I came in today to get my first tattoo. I hadn't made an appointment because they only take appointments after a consultation. I live sort of far away so I didn't want to have to make two trips. I went in and asked if they had time for a small tattoo and they took my right in. I can't remember the name of my tattoo artist but he was fantastic. The whole experience was smooth CLEAN and painless (well not quite painless). Will definitely be coming back!
Review Source:I came here on a whim to get my nose pierced and I'll definitely come back. Even though it was almost closing time they were very talkative and took their time with me. I love the piercing and they're methodically CLEAN with their tools and jewelry. Relatively inexpensive even with a tip and cleaning soap/salt.
Review Source:Let me explain why 1 star...
This review is a little late but here it goes. Â I was looking for what would most likely be my one and only tattoo. Â I met Alex, one of the artists. Â He seemed nice enough and seemed knowledgeable. Â We discussed what I wanted. Â I left my deposit. Â I had not heard from him in over two weeks, so I called. Â The guy didn't even remember who I was. Â We had had dialogue through email and I had sent him examples of what i was looking for and the guy forgets completely who I am. Â Instead of apologizing, he says he'll have something done soon. Â Two weeks later, he has a pretty bad depiction of what I had asked for. Â Actually, it was not at all what I had asked for. Â After I re-explained what I wanted, his response was, well that's all i can do. Â
Aside from being absent minded, he lacks any creativity and I question his ability as a real artist. Â I wouldn't have been so upset if he was at least nice about it. Â But he lacked ability and was completely unprofessional.
I called and asked to speak with the manager. Â I forget her name. Â I think it was Lisa or something. Â Anyways, Â I explained the situation and tried to explain that he did not in any way show me a decent drawing. Â And, he called it quits after one attempt. Â She merely apologized and said, well he gave you a drawing, so that constitutes completion of the agreement. Â She said if I wanted someone else to draw something, I'd have to leave another deposit and she was not willing to return my deposit.
Overall, a pretty crappy experience. Â This bad experience is mostly because of Alex.
Came in for 3 lip piercings (labret + snakebites.) Completely new to this sort of thing. 20-year-old Berkeley student.
Absolutely fantastic quality of work, but some issues with the staff and initial piercing.
When I first went in and began looking, I was immediately approached by the black cashier girl with several facial piercings-- I'm not sure of her name. I was happy with the promptness with which she offered to help me, but she wasn't very helpful. I mentioned that I was new and didn't know what to expect, but if I hadn't done the research ahead of time to know what questions to ask, I wouldn't have been able to get any information out of her.
The wait is very long. They told me 20 minutes, and it was about an hour and a half before I was served. Ask how many people are queued before you-- each person will take about 25-30 minutes.
When I went in to get pierced up, I found Lysa very helpful, if also a bit reluctant to explain things to me without me having to directly ask about them. She took a long time lining the piercings up perfectly-- I really appreciated this, as my lower lip is larger to one side and she wanted to make it perfect.
Very personalized service.
The piercings themselves were not very painful, and I got a lollipop afterwards. :) Because I got 3 at once, Lysa gave me a bottle of the Dr. Brenner's soap for free. Fantastic!
I was concerned immediately after getting the piercing, though, because the barbell seemed to cut into the skin on my lip. I assumed that this was normal, because skin swells up after piercing... NOT SO. :(
They pierced me with barbells that were HALF the size I needed, (1/4 inch, instead of the 1/2 inch ones I have now) and I didn't get the chance to go back in to switch them out until 3 days after I was first pierced! (So, keep your work schedule in mind before you go in...)
By that time, one of the piercings was so impacted into my skin that my lip had already regrown a layer of skin over it, on the outside! Not to mention how HORRIBLY painful those 3 days had been. I'd been icing it, soaking it in saline, using non-alcoholic mouthwash, and taking enough ibuprofen to keep me barely conscious in attempts to keep the swelling (and eventually the horrible, horrible pain) down.
I went in to get the barbells changed today, and MY GOD IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL FEELING IN THE WORLD now that my mouth no longer wants to kill me slowly.
They were at first skeptical of me needing to go up a size, since I was "at the highest point of swelling" because I was 3 days in... I showed them the fact that my lip had almost closed over the barbells from both sides, and they immediately queued me up! So, props for understanding and promptly making up for mistakes.
They ended up giving me barbells twice the size of the ones that Lisa had given me at first. They didn't charge for this-- I really appreciated their attention to performing a job well, as opposed to making a buck like Zebra.
Overall, I can't say that it was a 5 star experience because of the somewhat lukewarm customer service or the horrible pain I suffered all weekend, (and this is assuming that my extremely tender, swollen lips heal properly after having been squeezed to death), Industrial really pays attention to the quality of the work they do.
Reasonable pricing, too.
Highly recommended! Just trust your intuition if you think something isn't quite right. This includes being ABSOLUTELY SURE you're happy with where the needle will go before you tell them to go ahead and pierce.
I've been here twice - once for my cartilage and again for a tattoo. The people here definitely know what they're doing. My friend had gotten her cartilage pierced on the streets and her skin healed up around the earring so she went to Industrial to clean it up/fix it up. First, they gave her a much needed lecture and second they fixed it. I'm pretty sure doing my piercing, she washed her hand ~4 times (just to help you understand how clean they are). Six months later, my cartilage was bleeding because the earring was too small and fell through. Industrial fixed it for free.
A year and a half later, I went back to get my first tattoo with Jason. I showed him the picture of what I wanted - and the result was definitely better. He made it look delicate, which is exactly what I wanted.
Love this place - when it comes to your skin & piercings, you don't want to mess up. Here, they are clean and they know what they're doing!
Finally went in today to get my nose pierced and had a great experience with Lysa. She was very professional but very friendly and easy to talk to. It put me at ease and helped me not think about the giant needle that was about to go through my nose. She answered all of my questions and made it very clear that I was welcome to come in if I had any more. Good prices, $25 for the piercing (plus tip) and $36 for the stud.
Review Source:I've been here twice. The first time here was awful. I came because I got my earlobes pierced somewhere else and my left lobe got infected so I came here hoping to get some advice after trying for a couple days to fix it. The lady at the front was freaking RUDE! Her advice to me was,"Well, it clearly means that you weren't meant to get your ears pierced." LOL What the.... it was honestly so unwarranted that I didn't know what to say. However I am pretty sure she left or got fired because I never saw her again after that. FYI my ears did heal nicely after a couple of sea salt soaks by the way.
The next time I came to get my second cartilage pierced and it was beautiful. I didn't even feel a THING. I got my first one at Urban Body up in Davis and holy eff it hurt so bad for 3 months that I couldn't even sleep on that side. With Industrial, I felt nothing. It never got infected -crosses fingers- and looks great. Super happy with that experience.
My only gripe is the wait. Whenever I go the wait is forever..... my friend and I once had to fill up the meter 4 times! Make sure you go during weekdays!
I went to Industrial to get two cartilage piercings on my right ear. The shop didn't seem busy at all, but I had to wait 45 minutes to be seen. I got pierced by Andrea who seemed kind and experienced. The sterilization procedure appeared good. I was given care instructions and sea salt to soak the piercing in.
Things were fine for about two weeks, but then I noticed the earrings starting to recede into my ear. Soon, they were entirely covered by skin. I called Industrial and they told me to keep up with the care instructions and to be sure not to use too much salt.
After another week my ear was bright red and bleeding intermittently. I went to another piercing shop closer to where I work and the person there said that the earrings were much too short for the thickness of my ears, especially for two piercings so close together. He said they had to come out.
I was disappointed with my experience at Industrial. I followed the care instructions very diligently, but still ended up without piercings, having spent a good deal of time and money on nothing but a sore ear.
Holy Crap!!
Andrea is absolutely AMAZING!!
Learned more in the first 30 seconds of pre/post care convo than I've heard in 15 years of getting piercings/tattoos!
She totally took the time to go over the stuff my friend and I were getting done and made us both totally comfortable the whole time. Offered us as much time as we needed between piercings. I've seen a lot of places where the person with the needle could care less once they were done, wipe, poke, done. But you could tell that Andrea really cared about how happy we were when she was done!!
This is my new shop for piercing! When I get ready for new ink I will absolutely come here first!
Second time going into industrial...
Crabby front lady at the desk... If you read this I have one tip for you Industrial take your past reviewers suggestions and post the prices so that your employees don't get agitated and thusly treat your customers badly. Â I would have spent a good penny here given that their jewelry is a little pricey. Â Umm... No... Ill take my hard earned 200$ elsewhere... Thank you!
My first time at Industrial was to get my nose pierced. I went with my mom (I'm 16) during their Black Friday sale and we made an appointment. The place was amazing. It was extremely clean and everyone was really friendly. Because they were so busy, we had to make an appointment for later that evening. We were some of the last customers of the day, but they treated us with as much energy and enthusiasm as they did hours before. I had two piercings done on the same nostril and my piercer was really sweet. She helped me figure out the placing of the two piercings and did them both slowly and carefully. After we left, they told us about aftercare and whatnot and they answered any and all questions my mom and I had. I'm definitely going back!
Review Source:Had a very pleasant experience with getting my nose pierced here by Andrea.
I was greeted promptly and serviced immediately when I walked into the door. The procedure was done very smoothly and everything was very clean. Andrea is very talented at what she does and amazingly informed. She made me feel very calm and secure throughout the entire procedure, I would definitely come back here again for another piercing.
On a friend's recommendation, I visited to look into buying a simple piece of jewelry for my ear/cartilage piercing. I was told that I should simply take the piercing out because it was clearly disliking being pierced. She then said that she *could* sell me something if I really wanted...
I thanked her for her honesty, and took the piercing out when I got home. The piercing in question was done elsewhere, and had been keloiding and never really healed in over 10 months. Taking it out DID make it feel better. I really do appreciate when employees value my well-being over selling me a product. Â
I returned a month or so later, looking to get a couple of lobe piercings. One of them involved "Hey can I get this OTHER bit of scar tissue punched out?" Lysa told me that she would not feel comfortable doing this, but wrote down a list of recommendations for people in the area, and Los Angeles (which is where I'm from, and where I was going to be a week later). Again, I appreciate the honesty. I did ask about getting another piercing in my other ear, so we prepared to do this.
But okay, I was a walk-in. I spent maybe an hour-and-a-half walking around the store looking at everything because somebody was ahead of me getting something complicated done. I saw a number of items that I would have really wanted to know the price on/get more information on. I wish more prices were displayed, so that I wouldn't have to track somebody down to ask about every single little thing. (While there were a few people on the floor, only one of them was really rushing around to help if I had a question. Hmm.)
The jewelry prices are definitely more on the high-end range. I'd say if you want to treat yourself or somebody else to a fancy gift, you could find something here. I do wish there was more jewelry variety for the smaller gauges (like another reviewer wrote). Definitely one of those "If I ever get rich, I will buy a few of these" type situations.
Anyway, because I had already looked around and DID manage to ask about prices on a few items, I was prepared to pick out jewelry for my yet-to-be piercing. I found some little cute thing. Ok, whatever.
The piercing process itself went smoothly and was virtually painless (thanks Lysa). About three hours later, and it wasn't even red anymore. It's been several weeks now, and I have continued to not have any pain or swelling or bleeding or ANYTHING. This is a huge deal because my last piercing (different business) was a total nightmare the entire time. I do believe that this piercing will continue to heal nicely, as intended.
I did have all the post-care hygiene explained to me a few times.
I ended up spending something like $48 for the one lobe (tip + act of piercing + jewelry)(again, I wanted a cute thing, so I opted for some jeweled head post getup). Yes, kind of more than I would ideally like to spend on a thing, but really not MUCH more than I spent the last time elsewhere... and I do know that it's going to heal well AND... yeah, the jewelry is cute or whatever.
If I ever have an extra $40-$100 to spend on piercing/jewelry stuff, then yeah I'd return to this business.
I chose industrial for both my nose piercing and my foot tattoo because the business was recommended to me by friends who had gone there for multiple tattoos and piercings. I was new to the area and I asked around for "A clean, reputable, professional tattoo place" because I was weary of hole-in-the wall random places poking needles into me. Industrial is just that- clean, reputable, and professional. I will be going to industrial for my second tattoo :)
Review Source:I'm just updating this to say that my earlobe piercings healed up perfectly, and in mid-May (1 yr ago) I took out the posts and started buying & wearing earrings. I now wear them every day, and my only regret is that I didn't get it done years ago. My husband says all the time how happy he is that I got them pieced, and how good earrings look on me. Cheers, Lysa!
Review Source:I think it's high time I write about Industrial, since I have now gotten a grand total of four holes poked in my body thanks to them.
You know how you lost you feel when you haven't found a good hair stylist? And then the first time you go to someone who fits you perfectly, you're so happy you almost burst? And you'd follow them into the depths of hell because they are SO PERFECT for you?
Well, it's the same with piercing. And I've found my perfect place. It's here, at Industrial.
Unfortunately, I can't remember who did my first piercing here (the helix cartilage piercing) but Lysa did my second lobe piercings and, a year later, my daith. She is friendly, professional, and just pleasant to talk to! She explains everything she's going to do to you to make sure you understand and are on board, and keeps you relaxed and comfortable the whole time. (Bonus points: she's Canadian!)
Most recently, I came by industrial intending to get a forward helix piercing. Unfortunately, Lysa discovered I don't have enough cartilage to make the piercing work, but she suggested getting a daith instead. Since I'd already been considering a daith for a while, I went with it. I am as happy as can be with this new addition to my ear!
For some reason, I have become the "expert on piercings" among my friends, and every time one of them finally breaks down and tells me she wants one, I take her to Industrial. With no fail, they have all had great experiences.
This shop knows what they are doing in terms of piercings. Safe, clean, professional, and friendly. Cannot recommend highly enough.
FYI: they sell Dr Bronner's soap for washing your piercing. While it's a nice soap, any mild antibacterial one should do the job.
And don't forget to tip your artist! It isn't expected, but of course appreciated. Go for the same percentage you would at a restaurant (but on the piercing price only, not including jewellery).
I just got my ears pierced last week, and the studio was very professional, clean and friendly.
I have a bad history with infection from piercing, so I was a little apprehensive, but I felt much more comfortable after talking with employees there.
I'm still in the healing process, and my ears bruised and bled pretty badly for the first couple of days, but I think that's just my body--definitely don't think its a reflection of the studio.
The only shocker for me was the price... I asked how much the (titanium) earrings were that they were going to use for my piercings, and I was told they would be $24. Seemed reasonable.
...I didn't realize that that price was PER EARRING, or that each back clasp was an additional $12... so I actually paid more than $70 for a pair of earrings, plus $20 for the piercing itself.
I know it will "last a lifetime" and the titanium jewelry is really high quality, but the pricing should have been made more clear to me...I had no idea I would be paying $95 until after the studs were in my ears.
Still would have done it, but it would have been nice if the pricetag had been made more obvious.
Had a great experience getting my nose pierced while visiting Berkeley - this place came highly recommended when I asked around and glad I went.
Nice service, fully explained everything I needed to know and I love my piercing. I felt they covered all the bases, everything was clean and my piercing came out perfect and I have had no problems with it at all.
I highly recommend!
My first ear piercing was at 10 years old- a Piercing Pagoda in a New Jersey mall. I got my second ear piercing at 18 years old at Claire's Accessories, also in a New Jersey mall. Both times, my sensitive little ears couldn't stand the annoyance and pain of these tiny pieces of metal jabbed through my lobes. After about 2-4 weeks, I took out the $10 studs and my ears closed up shop soon after. I accepted my fate as a piercing-free goober.
Cut to 7 years later. A buddy and I plan to dress up as Paula Abdul and MC Skat Kat for Halloween. How can I be 80's era Paula Abdul without some kick ass ridiculous dangly 80's earrings? I can't. SO, I used that as the catalyst to mutilate my ears once and for all. And this time, I was going to do it right.
I found Industrial through Yelp, and it was just what I was looking for. Lysa was great! She had me lay down on a table in a private room and used actual needles to pierce my ears- not some weird gun wielded by a 15 year old while being gawked at by Orange Julius patrons. I didn't feel a thing. Not during the initial piercing, not right after, not two, three, four months after.
This was done in October, but I wanted to wait to write this review until I actually made it long enough to start changing out different earrings. I had to rock my studs for the Paula costume, but that's okay. Four+ months later and I can finally swap em out for some peacocks, or hummingbirds, or some other weird bird stuff. Whatever. It's awesome!
As you can clearly see, I am a total amateur nerdwad when it comes to this stuff. I got the most common, vanilla piercing possible. The kind that babies get done when they're two days old. But was I treated like a square? Nope! The staff made me feel comfortable, no elitist attitudes, and were clear and helpful with their care instructions.
While it was quite a bit more expensive than a $10 gun job at Claire's, the quality of the job and the experience itself was well worth it. Definitely a case of "you get what you pay for", but in the best way. Thanks Industrial!
Whenever anyone mentions wanting to get a piercing, I always send them to Industrial. They're definitely the best of the East Bay. Their standards are high in health, safety, professionalism, technique & aesthetics. I've worked in a few piercing shops so I know good quality when I see it. They're consistently good, too; no matter who I go in to see I know they're going to do an excellent job. Their staff is all up to APP (Association of Professional Piercers) standards, which are the highest possible  (I know that most, if not all of them, attend the annual APP conference).
They also have fantastic jewelry, and give great aftercare tips. I recommend them highly.
This review is for Chloe and Andrea. I went to Industrial for the first time, was rushing to make in on-time before they closed at 7:00pm for a nose piercing. Chloe, the young lady who greeted me and assisted me in the process of having my nose pierced was welcoming (even though she was mopping the floor and having the place ready to close). As I kept emphasizing my fear and nervousness, Chloe was very comforting and realistic. She then introduced me to the actual piercer, Andrea, who was as wonderful. Andrea made sure to tell me and give me all the guidelines on how to take care my piercing, she also walked me through during the actual event she was piercing my nose. Bottom line, I have a new affection with Industrial: friendly and welcoming environment, affordable price, variety of jewelry.
Review Source:Just had a great experience at Industrial. For a Wednesday at 4:30pm, it was HOPPING! So many people were waiting to get poked that I had plenty of time to hear each member of the staff be thoughtful and thorough in explaining jewelry and piercings and any other little questions people had. I had a little issue with the last time I got pierced, and Josh was kind enough to fix it. It shows that he is meticulous in his craft and I felt confident in his abilities to create what I wanted. Before this visit, I was in contact with Chloe, who was also very helpful. I'd give 10 stars if they went that high! I will be back for my future needs and will definitely be referring friends.
Review Source:While my only other review for Industrial was for Lysa (and it was the first time she had pierced me too.. if I remember correctly. haha I've been here too much.)
This one is for Josh.
Last Thursday, my best friend came over for a visit. We were going to get her her snug and me another dermal. But because we came in too late (630pm) and my old jewelry (I've had 4 dermals done.. all from here) needed to be sterilized, I was told that I could leave my jewelry there then come back whenever I was free, tell them they had my jewelry, then get repierced.
My review for Josh is slightly biased because I already thing he's amazing. So instead of going on any other day of the week to get another dermal, I came back in on a Thursday (I may or may not have his tumblr, so I asked. haha)
I arrived at 620pm after waking up from my nap figuring that nobody would come in that late since they were going to close at 7pm and mine doesn't take too long. I was wrong.
Two girls ahead of me were in for 4 piercings, so the girl working the front asked Josh if he'd mind staying late for me and he didn't at all. I went out for a walk and some froyo before returning.
Another reason why I think Josh is amazing: he makes you comfortable. I can talk to him about anything, and not just the stuff related to piercings and tattoos, but food, nutrition, and fitness as well!
Before even piercing me, I apologized numerous time and every time, he'd tell me that he doesn't mind and it's totally fine that he's staying late. He started my piercing technically after the shop was already closed. What does that tell you about his customer service??
He ended up staying 40 minutes late just to give me my gorgeous little gem. :)
ps. Josh, for my 21st birthday, expect me to come in for another ;)
I went in this past Friday to get my nose pierced and couldn't have asked for a better experience. Â The staff were very friendly and helpful with getting me set up and picking out my jewelry.
When it came down to it, Todd was my piercer and he was excellent. Â Let me repeat myself... Excellent. Â He very carefully went through the aftercare process and seemed invested in making sure that I had all info in order to keep my piercing healthy, healing, and looking good. Â He then explained some things about piercing placement (studs vs. hoops, etc.) which reminded me that HE is the professional piercer and knows what he's talking about, despite my preconceived notions. Â Not to be confused with me not having a say, I picked where I wanted it; but sometimes a girl just thinks she knows everything. Â Since this is something that I've wanted to do for a long time, I wanted to be sure that it was a one 'n' done situation, right the first time. Â After having the pre-pierce talk with Todd, I was confident that I was going to come out the other end of this a happy gal.
The mark was made, and right before zero hour I got a little light headed (needle in my face? Yeah, I got nervous) and he took a break to let me have a lolly. Â And once I mustered my courage back up, it was over. Â The breathing exercise helped to calm the nerves and I didn't feel a thing. Â Minutes later I was giggling, collecting my aftercare goodies, and grinning from ear to ear. Â
I love my new piercing, and I love industrial. If you've got a piercing on the brain, look no further; Industrial is your place.
Love this place. Lysa did my nose piercing and she knows her stuff. Everyone that works there is really nice and the selection of jewelry is, by far, the best I've seen. They have the widest variety of gauges (I've bought at least 4 pairs for my husband) and some really cool and hard to find things too.
I have plans to extend my back piece and will definitely come here to do it (as my previous tattoo artist turned out to be super flakey and permanently took off to Hawaii with no notice).
I went in to get my nose pierced and ended up getting all my tattoos touched up as well (I have six smallish tats, most of which are poorly done, and have been meaning to get them fixed for a while). Andrea was my piercer, and she was amazing - really gentle and clear about the process. It's the 4th time I've had my nose pierced (I keep having to take them out and can never get them back in, boo) and she was really chill about the possibility of piercing through scar tissue (although she said I didn't really have any). Many other places won't pierce a nostril if you've had it done in that area before. Anyway my new piercing is pretty and clean and I love it.
My tattoo artist was Morgan. He was also great, and did a truly superhuman job of fixing some really shitty tattoos. At one point I said, yeah, there are some really bad tattoo artists out there and his reply was yep, and  you've met all of them! I was in there for about an hour and a half and everyone has commented that my tats look SO much better. I let him take some creative liberties with shading, new color additions, etc and it just all looks awesome. I am so happy!
Overall I was really pleased with my experience at Industrial. I will never even set foot in Zebra again. (They pierced my nose the first time and it was terrible.)
I've come to Industrial Tattoo in the past, but this is the first time I was ever compelled to write a review.
I got a tattoo by here by a former employee (perhaps a former owner?) with no major complaints. Got my lip pierced a couple years ago by Lysa. She was nice, and professional.
I went back again yesterday for a spontaneous birthday present and Josh was AMAZING. He was thorough, professional, and really kind to myself and a friend of mine who came with me. He explained everything in great detail, but he wasn't dry or boring - he chatted with us a little here and there and made me feel comfortable.
I got a surface bar piercing near my collarbone, and Josh said he was stoked to do it, which definitely made me feel good about my choice.
Time will tell how it heals, but I do know that if I have any questions I can go back and talk to them. Â
Counter staff was nice - I was helped by the cute Rockabilly girl who was really helpful (Maybe named Chloe from what I could find on the Industrial website?)
Long story short - in the past, Industrial was a nice shop, but this last experience was AWESOME. Definitely will recommend and/or come back in the future!
I have never ha a piercing before I visited Industrial. And with my freshman roommate we decided to be spontaneous one day and went in. I got a belly piercing and she got second piercings on both ears. I think the price came out to be twenty for the piercing and twenty for the ring coming out to be roughly 40. I forgot the name of the guy who did our piercings but he was very thorough with explaining to us of how to take care of a new piercing since it is basically a hole in yor skin aka a wound. Talked to us about salt water soaking and also gave us each a bag of salts. The service really was great and really took my fear out of piercing.
I lost the top piece to my piercing once and went in and they just gave a free top too!
Ali is the best.
I came into Industrial a couple years ago as a walk-in, not really knowing what to expect and I was blown away. After two seconds of flipping through Ali Ulrich's portfolio, I was sold. I explained my concept to her and she knew exactly what I wanted. Later, I walked out with a smile on my face three times larger than the bandage on my shoulder because i was more than satisfied with the work that Ali had eternalized onto my skin.
I've received tattoos from several other artists around the bay area and, while they are good pieces that I am proud to show off, Ali's pieces are by far my favorite in terms of artistic talent. Now, Ali is my first choice whenever I get work done and I sit here writing this review with more tattoos from her than I can count with fingers.
Once, a blind man turned his face in the direction of one of the tattoos that Ali had given me and he regained his vision! Okay, that may be an exaggeration, but I am NOT exaggerating when I tell you that if you are anywhere near the east bay and are looking to get any new tattoo work done, you NEED to come check Ali out. Â
While Ali was welcoming, friendly, and super fun to talk to, she is still very professional and serious about her work and I recommend her to anyone and everyone that appreciates great artwork.
Had a lovely experience here.
I had my last piercings done at Infinite in Philadelphia, so I was looking for a studio of similar caliber now that I'm in the East Bay and contemplating another piercing. Industrial definitely fit the bill, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the staff knows some of the piercers at Infinite!
The staff I met at Industrial (Chloe and another guy) were quite helpful when approached and seemed happy to answer my questions. Lysa, the piercer who did my ear, was professional, efficient, sterile and super chill.
A lady's supposed to never ask how much something costs, but I do wish that Industrial clearly listed their prices for jewelry and services. There was a sort of guesswork aspect to how much everything would end up costing. That said, I found it reasonable for the quality of the jewelry and the level of professionalism that I experienced.
I decided to get my cartilage pierced  and made a trip to Industrial.
I love Lysa!!! She was very professional and friendly and made sure that all my questions and concerns were addressed. She explained the entire process to me and made sure that all the needles and jewelry were sanitized.
My piercing started swelling up a lot after I slept on it one night so I went back in and she changed the jewelry to a longer one for free! She also told me that she'll change it to a shorter one once my piercing heals. I was very pleasantly surprised by how supportive and caring she was. I felt like a patient getting treated by a doctor!
Although I probably will not be getting more piercings, Â I'm definitely bringing any friends who decide to get pierced in the future.
This establishment met my three main points: clean, safe practices, and spacious. Â
Great Location! Â They have a super friendly staff. Â Marina and Chloe were both very helpful in making our tattoo appointments, and also helping us out on the appointment day. Â Lysa, the piercer, was very informative and helped me decide on two great ear cartilage piercings that are healing beautifully thanks to her guidance. Â
All around this was a great experience, and I was there with my sister and cousins for over 5 hours! Â We had back, to back, to back appointments. Â I would certainly recommend this shop to people who are serious about their body art and are looking for professionals who care about their work, and also like to have fun.
p.s. thanks for sharing hater tots. Â I hope you try the duck fat fries across the street.
A bunch of giggly (college) school girls walk in with a plan to get piercings together as a symbol of their friendship. LOLZ right??
I look back on that day with mild embarrassment but I will always remember and appreciate how the guys and girls there treated so nicely. We were walked through this minor procedure as if we were getting major surgery and they patiently listened to all of our questions and concerns. No scorn for this group of 5 goody goodies coming in for the biggest act of rebellion of their short life thus far.
It's when people treat you kindly when you'd understand if they did otherwise that embed itself in your mind.
I came with my friend to get her earlobes pierced and the piercer was extremely professional. Everything was really sterile and she took a lot of time to explain everything and answer any questions. However, the staff that works at the front desk really was pretty rude and we waited for a really really long time; thus I'm subtracting one star. She ignored us for maybe 5 minutes after we walked in, and she wasn't even helping another customer. She wasn't friendly at all the whole time, and she just assumed since we're students we're cheap and want everything the cheapest... which isn't a bad assumption but that's not always the case. And.. even if its true, I don't think it was appropriate or necessary for her to criticize everything about Zebra.. I got 2 piercings at Zebra and I'm really happy with my experience there.
Summary:
Pro:
very professional piercer
internally threaded jewelry
Con:
mean front desk
higher than average prices
long wait
A friend of mine who is a bod mod addict told me about this place and I was so glad he did.
This is probably the most professional piercing/tattoo place I have ever been to. Even the displays are amazing. It feels like a Tiffany's for body modification. Also the people here are always helpful and nice.
I had Bobby do a tattoo for me awhile back. I told him an idea, and he put it into a picture. In a few days, it was on my ribs. If I didn't live so far, I would be visiting this place all the time.
Over the years, on my ears:
1 Tragus,
1 Industrial,
1 Rook,
1 Daith,
1 Cartilage,
and 1 Second Lobe.
Professional with a capital P. Everything turned out just dandy, except my growing addition to piercings and askdfje more more more why can't I just have one more?
I've been wanting a swan tattoo a la <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fgraphics8.nytimes.com%2Fimages%2Fblogs%2Fthemoment%2Fposts%2F0612tat2.jpg&s=aa2e6bf076a72752a8d4b6e3a52e5c65e911fdc1106153a676a29be7819de098" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://graphics8.nytimes…</a> on my ribs for the longest time. One day. Maybe.
It's been almost 4.5 years since my last review so I thought it was time to update - Industrial is still my go-to place for piercings and tattoos.
Since 2007, I've had two tattoos done here along with 2 piercings. I've had great experiences every time (with the exception of a small mishap with a misthreaded piece of jewelry!)
I'm glad to see a new face behind the counter who helps with selling jewelry too! I didn't catch her name but she's a gorgeous, african american girl who is super, super nice! She patiently waited and gave suggestions while I picked out some jewelry for the rook piercing that Lysa did last night; I was in one of those indecisive moods like I typically am in piercing shops (:
Loving my new piercing, I uploaded a picture of it to the picture collection, and I'll definitely be back here again!
My friend and I stopped in on a random day in between class and we were NOT disappointed. Â We both decided to get lip rings (a stud for me and a hoop for her). Â Todd, our piercer, went to lengths to explain the potential hazards of getting a hoop for the first piercing but after she confirmed she still wanted to get it, all signs were go. Â
Things that stood out:
-Todd generally goes through great lengths to explain safety procedures in order to ensure that people minimize the risk of infection. Â I actually really appreciate this because it's been 8 days since I got my piercing and it's healing quite nicely. Â
-The attendant at the cashier is super sweet and friendly. Â Always a plus.
-When my friend was worried about getting a parking ticket because she didn't have change for her meter, Todd provided us with change in order to ensure that the damn city of Berkeley doesn't suck another dolla from the hands of the good people of Berkeley. Â We plebians must stick together.
The general process was very pleasant and I highly recommend going here!
It had been 15 years since my last piercing and I'd been wanting to get my nostril done for ages, so I looked up reviews for all the local places and decided to go to Industrial based on comments about cleanliness, professionalism and customer service... and I was definitely not disappointed.
I called ahead and needed no appointment, so I headed straight over. Since I showed up around 5pm on a weekday right after all the undergrads left town, the place was very quiet. The young woman at the counter was incredibly patient with all my questions and let me take my time deciding what I wanted. Josh, who did the piercing, was similarly kind and patient, as well as gentle and professional. He used breathing techniques during the actual piercing and gave me tons of useful aftercare information (I like details). It's been two weeks and the piercing is healing very well.
All in all, a great piercing experience. Thanks, Industrial!
I got my first and part of my second tattoo done here. After the first part (of three!) of my second tattoo, they fired my artist Mike. And if you know tattoo artists, you know no one else will touch someone else's work. So here I am with a giant half finished tattoo and these guys refuse to tell me where Mike was now working. I had to call several times before they finally told me.
I even walked in one day and I got so much attitude from one of the guys there with the giant gauges. He talked down to me like I was some little girl. And yes, on the surface I don't look like I have any tattoos. I'm very clean cut and professional and strategically place my ink in inconspicuous places on my body. THAT DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO TREAT ME LIKE AN IDIOT. I'm not a lost little girl looking for Mike to fix my skank flank or my tramp stamp thank you very much. But thanks so much for treating me like a second-class citizen. Thanks so much for your elitist attitudes because I'm never going here again.
I came here because my friend raved that it was the most amazing tattoo/piercing place ever. So simply put:
Pros:
+ everything is sterile
+ prices are reasonable (tattoo's are charged per hour)
+ they do walk-in's frequently
+ they have a great array of different types of jewelery/ inks that you can choose from
+ they do tattoo touch ups for free
Cons:
+ felt like it was a business (come in, get the business done, get rushed out)
+ the walk-in tattoo/piercers aren't as experienced
+ TMI! They're friendly... but I don't need to know that you have your nipples pierced randomly
And the only reason I knocked down two stars is that I kept asking about aftercare... and the person who 'i did business with' kept saying 'at the end', but forgot to.
I decided to go here instead of Zebra (its another tattoo/ piercing shop down the street) because Zebra had a lot of bad reviews.
The shop was very clean and they had good customer service. I decided to get a nape piercing and the piercer was named Nathan. He was very nice and had I believe ten years of experience. My only complaint is that when he was drawing the marks on my neck he said "Good enough" not something a girl wants to hear. Another employee was in the room and helped him out but I was still unsettled. Ive had my piercing for a little over a year now and I'm fine with the placement although it could be better.
Over all, the shop was clean, the people nice but the "good enough" comment is a deal breaker. I wouldn't go back.
OK first off, I have a couple of friends that have AMAZING tattoos from here. Now let me tell you about my experience. I came in wanting a simple lightning bolt tattoo on my wrist. Chris was kind enough to fit me into his schedule(client was on there way) I told him what i wanted, and we started after his smoke break. He was friendly and reassuring. Charged me $60 dollars(i tipped $20 and thanked him for squeezing me in) and i was on my merry way. After my tattoo healed i noticed holes in the shaded area. Keep in mind it was a thick outline of a lightning bolt. I'm completely disappointed that something so small could be done so badly, especially when my friends(whose tattoos were also done by Chris) turned out amazing.
I wont go back here, everyone seems to be more concerned with eating, lolly gagging and joking around then being professional and helping customers.
Side note : Everyone i know thats gotten pierced here, has had an amazing experience vs Zebra where they butcher you =D
Justin (I think that is who we spoke to on the phone) your customer service was super stellar and amazing. Thank you for helping my friend find a local person here in Santa Cruz that you trust! Â
My friend had a piercing fiasco and had gotten a piercing here in the past so we were about to mission trip it to Berkeley. Justin totally listened, offered advice and then ultimately called a local parlor here in Santa Cruz in order for my friend to not have to make the drive.
I was extremely excited to get another tattoo, and had heard great things about Industrial. I made my appointment, paid my deposit, and was stoked to get my new ink. I showed up to my appointment a half hour early, thinking that I might be able to start early. I walked up to find that the city was cutting trees directly in front of the shop! This, of course, is no fault of Industrial's, but how they handled the situation was less than favorable.
No one was in the shop, but I was told by the tree trimmers that the owner had just left to buy food or something, so I stuck around to see what the deal was. I waited an hour for the owner to come back, now a good half hour after my appointment was to start. When he finally came back, he was EXTREMELY rude to me! When I asked what I should do, or if i could get my deposit back, he rose his voice at me and was saying that he was going to lose thousands of dollars over the tree cutting. What did I get out of this? That the owner was willing to yell at a new customer who was going to spend a good amount of money with them and refuse to give back an $80 deposit because he was otherwise going to lose a lot of money. And he couldn't have taken the time to call me to tell me the appointment would be canceled so I didn't waste my time driving out to Berkeley.
In short, I had a terrible experience here at Industrial. The only star I gave was for Jake, who was going to tattoo me and was generally kind through the whole ordeal. But I left frustrated and upset from an appointment that didn't happen, and got my ink somewhere else the same day, for cheaper. I am super happy with how it came out from this other place. If you expect to be treated with respect by a group of people doing permanent work on your body, do not go here!
I've never gotten any piercings before this, but decided to finally get my earlobes pierced. I've heard mixed reviews about gun piercings (not sterile, more easily infected, faster and less painful, and cheaper) so I was a little afraid that places like industrial used a needle.
However, before going, I called and visited the place twice and they answered all of my questions really patiently. I had Lysa and she was really nice and understanding that I was really nervous. My boyfriend came with me while I got pierced so he could see what they hid and how they put the earrings in. They advised that I only use surgical steel or titanium to avoid infection (most gun piercing places only use sterling silver). I have really sensitive skin, and since I couldn't take my piercing out for a few more months, I didn't mind paying a little extra to avoid getting an infection. The piercing cost about $20 and the pair of hoop earrings plus special beads we chose were another $20.
Because I had to wait so long because of the customer before me, Lysa gave me the cleaning kit (sea salt for soaking, and lavender soap for the shower) as well as instructions and an extra discount for waiting so long. They were really clean, washed their hands before and after touching my ears each time, heat sterilized the needle and earrings before use, and she took the time to make sure they were even (I have crooked ears). Â I really liked their service!
I also live in AZ now and they gave me a contact for a place over here that is of similar caliber in sterility as them. My ears starting bleeding when I got back to town (prob bc of the 110 degree weather) and they were really nice over the phone on telling me how to treat it.
I highly recommend them! It's really clean, the staff is awesome, and it's totally worth the extra $10 bucks to go to this place rather than claire's
Todd is a super knowledgeable guy. I got my ears pierced by him five years ago or so. He's really friendly and talks you through the procedure and the aftercare. That means he's good for anxious people like me who have had prior experiences with infected/closed piercings.
I came back five years later with hot-red, very irritated earlobes after my cheap "14k gold-dipped" earrings that I had bought elsewhere upset my ears. Todd gave me one stern lecture and pointed out two new high-quality earrings in the case at Industrial Tattoo. I accepted his offer to switch the earrings out for me (because I wasn't excited to be touching my angry earlobes) and he did so carefully, with gloves and antiseptics. Whew!
One packet of sea salt and one tiny bottle of unscented Dr Bronner's soap were received for the aftercare, and I'm happy to say that my ears healed in less than a week.
One tattoo and two piercings later, I've decided to write a review. Â Best place hands down to get a piercing/tattoo in Berkeley.
Piercing Experience: Â I definitely would recommend Lysa. Â I'm DEATHLY afraid of needles (as I've fainted while getting vaccinations in the past.. kind of embarrassing). Â She makes you feel calm and carries on a conversation really well! Â Both my cartilage & navel piercing went fine. Â She even went through all of the aftercare instructions in detail and answered all of my questions.
Tattoo Experience: Â I decided to get a small feather on my wrist. Â The procedure took less than an hour (paperwork, wait time & actual tattoo). Â Chris, the tattoo artist, was super nice even if I was like hyperventilating throughout the procedure. Â xD Â I was more scared of fainting than of the actual pain (which I recall wasn't too painful, just really annoying).
Overall, I definitely would recommend this place! Â It may be a little pricey, but you get quality service.
I was devastated when my first cartilage piercing closed due to a most painful infection, but I decided to repierce it again upon stumbling onto Industrial Tattoo's Yelp reviews. My friend had gotten her tongue pierced here and raved about how knowledgeable and thorough her piercer was, so when I happened to be in Berkeley I knew I had to make an impromptu trip to Industrial.
I was not disappointed; this place was MUCH better than any other piercing place I had been to (not to name any names..ahemahem Zebra). Todd, my piercer, explained the whole healing process to me. I think what sealed the deal was that he actually shook my hand and said, "Hi, I'm Todd, what's your name?" Goes to show that the employees actually care about what they do. He even said to come back in 3 weeks so that he could check up on the piercing.
I would definitely come back again. Nicest people ever!
Yesterday I was prepared to write a scathing review of this place, but I figured I should wait until I went back today before I said anything I might regret.
I'm glad I waited.
Today was my fourth visit to Industrial. The first was in August when Lysa gave me a nostril piercing. The receptionist was very friendly and helpful in picking out jewelry (after some contemplation, she expressed concern that the stud I'd chosen might slip through the hole in my nose -- an important factor to consider.)
Lysa was incredibly professional and personable. She was patient with me as we figured out the placement, and was horrified by the incompetence of my last piercer (different location). The procedure was quick and as painless as a needle through the nostril can be, and I didn't hear that hideous popping sound as it punctured the cartilage, so that's always a plus.
I know some people are bothered by shops that seem too sterile, but I think that's completely ridiculous. I'd much rather feel like I was in a doctor's office than a slaughterhouse.
Okay, moving on to visit number two. I had a cat scan on my brain scheduled for the afternoon, so I went in around noon to have a glass retainer put in my nose. Again, Lysa was awesome and said that she hoped my "brain's okay" (it is). She said the piercing was healing really well, which is always comforting. I was in and out in 10 minutes, and they only charged my five bucks (+ 8 for the retainer). She said she'd put my stud back in for free when I got back.
Visit number three: A very bad time. My friend and I went in to have my retainer removed and a new piece of jewelry inserted. The receptionist was kind of snippy this time, but she did smile at me when she said to come back in an hour. So we killed some time and returned. And waited. And waited. The receptionist didn't even acknowledge my presence. Finally Lysa when up to the desk and I thought, "Yay! She's ready for me!", but I guess she wasn't because she turned around and went back into the room.
After an additional hour, I gave up. I went to the counter and asked a guy if I could just buy the jewelry and go. Because this isn't your standard bone stud or nose screw, I was concerned about putting it in myself, but he said it would just snap into place. My friend asked if he was planning to charge me for the back, and he quipped, "I haven't charged her for anything yet." Blonde receptionist was nowhere to be seen at this point.
So, we get back to the house and I ask my friend if she'll stay while I'm putting in the new stud. Boy, did she regret saying yes to that one. It was a disaster. Not only was it a pain just getting the retainer out, but it was impossible to get the new stud in. My poor, horrified friend was poking around the inside of my nostril trying to find the hole (I gave up after 4 tries), and when she finally found it, she couldn't get the jewel in. We took turns trying until she gave up and tried the internet and I went looking for a hammer to jam the damn thing in. Dejected and frustrated, I give in and called Industrial.
"Hi, I have a quick question."
"You'd better make it quick."
"Um, okay, I'm trying to get this stud in my nose and it won't go in all the way. Am I supposed to use some special tool or something?"
"No, you should be able to snap it in. You're going to have to come here and have a piercer do it."
"I was there today waiting for two hours. The guy told me I could put it in myself."
"Well, some people can, and some people can't. You're obviously one of the people who can't."
Ouch.
So, it took me two days to get up the nerve to go back there. I finally decided that having a piece of metal sticking a quarter inch out of my nostril just wasn't working for me aesthetically and headed over this evening. I was expecting a repeat of last time, but this experience couldn't have been more different. I was helped immediately upon entering. Both the blonde woman and the piercer (don't know which one -- he's the handsome redhead) chuckled a little when I pointed to my nose and said, "I can't get this in all the way", but that's to be expected. Piercer dude then said, "Come on back."
I instantly fell in love with this guy. He was so cool about the whole thing, assuring me that he wasn't trying to hurt me and even saying he "was proud of me" for getting the thing in as far as I did. I'd come in fully expecting to be mocked, and the opposite occurred! I couldn't believe it. He also said he was surprised that the wound wasn't infected from all the poking and prodding I'd been forced to do and that I must be taking good care of it. I didn't think it was possible to develop a crush on a stranger who, within 15 seconds of meeting you, has his finger up your nose, but that's the magic of Industrial. I was almost hoping they'd charge me, because I wasn't ready to leave...
You guys have really redeemed yourselves. Thanks for being awesome!
Umm...I LOVE INDUSTRIAL. I've been here on 4 separate occasions, 3 times for me and once with a friend. Every time I've walked through those doors I've loved the service I've gotten.
I moved out to the Bay Area mid '08 and was on the prowl to find a tattoo parlor that I liked..I searched and searched, dug my way through the pretentious tattoo crowd and ended up at Industrial. For my first tattoo at Industrial I was lucky enough to end up getting Jake, who is now my favoriteee. I've gone back twice just so he could work on my two other tattoos. The last time I visited, my roomie (who came with me) and I were lucky enough to experience the wackiness that is Jake's personality. He's awesome as are the other people I've interacted with at Indsutrial.
The wait might be a bit long, but it's worth it!
I was lucky enough to get a parking spot right out front, which added to my excitement.
Please keep in mind that all I wanted was 1 earlobe pierced! The most simple of all piercings.
When I walked in I was greeted by a pleasant woman who guided me to the back for a consultation. After asking if I could use my own jewelry and the prospects of keloids, she referred me to the most surly and impatient person I've encountered in a while. She treated me like I bothered her and wasted her precious time. Not only did she exhale with attitude, but she rolled her eyes and walked off!
Perhaps she was having a bad day or believed that ear piercings were beneath her outward enhancement expertise. Little did she know, I was truly torn between industrial and Zebra's around the corner and that visit determined who I would choose. By the end of it I was choosing Zebra's regardless of their prices or services. Her 'tude made my decision for me.
Also, if you are looking for more piercing variety, this is not the place. For a simple ear piercing, they had a very minimal selection to choose from. I even brought my own white gold diamond studs and they refused to use them.
Needless to say I politely walked around the corner and had an amazing experience! This place however I wouldn't recommend for the simple sallys like me.
Just got my tongue pierced here by Nate!
I had  fun, even though we had a little complication because I have a short tongue.... I started bleeding and felt a little light-headed, but Nate was very patient with me and didn't mind waiting for me to feel better.
Its been a little over a week now, and my tongue piercing is healing perfectly fine.
I've had all my tattoos and piercings done here. Not only are they good at what they do but they're really serious about it and that puts me at ease. They do bad ass work that i can afford. They are SUPER sanitary. They answer all of your questions. When you get a fucked up piercing at zebra that gets all infected, they will tell you what to do. When you get some bimbos initials tattooed on your ankle, they will cover it up. And they are serious about making sure you take care of the fabulous piercing / tattoo they gave you so it heals right and looks cool and you can be like, "ya man, i got it at Industrial."
I go to Jake for all my tattoos and he rocks so make sure you TIP HIM WELL!
I walked into Industrial on a typical weekday, because I'm just that spontaneous type of person who felt like getting my 8th piercing: the tragus on my left ear.
I forgot the name of the guy who helped me out, but he was very attentive and helpful after I told him what I wanted; he took a look at the other piercings I had and gave some suggestions as to what type of jewelry I should throw on my little ear. Â I took his advice and decided to have this little black ball.
Nate (or Nathan) was my piercer. Â Fantastic job. Â Pain free, at ease. Â And it looks great now that it's healing. Â He furthermore complimented the nape piercings on my neck (gee, thanks!) and informed me of the high possibility that my orbital conch piercing would get infected, because the person who pierced it did not do a good job.
I came back two days later because I lost the ball to my orbital conch (I know I typed this already, but do note that I got my tragus pierced here, NOT orbital). Â Nate was there, and he was nice enough to help me put in a new one, free of charge. Â Then he told me that if it gets infected, he would take it out for me. Â Good to know. Â I cannot stress enough how great their customer service is.
Oh. Â Last but not least ... it was not as expensive as I thought it would be. Â The previous place I had gone to for my piercings charged so much more in comparison to them. Â So they're legendary in my book.
I'm definitely coming back in a month to get a few more piercings for my birthday. Â Buy three piercings, and your fourth one is free! (and no, you don't have to get it all at once ...)
I did my research online and Industrial had the best reviews by far. Having now experienced Industrial, I understand why.
By no means do I look like I belong in a tattoo shop, but I decided to get my nose pierced, and wanted it done correctly. I always feel ultra nerdy around the cool kids with all the tat's, but Industrial was completely different than I expected. Not pretentious at all.
I was greeted by Todd right when I entered and he was super friendly. We talked about what I wanted, picked out the stud, and he went to go get everything preped. I went back with him to the room, he explained the treatment as thoroughly as one could, and we got started.
He's super relaxed, so I wasn't incredibly nervous. Deep breath in, deep breath out, needle through nose and I was done. It hurt about as much as getting my ears pierced, so overall, not bad at all.
If I ever got anything pierced again, I'd definitely go back to Todd. The man knows his ish. Plus, he's not bad to look at, which always makes the pain seem a little less intense.
I'm not entirely familiar with standard piercing prices, but I believe that $40 is the median, and for how sterile everything is there, it's definitely worth every penny.
If you're looking to be punctured, go see Todd. He'll do ya' right.
Because I'm a bad influence, we needed a piercing place so that Amy could get her eyebrow pierced. I decided to get my belly button done for the third time so that I could be supportive.
He took one look at my belly button and told me that I may not even need to get it pierced. He was able to get a taper through the hole and stretched it to get jewelry through, which is awesome, bc now I don't have to wait for a fresh piercing to heal.
They were all very friendly and helpful and even gave us bags of sea salt to use to clean the piercings! They were very specific with cleaning instructions and were able to answer all of our questions. He was even able to recommend a place near me in San Deigo.
I would totally go back there if I lived in Berkeley, and I will definitely check out the place in SD.
Rachel H: Â I just got my lip pierced.
Amy R: I've always wanted to pierce my nose or my eyebrow.
Rachel H: Â Let's go! Â I need to get my belly button redone.
Amy R: Ummmm...today?? Â Can we hit the bar first?
Rachel H: Â They can't do it if you're drunk.
So, we went. Â Sober. Â ...and I got my eyebrow pierced. Â The guy put two dots on my face and asked me if it looked right. Â I said yes, though I couldn't really tell. Â He was funny and friendly...and was totally patient with my questions about what would happen if he had a needle that close to my eye and there was an earthquake.
Well, it didn't hurt at all. Â I have no idea if he was just that good or this is more evidence that I have a very high pain tolerance. Â ...and it's in the perfect spot! Â My friend got her bellybutton ring reopened (he didn't have to pierce it again) and she's happy with the result too.
I've followed the cleaning and care instructions and 4 weeks later, I still love it, my eye has not turned into a puss filled globule and dropped out of its socket, and there's still no pain.
Note: Getting your eyebrow pierced may lead to your father asking if the natives are getting restless in Berkeley and calling you pinhead. Â It may also lead to your mother asking what political affiliation the piercing has with a "please don't be gay. Â Please don't be gay. Â Please don't be gay" expression on her face.
I just got my very first tattoo done by Dan today and what a fantastic job he did!! I thought about my tattoo for over a year and planned it out over the course of a few months with Dan and he was incredibly patient and professional with me. I heard about Industrial Tattoo from a friend of mine who got her calf done by Dan and I asked about her tattoo and she highly recommended him. The people that work at Industrial are incredibly genuinely nice for the most part (Jake, Mike, the receptionist, Raven, and Lysa) and are truly in it for the art of tattoo and piercing.
The place is very sanitary and while I had Dan place stencils on me to test the placement of my tattoo before I actually got it, he put gloves on and sterilized my arm, which I totally did not expect.
Today was the day and I peed three times in the tattoo shop before getting inked. I was really really nervous and Dan totally calmed me down along with my sister and best friend. I really was expecting it to be worse than it was. I got a tattoo on my upper arm and it really felt like someone drawing pretty hard on me, but nothing I would even call painful. Dan is a huge sweetheart and he has been vegan for 20 years!!
I have been to Zebra before (my sister has tons of piercings from Zebra) and although Zebra is very sanitary, the place lacks passion. Zebra just seems to be where all the college kids from out of town go to get pierced or tattooed. I feel like people there can be a bit stuck up as well, because it is so trendy.
I will definitely be going back to Industrial Tattoo and I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend them.
I met Todd the other day and he offered to help me out with some new jewelery for my rook. Got my new barbell and he put it in free of charge!
This shop is CLEAN and professional. Everyone here has a lot of experience and there is a great sense of passion in their work at this shop. I would definitely recommend it to anyone needing a tattoo or piercing.
Lysa! U Rock! She did my eyebrow piercing today and she knew what she was doing! The procedure took only a few minutes. Only negative though was the wait. It took about 30-40 minutes. Lysa also explained to me how to take care of the piercing by soaping/rinsing it everyday and to soak it in salt water.
I would come back if I decide on something else to pierce. Who knows what I will be thinking in a few months/years.
First off. I went to get a PA. So my experience is purely with the piercing but it was a good one. I read reviews and talked to people about where to go and my expectations were high. This is a great place to go as they are well organized and really take the time to talk to you about the piercing.
I was never surprised and actually really comfortable the entire time. I cannot imagine having had an easier time getting pierced and by the time it came I was calmer than when I first walked in the store!
The best job they did was keeping me informed. I have had no surprises, no false expectations and am happier w/ my piercing with each day! I might get a few more piercings and I won't go anywhere else.
I dont get pierced anywhere else!
My first piercing at Industrial was my nose and I had it done by Dima. He was very professional, explained the process and the after care. I got great jewelry and the piercing healed fine. It didnt hurt much to do either.
My second piercing there was a surface on my left sideburn. This was done by Lysa, she made me totally comfortable and was skilled enough to do it without a clamp. It healed fast and was surprisingly painless.
My most recent piercing was a conch on my right ear. It was done by Andrea and has not given me any problems either. It was a simple process and not too painful.
Each time they were very sterile, the shop was clean and friendly and each artist explained the process and aftercare. They have the best selection of unique jewelry and I love that when I go they remember me so I feel welcomed. They are not just piercers, they are actual artists who take pride in their work.
update: just got a tattoo done here by Jake. its incredible! he worked with me on the design and its gorgeous. not only a great artist but a fun guy who made the experience excellant!
It must have been years ago that I first got my nose pierced here. i was a lil scared b/c I heard cartilage was a bitch to heal but I wanted it all the same. Â
I remember going in and seeing this blonde chick with some of the coolest piercing that i had ever seen. Her name escapes me right now but i remember her being very nice. She helped me figure out what kind of ring I wanted and was extremely patient with me. And let me tell you when some one is nervous about getting a hole poked into their face
patience is soothing!
They guy who pierced me was also patient and funny to boot. But most importantly, the piercer cleaned all of the instruments in front of me. It ended up being completely painless of course, especially after all of the build up I created in my head.
after following their directions, I had no problems with my piercing at all. I've seen some nose piercing go a bit gross!
The #1 place I recommend to anyone who asks where to go for tattoos and/or piercings in the Bay Area. Â I have gotten three tattoos at Industrial (3 different artists, all great in their own ways), and have several friends who have had tattoos or piercings done here. Â
Everyone who works here is incredibly friendly and helpful. Â The shop is clean without looking like a doctor's office (a difficult balance, for sure). Â I wouldn't trust anywhere else in the area.
GO HERE.
Need jewelry? Go somewhere else.
This is a great shop with a rock-solid reputation. Every time I've wandered in and ogled the shiny spirals and plugs, I'd get this deer-in-headlights thing going on and never buy anything. Well, this time I was determined that I would go there and get something for my best friend's birthday, since she'd been very specific about what she wanted. 12 gauge silver or steel spirals. Simple. But not so simple to find, and I'd hadn't had much luck finding them elsewhere.
I quickly found what I wanted, and drooled over a fancy pair of bone hooks for myself. The salesperson was quite sweet and very professional, with asking me to sterilize my hands and my own hook (I'd asked her to measure it to make sure the bone piece would be the right size). Mad props for running a clean shop!
When we got to the counter, however, the total rang up to $108!! I totally choked and asked her, "wait, are these silver or steel?" She confirmed that they were steel and were $50. FIFTY BUCKS?!? Is the steel milled by virgins in the Himalayans??
Every other shop I've been to, my own silver jewelry has been around $45-50, and pretty ornate. Steel has always been less-expensive (but I'm allergic, so I get silver). And just to see if I was totally incorrect about steel spirals usually being less-expensive than silver, I did a quick check online. Nope. Simple steels spirals tend to run $15-25.
Anyway, after declining the pretty bone ones, I sucked it up and got the virgin-Himalayan-steel spirals. It was last-minute and I didn't know where else to go which was close by (Zebra didn't have them). My friend better love them!
So if you want jewelry, go to Five-and-Diamond or some other shop. They may not be virgin steel, but at least your checkbook won't feel like it's been raped.
four of these stars are for Lysa, and the other one is for Todd.
Todd only gets one because I haven't seen him in a year or two.
Todd hooked up my septum and my candy  ; )  a while back and he was so nice and down to earth that I came back and found Lysa for my nape. Â
My friend and I got them done together and she was very accommodating and much fun ensued and she did a fantastic job, was very informative without being condescending, and told us fun penis piercing horror stories.
Everybody who sees my nape is amazed at how well placed it is and can't believe how long it's been in with no signs of rejection.
The place has become so much more organized and is big, and clean, and welcoming. Â Unlike any other piercing place in the East Bay.
Tattoo rating #2! Â I got a great piece from Alex a few weeks ago, and now that it's healed I feel like I can write about my experience without the post-ink high.
I went in on the first day of my spring break on a whim, knowing exactly what I wanted but having thought I would wait until the summer. Â But I needed some new art on me now, you know? Â So I went in with a design that I drew myself, of two hands making a heart, wanting one on each calf. Â I went in, showed it to Alex, who made a few adjustments, and made an appointment for two days away.
When I went in, I had to wait a little longer than I would have liked, but I know it's because the design had to be perfect and the work area set up and sterile and such. Â Alex was friendly but not overly talkative, and he got me a Leninade after seeing the Nikki McClure anarchist tattoo on my arm. Â The actual work hurt! Â More than I was expecting, given that I had a 2 and a half hour session with no breaks on my arm with no issues. Â But not a bad pain, obviously.
I love the tattoo, and will probably come back for my next piece!
(PS. I hear Alex uses vegan inks, which would make my life... anyone know about this?)
I have been thinking about getting a vertical labret for a couple of weeks and just decided to do it. Â I'm pretty new to the area and didn't know where to go... Â so after fishing around on yelp and getting advice of some friends, I decided on Industrial.
This place is two blocks from my house in a sunny, clean space in the heart of Berkeley's Telegraph ave neighborhood.
I walked in and spoke with the clerk about what I wanted, and then was introduced to Todd. Â He was so nice and accommodating to me and my herd of friends interested in their services. Â
He sized me up with the jewelry and we all went back to a private room where we talked a lot about the care of the piercing. Â I've gotten some less basic stuff on my ears (12g conch, rook, tragus, inner helix), so I am not a total piercing noob, but this was the first on my face. Â Todd took a lot of time to explain to me about the care process which really calmed my nerves and made me relaxed. Â He's also a really funny, rad guy, and interacted a lot with my friends which helped distract me from the matter at hand.
The experience was so great and Todd did such a good job. Â The piercing looks great so far and I'm excited to build a relationship with this place. Â
I was really pleased with their prices.. the piercing was only $20, jewelry was only $20, and they had nice aftercare kits for $10 and $13. Â
Todd also gave my friend and I some frequent users cards to work toward a free piercing. Â I thought that was especially cool, because my friend was a big reason why I went even though she didn't get anything done.
I wouldn't get a tattoo anywhere else. I go there quite a lot. Dan did some of the best work I've seen on my arm. Every time I go in I sit for hours and I'm completely engaged in conversation with him the whole time. Everybody is very geniune and awesome. I fully enjoy my experience every time I go in. The pricing is always fair. I've only had work done by Dan, but the dude is amazing and a great guy. These people truly are in it for the love of their work.
Seriously, go here if you get want to get a tattoo.
We found easy parking on Dwight even with Telegraph completely closed on Saturday for a street fair thing. Â I wanted to get my nose re-pierced. Â I had it pierced back in 2000, then had unexpected surgery and had to remove all metal in preparation for it a little over a year ago and never put the nose stud back in after. Â I have been missing it as of late so I wanted to get it redone.
Lysa handled me like a pro, just like all of the previous posters have said. Â I went ahead and bought the large after care package for $13. Â I went with a simple stud that basically looks like a head of a pin (no bejeweled stuff to get caught on clothing, etc.) and the re-piercing itself was $20.
All-in-all I am so happy I did it and Industrial set me up for success. Â If you are there and have a little wait, check out the portfolio book photos. Â There is one book with piercings and the faint of heart should beware. Â It has all up-and-personal photos of various genital piercings. Â Check-er-out!
i have never received a tattoo from here, but i have been pierced many times here. Todd Taylor is the BEST piercer i have ever had. he has made every experience as easy and comfortable as possible, even when the awkward is piercing. i recommend his services to anyone. plus they have the best jewelery selection out of every piercing place i have been to. its the only place I'll buy my plugs.
i do agree w/ what other people have said about being charged inconsistently for Jewelry, o rings and fittings. that is annoying. i just always call and make sure Todd is working before i go.
Man, I have been wanting to write this review for a while because I have had very mixed experiences at Industrial. I feel like a first impression of a place is not always a complete picture of how a business runs.
My first impression of the store was about a little over a year ago, I came in interested in getting a piercing but not sure about which one. I also wanted to meet the piercer before I decided to get anything done there. I met Todd, he looked at the nose piercing I had, and told me that it had been done poorly and gave me some great information about the usage of correct jewlery and questions I should be asking of any piercer.
After starting to gauge my ears with Todd, I got to know him a little bit and really enjoyed coming in an having him take care of me. Â Lysa began stretching my ears in Todd's absence. She's a really nice gal and did a great job with me.
Another huge plus is their jewlery selection. Very expensive, but really quality stuff.
I do have a few problems with this place. I have been coming in there every 5 weeks for the past 8 months. I was buying $45 plugs pretty much every time and also tipping. Todd didn't always charge me for the fitting, but Lysa always does. Â The staff is not very personable, especially this guy with a shaved head an septum piercing that works the counter. Â He was super rude to me when I came in there last and has made me really consider going to another shop. They do not give a shit whether you are a repeat customer or not, they will ALWAYS charge you for "fitting" the jewlery and for gauging and for little things like extra O rings.
I don't know, I understand that you have to charge people for the things that they buy, but I have always felt like I'm bothering the people in there or like I'm interupting some private hang out session. If I was treated at all kindly or like a high paying repeat customer, I wouldn't care that I'm spending more money in their store than I could online.
I lurk a lot, but I don't Yelp as much as I should. Which means when I do Yelp, something really inspired me. Industrial Tattoo & Piercing is an example of a business that goes above and beyond expectations.
Staff: professional, courteous, and obviously care about their work and business' success
Jewelry selection: high quality, varied, unique, well-stocked
Setting/atmosphere: clean, professional, spacious, calming
Price: Very affordable!
I came here for a rook piercing which was performed by Todd. It was immediately obvious that he takes a lot of pride and ownership in what he does. He made sure to clearly communicate all aspects of what he was doing including aftercare of the piercing. Not just keeping it clean, mind you, but going beyond that and suggesting ways to change your behavior so that you're not disturbing the piercing while it's healing. The pains taken to ensure that everything touching your skin is sterilized bordered on OCD - which is exactly what is needed.
What really impressed me the most was when he requested that I return in a couple of weeks so he could see how the healing was going. That level of care and concern drove home the fact that this was someone who is a perfectionist wants to ensure that your piercing is done right.
I have had experiences with other piercers touting 10+ years of experience and still ended up with sub-standard jewelry, wrong gauge for my size, and shallow/crooked placement. All those years of experience don't mean jack if you really don't care about the outcome. We as customers are vulnerable and at a disadvantage by placing our bodies in the care of professionals who just don't merit the work. I am pleased to say that I will never have to worry about placing myself in that position again as long as Todd's in business.
Picture this:
Yours truly, mom o' two, educator, still dressed in work duds, marches into Industrial Tattoo and says to various and sundry multi-pierced and tattooed individuals behind the counter, "Um, I'd like to get my ears re-pierced..."
Yes, these very hip, very alternative-looking folk are ALSO very professional and friendly and will do something as mundane as re-opening the long-unused holes in your ears.
Todd was my piercer and he was very up front with me in telling me I didn't need to get re-pierced... yay! I felt so comfortable with him right away (no attitude, funny, friendly) that I decided to go ahead and have him re-open the other two on my left ear. (And honestly, if I hadn't left when I did, I probably would have signed up for more...)
The place is clean and well-lit. They are super-duper careful, wearing rubber gloves, and using sterile needles and lots o' alcohol (on the instruments and jewelry, not for imbibing.)
I won't get into the gory details, but it hardly hurt and I found out that after a piercing, you are not to touch it (remember the old gun piercings that you had to turn?) and a hot shower is good enough for cleaning.
Upon leaving, with the new holes in my head, Todd handed me his card and told me to call him if I had any questions or problems.
Hey, so far, so good!
Next week, maybe a tattoo...
The obvious: there is a plethora of tattoo/piercing shops in berkeley
The truth: I wouldn't trust any but Industrial
Industrial is probably one of the only legit places in Berkeley. They have strict rules about age, identification, and cleanliness. I've gone in for touch-up work and Bobby did a great job (he's my favorite). I've also gone in to buy jewelry and they have the biggest selection of QUALITY jewelry, not that crappy silver shit that will probably rust out your tongue, nose, or hole of choice. Lysa is also really helpful and honest about what to get. Â I just took my best friend in to get a tattoo this weekend and I'm definitely going in for one soon.
PS shop  minimum is $60
If you are thinking about getting a tattoo, I'd definitely recommend getting one here from Dan. He's one of the sweetest tattoo artists I've ever met.
When I went twice to get my tattoo. The first time was a "consultation" of sorts because they were about to close and there wasn't time to start that day.
Regardless, I went in with a sketch from the internet and he spent 2 hours patiently designing my tattoo to make it more unique and personalized. And I wasn't even charged for that amount of time!
When I went back the next week to get it done, he was very gentle and understanding and answered any concerns I had prior to getting inked.
Dan's artistic ability as well as professionalism was why I gave him a $20 tip for a $50 tattoo.
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