Austin, TX – While Friday the 13th is often regarded as a day of bad luck for the superstitious, for tattoo enthusiasts in Texas, it offers a different kind of opportunity: affordable tattoos.
Across the nation, tattoo shops uphold a unique tradition on this date, offering special tattoos—many featuring the number 13—at reduced prices. This tradition gained momentum thanks to Oliver Peck, co-owner of Elm Street Tattoo in Dallas. On June 13, 2008, Peck set a Guinness World Record by tattooing “13” on 415 people in just 24 hours, establishing a new ritual for tattoo fans.
At All Saints Tattoo’s north location in Austin, the buzz was palpable as customers lined up—some bringing chairs and coolers to endure the sun—to get their Friday the 13th tattoos from a roster of artists. Tattoo artist Carlos Ybarra, who estimates he’ll tattoo 127 people today, reflects on his experience: “For some reason, that’s the number that keeps popping up.” Ybarra, who has participated in nearly 30 Friday the 13th events, is inking tattoos from All Saints’ extensive flash sheet, which includes 600 designs. The selection ranges from spooky motifs like Frankenstein’s monster and ghosts to playful ones, such as a “circle o’ cheese” with a hidden “13.”
Despite the lengthy wait times, the tattooing process itself is surprisingly swift. Ybarra managed to complete a tattoo on this reporter in under five minutes. He expressed the enthusiasm of artists for this unofficial holiday, stating, “It’s just a good vibe, plus we like what we do,” while inking a cow skull above the reporter’s left elbow.
The allure of getting a tattoo on a day steeped in superstition varies among patrons. Some are drawn by the tradition’s origins, others are adding to their collection of Friday the 13th tattoos, and many simply appreciate the value. Ybarra noted that even those getting their first tattoo often choose a spooky design for the occasion.
As tattoo shops continue to embrace this quirky tradition, Friday the 13th remains a day of both excitement and ink for those looking to make the most of an otherwise ominous date.