--- type: best_category_state name: "Best realism tattoo shops in North Carolina" category: "realism" state: "North Carolina" abbr: "NC" shops: 22 url: https://www.localtattoos.com/best/realism/north-carolina/ --- # Best realism tattoo shops in North Carolina 22 shops in North Carolina that reviewers mention for realism and portrait work, each with at least 25 Google reviews. ## How this is ranked Shops are ordered by a Bayesian-adjusted rating: (n × rating + 320 × 4.79) ÷ (n + 320), where n is the shop's Google review count, 320 is the median review count across the directory and 4.79 is the directory-wide mean rating. Only shops with at least 25 reviews qualify; ties go to the shop with more reviews. Ordering is computed at build time from two facts per shop — its Google rating and its Google review count. One listing per street address, and nobody paid for a position. ## Ranked shops | # | Shop | City | Rating | Reviews | Reviewers mention | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [Seventh Sin Tattoo Company](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina/charlotte/seventh-sin-tattoo-company.md) | Charlotte | 5.0 | 1,300 | Fine Line, Japanese / Irezumi, Black & Grey | | 2 | [Anvil Ink and Art](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina/fayetteville/anvil-ink-and-art.md) | Fayetteville | 5.0 | 949 | Japanese / Irezumi, Realism / Portrait, Aftercare Products | | 3 | [Timeless Tattoo NC](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina/hope-mills/timeless-tattoo-nc.md) | Hope Mills | 5.0 | 690 | American Traditional, Japanese / Irezumi, Black & Grey | | 4 | [Gypsy Soul Tattoo and Piercing](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina/wilmington/gypsy-soul-tattoo-and-piercing.md) | Wilmington | 5.0 | 478 | American Traditional, Realism / Portrait, Walk-ins Welcome | | 5 | [Canvas Tattoo & Art Gallery](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina/charlotte/canvas-tattoo-art-gallery.md) | Charlotte | 4.9 | 2,200 | Realism / Portrait, Aftercare Products, Tattoo Touch-Ups | | 6 | [RTP Tattoo Lab](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina/cary/rtp-tattoo-lab.md) | Cary | 5.0 | 239 | Black & Grey, Realism / Portrait, Aftercare Products | | 7 | [Inferno Ink Tattoo & Body Piercing Studio](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina/burlington/inferno-ink-tattoo-body-piercing-studio.md) | Burlington | 4.9 | 1,000 | Realism / Portrait, Aftercare Products, Walk-ins Welcome | | 8 | [Sacred Raven Tattoo Shop](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina/fayetteville/sacred-raven-tattoo-shop.md) | Fayetteville | 4.9 | 897 | Fine Line, American Traditional, Japanese / Irezumi | | 9 | [Tattoo Me Charlotte](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina/charlotte/tattoo-me-charlotte.md) | Charlotte | 4.9 | 393 | Fine Line, Geometric / Mandala, Black & Grey | | 10 | [Black Cloud Tattoo and Piercing](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina/charlotte/black-cloud-tattoo-and-piercing.md) | Charlotte | 4.9 | 378 | Realism / Portrait, Aftercare Products, Piercing Services | | 11 | [Envision Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina/fayetteville/envision-tattoo.md) | Fayetteville | 4.9 | 370 | American Traditional, Black & Grey, Realism / Portrait | | 12 | [Art-Works & Ink](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina/fayetteville/art-works-ink.md) | Fayetteville | 4.9 | 241 | Realism / Portrait, Piercing Services, Cover-Up Tattoos | | 13 | [Tattoo Bill’s Charlotte](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina/charlotte/tattoo-bill-s-charlotte.md) | Charlotte | 4.8 | 1,100 | American Traditional, Japanese / Irezumi, Realism / Portrait | | 14 | [Mad Ethel's Tattoo & Body Piercing](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina/raleigh/mad-ethel-s-tattoo-body-piercing.md) | Raleigh | 4.8 | 758 | Fine Line, Black & Grey, Realism / Portrait | | 15 | [Golden Spiral Studios](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina/greensboro/golden-spiral-studios.md) | Greensboro | 4.8 | 601 | Realism / Portrait, Aftercare Products, Walk-ins Welcome | | 16 | [Family Tradition Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina/mooresville/family-tradition-tattoo.md) | Mooresville | 4.8 | 393 | American Traditional, Fine Line, Realism / Portrait | | 17 | [Tattoo Asylum](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina/durham/tattoo-asylum.md) | Durham | 4.8 | 242 | American Traditional, Script / Lettering, Japanese / Irezumi | | 18 | [S'Moore Ink](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina/dallas/s-moore-ink.md) | Dallas | 4.8 | 240 | Realism / Portrait, Piercing Services, Custom Tattoo Designs | | 19 | [Red Leaf Tattoo Studio, LLC](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina/cary/red-leaf-tattoo-studio-llc.md) | Cary | 4.8 | 210 | Fine Line, Realism / Portrait, Tattoo Touch-Ups | | 20 | [Anythings Possible](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina/mooresville/anythings-possible.md) | Mooresville | 4.6 | 368 | American Traditional, Script / Lettering, Fine Line | | 21 | [Hardwire Tattoo & Body Piercing](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina/wilmington/hardwire-tattoo-body-piercing.md) | Wilmington | 4.6 | 524 | Realism / Portrait, Aftercare Products, Walk-ins Welcome | | 22 | [Cape Fear Tattoo](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina/greenville/cape-fear-tattoo.md) | Greenville | 4.5 | 253 | Japanese / Irezumi, Geometric / Mandala, Black & Grey | ## Related - [Realism tattoo shops by state](https://www.localtattoos.com/best/realism.md) - [Tattoo shops in North Carolina](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina.md) - [The best tattoo shops in North Carolina](https://www.localtattoos.com/north-carolina/best-tattoo-shops.md) --- *Source: [LocalTattoos.com](https://www.localtattoos.com/best/realism/north-carolina/). Markdown alternate of the page at that URL.*