Best Piercing Courses San Francisco Near Me

4worldlovers: COME CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN WITH US! WE WILL BE HAVING TWO FLASH DAY EVENTS WITH DESIGNS STARTING AT $100. FIRST ONE ON SATURDAY 10/29 AT OUR 2440 MISSION STREET LOCATION AND SECOND ONE ON 10/31 AT OUR NEW 3340 22ND STREET SHOP. FIRST COME FIRST SERVE. PLEASE EMAIL OR CALL IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO WELCOME ALEX TO MISSION INK. HE IS AN EXCEPTIONAL ARTIST THAT SPECIALIZES IN BLACK AND GREY REALISM WORK. PLEASE CHECK OUT HIS PORTFOLIO AND EMAIL OR CALL TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

4worldlovers: This location takes both appointments and walk-ins. Walk-ins are on a first come, first served basis and are subject to availability. If you prefer a dedicated time with an appointment you may reserve a time by filling out the form below. Please ensure that you follow the correct link to book the appropriate appointment type.

If you happen to see the appointments are full for the day, it doesn’t mean we aren’t still taking walk-ins!

Due to COVID-19 conditions we are currently still requiring face masks. You can read about our COVID-19 policies here to see how we're doing our part to ensure the community’s safety.

4worldlovers: Originally started in downtown Santa Cruz in the early 90s as “Anubis Warpus” quickly found that it belonged on San Francisco’s historic Haight Ashbury. It was the first tattoo shop to offer body piercing. Before then the body piercing and tattoo world were not intrinsically linked. In 2003 it changed into its modern form of Haight Ashbury Tattoo & Piercing to pay homage to the rich and unique history of the neighborhood. We focus on clean, bold American style tattooing and affordable, quality body piercing and jewelry. We have something for everyone and every budget. Hundreds of thousands of locals and tourists have passed through our doors and have left with a lasting impression.

“Wonderful First Time Tattoo Experience! Machy did a wonderful job ensuring the California Poppy was exactly what I wanted in terms of color, size, and orientation. He was very kind and encouraging throughout the whole process. I left with a smile on face and a beautiful first tattoo!”

“Great experience with my first tattoo! Tyler was super friendly and really eased my nerves getting my first tattoo! he was great about starting with the smaller lines and making sure I was doing fine. He also explained to me thoroughly what was going to happen during the healing process and how to take of it. Would love to come back here for future tattoos”

4worldlovers: Picture Machine tattoo was founded in 1976 by Pat Martynuik, who had moved to San Francisco from Canada in 1970. Pat began tattooing as a hobby, picking up tips from Doc Forbes and his friend, Huck Spaulding, and went on to own and operate his own shops in Edmonton, and later, Calgary. Upon his arrival in San Francisco, Pat began working at Lyle Tuttle, Sr.’s shop on 7th street next to the bus station, just south of Market St. During this period Pat taught the trade to his own son and Lyle Junior. He also earned his nickname, “ The Picture Machine” for the long hours he worked and his constant productivity -Pat was at the shop 7 days a week, and at any given moment he was either tattooing or drawing flash. In 1976 he decided to part ways with Lyle Sr., and opened his own tattoo shop at 3940 Geary between 3rd and 4th avenues, where he resumed the habits that earned him his nickname.

In 1989 Pat died in the shop, basically while in the middle of a tattoo. The Picture Machine became the property of his son, Guy, who by this time also owned his own shop, body Graphics, in Reno, Nevada. Guy maintained operation of the Picture Machine and his Reno shop for a year, and taught his own son Jesse, who now owns body Graphics, to tattoo as well.

In 2005 Guy Martynuik sold the shop to his former coworker Lyle Tuttle Jr. Lyle Jr had been born and raised around tattooing. He had done his first tattoo at the age of 12, and started working under the supervision of Pat Martynuik at his father’s shop, while Lyle Sr. was globetrotting to promote tattooing (and himself). He lived at the tattoo shop, and essentially worked 16 hour days, 7 days a week, preparing the shop in the morning, cleaning up at night and doing anything else that was required after hours. He worked at the 7th street location for 2 years, after which he moved to Hollywood to open another Lyle Tuttle tattoo shop on Sunset blvd. 1 1⁄2 years later his father sold the Hollywood shop to Cliff Raven, and Lyle Jr. returned to San Francisco, did a short stint back at 7th street, and then moved to Vallejo across the bay, to open yet another Lyle Tuttle tattoo shop. Lyle Jr. purchased this shop from his father shortly thereafter. He worked and ran the Vallejo shop for 10 to 12 years, until the local naval base was closed and business dropped off, at which time Lyle Jr. sold the shop to “Fuzzy”, who maintained it for a short time (less than a year), before it finally closed. Lyle Jr., for all intents and purposes retired from tattooing at this point and went on to work in construction, as well as a number of other shady enterprises.

In 2005 Lyle Jr. stopped by the old Picture Machine location to say hello, and a month or so later realized that he had somehow managed to buy it. By this time the Picture Machine building, the building that had at one time housed the tattoo shop, the suicide prevention center upstairs and a Korean video store, was sold by the owner, and Picture Machine Tattoo moved down Geary to 5124 Geary at 15th avenue, where it is today.

During its years of operation, the Picture Machine’s reputation as a no nonsense street shop producing high quality tattoos in an unpretentious environment attracted some of the best young up and coming artists to seek employment there. The list of artists who have worked at the Picture Machine includes many, if not most of the names of tattooers who during the nineties became household names for tattoo fans, and who today are considered to be responsible for breathing new life into the world of tattooing. Today Picture Machine Tattoo maintains its reputation for quality tattoos applied in a bustling street shop environment, long hours of availability to customers, as well as high end custom work made to order for discriminating tattoo collectors.

4worldlovers: One Shot Tattoo was established in San Francisco’s inner Sunset District in March of 2003, and has been a favorite tattoo destination for Bay Area locals as well as visitors from around the globe. Owner Dave Bobrick credits the studio’s longevity and stellar reputation to the talented artists who have contributed their knowledge and skills to our discerning clientele over the years. Our shop is known for fostering a fun and relaxed atmosphere where egos are best left at the door, and our artists take pride in providing each person with a unique and personal experience along with a tattoo that exceeds their expectations.

4worldlovers: We are an appointment only tattoo studio, and we no longer offer piercing services. Please look through our portfolios and fill out a request form for your artist of choice. All artists do their own scheduling so it’s easiest if you contact them directly! Also, we have no connection whatsoever to the new Boogaloo movement, we just think dancing and having fun is what life is all about.