If you’re looking around Columbus for a tattoo shop and Sacred Hand Tattoo Society is on your radar, let me give you the inside low down from an insider's view.
Sacred Hand Tattoo Society is the studio where I set up my home base of Tattoo operations, so I know the ins and outs—from how we handle appointments and deposits, to what it feels like when you walk through the door, to how our shop stacks up against other well-known studios in town. Joey Knuckles, the owner of Sacred Hand, Body Language and High Street Tattoo also go way back. You can check out our conversation on my podcast for some of those stories.
About Sacred Tattoo Society in Columbus, Ohio
We’re easy to find—just south of downtown at 960 Parsons Ave., with plenty of straightforward street parking along Parsons and Whittier. The shop is open seven days a week from 12–8 pm, and we do accept walk-ins when artist availability allows. That said, if you’ve got your heart set on a particular date or a larger piece, it’s best to book ahead.
One thing I think sets us apart is the free, in-person consultations. You can stop in any day during open hours to meet an artist, share your ideas, and walk away with a realistic plan for your tattoo. It’s low pressure and a great way to get comfortable with the shop before you commit.
When you come inside, expect a clean, professional, art-forward space. Clients often comment on how tidy and welcoming the environment feels, and the front-of-house team makes it easy to settle in before your session.
Appointments, Walk-Ins, and Deposits
Here’s how it works:
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Appointments are set in person after your consultation. You’ll talk through design, timing, and pricing directly with the artist you’ll be working with.
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Walk-ins are first-come, first-served. We can usually make it work, but like most reputable shops in Columbus, weekends can fill fast.
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Deposits are non-refundable (usually $50–$100) and go toward the cost of your tattoo. If your tattoo takes multiple sessions, your deposit rolls until the final sitting. Just give at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to reschedule—otherwise, you may lose both your spot and your deposit.
This is pretty standard for any established shop in town, whether you’re looking at Sacred Hand, High Street Tattoo, or Memento.
Waiting Room Etiquette & Shop Rules
Since our artists work shoulder-to-shoulder (literally, not just metaphorically), we do our best to keep the shop calm, focused, and free of the circus-level distractions you might find elsewhere.
Feel free to bring along one (and only one!) trusted sidekick—just know if the tattoo floor’s hoppin’, they might be relegated to our lobby, where the entertainment is never really limited to staring at the art on the walls and watching people nervously tap their feet.
Oh, and if you’re under the weather—it's cool to reschedule! We aren’t running a petri dish, and trust us, no tattoo ever healed faster because someone powered through the flu. Calling it off when you're puking keeps you, our crew, and your future ink all happier and healthier in the long run.
Reviews & Ratings: How Sacred Hand Compares
I always tell people: don’t just take my word for it—check out the reviews. Here’s what the numbers look like across different sites:
Sacred Hand Tattoo Society
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Facebook Recommendations: ~98% positive based on ~90 reviews.
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Yelp: Around 4.4/5 from ~22 reviews, which is a smaller pool but still lines up with the positive feedback we hear daily.
Other Columbus shops for comparison:
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Memento Tattoo (Grandview): Yelp shows ~4.7/5 with ~32 reviews. Each artist books their own schedule, which some clients really like.
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Stained Skin (Short North): BirdEye lists 4.7/5 with 400+ reviews—definitely one of the biggest review volumes in town. They also lean into a gallery-style vibe.
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Evolved Body Art (Campus/Short North): Consistently ~4.5/5 across 175+ reviews and often lands #1 spots in local reader polls (Columbus Alive, 614, OSU Lantern, 1870 Magazine).
What it means for you: Sacred Hand has a strong track record, especially on Facebook, where word-of-mouth is powerful. The feedback highlights the clean space, friendly vibe, and solid artist roster. Stained Skin and Evolved both carry impressive review volume and local accolades, while Memento pulls high marks for its more direct, artist-to-client setup. The key is to match style and environment to your personality and the tattoo you want—not just the star rating.
What to Expect the Day Of
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Check-in & Consult: Show up a little early if it’s your first time—there’s paperwork to finish and a chance to chat with your artist before getting started.
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Guests: Bring one friend max, and know they may be asked to wait in the lobby. Fewer distractions means a smoother session.
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Running late: Like most shops, we run a tight schedule to allow setup and cleanup time. If you’re late or miss your slot, you may lose both your time and your deposit. Communication is key.
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Aftercare: Our FAQ covers everything—pain expectations, aftercare, sun exposure, tipping etiquette (always appreciated, never mandatory). It’s the same advice I give all my clients: take care of the tattoo during healing, and it’ll stay sharp for years.
Pricing
Sacred Hand prices are based on the usual factors—size, detail, placement, and artist. The deposit you leave applies to your final cost, and for multi-session pieces, it carries through until the last sitting. Again, this is standard practice at other top shops in Columbus like High Street Tattoo and Memento.
The Bottom Line
If you’re after a clean, professional studio with consistent hours, walk-in availability, and in-person consultations, Sacred Hand Tattoo Society is a solid choice. Our policies are clear, the reviews are strong, and the atmosphere is set up to make sure you walk away with a piece you’ll be proud of.
The best next step?
Come in, meet an artist, flip through portfolios, and set up a consultation. That’s when the fun begins—bringing your idea to life and turning it into something permanent you’ll love for years to come.
