Alley Kat Tattoo, Glendale

The telltale buzzing of tattoo guns pervades the air at Alley Kat Tattoo’s studio, where skilled artists have emblazoned skin with Celtic symbols, graffiti, military insignias, and mythological art for nearly two decades. The artists eschew pretension in favor of a casual, hygienic environment that makes even first-timers feel like habitual inkers as they excitedly convey their ideas during consultations. When they aren’t putting their spin on classic designs such as dragons and portraits of Grover Cleveland, the artists accent eye areas and lips with subtle cosmetic tattoos that act as permanent makeup.