Reviews of Area51 Tattoo Studio (Tattoo Shop)

Valencia Evans

I've been going to Shane since I moved to NC in 2009! He's always professional, very kind, and not to mention his work is AMAZING! Being able to get my next tatt at his new shop was beyond exciting! The artwork everyone has on display is awesome, the other artists I met were nice and welcoming, and the environment was very chill, which I absolutely love! I definitely recommend North Star for your next tattoo and/or piercing.

180 Life Entertainment

Awesome staff! Great atmosphere!

Cliff Henry

Great shop and great artists.

Charlie Taylor

Jose is amazing

Karrington O'Rourke

I went to get my conch and tragus pierced it was a quick and easy process; I had a very friendly conversation with Stephanie while getting pierced by Shane which made everything seem just so much more comfortable. Great place, very sanitary, very professional and friendly from my experience :) Will definitely be going again

Sam Knipper

Never got a tattoo before. North Star made me feel welcome the second I walked in the door. Staff is friendly and the environment is chill. Jason is my tattoo artist. He’s been going above and beyond my expectations with my full sleeve. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience for my first tattoo. Highly recommend looking up Jasonktattoo on instagram or Pinterest. He can tattoo any style with over 15 years experience. He’s got a great sense of humor and makes your time there fun and fly by. He listens, understands, and replicates what you want. Very pleased and will return again soon.

Jay Tyler

Dee did my tattoo & it was great quality & a reasonable price. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking to get tatted or pierced

Lakeasha Moore

I have fotten all 5 of my tattoo done here over the last pass 4 years. Very clean, respectively people, and excellent work.

alana lopez

Walked-in with some art my friend drew before hand. Shane and Micheal were very welcoming and friendly, Micheal did my tattoo and was super chill and relaxed helped calm me down while I was spazzing with pain - Super clean - nice vibes.

Jaimie Carmon

Clean creative environment

Lance Coldman

Dope work and a even better staff.

anike banks

Jose is very unprofessional and rude. he had a trip the day i came in. i made an appointment and he was rushing me. i was early. he comes in and is making jokes about how he has to leave, how i’m nervous for nothing, and the day before he kept asking me to come earlier. no. i set an appointment for a time that worked for me and he said okay. don’t try to rush me because you have somewhere to go. if it was that serious then you shouldn’t have agreed. also he was being rude when i asked for a receipt. okay you guys don’t give them but if a customer wants one, what’s the big deal? after having my mother speak to him, he wrote one. i want proof that i paid. anyone can come in and say the left a deposit neve coming back here. and he playfully flicked my tattoo afterwards saying “ see that didn’t hurt”. worst place ever. hate you guys.

Victoria Wheeler

My boyfriend and I have both gotten tattoos here by two separate artists. Photo of mine below done by Michael, (I also left a review about my tattoo experience with him on Yelp).

Tonita Bailey

He does exactly what I ask of him.

Tonya Dunn

I have had several tat done in the past month by Shane. I enjoyed the entire experience including the shading. Once I walked in I was greeted by an artist , the atmosphere is very professional. My ink work is awesome ,I'll probably get one or two more before the year is out. I highly recommend anyone, they all do such awesome work.

Martin Fried

Great eclectic tattoo shop. Great work, very nice staff.

Keenan Henderson

Very great experience for my first Tattoo, already thinking where I’m gonna get my next one and it’s gonan be at this place.

Imani Starling-Brown

Very unprofessional. Called receptionist for pricing information and she told me one thing, then I came in and an artist told me another and alluded to the fact that I had called the wrong place. I recalled the number in front of them to prove that it was indeed their store and they looked at me like I was crazy.

Terrell Dismuke Jr.

Ask for Eddie

Camile Daniels

AMAZING WORK!!! #mynoseringback #thanksshane

A&A Management

Amazing service, super clean, and absolutely love my tattoo

Roneisha Ward

I highly recommend Area 51 Tattoo Studio to anyone looking for a piercing. Jose is very professional, knowledgeable, courteous and informative. I have quite a few piercings and he is hands down the absolute best piercer that I have had! I will definitely be returning.

Jonathan Lewis

Great work!!! Cool atmosphere...

Lijah Renée

Jennifer was really nice and gave me my first tattoo which was also really nice

K F

Ridiculous. Almost any other studio is going to give you a better product and service than North Star. Don't waste your time.

C Pryor

Shane is amazingly talented! Only place I will go for artwork or piercings

Dawn Tunstall

Very clean nice people

Kymber Andre

AWESOME SHOP...I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS SHOP...I HAVE GOTTEN OVER 30 TATS FROM THE ARTIST SHANE AND I LOVE HIS WORK!!VERY PROFESSIONAL PLACE !!

Shane Parker

Very friendly and clean atmosphere!! Shane was not only super friendly, but he's very patient and is a great artist. Thank you for our tattoos!

Emily Gower

José did a great job and was SO kind during my ear piercing. I explained that I was a little nervous and don't like needles and he was very patient with me. He did a great job, it did not hurt at all. The only reason I am giving a 4 star instead of 5 is because I wish that there was more variety of studs for piercings. Also the pricing of North Star was very professional, I went to check out a few other tattoo and piercing locations and they were SIGNIFICANTLY more expensive and used the same type of jewelry, or some other shops were about the same price (or lower) but I would not have wanted to get a piercing at the other locations. North Star was very cleanly, and seemed to take all the necessary precautions to sterilize and prevent any piercing issues. 10/10 would recommend José for piercings!

emily bly

Does great detailing

Melissa Rausch

My fiance and I were walk-ins, and we were greeted by the artists immediately. Putting us into their schedule was fast and smooth. They are really skilled in tattoos and have a lot of art experience. I've been to a lot of tattoo shops, my twin is a tattoo artist in Florida, I'm a studio artist/graphic designer, and I will say this place has great quality artists with quality customer service.

LaLa Danyel

This was first time here and the experience was amazing. Shane is very humble and did A great job on me and brothers tatts. I even seen work of the other artist that were there and I must say they have a great and talented team. Clean and laid environment. I'll be back to start on my sleeve.

Kenya Sanders

Don't do tattoos

VeniVidiVici

Walked in with original artwork and Shane did an amazing job. Was chill and professional. Love the alien touches in the shop

Danielle Smith

Beautiful establishment, extremely sanitary and amazing staff! It looks like an old church walking by and has a lot of charm. I highly recommend scheduling a consultation or an appointment with Kevin. He is an amazing artist and knows his craft.

travis hodge

Exactly what we wanted for a good price

Kate Hamilton

Just came in with my best friend to get my nose piercing. It was so clean and friendly. Dee was great, he greeted us within a minute of us arriving. Will definitely be coming back.

Tom Bruce

Shane was incredible! I'm not from the area and I will never go anywhere else!! 100% recommend

Brianna Horton

Very unprofessional i went in her about 3 weeks ago and the one tattoo artist i believe his name jose was yelling at the girl at the front desk for no reason. that was very unprofessional of him to do that in front of customers that’s why i walked out and proceeded to go somewhere else for my tattoo

Alex Vanhoy

I was a walk-in and Jose did a beautiful tattoo for me! He’s very nice and friendly. The shop is clean and decorated nicely. I would definitely go back to this shop!

Ashton Frank

Was a walk in for a cover up and they got me in and out the same day and they did a great job! I’m definitely getting the rest of my sleeve here!

Christian Morgan

I've had two tattoos done here by Jose, and it was a great experience both times. I'll definitely be back.

Thomas Gregory

Excellent laid back environment. Very professional!!

Trichia Kornegay

Have been communicating with their artist Shane who was able to help with the what would work and what would not for a wanted cover up. Only asked for a $25 deposit in a piece much more than that. Everyone was polite and if unsure of the answer found out could answer Got a piercing by Dee and he was wonderful. Other then his fingers didn't feel a thing, and I absolutely love it.

Jacque Allen

Tattoos are nice here.

Arielle Raveney

Bobby is a helpful bad ass and Aj is a great piecer that get the job done well and fast, would suggest for anyone who wants a piercing on thursdays

caroline purkey

My sister and I came here for our tattoos and the service was exceptional . Everyone was professional and the prices were great! Would recommend

Ben Blackmon

Really great staff , I had a wonderful experience there. I would highly recommend these guys. Best in Raleigh .

Riley Yuens

Jose was wonderful! I was super nervous about getting my first tattoo but he walked me through the whole progress and was as gentle as he could be! I'm already planning my next tattoo from him! Highly recommend this shop they were all super professional.

Christina Tapia

Jose was very patient and professional while piercing my 7 year old's ear! Thanks!

Abel Cruz

Great shop, super clean and professional.

Joyce Hardisty

I would give them a negative $300 for daughters first tattoo. The owner of the shop I will say is great by offering to do a free tattoo but my daughter was so disappointed she didn't even want to go back.UPDATE we went to warlocks and got it fixed so now it is a $400 tat but we are so happy!!!

Maria raye

My tattoo looks fantastic! The artist here are really kind, and do a really great job.

Yolandra Meeks

Amazing artist and very clean environment. I will be using this place again. Very satisfied customer!