My lovely 9 year old daughter finally was ready to have her ears pierced, and the tattoo place who did big sister no longer takes kids (maybe because of big sis).Zebra, however, is absolutely PRO with the littles. The counter guy Carlos greeted us with the hugest smile, and we picked out studs within minutes. My daughter was extremely anxious, but the tattoo artist Tim was great at de-escalation of that nervous energy. There was no drama. The experience was painless. It wasn't even that expensive. We had a great time. Zebra passed my daughter a nice goody bag on the way out. It was a wonderful experience. Read Less

Got my first tattoo today by Wayne and I'd say it's a good experience. I got a little tattoo (matching with my friends) and the three of us were out of there in 30 minutes. Lines look good and we look good. Read Less

Just got my earlobes pierced here yesterday. It was the first time I've gotten a piercing since I was a baby. The good: I told to guy who pierced my ears that I have a phobia of needles and he was very understanding about it. He hid the needle from my view and had me close my eyes while he talked to me to keep me distracted. After both lobes were done being pierced I felt faint and he had me lay down and got me a cold wet paper towel for my head and a candy to help me feel better. He let me lay down in the back until I felt better and seemed genuinely concerned. The bad: I didn't get an aftercare sheet or any other information besides to clean it twice a day with the cleaning solution and a qtip. No information about bleeding, swimming, working out, emu oil, etc. I had to do my own research for information that seems like something they should tell people at the store, especially those who haven't been pierced before. Today is the day after and my right earlobe started bleeding a lot out of nowhere. It was dripping down and covering the side of my neck. I called them and they said it was fine and not to worry. I told my friend (who has a lot of piercings) and she told me to check the aftercare sheet. That's when I realized I wasn't given an aftercare sheet or any other information except for using a q tip and solution. My friend suggested I use sea salt to soak, which was new information to me too. I called them and they said it's bleeding because "it's an open wound," and that it's fine. They did not give me any other information. I understand it's an open wound but they did not seem concerned at all. I am not 100% satisfied with the service at this location and am not sure if I will return. Although the piercer was understanding and helpful, the shop should be more informative and make sure to give care sheets to people who are getting their first piercing. Read Less

Rosey is an amazing piercer! She's super sweet and was lovely with my 19 month old daughter. I didn't ask if she has any kids of her own but she was definitely great with mine. My husband asked her if 19 months was a good age to pierce ears which unfortunately she said that kids are usually more aware between the ages of 11 months and 3 years old. Once she made the markings of her ears, I held my daughter while she did one ear and my daughter didn't even make a peep. I had a feeling that maybe the second one would hurt her or she'd cry. She made a peep for the second piercing but that was it. The experience was waaaaaaaaay better than getting vaccinations at the pediatrician's office. Rosey was pleasantly surprised that my daughter did so well based on her own experience with piercing young children so this mama is pretty proud. They had lollipops for after so we let her have one as a rare treat and then headed off to the Lawrence Hall of Science for our daughter being such a great trooper.The check in process was smooth too. We didn't need to have a birth certificate which was nice that we didn't have to lug around an important piece of paper. My husband's insurance card with her name as a dependent was sufficient enough. The staff is nice as well from the person who checked us in and picked out jewelry, to the cashier, to Rosey, to the girl who gave us a certificate with our daughter's name on it that said she got pierced on 02/09/2019. I would highly recommend this place and it was worth the trip from San Mateo. I did lots of research and thought about going to San Francisco or San Jose to get my daughter's ear pierced but I'm glad I went here based on a mom friend's recommendation. The pricing and quality is amazing but the experience is top notch. Read Less

I had a great experience yesterday at Zebra. Initially, I was a little anxious going into my appointment and scared about how painful the piercings I was planning to get might be. Luckily, from the beginning of my appointment Stephen's thoughtfulness and professionalism helped allay my fears and put me at ease.In addition to the clear experience and knowledge Stephen brings to his job, the care and patience he approached my questions with helped make me feel comfortable throughout my time at Zebra. Read Less

No wonder Zebra gets such great reviews! I dropped by for a nose piercing about a month ago. The staff was super friendly and helpful. They helped me choose the perfect nose stud I had envisioned. Stephen was my piercer, and he went above and beyond to make sure I was satisfied with the placement and size of the jewelry. They also helped me find a new belly ring to replace my old one (one of the jewels fell out). They even suggested that I could just buy a new ball and save money, instead of replacing the whole jewelry.. super impressed with their honesty.  I am beyond satisfied with my new piercing and jewelry! Read Less

Went here a month ago for two earlobe piercings as a walk-in customer. The staff was really helpful, patient, and friendly, explaining every details of the post treatment, if it's your first time doing piercings (or you accidentally forgot how you went through the treatment for your last piercing:) ) and the staff doing the piercing was really professional and friendly as well. It would be better to go there early to avoid the crowd and lines.FYI: The ear piercings heals really well and fast. I've changed the earrings at the day of 28 after getting the piercing. Read Less

Went here for some piercings with some friends as a walk-in. If you're coming here, you just gotta be aware of what kind of day it is. Some days you might have a crowd of people as this is a tattoo/piercing shop close by to campus, some days there's literally no one here.The staff were friendly and caring to all our needs. Zebra gets a lot of negative talk about it, but I personally didn't see much wrong with it. There was nothing weird happening, no filth on the tools; everything was very professional and every staff member was polite and courteous to our individual wants and needs.The price here is cheaper than some surrounding piercing shops, so that's a plus. Of course, the price is a bit more expensive in general than some would hope; I've got friends who have gotten piercings and jewelry in the East Bay for nearly half of what I got mine for. But at the end of the day, if you're around Cal campus and you really want a piercing and you're excited about the thought of it, go for it here! Get poked and get a lollipop at the end! Read Less

I've gotten my tragus and nape piercings here! Getting ready to go back for my second tragus. HIGHLY recommend. Can get really busy but the every single member of staff is always incredibly accommodating, knowledgeable, and helpful. Read Less

This place is amazing!!! I walked in for my nose and belly piercing today around 7 pm, they don't accept walk-in after 7pm, but Magic says they can get me if it's possible. I waited just few mins, and I GOT MY PIERCINGS!! They have a lot of kinds jewelry too, all of them are cute. Then Solange helped me with choosing jewelry, she is so nice! She explained everything to me. Then Stephen pierced my nose and belly, he is so experienced, it didn't take that long for piercing, he is good. :) Zebra Tattoo is a good choice if you want to get piercings!! Read Less

I called to schedule an appointment in advance, but the lady on the phone informed me that they only do walk-ins, and advised me to show up after 11am on a weekday. I do so, the shop has a few customers waiting to be pierced, but nobody is waiting to be helped at the counter. Nobody greets me or ask why I'm there. Finally I say "Hi" and I ask if I should sit down, and an employee says "Sure." I wait on the bench for 30 minutes. Finally I asked another staff member how long I should expect to wait for a piercing. He asks me for my number. Nobody gave me one. He then explains the whole procedure that should have happened when I first walked in, but didn't. I'm pretty angry at this point and I leave. Read Less

Leo greeted us and had much knowledge about piercings. Didn't feel rushed at all! Nor did they try to sell us what we didn't want. Place was clean, instruments came from sterilized packaging. My GF got a VCH piercing and I got my cheek. Thanks Stephen Douglas for making our piercing experience worth while! Will definitely come back to see you again! :) Read Less

Leo was very helpful and knew his stuff on piercings. He knew styles, sizing, and explained aftercare very thoroughly..One of the besties and I got piercings done. Stephen was totally professional. He made our experience absolutely comfortable and entertaining at the same time. We were probably entertaining to him as well..Most definitely coming back for our next ones.. Read Less

*i didn't get my double helix piercing here* BUT I went in because I wanted someone to check to see if it was infected. He helped me so much more than my own piercer did. He didn't force me to buy anything from them. And he also gave me a free ziploc of salt to clean my piercing! I'm definitely going to come here for any other piercings or tattoos in the future. Read Less

The staff in the front are super rad and the piercer was great my piercing was still open, but for some reason the jewelry was not working and she made sure I had a good piece before I left. Really accommodating and just rad people I will be going back when I need something else pierced or new jewelry! Read Less

Clean, reasonably priced, and professional.If you can stand the parking situation in Berkeley, come!I had my nose pierced here about 9 years ago and had no issues.Recently returned for a daith piercing which went flawlessly as well.Rosie talks you though the process and takes her time to explain things and show you how your piercing will be/look despite having lines of lines of people waiting.Everyone is extremely patient and friendly from the moment you walk in and take the time to speak with you.I'll definitely be coming here for future piercings as well! Read Less

Trustworthy, clean, and reasonably priced spot for piercings!!! First off, I LOVE the customer service they provide here. Every single one of the workers are so friendly, attentive, and they truly care about your experience every step of the way in-store. I've had 3 piercing done on my ears and they're all by Rosy - who is absolutely talented. The first two took 3ish weeks to heal and I didn't have any irritation besides the stinging that occurred right after - super normal. They make sure to give you this numbing gel that instantly cooled my ears. I chose the earrings up front and paid before getting a number. The wait here does get quite long, I waited over an hour to get my piercings but they do a super quick job once your number gets called! My double piercings came out to around $60 after buying cleaning supplies ($8). It costs $17 to pierce each lobe and then on top of that the cost of the stud. My third single piercing was around $25 after a friendly discount (thank you!!) I just got my third piercing done by Rosy today and once again she did a GREAT job. I love the fun yet calming energy this place has - will always come back if I ever decide to get another :) Read Less

I have been coming here for YEARS. Got my navel pierced here, nose, brought my friend here for, came back for a repiercing. The customer service was always ok. But today? Today was really great. It could've been that I was already in a really great mood (thank you coffee gods) pero like... everyone was helpful af. I walked in wanting to say yolo and get 2 piercings and ultimately...got 2 piercings. Got a helix & the other side of my nose. The process was explained to me thoroughly. Sat down, was offered water. I waited for like maybe 10-15min. Rosie the gah damn magician greeted me. Explained the process of how she was going to pierce me. No lie, I thought I was gonna shart out of nervousness but then she had me take deep breaths. She took them with me and on the exhale *boom bam* pierced my nose and of course a little tear inevitably poured out. Followed was my helix and that hurt waaaaay less than my nose. In...effin...credible. Idk why I ever considered going elsewhere, y'all are awesome and amazing and I'm grateful for your sweet, calming, fun energy. Read Less

Wonderful experience, completely recommend! I came in to get my navel pierced & they were all so friendly. Unfortunately, a stone in my jewelry had fallen out after a week but they were kind enough to replace that part of the jewelry for me with no charge. Left a tip of course! great service & made me feel very comfortable. (: Read Less

Today I finally did it.... the tragus has been poked!!! I went in originally for a new pair of plugs (I lose them way to often). Not only was the staff friendly for a Sunday night dink sesh with the fam but my brother from anotha was there. His name is Stephen and he is one of the top piercers in my opinion here at Zebra. I've gotten piercings by 3 people sense my relationship started with zebra (10+ yrs) Stephen was super gentle, positive energy, and extremely professional and I'm not just saying that. I'll back next Sunday for the other side.... did I mention I felt and still have no pain or swelling??? That was 4hrs ago... thanks Stephe love you bro Read Less

They have a great selection of jewelry and friendly staff. Unfortunately when I've gotten pierced there, it always has some sort of problem healing. I stopped getting pierced here and exclusively go to Industrial, which is around the corner. The piercings at Industrial have never had difficulty healing and they use appropriately sized jewelry for said piercings. Even though the piercers look super cool, like they've been doing this their whole lives, and you would think for sure you're in good hands, its been a struggle for sure. Ive often had to take the piercings out, let them completely heal, and then get repierced elsewhere, which is obviously time consuming and costly. Read Less

Went in today to get my septum pierced and a friend's smiley done, Stephen took care of the piercing and was super friendly and welcoming despite us being some of the last clients for the day. The girl behind the counter (Didn't catch her name ) was super helpful in pointing me in the right direction of what size to go for as well as what jewelry would work best for me. Will definitely be returning Read Less

I was hopeful that Zebras had changed after 10 years, no. Both of my piercings came out (mind you they are SCREW IN.) I paid $291 total and the manager was sooooo nice. So, I trusted he would take care of me because I loved the piercings so much! I went in to Zebras to see him and potentially get a refund for the JEWELRY and go back another time...  I could not get my CONCH and center of my cartilage re pierced again SO SOON, One it hurt...and two the cartilage needs to heal fully.Sadly, he wasn't there :-( and the staff feared refunding me and SO kindly called him...  I don't know WHERE the nice manager went, but I was not only scolded and yelled at, but accused of sleeping on my ear and he wouldn't refund me. I could either get it repierced or leave. I'm really sad that the customer service is so poor. I'm talking bad. The staff fear the management, I fear all of them and if you're that cheap and can't refund a (would have been returning customer) for the jewelry that fell out on your piercers behalf, is truly apauling. Zebras management and the staff should be ashamed of themselves. Read Less

Getting work done at Zebra is truly a great experience. The shops interior is spacious, clean and has a lot of cool stuff to look at. The staff has been consistently friendly and very helpful.     Aaron was my tattoo artist. He was very professional and absolutely crushed my tattoo. It was obvious that he genuinely enjoys what he does. He negotiated a fair price covered a lot of ground during our session. I was really impressed.     I'm finishing up a full sleeve. I'll edit this with pictures once it's done but so far I've had a series of quality experiences thanks to Zebra and their awesome staff! Read Less

My sister and I have gotten multiple piercings done here and decided to take the next step with a shop we've always trusted. So, we set a tattoo appointment with Marcus that came with a totally expected $40 deposit. If you want an appointment, they need to know you're serious. We were so excited every single day it got closer. The day arrived and it was a great experience. My sister and I got our first tattoos. Dedicated to our mom who was recently diagnosed with Lupus. We wanted feminine and delicate. I had originally wanted a finger tattoo, and I had done research beforehand that made me consider otherwise. WITHOUT being pushy or hesitant, Marcus warned me of the maintenance and difficult healing process that I had read about before. This only shows me that he's an artist who wants the best for his client. I changed location to side of the wrist/forearm.Marcus was so patient, focused, understanding, and talented. He put us at ease. He's very diligent in making sure you get exactly what you want; but also making sure you know what (if anything) you might want to let him modify so it will stay gorgeous in the long run. We got designs that were probably totally amateur to him. But, he does AMAZING work that's far more beautiful and intricate. His portfolio is a must see.Thank you to Marcus for a great tattoo experience and Zebra for all my greatest body mod experiences. Read Less

Brought my teen daughters to get their nose piercing here because I've gotten my piercings here since I was 14. Stephen pierced both of them and was professional, detailed, caring and was empathetic towards their nervousness and slight fear. The attentiveness shown by the staff and Stephen is why I chose Zebra's as the place to bring my teens for their 1st facial piercings. Other important keys to why I came here is their cleanliness and hygienic stations. Prices are reasonable. The wait was a bit long but not excessive and it's a weekend. Thank you for always being my go to place and never lowering your standards to accommodate the "competition" in that area. Read Less

I came here through a recommendation from a friend to get my very first piercings. I was debating between doing just 1 lobe piercing or 2 per ear, and I spoke with the guy working behind the counter who answered all my questions about the logistics of getting 2 vs 1. I ended up being convinced to do 2 per ear and then he had me answer a few questions about any health conditions and walked me through the cost of the piercings. Each piercing costs $17 and the lowest priced starter earrings are $10 per single earring. It ended up costing me about $111, with each piercing being $27 each which is not bad. They also recommended me to buy their antibacterial solution for cleaning but the guy at the register who rung me up ended up making it complimentary which was really nice, I appreciated that a lot. After you pay at the counter, you get a number ticket and wait for your number to be called.Once your number gets called, you walk into a room in the back to get your piercings done. My piercer was Rosey and she was super calm and friendly and helped to calm my first-piercing nerves. She first marked the lower lobe piercing for each ear and handed me a mirror to check if I was okay with it. Then she marked the upper lobe spot. She was super careful throughout this process, making sure that the spots were aligned with each other and centered. During the actual piercings, she talked me through every step of what she was doing and the process was pretty quick and painless (as painless as a piercing can be). Then when I was done she told me how to care for it and answered any questions I had.Once I walked out to the front, the guy I first spoke with at the counter asked me how it was and offered me ibuprofen for the swelling/pain and got me water as well. The process was super easy and fast and everyone I met there was extremely friendly. I honestly loved my experience there, and I love how everyone working there is super chill, patient, and ready to answer any questions you might have. I highly recommend this for anyone looking to get pierced, whether it's your first or 20th. Read Less

I haven't been here since mid-2000's and wow, it's changed! Went in to get my septum pierced - middle of a Tuesday so not very busy. The guys were super nice and un-phased that my bestie and 3yr old were in tow! (kiddo obvi didn't come into piercing room though)Stephen did the piercing - I explained I'm super needle-phobic despite multiple piercings/tattoos and he was very chill about it and cool, calm, collected. Everything was extra sanitary, multiple glove changes, and it was all clean and tidy. He explained the process in detail and it went exactly as discussed - also (mostly) painless and very efficient. I have a tear duct issue so uncontrollable tears came and he was still chill ha. Anyway, highly recommend- Stephen is obviously experienced plus prices were reasonable. Read Less

My husband and I went in for tattoos and we met Aaron. Let me tell you, that man is not only extremely talented but he makes you feel at ease. It was my husbands first time ever getting a tattoo and Aaron was super cool and helped him to relax and actually enjoy the process (as much as possible with having a needle stabbing you haha). As long as Aaron is an artist there, we will be returning customers. We've gone to see him a few times now and I've referred a few people his way. Honestly if he ever leaves to go to another shop he will take our business with him. The other workers are also very friendly and nice and everyone seems to enjoy working there which is great for the customers as well because if they enjoy their jobs, they give better customer service. I highly recommend this place!! 5 stars!! Read Less

I got my cartilage pierced here in March. After dropping in on a Saturday afternoon, the wait was approximately 20 minutes. The piercing turned out to be less than $20, and the earring was an additional less than $10, which seemed very reasonable. He first marked the spot he was going to pierce and asked if I was happy with the spot, and the actual piercing only hurt for a brief moment. They offer a cleaning kit, but a bottle of saline solution sufficed for me. I was most impressed by the fact that I had to take out the piercing twice (which I heard is terrible for it) in order to take Visa photos for China, in which they require you to show your bare ears with no jewelry, while it was still healing, and my ear was fine probably because it had been pierced so well. Read Less

I'm the type of person who needs to scour the web until the end of time to finally settle on a place I'll take time out of my day to visit. After reading all the amazing reviews, all the while noticing Zebra's affordability, I knew I had to come in that exact day. Zebra was genuinely worth the 1 hour drive from Fremont to Berkeley for my new nose piercing!Before coming in, I called in to get myself acquainted with some important details: cost of piercing, jewelry options/cost, hours, etc. The staff member who answered me on the phone was simply jovial! When I hung up, I had a smile on my face and was ready to make the trek to.Coming into Zebra, I was greeted by some really amiable employees. Not the kind that give you a smile and pressure you into buying stuff or follow you around, but were quiet patient and friendly, all the while being non-invasive. The shop is well-lit, very clean, and neatly decorated! All the jewelry was displayed in glass display cases, so it was easy for me to ask the prices of so-and-so when I was curious. There's a variety of jewelry here that can accommodate anyone's needs, from the bare minimum costs to the high-end bougier pieces, they have a great selection.I chatted with a friendly employee about what jewelry I wanted for my new nose piercing, came to the cashier, and paid my share! The piercing cost was $22, and the cheapest jewelry for nose--in this case a stud--was $17. So all in all around ~$40 total. I was pleasantly surprised at the coupon that came with my first ever service with Zebra, a coupon of $3 off $20! I will definitely be back to use this. :-)I didn't have to wait long at all. Zebra uses a ticket system, and on a weekday afternoon during the summer, I didn't have to wait more than 15 minutes to get pierced. My number was called, and I met Stephen, my super cool piercer for the day!Stephen's energy was so chill that some of my pre-piercing anxiety started dissipating as I was talking to him. He was very patient with me, and understood that I wanted my second piercing to match my first. Because this wasn't my first time getting pierced, we skipped the part of mulling over after-care and what not. Being an anxious person myself, I was quaking a bit while anticipating another needle going through my face again. However, after Stephen marked the prospective piercing area and got my approval I knew it was time to get this over with. To my relief, It was a quick one and done deal, and it was over in the blink of an eye! I remember being so stupefied by how quick the process was of just coming through the piercing corridor, sitting down, getting sanitized and marked, and then having a brand new piercing. Stephen was swift with the needle and inserting the jewelry. It did hurt more than the first time, but it was definitely doable as usual. Surprisingly, my eyes simply watered this time and not a tear fell down my face. Stephen kindly gave me a kleenex to wipe my eyes too.I was very pleased with my time and service here at Zebra piercing. After experiencing all the kindness, patience, and non-invasive service here at Zebra, I'll be coming back as soon as I can for some more piercings. The energy of this place really vibes with me, as well as the amazing affordability. If you're on the fence about a piercing place, come here! I'd definitely be willing to drive a while to receive the amazing service here. Plus, there's an amazing pizza place across the street that you can treat yourself with after too. :-) Read Less

I came in here to get my other ear pierced.  One of the people in charge was there and rang me up for the same price as if I got 2 earrings.  Only spent 20 on the one earring and they charged me 90 bucks.  Ear was done terribly. Read Less

I came in for a nostril piercing adjustment since I live closer to here than SF where the initial piercing took place and got my service done with Stephen. Since my nose was still a little swollen from months of healing and recent attempts to fit a new nose screw, Stephen was really gentle and asked plenty of questions on how he could best help me. I ended up having to go back one more time when my nose got less swollen and the piercing placement got all wonky again, but Stephen patiently made all the right adjustments to my jewelry with his tools and didn't charge me for it. I couldn't be happier with my new look. Thank you to Zebra's professional staff for making me feel like a valued customer :) Read Less

This was a great experience from beginning to end. Went here on a whim with my boyfriend for a nose piercing. I was extremely nervous but Megan was super patient with me and answered all of my questions. The wait was estimated at 1-1 1/2  hours but I think someone didn't show up so I went earlier. Steven the piercer was an angel. He made sure I was ready and calm for the piercing while my bf held my hand (thanks boo!) The piercing went so quick that it barely hurt at all. I didn't tear up one bit which was really surprising. I got the blue opal which was really pretty and they gave me the information for aftercare which is posted online. The only thing I can say wasn't 100% was the info for aftercare. The info on the website was a little hard to read. Other than that everything was great! Will def be back if I ever get brave enough for another piercing. Read Less

We took our 6 yo daughter to get her ears pierced today and she was really nervous. They answered all of her questions and were all really friendly. The guy who pierced her ears did a great job and everything was very clean and organized. They did a great job:) Read Less

I went here with my cousin and Stephen was our piercer.  He did an excellent job on my vertical trigus.  My cousin got her VCH.  They were clean and nice.  I will never go another place.  They gave clear aftercare instructions and made sure we understood them. Our piercer was patient because I was terrified, and nice.  My cousin lives is Texas and wants to come back to only Stephen at Zebras. Read Less

This place is dope! All the girls there were very sweet and very knowledgeable! Also very nice to my kids and offered them a cold soda which was nice! And the Guy who did my piercing was dope!  This place just got a loyal customer! Read Less

This review is a lil over due since I stopped at the shop on weds earlier this week but haven't got the chance too. Whoops! Anyways for the longest I've been wanting to get a VCH piercing & just couldn't find a place to do it. The place I usually go to didn't do it anymore so I was bummed. Ofc when you're in a hands of a piercer that you're used to you're a bit iffy to go somewhere else. So weds I looked on here & decided to take a risk & call & Solange answered the phone answered all my questions & told me to stop by so Ofc I did. Once I got there everyone was so nice ! They offered water & soda the staff was dope & the jewelry was absolutely beautiful which made me more excited to get this done. Stephen was the one who pierced me he has an overall dope ass personality, absolutely professional & made me feel comfortable after all I am showing him my vag haha & I barely know the guy. The piercing was absolutely painless & it was over before I know it. I'm absolutely coming back ! Thanks Stephen & Solange Read Less

When my husband and I moved to the Bay Area three years ago I wanted to get my second daughters ears pierced and this place was the second place I called during that time. The first place I called gave me a lecture about her possibly getting a infection. My friends and I decided to go get hers done during their time here. The lady was so helpful with trying to make sure they looked perfect. Also gave my second a lollipop back then. After having my third child and having our cousin visit us. She had the idea that she wanted to get her upper ears pierced. Perfect timing because my third child was next. The lady was so nice & very patient. She also made sure they were even. With my third child she made her comfortable by having lollipops near so I gave her one. It went so fast. The people at the front made it very special by giving my youngest daughter a certificate. Very meaningful idea. Would come here again for piercings.Never go get your ears or your child's ears pierced with a gun. Made the mistake with my first daughter 7yrs ago. LOL!! Read Less

After getting my nose pierced at a less than stellar place in Alameda, I started to notice that it was more than covered in crust. This lead to my piercing being, in my opinion, disgusting.I decided to go to Zebra based on a friends recommendation and the fact it was right next to my college campus, and I am very glad I did. A man named Vincent was able to tell me in less than 5 seconds that my piercing was on its way to getting infected and that because i had jumped straight into a ring I most likely would have a bump on my nose. Thankfully he was able to give me sea salt and emu oil to help out - something that the place that pierced my nose did not.I am very thankful for him as otherwise i'd probably be walking around with an infected nostril right now. Read Less

My experience here at zebras was awesome I have a few piercings from them on this trip I went and got my dimples pierced on my face so both sides for each side was $40 a piece and it was excellent and it didn't hurt too bad I'm happy with the results. And I will be back for future piercings or piercing changes so yes I'm happy. Read Less

I got my ear pierced here when I was 16 yrs old and a I just got my 5 year old daughter's ears pierced here a couple of weeks ago. Both experiences we're milestones in our lives and both times we worked with professional and friendly piercers. I love Zebras! Read Less

Steve pierced my 8 month old daughter's ears. So wonderful. He pierced my nose. I love it. Solange at the front was very helpful. Beautiful by the way. Just saying lol. And Magic was very accommodating. Offered us water and gave us a discount. I will be coming back for my ears Read Less

I got the industrial bar piercing a few months ago and I was very satisfied with the whole process of getting it. The piercer, David, was super super friendly, made me feel very comfortable and showed me the whole process, from him taking out the clean needle to showing me where he was going to pierce. He was awesome! It's been healing very nicely and he explained how to clean it perfectly! Read Less

I've gone to zebra in the past and I've always respected this place, but over the past few years I've done some conscious Awakening and realize ld if I should ever have a tattoo or body piercing ever again,  I want to make sure I have a deeper connection with the person who touches my body especially in honor of my Ancestors and The Creator.So after 3 years of asking people WHERE and doing the research I could not find in the Oakland,  Berkeley or the Bay Area any Black or African Americans body piercers ; which was crazy! So last week I went back to zebra after not coming  here for the past 5-6 years I asked a question of a young lady behind the counter if they had any African-American body piercers and she happily said YES! STEPHEN DOUGLAS on Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  I said okay great I paid for my items, came back yesterday, met the young man.  He's very professional, he's really good with his work, he understands melanated skin better and we need that especially those of us who are dark brown because we scar so easily we keloid so easily.So especially to my darker brown brothers and sisters African Americans Latinos Asians especially the darker skin folks please go and have your piercings done by Brotha Stephen Douglas and tell him Ms. Nunu sent you.THANKS AGAIN STEPHEN YOU'RE A BLESSING!THANKS ZEBRA FOR HAVING SUCH A GREAT EMPLOYEE! Read Less

Got my very 1st "out of the"ordinary "piercing done by Rosie! It was a daith piercing in hopes of preventing my daily migraines. It has been a month, and I have not had a migraine!!! Thinking of getting the other side done just because it also looks cute! Staff was friendly, place was very clean! I will definitely revisit their business! Read Less

I got my very first tattoo here and it was a really great first time (as great as first times are tbh)!! I walked in for it (though if you don't have the whole day free I'd recommend making an appointment- which you'd need to do in person and make a 40$ deposit just fyi), and waited for about an hour/hour and a half. Then Aaron looked at my phone for my tattoo idea, and then in about 30 or so minutes he brought it to life (it was a fairly small tattoo on the wrist). He was very funny and kind, and he could probably tell I was nervous. The service was really nice, despite it being pretty busy. I'm definitely coming back for more tattoos here, though that'll have to wait until I come up with the cash #StudentDebt. Read Less

I'm not super big on piercings or tattoos but if I ever want anything done Zebra is my go to! I got my belly button pierced here a couple years ago and it was a great experience. A couple days ago I got my nose pierced by Stephen, he was super nice and easy to converse with, he answered all my questions or concerns. The staff is also so nice as well!! The only downside is the wait, I waited about an hour but it was well worth it! They also offer water and play fun music so overall the wait wasn't bad and Stephen was awesome and professional!! Read Less

Came here for my first cartilage piercing and it was a great experience! Despite the rush of people on a Saturday afternoon, we were helped almost immediately at the counter by a woman who knew a lot about piercings, and could answer all of my questions. It was about a 20 minute wait for the piercing though, so my boyfriend and I dipped next door for some poke and came back. We waited around for another 5-10 minutes before being called into the back. The woman who did both of my cartilage piercings was quick and efficient. The owner of the store even gave us the after care supplies free of charge, which was really sweet of him. It's been a couple of weeks now and my piercings have been doing great; no swelling/inflammation/keloids have formed, and the pain is very minimal, or completely absent on some days. While Zebra is pretty expensive when it comes to the earring selection, you definitely are paying for their quality. I would recommend this place to anyone nervous about getting piercings done because the staff here are highly professional and know exactly what they are doing. Read Less

Sooooo I suffer from migraines, I have been debating getting a daith piercing and today I bit the bullet and did it! Rosey did a excellent job she has a great aura and it was over in no time!Thank You for hooking me up! #ZebraTattoo&PiercingRocks! Read Less

I love zebra!! It's my go to place for every piercing I've had. Recently I got my labret pierced and I'm not going to lie, it wasn't the best experience as far as the piercing goes but being that I can take some pain I continued through it. But it really made me feel good that he was able to comp me what I paid for the troubles. I have to say that is some good customer service and I will consistently be going back. Thank you and I love my piercing! Read Less

Okay. I like to keep my favorite places and people secret. I dont like blowing up the spot. But sometimes, you *just gotta* give credit where credit is due. Now, i used to be a longtime faithful client to the shop down the street who will not be named, because I am not here to slander them. I drank the kool aid, loved the exclusivity and "superiority", FOR YEARS. Until I realized every time I left the shop my wallet was fucking EEEMMMMPPPTTTTYYYYY, I'd have to eat ramen til my next paycheck came, and I wasn't even happy with what I got. Because of the "superiority" you will get suggestions you can't afford, and feel embarassed and pressured to say no.Zebras, on the other hand, holds you to no pressure, is inclusive, has prices all across the board, and they DO have superiority!! Having been coming to Zebra with friends or on my own since at least 2006, I can confidently say that I know I will get my moneys worth, and be very satisfied when I leave.I gotta plug my piercer ROSEY. DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS PIERCER, SERIOUS. WAIT TIL THURSDAY FRIDAY OR SATURDAY CUZ ROSEY IS FREAKIN WORTH IT!!!!! AND TIPPING AINT JUST FOR THR TITANIC, FRIENDS  Rosey is talented and skilled as heck. Also the kindest most badass soul you will ever get the pleasure of meeting. However, if you just absolutely can not wait, Stephen and Danielle are very awesome, helpful, and knowledgeable as well. I recently had an allergic reaction to an ingredient, alcohol denat, that was in a makeup setting spray. It swelled my lips eyes and throat. I have lots of oral piercings so I had to go in for help with them due to the swelling. Guys, I was so embarassed to have to go in on Sunday, then again on Tuesday. Especially since my Rosey wasn't there either day!!! But Danielle, Stephen, a super awesome wonderful helpful person whos name is escaping me, and David took care of me like I was a good friend. I had a wonderful experience, yet again!!Sometimes, certain customers and counter people may turn you off. Maybe not!! I am judgemental and hate Berkeley, so it could just be me. If they do, dont fret, because it will be smoooooooth sailing once you get into the back room. The employees are calming and will answer any question you can possibly think of.Also, a lot of these poor reviews are kinda whack tbh, if you read them, the people kinda clearly did no prior research about getting tattooed or pierced. ANYWHERE you go, YOU should do some research before you go. For real. Thats kinda common sense. So take those comments with a grain of salt. Do your research, and GET PIERCED AT ZEBRA BERKELEY!!!! Read Less

My sister  and I Got  septum piercings  yesterday at Zebras. 1/14/18Thank you David, he did a really good job  with the piercing  with a  pleasant attitude.  The owner of the Establishment was very kind as well. The rest of the  front end staff were Lazy, rude and indirectly racially disrespectful. Read Less

My daughter and her best friend have been planning this day for years! Finally 10 years old they are ready! Zebra's staff are amazing, warm, welcoming, and extremely professional. They made the experience so fun, from picking out the earrings to the numbing cream to the actual piercing, the kids had a wonderful experience. The shop is very impressive it's so clean and sterile, quite beautiful. Everyone that works there want to make sure you're comfortable and familiar with the process they put you at ease. I'm so glad we picked this place it's the absolute best. Read Less

Highly recommended for piercing. Kiddo got pierced here. Very kind, attentive people. Everything really carefully explained. Very friendly and calm staff. Very careful in hygiene, ensuring the placement of the piercing was perfect. No one got inked here, so I can't comment on that area. Read Less

Disclaimer: I'm not the one getting the piercing but I'm here with my friend.From the moment you enter the store, the chill hip hop/jazz music infuses the environment with a calming vibe that makes you feel at ease. Considering how nerve-racking getting a first piercing or tattoo is, I can really appreciate their choice of A E S T H E T I C.The employees are obviously extremely knowledgeable and make sure that customers understand completely what's going on, the risks (if any), and how to take care of themselves. Rosie in particular performed a fantastic job, finishing 4 piercings within minutes, minimal pain and frustration, all the while cracking funny jokes and helping my friend relieve her anxiety of needles.Their earrings are all hypoallergic, medical grade titanium, and made in California so you can feel confident and safe about purchasing and wearing them. Read Less

I really love these people I came in here and got my nose pierced 2 years ago today I went to go blow my nose in the piercing came right out and they're telling me I need to pay to have it replaced when they've already gave me poor service and  quality of Jewelry Im dragging them to small claims Read Less

I've had 10 or so piercings done at Zebra over the past 15 years, and it's still where I recommend to all of my friends curious about piercings. The space has undergone renovations and looks a lot nicer than it used to back in my heydey (early 2000s). The studio is spacious, clean, and flows pretty well with the jewelry display cases int the front, while the tattoo and piercing studios are in back.I'm not sure if they have one, but I would love to see a piercing binder like the tattoo binders to show you inspiration for different piercings and jewelry looks. I've been toying with the idea of a helix, daith, or tragus piercing but sometimes it's hard to remember all the names so something tangible for clients to look at could be really useful.Other than that, I *heart* Zebra! Read Less

I had a warm and friendly experience at Zebra Tattoo and Body Piercing (Walnut Creek), and much of the same can be said about the original location in Berkeley. I visited this place in September; Kellen, Leo and Magic made that visit pain free and not intimidating when looking for new earring studs. I am fairly new to ear piercings, and I felt that these three kind individuals were quite patient and took their time in helping me find the most suitable earring studs befitting me--even when the store was busy. Both Zebra shops go out of their way to make the customer feel at ease in the tattoo and body piercing process, so I can confidently say that you will have a seamless experience.One thing to say is that you can definitely bring your kids to get their ears pierced here and at Walnut Creek. The employees are very considerate and will be happy to meet your needs with their expert advice and skill. I looked at a lot of shops on Yelp to find the best place to get my ears pierced since I always had the idea that tattoo and piercing places were shady, uninviting  places. I cannot say the same about Zebra. The experience was professional and welcoming. Read Less

People have questioned the fact that I got my daughter's ears pierced at a tattoo and piercing shop-- but I stick by my decision 100%. Zebra's staff was very friendly upon our arrival (close to the time they opened). The nice lady in the front asked us how old our baby daughter was and checked her ears to see if they were ready to be pierced. What's nice is that they had a lot of jewelry to choose from that ranged in style and price so you can choose what fits in your budget. We waited about 30 minutes until we were called to the back to get her ears done. Rosey was super chill and friendly. She was great with my daughter and put all of us at ease. She was patient and made sure that the placement of her markings were just where we wanted them before she pierced. About 30 seconds of crying, and baby was back to her happy self. We took pictures with her cute certificate and we were on our way. Easy peasy. ---6 weeks later.. and her piercing has healed well. No problems at all. We continue to get compliments about how centered her piercings are. I'd highly recommend Zebra's for infant piercings. Read Less

If you've been to one tattoo and piercing joint, you've been to them all. Right? Wrong.It all starts with Alex, the first face I encountered in what started as a simple visit to pick up a new stud and some new spikes to spin onto it. I have very rarely in my life received such attentive, kind, informed, patient, and overall-excellent service. Alex carefully explained all of my options for increasing gauge size for my vertical labret, steered me to sale items to help me stay within my budget, and by the end of it, had sold my partner on finally getting that belly button stud they'd always wanted.Every member of the staff offered us something to drink, engaging us, making us feel right at home.Thank you Alex, for amazing service, Rosie, for a painless piercing experience (and an attitude that screamed, "I'm just happy to be here!"), and the rest of the crew at Zebra for being beautiful, awesome and talented people.I will definitely be coming back. Read Less

I took my 4 year old to get her ears pierced since she had been asking for quite some time. The staff was super helpful and involved her in the process. Amanda was the person who pierced my little one, she explained everything to her and answered all of her questions (and mine). I highly recommend Amanda for your piercing needs, she was very patient and professional. Read Less

Zebra has always been one of my favorite places for piercings...got my very first piercing here some decades ago. The staff is friendly & knowledgeable, they have a great selection of jewelry, the rooms are private and clean, and equipment is sterile. The staff is also patient and explain the procedures to you and give you great advise. They are not looking to just get people in and out the door with sales. I shall be back soon for more. Rose is awesome. Read Less

Amazing staff- the nicest people! I went in with 3 friends, we were all getting tattoos (one was getting pierced) one had an appointment but me and my other friend were able to just walk right in. They did a fantastic job on everyone! Our tattoos turned out looking perfect. This was my first tattoo and it was amazing to have kind, welcoming, wholesome people to help with the experience. I do hope to come back here someday and I would recommend it to anyone!Read Less

Clean, kinda expensive, if you're curious bout tattooing, body piercings, this the place to go, clean and staffs are very homey, shout out to Kenny, great artist, did my husbands tattoo and mines. Ask for him, and the piercing lady at the back( forgot her name) did my 9yr olds ear pierced, very friendly,fashionable Ppl Read Less

Me and my sister came to just changed her nose piercing. And we came in at 4:30pm and we are her still at 6:28pm. And still haven't been seen. I feel like on the weekend they should have two people doing piecing and another person changing piecing. It should not take almost three hours to change a damn piecing. I understand it's busy,but we shouldn't be waiting hella long. I love this place,but it should have better customer service. Came in 04/30/17 Read Less

Me and my girlfriend and a good friend decided we wanted to get tattoos so we called around our local area and no one was up for a walk in really so we called here and they were available. We walked in and were instantly greeted by somebody. Our artist Pavel (pretty sure that's how you spell it) Took very good care of us was very patient and knowledgeable at what he does. All three of our tattoos were small but total time of tattooing was probably less than 30 minutes which is awesome I would 100% recommend this place to get a tattoo or piercing. Read Less

For the last two years, I've been thinking about getting my nose or septum done. I seriously went over the pros and cons of both and was still in a dilemma. I was hoping that I could get a second or third opinion on how I should go about getting my next piercing, seeing as how my last one was my cartilage 6 years ago.Marley was one of the most helpful workers I've come across at a piercing shop. She was more than willing to answer my 5 million questions. Some questions I had were "How long does it take for a nose piercing to heal?" 3-4 months if you were curious. So if you're looking to take it out for work like I was, maybe your nose wouldn't be a good option. Then I asked a million and one questions about getting a septum piercing such as: How long it would take to heal? Will it swell? Can I hide it right away? 3 months, a little bit but the swelling is not noticeable, and yes. PERFECT. Thank you for all your help, Marley! She even gave me some advice on which rings to get, the sizes, which ones are easier to flip back in the nose, etc.It's basically like the DMV. Once you purchase your piercing as well as the jewelry you will use, you're given a number and you're free to wait. Fortunately, I only waited a minute before seeing Rosie in the back. She was extremely patient answering my questions and giving me options on what sizes I should get, and how high I want the piercing to be. Apparently she was impressed when I didn't even blink once the needle went through. She talks you through the entire process that it's literally over in a few seconds. Didn't do so bad for not getting a piercing for 6 years!PRICING:Piercing - $25Jewelry - $20Cleaning solution & sea salt - $6.75I would definitely come back again if I'm ever in the area. Thanks for all your help Marley & Rosie! Read Less

Came here to get my upper ear pierced. The place is nice, inviting and pro, the staff was very friendly and helped me choose exactly what fit me best. The prices are good; the piercing was quick. Overall great experience! Read Less

I am an ER RN and wanted a very specific tattoo that I had only in my mind, related to nursing. Jose spent more time drawing it then he did doing it. I love it and so does everyone who sees it. They called me today to make sure it is healing well and Jose told me to come in anytime if I want any touch ups. My 6 year old got her ears pierced 3 months ago and though she doesn't really cry for shots and what not, she is always certainly scared. She asked to get her ears pier...ced and having had interactions with Zebra before, I knew where to go. My daughter was a little hesitant with the atmosphere and walking by People's park to get there but she is a Bay Area native. Great experience and no infection or problems afterward and they had great earring choices for her (of course she wanted the most expensive). It was not a cheap experience but I wouldn't want cheap for a lifetime body hole. They were very set up for piercing children as, well despite what the atmosphere may present as. As always Zebra was what I needed and they were great on both occasions, as well as the tattoo I got redone and added to 4 years ago. See More Read Less

all I can say is WOWThis place is very CLEAN, FUN, AND FRIENDLY. My daughter begged and begged for a lip piecing. I was very much against it because she is 16 and very pretty I thought this would screw up her looks and if she changed her mind it would be a ugly scare on her face for life. NO ONE tried to change my mind on this, they never tried to talk me into it at all instead the lady at the counter told me her story. She had 6 lip piecings 3 were healed up from years ago and 3 were in place being used. She had one with out the ring one with a stud and one healed, I could see all 3 looks. the one that was closed and healed did not look like an ugly scar at all, in fact it looked like a tiny freckle. It was very hard to see even with my glasses. the stud wasn't bad looking but the hoop was very cute!. Because she took the time to share with me as a parent on my concerns I felt at ease about the pierceing. My daughter got this for Christmas and it was a real nice adventure. The Guy that did it took all but a few min. to set up and poof before I could blink it was done. No pain, No blood, and no tears! It was like a doctor's office in there, very very clean and safe, Every thing used was in a sealed pack. The after care was well explained and written out. the products were on hand at a good price. They even have a oil called emue oil that stops the scaring. And the guy was very NICE. he took his time to set a dot in place to ask if we liked it before he ever clamped it off. He looked at her face to see how she was built so the dot was set as natural as possible. WONDERFUL. Read Less

I am so happy with my tattoo that I got from the artist at Zebra Tattoo. I wish I could remember his name... He made me feel so comfortable, and my tat came out so amazing. Thank you so much. I'll be back! Read Less

I've always wanted a portrait of my late grandma on my inner arm, but I was always skeptical thinking that the tattoo wouldn't look anything like my picture, but I decided to go ahead and do it anyways. The artist at Zebra is AMAZING! The tattoo looks so realistic... I am so happy with everything. Thank you. Read Less

I went with my friend to get some tattoo work done at Zebra, and I already want to go back and get more. My artist did such an amazing job on my piece, that I believe I found my tattoo artist for life. Read Less

I have gotten a lot of my tattoo work done at Zebra, and I keep going back to them, because all the artist are truly talented. I have no reason to go anywhere else for the work. Everyone is also super cool. I love going there. I recommend everyone trying them out. Read Less

Best tattoo shop, best piercings. Everyone is super cool, friendly, and welcoming. I've seen how they are with people who are a little scared of the process, and they make them feel so comfortable. You guys are AWESOME! Read Less

I share at least 7 years of history with Zebra from the Berkeley location to their Walnut Creek location. Zebra means so much to me since it has been a big part of my life, from getting divorced to dating and now married again and happy. Very great worke been done by G and can't say enough on how nice the employees are.Read Less

What I like & respect about Zebra is that every way I look at it, they've got made. I feel good and totally trust going to Zebra, taking friends and family without worrying about being mis-treated, unsanitary environment, etc.... That's why Zebra is 5 star all the way around. Read Less