Tender Heart Tattoo

An LGBT+ friendly and employed tattoo business with very helpful folks! Ren got to be the artist behind my very first tattoo, and he was very accomodating when I ran half an hour late for my appointment. The way he blocks out tattoo appointments ensures that theres no rush (I originally planned to be there for 6 hours; the tattoo only took two!).Thanks Ren, and I look forward to planning another tattoo with you!

Ren is such a pro, I felt so safe, he was quick and efficient, design negotiation went awesome and he helped me figure out some of the details. this cost 200 bucks. 7/5, if youre queer and need ink, go here

I have mixed feelings about this place. The first is the lack of parking that makes it difficult. My first appointment was cancelled because the artist had a medical emergency. To make up for this, I was offered an earlier start time a different day. Then I got a call that day that the start time had to be changed because that was too early. I was originally quoted $450 for a 4-5hr long tattoo. We changed the tattoo design and it was a

Space is super cool and welcoming. Everyone was kind, shop is spacious and clean. Got a tattoo from Finn and I love it. Definitely coming back!

Super clean and nice, fair prices, and amazing artists. They have always been really kind, and make sure that the tattoo is exactly the way you want it. This shop has made it so I dont want to go anywhere else 🩷

Tender Heart is a welcome and inclusive space, and all of its artists are top notch. I had the great fortune of being able to work directly with one of their artists Ren who took a moodboard of images Ive been collecting for over a year and helped design a stunning half sleeve for me of all line work. I get so many compliments on it! I recently moved from a large city where I had access to a lot of great tattoo artists - Tender Hearts people are right up there in terms of quality, affordability, artistry, and an amazing experience. Will absolutely be visiting Ren and the TH crew for all my tattoo work from here on out.

Cannot express my love for this shop enough (specifically Sam!) Sam has been my sole piercer for my 10 most recent piercings, and consistently provides an amazing experience.The shop as a whole- vibes are EXCELLENT, everyone is friendly & welcoming, you’re made to feel comfortable, respected, and listened to.Sam (the only person I trust to pierce me because I feel so spoiled with them lol!)- super nice, accommodating, and VERY transparent about the piercing process & will talk you through every single step before the piercing & as they reach each step so you are never surprised by what is happening or being done! I came in yesterday with a loose budget & no idea what I wanted. Sam and I had a wonderful convo & settled on adding two helix piercings to my left ear. They helped me pick out the jewelry & gave me a quote for everything! The shop is cash only but they have an atm in the front of house which was perfect! We went back to Sam’s piercing room (which is fully closed off for privacy- something I really love!) and Sam showed me the sterilization process of my jewelry and all their tools (which are single use!) They walked me through the process of these piercings step by step, and marked my ear for placement feedback. Sam did an AMAZING job of asking for consent at each step of the process & literally every time he needed to touch my ear or move my hair out of the way. I’ve never felt safer with a piercer. The piercings themselves were super painless (how Sam, how?! magic I swear!) and look SO GOOD. They are very minimally swollen & I will be back in a month to downsize the length of the posts so that they don’t catch on anything (initial posts are always longer than permanent ones to allow for swelling).Sam, thank you again. Tenderheart? Thank you for being Sam’s piercing home, lol. And my Hampton Roads friends looking for a tattoo & piercing shop? Congrats, you’ve found your new favorite.

I’ve been 5 times and seen Liam 4 out of the five times. I’ve been going there since last year (2020) and keep coming back! I usually don’t see the same artist more than twice but Liam is by far my favourite artist! Rich is amazing too! By far my go-to shop, and any chance I get to get tattooed by Liam, I take it. He does an amazing job and is so nice and talented! I highly recommend this shop to everyone and anyone, to the point I encourage my clients to see them!

Tender Heart is such a welcoming place for all humans! The artists designs are so cool and reasonably priced! My sister and I got matching tattoos designed by Kari! They turned out sooo good! She was also so caring and worked with us to make sure we loved the design before tattooing us! I 1000% recommend this place, check them out!!

Damon is an absolutely amazing tattoo artist!!! I am so in love with my tattoo and design!!! It was such a good vibe, and the detail is A++++++. Please book with them!! The sweet person at the front desk was even amazing and kind!!

Amazing shop with incredible artists 🔥🙌💖 All the staff made me feel at home and welcome. Was a great experience for my first tattoo! 15/10 🌟

I went in to get my ear piercings changed out for clear retainers and they were amazing. Everyone was so kind, and the vibes were great and welcoming. The shop is so cute and very clean. The piercer was the sweetest and made sure I was comfortable. They kept checking in the make sure I wasn’t in any pain and made the experience great. I 10/10 recommend getting any piercings done here and I will be going back!!

Best tattoo shop in Norfolk. This is my second time getting tattooed here and it was the best experience. I have been tattooed many times but nothing compares to Tender Hearts. I am from Kansas City and definitely will come down here only to get tattooed. Super clean, professional and made me feel so comfortable and appreciated.

100% recommend this place. Im still new to tattoos and piercings and some of these establishments can come off as super intimidating for queer people who dont have a hard-core or goth aesthetic. Im a bubbly bright soft kinda person and I felt really safe here. They sell shirts that gave pronouns on them and I think theyre amazing so I bought one I also got my nose pierced and it was so affordable! I went in foe an ear tattoo and ended up doing both cause the prices were great. Everything about my experience was fun and memorable. I would recommend this place for anyone from first tattoo to several tattoos. Special shout out to Ren and Vic thank you!! 😊

Had an appointment, made a deposit, the artist left the shop and now they refuse to return my deposit. Pretty scummy. Dont support.

Went in with some friends yesterday and Slip took care of us. He did a phenomenal job on all of our pizza slices. What made things even better were the staff there. They were super friendly and shared amazing laughs with us while providing exceptional artistry. Pay them a visit and be sure to admire the time and energy they put into everyone. Thank you Tender Heart Tattoo, you all are amazing!

Ive visited Slip for 3 tattoos now, and the man must have magic in him because every piece hes given me is crisp, clean, and on point. Id give him a fun idea and hed run with it, all while keeping me involved in his creative process until our concepts materialized in beautiful pieces of art. Hes extremely talented with colors as well as black and grey, is not heavy-handed, patient, and is an all-around pleasure to work with. Im looking forward to my next visit already!

Vic did an amazing job on my piercing! I love this shop. Everything is nice and clean and everyone was super friendly..not your typical pompous attitude type tattoo shop. Everyone was very welcoming, and I really appreciate that.. I would love to see more shops with this kind of not-too-cool-for you attitude. Stellar job, Tender Heart. ♥️

It was my first time ever going to Tender Heart, and Im thrilled to go back when I can!The staff was nice and professional. And my artist, Dani, was accommodating and did a really good job with the design I wanted.I would highly recommend this shop to anyone that wants tattoos in the area.

Tender Heart is absolutely incredible. Vic did my first piercings and I could not have asked for a kinder, more experienced, more caring individual. Being a queer person has always been a huge concern for getting any body mods done due to the atmosphere of most shops. I’m incredibly thankful I found Tender Heart. I will 100% be back for more piercings from Vic and multiple tattoos by the other incredible artists.

I live nearby and called with a question concerning an existing nose piercing that needed to be partially punched back through. Katie answered the phone within the 2nd ring and greeted me with a pleasant and energetic tone. I explained I had a nose piercing for 8 ears that Ive gone without jewelry in for several months and needed new jewelry as well as a punch-thru or re-pierce. She explained pricing and an overview of jewelry options. I asked if I needed an appointment and she told me to come on over if I was free. I jumped at the opportunity, grabbed my coat, and walked the block over to the shop. I was greeted immediately upon entry by Katie (Katie is every bit as friendly in person as they are on the phone). Katie showed me the jewelry options and help me choose what would work best for me while also explaining the future options I have with the jewelry being interchangeable. I waited only a couple minutes after selecting my jewelry before being greeted by Vic. I can not say enough good things about Vic. She was not only friendly and professional, but asked me if I wanted to see the tools used and told me exactly what to expect. We shared a few laughs then my punch-thru was professionally and swiftly completed. Ah, my nose stud is back finally! Vic walked me up to the front for check out where I had the opportunity to chat with Katie and Vic together. We discovered we share similar interests and stories. I could go on about how big and beautiful the shop is (gorgeous, btw) and how clean and sanitary (very clean, sanitary, and safe) but I wanted this review to reflect on the people. People make the difference. Based off my brief visit today, Vic and Katie have ensured I will venture nowhere else for my piercings and future tattoos. Thank you Katie and Vic! See yall again soon!

Liam is a very awesome artist. He turned the picture I sent him into a master piece. He did my first tattoo and it is great. He was kind and professional. Worked with my last minute changes since I cant ever make up my mind. Would recommend and will be the only place I get tattoos.

Ive gotten 3 tattoos from this shop so far and will definitely continue to come here. Ren and Liam are both super amazing artists and are people I feel comfortable with being around. My first time there was very welcoming and fun and Ive never regretted or disliked any of my visits. The new front desk help Harry is superrrr kind (and fashionable) and really helps build the welcoming atmosphere. Ive tried several tattoo shops in VB/Norfolk and none of them compare to THT ♡ I think the prices are fair and affordable and if you love american tradition style tattoos, Ren is THEE best. The shop is also very clean and spacious. My girlfriend comes here a lot as well to get worked on by Liam and she absolutely loves him and the shop. We have no complaints honestly. I only give 4 stars because it would be nice to see POC artists employed in the future. If youre a first timer and looking for the best place in Norfolk to get a tattoo, I obviously recommend this shop. Would like to get pierced here eventually too :)

Liam was my tattoo artist and he was incredibly nice and a great tattooer. I got one of his flash tattoos and it turned out amazing! The shop is very clean! I would definitely recommend coming to Tender Heart.

This shop did great work. Took my 2 daughters and all of us got tats. Liam was amazing he did a great job. Will def return. Great colors great lines etc. Super clean. Again liam was fantastic. And he is light handed when he tats

Great team over there! Clean room, clean lines. Check out Kari!

Awesome, clean, sanitary methods mom would approve of. My tattoo turned out great, colors pop, healed quickly. Walk in welcome, just call ahead for times so u dont wait long. Also an online questionnaire to reduce wait time.

Local LGBT owned and operated, I could not be more pleased to spend my money here. Service was quick, easy, nearly painless. Lines are clean and crisp and I am obsessed with my new ink. The only place Ill be spending my money for body mods in the future. Friendly, funny staff. Cannot say enough positive things about my experience.

I got my nose pierced with the UGLIEST jewelry. A literal giant silver ball on my nose. def a way for them to make more money so you get a prettier more expensive one. Anyway, it fell out two nights later while I was sleeping bc the person who pierces didn’t tighten the ball enough. Definitely not going back.

I just got two of my sons names done today by ren.Absolutely amazing I love the way they turned out and how good he was. Very clean as well, will definitely be going back to get more tattoos. Price was very good as well.

Ive been here twice to get work done by Liam and he always does an amazing job! Everyone there is super nice and welcoming. I love the accepting and inclusive vibes. I highly reccomend both Liam and tenderheart!

My niece and I got matching tattoos for our birthday here. Ren was our artist and did an amazing job!I went back the next day for another tattoo. Wouldd recommend to anyone!

Such an amazing shop!Everyone is so loving and welcoming when you first walk in. Liam and Ren are amazing artist! It was a privilege to visit them today. I’m excited for the future!

I just went in to get a pair of ear weights today, but any time I go, everyone is so sweet and so nice. The environment is super open and welcoming. Love it here 🥰🥰

I have gotten my first tattoo from here and for a belly piercing from here recently and the staff is amazing. They made me feel comfortable getting them done

Incredible lil shop, made me feel so comfortable and welcome for my first tattoo, now planning my second one! love this place !!

I had a great experience here! the shop is beautiful and the artists are very kind, professional and talented. everything was exceptionally clean as well. i will definitely be back :-)

Love Tender Heart! Great artists, amazing vibes. Informed and empathetic shop happy to work with your desires and needs.

Amazing people here, love the artist Liam. Everyone is so nice and the place is so welcoming. Also the architecture and aesthetic is *chefs kiss*.

Rich does awesome tattoos. Always a good time here.

Came in to get a tattoo with my best friend from Ren, he was quick and did amazing work. A wonderful atmosphere and amazing people, 110% would recommend

Wonderful experience here! Kind, clean, and very efficient. Thank you!!! I’m plotting my next tattoo and will certainly be back!

Came here to get tattooed by a guest artist. The place is MASSIVE and everyone I encountered was super sweet and made me feel very comfortable.

I definitely recommend booking with this shop! Incredible artistian work, at a fair price. The tattooists are also very helpful and kind.

I can for my first tattoo and I don’t regret it. It came out beautifully and the tattooist was kind. Thank you so much rue.

Victoria was super helpful in helping me pick the right piercing for me, very professional, good vibes place!

We walked in for a piercing. Super quick and attentive. I would go again soon to get a dermal.

They are super inclusive, nice and caring, they make sure that youre ready for every step of the way and theyre just really amazing

LGBTQ friendly, clean, and professional, but also pretty expensive.

Best tattoo facility, best staff, very clean, spacious, professional and respectful! Wouldnt go anywhere else ❤

Incredibly friendly and welcoming atmosphere, talented artists and more than fair prices. Only shop you’ll ever see me in.

One of my favorite places to go!! The entire staff is friendly, not to mention talented!!

Had an awesome experience here! Super inclusive cool environment, and great art ofc!

My first time and I loved it very comforting

Great tattoo and very nice people

Ren did an amazing American traditional

LGBT Owned and operated great people and great tattoos!

Great place with very kind and talented people

Great people and great work, I’ll be back for sure.

Best tattoo shop in Norfolk

Great all around experience

Clean great staff great work

Clean, professional, friendly shop