What Inked Magazine partner shops are and how to find them
Inked Magazine is a tattoo and lifestyle publication that maintains a network of tattoo parlors across the United States that advertise in the magazine or work directly with Inked's editorial team. These shops are not vetted or certified by Inked — the partnership is typically a business relationship where shops pay for advertising space or participate in Inked-sponsored events and features.
Finding a partner shop means searching through Inked's website or social media channels, where they list affiliated studios. The magazine does not maintain a single searchable directory of all partner shops, so you will need to look at their current issue, visit their website, or check their Instagram account to see which shops are featured or advertised in a given month or season.
Being listed as a partner shop does not mean the studio has met specific safety standards or that Inked has inspected their equipment or practices. It means the shop has a business relationship with the magazine — usually through paid advertising. Your own research into a shop's licensing, artist portfolio, and health department records remains necessary before booking.
Key Takeaways
- Inked Magazine partner shops are tattoo parlors that advertise with or are featured in Inked Magazine, not shops that have been certified or inspected by the publication.
- You can find partner shops by visiting Inked's official website, checking their current print issues, or following their social media accounts where they tag affiliated studios.
- A partnership with Inked does not replace your own verification of a shop's licensing, artist credentials, or health and safety practices.
- Partner shops change from month to month and vary by region, so the list you find today may differ from the list next season.
How to search Inked Magazine's partner shop listings
Inked Magazine's official website includes a section where you can browse shops that are currently advertising or featured in the publication. The easiest route is to visit inkedmag.com and look for a "Find a Shop" or "Shops" section, though the exact location and format changes periodically as the website is updated.
Inked's Instagram account (@inkedmag) regularly tags and features partner shops in posts and stories. If you follow the account and search for shops in your region, you can often find tagged locations and links to individual shop pages. This method works best if you already know your city or state, since the posts are not organized by geography.
Print issues of Inked Magazine contain advertisements from partner shops throughout the magazine. If you have access to a current issue — either through subscription, a newsstand purchase, or a barbershop or tattoo parlor waiting room — you can flip through and note shops in your area. The ads often include shop websites and contact information.
What a partnership with Inked does and does not mean
A partnership means the shop has paid for advertising space or has been selected by Inked's editorial team to be featured in an article, photo spread, or social media post. It signals that the shop has enough visibility and business to invest in marketing through a national publication. It does not mean Inked has inspected the shop, tested equipment, or verified that artists are licensed.
Inked Magazine does not publish a list of shops that have failed to meet safety standards or that have been removed from their partner network. If a shop stops advertising or is no longer featured, it may straightforward mean the business relationship ended — not that there was a problem. Conversely, a shop that is not a partner may be excellent; many respected tattoo studios do not advertise in national magazines.
The magazine's editorial features do highlight individual artists and shops, and those pieces often include information about the artist's background and style. Reading a featured artist's story can give you a sense of their work and philosophy, but it is not a safety inspection or a may provide of quality.
Steps to verify a partner shop before booking
After you find a partner shop through Inked's listings, take the following steps to verify it meets your standards. First, check your state or local health department's website for the shop's license status and any violations or complaints on record. Most health departments maintain searchable databases of licensed tattoo and piercing facilities.
Second, review the shop's portfolio on their website or social media. Look at completed work in the style you want and read customer reviews on Google, Yelp, or the shop's own Instagram. Ask to see photos of healed tattoos, not just fresh ones, since healing can reveal problems with line work or color consistency.
Third, contact the shop directly and ask about their sterilization process, equipment, and artist credentials. Reputable shops will explain their autoclave procedures, show you their certification, and discuss their artists' training and experience. If a shop is evasive or dismissive about these questions, that is a sign to look elsewhere.
Finally, visit the shop in person if you can. Observe whether the space is clean, whether artists wear gloves and use fresh needles from sealed packages, and whether you feel comfortable with the staff. Trust your instincts — a partnership with Inked does not override your own judgment about a shop's cleanliness or professionalism.
Regional differences in partner shop availability
Inked Magazine's partner network is not evenly distributed across the United States. Major cities like Los Angeles, New York, Miami, and Austin have many shops that advertise in or are featured by Inked, while rural areas and smaller towns may have few or none. This reflects both the magazine's circulation patterns and the density of tattoo shops in different regions.
If you live in an area with few or no Inked partner shops, that does not mean there are no good tattoo parlors nearby. Many excellent shops operate without advertising in national publications. Use the same verification steps — health department records, portfolio review, and in-person visits — to find a shop that works for you, whether or not it has a relationship with Inked.
Inked also sponsors tattoo conventions and events in different cities throughout the year. These events bring together artists and shops from across the region and can be a way to see multiple portfolios and meet artists in person. Check Inked's website or social media for convention dates and locations in your area.
How partner shop relationships change over time
Shops enter and leave Inked's partner network regularly. A shop may advertise for several months or years and then stop, either because the business relationship ended or because the shop closed. Inked does not publish a changelog of which shops have left the network, so a shop you found listed last year may no longer be advertising this year.
New shops also join the network constantly. If you are searching for a partner shop and do not find many options in your area, check back in a few months — the listings may have expanded. Conversely, if you find a shop you like, save their contact information directly rather than relying on Inked's listings to remain current.
Shops that are featured in Inked's editorial content (articles, photo spreads, artist interviews) may not be paying advertisers. These features are selected by Inked's editorial team and can change based on what stories the magazine is pursuing in a given issue. A shop featured in one issue may not appear again for years, if at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does being an Inked Magazine partner shop mean the tattoo artists are licensed?
No. Inked's partnership is a business relationship, not a credential. You must verify artist licensing through your state or local health department. Most states require tattoo artists to hold a license or permit, but Inked does not check this as part of their partnership process.
Can I find a complete list of all Inked Magazine partner shops?
Inked does not publish a single comprehensive directory. You can browse their website and social media to see featured and advertised shops, but the listings are scattered across different pages and posts. Shops also change regularly, so any list you compile will become outdated over time.
What if I find a partner shop but it has bad reviews online?
Read the reviews carefully and look for patterns. One negative review may reflect a single bad experience, but multiple reviews mentioning the same problem — such as poor hygiene or artist rudeness — are a warning sign. Contact the shop to ask about their response to complaints, and consider visiting in person before booking.
Are there other tattoo shop directories besides Inked Magazine?
Yes. Google Maps, Yelp, and Instagram are common ways to find tattoo shops in your area. Local tattoo conventions and artist websites are also good resources. None of these sources replace your own verification of a shop's licensing and safety practices.
What should I do if an Inked partner shop has a health code violation?
Report it to your local health department if you have concerns about current practices. You can also choose not to book there. A single violation does not necessarily mean a shop is unsafe — many violations are minor and corrected quickly — but you have the right to shop elsewhere based on your comfort level.