Soma Tiger Tattoo

This is absolutely the best shop in Toronto, Jacqueline is brilliant, I trust her beyond belief. She is truly a master, she’s amazing with line work, detail, shading, she’s great at suggesting things you’d never think of, such a perfectionist. She is my tattoo artist and I rave about her to everyone like she’s my first born haha! If you’re not sure if you should come here or not. stop tripping. and GO!

When I stepped in the door I expected the experience to be like any other tattoo parlor I’ve ever been to — some receptionist covered head to toe in tattoos and piercings silently scanning me where the only person I could feel connected to would be the artist (at best), maybe with an entourage of friends gawking in my direction and making me feel uncomfortable, where I am forced to approach and make my intentions clear as if they are performing a service by letting me enter the establishment.
Instead, I was greeting by Ben who immediately made eye contact with me, came over to shake my hand and offered me water (I settled on an apple juice). The interior is bright, welcoming and impeccably clean. The wall art is sparse for what I suspect is simply that the tattoo artistry speaks for itself.
Jacqueline is an excellent tattoo artist, I’ve never seen so much attention to sanitation and my wife & I are incredibly happy with our tattoos.
This studio is run with the perfect harmony of business and artistry. I cannot justify recommending anyone else simply because I consider it to be the best given the incredible work that has been done for my wife & I. I will be returning to Soma Tiger exclusively in the future.

«This is gonna hurt like a son ’ bitch» is not something you want to hear from your tattoo artist.
Just saying.
I happened to have met, the now owners of Soma, back when they brought their dog into my place of work. I have since become a client of theirs when I got my very first tattoo this week. If it weren’t for the fact Ben & Jacqueline are such kind people, I don’t think I would ever have thought I would get a tattoo. The whole process was a bit nerve-​racking but Jacqueline was so helpful throughout. As someone who has never had a tattoo, the consult helped me understand the process and Jacqueline gave me lots to think about including how to get the best result from my design and how my tattoo would wear over time. She was also nice enough to send me home with a handout outlining all the important aftercare step which, I have since studied it very carefully!
I arrived to my tattoo appointment a bit late, frazzled and nervous but was greeted by super sweet Ben who quickly offered me some water and helped me make myself at home. We started talking about all sorts of interesting topics from the goings on of the shop to cool phone apps to Studio Ghibli films and even to my dislike for poor grammar in raps. Once Jaqueline was ready for me, she took me back to her private area and we got started on placement of my design. She took a lot of care to make sure I liked what I saw and we made a few last minute changes. When we got to the hard part, and I’m not gonna lie, it realllly hurt, Jacqueline was very understanding and keep telling me I was doing really well. She was kind enough to clue me in on the half-​way point and her friendly chatter really helped me stay distracted.
So now that you know my life story, here is a quick synopsis of why this place rocks:
Environment: The space is large, flowing, warm and inviting. The cheerful wall paint makes you feel like you’ve entered into a whole new world of tattoo artistry. One that is way more welcoming and less hardcore.
Service: I managed to quickly get both my chosen days for the consult and the tattoo. The staff I did encounter were all super friendly, professional and inviting. I believe this place only deals strictly in tattoos which makes me think, they are really dedicated to the craft and artistry of the growing industry. They also make it obvious that your vision is their #1 priority. They aren’t there to tell you what to do but rather make sure you get the kick-​ass tattoo you envisioned for yourself. But, if you need a little help, they can collaborate to create your design!
Staff: Haven’t I already gushed enough? Seriously, once you meet the owners, you quickly understand why they have such great reviews online.
Price: To be honest, I didn’t really shop around based on price. I chose this place based on the tattoo artist and knowing that I would get quality. That being said, I have heard tattoos are expensive, the cost of mine ended up being a less than what I anticipated so I was relieved.
Overall: I would recommend this place simply for the amazing people that run it.
I can’t imagine anyone having a less than great experience here.

I just finished a touch up with Jacqueline, tattoo artist and owner. This is my third time sitting with her, and each time is a pleasure. Getting a tattoo, a pleasure? Seriously it was. Not nerve wracking at all and she made the decision making processes so easy! Not only is Jacqueline talented and professional but she is also personable, making the discomfort of getting tattoo exponentially less. Her shop is clean, bright, comfortable, welcoming and the music selection rocks. I know that I’ll be getting all future tattoos with her!