Perhaps describing permanent ink as a “trend” – something that is, by its nature, consistently prone to change – is not necessarily the right word, but tattoo popularity has certainly grown increasingly rapidly over the years, shedding its taboos like a second skin to become embraced as but another form of art and a statement of fashion.
When we speak of tattoos, perhaps some of the first examples to come to mind are the BTS members’ ‘7’ friendship tattoos, or Rihanna’s henna-inspired hand art. In recent years, we’ve seen the tattoo, a practice as old as time itself and rooted in cultural traditions, slowly rebrand itself into an item of beauty, versatile in its ability to both be a meaningful expression of self and a purely decorative accessory.
From Jungkook to Justin Bieber to Margot Robbie, numerous celebrities across the globe have made their skin a canvas for tattoo art. If you are hoping to get one of your own, then, or to add some new art to your growing collection, look no further as we introduce you to some of our favourite tattoo artists in Hong Kong.
DaveRyoLau
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Bold and original, Dave Ryo Lau’s art style is reflective of the European and American traditional “old school” style, using bold, thick lines filled in with a colour palette largely consisting of muted reds, oranges and greens. Their graphics are distinctive and unique, with clean, defined lines, and they expertly utilise the blank space on your skin for contrast as part of each piece. You can make a booking with them via Instagram DM.
Casey.Tat
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Casey Tattoo’s work is characterised by their careful, clean lines and the delicate appearance of their pieces. They specialise in fine-line tattoos in both colour and black and white, and the tattoos they have created in the past include fluid, fine lettering, realistic flowers with immaculate shading, single-line portraits and more. For further inquiries, or to make an appointment, you can DM them on Instagram or reach them on WhatsApp via the link provided on their profile.
YeekiiTattoo
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Yeeki Lo is the person behind YeekiiTattoo on Instagram, and a quick look at their page will tell you the incredible quality of their work and designs. Yeeki tattoos predominantly in black and white, and their pieces have ranged from clean, geometric shapes to incredibly intricate astrological images. Their immaculate shading and skilled artistry guarantee utmost detail and a clean finished look that will have you thinking that your tattoo was printed directly onto your skin. You can contact them with inquiries via the email address provided on their Instagram profile.
Onki.Ink
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Onki.Ink is located in Kwun Tong and specialises in coloured tattoos. Their tattoos have a dream-like, iridescent gleam to them; detailed shading that is incorporated into each design, and vibrant pops of colour are sure to transport you into a fairytale world. If you’re looking to get a tattoo of your pet, it is definitely worth giving Onki.Ink’s page a look as well, as they also have experience with detailed animal portraits. For further inquiries, you can reach them through WhatsApp or Instagram DM.
Ray_TheFox
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Ray_TheFox’s work is sure to take your breath away. They specialise in black and white micro-realistic pieces, and their art seems to take on a life of its own on your skin with the sheer level of detail that goes into each piece. From smaller tattoos to intricate swooping portraits, nature imagery to Greek statues, flowing liquids to prowling animals, Ray_TheFox has got you covered. You can make an appointment with them via WhatsApp or Instagram DM, or you can also email them.
RW.Ink
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RW.Ink specialises in fine, clean lines, creating delicate designs with intricate details. They provide both black and white and coloured tattoos, and for those who are hesitant on committing to a permanent tattoo, they also sell flash tattoos, so you can test out how their art might look on your skin before getting it permanently inked. They also take payment via consumption vouchers, so if you are looking for a place to finally spend the last of that government-issued allowance, why not get a tattoo? For further inquiries, you can WhatsApp or DM them via their Instagram profile.
Mini_Tattooer
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Mini_Tattooer is arguably one of the best-known tattoo artists in Hong Kong, and not without reason. Their colourful designs tend to be relatively small, coming in elaborate detail and shaded in with careful, practiced fine lines. From flowers to dream catchers to animal portraits, the final product is sure to take your breath away with how vivid it looks, exuding a softness that will have you enchanted. You can make a booking via the email address provided on their Instagram profile.
W.CarolTattooer
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If you are looking to get a quote or any kind of lettering tattooed, be it clean, fine cursive or bold, block fonts, W.CarolTattooer is one of the best in the game. Known for their impossibly fine lines, Carol mainly deals with tattoos in black and white, although coloured tattoos are also an option, and her tattoos are all ornate and impeccably detailed. For those looking to retouch an old tattoo or clean up any smudged lines, it is also worth consulting Carol to see what magic she can do for you.
Vinxyau
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Vinxyau is known for their Chinese calligraphy inspired pieces, with bold strokes that look so convincing that they will have people questioning whether your tattoo was painted on with a brush. Mainly dealing in black and white tattoos, their work captures the exact appearance of bold letters painted onto paper with ink. They also offer more abstract artwork aside from their signature bold Chinese characters, such as replicas of an image interpreted through the medium of brush strokes. You can book a consultation with them via the link on their Instagram profile.
AshTattooHK
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Ash Tattoo’s designs adopt an indie-pop style, with their thick, filled in lines and largely black and red colour scheme. Their distinctive art style is perfect for anyone who wants something unique or playful, or even a piece with darker undertones. They also produce flash tattoos, for anyone who is interested in their art style but is not quite ready to commit to a permanent piece. For further inquiries, you can WhatsApp them via the link on their Instagram profile.
MiniTattoo.Una
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Una’s tattoos are perfect for anyone looking for art that is cute, delicate and small. Be it lettering, cartoon images, intricate flowers or rendering gemstones, Una’s artwork is all incredibly ornate, colourful and clean, with careful details that add a dynamism and fluidity to each image and seems to bring it all to life. If you have any inquiries, or if you would like to book an appointment, you can email them via the address provided on their Instagram profile.
Vince_Yue
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Vince_Yue specialises in large, micro-realistic pieces, which require an excruciating eye for detail and high levels of patience, as each piece can take months or even years to complete. They mainly tattoo in black and white, and if you are looking to get a portrait done, they are the artist to be going to. Flawlessly shaded and composed, their art will have people questioning how you got a photograph transferred onto your skin. You can make a booking through the link on their Instagram profile.
Editor
Audrey MiuCredit
Lead Image: @yeekiitattoo via Instagram
