Although some believed tattoos would become a fad of the '90s, for the most part, they've remained fashionable with a variety of different social groups, from hipsters to bikers to sorority gals.
"They're still really out there in the media," says Adam Werther, owner of Adambomb Gallerie, 2228 N. Martin Luther King Dr. "Turn on any basketball game and you're bound to see at least 20 tattoos."
Lower back tattoos (for women), tribal tattoos and armbands remain popular, with an increasing number of people getting literary and portrait tattoos.
"It's a great challenge to make something look realistic on the skin," says Werther.
Milwaukee has a long list of ink shops on all sides of town. Some have changed hands or come and gone over the years, but a core group has been in business for many years.
Here a guide to Milwaukee tattoo shops. Feel free to add others via the Talkback feature.
Absolute Tattooing
N89 W1687 Church St., Menomonee Falls, (262) 255-4884
absolutetattooing.com
American Tattoo Studio Ltd.
336 W. Main St., Waukesha, (262) 542-5622
americantattoostudioltd.com
Apocalyptic Tattoo
1950 W. Mitchell St., (414) 645-8088
Atomic Tattoos
1507 E. North Ave., (414) 289-7777
5700 W. North Ave., (414) 445-7777
atomictattoos.com
Bay Street Tattoo
322 E. Bay St., (414) 483-5000
baystreettattoo.com
Black Dragon Tattoo
321 W. Main St., Waukesha, (262) 521-1177
blackdragontattoo.com
Body Ritual
1459 N. Farwell Ave., (414) 273-3777
(Web site temporarily down.)
Brew City Tattoo
4637 S. 108th St., (414) 425-8282
brewcitytattoo.com
Color Bomb Tattoos
8030 N. 76th St., (414) 371-2525
Custom Tattoo
1956 N. Farwell Ave., (414) 277-8282
custom-tattoo.net
Cutthroat Tattoo
1415 E. Brady St., (414) 347-2333
cutthroattattoo.com
Gothic Body
1653 N. Farwell Ave., (414) 223-4244
gothic-body.com
Hustlin Hands Tattoo
5114 W. Lisbon Ave., (414) 445-2665
Ink Addictions
1117 W. Oklahoma Ave., (414) 672-1111
Monster's Ink
3924 S. 51st St., (414) 545-6385
monstersinktattoos.com
Moving Shadows Ink
4308 W. Forest Home Ave., (414) 321-0122
Papes Blue Ribbon Tattoo
3483 N. Oakland Ave., (414) 962-8750
skinmilwaukee.com
Sacred Skin Tattoo
9509 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis, (414) 259-9930
sacredskintattooing.com
Saints and Sinners Tattoo Co.
1225 E. Brady St., (414) 226-4746
saintsandsinnerstattoo.com
Starship Tattoo
4380 S. 76th St., (414) 321-1336
starshiptattoo.com
Solid State Tattoo
2660 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 744-0778
solidstatemilwaukee.com
Str8 Klownin
635 E. Locust St, (414) 915-0249
str8klownin.com
Super Star Tattoo
712 S. 2nd St., (414) 273-7827
superstartattoo.com
Twisted Tattoo
5130 W. Howard Ave., (414) 604-0100
twistedtattoostudio.com
Waka Chan Tattoo Shop
2916 W. Forest Home Ave., (414) 672-5899
wakachantattoos.tripod.com
Zoe's Vicious Circle
122 W. Howard Ave., (414) 727-6366
zoesstudios.com
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
