Portland’s ink spots

It’s official: Tax season has begun. This, of course, means deciding what you’re going to do with your tax return, if you’re lucky enough to get one, and this year’s tax return might be just the financial boost you need. If you find yourself in that place or have simply been wondering what Portland offers as far as the tattoo world goes, then Google no more! This is a brief guide to a few of the local tattoo studios. Keep in mind that this list barely encompasses a fraction of the tattoo studios in Portland. If you are considering getting a tattoo, you should visit these shops for yourself to make sure the style and feel of the artwork gels with your own.

Captain Jack’s Tattoo Studio

4601 SE Hawthorne St.

Mon–Sat: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.

Sun: 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

The staff here is friendly and very helpful. They only have three artists, but don’t charge artist fees like other shops. However, they don’t quote prices without knowing details like location, size and complexity. Captain Jack’s is the only shop I found that works with blacklight ink. Getting blacklight art will cost a little extra, as the ink is pricier for the shop, and the artist must spend extra time on the tattoo (since blacklight ink is invisible in standard light, they have to constantly stop and check the progress under the blacklight)—but the effect is pretty awesome.

Lady Luck Tattoo and Piercing

611 SE Morrison St.

Fri–Mon: noon–10 p.m.

Tues–Thurs: 4 p.m.–10 p.m.

With five artists utilizing very distinct styles, Lady Luck’s staff was also very friendly and answered all my questions thoroughly. They charge a minimum of $50 for tattoos, no matter the size, but the price can go up to a $70 minimum if you want it placed on a sensitive area like the back of the knee. Lady Luck has over 200 customer reviews online, and just over 80 percent of them are five-star ratings. It’s hard to argue with results like that.

Adorn Tattoo West

9217 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy.

Sun–Sat: noon–8 p.m.

Now, I realize that Beaverton Hillsdale Highway is not technically in Portland. However, if experience is one of the things on your list, then the Adorn Tattoo West shop is worth looking at. They feature six artists who collectively have over 43 years of experience under their belts—and they generally charge $125–150 per hour. Although a consultation is not required, appointments will not be made over the phone. Instead, they must be made in studio for any day except Saturday, which is reserved for walk-ins. A $50 deposit is required when you make your appointment, which goes toward the cost of the tattoo if you show up on time.

Infinity Tattoo

3316 N Lombard St.

Mon–Thurs: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Fri–Sat: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Sun: noon–8 p.m.

Infinity Tattoo offers six artists with many years of experience as well. You can set up an appointment over the phone or in person, and each client receives a consultation prior to the appointment. At the consultation, the artist may choose to charge a drawing fee for the artwork or get a deposit for the tattoo. They charge $135 per hour, with an $80 minimum.

I said it was a short list, didn’t I? If you’re thinking about getting ink done, these shops are great, but you should definitely look into some others to make sure you get the full scope of what Portland can offer. All that’s left now is the pain of doing your taxes.