What styles does Slave to the Needle Ballard specialize in?

Slave to the Needle Ballard specializes in Ornamental, Neo-Traditional, Japanese, Old School, Blackwork and Fine Line.

How many tattoo artists work at Slave to the Needle Ballard?

Slave to the Needle Ballard has 9 tattoo artists on their team, with 79 published, tagged photos in the catalog.

How do I book with Slave to the Needle Ballard?

Slave to the Needle Ballard — message us on Instagram to book.

What does Slave to the Needle Ballard charge?

See the Estimated Price Range above for tiers by size. This is confirmed by the studio.

Where is Slave to the Needle Ballard located?

Slave to the Needle Ballard is located at 508 NW 65th Street.

What is Slave to the Needle Ballard’s rating?

Slave to the Needle Ballard has a 4.6★ rating from 662 reviews.

What happens to my deposit if I reschedule, cancel or I’m late?

Slave to the Needle Ballard lists: deposit: $50 for most pieces, $100 for pieces over two hours; non-refundable; deposit comes off the final price; rescheduling: Rescheduling with plenty of notice doesn’t affect the deposit; cancellation: Cancelling within 24 h or not showing up forfeits part of the deposit. Policies can change — call +1 206-789-2618 or message them to confirm before you pay.

Is the consultation free?

Many studios offer a free consultation, in person or by message; some charge a fee that comes off the tattoo. Ask when you first get in touch.

When will I see my design, and can I change it?

It varies: some artists send the design a few days before, many show it on the day and adjust it with you before the stencil goes on. You can always ask for changes before anything touches your skin.

Is a touch-up included?

Many studios touch up small healing gaps for free within a few months; after that, or for sun-faded work, touch-ups are usually paid. Ask before booking.

Is the studio licensed, and how do they keep things sterile?

Slave to the Needle Ballard hasn’t listed licence or hygiene details on TatSeek. That doesn’t mean anything is wrong — ask about their licence, single-use needles and sterilisation; a good studio answers happily.

Do I need ID? What is the minimum age?

Expect to show a photo ID proving you are 18 or older. In the US some states allow 16–17-year-olds with a parent’s consent, others don’t allow it at all, and many studios only tattoo adults either way.

How do I pay, and should I tip?

Ask whether they take cards or cash only. Where tipping is customary (as in the US), 15–20% is typical; elsewhere it’s optional.

To book, message us on Instagram

Book Now

You book directly with the studio · no TatSeek feeⓘ

What to include in your first message

What the artist needs from you

Your idea in one line + 2–3 reference images more →
Placement and rough size in centimetres more →
Colour or black & grey more →
Your budget range more →
Dates you’re free; OK with more than one session? more →
Cover-up? Add a clear photo of the old tattoo more →

What to ask them

Deposit — how much, does it come off the price, what if I reschedule? more →
When will I see the design, and can I ask for changes? more →
How long is the wait for an appointment? more →
Is a touch-up included? more →

Known for Slave to the Needle Ballard: Deposit: $50 for most pieces, $100 for pieces over two hours; non-refundable · Touch-up: not listed · Design: not listed · Wait: not listed. Policies differ between studios — call +1 206-789-2618 to confirm.

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Slave to the Needle Ballard

Name: Slave to the Needle Ballard
Address: 508 NW 65th Street, Seattle, WA, 98117, US
Telephone: +1 206-789-2618
Price range: $300-$550
Rating: 4.6

📍Seattle, WA 🇺🇸 United States

★★★★★ 4.6 (662)

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Slave to the Needle is an award-winning Seattle tattoo studio, tattooing since 1995 and voted Best Tattoo & Piercing Studio in the Seattle Weekly readers' poll for over a decade. This is the Ballard location (508 NW 65th St) — piercing services are available here only, alongside a resident roster of tattoo artists working in traditional, Japanese, realism, and illustrative styles.

Also at: Slave to the Needle Wallingford

Speaks: 🇬🇧 English

🚶 Walk-ins welcomeⓘ

See the studio before you visit

Take a look at our space, tattoo setup, and team to get a feel for the environment where your tattoo will be created.

Specializes in: ⚓ Old School (29)🌊 Japanese (20)🌹 Neo-Traditional (13)🪡 Fine Line (8)🖤 Blackwork (4)💠 Ornamental (3)ⓘWorked out from the tagged tattoos in this profile — the styles that keep coming back, with how many pieces. Not a self-description, so it shows what they really do most. One-off tags are left out, so this shows where the real depth is.

Top subject groups: 🌿 Nature & Plants (27)🐾 Animals (25)🔱 Symbols & Objects (13)🐉 Mythology & Folklore (12)🧍 People (9)ⓘWhat they tattoo most often — animals, people, flowers… — counted from the tagged tattoos in this profile, with how many pieces. Not a self-description, so it shows what they really tattoo most. One-off tags are left out, so this shows where the real depth is.

Estimated hourly rate: $200/hourⓘ

Estimated Price Range

✅ Verified Sep 2026 — from slavetotheneedle.comⓘ

Small & Simple Small symbols, lettering, or simple line work — roughly 2–10 cm, about 1 hour: $150–250
Medium (Typical tattoo) More detailed custom design with shading — roughly 10–20 cm, about 2–3 hours: $300–550
Large & Complex Larger, highly detailed piece — roughly 20–30 cm, about 4–8 hours, 1–2 sessions: $700–1500
Very Large / Sleeve Half sleeve, back piece, large-scale work — 30+ cm, roughly 10–25+ hours, 3+ sessions: $1600–3600+

These are estimated ranges — for an exact quote, message us on Instagram or call +1 206-789-2618.

Before you bookⓘ

Deposit: $50 for most pieces, $100 for pieces over two hours; non-refundable
Deposit off final price: Yes
Rescheduling: Rescheduling with plenty of notice doesn’t affect the deposit
If you cancel: Cancelling within 24 h or not showing up forfeits part of the deposit
Shop minimum: $150
Not listed — ask the studio: Consultation · Late arrival · Design preview · Touch-ups · Typical wait · ID & age
Safety & hygieneⓘ: Not listed — that doesn’t mean unsafe; ask about licence, single-use needles and sterilisation.

From the studio’s website, checked by TatSeek · updated Sep 2026. Rules can change — confirm with the studio before paying a deposit. How booking works →

About Slave to the Needle Ballard

What styles does Slave to the Needle Ballard specialize in?: Slave to the Needle Ballard specializes in Ornamental, Neo-Traditional, Japanese, Old School, Blackwork and Fine Line.
How many tattoo artists work at Slave to the Needle Ballard?: Slave to the Needle Ballard has 9 tattoo artists on their team, with 79 published, tagged photos in the catalog.
How do I book with Slave to the Needle Ballard?: Slave to the Needle Ballard — message us on Instagram to book.
What does Slave to the Needle Ballard charge?: See the Estimated Price Range above for tiers by size. This is confirmed by the studio.
Where is Slave to the Needle Ballard located?: Slave to the Needle Ballard is located at 508 NW 65th Street. View on Google Maps →
What is Slave to the Needle Ballard’s rating?: Slave to the Needle Ballard has a 4.6★ rating from 662 reviews.
What happens to my deposit if I reschedule, cancel or I’m late?: Slave to the Needle Ballard lists: deposit: $50 for most pieces, $100 for pieces over two hours; non-refundable; deposit comes off the final price; rescheduling: Rescheduling with plenty of notice doesn’t affect the deposit; cancellation: Cancelling within 24 h or not showing up forfeits part of the deposit. Policies can change — call +1 206-789-2618 or message them to confirm before you pay. How deposits usually work →
Is the consultation free?: Many studios offer a free consultation, in person or by message; some charge a fee that comes off the tattoo. Ask when you first get in touch. What happens at a consultation →
When will I see my design, and can I change it?: It varies: some artists send the design a few days before, many show it on the day and adjust it with you before the stencil goes on. You can always ask for changes before anything touches your skin. Design, flash and revisions →
Is a touch-up included?: Many studios touch up small healing gaps for free within a few months; after that, or for sun-faded work, touch-ups are usually paid. Ask before booking. Touch-ups explained →
Is the studio licensed, and how do they keep things sterile?: Slave to the Needle Ballard hasn’t listed licence or hygiene details on TatSeek. That doesn’t mean anything is wrong — ask about their licence, single-use needles and sterilisation; a good studio answers happily. What a clean studio looks like →
Do I need ID? What is the minimum age?: Expect to show a photo ID proving you are 18 or older. In the US some states allow 16–17-year-olds with a parent’s consent, others don’t allow it at all, and many studios only tattoo adults either way. Age and ID →
How do I pay, and should I tip?: Ask whether they take cards or cash only. Where tipping is customary (as in the US), 15–20% is typical; elsewhere it’s optional. Tipping and etiquette →