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    Citizen Ink

    4.3 (91 reviews)
    ModerateTattoo, Piercing
    Open 1:00 pm - 8:00 PM

    Services - Citizen Ink

    Piercing

    Tattooing

    Citizen Ink Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - Citizen Ink

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    Reviews With Photos

    Prior to 'half-suit' design I had random tattoos
    Alex L.

    I believe I am the only person in the history of the Citizen Ink Tattoo shop to get a half-body suit designed and tatted. Check out the photos below to see my personal transformation. Obviously, I am one happy customer! My collaboration with my selected artist was a resounding success and I feel renewed and inspired in my current incarnation. If you desire a quality tattoo you'll be proud of your entire life, and at an affordable price, you have got to come visit Citizen Ink. The artists here LOVE what they do, just come check out the portfolios of their previous work, don't be shy, set up an appointment, and come in to explore your options hassle-free. See for yourself why the locals rave about this tattoo shop, I know I am blessed to have had the opportunity to get my work done here. Have a blessed day! Namaste.

    Max K.

    So before i start i just want to put a quick disclaimer. The owner of this shop has threatened to call his lawyer on me because my reviews are considered "harassment". He even said "i have been here for years, you think one bad review will hurt me?" but is so offended over my review that he had to threaten me with a lawyer. I have called my lawyer and he even told me that it is not illegal or considered harassment to post multiple bad reviews if i have proof of it. He also said "you will never be satisfied with any work by any artist" which is funny because i was way more satisfied with the work of other artists lol. I am simply warning others on multiple websites to not go through the same thing i did. Please remember this when you are dealing with such a sketchy business owner. Ok let's begin: 1. September 2020, Piercer: I came in here to get a simple ear lobe piercing. This is not my first time getting an ear lobe piercing. At first it was comforting because the man was nice and looked like he knew what he was doing. When he did my piercing he even made a mark with a sharpie to show me where the needle would go through. I have attached ears which means the middle of the ear lobe is going to stick out instead of hang. Every professional piercer should know this. I also have a birthmark on the low part of my earlobe which for some reason he thought was the middle of my ear lobe and kept trying to pierce it there. After 4 times redrawing it, i thought he got the right spot. After a few months of healing i noticed that the placement was so bad and way too close to my face. When i told him this he said "i used my best judgment", i am sorry but if you say that and don't know exactly what you are doing you should not be doing it. I took it out and never trusted him again. 2. October 2020, Tattoo #1, Orange: So this was supposed to be my first tattoo ever, and i was really excited to have this done. I came in with my mother because she was getting a tattoo done as well. The biggest issue with my tattoo was the placement. As someone who is new to tattoos it will always be difficult to figure out if a tattoo is in the center or not. Some artists such as orange seem to take advantage of that. Now i simply wanted 3 letters done, something that took 10 mins to do. I told her i wanted it to look like ancient hebrew font and she simply did a copy and paste. She also made my tattoo crooked (Is a pattern for artists in this shop). I ended up fixing it by another artist who had more than 18 years of experience. What bothered me the most is that when i asked her if the placement was straight she kept saying yes without actually looking at it carefully. To me it looks like she was an apprentice posing as a master. 3. January, 2021, Tattoo #2, Oskar: Here is where i had the biggest issue, and frankly was very angry. Oskar did my mom's tattoo and at first i really loved the way he did it. So i trusted him to do my next one. I came in and asked for a geometric wolf head and even showed a reference. Oskar then drew it as his own design and i loved it. He told me the price would be around 800 so i told him what if we removed some detail because my budget was around 400. He took away designs that would have taken an extra 10 mins to do, just to cut the price in half. I had no problem with it at first. Later on when he placed it on my skin he made me stand up a few times, and he did the tattoo while i was laying down because it was "easier for him". Nobody does this for an inner forearm tattoo by the way. Within the next week i already noticed huge problems. One ear was longer than the other, The tattoo placement was crooked, Detail was poor, and he posted pics of it in a very bad angle which was embarrassing. I asked him to take down the picture of it and he refused. So i had to comment on the photo on his instagram saying i was not happy with how he did it. He did offer to "fix it" but at this point it was too late to fix it. There was no way to "try to fix it" as the ink was already in the skin, and the tattoo was way too crooked. I Pointed out oskar's mistakes and he got furious and refused to believe it. Of Course i was mad so i did explain that he was a horrible artist for doing this. His feelings were so hurt that i called him a bad artist, pointed out his mistakes, and asked him to take down the picture of my tattoo. He ended up blocking me because of it. Is this really who you want touching ur skin with a needle? a guy who can't admit to his own mistakes?. I even went to another artist who had over 20 years of experience to ask about it (Oskar only has 6 years of experience), and he said he could have done the same tattoo for much less and much quicker. I have seen his work and even watched him tattoo other people, so i know citizen ink was just trying to get extra money out of me. I then had to write an email to the owner explaining that i wanted a refund. I did receive the refund but this is on my skin forever.

    Carolina S.

    Where the hell am I!? Is exactly what I thought when I got off the train in Sheepshead Bay, the Deep South of Brooklyn on the Q. I know I wanted a tattoo from Katya Krasnova and the place that she's located at is in a super Russian tattoo shop called Citizen Ink. There's no receptionist at this place or shop assistant. It looks like everyone just tries to help out when people come in. The shop was playing Black Metal which I liked. The art and tattoo books were outside of the traditional tattoos you see which is also a bonus. Katya was still busy with a client but all the man banter was amusing. When my turn came up, we went over the design she made for me. I said I wanted a coffin with cat sleeping on top of it. It's a little "sleep when I'm dead" style. I also love cats and am a little bit of a goth so it seems like the best first leg tattoo to have. We agreed on where it should lay and I laid on the table. It was a difficult part of the body for myself. Be prepared. I tried not looking like a total wuss in the shop but I might've failed miserably. The music also stopped at some point and all I could hear was the needle jabbing me. There was also no attempt at conversation. No distraction. We made it though and I loved it! Katya has a very distinct style and I'm happy I waited for her return to the states from European tattoo travels. I paid in cash for the difference of the deposit and tip. It got wrapped up but with the heat it didn't want to stay on. This is why I try to do the tattoos in the fall or winter. It's better for less sun and more coverage. I would highly recommend this little tattoo secret to anyone. It might help to learn a little Russian. This is definitely a rad shop for quality tattoos in NY! Don't let the train deter you!

    My latest tattoo, done 5/14/2022, by Sylvie at Citizen Ink
    Barbara L.

    It's fantastic when a tattoo artist actually listens and works with a person to create permanent art on their body. Sylvie from Citizen Ink is that kind of tattoo artist. He's talented and very considerate. It's been over a year now and Sylvie has created wonderful art on my body. He also pierced my nose and I'm very happy with his piercing prowess. Go there and bring your ideas to him. Sylvie will create tattoo Magic on your body!

    Rook piercing and ear lobe piercing(3rd one up)by Sylvie
    Tania B.

    Having a blast getting my whole leg tattoo done by Joe's free hand! The place has a great vibe. People who work there are extremely talented and chill. Also, I must say that they have a fenomenal piercer, Sylvie, who is very good and actually knows what he is doing! Had rook and ear lobe pierced by him at the same time a month ago(healed beautifully)and yesterday got my deith pierced on the other ear!

    Penguin cover up by Joe Khay
    Rys M.

    A few years ago I came in off the street and asked if they would cover up a 10 year old tattoo after being told no by a few other shops who "wouldn't touch other artists work." I've been a loyal customer ever since. Joe works with me to bring my basic ideas to beautiful, full life and I always get stopped in the street and ask where I got my work done. My pride and joy is the penguin cover up that Joe did in 2015. All I told him was I wanted a penguin wearing headphones. I didn't see what he came up with the two weeks and when I came back I almost cried when I saw the results. I highly recommend Citizen Ink!

    Daniel J.

    Easily one of the worst tattoos I've ever had. The artist rushed, was too tired and needed breaks 30 minutes in, and was overall a terrible artist. You can see the results for yourself

    Current day 06/04/2020
    Iona L.

    I'll start by saying everyone was extremely nice and professional. I recently visited on November 9th for a small tattoo on the back of my neck. I've noticed that a lot of artists (In general) tend to downplay or oversimplify smaller tattoos which is annoying because regardless of size, you want it to be right & perfectly fit your vision. I got tattooed by a guy named Nik, who seemed to be available because I was a walk-in. We spent some time tweaking and fixing the sketch because I wanted my tattoo to be petite, skinny, & sleek giving the effect of an entire arrow when you glance at it. He told me a few times that it's but so small I can go (which I wholly disagree with because I've seen very intricate and detailed smaller tattoos done before, it's def not impossible). Anyway we do the tattoo and I am satisfied with it. Fast forward, the healing process has been very depressing for me, to the point where I almost regret getting it. This is my fourth tattoo, the other three range from small to large pieces. I have NEVER had a tattoo react this way. The tattoo does not look the same from when I first got it, & it keeps breaking out constantly *still, to present day*. It also looks old and faded. It could be some type of reaction to the ink, the artists technique, or just the area it's in. Either way, I wanted to share this because it's my first time experiencing anything like this & just in case this is not a one off situation, it may help someone else. Ive attached a picture from the shop when I got the tattoo, & pictures of the tattoo over the past few weeks. Update: added pic 5 months later. Final look

    I had an amazing experience getting my first tattoo here by Anucky... she was amazing in every sense of the word. So much so that i'm leaving a yelp review lol. she was so kind and patient with me, she reassured me that we could take as much time as we needed to get the placement right and to make sure that I was comfortable with the entire process. The shop was so clean and everyone followed Covid guidelines which was really comforting to me. i've already recommended the shop to so many people and I will definitely be returning for future pieces!

    Called and was able to come in the next day. Great service and very reasonable prices. Paid $140 for my tattoo. Took under an hour. Would go back forsure. *Brittany is amazing.

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    greatest staff, so clean and professional. never an infected piercing. my friends tats came out great too.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Citizen Ink

    How much for a ear lope piercing?

    Hello! Ear lobe piercings are $20 each (including the surgical stainless steel starter jewelry) So if you would like to get two, it would be $40 all together

    How much is a nose piercing?

    Hi! Nose piercings are $50 including the surgical stainless steel starting jewelry. If you would like titanium jewelry, you can start with that as well for an additional $15

    How much per cartilage piercing? Is there a deal if you get more at once?

    Hi! Yes we do cartilage piercings, it is $30 for one including the surgical steel starting jewelry. If you would like titanium, there are a couple of options that are $10-$15 more. There is no deal for getting multiple though, if you were to get two… Read more

    How much would both nipple piercing cost?

    $60 for both

    Do they pierce any part of the ear?

    Yeah they do ear piercings. I got my industrial pierced there.

    How much does a nose piercing cost?

    $40

    How much would snake eyes be?

    View All 15 Questions

    Review Highlights - Citizen Ink

    I've gotten two tattoos thus far, from Joe, and both are amazing (One on my hip and one on my upper back).

    Mentioned in 19 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Nine Moons Piercing

    Nine Moons Piercing

    4.8(487 reviews)
    8.6 miSoHo
    $$
    Women-owned & operated
    Luxury

    I got my forward helix and conch pierced with Nine Moons last month in October…read more I came in 15 minutes early and was greeted by Naomi. She really calmed my nerves and helped me pick out and style a few pieces and also picked similar options with different price ranges. I really enjoyed my experience with Naomi because was so welcoming, professional, and really took the time to go over options. After picking the jewelry, Starr was ready for me. The room is very clean and private- and the bed you lay down on is large and comfy :). She mapped out a few locations for the forward helix and conch based on the placement and anatomy and she took pictures on her phone since I had a hard time seeing it in the mirror. If Naomi didn't calm me down already, Starr is really the most gentle and friendly piercer I've met. Incredibly patient. And I would like to believe that her swift skills in piercing made the experience pain-free. I also did my downsizing with Starr and it was a breeze. All in all, I wish I got all my piercings done at Nine Moon- this place is a gem. Their collection is exquisite and if I plan on getting more piercings, I will revisit this studio and recommend it to others. Thank you Starr and Naomi.

    Super, super, super amicable, warm, and approachable staff that know what they're talking about and…read moreput their hands to where their mouths are. I came here for some help on an irritated piercing and was pretty nervous about not being able to do much about it after looking through the price ranges very briefly. You make a reservation and if you're tardy by some time they charge you their deposit fee $40+ dollars. Luckily, we came in early and were greeted very warmly by the staff here and after explaining the situation, were asked to wait. I loved the atmosphere of the shop: spotless, classy, sophisticated, and with a large selection of high-end jewelry for you to ooh, ahh, and oggle as you please. Shortly after, I then picked out some jewelry, and then was promptly taken to the back by a staff member. They tried finagling the hole for some time to save my 8 year old piercing, all while trying to ease my anxiety and talk me through the pain of the irritated piercing. After no avail, we decided to give up and let the piercing retire so the spot can heal again. With all that said and done, I was not charged because they understood the trauma of retiring and letting go of an irritated piercing. I was recommended to return 2 months after if I wanted to get it redone again. If I do decide to reinvigorate the spot I'll definitely be back. They are so bubbly and relatable here that I know I'll be well taken care of. Amazing place for new holes if you have a pretty penny and a hankering for change in your near future.

    Photos
    Nine Moons Piercing
    Nine Moons Piercing
    Nine Moons Piercing

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    Vinny's Tattoo & Body Piercing - perfect,can post photo.need a lawyer!200$ for making my body ugly is unacceptableI,wanted to make cheaper,have to pay twice now

    Vinny's Tattoo & Body Piercing

    3.5(15 reviews)
    2.2 miGeorgetown
    $$

    I truly love the work that vinny has done for me, its no wonder his name is well known all over…read moreBrooklyn. I already saw the piercings and tattoos he did on other people which came out flawless, he really does have an eye for detail. I decided to give him a shot on my latest tattoo. His tattoo shop was located on the second floor near avenue m and utica avenue so I couldn't find it at first but once you go upstairs you are greeted with a friendly smile. The shop is very small and nothing fancy but he lets you go on the computer with him to search for the designs you want or you can email him in advance. He was really patient with me since I was picky about the size and designs but he gave me honest opinions, but even if he doesn't agree with your vision he still will do whatever you want at the end of the day. He helped me find a scorpion design that wasn't too masculine and I was able to i corporate beautiful colors into the design. Despite the fact that he did my ankle which is super painful he was really gentle and patient with me(my foot fell asleep ten times lol). He also did a good job at shading and blending colors together and he did the tattoo super fast. The needles are brand new out the package and he constantly cleaned my skin in between job. The best part is I only paid $100 for the design he is extremely reasonable, I am dying to go back for another one already. Only downsides to the place that I can see is that he doesn't take debit cards( cash only) and he works limited hours on weekends so catch him while you can. PS he also is great to do coverups/ touch ups on old tattoos. Bravo!

    My husband decided to come to Vinny's for a nose piercing solely due to his reputation, but ended…read moreup regretting his decision. Maybe he's good at tattoos, but based off experience and the looks of his Google Reviews, he is poorly skilled at doing piercings... Similar to others here, my husband also said it was extremely painful and that he bled more than he expected to. About a day later, his nose became inflammed and the piercing disappeared into his nose... We knew something was not right so we went to another piercer for advice. This person said that it was a poorly done piercing and that any knowledgable professional would have not used such a short, curved ring on a new piercing, let alone on a male because their nose cartilage is much thicker than females. You have to use a longer bar to accomodate for swelling during the healing process. He paid $25 at Vinny's and then $38 elsewhere to get a new ring installed... Just go to someone else who knows what they are doing and is professional enough to accept criticism. If this is a common complaint by your clients, why not take measures to prevent it? Check out his Google reviews. The place looks shoddy, too. Looks like it's his shop/house.

    Photos
    Vinny's Tattoo & Body Piercing
    Vinny's Tattoo & Body Piercing
    Vinny's Tattoo & Body Piercing

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    Cholitos Plakasitos

    Cholitos Plakasitos

    3.7(16 reviews)
    1.4 miGravesend

    Although I personally did not get a tattoo here, I did accompany someone for emotional support. I…read morecalled ahead of time on a Friday afternoon and was told I wouldn't need an appointment. There was plenty of parking, metered and unmetered around, as well as the 25 Av (D) train station two streets away. We walked in and immediately started speaking to someone about the design we had in mind and within 45 min had everything finalized and all consent forms signed and ready to get tatted. The studio was very clean and the artists all seemed very nice. The tattoo artist we worked with, Sasha, was very patient with all my questions and efficient. I think the whole tattoo process took 15-20 mins, honestly time felt like it flew by. At the end, the tattoo was wrapped up and we were given instructions to keep the bandage on for the next two days and then apply ointment to the area 3x/day for the next week. In and out in record time, priced fairly at $100, AND I got to do some grocery shopping too. Win win win!

    If I could rate this place a zero I would ! I got an INFECTED tattoo from here, meanwhile I have…read moremultiple tattoos so I know it's nothing I did.. I know how to care for tattoos, I wrote them their response was "I'm sorry about that come in for some cream" excuse me? This is on my body now forever ! Not to mention before my tattoo started infecting up it looked shitty to begin with! They have yet to respond back to me after my multiple attempts of further contacting them and I'm beyond pissed

    Photos
    Cholitos Plakasitos
    Cholitos Plakasitos - Chest tattoo mission

    Chest tattoo mission

    Cholitos Plakasitos - This is my tattoo healed almost a year later. looks exactly like the day I got it. This is my first tattoo and I'm in love with it.

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    This is my tattoo healed almost a year later. looks exactly like the day I got it. This is my first tattoo and I'm in love with it.

    Studio 28 - Enhance your style with our exquisite triple helix piercings. Elevate your look and embrace the perfect trifecta of elegance. By Kirsten

    Studio 28

    4.6(499 reviews)
    10.3 miChelsea
    $$

    the entire staff was so nice and welcoming!! myself and two friends came in for spontaneous…read morepiercings while on vacation and the process was super speedy. all of the staff were also extremely helpful, patient, and thoughtful while helping us choose our piercings. My rook piercing and my friends' conch piercings all turned out beautiful!! genuinely the best piercing experience I've had thus far. Major thanks to Logan and Joan for our piercings!! If I'm ever back in New York I'm def coming back!!!

    TLDR: Got a navel done here - pricy but 100% worth it to be done by a very skilled and experienced…read morepiercer. It's a permanent thing on your body so I would pay more ensure that it's done correctly anyway! The service here was amazing and everyone is incredibly knowledgeable and excited to work with you! I made an appointment here to get my navel re-pierced and chose this place due to their high ratings and reviews on Google. I can say with confidence that the accolades are well deserved! I had the pleasure of working with George to do my piercing. Upon walking into my appointment I was greeted by another employee who checked my ID and walked me through the process while George was getting ready for me. He was so friendly, incredibly knowledgeable, and welcoming! He warned ahead of time that navel is an anatomy- based piercing so there's a chance I won't be able to get it done after my consultation, in addition to aftercare and resources so that I'm well-armed with everything I need to know to take care of my new piercing. In the last I've had my navel done unprofessionally, and then again professionally about a few years ago so I was hesitant about the scarring. George did my consult and assured me that it was safe for me to get it done again. He walked me through the process and talked through exactly what he was doing for prepping and piercing so I didn't get anxiety in anticipation. My navel looks beautiful and it's healing so nicely!! I felt safe, assured that I was getting it done so professionally, and I love how all the info is displayed on the website. All piercers have IGs if you have follow up questions and they respond so fast! Highly recommend!!

    Photos
    Studio 28 - Embrace delicate beauty with our whimsical fine line butterfly tattoo. Perfectly enchanting, forever captivating. By Jenny

    Embrace delicate beauty with our whimsical fine line butterfly tattoo. Perfectly enchanting, forever captivating. By Jenny

    Studio 28 - Golden Gleam: Unlock your style with a dazzling array of piercings and gold earrings, turning heads with every earful. By Logan

    Golden Gleam: Unlock your style with a dazzling array of piercings and gold earrings, turning heads with every earful. By Logan

    Studio 28 - Bo really captured the beauty of the cicada in this piece

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    Bo really captured the beauty of the cicada in this piece

    Citizen Ink - tattoo - Updated May 2026

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