Very friendly staff - Emma and Kamila made me feel fully at ease when arriving for my first tattoo…read more There was plenty of coffee on offer, and the piece was done at my own pace with lots of chit chat and regular check ins with how I was feeling. I couldn't have asked for more, and everyone made it a thoroughly relaxing and once in a lifetime experience. Thank-you so much for making my first tattoo experience so special! Highly recommended.

I had never had a tattoo before so I was very sceptical, but my first one didn't hurt, and although…read moreI was overcharged £20.00 'accidently' by their 'apprentice' ( I got the £20.00 back ) I decided to have a second tattoo on the other arm, my appointment was for 1.00pm, at 1.35pm the tattooist hadn't returned from 'shopping', when I complained about the wait the owner did not look pleased. Shortly after this the tattooist did return, and having a fag break he started my tattoo. I was quite surprised that this one was much more painful than the first but I put it down to my imagination 'until' after a few days I realised that my second tattoo had been done in BOLD INK, this was not what I had asked for. As far as I'm concerned the boss told the tattooist to give me a 'different' tattoo because I complained. I am not a happy bunny!!!!

This is a genuine massage place - not for people who want anything 'erotic'!…read moreNicola is the best masseuse I've found in St Albans and I've tried a few. She has a firm hand and can really work well on muscles but can be gentler if requested. I have had about 4 or 5 massages in the last 2/3 months and it's really helping loosen up some very tight muscles. There are various certificates on the wall to prove Nicola's training in various types of massage, I can't remember them all but they are mentioned on her website. I can thoroughly recommend Equilibrium Therapies!

I had an awesome experience here. Being in a different country, I was a little apprehensive about…read moreapproaching a tattoo shop. When doing a little Yelp recon, I found this shop and another nearby. This one had photos and no reviews. The other had one review and no photos yet. I decided to go with this one as the photos spoke to me more and gave me more information than that one review at the other place (that admitted they were a friend! No wait, drinking buddy, actually! Woops.) We walked into an alley way with some shops, and into an open door that revealed a plain hallway. We spotted another door with a Rising Phoenix sign, and opened it to find a staircase leading up. We heard music, and I saw a bit of tattoo-shop personality that felt familiar. The studio is not huge - maybe one of the smallest shops I've been to, but definitely not cramped. It's one big open room in the main part, and one end has two tattoo stations. It's not really a separate room for the tattoo chairs, but it looks like it's separated a little with some small bit of wall on either side, as if they opened up part of it with construction to make a huge doorway. The decoration is totally on point with what I love about tattoo shops. It's got a LOT of personality, as I mentioned, and they have a ton of antique, vintage items around. Skulls, photos, pretty frames, pics of tattoos, tattoo books, tattoo magazines, rad chairs, an oriental rug on the floor... They even have a shop dog. A little dachshund whose name is Rigby, if I remember correctly.. and he's so adorable and friendly. We walked up and talked to Nick behind the desk. She was SO friendly. I told her what we were looking for, and she called over Holly (I think and hope that I've got her name right!) who was visiting from another shop further North. Holly quoted me 70 pounds for approximately an hour of work. This exchanged roughly to $120 and I thought that was fair, being that Atlanta tattoo shops (where I'm from, in the US!) tend to be approximately $100-$150 per hour. I agreed, and asked if they had availability the next day. They sure did, and open bright and early at 10am! Wow, that's early for a tattoo, but I said SURE! I don't think many, if any, tattoo shops in Atlanta open before noon, but I might be wrong. They collected our 10 pound (approx $15) deposit, which was also surprisingly inexpensive to me, for a deposit - either trusting that we'd be back, or figuring if these tourists ended up chickening out, it must not have been a huge deal. :) She was able to put my email address and USA phone number in their appointment reminder program, because I got an email and a text confirmation - which was rad. The text even came from a USA number. Next morning, I got an OJ and some baked fruit snacks to put a little sugar in me (usually recommended so you don't get nauseous or pass out.) Nick offered me coffee or tea, and I accepted coffee since I hadn't had any yet that day. She brought it out to me in a beautiful fancy tea cup with saucer. I love how the British do things. :) Holly (jeez, I really hope I'm not remember her name wrong!) brought us back to a separate room. I was glad I didn't have to sit in the first chairs I saw, just because I need to be able to focus my thoughts through the pain, and people walking in and out might have distracted me. Actually, now that I think about it, maybe it would have been a good distraction, haha. Not sure. She was all set up for me, because I was sipping my fancy coffee for a bit in the fancy retro chairs in the main waiting area. The room she was using is a bit small, but it was able to fit two additional people who were there with me! We listened to music, and I zoned out staring at a rose and their logo :) It took about an hour like she said, and that included her going over a few spots to make sure they were even and amazing-looking, and in the end, I'm very happy with her work and the customer service at Rising Phoenix. I did a little research and apparently it's not as common in England to tip tattoo artists (and other service individuals) but before we left, we tipped anyway to show our appreciation. I'd definitely recommend Rising Phoenix for any service - tattoo, piercing - or questions, even. Cheers!

Monika is a very professional therapist who is incredibly skilled at her work. By using her hands…read moreto read the tissues she can home in on the painful areas and deal with them accordingly. In addition to this Monika blends oils suitable to the treatment required by the client, to offer a unique and truly therapeutic experience. Many thanks from David Lintonbon

Before I start, I should say that I have absolutely no experience of True Colors with regards to…read moretattoos, only body piercing, and that was for my wife! Anyway, True Colors Tattoo (they have an American parent company so the spelling is American) have this branch and one in Hertford called True Colors Tat2. We went here as the guy who does the body piercings was working there on that day. He splits his time between St Albans and Hertford so it is worth calling first if that's what you want done. The one thing that I will say about tattoos is that if you wanted a white one done I saw some of the guys work in the flesh, so to speak, and it was amazing. My wife went to get her belly button re-pierced. She'd had it done years ago but it was always a bit uncomfortable and so she let it close up. The bloke at True Colors took one look at it and said, 'it's in the wrong place!' - he explained it all and showed my wife where the hole should have been made. Before he started my wife asked him loads of questions about hygiene as we're pretty big about that. He completely put her mind at rest and didn't mind how many questions were asked. He showed her all of the equipment sealed before use etc. The place was spotless too, and it left no doubts in her mind about getting it done. There was no clamp used and it was done quickly and accurately. My wife was really happy - as am I ;-) Now the bar ends sit in the right place and it is comfortable. They gave us a big leaflet about after-care, and specific dates for safe changing of the belly bar. All this was done for a very reasonable cost and with professionalism and friendliness. The only drawback to the place is that parking can be a nightmare - you can buy permits for the local roads from 'The Breakfast Club' over the road, although you need to check the signs by the parking bays for timings etc. They are very confusing though, so ask either in True Colors or at The Breakfast Club if you are unsure!

2nd visit and wow amazing Tanya is magic the absolute best at her job had her walking on my back…read moretoday it was heaven so relaxed and professional I will never go anywhere else 5 stars very time

I've been to MK TATTOO several times, for both a tattoo laser removal & with a mate to get his…read moretattoo. The removal was some old work that I'd been meaning to get around to doing something about for years - & finally got around to it! After 5 sessions (more painful than a tattoo, just as I was told it would be!) & a few weeks for the area to fully settle down between sessions the old tattoo has gone completely - the result is better than I expected as I was fully informed that it wasn't likely to be a 'magic cure all' & that the original tattoo ink, the way it had been applied & the area were all factors that could affect the results or require more sessions (I was already aware of this as I'd looked into laser removal before). So I'm well pleased that the old tattoo has been totally removed with no trace of it left, no discolouration & no scarring. I was really happy with the whole procedure (except the pain - but no pain, no gain as they say!) the advice given, both prior to starting the treatment & the after-care too. A right result too as it was on my hand! I'm not gonna tell everyone to 'go for it' as everyone's different - & you ain't me, with my skin, my old ink etc., just do your research & listen to the opinion & advice of the operator & remember it ain't a 'magic cure all' for every old tattoo 'error of judgement' out there! In all the visits made to MK TATTOO, yeah, there's been a level of what I'd call 'banter' - kind of expected in a tattoo studio really. And being ex military (as the mate of mine who got his tattoo at MK TATTOO is) I guess we're used to a higher level (& lower standard!) of such banter than others. But hey, it's a tattooists - it ain't Marks & Spencer's. So I have to pass comment on the review critiising the banter experienced by a previous commentator re; xenophobic/racist & anti Muslim remarks & the Taliban Hunting (Club) flag that the guy had scored - have it right if your gonna slate it, perhaps a slip of eager keyboard warriors fingers there (or perhaps it wasn't overheard quite as fully or clearly as we're led to believe...?) Being ex military I have no problem with the Taliban Hunting Club...flag, banner, sew on patch, T shirt whatever & neither would loads of servicemen & women, ex or those still serving - the Taliban Hunting Club 'for real' if you like. So to suggest supporting something like the Taliban Hunting Club is xenophobic/racist or anti Muslim would therefore be (in my view) a tacit approval of a terrorist organisation & all that entails... The commentator was by his own admission there just for a piercing jewellery change & as such would have been there for just a few minutes - what the owner (or anyone else present for that matter) would have to engage in a deep & meaningful conversation with him about is known only to the commentator - & a vague guess for anyone else! The playing with the phone - like anyone with the latest 'must have' gadget? Just about everyone does the very same thing, anywhere & everywhere, so not much by way of valid criticism really. And if the banter deeply offended & upset the commentator & his female companion, why not speak up at the time? I would if my wife were upset or offended by someone's remarks, rather than remain silent to then unleash my displeasure anonymously with a poor review of a business on the internet. As previously mentioned, it's a tattoo studio, not Marks & Spencer's (etc.) & your bound to hear some near the knuckle remarks & opinions, from other customers, their friends & the staff too & to expect high levels of political correctness & heavily neutered personal opinions simply to insulate the sensibilities of the sensitive is, quite frankly, rather silly. As the commentator makes no mention of the actual procedure he went to MK TATTOO for - the piercing jewellery change, I (& others reading) can presume this was performed in a completely satisfactory manner...so no criticism of the actual work then, just a personal/personality slating! The owner has been tattooing a long time & won lots of awards - for his tattooing, which is what it's supposed to be about, after all. It's horses for courses I guess & it pays to do your research - tattoo studios & their tattooists ain't all the same. I like the place, the people, the banter & above all, the work they produce - so does my missus, my mate & his missus too.

Ive been to other tattoo studios but chose to keep coming back to Pete and the crew at Milton…read moreKeynes tattoo studio because they are fun and always give me what I want. They work with me to give me the tattoos I desire and you can always pop in and have a good laugh with them. I've read the other reviews and really don't see where the other opinions have come from. Happy to give the 5 star reviews and booking up for more work.

A cracking atmosphere with helpfull staff that are not afraid to help you. Well worth the…read moremembership.