Let’s face it – unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few decades, it’s clear that tattoos are all the rage, and have been for quite some time. Of course, inking one’s skin isn’t a brand new concept, but what began as a rebellious act undertaken by the “bad boys and girls” of society has morphed into a socially acceptable rite of passage of sorts, evolving to the point that anyone without at least a few tattoos is considered “outside the norm.”

In response to this exploding popularity, tattoo parlors have sprung up almost everywhere around the world, becoming, in some places, as visible a staple as the local shopping center. If you’ve been contemplating adding a personal icon, inspirational message or biblical passage in ink to a part of your body, the following tattoo parlors around Woodland Hills will be able to assist you.

Think Ink Tattoos, located at 21626 Ventura Boulevard, is the brainchild of Leo and Debbie Martinis, who opened the shop in 1995 to offer tattooing and body piercings of all kinds. All of Think Ink’s artists are registered body art practitioners and educated on the latest sterilization procedures, helping to make the studio Los Angeles’ premiere tattoo shop where a fun, friendly experience awaits. Pick from one of Think Ink’s many flashy designs, or bring your own for the artists to bring to vivid life on your body. Open Monday through Saturday from 1 pm to 9 pm.

Interstate Ink, located at 22738 Ventura Boulevard, is a tattoo shop in Woodland Hills catering almost exclusively to recovering addicts and helping artists with addiction issues get their careers back on track. Lorded over by Tony “Tattoo Tony” Nardini, Interstate specializes in solid colorwork, super soft black and grey designs, and fantasy art, with Nardini himself bringing more than 20 years of experience to the business. In addition to the aforementioned styles, the shop is also proficient in custom tattoos, portrait tats, realistic tats, and even biomechanical tats, and can handle all manner of cover-ups. Open daily from 11 am to 7 pm.

Oak & Poppy, located at 19837 Ventura Boulevard, is an upscale and unique ink shop providing high-quality tats, body piercings, and even fine jewelry. The artists here tattoo in all styles and offer custom inking specifically designed for each client, the piercing department carrying only the highest quality jewelry while following strict guidelines to ensure safety for all. Oak & Poppy’s goal is for each and every customer to experience great service, beautiful artwork, exquisite jewelry, and, most importantly, a memorable appointment.

Nathan’s Tattoos and Piercings, located at 7222 Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Canoga Park, was founded in July of 2000 and, since that time, has become a go-to shop for some of the best ink designs in the Valley. Here, every client is cared for in a light, bright, upbeat environment – something not common on today’s tattoo parlor scene – and every artist is devoted 100-percent to his or her craft…not the quick cash-grab so prevalent amongst these shops. Owner Nathan prefers when he’s given the chance to intermix tattoos and piercings by being able to incorporate dermal anchors, surface barbells, scarification or branding with a tattoo, always believing that a piercer should never stop learning new techniques.

Clandestine Rabbit Tattoo, located at 18424 Ventura Boulevard in Tarzana, specializes in exceptional designs, the shop opened its doors in 2007 with the vision of creating lifelong masterpieces for all clients. Today, the studio boasts a collective of artists who specialize in a range of tattoo styles and who bring with them diverse backgrounds in artistic training. Whatever your preference when it comes to getting inked – from small and sexy to full-sleeve over-the-top – Clandestine Rabbit Tattoo is dedicated to providing an outstanding quality of work and ensuring your tattoo experience is memorable.

Wildlife Tattoo and Piercing, located at 7149 Winnetka Avenue in Winnetka, specializes in realism, black and grey designs, and color, the team of five artists concentrating on advanced writing and lettering in their creations. Established in 2010, Wildlife remains one of the cleanest and most respectable shops in the Valley, its owners always donating a percentage of its profits to help abused or neglected animals while spreading animal awareness and clean earth philosophies…and that is something we here at Woodland Hills Magazine can definitely get behind and wholeheartedly agree with.

Is Los Angeles the best place to get your first tattoo? We sure think so, and due to the city’s strong connection with the artistic world – from Hollywood and Paramount Pictures to TCL Chinese Theatre – there is no doubt you will find some of the top tattoo artists in the country here. Whether you want to tattoo yourself with a minimalistic design or are looking for a more complex inked picture, Woodland Hills is the ideal spot for you to enhance body art.