Friday the 13th tattoo, piercing deals
The only Friday the 13th of 2022 is coming up this week and a handful of metro Phoenix tattoo shops are celebrating the supposed unlucky day with an array of ink and piercing deals.
Artistic Tattoo and Lost Dutchman Tattoo are among this year's participating businesses. Some shops have a first-come, first-served policy while others require appointments, so carefully read through the policies before you make plans for a flash tattoo.
If you have a go-to shop, call and check whether they're still doing 13th deals: Some businesses that participated prior to the pandemic have not brought back the tradition. For example, Phoenix's Gypsy Rose Tattoo has said its artists will be doing business as usual that day.
Here's where you can get deals on piercings and tattoos on Friday the 13th, 2022, in metro Phoenix.
Why are tattoos cheaper on Friday the 13th?
How did Friday the 13th become a Black Friday for tattoo flash sales? According to an article written for Vice News, the tradition is credited to tattoo artist Oliver Peck of Elm St. Tattoo in Dallas.
In 1995, Peck threw a Friday the 13th tattoo party at the now-closed studio Pair O'Dice in Dallas and the tradition stuck ever since.
The event is known for "flash sheets," or preset selections of spooky designs for people to pick from at a low cost — originally most cost $13 as a nod to the infamous unlucky number plus a $7 tip as a sign of good luck. Prices have since gone up.
In the Vice article, Peck attributed the popularity of tattooing the number 13 to sailors. He said that since the number was considered bad luck, sailors would get it tattooed in hopes of warding off bad luck if it came their way.
Artistic Tattoo
Artistic Tattoo has shared new sheets of designs on Facebook and artists are inking by appointment only.
The flash designs will be discounted on Friday the 13th. Artists will not be doing $20 tattoos this year, and designs are limited to arms and legs. Masks are required while inside the shop.
Message the shop through Facebook or email artistictattoocrew@gmail.com to book a time slot.
Details: 664 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602230-8333, facebook.com/ArtisticTattoo.
Bully Dome Tattoo
Bully Dome Tattoo will have a $40 special ($31 plus $9 tip) from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The shop will take walkins only — first come, first served — and have a selection of pre-drawn designs.
Details: 4819 N. 27th Ave., Phoenix. 602-795-0735, bullydometattoo.com.
Diamond Body Art
Diamond Body Art will have three artists and a total of 33 slots for its Friday the 13th special. Two artists will offer 20 slots for palm-sized tattoos on the arms and legs only at a cost of $60. Extra color will cost $20. One artist will offer 13 slots for $666 each. Visit Diamond Body Art's Facebook page to book your appointment.
Details: 1116 S. Crismon Road, Mesa. 480-354-2782, facebook.com/DiamondBodyArt.
Idle Hands Tattoo
Idle Hands will have a $100 sale for one tattoo chosen from a preset design sheet on Friday the 13th. The event begins at 11 a.m. and is first come, first served. Black ink only and no face, finger, hand, lip or neck tattoos.
Details: 2722 S. Alma School Road, Suite 4, Mesa. 480-345-1884. instagram.com/idlehandstattooaz.
Limitless Ink Tattoo & Piercings
Limitless Ink will offer $13 quarter-sized tattoos, $31 half-dollar-sized designs and $60 palm-sized tattoos. Custom designs cost $10 more. Tattoos will be first come, first served.
According to the Facebook event, the shop accepts prepaid sessions in person and over the phone from Thursday through Friday; clients can come back anytime through the end of May to get their ink. You have to like and share the event on Facebook to redeem this deal.
Details: 13050 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix. 602332-4114, facebook.com/LimitlessInkTattoo.
Lost Dutchman Tattoo
Lost Dutchman Tattoo will offer $130 tattoos from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on May 13, first come, first served. The shop will only accept cash. Designs are approximately 3 by 3 inches and can be color or monochrome. For the flash sheets, check out their Facebook post.
Details: 4121 N. 19th Ave., Phoenix. 602-230-1947, lostdutchmantattoo.com.
Love & Hate Tattoo and Piercing
Love & Hate is taking reservations for its Friday the 13th sale. Select tattoos cost $80-$100, with $13 going to a local charity. Designs can be found on its Facebook page. Call or DM on Facebook to make an appointment.
Details: 322 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix. 602-9734093, facebook.com/loveandhatetattoo.
Manny's Art Gallery — Tattoo & Piercing
At Manny's Art Gallery in south Phoenix, artists will charge $40 plus a $7 setup fee for custom designs the size of a business card. Pricing for hands, knuckles, fingers, face, neck, behind the ears and around the ribs will depend on the complexity and size of the design.
Clients are asked to "please make the designs as simple as possible." The shop hopes to be able to do two tattoos per person, with the possibility of five maximum per person, depending on the line of customers.
The event will go from 7 a.m-11 p.m. and 16 artists will be available. Walk-ins only.
Details: 5233 S. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-3744812, https://mannystattoos.com.
Mortuary Tattoo
Mortuary Tattoo will have five artists offering tattoos from $40 to $100 on a first come, first served basis. Customers can choose designs from a flash sheet. There also will be $20 piercings. One artist will offer $100 tattoos by appointment only. Event begins at noon.
Details: 1720 W. Southern Ave., Mesa, 480-6104726; 68 S. Ironwood Drive, Apache Junction, 480671-1352. facebook.com/Mortuarytattoo.
Tattoo 151
With about 150 predrawn designs to choose from, this shop will do $13 tattoos with a $7 mandatory tip between 10 a.m. and midnight. This special is first come, first served. Want a second one? You'll need to get back in line. Tattoos larger than 2 inches wide by 2 inches tall cost $30 or more.
Details: 5826 W. Olive Ave., Suite B103, Glendale. 623-776-9334, facebook.com/tattooshop151.