Broken Clover Tattoo, Laser, and Piercing — Local services in Tucson

WOW I can NOT say enough nice things about Madeline and this shop. In short, this was the least painful, least stressful, most hygienic, most reasonably-priced tattoo I've ever gotten. Pro tip, try to call and make an appointment to guarantee that you can get in :) All of the artists are in high demand!

First, I walked in on a Thursday evening at 6ish without calling initially hoping to get an appointment with Raquel. Her evening was booked, and I couldn't come later because I was leaving town the next day. Thankfully, Madeline was accepting walk-ins and I knew I liked the style of most people who worked in the shop. I am not a creative person, but I knew generally that I wanted an ocotillo. Madeline asked for more specific questions about what I wanted/didn't want, explained a concept, then let me know it would take her about an hour to do the drawing. She directed me to downtown (thank you for that!) and I grabbed a snack while I waited. She showed me the BEAUTIFUL piece she had whipped up, then went to get her parts for the tattoo. Once her area was laid out, she showed me all of the unopened needles and parts to verbally clarify that they were clean/new. I swear I watched every employee in that shop sanitize each surface 4 times with a different set of gloves each time before starting anything. It was great. She's SO nice and super easy-going, and a really interesting person!! I wanna say it was like... 2 or 3 hours? Not long, but not short. Being able to keep a conversation makes the time pass by and makes it easier to not focus on the needle stabbing your skin! Moreover, I would go so far as to say the tattoo didn't hurt. In the past when I've gotten tattoos (2 different artists), my palms get really sweaty, sometimes I shake, and I'm usually sore afterwards. My tattoos have also always wept a lot, but Madeline's work? No shaking, sweating, soreness because she has a 'light hand' as she explained to me. My saniderm wrapping had a single clear bubble of 'weepage' the size of a pea. Usually my wrap would completely fill up across the whole tattoo and create a bulge for a full day. Finally, throughout the process Madeline's really friendly personality encouraged me to ask questions I had always had but never asked anyone in an effort to respect tattoo artists. Questions like "how does the tattoo machine work?" "How much of a pain in the neck is it to make a new stencil if I ask for a change in design?" "Why does your tattoo hurt less than my previous tattoos?" "What do you recommend healing tattoos with?" She also gave me REALLY in-depth after-care information that I had never heard before, like keep animals away from your tattoo (makes sense but no one ever told me directly). If you're especially scared/worried about your first tattoo because of the process, seriously reach out to Madeline. She's great. Amazing. Outstanding. This whole shop is A++. I'll have to come back from San Antonio because this shop is worth...

Broken Clover is one of those rare treasures that you find in the heart of Tucson. The artists are proficient in transforming a simple idea, a seed if you will, into a grand work of art. Very rarely will they stick to the design on the page, preferring to let their creativity take your tattoo to a level that you hadn't even considered before. Each artist brings something unique and wonderful to the table and after your first piece, you will quickly begin considering collecting pieces from each of them.

Johnny Jinx, the owner, is one of those guys that you just want to have a beer with and chat about anything. The fact that he excels in his art only adds to the experience that you have when visiting the shop. As a matter of fact, the atmosphere of the shop is so laid back and friendly that it almost feels like you are at a friend's house getting tattooed. The work that Jinx is able to design is nothing short of amazing. His extensive experience is matched only by his imagination and skill. From pinups to flowers, from portraits to abstract and everything in between, Jinx has you covered. Gabe Alvarez, another of Broken Clover's main artists, is also proficient in almost any style that you desire and can get you in and out relatively quickly, generally chuckling as you leave. Amy Jiao, the newest artist added to the fold, is just starting out in the business but has already become more proficient under Jinx's tutelage in the past few months than 80% of the other tattoo artists in Tucson who have been doing this for decades. Her styles also range and if the work that I have seen so far is any indication, she will be winning awards in no time.

Broken Clover also has another asset that many other tattoo shops in town can't claim: they aren't jerks. Tattoo artists, almost as a rule, can be a bit abrasive, even a bit douchey, if you will. However, each of the artists at Broken Clover are fun, respectful, and honest, and they are all easy to get along with. This may not seem like a huge matter but when you are one of the few shops around that provides this little perk, it really does mean the world. After all, you are already paying someone to hurt you, so why pay them to be a douche?

I have had two pieces done at this shop, both of them big with plenty of detail and I couldn't be happier. As a matter of fact, since my first visit to this shop, I have recommended the shop to my friends and family and of the five or six that have visited since, each and every one of them were beyond happy with the quality of work they received. If you are looking for a place to go and have some quality ink laid in, Broken Clover is the...

I had wanted a tattoo for many years but always had trouble settling down on an artist whose style I loved. Luckily for me, while browsing instagram I came across Ben Ervin (@ben_ervin_tattoos). It seemed like no matter what I scrolled through of his work, I absolutely loved it all! The imagery he uses and his ideas are amazing. Since I'm very inexperienced in the tattoo department, I was worried about asking silly questions or doing something wrong. However, Ben was more than kind and patient throughout our entire collaboration and made me feel so comfortable and at ease. During the procedure he made sure I was doing well and would ask if I needed breaks and was always very reassuring. I never felt unaware of what was happening which was very comforting. He's super awesome and super cool and that made getting tattooed by him even better because even though the process hurts, when you start to chit chat about life you forget about the pain. I just told Ben about different kinds of imagery I liked based off of his previous work (skulls, desert cacti/flora) and he created this amazing original piece for my upper arm that I am incredibly proud to call my first tattoo. When it was all said and done, he explained in detail aftercare procedures and how to take care of it once I got home. I am excited to make more appointments in the future and get more work done (after getting just one you want to walk right back in and get another). I cannot thank Ben enough for such a great experience and I highly recommend this shop. It has such a great atmosphere with a staff that seems so passionate about what they do. Take a look at all of the artists they've assembled and find which one best suits the style of tattooing you love. They won't disappoint! Everyone there is very friendly and supportive of each other and you feel very welcome upon entering. It's very clean and well taken care of. It was far beyond what I could have asked for and for that I am...