Here's Where You Can Get Friday the 13th Tattoos This Week

Friday the 13th is here. That means horror movie marathons, superstitions, and flash tattoos across the country. 

Every Friday the 13th, tattoo shops around the US marathon tattooing sessions. (Or an adaptation of that kind of party.) It usually involves long lines and tattoos at a reduced cost. Guests pick a small design off a flash sheet--a pre-made set of tattoos designed, often, by in-house artists--and get it inked. The demand generally has artists sweating their asses off as they tattoo a wild number of people, with some shops open for a full 24 hours. 

The tradition was popularized by the Dallas-based tattoo artist Oliver Peck. He previously said that he wasn't the first to do it, but he made it into an event. Now, you'll find it happening in just about any city with a tattoo shop. Often you'll find the small tattoos cost $13 plus a "lucky" (and mandatory) $7 tip. Some places go with $31 and a mandatory $9 tip. Other parlors will go even closer to what you'd generally pay on other days. 

With those low prices, artists often aren't making much on your tattoo when they offer steep discounts. "The shop doesn't make $$ on Friday the 13th," New York's Daredevil Tattoo previously wrote on its site. "It actually cost us $$ and we are very tired at the end of the day, so we really appreciate nice words and any nice reviews you can leave for us online." Additionally, the artists will appreciate extra financial gratuity. You won't find any artists unhappy if you go above and beyond that small $7 tip.

Be sure to check shops. in advance. Not all shops participate, and many don't care for the tradition. Paul Collurafici of Chicago's Tattoo Factory, which does not do Friday the 13th tattoos, previously told Thrillist you should "watch out for shortcuts" during these events. Participating shops are going to be going through a lot of customers throughout the day. "Counters and chairs should be wiped down with sani-wipes after every tattoo," he says. "Needles and tubes should be in sealed sterile packages and opened in front of [you]. New ink poured out while [you] watch." 

If you're ready to participate, here are some shops around the US that will be participating in the Friday the 13th tattoo festivities. Be sure to check with the shop ahead of time. Details can change, and it's easy to miss out if you show up too late. 

All Saints Tattoo
It will be open from 10 am to midnight, offering flash tattoos. Though, it will close down the line around 10 pm, we are told. That will be the case at both locations. You'll find about 600 flash designs that are only available at All Saints with prices ranging from $31 to $50. It's cash only, and they're only inking arms and legs. 

Black Dagger Tattoo
You can pick something from Black Dagger's flash sheets for $100 or add up to two colors for $160. Each design is about three inches in size and can only be inked onto arms and legs. It's a first come, first serve affair from noon to 8 pm. The shop has shared some of its designs on Instagram.

Jade Dragon Tattoo
You can get a flash design for $50 or a piercing for $20 ($13 plus a $7 tip) at Jade Dragon's Friday the 13th event. Also, body jewelry (except gold) will be $13, and you can grab a $20 gift certificate for $13. You'll find some of the flash sheets on its Instagram.

Mindcrusher Tattoo
As ever, Mindcrusher is offering $13 tattoos with a $7 mandatory tip. The shop doesn't share its flash sheets until the day of the event, but each artist will have their own sheet with roughly 12 designs. It'll open up at 12:30 pm and go until 9 pm. Though, they say that if you're in line in time for a tattoo, then you will get in. 

Tattoo Candy Chicago
The shop will be participating, but has not yet announced details. It tells Thrillist that flash sheets will be out on display when it opens on Friday. 

Elm Street Tattoo
As it always does, Elm Street will be doing tattoos for 24 hours. The shop's pre-registration is booked up already, but you can still get a tattoo by waiting in line. That line opens up at midnight on Friday the 13th. All three of its shops will be closed the day before so the staff can get ready. It's a cash only event. You'll find more details and a flash sheet on the Elm Street website. 

Certified Tattoo
On Instagram, Certified says it will offer 50% off select flash tattoos and piercings at its shops. You can start booking at midnight, and it will roll through 11:59 pm. It says that appointments with that discount are available for any day of the month, not just Friday the 13th. They do expect to sell out, however, and the shop will not accept walk-ins. 

Crimson Hilt Tattoo
You'll find Crimson Hilt offering $50 and $100 tattoos, it says on Facebook. The flash sheets are shared on January 12, and it will be open from 10 am to midnight. It's cash only, and they will exclusively be tattooing arms and legs. 

Lifetime Tattoo
The shop will open at 11am and stay open until 10 pm. It's doing first come, first served on $150 tattoos on arms and legs. 

Infamous Tattoo Studio
It will be doing in-house designs from flash sheets from 11 am to 7 pm, it says. Those pieces will be available for $31. Additionally, all basic piercings will be $23. The shop suggests on Facebook that people arrive early because they get a lot of traffic and sometimes cut off the line early. All tattoos will be cash only with placement only available on arms and legs. 

Steel Rod Tattoos
The shop says on Facebook that it will do an event, but it has not yet released details on what it will do.

Mr. Inkwells
You'll find $69 tattoos and $13 piercings all day at Mr. Inkwells. It will also be offering discounts on everything in the store, including jewelry. Beyond that, you can also get a 20% discount on its website, which offers clothing, aftercare products, and tattoo gift certificates. The sale, like the in-store event, is only taking place on Friday the 13th.

MPLS Tattoo
It will be doing tattoos from 11 am to 8 pm, but it's by appointment only. Flash sheets will be shared on its social media when they're prepared. The final designs will either cost $131 or $331. 

Grace & Glory
The shop tells Thrillist all of its Friday the 13th appointments are booked. So, get on it early next time. Occasionally, it does get cancelations, so you can reach out to the shop if you'd like to be on a wait list. 

Daredevil Tattoo
You'll be able to pick designs from a flash sheet for $40. The shop will have a line you can hop in, but it says that priority is given to regular customers. 

Live By the Sword
Its shops in SoHo and Williamsburg will be open on Friday the 13th. Its new designs are on its site and available from 10 am to midnight. The designs cost anywhere from $50 to $200. You can book an appointment or just walk in, it says on its site. 

Magic Cobra Tattoo
Several of Magic Cobra's artists will be doing flash sheets for Friday the 13th at both of its locations. Most of the artists are appointment only. Though, each location has at least one person talking walk-ins. 

Moo Tattoo
Moo is combining Philly Loves Bowie Week with Friday the 13th. It's one big party running from January 13 to 16. The shop has flash sheets full of familiar Friday the 13th designs and lots of David Bowie-inspired designs. All of the designs are $130 and spots are by appointment only. You can make an appointment here.

Pleasant Dreams Tattoo and Art Studio
The shop will do things a little differently than it normally does. You can get larger-than-usual $100 flash design for $60.

Moth & Dagger
The shop will offer $100 tattoos on arms and legs only. It'll open at 11 am with flash sheets featuring in-house artist designs.

Supergenius Tattoo
The shop will be offering its Friday the 13th event through the whole weekend. It will open at noon and stay open until they are done each of the three days, Supergenius tells Thrillist. The more than 100 unique designs start at $50 with some bigger ones getting up to around $350.

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