Tattooland Canarias: Building Something Together in Playa del Inglés

Some businesses begin with a perfect plan.

Tattooland Canarias didn't.

It began with two people, a shared vision and a place that was, quite honestly, a mess.

When Federica and I decided to build something together, we wanted to create something as strong as our relationship — something based on respect, honesty, passion and love.

When we first saw the space that would eventually become Tattooland, we didn't see what it was.

We saw what it could become.

So we decided to transform it.

Building Tattooland Together

Creating Tattooland Canarias was not simply a case of finding a place, putting up a sign and opening the doors.

There was a lot of work to do.

The place needed transforming, organising and bringing to life. We did a huge amount of the work ourselves because we wanted to create the environment we had imagined.

Little by little, the space changed.

What had initially looked like a mess started to become a tattoo studio.

It was hard work, but there was something very satisfying about watching it happen.

Every part of the transformation represented another step towards the idea we had in our heads.

Eventually, we got the place running and opened the doors.

That was when Tattooland stopped being an idea and became something real.

And that's when the most important part began.

The people.

It's Always About the People

A tattoo studio is obviously about tattoos.

But it is also about people.

Every customer who walks through the door has their own story.

Some people already know exactly what they want. They might arrive with a design, an idea or even a tattoo they've been thinking about for years.

Others aren't quite sure.

They may have a photograph, a memory, a symbol or simply an idea in their head that they don't know how to turn into a tattoo.

Our job isn't just to pick up a tattoo machine.

It's to listen.

To talk.

To understand what the person wants.

And, when necessary, to help develop the idea into something that works as a tattoo.

At Tattooland, we treat every customer with respect.

We have fun with people, we talk, we laugh and we enjoy the experience.

But when it is time to tattoo, we take the work seriously.

For us, having a good atmosphere and producing great work should go together.

A Place That Feels Like Home

From the beginning, Federica and I wanted Tattooland to feel different.

We wanted people to feel comfortable here.

Not like they were entering somewhere cold and intimidating, but somewhere they could relax.

A place where you can walk through the door and feel welcome.

That is particularly important because Playa del Inglés is such an international place.

People come here from all over the world.

Some are visiting Gran Canaria for a week.

Some are here for longer.

Some live locally.

And many arrive at the studio because they have decided that their holiday is the perfect moment to get tattooed.

We love that.

A tattoo can become part of someone's experience of Gran Canaria.

It might be a small reminder of a holiday.

A matching tattoo with a partner or friend.

Something inspired by the island.

A date.

A symbol.

Or simply a design that someone has wanted for a long time and finally decided to get.

Whatever the reason, we want the person to feel that they made the right decision when they walked through our door.

Tattoos and Holiday Memories

There is something special about tattooing people while they are travelling.

People are often more relaxed when they are on holiday.

They have escaped their normal routine.

They are spending time with people they care about and making memories.

Sometimes that leads to spontaneous decisions.

Someone might walk past the studio and decide they want a small tattoo.

Someone else might have planned their appointment before they even arrived in Gran Canaria.

Both experiences are completely different, but both can create an important memory.

That is one of the things we enjoy about working in Playa del Inglés.

We get to meet people from different countries, different cultures and different walks of life.

For a few hours, they become part of Tattooland.

And sometimes they come back years later.

More Than One Style

Tattooland Canarias is home to a variety of tattoo styles.

Depending on the artist and the project, clients can explore styles including Traditional and Old School, Japanese, Realism, Neo-traditional, Tribal, Maori and Polynesian, Trash Polka, Geometric, Mandalas, Minimalist and Flash.

Some tattoos are small and simple.

Others require much more planning and time.

The style might be completely different, but the principle remains the same.

We want to understand the idea and create something that works for the person wearing it.

The Tattooland Canarias gallery gives a better idea of the range of work created at the studio.

And It's Not Just Tattoos

Tattooland Canarias is also a piercing studio.

Piercing is another part of what we wanted to offer from the beginning, giving people another way to express themselves and create something personal.

You can find more information about the studio's piercing services on the Tattooland Canarias piercing page.

Whether someone comes to us for a tattoo, a piercing or simply to ask a question, the same principle applies.

Respect the person.

Listen to them.

Give them honest advice.

And make sure they feel comfortable with the decision they are making.

Doing Things Our Way

Building Tattooland together has also taught us something about running a business.

There will always be challenges.

There will always be things that don't go according to plan.

But having a clear idea of what you want the place to represent makes those challenges easier to deal with.

For Federica and me, the foundation has always been simple:

Respect.

Honesty.

Passion.

Love.

These aren't just words we wanted to put on a wall.

They are the values we wanted to build the business around.

They are also the values that brought us to the point where we could create Tattooland together in the first place.

From a Messy Space to Tattooland Canarias

Sometimes we look back at the place we started with and think about how different it is now.

At the beginning, it was a mess.

But we could see the potential.

We knew that if we were willing to put the work in, we could transform it.

And we did.

We built the place ourselves, got everything running and created somewhere that we were proud to call ours.

But the real reward isn't the finished studio.

It's seeing people enjoy being there.

It's seeing someone look at their finished tattoo for the first time.

It's hearing someone say they love it.

It's watching friends or couples get matching tattoos.

It's meeting people from around the world and hearing their stories.

Those are the things that make the work worthwhile.

If you already know what you want, you can book a tattoo at Tattooland Canarias before you arrive on the island — and if you don't yet, that's fine too, come and talk to us first. Once the tattoo is done, looking after it properly matters just as much as the tattoo itself, and our tattoo aftercare guide covers everything you need to know.

Welcome to Tattooland

Today, Tattooland Canarias is a tattoo and piercing studio in Playa del Inglés, Maspalomas, Gran Canaria.

But to us, it represents much more than that.

It represents something Federica and I decided to build together.

Something that started with an empty vision and a space that needed a lot of work.

Something that grew through hard work, creativity and a lot of belief in what we were trying to create.

We wanted a place where people could come for great tattoos.

A place where they would be treated with respect.

A place where they could have a laugh.

A place where they could feel comfortable.

And ultimately, a place they could call home — even if they were only visiting Gran Canaria for a few days.

That's what Tattooland means to us.

It's our studio.

It's our work.

It's something we built together.

And every person who walks through the door becomes part of the story.

Welcome to Tattooland Canarias.