Heart In Hand : Lower Greenville

Heart In Hand: Lower Greenville is one of the more talked-about tattoo shops in Dallas, Texas, and for good reason. The word around town is that the artists here are seriously skilled, working across a wide range of styles. You'll find color and realism, illustrative pieces, plenty of traditional American old-school, and clean black and grey. As one regular put it, the whole shop is talented and can help you out no matter what style you're after.

It's a walk-in based studio, which locals appreciate. People talk about strolling in on a Friday afternoon with no appointment and walking out with a piece that beat their expectations. If you're planning something bigger or more involved, the team does consultations and custom design work, so it's easy to map out a larger project before the needle ever comes out. One person who started with zero tattoos in the spring credited artist Al Nichols with patiently walking them through the whole process, revisions and all, and racking up eight pieces by fall.

Matt and Allen come up warmly too, and folks who've been inked here talk about artists who genuinely get excited to do the work. Piercing is a big part of what they do, and Casey has become a real favorite for it. Ask anyone who's been pierced by her and you'll hear the same thing: welcoming, informative, careful about measuring and lining things up before she starts, and quick once she gets going. Ears, nose, eyebrow, lip, helix, she covers the range.

We'll be straight with you though: opinion is a little split on the piercing side, and a few people have had a colder experience with one of the piercers, so it's worth asking for the person who's the right fit for you. Beyond the talent, people mention how clean the studio is, how easy parking can be, and the calm, friendly atmosphere that makes it easy to relax in the chair. Prices land in fair territory too. If you're looking for a Dallas tattoo artist or a walk-in piercing spot with a strong local reputation, Heart In Hand on Lower Greenville is an easy one to recommend.