Grim North Tattoo and Piercing

The vibes are immaculate. The decor is fun and inviting. The staff is warm and friendly. Everything is clean from the moment you walk in, which is a big thing for me. Cleanliness is attention to detail which is obviously really important for a tattoo shop. The whole experience felt curated with care. Our tattoos came out great. The attention paid to aftercare was amazing. We really got the feeling the entire time that the staff cares about your experience and wants you to have a tattoo that you’re happy with and will still look great in a decade. Nik was exactly what I was looking for, easy to talk to and has clean lines, great shading and beautiful colors. I booked with Nik again a week later and then again after that (I cannot wait!). Grim North is our new go to place. 11/10 would highly recommend!

Josh is amazing! I got a black, fine line and shading floral tattoo by him today and would go back in an instant. From his communication with scheduling, to his incredibly detailed and beautiful design to his professionalism and cleanliness, he was so so great. I love my new tattoo and would recommend him 100 times over. Thank you so much for the beautiful work, Josh! It was such a great experience.

Took up 8 hours of Joshs time!!! He worked on three of us. He listened, asked good questions, and kept the conversation going during our session. I felt extremely comfortable there. (My young adult daughter even fell asleep on the couch!) The prices are comparable. The atmosphere was excellent. The staff were amazing.

This shop is full of the most absolute kindest humans in the entire world and they just wanna make sure that you have the most positive experience ever and are just the most wonderful people to get tattooed by and I highly recommend you go here and I can’t wait to go back

Nik is amazing! He was previously my go to tattoo artist at a different shop before he got the opportunity to apprentice at Grim North. I patiently waited almost a year for him to be able to tattoo me again and it was well worth the wait! Not only is Nik incredibly kind, the atmosphere, organization, and overall quality of the shop is amazing. I 100% recommend this shop and especially Nik if you get the privilege to be tattooed by him!*Photos are all done by Nik - the lighthouse is the first one he did for me since starting at Grim North!

Absolutely wonderful experience here! My friends and I saw they were appointments only but walked in to see if we could schedule something later in the day. James was incredibly kind and accommodating and ended up being able to tattoo my friend and I right then! Decor is super cute and fun and the care package they give you after is SUCH a good touch, only made a great appt even better. We live in Boston but would come back to grim north in a second

Over the past 2 years Ive gotten a conch, rook, and double mid helix (all with Stephanie) at Grim North. Its incredibly clean, everyone has been friendly, skilled, and professional. Stephanie is great, she explained everything thoroughly before/while it happened and answered any questions. This is my go-to spot for new ear piercings.

I went to Grim North for a few piercings in my ear and Stephanie was AWESOME. She made me feel super comfortable and at ease, and she made sure I was happy every step of the way. I was a little bit nervous to begin with and she knew exactly how to help me feel calm and safe. I will definitely be back to do the other side in the future, and would highly recommend Stephanie and Grim North to anyone.

Amazing from start to finish! The shop is super inviting and all the artists were really friendly and easy to talk to. Definitely coming back with the wife and getting more work done!

Josh has done a few tattoos for me now and always does an amazing job! From the design, to making sure it’s what you like, from the first line pulled to the last bit of shading, Josh constantly puts his full effort into every tattoo and it shows. He makes the space feel comfortable and will regularly check in with you to ensure you’re doing okay. I will always recommend Grim North!!

Just got my first tattoo, and did it with james. he was pefect. he talked me through the whole process, made sure i felt comfortable, and brought his artistic ideas + skills while making sure the tattoo was exactly what i wanted.

Ive had 2 tattoos done by Josh and 1 by Stina so far; I am in love with all of them! (Cant wait to get James next.) Fantastic folks, amazing artists, clean and well-run shop... If youre going to spend the time and money getting something permanent like a tattoo, talk to Stina/James/Josh first. You will not be disappointed!

Nik was a pleasure to work with and made the process a breeze! My whole experience from start to finish was all I could ask for. My tattoo came out beautiful, the colors truly pop. The line work and shading are excellent especially for someone working as an apprentice! Will be returning soon for more ink!

Such a great place, ladies!!! Female owned! Super clean and friendly! Love my piercing artist, Steph! She was so nice and patient and kind!’! Highly recommend!

Highly recommend Steph for piercing! I was super nervous for my 16 year old to get her ears pierced (of course she was fine:). Steph is SUPER professional, knowledgeable and patient and walked us both through the process thoughtfully! Thank You for making the process easy and safe!

I got my eyebrow pierced by steph. the absolute best experience. i went in a lil scared and nervous from bad piercers in the pass. but she was amazing. she was so patient over the fact i kept changing its location and talked to me until i was calm enough to do it. walked me through as she was going so transparent! now i have an amazing piercing. one of the best !

Steph did an amazing job with my piercing and I would recommend anyone to make an appointment with her! Kind, gentle, my piercing was a smooth process and she answered all of my questions no problem.

Upon arrival I was greeted with my artist and immediately felt like a comfortable setting. The artist added conversation to make it less nerve wracking and was completely understanding and listened to me. There was no rush, no attitude. Great, clean and put together setting. My experience was absolutely easy and it went smooth. I would go back and do service with them again. Id be lying if I said I hadnt thought about another appointment after the first week of going.Great job Grim North Tattoo and Piercing, thank you so much for serving me, I appreciate it!

I had an appointment with Josh. He is amazing and really helps put your mind at ease. Very talented artist. And would love to get more tattoos done with him.

I have several piercings but just moved back up to this area and this was my first time going to Grim North. Stephanie was SO amazing. She is very chill, friendly, knowledgeable, takes her time explaining and answering questions. I had the BEST experience. Im pumped to go back to her in the future. I have also been dreaming up a forearm tattoo for myself and given the shop aesthetic and what a great experience I had, I think I will see one of the artists there. Highly recommend! You wont be disappointed.

Josh is a great artist and awesome hang! Highly recommend him!

This is the best tattoo shop I have been to! The vibe here is friendly and comfortable. My artist, Stina, is super talented and super nice. Her drawing and tattooing skills are top notch. My husband and I both think that the tattoos we got from her are the best we’ve had so far. Would definitely recommend her to everyone, and would come back when we have the chance.

Ive gotten all of my piercings done with Stephanie. She is diligent, knowledgable, and has always been so friendly. Grim North has the highest quality earrings Ive ever purchased, would highly recommend the titanium and stainless steal ones. LOVE this place!

So worth the wait to get into their books! The studio is such a welcoming space and Josh was wonderful to work with, I had the best experience getting my first tattoo :)

I got my first piercing ever at Grim North and I could not have asked for a better experience. Steph was super kind, fun and knowledgeable and made the whole process such a breeze. The process was great, and super sanitary. There are many options in terms of jewelry as well. If you’re considering Grim North- go for it. I got a helix piercing and I could not be happier! Thanks Grim North!

I called yesterday morning and was able to make an appointment with Stephanie for a nose piercing that afternoon. I arrived, filled out paperwork, and was in and out with a new stud within thirty minutes. The shop was welcoming and clean from everything I could see. Stephanie explained the whole process to me very clearly and made sure I was okay the whole time and understood what was happening. She was very professional, but also very friendly and informative. I’ll definitely be back for more! :)

Got my ears pierced here. It was my first ever piercing so I was definitely nervous about how it would go. It was a totally smooth and professional experience! Definitely would suggest trying them out!

I waited a long time to get my first tattoo, it needed to have meaning to me. I emailed with an idea and Josh got back to me in no time! He designed the PERFECT memorial to my Father. I am so happy with my tattoo. Josh was such a nice guy, very calming and easy to chat with. He kept my mind off of the tattoo process itself. I would highly recommend Grim North and Josh! Thank you so much for making my first tattoo experience one that I will always remember!

Best place! Came here with my sisters to support my oldest for her piercing, was unlike any other joint!The place is really clean and the people are beyond nice and professional! I believe the piercer was Tatiana and she was super quick and efficient, she made my nervous sister feel so good about going through the process, plus she was hilarious! Will def be back in future and will tell all those who dare listen about this place!

I’m not sure what the lady’s name was who did my cartilage piercings (she has yellow hair), but… she made me feel so comfortable and checked in on me to see if I was doing alright between piercings. The shop is very sanitary and professional, and their prices are amazing for the nice array of jewelry you can pick from. My piercing was fast and it barely hurt. 100% recommend going in for your next piercing or tattoo! Thanks again!!!

GET YOUR PIERCING HERE. I just went to Grim North today, and I had to leave a nice review. A few days ago, I got my helix piercing by Stephanie. She was so kind and thoughtful, and made my piercing experience as painless as possible. You can really tell she is a professional, and she strives to make sure your piercing experience goes smoothly. After I got my piercing, I realized that a strand of hair got wrapped around it, and called Stephanie to have it fixed. She told us that we could come that same day that we called her, as well as the next day. I went today to get my hair untangled from my piercing and Stephanie asked me multiple times during the process if I was doing okay to check up on me, though it was not necessary because the process was so quick and painless! I don’t understand how she managed to get it fixed that smoothly, but she is truly one of the best piercers I have ever met. Thank you, Stephanie! (P.s., the cleanliness here is one of the best I’ve ever seen).

Steph was great! Came in to get a rook piercing, but determined my ear wasnt quite the right shape. Got a conch instead. Great experience.

Super clean and comfortable environment. Stephanie was super kind and made the experience great. I’ve had 3 piercings there and they have turned out great as they have healed.

Stephanie was amazing and was very patient with me. I wanted them perfect and she was very tolerant of my control freak nature. Ended up giving up my dreams of becoming a piercing artist and let her do her job! Pricing is reasonable and Stephanie is a skilled and professional piercer.

I decided on a bit of a whim I wanted to get my nose re-pierced, I picked Grim North because it has so many positive reviews. The praise is honestly SO well deserved. They were able to take me nearly right away as a walk-in and Stephanie was professional, knowledgeable, pleasant, funny and VERY clean (I’m a nurse and a bit more judgemental about this than I would probably like to admit.) I was so impressed from the moment I walked in the door. Thank you for a great experience!

The best place to go for piercings! Steph is very knowledgeable, honest, and patient. You will feel very at ease as she does your piercing.

Tattoo artists and piercer are phenomenal! I came to James with my dream tattoo and he knocked it out of the park, so now hes finishing my sleeve! Stephanie, the piercer, is so professional, friendly, and knowledgeable. Wont go anywhere else.

I have had several tattoos done by Stina and I can not recommend her or her shop highly enough to do them justice. The shop is clean and inviting and the tattoos and piercings are done at the highest level. Everyone that works there are a family and they treat everyone that walks in the door the same.

My girlfriends got a couple piercings from here and they turned out great my friend also got an amazing tattoo here Im probably going to come here for my tattoo.Update 2 years laterGot my tattoo from Joshua and I could not be happier. It’s healing so well and he did a great job explaining everything and making sure it was exactly how I wanted it. Definitely going back for more in the future.

Steph was very informative and talked me through the process and aftercare of my first piercing, and was super accommodating and made sure I was comfortable. Im very pleased with the piercing: the placement is perfect and Ive had minimal pain/no complications!

Got my tongue pierced here and my husband got the first session of his tattoo. The shop is beautiful and clean and the staff is very good and friendly. Stina is a AMAZING artist and her work is some of the most beautiful work we have ever seen. We are moving out of the area soon and are very sad that we can't get all future work done here. We may just have to make a special trip to come here. They are THAT good.

Perhaps a different sort of review since I haven’t gotten pierced here yet but after a lengthy conversation with the young lady who answered the phone I think I can safely say I will be heading there soon. She was extremely pleasant and took a lot of time to answer my questions, never once rushing me. It is my feeling that if a shop is willing to give exceptional service over the phone (about a piercing done elsewhere no less) then you can trust you will be in good hands!

If youre searching for a place to get your next piercing, search no more. The shop is clean, the people are pleasant, and every aspect of the process is professional. I consulted with Steph on a piercing and she happily took the time to suggest types and locations on my ears that would look best. For once I didnt feel like just another customer coming through a revolving door. I am prone to faintness, and Steph brought out a juice box and made sure to check on me throughout the process. I cant say enough good things about my experience!

Cant say enough good things about grim north. My wife and I have been getting tattooed by Stina for 11 years. James is a fantastic artist as well. Steph and Josh are wonderful too. Weve always felt welcomed and appreciated. Thanks guys!

The best tats artis (Josh) and piercer (Stephanie). And I am trusting them with my daughter piercings and my son tats. Very professional, hygiene (especially with this situation) and professionals. I got my 3 piercings by Ms.Stephani. she is very patient and fast.

Stina is absolutely wonderful! I won the Christmas 2015 instagram contest #HanForTheHolidays and part of the prize was a free tattoo ($250 value!) done by Stina herself. Everyone at the shop was so friendly and inviting! Josh is so chill and an absolutely amazing illustraitor, ask him to show you his work! and Steph is so so sweet! and James is suuper nice too! its such a cute, clean atmosphere and you walk in there and it honestly feels like youre just hanging out with a group of friends while getting tattooed. everyone is fantastic and their work is exceptional! highly recommend it (:

I had been wanting to go to Grim North for many many years. I finally had the opportunity to and got a piece from Stina. I love her and James work and they are great people. She made sure the placement was right and that we agreed on color choices. Everyone at the shop was friendly. I will 100% come back for more custom work.

I went in for my rook piercing and Steph was so awesome. She answered all my questions, walked me through each step, and made me very comfortable.The place was clean and inviting! Think I will continue getting all my piercings here!

Great place to get a tattoo, super clean and professional.James the owner is an excellent artist, cool dude really cares about the art of tattooing, and just an absolute sweetheart overall.Would definitely recommend to friends and family.

LOVE this place. Stephanie is an amazing person to get pierced with. She’s comforting and understanding. She’ll make you feel right at home. Not to mention the facility is clean and makes you feel safe

I got a conch piercing from Steph and my cousin had a jewelry change. She was so nice and made us feel very comfortable. Everything was clean and the shop was beautiful! I highly recommend ☺️

Amazing artists, and an awesome shop! Stina and Josh have done some kickass tattoos for me, and James is amazing as well. Overall a friendly and awesome store and staff await you at Grim North!

This place was amazing ! From the moment i walked in w my daugjter the people that work there were nothing but nice and hospitable! My daughter had her nose done and i had my 4th piercing done on my ear it worked out for me w a cancellation! Stephanie the piercer was knowledgeable and nice and explained everything! And great personality! I will definitely be back ! Oh and the place was supper clean and organized ! Def recommend!! Love loved this place !

I have two tattoos done by Josh. He is a very talented, kind and professional artist. Business is also very clean and professional. I would highly recommend this gem in the heart of Portsmouth.

Ive been coming here a few years now. Ill never go anywhere else for ink on me and I always recommended them. James and Stina, inclusive of Steph and Josh, all set such a comfortable, welcome environment, from the get go. I look forward to the interview and the crew!

I got my belly button pierced here. I would HIGHLY recommend it. The place is really clean and professional. I have a fear of needles and the piercer was really understanding and talked to me. I would definitely come here again.

Walked in on June 16th, 2018 and Stephanie did my Daith piercing. She walked me thru the whole process and care. I am very pleased with the outcome and have gotten a lot of compliments on it. Thanks again!

Very professional and positive environment that facilitates excellent work. Josh was kind, patient, and extremely skilled. I highly recommend Grim North, especially if you prioritize a clean, friendly atmosphere and beautiful results!

Get any piercing done at Grim North. Steph is amazing. Clean, comfortable, amazing. I’ve also gotten a tattoo here. Highly recommend going to them for either.

I got my first tattoo ever and Stina explained everything to me and she did a great job. I love my tattoo! 💜 Great friendly people and a nice clean shop.

I have only gotten piercings but I really like Stephanie. She is very knowledgeable!

I went today for my first ever tattoo! This is a great place and my tattoo came out awesome! Josh was my tattoo artist and he was great, definitely recommend!

I had a daith piercing, I had to remove it for an MRI. Steph very professionally used a taper to open it up. She did so wonderful, I had her pierce my other ear with a new daith. It was an absolutely wonderful piercing. Steph, is the Best. Ten stars for Steph!

I have been working exclusively with Stina for years. Her professionalism combined with epic creative ink skills and superb artistry is unmatched. Do yourself a favor and speak to either Stina or James for your next piece of work.

I left the house to just check out tattoo parlors for my first tattoo, ended up getting exactly what I was looking for from Josh that same day. Comfortable atmosphere, kind and skilled staff. Highly rccomend

My daughter and I had an amazing experience here getting helix piercings. Stephanie was so professional, the place was super clean, wow!

Such a comfortable, friendly atmosphere with some of the nicest people that work there. Very impressed and will be continue to recommend. They got me in ASAP and I’m super grateful to Josh!

I got my nose pierced there and everyone was so nice and helpful. I was nervous but the girl who pierced my nose was super cool and did a really good job. Really good place.

Everyone here is super friendly and extremely talented! Josh did an amazing job and I highly recommend Grim North and any of their artists

Stina did an amazing job on my flower ankle tattoo!! She’s personable and talented and I would highly recommend!

Amazing staff, and even more incredible tattoos!! I have gotten 3 tattoos here from two different artists and they are outstanding!

I went there twice over the last few years to get my nose and conch pierced.. They are super clean and wonderful. Knowledgeable and caring.

Just got a double helix piercing. Even with covid they were really on top of things, and kept the whole process clean and quick. Highly recommend!

I have been here twice for piercings. The staff is friendly, the shop itself is clean and welcoming. Definitely recommend!

I get all my work done by Stina and my husband gets all his by James, I love the shop, the atmosphere, the art is amazing I recommend to everyone who asks about my work!

The owners are wonderful! Clean shop and very professional. My husband and I have both been tattooed here.

Stephanie is wonderful! Ive had a piercing and brought my teen daughter to her as well.

I have gotten a tattoo and a piercing here. Everything you would want from hospitality to helpfulness! Clean, friendly, and thorough!

Great! I cannot recommend this place enough. I wish they did nose piercings but I understand!

Tattoo artist is very talented but I went in for a piercing, the piercer was very friendly and professional.

Super nice staff, went for a industrial piercing. they were quick and made sure I was comfortable.

Good system for setting up appointments, a great experience with Josh, and a great tattoo to show for it!

Amazing people, clean shop, great vibes. absolutely adore this place and all who work here. couldnt recommend it enough even if i tried

I submitted a request for an appointment a month ago and got no response. Followed up with a phone call and left a voicemail, but was still ignored. Extremely unprofessional.

I love stina and james!!! they are both so talented!!! I will be getting so much more done here!!!

James is an excellent artist. Very good with photo realism. Clean and professional place.

Talented artists, spotless, comfortable, and all good vibes here. Everything youd want and need. Highest recommendation.

James was great. Super clean work and he’s pretty funny.

Clean and decent price for tattoo. Great designs and work!

Stina is amazing! Clean and friendly with awesome artists

Love this place. Wonderful artists and staff. The place is very clean.

Beautiful work! Stina is amazing.

Quick, clean, friendly and knowledgeable! Very pleased with coming here :)

Steph is respectful, competent, and gentle.

Awesome artists waiting to get my other foot done 😄😁😍

They wont let you get a piercing if youre under 15 😣

Nice clean shop and very nice people.

Fantastic experience today getting my nose pierced !

Helpful with changing jewelry but rather limited hours of operation.

My captive bead fell out and they wont answer theyre phone 😩😤

Great job, love my piercing.

Great customer service, excellent product selection

Nice little shop, great artists.

Very respectful and talented artists/management

Great people there and great tattoos

My arm is now super duper

Great tattoos and nice atmosphere

Best place to go for tattoos & piercings!

Great place