My piercer was awesome super friendly and it was quick and simple. The environment was super clean also The staff was super friendly it took me a while to decided if I would be pierced or not and they acceptedThat. The only down side is not having cheaper options for the jewelry which I get but, let's say you get pierced pay 120 on your jewelry and then you decide you don't want it now you got a super expensive piece of jewelry and a closed hole. Read Less

Great place to get pierced! I recently got my #!££¥%$ pierced here and it was fast and painless (well mostly) great selection of Jewelry also! I would highly recommend! The only place in the area that opens on Sundays too! Read Less

Cowpok is a great place to get pierced and tattooed! I've only been pierced at Cowpok and enjoyed my experience! I got pierced once and then came back 4 months later to switch out jewelry for a different piercing which was also a great experience! It was definitely busy both times I went! I went on a Thursday during summer and a Sunday winter afternoon, shortly after they opened. You'll most likely wait 30-45 min to get pierced at Cowpok, but it's worth it! They are knowledgeable, patient and personable! I also really appreciate the esthetics and ambiance of Cowpok and like that it doesn't smell like a tattoo shop! I don't like getting pierced where I get tattooed. Weird, but I just don't like it. Cowpok doesn't have the tattoo shop vibe as much as they do a piercing shop. The employees are very down to earth and just awesome! Their social media presence is also great. If you check in on Yelp, you get $10 off a piercing or tattoo! Read Less

I had been pierced years before in another place, the experience was awful.  It was painful and was still sore 2 weeks later.  I couldn't stand it so took it out. So I was very nervous about trying again. I read that this was the place to be and gave it a shot.  The staff was very friendly, the place was clean, and the variety of jewelry was outstanding.  I was Pierced by Sarah, and she was so friendly and made me feel very at ease.  The only pain I felt was a slight pinch when the needle went in initially.  There was no tearing up like before.  There was not even an ache afterward.  I only had slight swelling for a day or two after.  I don't even realize I have it in.  I love my piercing, and I love cowpok.  I would recommend this place a million times over.  I will never get pierced anywhere else.  I got pierced last Sunday, November 18. Read Less

Partially my bad for not doing my research, I was a walk-in and got my first tattoo at the Elmwood location. It was on my sternum, and hurt SO BADLY but I just assumed that was because I was a newbie and it was a sensitive place.... several tattoos later I know that it hurt the extra amount because it wasnt done properly. After two and a half years of healing, it is permanently raised, bumpy, and uneven- and it's an extremely simple, pretty small tattoo. I know others who have gotten great piercings here, and they did reach out to me on Twitter, which is why I didn't leave one star. Mostly just an unfortunate first tattoo experience. Do your research! Read Less

Second tattoo at Cowpok now and I am so happy with the results and services! My first tattoo here was part of the semi- colon project which says a lot about the businesses ethics and morals, they are all just honest people who are doing what they love! I felt impelled to write a review after I got my second tattoo done with a friend by Mark who did an amazing job! He was funny and personable and had incredible line work!!! I love both my tattoos from Cowpok and would definitely recommend it to anyone for both tattoo and piercing!! (My friend got piercings done by Anna and said she was fabulous! Professional but make you feel comfortable and cared for! Very clean and located in the heart of Allentown/Elmwood! Definitely the spot for body art in Buff! Love it!Update for those who want basic pricing: standard ink fee here is $80 Read Less

This is my favorite place to get new piercings and jewelry.  I drive all the way from Rochester to come here.  I will say the jewelry is quite expensive, but the piercers and staff are all very knowledgeable.  I've had piercings done by both Mike and Anna - both had great advice about what works best for my ears and all of my piercings have healed very quickly.  Both the Elmwood and Williamsville shops are very clean, though Elmwood seems to have more jewelry selections.  They focus on showing you the exact steps they take to ensure everything is extremely sterile.  They use the highest quality jewelry and I often get compliments on the gems.  Would highly recommend! Read Less

I get all my piercings done at Cowpok, so naturally I couldn't imagine getting my first tattoo anywhere else. The staff are so helpful, compassionate, and attentive. They are very knowledgeable about their work and super clean and efficient. I called to see if they could fit me in for a walk-in, and they told me to come right in. I met Mike, my artist and told him I wanted a little semicolon on the side of my wrist, and he drew it up immediately and called me back. He is super nice and made me feel so comfortable the whole time, even though it only took a few minutes to do. He did such a great job, and explained the aftercare thoroughly. I definitely will be coming back for my future pieces! Read Less

While Cowpok is known for piercings, their tattoo artists are extraordinarily talented. This place has been around for I believe 25 years and for good reason. The shop is clean and inviting, the staff are crazy friendly, and they listen to what their customers want- but provide professional opinions as to better ways of accomplishing a desired look. I didn't get a very detailed tattoo, but I know Mark would have delivered a superior design. He made me feel comfortable and was appreciative of my business. This is a fantastic place! Read Less

I have had piercings from this place since I moved back to Buffalo almost 10 years ago, and I still trust their staff, to this day, with all of my body modification needs. Location is fantastic right near Allen street, with all free on street parking, any day, after 5pm....all day on weekends! $5 happy hour discount Thursday's after 4pm! $10 off coupon during check in! Staff is super knowledgeable and insightful to whatever body mod you inquire about. I trust these folks with my life, and/or body! Lol! The piercers here did my tongue ring (years ago) painlessly, as they did my friends right conch (her left was pierced years ago in Cali and it hurt like hell...hence her reservations about getting the right done today). After today's experience (as well as my positive last experiences) neither of us will ever be going anywhere else for all of our body modification needs.  The staff here is obscenely knowledgeable and will make your next piercing need a breeze! They are busy most of the time (seeing as how great this shop is) so show up early to get in at a reasonable time (we had to wait an hour...well worth it!). We will be back next week so I can get the dermal I have been thinking about getting for a while, as well as another piercing or two!; They offer a deal for multiple piercings! Read Less

I've gotten pierced at the Williamsville location before, but last month I got a nostril piercing at this location. I am so happy with the results!I was super nervous going into it because I've heard mixed reviews on pain levels, but my piercer, Sarah, made the process super quick and relaxed and honestly I'm thinking about eventually getting a second stud in the same nostril!They're impeccably clean and have a huge selection of jewelry to choose from. Their prices are fair considering they're extremely clean and meticulous in their work. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone thinking of getting pierced! Read Less

Very clean, super professional! Went there with my best friend to get her industrial done, they have a great selection of jewellery, great, cool staff, and have check-ups a few months after u get it pierced to make sure it's healing well! The service was great and therefore so was our experience 😊 Read Less

Cowpok never disappoints. My husband took me here to get my nose pierced back in December. I was a little nervous, but my piercer, Anna, was such a sweetheart and really helped calm my nerves. And before I knew it, it was over! My nose piercing came out prettier than I even had imagined it would :)  Everyone at Cowpok is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. When I came back 4 months later, to change my piercing, the experience was just as pleasant. Will definitely be coming to Cowpok in the future for any piercing needs. Read Less

My 8 year old daughter got her ears pierced at Cowpok. The staff were extremely friendly, knew how to talk to a child and made her feel comfortable. The piercing itself was fast & she had someone do each ear at the same time. They prepped her by joking around, keeping her calm and told her to "blow out the candles on her toes". She didn't even whimper from the piercing and said "It barely hurt". I was more nervous than she was, ha! I would highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for a professional, clean, and safe place to have your daughter (age 6 and up) ears pierced. The only thing that you should keep in mind is that some of the art work was alarming for my daughter (a cow sucking on it's own nipple) and a giant bowl of condoms. It is primarily an adult piercing/tattoo parlor so I understand why they have it, just a heads up for parents who may not be expecting it. Read Less

This is definitely a gem in located Elmwood and I'm glad that they have a second location now. I came here with a friend to get her first cartilage piercing and overall, it was an amazing experience. For starters, a cartilage piercing cost $30 PLUS the jewelry that you chose. There is a wide array of jewelry to chose from - from titanium studs to rose gold. Please note that the jewelry can range anywhere from 30 to 200 depending on the piece and the material it is made out of. This may be a bit pricey for some people BUT if you check in on yelp, you get $10 dollars off! Another note: for those who think that they have allergies to everything except gold. This is a common misconception that I have learned from this wonderful visit. Apparently, all the rods of the jewelry are made of titanium and less than 1% of the population actually has an allergy to this metal. Therefore, it is perfectly safe! After choosing your piece, the procedure will be explained to you. Once your name is called, you may go into a small private area in the back where the piercing is done. Everything is sterile and legit to the T! Note: the piercing is done using the needle technique. All the materials are packaged and sterilized. The technician was amazing and extremely patience with all the questions. After the process is done, you will be given an after care solution (soap based) along with a tea bag. The tea bag is given to help decrease inflammation and swelling and speed up the recovery process. For those who are not sure, cartilage piercings generally can take up to 8-12 weeks to fully heal. Overall, it was a wonderful experience! Definitely recommend. Read Less

I absolutely adore the staff and the quality jewelry is to die for! I’ve been pierced quite a few times here and every single time they have proven to be clean, professional, and they’re truly full light. You definitely can feel all of the good vibes. Read Less

Everyone is so nice here. I've gotten a piercing as well as a tattoo, and I am very happy with both. The piercing was fun, professional, and the piercer was amazingly sweet and adorable. Mark, who did our tattoos was sweet and very funny, even with the boring little ones we went in for. I feel confident in their sanitation, their ethics and I would 100% go back. Fair warning- be prepared to drop some cash on a piercing. They carry good quality jewelry, which costs a bit more than you might expect. That def caught me off guard the first time I went in. Read Less

Fantastic place, would absolutely recommend to a friend. The staff are amazing - so friendly and knowledgeable. They do offer walk in appointments but be prepared to wait a little while. Thus place is popular!! I had a walk in piercing - staff very knowledgeable and professional, took good care of me and provided take home materials. Much appreciated was the follow up email!! Read Less

I went in today to get my ear pierced.  I had them done before but they kept coming out.   So someone told me you should get it pierced with a needle not a gun.  I did my research and a friend of mine recommended to try this place.  They are so nice.  They explained the difference between a hoop or a post earing.  Anna was awesome. She explained what she was doing, how everything was sterol and how to take care of it.  I truly would check out this place.  I may have to go back for a tattoo next time. Love this place. Read Less

I recently went in to Cowpok for a piercing and was very impressed with the staff. Everyone is very friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about what they do. Carlos made me feel very at ease and joked around with me but was still very professional and did a fantastic job. Beforehand, he showed me that everything was sterilized and gave me instructions on after care. I left extremely happy and will definitely be back! Read Less

I am new to the Buffalo area and went to Cowpok inquiring about a certain piece of daith jewelry. Anna at the front desk was very helpful. She is going to get back to me with a quote.  While I was there I has my helix double pierced.  Taylor did an excellent job with the piercing.  I highly recommend this shop.  I have been in other shops where the workers were not nearly as friendly or helpful. Read Less

I love this place. I've gotten two piercings and one tattoo here. Everyone is so professional, helpful, and thoughtful in helping you decide which service/options you want. Both the piercing and tattoo stations are extremely clean and organized. It's a little pricey, but you are definitely getting every cent of what you pay for. I'd definitely come here again- it's worth it to feel comfortable and taken care of for the price and quality! Read Less

I was recommended to come here from a friend with amazing tattoos and told to ask for Eric.  As a tattoo virgin I was a bit frightened.  I wanted to get a small tattoo in honor of my father for the one year passing anniversary.  Truth be told - I debated what to get where.  At 44 I wanted something small and personal.  Took a card from my father in and had his signature and a heart added.  It was a small job but everyone there made me feel right at home.  Scheduled the day before so I could have this as an anniversary gift on the day.  They made it possible which I greatly appreciated it.  Eric literally and physically held my hand they the whole process.  I read a few reviews about him that were very unflattering and not at all the man I met today.  I'd highly recommend and maybe back for more!! Thanks Eric for making my first time memorable !!! Read Less

Everyone here is so kind and accommodating, not to mention professional. Of all the piercing and tattoo shops I have been to, this is one of the best and THE ONLY place I will get pierced and buy body jewelry in buffalo. They carry top of the line pieces and are more than happy to take time to work with you to find something that will suit you the best and make you happy. They carry everything from stainless steel to platinum. I recently got a daith piercing with moonstone!! The rooms are private and the piercers treat each and every individual with respect regardless of race and gender. They explain the entire process to you, and don't charge you until the very end, in case you get nervous. They provide you with the appropriate cleaning information and leave you without having any questions. Ultimate customer service. I also love that they offer great specials to benefit things like the SPCA and suicide awareness a few times a year! Even if you just want a simple stud ear piercing, this is the only place to go. Read Less

Cowpok is the only place I would even consider, when it comes to piercings. I have not utilized their tattooing services so this review is only for the piercings. Over the years, Ive gone there for a few piercings and have always had a great experience.The place is impeccably clean. The staff is friendly and very knowledgeable about any questions you may have. The piercing is treated like a surgical procedure, and I am never worried about getting an infection or the sterility of the instruments. They have a wide range of jewlery to choose from and are reasonably priced. I will always go back to Cowpok for all my body art needs! Read Less

I had the best piercing experience of my life last week at Cowpok! I wouldn't go anywhere else ever again!!! I walked in to get my tongue pierced! I was super excited cause it was a birthday present to myself! The girl at the front desk was super nice and made me feel even more excited! She took my I.D and had me fill out some paper work....She told me some information about the piercing and after care.Then, I got to pick out which piece of jewelry I wanted. I was surprised at what a wide selection of pieces you could choose from! I picked a pink opal!!! YAY! We had a seat in the waiting room and after about 5 minutes my name was called! They were chill about me bringing my best friend back with me! The place is super clean and I felt confident and safe once I realized that! That's when I met Anna who was my piercer! She was amazing! She was patient and explained absolutely everything to you...including what she was going to do and everything you need to know about after care. She even put some humor into what she was saying which really calmed down my nerves A LOT! She made it a great experience! I left feeling happy and pleased with my new piercing! There is a tip jar on the front counter as well so you can leave a tip for them! I defiantly recommend this place to anyone looking to get a piercing! Read Less

Sometimes I take for granted the presence of Cowpok in the Buffalo area - the studio has been around for so long and I have been going there for piercings and jewelry for so many years that it's easy to forget how lucky I am to live close to a clean, professional studio (with an amazing selection of jewelry!).But what makes Cowpok stand out is the amazing staff. All of the piercers are incredibly professional and knowledgeable about their work and are so passionate about what they do, and the helpfulness and the knowledge of the counter staff is invaluable in working to help make the piercing experience as smooth as possible. Everyone who works at Cowpok genuinely cares about each client that comes in the door and will answer any questions you have - and I have asked many! I have to give a special mention about two people in particular: first Anna, one of Cowpok's incredibly talented piercers. She has done several of my piercings and never fails to put me at ease for each one, talking me through the process and explaining when certain piercings would be better suited for what I want and somehow making the process as painless as possible. On the occasions she doesn't do my piercings, she is always genuinely excited for what I am getting done and to see the finished product. Her welcoming personality and the way she makes people feel comfortable is a huge reason why I keep going to Cowpok. Chloe is another person that makes you feel welcome when you walk into the studio and completely makes you feel okay about staring at all of the gorgeous sparkly jewelry that they carry. Her eye for jewelry, both what would look good in a piercing and what would work best for that person's particular anatomy is spot on and she will work within your budget so you can pick your dream jewelry for your piercing. I have placed custom jewelry orders with Chloe several times and all of my orders have always turned out so much better than I could have imagined thanks to Chloe's enthusiasm, input and detailed jewelry knowledge (as well as her patience with my indecisiveness!). All this to say that 16 well healed piercings later, and I'm glad all were done here. I'll definitely keep coming back! Read Less

Staff was very nice and the store is fun and clean, but they put one of my piercings to close to the bottom of my lobe. It has been a while and life has been hectic, so I ignored it but when I finaly switched out what I had been wearing since i got it done for some heavier jewelry, i could really notice how bad the placement was. I called to tell them but they wouldn't offer any help. Read Less

Favorite place to get pierced. Love all of the employees , esp Keith who has done most of my piercings. Great atmosphere. Never had any problems with any of my piercings, such as infections and whatnot. Love all of my 9 piercings I have gotten here!! Read Less

Got some tattoo work done by Mike. Excellent line work. we had to place the stencil like 5 times before we got it right, but like everyone on staff at Cowpok, be they piercers or tattoo artists, they'd rather take longer, to get your shit perfect. Especially when its permanent lol. Read Less

I had an amazing experience at CowPok, today. I came in with many questions, of which were all answered thoroughly prior to any major decisions were made. I decided on getting my left tragus pierced, as well as my second holes on each lobe.They have a beautiful selection of jewelry (my personal favorite was the silver Deathly Hallows piece), and they were so patient with my indecisiveness on which pieces to ultimately choose. They also provided input on what best coordinated with my current jewelry/the three piercings I was about to have completed.Once I was called back, Anna prepped me on the process and facilitated a super relaxed environment prior to beginning the piercing process. She detailed aftercare, as well, giving helpful tips for my three piercings to heal best. She was so kind throughout and also clearly an expert at her craft, which put my mind at ease.Soon enough, I was on my way with three new beautiful pieces. Thank you so much Anna and CowPok! I will definitely be back. :) Read Less

I'm from out of town and I stopped in yesterday for a navel piercing. I was immediately greeted by Chelsea, who was extremely friendly, warm, and helpful! She was up front about cost and explained the types of metal they used and showed me where I could pick my jewelry. Carlos introduced himself as my piercer and explained everything that was involved. He was also very friendly, professional, and knowledgable! I searched around very carefully for a place that was clean, profe...ssional, knowledgeable, experienced, and just seemed to have a comfortable atmosphere. Cowpok fit the bill impeccably. To also know that they are very accepting and welcoming of the GLBTQ+ community put me at ease as well. On top of all of this, I have a J-tube to the left of my navel and a colostomy and bag on my right. I explained this beforehand and told both Chelsea and Carlos that I understood if this would make them too uncomfortable to pierce (I had my doctor and surgeon's OK to do this), and I understood if it would be a little too freaky. I mean a bag of poop chilling on your stomach isn't a commonly seen thing and could understandably make someone uncomfortable. But both Chelsea and Carlos said that unless it would put me in danger, they don't turn people away for having medical equipment! I'm still getting used to having all of this (surgery was 2/23/17) and the way I was treated just made me feel more human! Carlos explained each step of the piercing and honestly all I felt was a sharp pinch and pressure and it was over. He gave me aftercare instructions, soap, and even a place he knew of in my hometown where I could follow up if needed! I love my piercing, something I've wanted for years, and couldn't be happier and more impressed with the entire staff. I can't recommend this place enough!!! See More Read Less

I came in for an emergency issue with my nose piercing From the moment I walked in, I was treated excellently. The staff was nice and knowledgeable. The selection of jewelry was solid. I live in Michigan but come to WNY to visit family - I'll definitely be back. Read Less

I've gotten my nose pierced several different times from all different places. My piercings would never heal and I'd end up taking them out because the site would become so sore and swollen and irritated every time. I got my nose pierced in December and I have had one problem with it. Never had any irritation or even any swelling. It has healed great! Plus the jewelry selection is unlike any other place and always beautiful! Read Less

I'm a grown up, so now I can do things my mom told me I couldn't.Cue naggy mom voice and throw in something about how a double love piercing or a cartilage piercing was too much or inappropriate. Was itching to get my first "edgy grown up ear piercing" aka my tragus. Went on a Monday afternoon, the place was surprisingly busy but I didn't wait too long. Decent selection of jewelry, I ended up with a cute little trinity stud, three little stones in a silver titanium I believe.The place is clean and the piercer I had was laid back and low key. As soon as I pulled my hair back I was prompted with the question, "how about a different piercing?" Because apparently my ears are "tiny like a baby's" and the tragus was too little. Ended up with a conch piercing. It was quick and a little uncomfortable, but expected when a chunk of your ear is forced out to make room for metal. This ran me about $85 with the jewelry, plus a little more for tip.They send you home with care instructions, soap and send followup care emails! Great experience for my first "grown up decision non-lobe ear piercing" and it's healing nicely! No complaints yet! Read Less

Had my 7 yr old girls' s ear pierced here in the Buffalo location and can't say enough about Chloe and Anna! Chloe was very thoughtful with her extra juice box and Anna was amazing in making my daughter feel relaxed and comfortable even though there were tons of people waiting after us! Highly recommend this profession place to all!! Read Less

My "Order": Cartilage piercing Pros Service: Anna was awesome.! Very upfront about the procedure, patient and took her time. Especially friendly. Pricing: Reasonable. Check into yelp before you pay!  $10 off! I was recommended to come here by BUFFALO INK INC & I'd def recommend this place. Read Less

My sister and I stopped in yesterday afternoon to get our daith piercings changed. We had it done at Cowpok in April and we patiently waited for enough time to pass to change it. When we walked in, the gentleman that greeted us was so friendly. He asked which earring I wanted and I showed him. He asked me if he could see my ear and look at how well it was healed. He explained that the earring I picked was a larger gauge and that he could certainly change it out, but it would ...cause the ear to swell and possibly cause a problem with the piercing. Plus, he said it would probably hurt quite a bit and he recommended that I wait another 2 months before getting it changed. I was so impressed with his knowledge and willingness to potentially lose a sale of ~$200 at that time because he didn't feel that the piercing wasn't quite ready. That is the mark of a true professional and an expert in his field. I will most certainly be back in 2 months, and I hope he's there because I'd really like him to change out my ring! Thank you for being honest and up front with your customers. I'll refer anyone to you for the depth of your professionalism and expertise! Also Anna was there too and she offered to special order our new earrings so that we could get exactly what we wanted! Best customer service! See More Read Less

This is the place for the safest, most professional piercing experience. When you go in, be prepared to be patient. They have been around for over twenty years and there is a reason for it. We came in because I wanted new jewelry for my nose. And my daughter wanted her septum pierced. They consulted her the right gauge and proper jewelry. The piercer was a very nice woman with a friendly candid approach. My daughter felt comfortable and very happy with the end result. The jewelry there can be pricey but it's worth it. I got a nose stud that was pressure fit. Meaning my stone can be changed. You pay one price for the end piece to stay in your nose. This was explained to me. My nose piercing is twenty years old. The jewelry fits perfect and stays in place. They also sell you jewelry that is enclaved. It is in sterile packaging when u take it home. Also if you can't change it, they change it for you for free. Great place and very professional! Definitely the only place to get pierced. Read Less

I was visiting from out of town and went to the Buffalo location to get my septum pierced while I was there. The front desk staff was so friendly and fun and made the experience so great. And my piercer, Sarah, did a fantastic job explaining what she was doing as she did it and it was done before I knew it! Best piercing experience I've had and I'm so happy I chose Cowpok! Read Less

I definitely recommend cow Pok for piercings! I got my tragus pierced last week and everyone meaning the person up front and the actual piercer really knew what they were talking about. Definitely made me comfortable and less nervous!! Thanks guys!! Read Less

I had a walk-in appt with Keith yesterday for a daith piercing. They were super quick and efficient getting me in. Front desk lady really nice, welcoming, and helpful! I can't say enough about Keith!!!! He fully prepared me on how and what would occur. He fully showed me all brand new packaging of products he would be using. He was extremely gentle while piercing ( gentle and piercing in same sentence, kinda funny but HE WAS!). I felt no pain at all, just a little pressure for less than a minute. He was awesome as I am sure the rest of his staff is as well! Thank you for this beautiful addition and your incredible service from the moment I walked in! Read Less

Didn't actually get anything pierced here but went in for help with a piercing I got in another state.They helped replace my nose ring and explained to me why certain jewelry would work for me and why some wouldn't. Everything was painless and I was in/out of the door.I really appreciated them having me go with the cheaper option for jewelry because it would have helped my nose heal faster vs. the more expensive jewelry that would cause me issues later down the road. Read Less

I got my Tragus pierced by Anna. Professional, clean and quick. She quickly explained (she prob does the speech 20 times a day) everything she was doing and showed me everything she was using. If I were to have questions she pretty much answered everything I could think of. I like the fact that it wasnt a hang out spot and heavy metal music wasn't blasting. A little music would have been nice but you cant have everything. Much better then going to the mall for a  piercing. Reasonably priced, im gonna go back for additional piercings and I love the fact that its so close to home. All in all a good experience. Read Less

Best place in the world to get your little girls ears pierced.  I had mine done at the mall as a teenager.  Was a miserable experience.  Taking her to a professional made all the difference.  They were great with her!  She said it didn't even hurt!  The studs are gorgeous, of great quality and she can swap them out by unscrewing the tops and putting on another one for a different look.  Can't say enough about how fabulous, kind and careful they were with her.  She is nine and smiled the whole way through! Read Less

Shout out to Anna, who is like the piercing whisperer. .. for real though, even when I move at the end of this year, I plan to always come back home so Anna can do my piercings. Seriously, nothing hurts somehow the way she does it. She is so talented and great with people. Between her and Chloe, who gives the most incredible customer service and is so sweet and knows her shit, I am so impressed by Cowpok for piercings.The environment is clean, professional, and feels really high-end in the most down-to-earth way. They will absolutely not pierce you if they think it will look anything less than awesome and heal without any issues. I have tiny, foldy ears and I went in wanting 3 piercings, but they sat down with me and explained that it just wouldn't end up looking the way I wanted it to because of the shape of my ears. I really appreciated that they didn't just take my money and send me on my way with piercings that would end up looking wonky. They suggested some alternative piercing options and I'm really happy with what I went with.They can be a little more pricey, but the jewelry is incredible and the employees are all incredibly knowledgeable and talented! Read Less

This place is amazing! I walked in yesterday and they weren't really busy but the lady was talking to someone and she let me know she'll be with me in a moment. She's super nice. She gave me a paper to sign and she showed me the selection of jewelry. I waited for about 10 minutes and I got called back. Sarah was my piercer, she's really funny and cool. She told me everything that she was doing and I was really nervous so she even helped me calm down. It didn't hurt as much as I thought it would and when I was heading out, they gave me a bottle of soap (provon) to clean it with and an info paper. :) Read Less

Been here three times to fulfill my recent quarter- life crisisMy two piercing appointments have been easy and breezy. This place is eat-off-the-floor clean. The staff is honest, attentive, and at times, pretty funny. The suspense of someone beginning their journey to becoming human Swiss cheese may stir up thee ol' nerves-- especially in some body-art-novices like myself-- As another Yelper has mentioned, they are not afraid to turn someone away. They deny requests that they believe may compromise the integrity of their work (or the integrity of someone's body lol). My piercings from here have never been infected which tells me the earrings are high quality and the job is done correctly. The workers are nice enough to consider an individual's anatomy for the piercing placement rather than jumping the gun. An artist, Mike, was kind enough to complete my first tattoo despite my mistake of arriving 24hrs early for the appointment -- oops--. What made the appointment pretty awesome was honestly the strange sailor music playing, it definitely lightened the mood. He drew out my tattoo then adjusted according to my preference. I highly recommend requesting Mike if you decide to make an appointment. He is really funny and talented. Read Less

I find cowpok to be extremely hit or miss.My first time there, a few years back, I went with a friend to watch her get a tattoo covered. Keith was the artist, I think? He was rude the entire time. Did an awful job on the cover up. Charged way too much for a messy looking tattoo. I would never go there for a tattoo; outrageously expensive, shotty work.  I pay half of what they charge for my ink elsewhere and it looks ten times better. I've had many friends go there for a tattoo and call it a huge mistake.The second time I went in was to get my septum re pierced. It was done badly the first time at another place, and everybody said cowpok would do the best job. Anna did the piercing and was extremely professional and helpful the entire time. This was, by far, my best experience, yet I did pay a lot for the piercing.Since then, I've been in the shop a few times to make purchases. Never had much of an issue, although the people working at the counter are not always very friendly. I feel like i cant ask questions about anything without being talked down to. I have a few piercings, but I'm not an expert. I should be able to feel like I can ask a simple question without some hipster scoffing at me. Now a few days ago, my friend ran into pick up a specific piece of jewelry for me. He came back without it, saying that he stood there for about twenty minutes trying to get the attention of somebody. People kept ignoring him and nobody would help him. Then when he went to make the purchase, the price had apparently been raised by about thirty dollars from what I had been told over the phone the day before. When he asked more about it, apparently whoever he was dealing with was extremely rude to him. So he left. In the way of tattoos, cowpok is a joke. Also their customer service could use a lot of work. but I really do feel like they do a decent job with piercings and carry a good selection of high quality jewelry. Definitely not a fan of the jacked up prices, but I guess you can get away with that when you're top dog on trendy elmwood avenue. Read Less

Cow Poke is absolutely the best piercing shop around Buffalo. The employees are APP certified and have wonderful insight on piercings and jewelry. All jewelry offered is quality and defiantly something you'd want put in your body if you're thinking of getting something done. I like that they sell high end jewelry from reputable companies but what is really awesome is that even just what they pierce you with is all threaded so it's not like they're piercing you with garbage and basically sending you on your way until you decide to upgrade. Quality from the beginning, knowledgable and friendly staff. Don't bother going somewhere else for a "cheaper price". It's a lifelong investment and your body is important, treat it well and don't bother going to other shops. I'm a satisfied customer! Read Less

I have not been pierced in 15yrs! But 15yrs ago when I was getting pierced, CowPok is the only place I would go. On Saturday I decided to get my helix pierced. Walked into the CowPok around 2pm. Just the way I remember it- very clean! The staff was super friendly and very helpful. They also placed an order for me for custom jewelry. Their prices are very good, and I even got $10 off with my YELP check in. I am very happy that I chose to go back to the CowPok for my piercing. I highly recommend them. Read Less

This place might be great for piercing, but I can't recommend it at ALL for tattoos. I have a variety of tattoos from different shops in Buffalo and New York, and the one I have from Cowpok is by far the worst. The line work is poor and the quality is patchy. It's the only tattoo I regret, and I can't wait to get it covered up. If you're planning to get a tattoo in Buffalo, don't come here just because it's convenient. Do some research because there are a ton of amazing shops in the area that will do a great job, this just definitely isn't one of them. Read Less

This place is legit. Came in to buy some earrings and have them changed. There is an extensive amount of body jewelry especially for the ears. Tons of different unique kinds of tragus jewelry which you really don't find anywhere else. The prices range from $10-$140, it just depends on the quality earring you want. I've been looking everywhere for a gold hoop and finally found one here. Not cheap, $45 bucks but it's real gold. They have two options for gold  also, yellow gold or rose gold. The store is very clean and sanitary and the staff is friendly. They definitely know what they're talking about when it comes to sizing, types of jewelry and piercings in general. I would definitely recommend this place to others. Read Less

This is the third tattoo I ve gotten, first one at this shop. Will NEVER come back. My tattoo artist Kristen was nasty and talked to me like I was stupid. Until the very end of course when she wanted me to tip her. Didn t go through opening new supplies, didn t even ask what color ink I wanted. Just downright nasty and unprofessional. Read Less

I went to cowpok to get my belly-button pierced. The guy who did it placed the piercing ABOVE my belly-button, as opposed to inside it. It was constantly red and irritated no matter what I did. It just would not heal, and it was painful. I finally had to take it out and now I have a scar. Read Less

I have been a frequent customer at the Cowpok, getting an industrial, my nostril, and a dermal anchor on my chest. They didn't do too well. My industrial(by Keith) never healed because he used a barbell that was far too short to allow for swelling and it was constantly irritated. My nostril piercing, which was done by Sarah, I've have for almost a year now and it is still not healed. It always acts up, looks gross, and hurts, regardless of my daily sea salt soaks and whatnot. I hate to take it out but I'm thinking that's what I will have to do. And my dermal anchor, done by Keith, sticks out too far and is tilted to one side! I sure hope it doesn't choose to reject because that means I lost even more money to this place. I also have a friend who had her vertical labret and her helix pierced there. Her vertical labret was way off center the first time and he used the wrong gauge jewelry that is best for the piercing. They redid it for free but it just wouldn't heal. Her helix also wouldn't heal, despite her care and patience. They are also very snobby. I read an interview with Sarah and she said ""Ive NEVER had anyone not like their piercing that I did."" And they love to bash the other neighborhood piercing shops. So overall, I'm giving up on the place. They've sucked too much of my money away. Read Less

Amazing work, I only got script but I couldnt be happier and absolutely love showing them off. I had a vague idea of what I wanted and they drew up something better than I imagined. The studio is very clean, and the staff is extremelly friendly. I cant think of anything bad to say! Read Less

I got my first piercing at Hardcore on Elmwood. After that I had the impression that tattoo/piercing shops were all dirty and small with drugged up workers. When I wanted to get my nose pierced, I decided to go a little further up the street and try cowpok. The difference was amazing. The staff is SO nice. They have the cleanest shop and the cleanest jewlery. I remember at hardcore the guy just grabbed some jewlery out of the case and blew on it. At cowpok they disinfect everything that will come near you, and they use that machine to clean all the jelwery before it comes in contact with you. If they werent awesome enough already, they now have cooper who does these INSANELY awesome tattoos. Seriously, cowpok is the only place I would trust with my piercing needs now. I highly recommend them Read Less