I saw some of Kali's work on Instagram and all of her work is absolutely stunning so I knew I had…read moreto book with her at sink or swim. The guys at the front desk were really nice and they followed all covid protocols so I knew I was in good hands. I was greeted with a warm welcome from kali and she helped me pick out my jewelry. She was so kind from start to finish and reassured me that I would have the most comfortable experience. She was informative and honest which is something everyone should look for in a piercer, you can tell that she loves what she does which put me at ease. She urged me to reach out to her via Instagram if I have any questions/run into any issues. Would definitely recommend sink or swim for all of your piercing needs.

I've been coming here since I was a teenager, got my nose pierced and re-pierced 3 times. Every…read moresingle time, the service was amazing and the guy was super nice and calm which kept me calm, he was also very thorough about taking care of my piercings. Saturday, got pressured by my best friend to get a piercing because she got one and I always wanted to get my tragus pierced. My piercer was Tommy and he was really, really chill. I'm super terrified of needles and he rid me of my anxiety and walked me through the whole process. He was super patient with me and was quick that I would definitely book another piercing from him. The customer service is awesome, the lady is soooooo nice and the people behind the counter are social butterflies, they are geniunely so nice and easy to talk to. TIPS: If you're planning to go on Saturday, book your appointment in advance, walk-ins are welcome but you'll be waiting a looooooong time. I suggest going through the weekdays to get something done. Ask for Tommy, he's pretty awesome.

Got a cartilage piercing from here two years ago and it keeps getting infected and sore. I've…read moregotten another piercing about 4 months ago and it has heeled much better than the one I got here. The price was relatively low, but it's honestly not worth it. Just go to another slightly more expensive place.

I had a great first experience. Lindsay responded to my email inquiries promptly and thoroughly,…read moreand the studio was super clean (very surprised by how spotless the bathroom is). Gordon was my piercer, and he made the process very easy - this was my first cartilage piercing so I was nervous, but I felt very reassured here. I got two helix piercings and the pain was no worse than your usual flu shot. He went over the aftercare with me, stressed the importance of being on top of that, and also happily answered any questions I had. A week or so afterward, my ear became extremely swollen and painful and almost engulfed the piercing (at no fault of the piercer by the way, irritation happens). So I went to my doctor and she prescribed antibiotics to treat a potential infection. I also contacted Exotix to see if they had any recommendations and Lindsay recommended that I come in to get my piercing looked at and my jewelry lengthened to accommodate the swelling. So I went in and Gordon was there again, he could tell from his many years of experience that it was not an infection and he swapped one of my bars for a longer one. He was so slick with it that I didn't even notice the bar being changed, especially with how tender my ear was at the time. The only downside to this studio is that it is quite expensive. I paid about $290 total for the service and the two earrings ($50 service per piercing, $80 for each piece of jewelry, +tax) but personally I'd rather pay more for a good piercing than get a crooked one that I hate and end up taking it out after less than a year, which is what happened with my lobe piercing at a different place. I am now due to get my jewelry downsized in 2 days and my ear has healed incredibly well. The jewelry is beautiful and I will definitely be coming back for more piercings!

I was looking for a simple third piercing in my lobes. Nothing fancy or overly adventurous. My…read morefirst two were done when I was 13 or 14, likely in a mall. It was so long ago, I don't even remember. I'm now in my 50's and I know better than to get piercings done at a mall by someone less than half my age getting paid minimum wage. No judgement. Just saying. I hopped onto Yelp to check the voice of the people and the people have spoken! Exotix it is! I reached out to to the studio and enquired about an appointment with Jessie. Lindsay, the studio manager, responded with prices and Jessie's availability. I sent my deposit and confirmed my appointment! At the moment, certain protocols are in place and I felt completely safe being at the studio and interacting with the people there. Jessie is such a nice person and took the time to explain everything she was doing. She meticulously measured and marked the placement of the piercings until they were perfect (or as perfect as they could be given the existing piercings). Her attention to detail was very much appreciated. Once the placement was sorted, the actual piercing took mere seconds. Aftercare instructions were clearly explained which is likely a good thing because I'm of the generation where it was perfectly acceptable to douse your piercing in rubbing alcohol and continually twist it so it doesn't 'stick'! It's been six weeks since my piercings were done and things are healing nicely. My experience with Exotix was nothing less than outstanding. With everyone in masks, it's hard to say for sure who I encountered there but everyone was extremely professional, pleasant and welcoming. I definitely agree with all the reviews posted and if you're looking to get a piercing done, I absolutely would recommend coming to Exotix. This industry has been extremely hard hit during the pandemic... so go on, get something pierced and show some love!

this was my first tattoo, Yeah! My first impression was how clean everything looked and the…read morefriendliness of the staff, Kayleigh and Phil. My artist Janine was sensitive to this being my first time and the purpose of my tattoo. We discussed the best design and placement of the tattoo, which was very important to me. This tattoo represented the coordinates of where my husband ashes were laid to rest. She was then proceeded very gently to create this wonderful memorial to my husband. I am so thankful to everyone at Steel N Ink for making this an almost painless and wonderful experience. Thank you Janine... I would certainly recommend you to my friends and family.

Re: Steel N Ink WATERLOO…read more RUN AWAY FROM THIS STUDIO! Billing practices are highly questionable! Staff will quote one price and you could be charged something completely different and arbitrary! There is zero flexibility with respect to compromise and/or customer satisfaction. I was quoted $180 for the work I inquired about and was subsequently charged $360 plus tax. They refuse to problem-solve over the phone (i.e., Sarah Taylor) and prefer to play on the defensive, rather than acknowledge miscommunication. Highly disappointing. Sarah suggested that she prefers emailing so they can better track the complaint process - a perfect avoidance tactic and signs of questionable leadership. All in all, this shop is seemingly more interested in the bottom line, rather than offering accurate and clear information (either over the phone, on their website or via email). I am happy to share my email communications with anyone contemplating using this shop for their next tattoo. RUN AWAY AND RUN FAST! #SteelNInk

Can't wait to go back…read more Zeke has been tattooing my mom for years and I knew that I was going to them when I was ready for mine. They did a fantastic job, I am so pleased. Was such a great vibe in there and the history of this little shop turned national brand is a testament to our little city! Everyone was super nice, I definitely recommend this business. Thank you for this very meaningful tat, I will see you again soon.

If you're ever having any sort of crisis in your life or need to redirect some energy, getting a…read morepiercing is the best distraction in my opinion. A little bit of pain for an instant change to your self and then lasting pain and care while it heals! I should get a hobby. I did a lot of research for different studios around the city. A main concern of mine was the quality of the piercers. I liked that their Instagram did feature the work of their piercers and tagged them so you could check out what they've done in the past. They list their piercing prices on the website and they differ based on placements. I found their prices to be average. Some places were way higher (double in some cases!) across the board, even for simple piercings. I prebooked online and was able to select a time. I had to pay the piercing fee upfront which was $40 for a rook piercing. They clearly explain the fees while booking. On the day of the piercing, they recommend that you eat at least 3 hours before your appointment. They have a lot of reception staff working there. I was kind of surprised! I had to fill out a waiver that had a bit of information on my health history (mostly to do with whether I had an issues with bleeding) and whether needles would impact me. I was taken to the piercing area at the back after that. I checked out the jewelry first. I was never rushed to pick faster which I appreciated. Jewelry isn't cheap! I liked how transparent my piercer was with the costs of jewelry. They had a tablet that was able to quickly pull up prices so I could decide what I was okay with. Some of these pieces were several hundred dollars so it was good to know before checkout. All in all my total price tag was around $350 and if you worked out the earlier math from before you can see how much some of the jewlery cost! It is definitely a little pricey but expected. They carry great brands like BVLA and Junipurr so it's not unexpected. One thing I was a little disappointed about was that they didn't carry much in rose gold, only white and yellow gold. They carry some piercing aftercare there like the Neilmed rinses which are a little expensive at $22 a bottle but convenient since you can get it during your appointment.

I was happy to find this salon at first as I needed to have my hair done early morning for a family…read morewedding and when I saw they opened at 8am on a Saturday I booked right away. I had never been before but the pictures of their work online looked nice enough and honestly I just wanted somewhere close to home to get it done. I was never told how to have my hair ready pre appointment in order for things to move quicker.....I had to call the salon and ask myself if I needed to arrive with wet hair or hair that had been washed. Receptionist was rude and just said well we are not going to blow dry it, you just paying for a style - which cost me $80 to begin with, then $100 at the end with tax and tip. The put me with a stylist which they labelled an"intermediate" and they charge according to this. I honestly didn't feel like she knew what she was doing so didn't feel confident at all from the get go. She barely put any product in my hair to keep if from frizzing up or holding the curl. I even asked for extra hairspray at the end to keep everything in place. At the end of the hour, my very basic half up hairstyle cost me $100 and by the time I left the salon and went to the event my hair lost all curl and was a frizzy mess! I am beyond disappointed with this place. Wouldn't recommend as their prices and work they provide are really a form of stealing!

The lady who cut my hair, Amanda, gave me a rough shampoo and a choppy cut with no technique or…read moreblending or care (and she's supposedly "senior"). She was more like a dog groomer than a hair stylist. Will NEVER go back to this place.

Got a piercing done by Jessie. She was very professional and informative. I came with a lot of…read morequestions and she answered everything single one with clear knowledge, which reassured me. When it came to piercing time, she was swift and conscious of my fear, again reassuring me. Quick hands got the needle and earring in in less than 20 seconds. Heads up, cash only with her.

best tattoo studio around for cover ups carl is amazing…read more reasonable prices talented artist

Re: Steel N Ink WATERLOO…read more RUN AWAY FROM THIS STUDIO! Billing practices are highly questionable! Staff will quote one price and you could be charged something completely different and arbitrary! There is zero flexibility with respect to compromise and/or customer satisfaction. I was quoted $180 for the work I inquired about and was subsequently charged $360 plus tax. They refuse to problem-solve over the phone (i.e., Sarah Taylor) and prefer to play on the defensive, rather than acknowledge miscommunication. Highly disappointing. Sarah suggested that she prefers emailing so they can better track the complaint process - a perfect avoidance tactic and signs of questionable leadership. All in all, this shop is seemingly more interested in the bottom line, rather than offering accurate and clear information (either over the phone, on their website, or via email). I am happy to share my email communications with anyone contemplating using this shop for their next tattoo. RUN AWAY AND RUN FAST! #SteelNInk

I got my nose pierced here and the guy was super nice and did a great job, I've never had any…read moreissues with the piercing and the jewelry is good quality unlike some places that charge so much for cheap jewelry. I've never gotten a tattoo here so I can't speak for that but my piercing experience was great especially compared to other places around.

I had shark bites changed (four labrets, basically) into shorter posts, and it did not hurt at all…read morelike it did with a different piercer who had put rings in my lips! It was extremely fast and easy, and I am so happy with my experience! I also got my angel fangs done, and it was really fast and easy! The staff is very kind and funny, and it was so perfectly cool on a hot summer day in the city. All in all--10/10, very fun experience!

first things first, i want to clarify that i'm quite nervous around needles. anytime i have a blood…read moretest or get a vaccine, i always make it a point to tell the nurse that i am very nervous and a bit scared (despite nothing bad ever happening, like, ever)... so naturally i was very nervous about getting my ears pierced. i walked into the store one day after yelping for a tattoo + piercing spot because i have been thinking about getting my ears (re)pierced for years now (i got them pierced maybe 15 years ago at Claire's and didn't wear earrings back then for many reasons so the holes closed up). i asked a couple questions to Kyle who was at the front of the house and i really appreciated how straightforwardly they answered my questions. Kyle spoke matter-of-factly without making me feel silly for asking simple questions as a grown adult. i also really appreciate speaking to someone instead of just panicking while reading the FAQ page over and over!! fast forward to a month later, i made an appointment to get my lobes pierced! taylor was my piercer and they were absolutely wonderful to be in the care of. i told them exactly how nervous i was and they didn't sugarcoat that i'd definitely feel it -- it would hurt like a pinch hurts and i'd feel some heat, this is natural -- and they jokingly reassured me that if i hated the first piercing, i could stop at one (lol). it's been 8 weeks with my studs in and they've healed amazingly. taylor not only did an amazing job with the piercing, but they gave me really concise care tips and a business card with their info in case i needed to reach out about my piercings. i don't think i can sing high enough praises of the folks at new tribe! TL;DR: - spoke with kyle at the front of house and was pierced by taylor. both were absolute gems of human beings - overall very pleasant and calm experience as a nervous person - very knowledgeable and non-judgmental - thorough website w/ FAQs - would definitely come back if i ever wanted more piercings!! - studs are flat back - variety of studs to pick from for the piercing (some with price upgrades)