At Curly’s Tattoo Parlor, we’re proud to serve the Watkinsville community from our nearby Athens shop, bringing custom tattoo artistry to clients who want something real, personal, and built to last. From bold American traditional to fine-line realism and black-and-gray designs, every tattoo is drawn to match your story and style.
We’re not your average tattoo shop; we’re a team of artists who listen, sketch, and collaborate with you to turn your ideas into something truly one-of-a-kind. Whether you’re getting your first tattoo or another piece for your collection, you’ll leave with badass ink and zero ego.
Just a quick drive up 955 Danielsville Rd in Athens, Curly’s offers a welcoming space where creativity meets craftsmanship. You’ll find a laid-back, old-school tattoo parlor atmosphere with modern touches, hand-built woodgrain walls, local art, and artists who actually care about getting it right.
Our clients from Watkinsville love coming here for the combination of top-tier design, approachability, and craftsmanship. No attitudes, no gatekeeping, just people creating tattoos that mean something.
If you’ve been looking for the best Watkinsville tattoo shop, this is it: custom designs, skilled artists, and work that speaks for itself. Explore our full range of tattoo and piercing services
Watkinsville has its own creative identity and strong sense of community, while Athens is less than a 10-mile drive from downtown according to the city’s strategic development plan. When it comes to permanent artwork, that makes it easy to look beyond the nearest option and find an artist whose work and personality actually fit you.
At Curly’s, the consultation matters. We want to know what you’re picturing, what the tattoo means to you, where it’s going, and what you want it to feel like when you see it years from now.
That might mean refining an existing concept. It might mean taking a loose idea and building something completely custom. Either way, you’re part of the conversation.
No artist-above-client attitude. No pressure to pretend you know tattoo terminology. Just experienced artists, honest guidance, and artwork made for the person wearing it.
Your tattoo shouldn’t look like somebody else’s just because you started with the same reference.
Our artists can take inspiration from American Traditional, Black and Gray, Fine Line, Floral and Botanical work, Script and Lettering, Memorial tattoos, bold color, cover-ups, and other styles while developing a piece around your individual vision.
Already know exactly what you want? Good. Still deciding between three completely different ideas? Also good.
Curly’s was built to welcome both longtime tattoo collectors and people walking into a shop for the first time. The goal is the same either way: understand the idea first, then make the artwork badass.
Choosing a tattoo artist shouldn’t come down to whoever has the next opening.
Every artist at Curly’s brings their own eye, technique, and creative strengths to the table. Browse their work first, see whose style speaks to you, and start a conversation about what you want to create.
Maybe you’re drawn to heavy American Traditional. Maybe you want detailed black-and-gray, subtle fine-line work, florals, lettering, or something that doesn’t fit neatly into a category.
That range is the point.
Explore our artist profiles and see who you want behind the machine.
Watkinsville has a strong creative identity of its own, and Athens is right up the road—the city’s development plan places downtown Athens less than 10 miles away.
At Curly’s, custom work is collaborative. You bring the inspiration and our artists help work through composition, placement, scale, details, and style until the tattoo makes sense for you.
We also offer professional piercing services for clients looking to add something different without making another stop.
Explore our tattoo and piercing services.
Curly’s is located in Athens, but our chairs aren’t reserved for Athens residents.
We welcome tattoo and piercing clients coming from Watkinsville, Hull, Athens, Winterville, Danielsville, and throughout Oconee County. Watkinsville is the county seat of Oconee County, which borders Athens-Clarke County.
What matters once you get here is simple:
From first tattoos to another piece in a growing collection, Curly’s keeps the experience personal.
You’ve got choices when you’re looking for tattoo work around the Athens area.
So we’re not going to tell you to choose Curly’s just because we’re nearby.
Choose us because you like the artists. Because you connect with the work. Because you want to have an actual conversation about your tattoo instead of feeling like another appointment on the calendar.
Watkinsville is close enough that finding the right artist doesn’t have to mean planning an all-day trip. Come see the shop, meet the crew, and decide for yourself.
Yes. Curly’s is both a tattoo shop and body piercing shop, so you can come to the same Athens location for custom tattoo work and professional piercings.
Step into Curly’s and you’ll feel the difference. Whether you’re shooting pool between sessions or chatting with artists about your next piece, we’ve built a space where everyone belongs.
Authentic vibes, zero judgment, all welcome.
Our clients are from cities around the Athens area and further. Visit our locations!
