I stumbled into Voodoo Ink way back in 2005 when I first moved to Melbourne. I'd parked myself in…read moreSt Kilda (as many newcomers do) and was looking to get a walk-in tattoo done to kill a Saturday afternoon. The guy I spoke to was super enthused by the ideas I had (old-school OG swallows on my shoulders) and at that time, they were very open to walk ins. Little did I know, the tattooist in question would go on to work in one of Melbourne's premiere tattoo shops (Tattoo Magic) and Voodoo kind of allowed him to develop his chops. That seems to be the role of Voodoo Ink. They don't really hold on to talent but they allow newcomers an environment to hone their skills. This means that at any given time, the quality of artists in the shop can vary, so if you're particular about 'perfect' tattoos (I'm not), Voodoo won't float your boat. The batch they have now look pretty good (check the website) but that may be a different story in the future. The shop's not as much of a dump as it used to be also, and they've got plenty of flash art for those who wanna pick off the wall. This is no purist style shop, but it serves a function and there are surprisingly few studios in St Kilda.

Got my second tat at Voodoo. Located in the heart of St Kilda, this studio offers about 4 different…read moreartists, and with a couple of apprentices, rates are competitive. Mikey Sharks is a chief and talented tattooist.

These guys offer piercings of every kind, even piercings you never thought possible (ouch)!…read more They've an excellent reputation and after doing a bit of my own research, TPU are amongst the best in Melbourne, it seems. The studio is private, quiet and comfortable, with two separate piercing rooms. Most importantly, you'll be pleased to learn that they strictly follow the health laws around piercing which is reassuring when you're getting your bits poked and prodded! If you're game, they also offer scarification and tattooing services too. My piercers have been gentle, friendly, professional and patient - making the experience as comfortable as possible. Highly recommend! Happy piercing everyone! x

The Piercing Urge have a great reputation around Melbourne and it's easy to see why. I had a…read morepiercing done with them recently and my piercer was very professional, efficient and fun! The shop is spotless (of course) and they seem to not only do a wide variety of piercings, but half price on different areas each weekday.

Some people feel the need to go far and wide to get a wax. I say, the nearer the better. So when I…read morechanced upon Essential Beauty in the new Vogue building along Chapel Street, I was eager to give it a go. From my first visit many months ago, I've always been happy with (1) its service, (2) its hygiene and overall cleanliness and (3) the ability to get in without an appointment. This might make you go, "hang on, maybe it's because they are not very popular yet". Many silky, smooth legs after, I'm still a regular at this little salon. The girls are always friendly and never hoity toity - which is what I feel at some of the larger chains out there. Appointments are recommended but usually if it's a quick job, the girls are always willing to help you out. And that to me is service!

I'd been to Southland essential beauty, so thought that since this was closer to home I'd be able…read moreto get similar service and pricing. However, be careful with this, as they don't have some of the same pricing as other stores (they are franchised) and so what I would normally pay $28 for at Southland, they were going to charge $47.50 for. I did argue the fact, and they dropped the price down to $35. Not sure I would return again because I feel a bit ripped off. I was in the room for less than 10 minutes as I'm not very hairy at all and I keep up maintenance. The rooms are clean, and the lady that served me was friendly. There were bits missed, and the pricing was more than a lot of other salons.