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Because Halloween can be year-round with the right ink.

Although Halloween may be the perfect time to show off your spookiest ink, you have to be willing to make a lifelong commitment to the world of horror in order to get a truly terrifying tattoo for the end of October.

Yes, that bleeding demon skull will be just as creepy in spring and summer as it is during the fall, but as long as it's done well, there's no shame in creeping it real all year. Of course, that's not to say all scary tattoos are created equal, so here are our choices for the top 8 artists we'd go to to get something good and horrifying.

 

Jeremiah Barba

 

A photo posted by Jeremiah Barba (@jeremiahbarba) on

After Jeremiah Barba initially entered the tattooing world known primarily as the artistic offspring of legendary artist Kari Barba, the second-generation tattooer quickly made a name for himself with his own work. Barba often focuses on realistic takes of surreal imagery, often with a dark tinge. He's the perfect guy for some extraterrestrial biomech, a demonic face, or a demonic face worked into some biomech. Oh, and unlike some of the older names on this list, Barba doesn't have a year-long waiting list just to make a consultation.

 

Bob Tyrrell

 

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Bob Tyrrell essentially lives in the middle of the intersection between rock 'n' roll and horror. He's already established himself as one of the all-time greats over the years, and he can probably tell you more stories about metal bands over the last few decades than most music scholars, but it's his skulls and monster portraits that really stand above the rest. Whether it's an iconic monster of old or something he just came up with, you know you're getting the best black and gray creatures available when you go to Tyrrell.

 

Paul Booth

 

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The godfather of horror tattoos, Paul Booth owns the most prominent horror-themed tattoo studio in the world. The New York-based artist's work is second-to-none, and there's a good reason he's one of the few tattooers who frequently teach seminars around the world. From creepy trees to possessed ladies, Booth can make just about anything scary.

 

Josh Duffy

 

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Josh Duffy is fully capable of tattooing some gorgeous roses and beautiful women, but it's when things start to get darker that he really shines. If you're getting tattooed by Duffy, you probably know just how flawless his swirling designs can be and how he can make even the most disturbing of images flow right with the body in an elegant way. If you're in the Phoenix area, there's no one else like him.

 

Jose Arvizu

 

A photo posted by 🌙 S P A C E 🌙 (@spacehustle) on

The artist better known as Space Hustle (or just Space, for short) doesn't quite do the super realistic creepy imagery like most of the other guys on this list, but he can hold his own when it comes to creating a unique Halloween design. If you want your death and bloodshed with a little more color and an animated flair, Space is the one you need to seek out.

 

Mike DeVries

 

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Likely one of your favorite tattooer's favorite tattooers, Mike DeVries has become a staple of LA's tattooing scene. Everyone who knows DeVries' work can spot it from a mile away, and his creative spins on skulls and monsters (as well as flawless replicas of pre-existing horror from films) will look just as good at Easter as they will on Halloween. He'll even drop a spider on your neck if you ask really nicely.

 

Roman Abrego

 

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Simply put, Roman Abrego does some of the best portraits and realism work around. He may have been originally known for further popularizing the biomechanical style of tattooing into what it is today, but it's the super detailed images that have become his bread and butter. If you need a movie monster or an evil clown (or both, Captain Spaulding?) inked on to you permanently, you're not going to find anyone better than Roman.

 

Alex Wright

 

A photo posted by Alex Wright (@thealexwright) on

While there are plenty of tattoo artists who specialize in very specific things, Alex Wright might be the perfect one for Halloween. The UK-based artist doesn't just knock out impeccable portraits of monsters from movies, but he'll also tattoo the entire VHS cover art on to you if you want it. Now that's some dedication to horror films.

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