoothly everything went. Everyone was very friendly and super informative. Definitely recommend.

Erika cant be beat, personality, professionalism & down right just a great person!! Mom & I thank U for your time (she loves her piercing lol)

I love Bethesda Tattoo. I love James, he’s done two memorial tattoos for me. Also love Adam, de did a floral piece for me. Professional and friendly place. Calling soon for my next appointment.

Kai was great. What I wanted wasnt possible, but was consulted on a number of other piercings and left with two great items. Super happy, everyone was so nice :) will be going back

I tried to get an appointment after leaving a deposit. They lost my contact info then finally found it. When I tried to schedule time to discuss the art with the tattooist she wasn’t at all accommodating to my schedule. I cancelled the booking. It was to be a half sleeve wrapping the back and chest.

After walking the wrong way, I found Bethesda Tatto Co tucked away, and Im so glad. I could not have asked for more professional or friendly people. Since it was my first tattoo I was a little nervous but they worked with me and made sure I was comfortable and that I knew there was no rush if I needed to take a break at any point. I would highly recommend Bethesda Tattoo Co for anybody getting a tattoo.

My viking brother James did an amazing full back piece on me years ago and he has been my one and only artist for years now. If you want a great conversation about all aspects of life, James is your man. You will leave the shop with exactly what you wanted and more. James and I have worked on my body for years and I couldnt be happier. We have an understanding that I respect his work so much, that I give him an idea and he creates a masterpiece. Only problem is we are running out of space. My next art work from James will be a picture of my grandfather from when he was young on my chest. Its going to be sick. Bethesda Tattoo, hands down best shop in DC!Scottie Viking D

Very clean, very professional and the artists really know what they are doing. Christian gave me a great barn star. Its a little more expensive here that some other places, but you get what you pay for and two big things about tattoos...You want a perfectly done tattoo because youve got it for life...and you dont want to have any infection/medical risk...Bethesda Tattoo gets an A plus on both scores.

Erika Fries was my piercer and she was incredibly nice, gentle, thoughtful, and professional. I will definitely be visiting again!

Got a very large coverup from Matt here and am totally happy with it. Love the crew and vibe here. Everyone was amazing. Lots of different artists with different styles. Very diverse crowd from a 65 year old woman getting her first tattoo to serious inkheads

I had the pleasure of working with Liaa Walter on my new beautiful flower tattoo. She was kind and professional from beginning to end. She patiently listened to my ideas and translated them into a piece that I’m very proud of. I look forward to working with her again in the future! Thanks Liaa and everyone at Bethesda Tattoo!!!

I drove to Bethesda to reserve my appointment and have a consultation. They told me the artist I wanted was out that day so I couldnt have a consultation. So I booked my day for the tattoo a couple months in advance and scheduled my consultation with Leam. I came back for my consultation and I had my design already. Leam seemed to half listen to me. He told me to go home and put black outlines on my design (a watercolor tattoo) and to imagine it a lot bigger. (Its a radish and 3 short words) I went home and edited the design and even photoshopped it onto my arm to show size (half my forearm), and emailed it in. I got no response. I called the parlor and asked if they had gotten my email. They said they had and had forwarded it to Leam. They said if he had not responded then it was fine. I show up today, Leam asks me why Im here, Because I have an appointment with you? He says he sent me an email saying he couldnt do the tattoo today, looks at his phone, and says darn it didnt send! I took 4 hours off work! So did my husband! We ask why he cant do it, its such a simple tattoo! and he says because of our interaction! I have been nothing but sweet this whole time! Then Leam says because Im not a tattoo artist and think everything is simple. I was completely distressed that going there again and again and again left me with nothing when other tattoo artists had looked at my design and called it simple, easy, and straightforward. What a waste of time, money, and gas.

I have known the shop owner James for over 15 years and we have done over 100 hours of tattoo work on my body. There isn’t a shop within 100 miles that can compare to the professionalism and artistry. Check the shop out, you won’t be disappointed. SKOL

Jermaine was absolutely amazing. Did a great job, easy to schedule. Really helps they are right off of Red Line Metro as well. Shop is very clean and professional. Will be going back.

Everything was done professionally and with skill. I got a small piece on my forearm by Tina, who I recommend very highly as a wonderful artist and someone to make the process comfortable and fun. Would definitely go back for more!

I got a cartilage piercing and did exactly what they told me to do to take care of it, but it still got so infected that I had to go to the hospital and get it removed. I have never experienced so much pain in my life, my ear grew over the piercing and the doctor had to rip through the skin to get it out. It was a huge waste of $110 which is so expensive anyways, plus the cost of going to the hospital.

The website says that “We also have a large selection of gold and gem jewelry available for purchase.” This is totally false. They have 3 half empty boxes sitting on a counter. That’s it.edit: your receptionist pointed me to your limited selection and I asked is that it and they said yes. We have vs we custom design/we order are very different; instead of sorry not sorry crabbingat me for being unhappy, you might consider modifying the language on your site to better reflect your business. For posterity, I have added a screen shot of your response.

I love my tattoo from James, it was my first tattoo so I was very scared, but he gives you security, that man has hands that you dont even feel when he tattoos you, I left happy, thanks for a good experience.

Terrible service; the tattoo artist i chose (Bajek) rejected to tattoo me because i didnt like what he drew up for me and when i asked for a different artist the owner, James, said that i forfeited my $80 deposit because of the time Bajek had spent on TRACING the tattoo.So even though the employee refused to provide me with service the owner literally said that it was my fault for not liking the drawing. He said that i clearly didnt know what i really wanted and that i wasted their time and if i wanted to be tattooed by another artist i had to pay another $80 deposit.

This is my favorite tattoo/piercing shop in DC Metro area. They have excellent customer care, i.e. theyre thorough, friendly, and make sure youre happy with their work. I highly recommend them.

I called to make an appointment and they scheduled me for 12pm the next day. I arrived on time but the artist wasnt there. He is on his way, I was told. 15 minutes later I inquired again at the front desk and again I got He is on his way as an answer. At 12:30pm I inquired again and I was rudely told (no apology or anything) that I can either wait (he is running late) or reschedule (its up to you, the front desk person said). I decided to leave. I found this behavior disrespectful of my time and of me as a (potential) customer. (Also, they could have called me to apologize - they have my name and phone number- but they did not do so. Overall a very poor display of customer care and a disappointing experience.)UPDATE (4/11): I was pretty rude, the owner says in their sorry but not sorry reply. I did notice a pattern of blaming the customer in their replies to negative reviews below, so I guess I am not surprised that they have reserved me the same treatment here.

Very professional and nice. Went w my daughter to get her nose pierced and the piercer was v knowledgeable. I wasn’t thrilled about the nose piercing but I felt good about it being done at Bethesda Tattoo.

Liaa Walter is fantastic! Started a sleeve today and cant wait to see where it goes. Shes creative, clear, interesting, and has terrific interpersonal skills. Cant recommend highly enough --

My first tattoo is a piece of art caringly placed on my thigh by Leam. It is nearly perfect, we will add necessary touches in a few weeks. Highly recommend using something designed by Leam if youre into surrealism and nature.

James worked his magic and gave me my first tattoo which I always dreamed of having. When I first met him I felt such positive energy and I knew that I was in good hands. Thank you so much.

Great customer service. Highly recommended Jermaine for his skills and attention to detail. Ill be back!

Adam was amazing to work with for a 2nd time. His patience and amazing attention to detail made it a pleasure once again. Looked out for my needs thru the full process., Making sure it was done correctly and to my wants. Thank you!!!

Victoria is a true artist and you are her canvas. She will add what you love on the inside to your outside. So glad to be one of her devoted clients

Had a very professional and clean experience with the knowledgeable Erika Fries. Would highly recommend this place for any piercings.

This place is fabulous. Spotless, professional, well-run, and everyone is friendly, careful and creative. Piercing experience and followup were just plain excellent.

Worth the wait. Kevin is a great artist and so easy to work with. Everyone there is polite, professional but also laid back and fun.

THE place for tattoos! Jason is awesome. This is my third time there and Im sure Ill come again. Great vibes, wonderful tattoos

Talented and friendly artists do great work. No where else in the DMV to get your tat

5 stars!? Are you kidding me! ? 10 is more like it! Ive seen work from about every shop in the DMV. This shop is CLEAN! ! fantastic ARTIST & GREAT OWNER! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!

Do not come to this location is you are a walk in. Called first to see if walk in are welcome before driving from Frederick only to find out when I got there no one was available for walk ins. However several artist standing around and doing absolutely nothing . Complete waste of time and gas . TRUST YOU LOST A LOT OF MONEY !!!!

Had SUCH a phenomenal experience here. A very cozy, very clean shop, and everyone there was very kind and accommodating! Will absolutely return for any future work I get done :)

Never go here for piercings i am 19 and they denied me at first then were raising their voice at me for touching my piercing after it was already fully healed.

I find Painless J to be extremely unprofessional when booking tattoo appointments. You may or may not hear back from him.

Corinne was so great while piercing my four year olds ears! Very clean and welcoming!

I walked into it like it was a restaurant. They came and they served my table. They are very polite and they are there for you, for the things you want. If its tattoos, theyve got it. If its pirceing, theyve got it.

Victoria is an amazing artist. And Jay is great too. They make the tattoo experience amazing.

Love the people here and they are talented. Ive gone to James twice now and he has done wonderful job.

A bit pricey but they are really friendly and I love my piercing

Top quality service, safety procedures, and communication for my daughter’s first ear piercing.

Very professional and sterile piercing experience.

Professional Staff, i got my ear and nostril piercing here. 100% recommended

Top notch shop with top notch people. Highly recommend going here for any and all work you want done.

Great place--loved my tattoo. It was super clean and thorough!! Would recommend.

They always provide fantastic service. Kind, helpful and knowledgeable about piercings, care, jewelry, etc.

Erica was amazing! Very professional and knowledgeable. I highly recommend her

Best experience ever with Erika! Will be back!

The best local tattoo shop. Extensive piercing stuff too.

Victoria is amazing. Scheduling can be a bit rough. And their shop prices are a bit high.

Awesome piercer, and about to start working with a tattoo artist there. ill certainly update this when we start the work

A fabulous shop with a variety of amazing artists. I cant recommend Cas Loll highly enough!

Great staff. Over priced. Lacking in realism. I would not recommend this place. I left feeling ripped off and very disappointed.

Best place to get a tattoo in Bethesda!

Awesome! I love my tattoo and the artist made me feel very comfortable

Great place great artists. It was such a laid back and friendly atmosphere.

Best customer service and really talented artists. The price is also reasonable

I went during business hours (6:30 pm on a Wednesday) and door was locked and call went to their voicemail.

Very clean and Professional. Christian does good work.

I LOVED this place, everyone was so nice and professional!

Never been here just the costumer service seemed genuine when I called for info

Awesome shop!! Go see Painless J

Amazing team....I love Bethesda Tattoo

Highly skilled and friendly artists here!

Great staff, amazing artists.

Always a fantastic place!

What age limit do they reqiure

Clean and professional.

Can we say sleazy.......

Great service

Best place

In love!!🥰🥰