Another Tiktok influence. Huge lover of all things NY and i specifically wanted an NYC Skyline with one of their flash tattoos specials. I followed the link through IG and made an appointment for Fri the 13th. I took the subway in and checked in with the front desk. They asked what I wanted tattooed and I switched it to Pennywise. I was taken downstairs and asked to wait while my artist prepared his station. I waited about 20min before Jorge Diaz came over. Now first of all, I am gravely afraid of needles. He did everything in his power to make me comfortable. He applied numbing cream and cracked jokes. he made the experience utterly painless and I was completely at ease. He was incredibly professional and detailed. If I could get all my tattoos here I would. Thank you so much! Can't wait to return! read more

Really bad service, I went to get a piercing, the girl told me to come back in 2 weeks, I came back and a guy told me my piercing wasn't ready for a change but she still do it anyway, also I had a titanium jewelry which I already paid the first time, I have delicate skin, she took that one out and put a piercing with material other than titanium.I told her to give me the titanium and I don't know why she would change the material, knowing that i told her , when that happened she wanted to charge me again for it. Honestly horrible service and because of that my skin was very irritated and could've been avoided if she had listened to me. read more

I booked my appointment many months in advanced with a specific artists to get a tattoo that I felt comfortable doing with that person. I messaged her, got a price quoted and everything. However when I came to my appointment, I was told that the artist wasn't there! So then me and my friend who booked the same person was treated as a walk in and got paired with some random guys. This is completely unprofessional!!! What was even crazier is that my email confirmation suddenly changed to the guy once i got there (the confirmation that had the previous artist on there). So there was no communication from the business itself that My artist wasn't out. Don't get me wrong the tattoo is alright, but the hassle of explaining everything again to a new person, and the lack of communication was irritating and surprising. read more

I booked a time for both my piercing and tattoo but I still had to wait like 20 minutes. The lady that did my piercing was kind of mean :( This is my first time getting pierced by a professional rather than Claire's so I didn't understand how it works. I asked if the cost of one piercing here was for 1 hole or for 2 holes (a pair like Claire's does) but when I asked for clarification the lady just looked at be weird and was so confused. I was confused!!! So I explained to her why I was confused and she sounded so offended "This is NOT Claires!" I know thats why I was asking for the clarification so I know how the pricing works. ugh. Anyways....I'm still confused on what I was charged for but whatever. I got my cartilage pierced and it was exactly what I wanted. Its been a few weeks already and my piercing is holding up nicely, not itchy and is healing well. I also got a tattoo which went a lot better. The guy that did my tattoo was a lot more patient and nice. Overall, the shop was way too busy. There were way too many people waiting in line. read more

I got a tattoo here and my artist was a little stand off-ish. I got tattoos in the past and I have never seen an artist not interested. My tattoo is good but it is a small flash tattoo and it does look a little rushed/sloppy (I was completely still the whole time). Also they never went over what to do after you get a tattoo, Which for me is fine because I have gotten tattoos in the past (they didnt know that) and I know how the healing process works. I will say if this is your first time getting a tattoo I would go to a different place. I got my first tattoo at Tiny Zaps in Nolita and I had a better experience as a first time tattoo experience. read more

Live by the Sword Tattoo - Letter with a heart - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

I went to Live By The Sword Tattoo in Williamsburg in November 2021, and I've held off writing this for a long time. At this point, I'm done being ignored. Since my appointment, I have DM'd, called, emailed, and even commented publicly trying to get a response. Nothing. And I already know what they're going to do after this review goes up. They'll post a generic, surface-level "please email us at help@livebytheswordtattoo.com" response and call it a day. Save it. I've already done all of that. The piercer was Danny Pereira, who no longer works there, yet his portfolio is still up on their site along with other piercers who have also left. That alone tells you how little they care about accuracy or accountability. They may not update their website, but they are always ready to take your money. He pierced both of my nipples incorrectly. At the time, he told me my anatomy meant the placement needed to be different, and because I wasn't experienced in piercings, I trusted him. I didn't question it. That was my mistake, and it is exactly the kind of situation they rely on. People who don't know better. To be clear, he pierced through the nipple. If you are not in the field, that might not immediately sound wrong. I did not fully understand it myself at the time, but multiple reputable piercers have since confirmed it is incorrect. The piercings are also not straight, but again, I gave the benefit of the doubt because bodies are not perfectly symmetrical. I let a lot slide, and that is what places like this count on. This shop operates like a revolving door. Constant deals, constant turnover, constant volume. It is a chop shop. They push people through, do subpar work, and move on. If there is someone outside waving a sign about sales seven days a week, that should already tell you something, but they have a strong social media presence and that pulls people in. Now I am dealing with ongoing nipple issues, and they refuse to help or even acknowledge me. They are predatory in how they operate. They rely on clients who do not have the knowledge to question them, and they take advantage of that. These are our bodies. They matter. The consequences do not disappear because the appointment is over. Look through their reviews. A huge number of them mention piercing issues. Some mention bad tattoos too. That pattern is not random. Do not go here. I am more than willing to provide photos, my waiver, or any additional information to anyone who wants proof. If sharing my experience keeps even one person from going through this, it is worth it. Save your body. Avoid this place. read more

Live by the Sword Tattoo - Their outdated website. - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

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I have been getting my tattoos at Live By The Sword is Williamsburg. Annie is amazing!!!!! She always does a GREAT job. I love ALL the tattoos I have gotten from her. She always takes her time, gives me advice. She is the Best! Her fine line work is perfect. Check out her Flash too. read more

CeCeeeeeee my darling, thank you for my nose/nostril piercing yesterday. Thank you for having patience with a big 'ole scarey baby like me. I love it!!!!!, #teamcece Love, Stacy read more

I had a great experience getting a helix piercing here. An old piercing of mine closed up overnight and I thought I would just get it reopened. My piercer, Jenna, accessed the situation and advised that it would be better for healing and aesthetics to change the placement slightly. She also checked on another piercing of mine that I was afraid was healing funny and switched some jewelry around for me. The shop had a cool and professional vibe and I'm looking forward to coming back in 3 and 6 months to get my helix checked and changed. I did end up paying more than I intended but my fault for having fancy taste in jewelry! read more

Live by the Sword Tattoo - Ear piercing - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

I've gotten at least 5 piercings at this location but my last experience was definitely the best yet! i went in prepared for 10/10 pain (daith piercing) and was very pleasantly surprised to have the piercing finished before I even knew there was a needle near me! 10/10 service and piercing from Steven !! Thank you for my lucky 13th piercing and hopefully any/all future ones! read more

Went with a friend for the $50 flash tattoos, as I wanted to get inked a symbol that commemorated my first solo trip. They have so many options to choose from in their sticker book, and it's a fantastic value. I am from LA, and it does not get any cheaper than that (my first tattoo in LA only took a few minutes longer but that cost twice the amount)! There wasn't a lot of personal attention/service, but something quick and easy was exactly what we wanted for this occasion. It's a huge place in Soho with a lot of artists and a lot of clients, but you can make a reservation online up to an hour beforehand and fill out your waivers on the website. We showed up a little early and only had to wait a few minutes for the next available artist. I can't speak for how the experience might be different for a custom tattoo, but I would definitely recommend this place for quick flash tattoos! Update: didn't heal super evenly but I think that can be expected from the low price + the fact that I just asked for the next available artist without researching their previous work read more

Live by the Sword Tattoo - $50 flash tattoo healed - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

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When on the hunt for a tattoo artist, I was looking for someone who would be talented but also comfortable as I prepared to get my first tattoo. From the kind message exchange through Instagram to his welcoming energy in person, Diaz (@diazkingtattoo) exemplified all of these characteristics and more. He was a good listener, kind and made the experience feel like I was catching up with an old friend versus someone I met for the first time. If you're looking for someone who can do beautiful line tattoos and make you feel at ease during your experience, Diaz is 1000% the tattoo artist to go for! The shop itself was clean and had welcoming staff for my experience also . read more

Live by the Sword Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

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I had 8 piercings done by 3 separate piercings before visiting live by the sword a couple weeks ago. In the past I've had the HARDEST time even going to very high esteemed places with very experienced piercers, but Sara was by FAR the best, most qualified, and in depth piercer I have ever had. She was thorough, so perfectly fitting my piercings to my particular anatomy (so they would be less likely to get irritated in healing), and chose the right jewelry to not irritate my skin. She gave the best recommendations, and was not pushy at all. LOVED my experience with her. She was the best! Thank you Sara! My piercings are healing great, and that's a FIRST! So happy to have my 9th and 10th piercings and if I get more I will 100% want to go to her. read more

I got my navel piercing here for the first time and it was an amazing experience!! I came on a weekday afternoon and it was pretty busy. I booked with Mimzy and my nervousness went away the minute we saw each other. I would 10/10 recommend you get your piercings done here with Mimzy. I felt so taken care of and the navel piercing looks so pretty. read more

This review is ONLY on the piercings offered at Live by the Sword! I love getting pierced here, their prices are reasonable and everyone is so kind. They offer beautiful jewelry pieces starting at $40-50 (prices increase depending on the piece, some get up to $100+). The piercing price listed on their menu includes standard surgical steel jewelry which is what I opt for. They accept walk ins and it's usually not busy for piercings, but I'd recommend going earlier rather than later just to make sure you get seen. I've gone to Live by the Sword before to get my second lobe piercings and came back to get my third lobe holes done. I went on a Monday afternoon without an appointment and only waited like 5 minutes. Valeria was my piercer and she was great! Super nice and answered all of my questions. She made the entire experience very comfortable, I would 100% go back to her for more piercings. Ask for her next time you get pierced :) read more

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I had high expectations for this shop and was unfortunately let down on most of them. I have over 50 tattoos from across the country and this was the first shop that did NOT shave the spot being tattooed, did NOT correctly wrap me after the tattoo, and the artist (Byron) seemed so annoyed that I changed my mind on my placement for one of the tattoos. I also never finished the waiver and they never made sure of it or documented my ID. I did the 3 for $120 deal and the first tattoo was so bad I nixed it and just left with two. The shop is cool but I've never had to ask an artist to fix their own lines before - a razor had curved edges... yall razors do not have curved edges. He did fix it but I'd rather not get to that point. The attached pictures are my irritated skin due to improper sanitizing and wrapping. Three days later my skin is still irritated. You can also see in the first picture that the legs and the accent marks on the tattoo are .. senseless and rushed at best. My partner got 2 tattoos from them and they looked great, had very solid lines and were wrapped correctly, so ultimately I would just say do NOT get tattooed by Byron, and do NOT let a tattoo artist sass you into something you don't want!! read more

Live by the Sword Tattoo - Irritated skin from being wrapped incorrectly and not shaved before tattooing - most painful saniderm removal ever :( - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

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Initially had a good piercing experience here, and even gave it a high review. I came back a couple times due to the low prices and ease of walk-ins. However, last time I came in, I came with a friend. They gave him a medusa piercing that was unsuited to his anatomy and scraped against his teeth. He had to take it out after one day. Some of the individual piercers are fine, but there's a big flaw with how the place operates. The large crowds and quick turnaround on piercings necessitates a lot of rush jobs. Not the kind of place you'd trust to put a needle in your face. read more

QUEEN SIMONE! Was so caring and kind and attentive when working! She made it so there was no pain and the entire experience was smooth! Get your piercings and tattoos here! read more

Live by the Sword Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

Came here for a last minute flash/ custom tattoo with my siblings. We were paired with Xandros. He immediately acted extremely uninterested in tattooing us and like we were inconveniencing him. We requested 4 diamonds and the line work was extremely sloppy. Didnt give us any after care advice or instructions. Deeply disappointing experience for my first tattoo. Debating covering it or seeing if it can be fixed. Would do more research next time read more

Live by the Sword Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

My previous piercer moved out of state and I was hesitant to trust another... I went to Live by the Sword Tattoo at Union Square. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made! The space has a funky, cool, artistic vibe and looks very clean and professional which I really liked. I needed a post downsized for my fairly new nostril piercing. I was blessed enough to get assigned to Ericka Vinefog. Not only is Ericka sweet, friendly, helpful and professional, she understands when you are feeling "some type of way" (nervous, apprehensive, SCARED, etc) and knows how to help you through it which makes you comfortable and makes it easy to trust her. She is an old soul in a young body and I am so glad I met her! She gives you all the information for proper aftercare and maintenance with a level of detail that I never got from my old piercer. In addition, she is there for you for those little hiccups, like piercing bumps, discoloration, keloids, etc. She doesn't just poke a hole in you and leave you twisting in the wind... And she explains EVERYTHING... which is so very important to a serial overthinker like me. I HIGHLY recommend Ericka and I'm telling EVERYONE how great she is. I hope she will remain my piercer for LIFE!!! :-) read more

Live by the Sword Tattoo - Ericka is The BEST! :-) - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

We were walking by on a Friday when we saw and heard a person advertising ear piercing for $10. My daughter debated but has been wanting her second holes for awhile, so we went in. The place is huge!! Two stories filled with tattoo and piercing stations. It's very clean and very well designed. Because my daughter is a minor, we had to show proof that I am her mom. Luckily I have a picture of her birth certificate and passport on my phone. They got us in right away and the person who did her piercing was awesome! Why am I so bad at getting names? He was friendly, knowledgeable and patient. But best of all so talented that she barely felt it, and she's a wuss! He took his time making sure he marked it in the right spot and that it was even on both sides and talked her through the whole process. I debated taking one star off because the $10 a piercing turned into $150. But TBH, I've done enough piercings with two daughters and myself, that I kind of expected that. The earring you get for the $10 is a flat stainless steel. If you want something nicer, it always winds up costing way more. So I was expecting it to be in the $150 price range going into it. Just go in knowing that if you want to pick any earring other than the one style included, it will cost at minimum, and additional $60 - $80! Don't be stingy tipping your piercer! Getting a good piercing job is so important! She'll have these holes for the rest of her life and will always remember our trip and this experience! read more

Live by the Sword Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

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Friendly and professional people here. It is usually very busy here. Need to be patient and wait for your turn.

I've been to the other location on 14th street and I can say with certainty I will not be back to this one. I went on my birthday, got a flash tattoo, and had the rudest tattoo artist. Francesca was upset because my tattoos were "upside down". I've had artist tell me this before, but they move on rather quickly and do the tattoo anyway. Not for Francesca. She told me the way I have my tattoos (I have 7 "upside down") was ugly and didn't look good at all. She asked me to take a moment and think it over. When I still insisted on them "upside down" she huffed and rolled her eyes saying I was making a mistake. It was extremely rude and belittling. read more

if you expect good service don't come here because it doesn't exist-- however they get the job done. i came in to get a cartilage piercing, and was told it was a 15 minute wait... after waiting 30+ minutes before asking again how much longer it would take and the receptionist kept saying there's 3 more people ahead of you which didn't answer my question but it's okay i left and booked an appointment instead for the next day. came in for the appointment and still waited 10-15 ish minutes for my turn. the lady that did my piercing, did her job and honestly i haven't had any problems with it! i would highly recommend booking an appointment because they do tend to have a wait~ read more

I went with my girlfriend to Live by the Sword Tattoo and we waited over 45 minutes. The store was pretty much empty. and they still skipped us, let several other people go ahead of us. When we asked how much longer it would take, they told us they'd be "right with us" and no one served us. Never returning to this location ever again! read more

PIERCING REVIEW. I walked in on a random day to get my septum pierced (was feeling spontaneous lol). I filled out a waiver and within 10 minutes, my piercer came over to get me set up. David was my piercer, and he created such a great experience for me. I was a bit nervous because I don't have any other facial piercings, but he was really reassuring and helpful. The process was really smooth, quick, and as painless as can be. He gave me specific aftercare instructions which were super helpful. It's been three weeks now, and my piercing has healed so well. Would definitely recommend this shop for any piercings! I was super happy that I was able to walk in and out in the span of 30 minutes. read more

Live by the Sword Tattoo - septum piercing by David - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

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I have gotten multiple tattoos from Diaz King and his attention to detail is unmatched! I will definitely be only getting tattoos from him going forward. read more

Live by the Sword Tattoo - Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

Diaz King, Tattoo Artist Diaz is absolutely talented. I've gotten 10+ tattoos done by him in a span of 2 years, and the results are never less than perfect. He is the only artist I trust with my ideas and the best I've been in NYC. I would not go anywhere else, and I have been.. Diaz is top tier. Talented FINE LINE artist, he has rangeeeee. He can do it all. Very intentional with his work from start to finish, super patient and helpful during the initial design process. Will provide his creative expertise and opinion to ensure your tattoo is something that you'll love forever. I've gotten simple flash tattoos to intricate shading pieces. Can't say any negative thing about Diaz, he's an awesome artist you won't regret it! Book him for all your tattoos!!! read more

Live by the Sword Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

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Remi did a fire job live his care and expertise. He was really well versed and had a clear understanding of full inventory. I would recommend for beginners who are scared. read more

Live by the Sword Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

This was a great experience ! Went in for a piercing and left with more. Remi who pierced my ears was AMAZING ! I recommend going to him to get your piercings done. The place was clean and inviting. read more

I was visiting from LA this past weekend and went in with some friends to get a little tattoo on my ankle and my friend got her belly ring. Joe did my tattoo and I have to say he is one of the coolest guys I've met, he was fast and made great and polite conversation. I felt very comfortable and he reassured me it was okay if I didn't like something. The cherry on top I left my wallet there before close and I had my ID in there and had a flight at 5 am the next day, I was able to get in contact with him and he found my wallet outside! Genuinely would've have been so screwed if it wasn't for him finding it. Super sick shop I definitely will be coming back next time I visit, everyone was very helpful and nice. Vibes were solid. read more

absolutely awful. I got my navel pierced here and I was given the incorrect jewelry for my anatomy, which lead to rejection and migration. it's been over a year and I STILL can't get it repierced due to their negligence. pissed off doesn't even begin to cover how I feel. avoid at ALL costs. read more

Came here for a front helix piercing and it's the best experience I've had. It's my 4th cartilage piercing and this place is my favorite. It healed so nicely. Highly recommend them! read more

I went to the LBTS in SoHo some time ago to get my third lobes pierced bilaterally, as well as a conch piercing in my right ear. The piercer was not nice, seemed to be in a bad mood, and was unpleasant. I get that people have bad days! I limited my conversation with her because she made me uncomfortable. But then she messed up the lobe piercings I had on top of it, as you can see in these photos. The left third lobe was spaced well, but on the right it was not at all. I took it out shortly thereafter and let it heal up. I am reluctant to return to LBTS, and if I do it will be to see a different piercer. read more

Live by the Sword Tattoo - Third lobe piercing was way too close to the second lobe piercing - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

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Im pretty disappointed. I got a septum piercing that came out crooked and was then told it was because of a "deviated septum". The piercer should have said something ahead of time. I have since learned that a good piercer can still make the septum ring look straight and should atleast give you their "assessment" of your anatomy before trying to pierce your septum. I am going to get it ride. I had a good experience here in the past and had high expectations but I basically think this piercer did not do a good job and then tried to blame my anatomy. She was nice though... just maybe not very professional? read more

Came to get a piercing done here and it was swift and quick! At only $10, it's a good deal though it did hurt more than I thought and they just really went for it. I'm not against that, but for other people who are shy/ apprehensive about it, a slower approach is probably better to calm their nerves, especially since they started before I felt like I was settled in, even if the piercing went well and looks good. read more

Live by the Sword Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

They need better tattoo artists this and artists that listen to what the customer is saying this is not what I asked for read more

Live by the Sword Tattoo - Wanted to add red in my tattoo this is the worst tattoo I've ever gotten do not come here - Tattoo Near Me - New York, New York

INITIAL REVIEW: Well, where do I start.. I went to get a finger tattoo with Francesca. Initially we spoke via dm on IG. I'll attach the original design below. She called it "three separate tattoos". That's where I should've get concerned and stop all communication. However I booked with her. A decision that I will always regret. She wasn't nice to me. She wasn't friendly. And foremost she wasn't professional. I thought she will do one stencil line and just mark on a skin where spaces have to be. But no.. why to make things simple and easy... So she broke stencil in three separate pieces and then tried to make one straight line. I kid you not. Like what on earth... So we were doing it for a while. It obviously didn't work So then she grabbed a purple marker, and without asking me just drew a line on my finger. So instead of thin and precise line, I had a wide line from a marker. And she started tattoo over it. I couldn't see what she was doing because how dark and wide line was. Nor could she. Her work ended up being crooked. Now I have to spend money to cover it up or to remove it with laser. Either way her being unprofessional and "couldn't care less attitude" will cost me money. If you value yourself, your time, money and what goes on your skin, do NOT book with Francesca. UPDATED: I changed review from 1 to 3 stars because owner/management tried to offer solutions. We reached some sort of agreement and I appreciate it. read more

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The person at the front desk was very warm and welcoming. As well as the person that did three piercings for me. It was quick, sanitized & informative about the aftercare. Double checked in the mirror twice for piercing placements. Can't wait to go back to New York to go there again!!! read more

This is my 14th piercing and Shelly was THE BEST piercer I have ever had. She was so welcoming, patient, and kind. My partner also has over 10 piercings and she was the best piercer they've had. Like seriously such a queen, we love her and will be returning read more