I got a nose piercing here. The jewelry/piercing prices are reasonable and the staff was really nice! James pierced me and it was fast and simple. He gave me all the info and helped me put in a new hoop for my ear piercing as well. I will definitely go back if I want any other piercings done. Read Less

I got my lobes pierced a second time after I was pierced 17 years ago as a child. James was incredible in speaking to me about the process and calming my nerves down. He was very serious about making sure that I liked the position of the piercing and used a device (not sure what it's called) to accurately measure the distance and replicate it on both ears. The piercing was not painful at all! He did an amazing job during he piercing process and made sure to guide me step by step so that I would not be nervous. The front desk staff was also very patient in kind! Will come back again for future piercings! Read Less

Having lived in and close (or close enough to travel) to Boston for the last 6 ish years, I've collected a number of tattoos and piercings from this place over the years. Off at the Harvard stop, just around the corner, in a little "mall" with a variety of stories, including a Newbury Comics. I believe it's been an established shop since 1995 so they've been around for a while and it shows in the work they do. They split the tattoo and piercing sides up in the last couple of years so you don't have to battle for an artists to do either. Recently took out my nipple piercing I received here over 6 years ago (done by Owen who is really good). Was a clean, professional process. The place is super busy, with my most recent attempts to get through to someone proving to be a huge challenge. But I was able to schedule an appointment with Reuben so my best friend and I could get friend tattoos together. Once we got through the mob of people at the front, it was actually super quick and easy to get tattooed, as it's been in the past. They don't add tip to cards, but I know Reuben does have Venmo so I was able to send a tip that way, which is convenient. They schedule appointments during the week, but do walk ins on Saturday I believe. Professional, clean, quick, and not an overly complicated tattoo process. Pretty much how it's always been there. Read Less

This place is absolutely AMAZING! I downloaded this app just to write this review. I just got my third earlobe piercing here, and I will be getting all my future piercings here. The first time I got my ears pierced was somewhere else, and the piercings ended up coming out uneven, and so the second time I got them pierced I went to Stringray in Allston and I wanted to spend extra time making sure they were even. I felt rushed while I was there, and when I asked them to measure the distance between the piercings (weird I know) they sassily declined. They pierced the first dot they made because I felt uncomfortable repeatedly asking them to change it :/*~cut to~* The third piercing I got was at chameleon. I was blown away!!! I was greeted by two super kind, helpful, and patient people. I know 2 lobes seems sort of pricey at $110 for the piercings and 2 studs, but there were tons of options for studs and the service was excellent.James pierced my ears, and he was wonderful! He spent more than 15 minutes making sure I was happy with the dots. He was funny, laid back, and comforting throughout the whole process. When I asked him to measure the dots, he happily whipped out a caliber and re-dotted my ear several times until it was as precise as humanly possible. I apologized many times for my obsessiveness over the location (which I'm sure was annoying), but he assured me I didn't need to apologize. It came out perfect. If you're going to get a piercing anywhere in the Boston area, PLEASE go see James!!! Read Less

I got my conch and second lobe piercings with James and he was awesome! I came in around 1:45 and got an appointment at 2:15. He clearly explained what he thought would be a good placement for my conch and it looks great. Chameleon is a little pricier than other shops I've been to, but the staff is friendly, knowledgable, and does a good job - it's worth it! The piercings weren't too painful. I definitely recommend Chameleon and James as a piercer. Read Less

Piercings | Owen pierced my nipples and it was a very comforting, calm experience. He was wonderful and explained the whole process throughout so there were no surprises at any time. He was very thorough with instructions afterwards. Would definitely recommend going here and seeing Owen for your piercing needs. Read Less

I've had nothing but good experiences here. They're very nice, and knowledgeable. The only thing is that they book up, so it's a good idea to call in advance. It seems like a family friendly place too- lots of parents bring their kids to get their ears pierced for the first time. They're very professional, sterilize everything, and answer any questions you might have. Read Less

I did my research before booking an appointment for a cartilage piercing and heard from many that piercing at tattoo studio is the way to go. My piercer was Professsional and gentle and fully explained after care instructions. I was pleasantly surprised that they had my jewelry of choice available. One week later, I love my new piercing and I'm already dreaming about the next one after I heal. Read Less

Went to James for a forward helix piercing and I can't recommend him enough- he keeps you in the loop with what he's doing, is efficient, and makes sure everything is kept professional and as clean as possible (gloves, tray, etc.) while chatting and keeping the atmosphere relaxed. As someone coming from the medical field, it felt the same way we do procedures in clinic and was very much appreciated! Read Less

I had to make a Yelp account to give a shoutout to James. I came to Chameleon because I was in the area and had noticed one of my nose piercings seemed to be stuck - it's a hoop and it felt like maybe the hole was closing in the gap where the hoop had opened a bit. It was certainly one of those things I'd been putting off for a few months.Arrived at Chameleon and they were able to squeeze me in immediately to take a look and see if they could re-open the piercing for a $10 fee. Super reasonable, and even more reasonable once I realized James is incredible. He was transparent (he told me it was going to hurt, which I appreciated!) and very skilled. The hole had almost completely closed so he really had to dig in to fit my hoop back through. After a few tries we heard the pop of success. The amount of pressure he had to apply was huge and I'm very grateful that he was able to figure it out! It didn't even hurt all that bad, and I'm convinced that's because of how good he is.Really appreciated the quick and professional service and will definitely be coming back for future piercings. Read Less

They messed up my belly ring piercing when I just needed a jewelry change and they messed up my friend's tattoo. I came in just trying to get a new belly ring, because the ball fell off of mine (and they wouldn't sell me just the ball). They told me that since it'd been less than three months they would need to do it for me. When they did, they ended up changing it wrong and creating an entirely new hole. My friend decided to get a tattoo at Chameleon, despite the fact that I (and others from Harvard) had expressed our negative experiences with their piercing and tattoos. She has a good number of tattoos (about 10) so this isn't a new process to her. This is the first time, she said, that she has gotten a tattoo where the tattoo artist didn't appropriately follow the sketch. She and her best friend were getting matching serotonin tattoos, each in different spots, and the artist messed up her rather large tattoo behind her ear. Read Less

Okay this review will add on the plethora of reviews that Owen has, but I had a super fast and more or less painless experience getting my navel piercing done by him. I don't see too many reviews about what it's like getting a navel piercing so maybe this review might help. Now, I am a person who is deathly afraid of needles and cannot handle pain very well so I had worked up a lot of courage just to get it done LOL once I got into the room Owen basically answered any questions and concerns I had and honestly he reminded me of one of my friends. Talking to him feels like you're talking to a friend and he's so calm and laid back. He walks you through what he's going to do which I really appreciate and he told me that I wouldn't feel the pain, mostly just pressure when he punched the sides of my belly button together, which he was right about. I get pretty light headed after piercings, which won't happen to everyone, but if you do be honest about it and Owen will take care of you. He gave me some water and glucose tablets which helped a ton, explained what the after care would be and I got some after care spray and was ready to head home. If I ever think about get more piercings I will definitely come back to Owen. He made the piercing worth the stress LOL Read Less

It was finally time for my 10yo daughter to get her ears pierced and I knew better than to take her to the mall...Stingray was originally recommended but they won't pierce kids under 14. I asked them for recommendations and they gave me a few options, including Chameleon. Chose based on great Yelp reviews.Owen really is as wonderful as the reviews say. He was so patient, kind and calm with my daughter. Everything was perfectly clean and he was extremely skilled. Honestly could not have gone better for her and she was the happiest little girl after. Her new earrings look adorable. Definitely recommend Owen highly for kids' ear piercings. Read Less

Owen is AMAZING! He's super nice and communicates everything very well so you don't feel in the dark about why they're doing what they're doing. I just had two issues. The main being the woman at the front desk. I came in twice and both time she tried to undermine me and make me feel like I know nothing about piercings. I have 9 ear piercings and I've done a lot of research. Obviously I'm not an expert, but I'm not stupid. Horrible customer service from her. My other issue was they are very set on not piercings with hoops or doing both ears (other than lobes) in one day. Other places I have gone to have recommended things like this but have always respected what I want, as the customer. Also, I've talked to a few friends who had a lot of issues with long posts and their ears have healed better with hoops in. I now have long posts that trap anything and everything in my ear and I cannot get it out. I won't be going back for piercings which is a shame because Owen is so great. Read Less

This place is easy to find, really open and everyone is super nice. However my two tattoos from here have very questionable line work, with half of my tattoo on my wrist no longer really existing, and I have to fill it in with sharpie. My other tattoo isn't even, and has lines that aren't smooth. So for basic line tattoos without shading, wouldn't recommend, but my best friends shaded tattoo of his sons name looks BEAUTIFUL Read Less

Owen was amazing with my girls double ear piercings. He took his time to make sure the positioning was exact and had the utmost concern about keeping everything clean and sterilized. Great way with kids!! Read Less

Ask for Owen Beane!I had previously gone to Lucky's about my problematic second lobe piercing that wasn't healing after 6 months. I was charged $6; the piercer gave me attitude, didn't even let me explain the situation, and straight up accused me of touching my piercing too much when it was completely untrue.I came to Chameleon (Owen) for a second opinion, and he was patient, thorough, caring and was extremely personable. He listened to my situation, examined the piercing carefully - and helped replace the jewelry with a new one that helped it heal in just one month! He took the time to explain things, listened to my concerns and actually got to the root of the problem!! Will definitely be going be back additional piercings!! Read Less

Owen Beane is a piercing master. A month ago, I bit the bullet and got my first piercings (earlobes). Owen's skill and calming personality meant that the piercings were beautifully executed and pretty much painless. He made sure the placement was perfect and that we were both satisfied before proceeding. No surprises and just a pinch of discomfort.I went back three weeks later to get my second earlobes and right helix pierced. Once more, Owen delivered. Everything is healing like a dream, with no irritation or infection. I can't stop staring at my ears and will be back soon to round out my ear party. Thanks, Chameleon! Read Less

OWEN OWEN OWEN, what a piercing god!!!!! His voice, his demeanor, personality, level of knowledge, voice, AURA, is EVERYTHING!!! I swear I have never, in the amount of piercings that I've had, had such a gentle piercer. He made me feel so comfortable and was there with me mentally every step of the way. I am flabbergasted at how patient & soothing he was. I had sort of a botched nipple piercing prior and not only did he educate me on what to look for moving forward, so the red flags sort to say he put me at a level of ease I'm not accustomed to with a complete stranger. Although now, I'll never go anywhere else. My nipples are so sexy right now. No pain at all and I honestly can't stop staring. I had so many reservations about going down this path again but I am ecstatic that my fellow yelpers lead me to him. I am more than satisfied, I feel perfectly accessorized and that's all thanks to him. My god, thank you Owen !!!!! Read Less

I don't have enough words to compliment Owen's manner and peircing technique. A gentle man with tattoos and piercings that my 9 year old daughter couldn't have been safer with or in better hands when she had her ears peirced. I wish he could clone himself and also be a pediatrician, preschool teacher, elementary school teacher and just be involved with kids at every stage of their fragile development. He's a special human being. The placing of the peircings was methodical and thoroughly explained to the nervous moms and nervous but excited kids (we went with a friend). He took his time and did an impeccable job. This is the only place you can take your precious daughter to have her ears peirced. It's expensive, a hassle to drive to and park at, difficult to get a convenient appointment, and something I would do again without hesitation. Thank you so much, Owen. Read Less

This establishment is incredibly unprofessional. Zero guidance for customers and zero regard for their quality of service. I visited a few times looking for help to make a purchase, I was told to make an appointment. I arrive a couple minutes late and the front help said I would no longer be seen and no 10$ appointment fee refunded. Complete waste of time. There are more professional places throughout Cambridge with more reasonable prices. Read Less

I got a small Totoro tattoo on my ankle in October by Markus. It was my first tattoo. It could not have been a better experience. The artwork was perfect- finely detailed, precise, and beautiful. Markus drew it in a few sizes and made it so it fit perfectly where I wanted it. He was very understanding of my first tattoo anxiety, and explained exactly what was going to happen and what I could expect. He took all my concerns seriously, and talked me through every step. The equipment, room, and whole place was very clean and comfortable. I felt at ease from the minute I walked in through the whole process. They were very comprehensive in what I could expect from my tattoo in terms of healing and what I should do for follow up. A month later, it's perfectly healed and looks fantastic. I am so happy with it and I know if I have any questions or concerns I'll be able to come back to Chameleon/Markus with them. If I want another tattoo, I will definitely be returning. I also got my nose pierced here (in 2015) and had a similarly excellent experience. I would recommend Chameleon to anyone wanting a tattoo or body piercing. Very professional and positive overall. Read Less

I got a tattoo done around a month ago and just got around to reviewing to make sure that the tattoo healed well.My artist was Jorge, who I am disappointed to see is no longer working at the store as I was planning on getting a sleeve done with him later next year. I read the past reviews about him and will have to say I didn't really have any issues working with him.The piece I got done by Jorge was custom designed, and he was very enthusiastic and worked with me to understand exactly what I was imagining. His stencil drawing showed me that we were on the same page. I told him that I wanted the tattoo done in primarily black and red, and then pretty much gave him flexibility to do what he wanted in terms of finer details. I trusted him as an artist and didn't want to micromanage everything. The end result looked way better than what I imagined and he was so detailed it was amazing. One minor negative thing was that he added some white ink embellishments onto the tattoo without telling me, which to be fair looked fantastic. However I would have preferred at least some warning in case I happened to be allergic or averse to white ink.He was pretty quiet during the tattooing session which I didn't mind. The people working at the desk was nice and my appointment scheduling went smooth. In all I had a good experience with this tattoo parlor though I am disappointed that I won't have Jorge as my regular artist anymore. Read Less

I got my nipple piercing done here and I think the person who did my piercing was named Owen and he was super nice. This was a while back but I just thought I'd leave the review now because even though I was such a pain in the ass for getting two piercings in three days, he was nice to me and explained everything to me about after care and I really appreciate it. Until this day my piercings are in great condition. I would go back again ! For someone who was a beginner and got something intense. Read Less

I came here after wanting to get my nipples repierced, and I really can't emphasize enough how happy I am to have chosen Owen to do them after some significant piercer research in MA. I was, naturally, terrified to get them redone. After years of having them out I really missed them, but came in pretty nervous the day of. Owen is everything you would want in a piercer. He is so calming and informative. He took the time to explain how my previous piercing really wasn't done correctly - which I think I had a gut feeling all along, and how it should be. He spoke at length about the healing process, what I went through then vs what I should go through now. While it still hurt, it hurt significantly less than the first time because he did it right, and despite the pain - was a really great coach talking me through it! After everything was said and done I felt amazing and happy with the way everything went.My only regret is not coming here sooner, and I will never go to anyone else besides Owen going forward. You are in good hands with him, I promise! Read Less

The front desk staff were very pleasant and the shop was super clean. Although they are appointment based for piercings, they had a cancellation and was able to get me in that day. Owen was awesome! He talked me through the whole thing step by step. He definitely has a lot of experience. It was quick and almost painless.  I absolutely love my new nostril piercing! Read Less

My roommate and I went here yesterday to get nostril piercings, and the process was an absolute delight from start to finish. Kelly made booking our appointments a breeze, and was such a good sport as she answered all of my many questions about the jewelry she showed us (bearing in mind that a fair amount of my questions were more than a little dumb and she's also probably heard them all a thousand times before -- but hey, I was nervous lol). She's genuinely very lovely to talk to and hands down one of the friendliest people I've met in the customer service industry. Chameleon has to have accepted payment beforehand in order to secure your 15-minute appointment time, either over the phone or in person. We had walked in to make our appointments about three days before we got the piercings, and on the actual day that I got the piercing I was really glad I'd already paid for it (minus tip ofc); just one less thing for me to have to worry about in the moment! I didn't think I'd appreciate that kind of thing, but turns out I really did.So, when it comes to the piercing process itself? Let's just say that I literally cannot say enough good things about Owen. He has such a calming voice and overall demeanor, is so so nice, and walks you through everything he's doing as he's doing it so that there are no surprises and so that you're comfortable the entire time. I didn't notice this until after I'd already left the shop, but his hands were also extremely gentle and you could tell that he was doing his job with the utmost care. He put me at ease about being nervous seemingly effortlessly, and walked both of us through the aftercare instructions diligently. I think that a lot of the time people tend to forget that when they're paying for a tattoo or a piercing, they're also paying for the experience. You want to feel like you're being paid attention to and that your questions, feelings, etc are valued, since there's a certain level of trust required between the piercer and the piercee for the brief time that you're working together (considering they're putting an actual hole in your body). Example: Owen walked me through the process of figuring out the placement of the stud depending on whether I'd like to have the option for a hoop later on. We switched between two possible placements before settling on one, but he never rushed me to make a decision or made me feel like I was wasting his time. I've been to Stingray before to get the jewelry on some of my other piercings changed, and never once have I had a good experience there because their piercer was astoundingly rude and dismissive. You'll get none of that here, because you're treated like a valued customer no matter what.Three separate people recommended Owen and this place in general as a great place to get any kind of piercing, and they were 1000% correct. Seriously, just go to Chameleon for all of your piercing needs. You won't regret it. I'll probably update in a few months once the piercing has healed, but I don't foresee my opinion changing. Thank you, thank you, thank you guys!! Read Less

Got my nipple pierced by Owen Beane here a couple weeks ago. I'd had my other nip done by Matt Ronin at Punctured about a year prior, and was really bummed when I found he moved out of state - but Owen absolutely met the very high bar that had been set by my great experience with Matt.He was friendly, calm, careful and professional. He took the time to explain how he would do the piercing, but also asked if I disagreed or had something different in mind. It turned out I did in fact want a slightly larger gauge and a slightly shorter bar than Owen had suggested, in order to match the piercing I was already wearing on the other side, and he was absolutely great about it - accommodating my request, considering it carefully and eventually agreeing that he could do what I wanted. He used excellent sanitation practices (I'm a nurse, so I am a stickler for that stuff) and ultimately I was very happy with the final piercing. I'd go back to Owen any time! Read Less

I got my nose pierced this afternoon by Owen, and it was an AMAZING experience. I was a bit nervous at the start, but he was completely chill with my friends coming in and sitting with me (also he has a very calming presence in general). He walked me through each and every step of the process: from sanitizing my nose, to picking the spot on the nostril, to how the actual piercing would go down. He has the placement of the piercing down to a science (marks it with marker first), and he was spot on with where I (and my friends) also thought would look good on my nose.When it came time to do the actual piercing, he coached me through every step (including reminding me to breathe). It was as painless as a piercing could be (this is my first none earlobe piercing, so really wasn't sure what to expect pain-wise). As soon as he was done and gave me the mirror, I was beaming! I'm so so so happy with the piercing, and Owen was a huge part of that! So many thanks to Owen and Chameleon! Sidenote: I spent this whole thing talking about Owen/the piercing experience. But the rest of the staff at Chameleon was very friendly and helpful! Definitely recommend going to Owen/Chameleon for any of your future piercings. Read Less

I went to Chameleon to get a second hole pierced in my ear lobe and more than five years later, I still tell everyone about the great experience I had. Owen was fantastic, patient about my being squeamish, put me at ease with his stellar bedside manner and immediately pointed to the perfect spot on my ear when I told him what I wanted. The room was clean, the equipment and procedure were sterile and everything healed without issue.If I want anything else pierced, I know where I'm going. If anyone I know wants anything pierced, I tell them to go to Chameleon. If you're reading this to vet piercing places in Boston/Cambridge, you've found the one. Trust. Read Less

tldr: my tattoo looks good, but it's not what I asked for at all. I do not recommend seeing Jorge.I got a tattoo with Jorge who was nice and fun to talk to.I came in with a design that he took and made unique, which was good because I didn't want a tattoo exactly like someone else's. He took the essence of what I was looking for and made it into a new design which I gave him light feedback on changing a few lines to dots. It didn't look anything like the picture I gave him, but that was fine by me because I liked the new artwork a lot too. He didn't redraw anything and just said he would make the adjustments.For my tattoo, it was really important to me it would look geometric and not like an object with 3 dimensions. When he showed me his design, he mentioned nothing about adding shading. Because I was getting it on my back, I couldn't see it as he was doing it and WITHOUT MY PERMISSION he added a ton of shading, making my tattoo look like a funky plant instead of a mandala design. It didn't look at all like the picture he showed me that I consented to. It was pretty, but I honestly hate what he did to it.In the end, I have a tattoo that everyone really likes, but it's not what I wanted, which sucks because it was something that symbolized something very important to me and now it's on my back forever.Other notes: pricing was good, process was fast, everyone was really nice Read Less

The whole piercing experience itself was great-- painless, professional, and sterile. The issue I had was with their policy of paying when you make your appointment over the phone with no refunds for cancelling within 24 hours. I went in wanting a different piercing than the one I actually got. It so happened that the piercing I originally wanted couldn't be done since my ear didn't have enough cartilage there-- totally fine and understandable. But since I had already paid before not knowing this, I ended up rashly deciding on a location. Had there been a consultation before paying, I may have had time to consider getting something different or not at all. Read Less

These guys are all around EXCELLENT. They always go above and beyond my expectations with their professionalism and industry knowledge. I've had several tattoos done by Joe Boo (who does incredible custom work and isn't afraid of a challenge), and just recently I got a nose piercing done. Joe is AMAZING. He has incredibly steady hands (definitely a plus) and really knows a lot about modern trends in the tattoo world. He did a custom back (SUPER NERDY LOtR-inspired) piece that required him to draw a whole bunch of ivy from scratch, and another custom dragon partial sleeve. I basically just handed him a bunch of pics of dragons, he was like ok cool, and ba-da-bing, ba-da-boom, I have a big ol' scaly boi on my arm that gets so many compliments it should be illegal! When I went to get the nose piercing, initially I wanted to add 2 more nostril piercings to the left side of my nose on which I already have one. I think his name is Owen told me that it would be a mega huge pain for healing, as placement would be basically impossible to do in both an aesthetically pleasing and safe way (I'm definitely adding my own words there, but that was what I understood him to be saying). So I got my one nose piercing and went on my merry way. Long story short, these folks are spectacular human beings and are very talented with needles of all shapes and sizes, and will work with you to make sure you get what you came for. Unless you're a weird asshole. Read Less

It's been over a week since my piercing and I can't say enough positive things. The whole experience from making the appointment to the phone call with question after were so easy. All of the staff were kind and helpful. I picked this studio because the reviews of Owen's work were amazing and they were right. I was a little nervous going in and his professionalism made everything so simple.  The piercings are healing nicely. If I ever get more piercings I'm coming back and I would recommend Chameleon to anyone! Read Less

I don't even know why I'm writing this review, since hundreds already exist speaking highly of Owen and the amazing work he does. He obviously takes immense pride in his work, and it shines.I'm by no means an experienced piercing-receiver. Piercee? In fact, this was my first non-lobe piercing and this is my first non-food review on Yelp. I've had my eye on this place as a potential place to get my first (of several) piercing done for about 1.5 years and have put a lot of time into learning about different piercings, consequences of piercing, etc. I finally believed it was the perfect time to get pierced and I booked my appointment.The website doesn't currently correctly list Owen's hours, so it's imperative that you call to check availability, then set/pay for an appointment. I spent ~15 or so minutes on the phone since the store was experiencing wifi issues and I had to relay my payment info a few times, but the person on the phone was super sweet.When it came time to go to the appointment, I was obviously a nervous mess, but Owen was obviously very used to nervous banter. He listened to and took my concerns about hypertrophic scarring seriously (my mother and I have had sever scarring tissue form and have had to get stuff laser treatment in the past to remove some of the excess tissue). I completely trust his judgment, and none of his advice was out of the ordinary or didn't align with what I had heard from other places. The process was very simple, and I left feeling very excited for my new piercings. I certainly won't be taking my chances anywhere else for the rest of my planned piercings.You get what you pay for and even more. I've had too many friends end up with shitty experiences (new piercings with hoops---luckily Owen refuses to do that) in your run of the mill piercing places (especially in L.A.). The reviews for Owen speak for themselves, and I hope this one adds to that long list. I'll update if anything goes south with service, but I know everything from here is on me. I won't comment on pain since it's personal to every individual, but as someone whose heart rate was 113 entering the room according to my Fitbit, pain is not my friend. He doesn't make it any worse than it needs to be, for sure. Read Less

I went in to get my nose pierced by Owen. He did an amazing job! I was very nervous, but he did a great job at explaining each step and the piercing didn't hurt one bit!My nose became swollen the next couple of days and the piece inside my nose had to be changed to a longer piece and they did it with no issues! Read Less

Just got my first tattoo! I walked right in on a random Sunday afternoon and was able to get a tattoo within 30 minutes! Mike did my tattoo and he was friendly, extremely knowledgable and professional. Absolutely had a great experience and will definitely be returning for more pieces :) Read Less

My cartilage piercing brings me so much happiness! I had previously gotten my lobes unsafely pierced by a woman with a needle on the side of a random street in a foreign country, so I had no idea what a "legitimate" piercing business looked like.I was surprised! Owen switched out his gloves so many times. He was so meticulous in telling me exactly what he was doing. I had a private room and even one of those doctor's office beds! He made me feel as though I could ask as many questions as I wanted. It was 1 second of pain and then it was done.I waited a week to post because I wanted to see how my cartilage fared. It's great! There was little bleeding on the back which resolved in two days. It occasionally itches and gets red. I sometimes accidentally sleep on it, but even then, it's not really painful. I just feel the piercing. I'll keep it on without moving it for 4-6 months as recommended.I purchased their saline spray which has made after care easier. I love this place and am already trying to decide on my next piercing or tattoo. Read Less

Got my first set of non-ear piercings. Owen was very professional and gave great tips and directions for aftercare. If I decide I any other piercings I will return! The space was super clean and private located in the garage at Harvard Square. Awesome spot! Read Less

Just went in to get a piercing change- I was 7 minutes late and the chick at the front desk said to me with the LARGEST attitude, "oh- you're reeeaally late. Yeah, looks like we don't have time for you." She was so incredibly rude and even gave my friend visiting from LA a tone when she asked a simple question about maybe getting her jewelry changed as well. She charged me an extra $5 for being 7 mins late and having to schedule another appointment 30 mins from my original. So fucking unnecessary & it ruined both me and my friend's day. Will never be coming back. 0 stars Read Less

I went here for the first time in 2013. I was just getting a belly piercing, but I'm pretty wimpy when it comes to pain so I was nervous. However, Owen was a total sweetheart, very professional and friendly. The piercing process itself was super fast and barely hurt. I just came back here the other day to get a tattoo from Jorge - he was so wonderful! He was extremely fast compared to other artists I've been to in the past, I absolutely adored his work, and loved chatting with him. Can't wait to come back! Read Less

As a complete piercing newbie, I was wary of getting one done, but Owen put me at complete ease and was so great at explaining the process. The whole process was quick, steady, and tbh painless in both setting up an appointment and the piercing itself. I can totally see why people love Chameleon so much! Would definitely come here for another piercing. Read Less

If you're looking to get a tattoo or piercing, Chameleon is undoubtedly the only place you should go to. I asked around about who I should go to for my navel piercing, and almost every person I asked highly recommended Chameleon. I was originally scheduled to just get my navel pierced, however, upon waiting for my appointment, I went ahead and got my first tattoo done as well. Despite that I was a walk-in, Jared was very diligent about ensuring that my tattoo was perfect, from stenciling to placement. He finished my tattoo in about 5 minutes, and the end result was beautiful! The lettering was done exquisitely!About an hour later, it was time for my piercing appointment. Considering that this was my first body piercing as well, I was fairly nervous. As soon as I walked in, the woman in the front warmly greeted me and let me choose my jewelry (the selection is great by the way!). Shortly after I met Owen, and he walked me through the entire piercing process, from beginning to end. His placement was spot on on the first try, and the piercing itself was virtually painless! Owen was incredibly nice and professional, and I'd recommend him to anyone searching for a reputable piercer! I'll most definitely be back for more soon! Read Less

I had an amazing piercing experience at Chameleon Tattoo. I was initially very nervous about getting my ear lobe pierced, particularly since I had gotten it pierced with a piercing gun twice before, but was forced to let the piercing close since my ear kept getting infected. I decided to give piercing one last try by going to a tattooing parlor instead. Boy, am I glad I did. Owen did a phenomenal job allaying my fears by explaining everything in such detail to me. Beyond that, however, he had a really customer-centric approach to piercings. Upon inspecting my previous piercing further, he discovered that my previous piercing had not closed completely. As such, he dissuaded me from getting a completely new piercing (which would have cost me more money), and together, we decided on the optimal option for me, simply reopening the piercing. The whole affair was as painless as it could get, and ended up costing me $20 less than I expected. Couldn't recommend this place and Owen more! :) Read Less

I've been going to Mike for several of my tattoos. The whole place is super professional and clean, but without being super intimidating. Everyone that works there is super approachable! Prices are good and so is the ink, I recommend to all my friends. Read Less

Went in only expecting to schedule an appointment, wanted to get something to kiss goodbye to a crappy year, but they were able to help me right then. (I'm sure a bigger art piece would have taken more planning, but mine was more straightforward.) Very happy with the outcome, and even more so with the staff, from being greeted to the final care instructions you get on the way out I never felt condescension or that I was wasting his time (which being Very left brained, I have felt from the artistics in the past :/) Next time I want to make a mark I'll be heading back. (for anyone who cares I got pi with a decimal place for each year I've been around, I know it stretches forever) Read Less

Just had my second tattoo done by Jorge, wonderful atmosphere of the place with a very welcoming reception! Jorge was very professional and kind and helped ease my nerves by talking with me and playing music during the tattooWill be going to him for any more future tattoos! Read Less

I’ve had two piercings done here! Owen recently did my bridge and it came out PERFECT! He was super informational, meticulous about the placement and made sure it was straight and that I was alright multiple times. Getting pierced was a breeze. I had my septum done by Matheo last year and it was great as well. The staff is super personable and friendly, I don’t think I’ll get pierced anywhere else. I’d trust the Chameleon staff with my life lol Read Less

They're always so busy that every time I go i have to wait a week for the piercer. I have tried 5 times to get the same piercing changed and every time it's booked full. I understand this is normal issue, however only being able to make appointments in person sucks. I live 20 minutes away, and specifically make the trip to Harvard Sq just to get piercings changed. While i understand the in person rule, id appreciate it if there was the ability to at least book online, to give some sort of chance to see the schedule so I don't waste my time driving there. The last time I tried to make an appointment I went right at opening hours, 12 pm. The piercer wasn't doing anything, just standing in the room, and the person at the front said I had to wait until 7pm as he was booked. He literally wasn't doing anything!!!!! A piercing change literally takes 7 minutes. I don't blame the piercer, but I do blame the front desk. Also, theyre very overpriced. Read Less

Kelly has been the most calming and super nice!!! I'm so glad I didn't go anywhere else and waited for here. Owen also rocked in tapering my belly ring back in. I was so nervous and it was real smooth. Awesome and thank you!!!! Read Less

Great experience with my 7 year old getting her ears pierced by Owen. Everyone we met was kind and professional. Highly recommend taking your little ones there for piercings; I wouldn't change a thing and I plan on coming back for myself! Read Less

I got my first tattoo there, the tattoo artists are very gentle and friendly, everyone got different and special tattoos. The store is clean and simple. If you wanna tattoo, visit here. You will get something to surprise you. Btw, Harvard University around there, and some interesting stores you can visit.Read Less

UPDATE: lowered to one star due to a LOT of correlation between my review and countless others here. I also just found out from my friends who stayed that he mentioned he would have attacked me if he wasn't at work. The lack of maturity and professionalism from this underweight 40-year-old is absolutely disgusting. Spend your money on genuine artists with respect for their trade and customers. Short story? The tattoo that my friend got was fine, kind of sloppy line work, but for $80, it was a fine last minute tattoo. Unfortunately, the artist (Jorge Seested) who did the work was juvenile and unprofessional and actually told me a tattoo I have is impossible and "will look like kool-aid in 5 years" (I've had it for 4) and that the reason my artist did it was because he didn't care about his work. As well, he didn't understand the concept that the image I emailed them wasn't scaled to the size I want it and when I asked him to explain the issue, he said, "Too. Much. Tattoo. Not. Enough. Skin." - he wasn't making any effort to work with me. I wouldn't have had an issue with Jorge and our disagreement, but he insulted the artistry and integrity of a man he has never met, assumed my experience and knowledge, and made his fragile ego apparent. I had to get up and leave for a few minutes so I didn't escalate the situation and make it worse for my friends who were staying for a tattoo. When I returned after cooling down, he slammed his door in my face, asked my friends, "Why did HE come back?" and proceeded to trash talk me behind closed doors. I can't speak for the other artists, they all seemed like good people and the girl behind the counter was pleasant. I'll happily admit that of the three of us, two of us were told our tattoos weren't possible (we asked for tattoos with color outlines). The two of us decided we wouldn't get work done in this shop. We aren't locals, so our friend, who was getting a tattoo still, called some of her other favorite places to ask if they had any openings for two. It was pretty rude, but it hadn't even occurred to me. I tried to explain the situation as best as I could, but the artist didn't care to have a conversation as much as he wanted to flaunt his inferiority complex (stating, "Well I don't want to be your consolation prize," not understanding that we were NOT getting work done by him, but our friend was). So, if you want to get something done that they won't do, don't expect to be treated well. This particular guy will attack you, belittle you, and brag about his outdated, irrelevant misinformation. My advice? Come here with an open mind, give them a shot, but be smart about where your money goes.In the meantime, I'll be sticking with our local artists at 12 Tattoos and other talented businesses. Read Less

UPDATE: lowered to one star due to a LOT of correlation between my review and countless others here. I also just found out from my friends who stayed that he mentioned he would have attacked me if he wasn't at work. The lack of maturity and professionalism from this underweight 40-year-old is absolutely disgusting. Spend your money on genuine artists with respect for their trade and customers. Wasn't going to post a review here, but Facebook insisted. Short story? The tatto...o that my friend got was fine, kind of sloppy line work, but for $80, it was a fine last minute tattoo. Unfortunately, the "artist" who did the work (Jorge Seested) was juvenile and unprofessional and actually told me a tattoo I have is impossible and "will look like kool-aid in 5 years" (I've had it for 4) and that the reason my artist did it was because he didn't care about his work. I wouldn't have had an issue with this guy and our disagreement, but he insulted the artistry and integrity of a man he has never met, assumed my experience and knowledge, and made his fragile ego apparent. I had to get up and leave for a few minutes so I didn't escalate the situation and make it worse for my friends who were staying for a tattoo. When I returned after cooling down, he slammed his door in my face, asked my friends, "Why did HE come back?" and proceeded to trash talk me behind closed doors. I can't speak for the other artists, they all seemed like good people and the girl behind the counter was pleasant. I'll happily admit that of the three of us, two of us were told our tattoos weren't possible (we asked for tattoos with color outlines - not black). The two of us decided we wouldn't get work done in this shop. We aren't locals, so our friend, who was getting a tattoo still, called some of her other favorite places to ask if they had any openings for two. It was pretty rude, but it hadn't even occurred to me. I tried to explain the situation as best as I could, but the artist didn't care to have a conversation as much as he wanted to flaunt his inferiority complex. So, if you want to get something done that they won't do, don't expect to be treated well. This particular guy will attack you, belittle you, and brag about his outdated, irrelevant misinformation. In the meantime, I'll be sticking with our local artists at 12 Tattoos and other talented businesses. See More Read Less

Owen is such a pleasure to work with. He has a great bedside manner -- very calm and reassuring, pleasant, friendly, and *full* of information. He talks you through everything he does and everything he's planning to do so that there are no surprises. He's super conscientious about hygiene, too -- must have changed his gloves a dozen times while I was in the room, and meticulously sterilized everything he touched. His piercings are also just awesome -- totally straight and perfectly placed. Every piercing he's done on me (and we're now up to 4) has healed like a champ. I won't let anyone else poke holes in me! :) Read Less

I love this place and would recommend it to most of my friends. This review is for two piercing experiences. I have gotten my septum and my nipples pierced here and both experiences were different. My nipples were pierced by Owen and that was an amazingly calm experience. I was terrifying and anxious, Owen did an amazing job calming me down and informing me every step of the way. He was incredibly understanding when I was nervous and did his best to calm me down. 9/10My septum was pierced by Mateo, and this was also a pretty good experience. Very patient and nice. We ended up having to re-pierce my septum three times (which I wasn't super thrilled about) but he wanted to make sure it was perfectly straight (I appreciate that) I wish I could have gotten a discount or something but it looks great so I am not super angry. 6.5/10Pros:-amazingly clean-staff is usually incredibly helpful and nice-procedures are usually stress freeCons:-piercings (non-genital) are walk-in only so be prepared to wait!-pretty expensive (you pay for the quality, I have never gotten an infection from a piercing here) Read Less

This shop was recommended to me by some locals as I've only been in town for a few months. A friend visiting from CA wanted to finally get a tattoo with me and we proceeded to be "those people" and try to do the walk-in spontaneous thing. Setting an appointment:I didn't expect much as a Sunday walk-in, but was pleasantly surprised to find them quite accommodating. They obviously had a pretty full book, but we're able to arrange an appointment for us later in the afternoon. Design:We both went very simple. Mine took 3 stencil iterations to get it just right - which the artist was happy to do. Hers was smaller so it took just one, and her artist have great advice for her first ink. On the table:Both artists were steady, professional, and considerate (offered breaks, tried to keep things light). Mine required straight line work - and it came out great. Nearly no blowouts, fairly perfect throughout. Hers was immaculate - she got only an outline instead of a filled in shape, great call by the artist. Price:She paid shop minimum for a small crescent moon outline (I don't remember exactly but it was around $100 with tip). Mine was a bit pricier than I expected. I got a single line about 3mm thick from my wrist to my shoulder and it came out to $240 before tip. I would've liked to have been told the price before getting the ink - not that I would've contested it, I just wouldn't have been so surprised. Mine definitely took longer (about 45min) and was larger - but I paid only $500 for my full back piece elsewhere, which is intricate geometry (metatron's cube) and took 4hours. Both are no color, straight lines, similar quality shop. The cost definitely wasn't uncalled for - the quality, craftsmanship, and professionalism here definitely earn the price tag. I highly recommend this shop - and plan to return for future ink. Read Less

I had a consultation with Reuben that I set up a week in advance. I showed up, he had left early, and no one had called me to let me know. The staff were nice and really apologetic, but I'm not coming here to get my tattoo--it's unprofessional to forget your patrons. I had to commute all the way out here from Lexington.I'm sure it's not Reuben's fault at all, I respect his work. Sorry that it didn't work out. Read Less

There are few times in life when you want to go out there and do something adventurous. This was not one of those since i already have a tattoo. It has been 15 years since I had got it so a couple of months back I decided to get another. After a lot of research, I found what I wanted and where I wanted it. Since I am from NY, i looked at multiple places with great reviews and finally chose one in the Village. I dont know what happened that day but i just wasnt getting good vibes so decided to drop it. Didnt even reach the parlor. One weekend in Boston, i decided to see if there were any appointments available. Since we were 2 of us who wanted it, we called a couple of places and there was nothig available. The 3rd or the 4th place we called was Chameleon and once they saw the designs, they said they could squeeze us in. So grateful for that. Mike was our tattoo artist and was amazing. He put us at ease, answered all our q's and then gave us exactly what we wanted. My tattoo is a latin 3 word phrase which was pretty simple and i got it close to my wrist on my forearm. He advised us on aftercare once he was done (in less than an hour for both tattoos). Mine cost me $100 ($30 more than the NY spot), but thats ok. As long as the work is good. It was not too painful and like I said Mike knew what he was doing. I would totally recommend Chameleon to anyone esp the first timers. Read Less

I came to this place to get my belly button pierced because it already had so many great reviews and now I know why! Owen was very calm, relaxed and knowledgeable about belly button piercings. He really put my fears at ease and made me feel confident in my decision! He answered all questions I had and gave me clear instructions about aftercare. Would recommend this place for anyone looking to get a piercing! Read Less

My friend and I got tattoos here. This was my second one done here, this was her first. The place is super clean. The people are so nice and friendly and really put everyone's mind at easy. (This was her first tattoo). My first one they did, a lot of shops said the coloring would be hard because a pink tone might not take but they got it and it came out exactly how I wanted. As for the 2nd one, he even offered advice on how to make my tattoo even more colorful and to pop even more. Love going here and their walk-in policies are awesome because I am someone that can not commit to an appointment or get freaked if I set up an appointment even though I have multiple tattoos. Read Less

This review is for both piercing AND tattooing at this studio. I went in to see if I could get my nose re-pierced (I had taken it out 3 yrs ago). My piercer was lovely and did an excellent job making sure the placement and jewelry were just right. Went back 7 months later for a jewelry change and had a different piercer change out my jewelry. Again, I felt like I was in good hands. Professional, clean, and friendly. Make an appointment since they get slammed with walk-ins. They have a great variety of jewelry at their extension store. I walked in on a Saturday to see if I could get some line work done on my leg and had the pleasure of being tattooed by Jorge Seested. He created beautiful clean lines and I will definitely be going back to him for my next tattoo.  Thank you, Chameleon! Read Less

Have been to this shop a few times. Recently went with my niece for her 1st & my 23rd. Staff are kind, professional& talented. I will continue to get work by Jorge. I highly recommend this shop for your tattoo needs. Read Less

After reading multiple great Yelp reviews in chameleon, I decided to get an an upper helix piercing. It was very painless, has healed well and the whole experience was great. I was nervous about getting it done, but when I saw how professional the piercing room was and that everything was very sterile, my nerves calmed down. Owen also explained the whole process before actually doing the piercing, which made me more relaxed as well. He is very knowledgeable about piercing placement, which showed when he suggested that I  do the piercing in my left ear instead of my original plan of doing it in the right ear, since it would work better there. I highly recommend getting your piercings done here. Read Less

I had my lobe piercings done yesterday by Owen. He's friendly, professional, and instantly calms any nervousness you might have. The piercing area is clean and sort of looks like a doctor's office, yet cozy. My only wish is that I had come here years ago instead of going to the mall. If you want piercings or want to have your child's ears pierced properly and safely then this is definitely the place to go. Read Less

I recently got a piercing done at Chameleon and I am really happy with the results.My experience there was great, the woman who had done my piercing was really amazing, she talked me through everything, step by step, she made me feel comfortable and relaxed. I would recommend this place to anyone. Also the customer service was absolutely amazing. Read Less

I'd been trying, unsuccessfully, for a few weeks to walk in and get my ears pierced before I finally decided to just make an appointment, since I was there anyway. Got a slot the next day and boom, in and out in 30 minutes. The piercer, Owen, was a really friendly guy who talked me through every step without being condescending and was just all around accommodating throughout. All in all, I definitely recommend Chameleon for piercings, but also take the time to go ahead of time and make an appointment because they seem to be way too busy for walk-ins. Read Less

This was my third time getting work done and like the first two the staff there was amazing. Owen was an incredible piercer and so much fun to be with. Jorge did an amazing job with my tattoos I had done and I will continue to have any and all work done there :) Read Less

I just got my nipple pierced here and it was an amazing experience. I am pretty afraid of needles, but the piercer was so chill and relaxed, that the process felt like no big deal. I would highly recommend getting pierced here, as I know I am coming back for more in the near future! Read Less

This guy knows how to pierce your ears good! Owen is so nice and polite, and he is super patient. I asked him to mark at several places on my earlobes, and each time he did it with great profession and patience. Read Less

I have been going to the Chameleon to get pierced since 2000. An amazing jewelry selection with very knowledgable and personable staff! Owen and Darcy are the piercers on staff and I wouldn't trust anyone else. They are the best — calm, knowledge and always happy to chat about what you'd like to do. Appointments can only be made in person; a bit challenging for those who don't live near but well worth the extra work to be pierced by those who have worked in the industry and know it inside and out. Also the Harvard Square location is super cool — lots of fun places to eat and walk around. Read Less

I've now gotten seven piercings at Chameleon (five by Owen, and two by apprentice Darcy) and all of them have healed up very nicely. Owen and Darcy are both super friendly and knowledgeable, and do a great job of explaining what they are doing and what to expect throughout the process of actually getting the piercing and then while healing it afterward. Yes, I know people say the prices are expensive, but for the great quality jewelry and selection and the extremely professional, talented piercers it is definitely worth the price! I would suggest trying to go on a week day as there can be quite a wait on weekends. If you must go on the weekend, be prepared to go wander around Harvard Square for a while before returning for your appointment.Read Less

I just went in for a little nose piercing and it's the only place I've gone where I wasn't intimidated. I think Owen was the one who did it and he was super kind and professional. It was a really great, clean, informative experience overall. He walked me through the whole process!The only thing is make sure you bring cash for a tip! I have to go back and give mine because he was so great. Read Less

This shop seemed extremely professional and competent.  Even though they had a 4 hour wait they took me right away because I was having an emergency with a piercing I had done at a different shop.  Owen was very friendly,  personable &  efficient,  quickly helping me with my piercing and proving he was an expert on the subject.  Do yourself a favor,  and don't what I did: get your next pricing here NOT somewhere else. Read Less

I brought my 8 year old daughter to Chameleon to get her ears pierced, and also got my nose done while we were there. Everyone was so helpful, patient, and nice, from the person who answered my questions on the phone, to the person who helped us pick out our jewelry, to Owen, who not only did a great job piercing us, but also answering the barrage of questions fired at him from both my kids, about every little detail you could imagine. Highly recommended for kids and adults alike. Thank you! Read Less

Owen was fantastic and so sweet with my daughter! She's 11 years old and was really nervous about getting her ears pierced, but he completely put her at ease and did a wonderful job. I can't believe how much quicker and less painful it was than my own experience at the mall 30 years ago. Read Less

Literally just walked out of getting a nipple piercing from this place and can I just say Owen you are amazing and the sweetest! This is my 2nd time getting it pierced I got my first time at Stingray and a woman pieced it wrong and use a short bar for my nipple so I had it for a year and it never healed right thank god it never got infected! But never the less please go to Owen at least for your nipple piercing NOT Stingray! That is all. Read Less

Love these guys. Not only is everyone ultra talented, the shop is tidy, clean, and comfortable. I used to get tattooed at a few different shops but the last 4+ years I've stuck with Chameleon for all of my bodymod needs. Super educated, friendly, generous, caring folks. Be sure to check out the Jewelry Gallery for *the most* gorgeous display you've ever seen. Read Less

I had a half-sleeve with chest based on a Hokusai painting last year tattooed by Rueben last year. I've been lucky to have great tattoo artists for all of my pieces so far, and Rueben has been the best of them. He spent a lot of time working a 2 dimensional painting to work wonderfully in the odd 3 dimensional space we were using, and happily solicited and took feedback. Given the size of the piece, and the small details, the outline process alone took 5-6 hours. Rueben was as focused as anyone I've seen for that time, and the outline came out so awesome I was sad to get it colored it. I could barely even think straight by the time I left, don't know how he did it. He maintained that same focused professionalism and attention to detail during the rest of the  process, while constantly evaluating color choices etc to make sure the final product looked as amazing as possible.  But he's also laid back and easy to talk to. Overall just a great experience and a great result. If you're looking for Japanese/ Ukiyo-e style tattoo, Chameleon and Rueben are your guys for sure. Read Less

My best friend and I made a spur-of-the moment decision to get our industrial rings done. A year and a half ago. Haven't got the chance to write my review. Thought I'll take the time to write one now since my industrial ring is all healed! Pain was one of the issues for me since I barely survived my other single cartilage piercing. Why get another one? I love pain. lol. I mean, why not? Owen took the time to make sure I was ready. He's actually very funny and that really helped the process. I went first to get it over with. Throughout the process I felt like I was going to pass out. I forgot to breathe. I was such a baby. However, Owen was quick and made the process painless! He talked me through everything he was doing, and everything I needed to do after. Definitely a nice place to get piercings! Read Less

Got my ears pierced today and it was a very good experience. I had Owen, who was an expert in piercing. He did an excellent job, clean and quick, with great precision. In addition to that, he was very patient with giving professional care advice for someone like me who had no previous piercing experience. The pricing was also reasonable. I would definitely recommend to others who seek good piercing service. Read Less