Haunted Hands

Lisa at Haunted Hands will be doing all of my future artwork when it comes to tattoos. She is a pleasure to collaborate with, and her skills as a tattoo artist are incredible.
I learned about Lisa through the Tucson Weekly Best of 2014 when I was researching artists to do my next tattoo. I looked at her portfolio online, and then e-​mailed her to schedule an appointment to begin working on the artwork. She was very professional to meet with, and I felt that she was very helpful at clarifying what would work well with my design, and what might need to be altered/​changed so that the tattoo would last over time. She came across as very patient and that she cared about designing a piece of artwork that I would be extremely happy with.
We e-​mailed design concepts back and forth between the initial meeting, and the day I got my tattoo, and by the time the day arrived, I was very excited to put it on my skin.
Her shop is extremely clean, and I was very pleased with the number of times the worked on placing the art on my skin so that it lined up perfectly. Once she began the tattoo, it was the least painful of my tattoos so far, although I thought that it would be more sensitive around the ankle.
I felt her pricing was extremely fair, and perhaps on the low side for the quality level of art and customer service that I received. I will certainly be going back for more artwork from her in the future.
Check her out online, and if you enjoy her artwork, I encourage you to schedule an appointment. You will not be disappointed.

Once I decided that I wanted a new tattoo, I spent the better part of a year looking for an artist in Tucson. Something about buying local just seemed right to me. Unfortunately, I had not been impressed with much I had seen created here, with the best local work generally being from styles I did not want for my piece. I was looking for something otherworldly.
In walked a customer to my place of work one day with a beautiful tattoo. As was my habit, I asked her about it and if it was done in town. To my surprise, it was not only done locally, but just around the corner!
Long story short, I walked over to Haunted Hands (which has since relocated to a new location) after work the same day. Minutes later, I had an appointment with owner Lisa Cardenas to discuss my tattoo and get a quote!
To date, I have not met an artist with as much real estate on Tucson skin. I know at least a dozen people who have gone to her for their tattoos and none have anything but glowing things to say about her skill, professionalism, efficiency, rates, and not to be overlooked – her tableside manner.
Simply put, Lisa is at the top of the Tucson tattoo game. Perhaps this is why her shop – which she owns and runs independently and by appointment only – is booked out for a few months at all times! This might also be the reason Haunted Hands was voted «Best Tattoo Shop» in the Tucson Weekly’s annual «Best of Tucson» showcase last year. Money says she takes the prize again this year!
Terri H’s absurd 1-​star review defies everything I or anyone I know has ever experienced working with Lisa. If I were shopping for a tattoo, I would disregard her comments entirely. I imagine Terri simply wanted something outside of what Lisa’s expansive style accommodates and did not clearly communicate what she wanted during the consultation. Half of a good tattoo is on the customer, after all…
Whether you’re getting a tattoo for yourself or to show the world, you will not go wrong choosing Haunted Hands. The work Lisa has done for me has given strangers goosebumps and made enough impact on eyes that I was recognized outside of a bar in Los Angeles (I don’t even live in California!) by a guy who glanced one of my pieces at a music festival some months before. Better yet, the same guy went on to offer me a part-​time job with his media production company because I «clearly have great taste.» I’m not kidding!
Check out her website and portfolio if you need proof. Then go anywhere «cool» people congregate in Tucson and look for the coolest tattoo there. Odds are, it came from Haunted Hands.

While I was extremely impressed by her portfolio, her attitude was horrible. I had an idea of what
I wanted but wasn’t completely set in stone about it, so I gave my deposit and she drew up something and I wanted some changes to the flowers she drew and she wanted more $ to adjust the drawing. I thought when I went to her I would get some amazing work, but her blunt, unfriendly, and quite rude attitude, along with our not seeing eye-​to-​eye as far as the vision for my tattoo was too much. She may be a talented tattoo artist (as displayed in her portfolio) but working with her was a nightmare. Needless to say, I didn’t get my tattoo with her and would not recommend her based on her negative behavior.

Incredible work! I’ve had two large pieces done by LIsa and can offer this review after having many hours time with her. Great location and customer interaction. Super clean and totally free of distraction so often an issue in other tattoo shops. No other tattooist or clients, no one walking in off the street, no one looking through a window while your being tattooed etc. More like a visit to a private studio with one thing in mind. Your tattoo and total satisfaction her daily goal. Can’t imagine what went wrong with a previous reviewer as I found Lisa’s professionalism in the initial sketch and as I asked for changes in design issue free. She was happy to accommodate my needs and educate me on everything from the initial design through my aftercare needs when completed. It definitely shows in the final results. I love my tattoos from LIsa!