Dogstar Tattoo Company

Best tattoo experience I’ve had ever! This is not your dad’s biker tattoo parlor. It is clean, open, inviting and, as a woman, I felt very comfortable in the environment - you know what I mean, ladies! From start to finish, everyone was friendly and professional, but you could tell by the way they interacted with the customers and each other, that they love their jobs. Shout out to my artist, Hayden!! She spent all the time that was needed going over my vision, combining different elements together and then putting her own unique spin on the art. She made sure we were on the same page before beginning. It never felt rushed and she was such a pleasure to speak with during the process. The time flew by and before I knew it, I had 2 gorgeous tattoos that I will treasure. Thank you, Hayden and the rest of the team!!!

Very nice, clean environment and friendly staff. I was pierced by Nicole, she was great! Very effective communicator. She went into great detail regarding the cost of jewelry, the piercing process itself, and aftercare. I felt as if I left the studio very knowledgeable and confident about taking care of my fresh piercing. Definitely coming back here again!

Shout out to Sam, she is epic and amazing!! She took her time and explained everything and was so patient and empathetic to my daughter who was very nervous . she also had some epic ideas for my piercings! She is extremely knowledgeable about her craft and put you to ease and makes you feel comfortable!! Thank you girl! YOU ROCK

I’ve gotten 13 piercings and Nic Fletcher is by far my most favorite piercer I’ve ever had. She is kind, informative, and a damn good at her job. The whole front of house and piercing staff gets an A+ in the amazing work they put in around the shop.

Originally came for a belly button piercing but ended up getting my nipples pierced instead. The workers here all made me feel so safe and welcomed, and were very supportive even when I felt super nervous about my piercing. Emity is amazing. She let me take time to calm myself down, was very diligent on cleaning and sterilizing her space, and walked me through every step of the piercing. I felt very calm in her presence and she is killer at her job. I don’t think I’ve ever had a piercing experience that has made me feel so at ease. Could not recommend this place and Emity’s services more— I am so pleased with my piercing!!

I went here to get my nose pierced and left very happy! Everyone was friendly (including other customers I had the pleasure of chatting with in the waiting area) and I felt so at ease. Emity did my piercing and she was great. She helped me pick out a stud and gave me a size recommendation. Also, she does not mess around with ensuring all equipment has been sterilized and, on that topic, the place overall was so clean - you can tell that a great deal of effort is put into keeping everything sanitized and safe.I told Emity that once my piercing had healed, I would like the option to switch between a stud and hoop, and she pinpointed a spot on my nose so that I have the future option to switch between hoops and studs!During the actual piercing, Emity walked me through every single step both before and as they were happening, even down to breath work for the actual moment of piercing. As someone who hasn’t had anything pierced in about 20 years, it was really appreciated. :-)I don’t know if more piercings or tattoos are in my future, but if I decide I’d like more, I’d go to this place, and I will be recommending it if I hear of friends who would like to get pierced or tattooed.

Sam Faith was my piercer and she made me feel very special and treated it so professionally! Not only was she very communitive about each step, she made sure I was ready! I am going back for more for sure. Highly recommend.

Went there today to have Sam remove a lip piercing that had different things wrong from a place I got it done in another state. Sam was very patient and knowledgeable in helping me out. Gave me the best plan to get it all sorted. I highly recommend this place

Get Sam to do your next piercing! So nice, thorough, and helpful with everything--from picking out jewelry to the actual piercing process itself. The place is super inviting and comfortable, and Ill be going back for sure.

I rarely leave reviews but I got my nose pierced at Dogstar Tattoo Company today and it was hands down one of my best piercing experiences ever! The entire appointment was handled with such care from sanitizing the tools to explaining the healing/cleaning process.My piercer was Nic and she was absolutely wonderful! I will be recommmending this place to everyone! :)

Dogstar is a nice, clean, and professional studio. Their current piercers are all very kind and welcoming! I’ve been to the shop a few times for piercings and downsizes and they have all been good experiences. They have a decent selection of titanium jewelry (more affordable) and a variety of higher end gold and gemstone jewelry.Recently I had a piercing done at another studio that was slightly off in placement and angle. I was nervous to reach out to the other studio, so I reached out to Dogstar on Instagram. Since I live almost an hour from the shop, I was hoping someone could just take a look at a few pictures to let me know what my options were before making the drive. Nic took a look at my photos and was truly kind and let me know what my options were as far as taking it out and getting it re-pierced once it had healed. They weren’t at all judgmental and I felt comfortable messaging them.I decided to get it taken out, so I went into the shop. I met with Nic and she looked at my piercing and said that they could take it out and even keep my jewelry at the shop so it could be sterilized and ready when I came back to get it redone! While I was there, I decided that I wanted another piercing, and they had some availability, so I was able to do that as well. Sam helped out with my jewelry removal and also did my new piercing. They were very kind, patient, and reassuring and answered all of my nervous rambling questions. Both Nic and Sam are very sweet, and I felt very comfortable throughout my appointment!

My visit from day one and each day forward has been a positive, warm, welcoming, and professional experience. My faux rook and re-streched tongue piercings were done with genuine care and aftercare advise. I will always travel many miles, if needed, to be provided the services offered here. Thank you bunches Dogstar!!! You totally ROCK!!!

I got my first tattoo here with Zeph and it was a great experience. He really brought my idea to life. Ive also gotten 2 piercings by Nic and the process was incredibly professional. She made sure the placement and angle on both are great. With both my tattoo and piercings, sanitation was the first priority.

Its a very good place, Sam who attended me is very kind, he explained everything to me, they are a team that knows what they do, my eyebrow piercing is super good, I was satisfied with everything. Tattoos or piercings this is the place to do it. I recommend it.

Nic has done two piercings for me and has aided in the post care of a problematic piercing not performed by her. She is extremely knowledgeable, professional, honest and kind. She did a piercing for my neice today and she’s now pro-Nic. We’ve already scheduled our next piercings. Nic is an asset!

I went to Dogstar Tattoo five weeks ago to get my septum pierced. The woman at the front desk was really welcoming and kind, and the shop had a very cool aesthetic. Emity Castillo was my piercer, and when we were choosing jewelry, I couldnt believe the prices!!! Based on previous reviews, I was prepared for sticker shock, but these prices were outrageous! I am actually embarrassed to admit what I paid for my jewelry, but I figured that if I kept it in for several years I would get the most out of my investment.When we went in the back to the piercing parlor, the first thing I noticed was how dim/low the lighting was in there. I would think the piercing parlor would have very bright lighting so the piercer can adequately see what they are doing, but since Emity seemed comfortable I figured it was okay. The piercing DID NOT go smoothly at all...I have friends with the same piercing that told me about a sweet spot that can be found that makes the piercing quick and a lot less painful, but that was NOT the case with my experience. I found it to be extremely painful, and the worst part is Emity was not able to get the jewelry to thread through the first time, so horrifyingly, she had to do it a SECOND TIME (which was just as painful, but luckily worked). I had blood on my face, the sides of my nose and my upper lip, but Emity did not clean my face before I left (I didnt notice the blood until after leaving the shop). I noticed that my piercing was not even on both sides/crooked, and Emity told me it was due to swelling and that it would improve after the swelling abated.Fast forward four weeks (after plenty of time for the swelling to resolve), and my piercing is STILL crooked. The left side is higher, and back further, and more of the jewelry shows, but the right side is lower, more forward and less of the jewelry shows. When I went in for my four week follow up, Emity just stood with me and only glanced at my piercing. When I pointed out to her that my piercing was crooked, she blamed an irritation bump that I have on my right side pushing it down...really? So first, it was swelling (when I had no bump at all), and now its a small bump pushing it down? What I honestly believe is that Emity botched this piercing and was just not humble enough to admit it.I am massively disappointed with this experience. I had read so many positive reviews and was sure to look at Emitys work prior to going in, and everything seemed so impressive, but my experience with her was poor. This was my fourth body piercing and the only negative experience Ive had. I will definitely not return to Dogstar and will be seeking another piercer to give me the remaining piercings I would like to get.

I was quoted $300 for 2 small tattoos and was booked for a 1.5 hour appointment. Only got 1 of the tattoos which took 30 minutes. Incredibly simple tattoo. On the booking link it says the max hourly rate is $250. So, 125 should have been the price. They attempted to charge me $300! They dropped the price to 260 after I complained This is simply unethical and false advertising. I hope they do something to make this right so that nobody else is taken advantage of.The guy at the front desk said they don’t charge by the hour. If you are not going to honor the hourly rate then do not advertise it. Very disappointed because the in-shop experience was great until it was time to pay, and I am happy with my tattoo. Will update this review if they do something to make this right.

Very nice, clean & calm atmosphere. Very glad to have chosen Dogstar for my first tattoo…Hayden was so gentle & awesome! Can’t wait to get my next tattoo 😎

Emity is Amazing!! I had a medusa that would not heal and I got it at least 7 times and no matter who did it , it just would not heal but when I went to Emity, she pierced it for me and it’s healing perfectly!! No pain and I didn’t even get a piercing bump which is unheard of for me because I always get them! I followed her directions, she checked on me to make sure it wasn’t acting crazy and now it’s just healing perfectly!! She even changed out my nose jewelry which am super obsessed with!! She is the best piercer on the planet and I just love her!! We’re talk g about getting my nips done in the near future but it you want the best, please go see Emity and she will get you right!!!

Ive been coming to Emity for piercings for years and I can confidently say she is the one of the best in the RTP area. She is kind and exceptionally knowledgeable. Her expertise shines through in every session and she will help you find the right type of piercing and jewelry that will fit your face perfectly. Emity also maintains the highest standards of cleanliness and sanitation, which is incredibly reassuring.Dogstar itself also offers an beautiful and stunning selection of forever jewelry. Their collection of solid gold pieces means you dont have to worry about changing out your jewelry frequently. The combination of Emitys skills and knowledge paired with Dogstars high-quality jewelry makes this place my go-to for all my piercing needs.

Been tattooed by both Zeph and TJ, both incredible artists and great people to talk to! Both charged me exactly what was quoted, made my experience as comfortable as possible for me, and were very accommodating to any ideas or small changes to my tattoos, would recommend anybody at this shop to everybody!!

In all honesty I wouldn’t recommend. Back in September of 2023, I went to get my belly re-pierced. The girl that pierces looked at my stomach and said “you do not have the anatomy for it”. I went to a tattoo shop in Raleigh he was able to do the piercing. Then early this month I went to get me two tattoos. The Lady at the front said there were no spots for the day. Thankfully the tattoo Artist Zeph walked by and informed me he did in fact have availability. While my sister and I waited since my tattoo appt was not until 5:30, I wanted to get a nose piercing. 3 ladies at the desk stayed talking amongst themselves about their personal life (my sister and I were standing at the desk) for 5 minutes while I waited. I then asked if I could get a nose piercing while I waited to get my tattoo done. The lobby was empty no one was there. Yet they stated they were booked for the day and I could make an appointment to come the next day. Would not recommend. I normally do not leave bad reviews however I always have an issue with this place and this place only. Once again thank god Zeph walked by because the ladies upfront lied.

I had an amazing experience at Dogstar today & would give 6/5 stars if I could! I walked in for a faux rook piercing on a Saturday & Emity was so accommodating & professional. She walked my sister & I through all of the jewelry options & made us feel extremely comfortable with the whole process. It’s clear she is truly passionate about making her customers visions come to life. The shop is extremely clean & the sterilization happens right in front of you! I can’t wait to go back in a few weeks for a check in & to change out to a shorter post on my jewelry. Highly recommend!!!

I will NEVER go to a different piercer again. Calah is the absolute best piercer I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. They explain every step they’re doing as well as any risks associated with your potential piercing. And to top it all off , they ask for vocalized consent before touching you. 1000/10 stars. I will never go anywhere else! I look forward to working with the team at Dogstar again in the very near future. ☺️

As long as I have known Durham I have known Dogstar. Since the days on 9th Street this has been a trusted, clean, artists enclave of tattooist and tattooies.Most recently I have been working on a sleeve with Megan and she is the epitome of a professional artist. She makes you feel comfortable and confident with the proffesionalism/safety aspects without sacrificing her artistic passions and talent.

The shop is great! Everyone is so nice, my artist was Zeph who did a fantastic job on my tattoo. Hes very detail oriented and artistic.. Id highly recommend!

This was my first tattoo and I wanted it to be done by an establishment with a good reputation and an artist I could trust - I made the right choice in going with Michael at Dogstar. Seeing up my appointment was easy and the price was fair. Michael is a fantastic artist and I felt confident from the moment he started that I was going to love the result. I couldnt be happier.

I had an ABSOLUTELY AMAZING experience at Dogstar. The place was very clean and completely spotless. They followed COVID policies and required everyone to wash their hands upon coming in and masks were worn at all times. C(K?)assandra and Anthony (piercer) were wonderful and such sweet sweet people. They guided me through the entire process and answered any questions I had about the double helix I was getting. They were very knowledgeable and have obviously been in this profession for very long. They were able to help me find jewelry that would both be in my price range but also fit my ears and the style that I wanted. Anthony and Cassandra made me feel comfortable and I could not have asked for more. I will definitely be coming back!

Calah did an amazing job with my friend and I’s nostril piercings! She was thorough throughout the whole process and so kind! She answered all our questions and concerns. We immediately felt comfortable as soon as we walked in and were greeted with smiles, overall so welcoming! The place is so sanitary as well which is something we were looking for. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking to get a piercing as we had an amazing experience!

Great customer service, facility was clean as a hospital and even smelled like one, Calah was so knowledgeable about piercings and even taught me some things about aftercare I didn’t know before. my nostril piercing barely hurt, it’s healing great and isn’t even sore or really swollen plus they gave a great jewelry selection. def will be coming back for my other body mods!!

I had the absolute pleasure of working with Nic on restarting my ear piercing journey. Nic was so incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and professional. She helped me pick out beautiful jewelry and was very thorough with explaining the process and aftercare. I had a question for Nic three days after my piercing and she made time for me to come in and get my piercings checked out! Everyone I met at Dogstar was warm and welcoming. I would absolutely recommend both Dogstar and Nic and plan to return for all of my piercings!

Highly recommend! Dogstar is such a lovely place, everyone is so friendly and professional. The selection of jewelry for piercings is drool-worthy, and also has a healthy price range so you can always find a piece to fit your budget.My mom and I got several piercings from Emity who is absolutely lovely. 😊 She was so helpful, the process was enjoyable, smooth and painless. Plus thanks to our talented piercer our new ear piercings are healing wonderfully! 🥳

Came to get a piercing removed that I had gotten done at another place. The lady at the front desk was super nice and i was able to be seen earlier than my initial appointment time. Calah was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. She made me comfortable the entire time since I was a bit nervous to have this piercing removed. She was also so gentle, I didn’t even feel anything! 10/10!

Went here for a small tattoo on skin between index and thumb. This shop is located in a tastefully and modernly repurposed warehouse in Dirham that looks more like a cool and fashionable district. The shop persons we met were exceptionally welcoming and although my partner could not be taken as walking-in, time was taken to consider her needs, questions and process. Guess what, the shop did not smell like smoke, there were no phantom appearing vape clouds from forced tidal volume mechanized maximum cloud-breath breathers. I am thankful for that, so with this pleasant and inspiring experience we will be back to get the ink!!!! Thanks guys for presenting such a pleasant and inviting shop.

Had a wonderful piercing experience with Emity! My friend and I got our piercings together and Emity made the whole process very smooth.She explained every step as she was doing it and always checked in on how we were feeling. It was really calming! She’s very knowledgeable and gave us great advice. My best piercing appointment to date, even though it was in a more difficult spot! The shop is very bright, clean, and has plenty of privacy. Highly recommend!

Had the BEST experience getting my daughters (8 years old) ears pierced by Calah! She is amazing! From her warm welcome and thoughtful talk about bodily autonomy and consent, to making picking out the perfect earrings fun and exciting, to her gentle patience, clear communication, and firm respect for my daughters boundaries and her emotional comfort while actually piercing her ears—I cannot say enough wonderful things about our experience at Dogstar tattoos!

Highly recommend the whole staff but especially Nic!! she was very knowledgeable, professional, and reassuring during my piercing and when answering my follow-up questions. i’m so glad I decided to come in, i’ll definitely be coming back!!

Im a huge fan of Dogstar Tattoo, especially artist Megan Chuntz. The employees are welcoming. The facility is clean and professional. Megans work is incredible. Im trusting her to do a full sleeve and Ive been super happy with the work done this far.

Good job with piercing placement, incredibly clean, friendly staff, good experience—but the prices are…a lot.piercings themselves were about $80, jewelry was $95, i tipped $25; over $200 for a double lobe with jewelry but i went in expecting to pay a lot less than that for such an easy placement. i have also never spent more than $50 on jewelry at a shop, so the entire thing was a shock. should have “boutique” in the name to warn us moneyless freaks who want to get jabbed with needles that this isn’t in our price range.they also asked me to come back in a month for a resize and checkup (also new to needing a follow-up) but i have no idea what the cost of that will be and if you have to ask the price of something you probably can’t afford it so i’ll do whatever i need to from home.i love my piercings, but i hate not being able to get groceries for the next week.

Clean, professional, & fun environment! Tege or T.J. did an excellent job with my 18 year old & her first piece. We were comfortable & his work was exquisite 👌 👏

I’d never been to Dogstar but had heard good things. So I made an appt. to get some help switching out my nose stud for a ring and to discuss future piercing projects.Calah was extremely kind and professional, and the studio was gorgeous. Bright, clean, and welcoming (and the nerd in me also really appreciated their appointment booking system and text reminders). But my biggest takeaway of all was Calah’s focus on education. She helped me understand (in the nicest, most non-judgy way) why I’ve been struggling getting my almost 2 year old piercing to heal right. She hooked me up with the right size nose ring-in the right metal-and gave me some awesome aftercare advice. I have a follow up appointment booked with her to check on my nose, plus a conch piercing in about a month. I can’t wait!

Wonderful experience! My tattoo artist T J. Was so good, I never felt a thing as far as pain, and he was great, and understanding. I will be going back.

Went back to Dogstar for some more jewelry and piercings. Emity is the best piercer Ive ever been to. She is kind, lovely, and covered in the best tattoos! I bought some BEAUTIFUL jewelry.

They did a great job on my little sisters first tattoo! they gave her great recommendations to make the piece really dynamic and beautiful and they also made her so comfortable. shes very happy with it!

I had such a great experience… I was a walk-in today and I think I saw Emity. I definitely suggest an appt. — it was so kind of her to squeeze me in to put in new jewelry! I was on a budget and I didn’t feel weird saying that (like other places I’ve been to). The front desk person was also so kind. Thank you!

Got a conch piercing and was really impressed with the quality of care. However, I was told to come back in 4 weeks to downsize the jewelry - which I did, but since have had a lot of irritation and the back of the stud is growing into my ear because its now too small.I have a lot of previous piercings and was always told not to change the jewelry out so quickly. I feel like the advice should be to wait longer - now the back of my ear is not healing correctly.

Beautiful selection of jewelry. However, I had encounters with both of the piercers here, one was great and the other had a bad attitude. I wouldnt get pierced by them again. They were knowledgeable but if I come into a shop with a piercing appointment and change my mind to a jewelry purchase instead, I should not be given a attitude on why I changed my mind and such. Business is business.

My seven year old daugher just got her ears pierced by Calah and I was super impressed with how good of a job she did! Calah was amazing with my daughter, who was a little nervous once she actually arrived (even though she has been wanting her ears peirced for some time). Calah made her feel very comfortable and at ease. The piercing itself was super quick and clean and my daugher couldnt be happier. She said, I loved that lady!. Highly recommend.

Worked with Aldo on my first tattoo! He was comforting, helpful, and extremely talented. Dogstar is super clean and professional. Cant wait to come back. He made my first experience an amazing one!

Took my daughter to Calah to get a stacked piercing. She was a little unsure of which side/style she wanted, but Calah did an *awesome* job of helping to pick placement and jewelry. She helped my daughter (who was a little nervous!) and I feel comfortable and made the whole experience so much easier than I expected. Calah is a gem; professional and personable! Also—I’m a nurse so I kept my eye out for safety/sanitation practices and their setup is top-notch. She explained their process for sterilization and after-care very thoroughly, and I felt confident in letting my daughter get her piercing there. I will definitely recommend Calah (and this shop!) to anyone looking!

Pretty expensive and vibe is a little off. Had an upper helix done in July 2023 with the cheapest jewelry in the case and spent about $80-90. Piercer did a good job and was knowledgeable. However, when I went to pay and it asked for a tip, she said and you dont have to leave a tip if you think I did a bad job while watching what number I entered for a tip. It was a weird social engineering type thing? And I really didnt care for it. Tipped bc I didnt want to be rude, but I dont think I will return. Happy with my piercing but annoyed ab the price and vibe.

Had an ear piercing that tore out of my ear and just wanted to buy some jewelry to replace the threadless top that got lost. I can’t believe I need an entire appointment and 2 hr wait just to buy jewelry when I know the size and type I need and I’m able to put it in myself. There was someone working the cash register and it would have been literally a two minute transaction. My ear was literally bleeding walking in, all I needed was the jewelry and I’d be on my way but they gave me so much trouble about it. If you ever have urgent problems with your piercings just know they may refuse to help you with even very simple things. I take great issue with piercing shops that are not walk in friendly for this reason.

I’ve had absolute honor of being pierced by Calah Rose. She has completed 3 of my piercings and we have more planned. She is diligent, competent and super compassionate.I appreciate how she explains the process every single time, always inquiring if I have any questions or need anything. The space she does magic in is immaculate. Everything has a home, extremely organized and sanitary.Never hidden costs and price points for everyone. Thats inclusivity.I lastly want to say I feel safe and secure with Calah. She has a warm spirit and contagious laughter, it’s something you can never grow tired of.Thank you dogstar for having such ansuperior individual..aka Calah Rose.Dogstar: this shop isn’t your round the way shop.. in terms of looks.. its super clean.. amazing vibes and aesthetics.. But its gives you the home..round the way feeling. Everyone person is happy and collaborating..making sure they have a well ran ship. Thats how a business should be. I totally recommend any person getting work completed here!

Zeph helped me out with a tattoo. He was extremely knowledgeable and professional. I am happy with my tattoo. It is practically healed in 2 days! We were going to do a larger piece but I was too sensitive in that area and we ended up doing something smaller. Zeph was kind about the entire situation and explained to me why I might be too sensitive at the time (just off opioids for surgery). I also liked the variety of classy piercing jewelry and may go back for a piercing. The shop is bright, pleasant, and professional. Employees are talented. Highly recommend. Photo is of fresh tattoo.

I had an appointment here to get a nose piercing but ran a few minutes late because of traffic and not knowing where the building is (there is no sign or ANYTHING saying this stores name) I got lost and called the front desk so that hopefully I could get some direction and maybe they would be understanding that I was late because I was lost but no. They told me they could not do my piercing anymore after driving an hour over here to get this piercing before my senior pictures. I understand they have other people to see but I don’t think a nose piercing takes 30 minutes. Should take 10 at max. So we left and I saw the SAME WORKER go outside for about 20 minutes to SMOKE A CIGARETTE when they could’ve done my piercing!!

Always a great experience getting a piercing or new jewelry at Dogstar!! The receptionist is very nice and checks you in quickly and efficiently. Emity is so kind, helpful and professional. Every time I come in she makes me feel safe and respected, always demonstrates the utmost sanitation and hygiene when doing my piercings, and is very enthusiastic and helpful during the jewelry choosing process! The website for booking appointments is also very user friendly and straight forward, which is nice for people that don’t like to make appointments over a phone call, haha. Thanks so much Emity and Dogstar family!

Amazing experience here! Me and my friends all came to get different piercings and Emity squeezed us in so we could all go together. She was so knowledgable and comforting through the whole process. She took us step by step of what to expect and was patient. And she gave amazing aftercare tips personalized to us, which meant a lot especially as black women! Emity is THEE bomb - book with her!

Emity Castillo did a phenomenal job with my nose piercing! She was extremely knowledgeable and made my first piercing experience a very positive one. She was very patient as I took my time selecting my jewelry. I ultimately went with a diamond stud, which is absolutely gorgeous, but she didn’t pressure me at all when comparing it to the cubic zirconia option. Emity meticulously cleaned/sanitized everything, to include my nose. I was a little nervous as this was my first piercing, but she did a terrific job explaining the process to me beforehand, so I knew exactly what to expect. Everything went smoothly, and her jewelry placement was perfect. In addition, she thoroughly explained the piercing aftercare process. Emity, thank you so much for making me feel safe and comfortable throughout my entire appointment. You really made my day! ❤️

I accompanied my friends when they got their nose piercings. The service they received from Calah Rose was TOP TIER. She explained everything extremely thoroughly and left no room for questions. This was honestly the experience that everything needs when they are getting a piercing. HIGHLY recommend!

Got my septum pierced by Emity when I was in town for a wedding. She walked me through the process and even asked me to send her pictures of the piercing a couple weeks later to make sure it healed properly so I didn’t need to drive back up. If for some reason it didn’t heal properly, she knew reputable piercers where I am from that could fix anything I didn’t like. Very happy with the placement and end result. She rocked.

Calah Pierced my 13 year olds nose and I cannot say enough good things about the level of service she provided. Her vast knowledge and passion for her craft were obvious and the way she delivered the necessary information was done with professionalism and humor. The way she spoke directly to my daughter about consent so that she fully understood what she was agreeing to was truly amazing. Five stars are not enough

Emity did such an amazing job! She was very patient and skilled. I was impressed with her professionalism and attention to detail. She walk my sister and I through the process clearly and in a calm manner. She helped ease my fear of needles. She took her time and explained every step as she took it. Furthermore, it was a clean and sterilized environment. Everything about Dogstar helped create a positive piercing experience. If you are looking for a place that will help you feel comfortable during every step of the process that is clean and organized, I definitely recommend! Also, my piercing looks fantastic! Overall a wonderful experience!

Got my nose pierced here today with Emity! She did my friends and I. I was a bit nervous but Emity was so professional and explained everything to a T. She helped me calm my nerves. Love my piercing! Thank you ❤️

Got my nostril pierced by Calah and the experience was nothing but positive! They were so informative on the whole process and walked me through every step. Definitely going back if I were to get another piercing!!

Calah did an amazing job on my piercing today! I came in for an eyebrow piercing & unfortunately my anatomy didn’t allow it to be done safely. I’m so glad they were concerned & honest about this. I ended up leaving with a Medusa & i loveeee it! I will be coming back for all my future piercings!!

Went for their Friday the 13th Halloween special and had a blast! Love my ghost by T J.

I came to Dogstar Tattoo Company a few years ago for a nose piercing, and it was most excellent. I recently returned for a conch piercing, having the same wonderful experience. Emity pierced my ear and went step-by-step with the entire process, making sure I was OK with everything. They are also super upfront about costs and have many great jewelry choices in several price ranges. I will definitely return next time I want another piercing! :)

Excellent service and friendly staff. Although Im changing to another shop since my preferred artist is moving there, Id heartily recommend this place to anyone.

Very professional and clean. They explain every step of the process, including sanitation. Staff is very friendly. My piercer was absolutely amazing! First time coming and will be coming back.

12/8/2020I had such a positive experience here - came to get a new piercing and Shea was my piercer. He was fantastic and was great with calming my nerves! I was told to come back in a month for a quick check up on the piercing to make sure it is healing properly and I love that idea. Great environment, friendly staff, and sterile equipment! If I were to ever get another piercing, Id definitely come back.

Nic is an awesome piercer! She was very thorough, professional and extremely friendly.

Highly recommend!!! I loved the hip boutique feel of the space, outstanding jewelry selection and expertise of the staff. Most of all, I had an issue with my nose ring that seemed impossible to fix and within minutes, I had a creative solution and new ring in place! Im going to see them for my first tattoo now too.

My first tattoo and Zeph was awesome. From the first email, phone, and in person communication I had with Dogstar, they were so personable and professional and I knew they were my people.

Booking was super easy and Emity made my nose piercing a great experience! It was my first piercing (besides earlobes as a child) and she was super patient with all of my questions about jewelry and the procedure. She made me feel very comfortable even as a person with anxiety about needles. I would absolutely get another piercing from her and recommend to anyone in the area looking for a piercing!

I had a piercing appointment scheduled on 9/6 that I set the previous week. I woke up on 9/6 feeling slightly symptomatic and because I am around college students, decided it would be best to call and let Dogstar know that I would like to cancel and reschedule my appointment after a negative test. I called once at 10:32 AM (which is prior to when they open at 11 AM) and again at 12:53 (which was about 20 minutes after my designated appointment). I left a voicemail both times explaining my situation and did not receive a reply to either. At 12:45, I received a notification that I was considered a no-show for my appointment. I called to cancel my appointment the day of, which is MY problem. However, what was I supposed to have done in that situation? I did get tested (and tested negative), but would it not have been irresponsible for me to go to my appointment? I dont have any real issue with Dogstar (though I dont think this was a very professional encounter), but considering so much of their staff has departed in the last six months and this happened, I think I will just get pierced elsewhere.Update 9/9: Nick called me directly and let me know that there was a misunderstanding! He was very apologetic about the communication issue, and explained that I will no be considered a no-show. Also gave me a discount on piercing. The sincerity with which this situation was handled has significantly improved my opinion of Dogstar, and Im excited to get my piercing!

My Daughter wanted to get her ears double pierced for her birthday. Her piercing was performed by a very professional technician, who allowed plenty of time for questions and checked with my daughter throughout the process to ensure she was feeling ok. Overall a very positive experience.

Came here with my friend while she got a piercing and ended up getting a septum piercing. Shea was absolutely wonderful! Extremely knowledgeable, professional, and so friendly. Everything was clean and very professionally handled. I felt very welcome, comfortable, and safe the entire time I was here! I would absolutely recommend Dogstar and will definitely be coming back in the future!

Emity is fabulous, in the most sincere way possible. Got my septum pierced by her this week and she thoroughly explained the process, was compassionate, and genuinely felt like she cared. Would give more than 5 stars if I could! Thank you, Emity and keep up the strong work.

My cartilage piercing with Shea was a great experience! He is so knowledgeable. I wanted to get a hoop, but he very kindly informed me its best to start with a stud so that the hole heals properly. I appreciate his effort to do it right! He has a really good, friendly demeanor and puts you at ease.

I got my septum pierced by Shea yesterday and had a great experience. The space is really clean, open, bright, and inviting. Shea was super friendly and informative. I barely had any questions because he covered everything I had in mind to ask.Typically you go back in to get it checked in a month to see how it’s healing. I’m traveling, so he said to shoot him an email saying where I’ll be and he’ll find a good place for me to go get it checked. I appreciate that immensely. You can tell they really care about your whole experience as well as after care of the piercing. Super professional and wonderful, can’t recommend them enough.

I brought my 12 year old daughter here to get her ears pierced and it was such a great experience! Emity was so lovely, explained everything, and I loved that she asked for my daughters consent at every step of the process. The piercings are perfect, too.

Shea and the rest of the staff at Dogstar are wonderful! Shea pierced me about a year ago and my body takes awhile to heal (especially with cartilage piercings). Shea has been responsive and taken care of me each step of the way. I would not go anywhere else for piercings! I have since moved and still drive back and will continue to drive back for any future piercings. I have been to other places who are APP certified and my experience with Shea has far exceeded that. I am a nurse and recognize and appreciate when someone goes above and beyond to be sterile but also gentle. He has been patient and the most gentle/least pain with a swallowed piercing I had. I have some mom friends who I’ve recommended Shea for their daughters for their first time ear piercings and they had amazing experiences! Dogstar also has the best jewelry. I upgraded to BVLA gold and diamond and it’s so beautiful! They can even custom order pieces for you.

I recently made an online appt with Calah for a nose piercing and had the absolute best experience! This was my first visit to Dog Star and from the beginning each person I encountered was friendly, answered my questions and explained the process. Calah thoroughly explained each detail, including sterilization and aftercare. If youre thinking about a piercing, please visit Dog Star and request Calah!

Beyond grateful to the people at Dogstar for their kindness and helpfulness! Truly a group of lovely human beings with immense artistic talent! Special thanks to TJ, Zeph, and Emity for my adornments. Also a huge thank you to Nicole; just a super lovely and helpful human! Would recommend Emity for literally anything piercing related, she is such a healer at heart! Zeph and TJ are two of the sweetest and most talented tattoo artists I’ve had the pleasure to meet! Everyone at Dogstar is so helpful! Thank you for all you do

I got my cartilage pierced here and I loved them. Everyone was super cool at the front desk and before Emily did anything she walked me through the process and told me when everything before she did it. Amazing experience highly recommend especially if you’re nervous

Im so happy I chose to get my piercing done at Dogstar. I just moved to NC from Massachusetts so I looked online for local shops. Dogstar had great reviews and they were spot on! I emailed my inquiry and they got back to me very quickly. They answered all my questions and I was able to make an appointment. The shop is beautiful and they have a huge selection of jewelry! I was so happy that I got to totally customize my Industrial Piercing. Shea explained the entire process to me and he was even able to precisely target the areas of my ear where my previous piercing was located (I had to remove it years ago due to work and made this apt to get it back). He was super friendly, calming, and helped me make choices on jewelry. He couldnt see my face (thank you, COVID mask...) but I was so excited and smiling ear to ear. He got the piercing done and made sure I was comfortable and knew the aftercare routine. I would totally recommend Dogstar for tattoos and piercings. The atmosphere was so cool and modern. Im so happy I chose this shop after a Google search but the reviews made me comfortable. Thankfully they are spot on accurate! Definitely get your apt at Dogstar!! Thank you, Shea Collins!!! You were awesome!!

Shea (body piercing) and all staff I met were super welcoming, professional and courteous. The building and space are by far the cleanest and most well maintained businesses Ive ever seen, especially for any type of tattoo establishment. Shea walked me through the entire process, reminded me to breathe, relax my shoulders and neck and he had a super chill, soothing voice. Hed be a great meditation teacher! 👌 I was in and out with two new piercings in no time. I wouldnt go anywhere else for piercings. Everything is first rate.

Made a trip to Dogstar after a recommendation from another piercer in Raleigh since the one who did septum piercings at their shop was at a conference in Vegas. Apparently mostly all the piercers in the area were at this conference so even Dogstar had someone step in to replace Shae, their regular piercer. That man was Tye....and he is AMAZING! Very clean...very thorough...very informative. He made sure I was comfortable throughout the entire process and he made sure I understood everything he was doing as well as what I should do for aftercare. Plus he was hilarious. I enjoyed every bit of my visit. My friend is actually coming back next week to get hers done and although hell be back at his shop in PA...he made such a great impression that we agreed that Dogstar should become our go to spot.

I got a conch and stacked lobes by Emity. I am obsessed. The jewelry is beautiful and the overall experience was great. Already thinking about what I’m going to get next!

I had my daughter’s ears pierced (age 10) for the first time here. Anthony was amazing — so calm and gentle. He explained the whole experience and patiently walked my daughter through the whole thing. Everything about the experience was clean and professional. We will go back for my other two daughters!

First time getting a tattoo, the entire experience was wonderful! Zeph walked me through it, helped me feel super comfortable getting permanent art on me. Looking forward to going back!

I got my very first tattoo done back in February. I booked with Jessica because I really loved her portfolio (although every single one of the artists at Dogstar is absolutely incredible). Jessica was amazing and went above and beyond! She made a stunning sketch via the information I emailed to her. Not only was the sketch great, the tattoo was also unbelievable. Since it was my first one, she walked me through the whole process and reassured me whenever I had concerns. I love my tattoo and I am so glad I chose Jessica and Dogstar.

Great experience! I took my sister here for her first tattoo, and my 6th. We had to have separate appointments because of covid restrictions, but they made us feel so comfortable. Aldo did both tattoos. He was very respectful of our wishes. Hes personable and a fantastic artist! The shop is clean and comfortable with plenty of parking.

I came in with a basic idea of what I wanted for my first tattoo and Tege brought it to life better than I even imagined it in my head. Love it and can’t wait to come back for my next one!

Emity is SO GOOD!! She is so conscientious and thoughtful and kind and very good at her craft. I’ve had her do my helix and conch and they’re both healing well, she is super intentional about following up and I would recc her to anyone considering a piercing

The best experience you can get in the triangle area. Procedure for piercing feels safe and clinical. Emity is a wonderful and delightful person that personalizes the piercing experience and makes you feel comfortable and safe.I really appreciated the time and effort she put into jewelry selection and piercing placement both with my helix and nose piercings

I love this place I got my nostril pierced with Shea he was explaining everything to me and was clean and very professional & even gave me after care instructions The Best ! . ( Not going back to Claire’s ) ! And this is the first time I have ever experienced good customer service and it was my first time there . I would recommend for everyone to stop by there if they are getting a piercing or tattoo . They really care about you and the healing process. Love it love it love it ! ❤️ I’m coming back for sure !

Shea has done a couple piercings for me, and is an absolutely wonderful piercer and person! He is so calm, nice, and personable. Every experience Ive had at Dogstar has been wonderful. The atmosphere is clean and bright, and everyone there is friendly. Would highly recommend.

Just brought my daughter for a double helix piercing. Ease of making the appointment was great, the facility was clean and organized, and Benji, who did the piercing was super nice and very knowledgeable. He is very funny and friendly which really put my daughter at ease (she was a bit nervous going in). We will definitely be back and would recommend Dogstar, and specifically Benji, to anyone looking for a positive piercing experience.

So far, so good! Just got a piercing so well see how it heals, but the piercing experience itself was good. Location seemed a bit random, but everything was clean, organized, and professional inside. The guy who did my piercing, Shea, was very approachable and knowledgeable. I went in somewhat anxious and with lots of questions; Shea answered them all and had me feeling very relaxed by the time the needle came out!

Went here for jewelry and to look into getting some tattoo work done. The piercer was a nice guy and really helpful, and I was very happy with the service. I was a bit disappointed by the tattoo consultation, I talked to Jess, and I had to wait 3 weeks and come in to the shop for something that literally could have been handled in about 5 minutes via email if her customer service skills were better. Shes obviously a talented artist and the shop seems to be doing well, but that isnt an excuse not to value peoples time.

I went by yesterday to pick some new jewelry for my healed daith. I was impressed by how clean and professional everything was. Benji helped me out and was enthusiastic about his job and genuinely cared to help. Met Shea while I was there too, he seemed equally nice. I will definitely be back for a new piercing soon!

I only have good things to say about Dogstar. I recommend them to my friends all the time and I would absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for a clean, professional, friendly environment for piercings or tattoos. I love how Shea, the piercer, always helps to decide on jewelry thats not only suitable for the piercing, but also helps you find something in your price range, no matter how much you want to spend. I see Megan for tattoos, and shes always helpful, honest, and realistic about making decisions that will result in the best tattoo possible, and very easy to get along with. Everyone has always been personable and kind, Ive literally never had a bad experience at Dogstar.

John was SO wonderful to fix a disaster piercing situation from a horrible other local place super last minute for me. He made me feel so comfortable and explained everything he was doing in detail. I will literally never go anywhere else for tattoos and piercings - the shop is so clean and everyone is so nice and knowledgeable.I’ve also gotten a tattoo - about a year ago now and that was a great experience too. Thanks guys!!

I have gone to Dogstar for a couple of years now. Three piercings and a tattoo and they never fail me. Seth has done all my piercings and has always taken great care of me. I have my belly button, my nose, and my industrial cartilage pierced. My industrial bar is perfectly placed and both that and my nose are healing very well. Seth is very knowledgeable, has 20+ years of experience, and always makes sure the customer is comfortable and relaxed. He has always taken great care of me so I highly recommend going to see Seth for anyone looking to get pierced, especially first timers. He is a very calm person which is much appreciated.

So I just happened to be in Durham, NC with my Navy babies and we wanted to get a family tattoo. I was able to call up, go visit the spot and meet my artist to get my tattoo all in the same day! Very exciting because I never have my boys at the same time. They were very accommodating and Aldo (the artist) was amazing. He adjusted the size of the tattoo for my larger son with bigger arms. This was his first tattoo. He did a great job and the shop was classy with a metro kind of feel. Ive usually gotten all my tattoos in Atlanta, but I was very pleased with this experience. And Im thankful to the shop for getting us in so quickly and definitely at the last minute. I highly recommend this spot if youre in NC for your next ink addition 😉!

Shea was amazing! So patient as my friend and I went back and forth on jewelry and piercing position. He was not pushy but did share his expertise and opinions when we asked and that was a huge help. Very fast piercer, very efficient and kind.

The piercer was amazing! got my septum done and they were polite, respectful, and always checked on how i was doing. they made the experience super comfortable and pleasant. will definitely recommend to friends

Came to get my second piercing re-pierced- and there was no need since Shea worked his magic and put in new studs for me! Great place, clean , friendly professional staff! I have 9 piercings and 8 tattoos and this was def in my top 3 great experiences!

5 stars! I have 5 tattoos. My first was done at Dogstar when I was 18, and my last was done at Dogstar at 24. I will not be going to another shop again for a tattoo. Dogstar is CLEAN, PROFESSIONAL, and PATIENT. The other shops I’ve been to do not compare. Aldo did my last tattoo (Oct 2020) and did a GREAT job. Though my tattoo was simple & small, he did EXACTLY what I wanted and his lines were very clean & straight! Highly recommend!

Zeph did an absolutely amazing job on my Michael Myers tattoo!! It was exactly what I envisioned. He is an amazing artist!! Thank you, Zeph, for my awesome artwork!!

Dogstar is an amazing place. Everyone was friendly and professional. I had my tragus pierced December 2nd, went back for my follow up, great experience it only took about 5 minutes for him to examine my piercing. Shea was great, he took the time to explain everything about my piercing and he was very gentle and sterile. I would definitely recommend Dogstar !!

I went to Dogstar to get my nose pierced. Seth was awesome! He helped me pick out a piece that would look great and fit me well. I love it! He knew his stuff and did a great job. Healed super fast with no issues. Ill definitely be going back to Seth if I decide to get any more piercings.

Shea was amazing and very professional. My wife came in to get her nose pierced and he was very knowledgeable and seemed intuned to his craft. The environment was chill but clean as Ive ever seen a shop. Shea was very thorough with the sterilization and process for the piercing, he explained everything in detail and worked proficiently. Will highly recommend to anyone whos looking for a professional body piercer.

What an amazing place!! Extremely clean, friendly staff - an all around great experience. My sister and I came in for matching tattoos and Zeph was our man. He was able to take some of our ideas and bring them to life for us. I would definitely recommend Zeph and Dogstar for your next tattoo!

Huge thank you to Dogstar Tattoo and to Anthony in particular!!!! My sister had an issue with a helix piercing that had become inflamed/irritated and could not be removed. It was incredibly painful for her and needed to be removed pronto, but no Chapel Hill piercing/tattoo places was willing to work her in, despite our pleading. Dogstar Tattoo was so kind to work my sister in last minute and help her!!!! Anthony removed the piercing in a flash and was very sweet about it. This is the place to go!!!!!!!

I dont often feel the need to take the time to write a review, but Ive got to say, Shea is awesome.My friend and I went in about a half-hour before closing time and found most of the staff outside. I told the front desk I was in for a piercing, and he went outside to fetch Shea. A couple of minutes later, Shea was inside and more than happy to provide advice, help, and a thorough, non-condescending explanation of the piercing, possibilities, jewelry, and procedure. After we got into the piercing room, he continued with excellent demeanor and continued to explain exactly what would happen, what was happening, and what to expect during healing. Piercing was quick, easy, and fluid, and despite keeping him past closing time, I never once felt rushed out the door. Even my friend commented that he would recommend Shea to anyone, and he wasnt even being pierced! I would happily point anyone in his direction for a piercing.

Shea pierced my septum earlier this week, and I also had my nose ring done (by someone else) here about 5 years ago. Both experiences were excellent. Shea is professional and kind, and helped me stay calm. Highly recommend!

Shootout to Nick up front and Chris Parry as my artist. Nick made me feel right at home here and Chris absolutely blew me away with my tattoo. Its very clear he has a ton of professional experience.It was my first tattoo, but everything was explained in an way that made me feel more comfortable going through with it.Very professional and clean environment. Good vibes from anyone I encountered. Scheduling sessions was very easy.

Had my septum pierced by Shea today and i must say it was the best experience iv had with piercings. He really knew his stuff and super professional. Iv had my septum done twice before this time and a bad experience the last time so Shea really made me feel comfortable. I will definitely be back. Highly recommend

I went there for the first time yesterday for a tattoo consult with Jessica. I did have to schedule it a month in advance as their books are pretty full. Conveniently for me, there was a cancellation so I was able to get my tattoo the next today. Jessica was easy to work with, answered all my questions and overall just amazing. I’m really happy with the work she did. Would absolutely recommend!

Aldo did my first tattoo this past weekend, and the experience was nothing short of professional and phenomenal. The design was exactly what I wanted, and he explained every step of the process to me. The place itself is extremely clean. Id come here again for my next tat or piercing and would recommend to any of my friends.

I came here for the first time along with 2 friends, one who was getting their first lobe piercings and another who was getting a daith. I got a conch and tragus. The store itself was great-- lots of large windows and natural light, very clean, and well decorated. Shea (piercer) was knowledgeable, professional and extremely helpful. Shea first asked what sort of piercings we wanted, and then pulled out a large selection of jewelry to choose from, anywhere from $30 to $300+, so there is definitely an abundance of choice! We all ended up falling in love with some gold pieces and going way over our original budgets, which was completely our own choice. Shea then sterilized the jewelry and proceeded with the piercings in a separate room. The whole process was thorough, neat, and hurt way less than what other friends had told me about cartilage piercings in the past. Everyone loved what they ended up with! I was extremely happy with the entire experience, even if I did spend way over my original estimated budget, which I want to reiterate was my own choice! They had plenty of lower priced options. I will definitely go to Dogstar in the future!

Great service, very nice employees. Very education focused, making sure you know whats going on, what to expect and how to care for it after. Very patient and helpful. Positive experience, would definitely go here again! Also very clean and professional and friendly. Along with a great selection of jewelry.Took my teenage daughter to get her ear pierced by Shea, and they exceeded my expectations.

Got a nostril piercing done in 2014. Awesome and professional experience - everyone I spoke with was very welcoming and friendly. They took time to talk about the piercing procedure as well as show me lots of options in terms of jewelry.The guy who did my actual piercing was awesome. Ive had my nose pierced in the past and he recommended changing the nostril piercing just a bit, moving it higher up along my nose so that it would be better placed with the shape I have. The fact that he took time to actually look at the shape of MY nose on MY face and work out the best location from there is just stupendous - it really speaks highly to the level of professionalism. Every tool he used on me was in a sterile packaging, and the room was very private. Even though I was only getting a facial piercing done, it again spoke to the level of professionalism and respect they have for their clients.I was given great cleaning instructions and told to come back in a few months to have the stud resized. Everything from the check-in to the piercing itself to the aftercare - all five stars.

I had my nostril pierced by Shea and just wanted to add to the great reviews about him. I had been looking at other piercers work for a few years and when I saw Sheas work on instagram, along with the great yelp reviews I was thrilled to find him. Shea takes his time explaining every step of the process. He has such a calming presence that puts you right at ease. His training and experience is amazing. He takes his work very seriously and it shows. If youre thinking about getting pierced definitely check him out. Thank You Shea!

I just visited Dogstar yesterday and was so impressed with my experience I wanted to leave a review. I had my tragus pierced by Shea and it was the best piercing experience Ive had. All of the staff was incredibly nice and professional. Shea was very knowledgeable about piercing and aftercare and made the whole experience pleasant. I will definitely be coming back here and recommending to all of my friends.

(7/10/22): It honestly breaks my heart to even write this, I have never written a review before for any business, but what happened today was just wrong. We called into Dogstar Tattoo and the person answering was very kind and very helpful. My girlfriend and I were getting very small “7” tattoos in type writer font about an inch in length on both of our wrists for our anniversary. When we got there they kindly took us as a walk-in and we waited for Zeph to finish a consultation. Once he took us back each tattoo took around 5-6 mins each to do. In black ink. When finished he told us it was $120….. each. We both were stunned. Truthfully, being fair, do you not see how wrong any of this is? We both were in shock. My girlfriend and I are both heavily tattooed and have never been taken advantage of like that. I’m so incredibly disappointed in an artist who can just scam people like that. I will never be returning back and I hope no one I care about does the same. This could have been such a great celebration today, instead we both left feeling very let down with Dogstar as a business and upset for being taken advantage of.Reply to response (7/18/22):Thank you for your response Kathryn, unfortunately it did not change the feeling towards the experience. There were only 2 male workers there that I interacted with while inside and neither were you so I’m not sure what was told to you. I’m confused why you mention “laughing and joking” in your reply knowing I was there with my girlfriend. Other than to paint the situation on this review as a different scenario? Of course anyone with manners is cordial to their artist. I did look around after the fact. I do still feel like we were taken advantage of at your facility. And as for the “gracious” tip you spoke of- I left $10 on $120? That’s not gracious at all. Please do not falsely paint the situation when you know we were wronged. No need to further discuss this we will no longer be clients.

I went to Dogstar after reading so many rave reviews and being new to the area. I was very impressed. The shop is clean and well lit. The staff is very helpful and the artists are very informative about what you will need both before, during, and after your tattoo. This was my first piece, and I am now about 5 days out (and everything is healing wonderfully). I could not be more happy with the work (TJ listened to everything I wanted and asked questions I hadnt thought to) and look forward to coming back to Dogstar for future tattoos/piercings.

I drove a really long way to get to this location. When I called to check on what building they were located in the lady informed me they were closed. Their website states 6:00pm. I arrived at 5:39. Such a waste of gas. I wanted to only purchase an earring.

Dogstar is THE place to go.I received a tattoo from Kevin before he moved and the entire experience was easy. I had seen previous tattoos he had done on friends and knew I had to get one of his traditional pieces before he left. I called two hours before I came in and looked through his line drawings when I got there. Kevin was very friendly, humble, and helpful. I decided on a tiger and he adjusted the size to meet my needs. The process was easy and he was very detail oriented. The tattoo turned out better than I could have asked for and healed perfectly.I have also made plans to be tattooed by Brian, who does incredible realism work. I wanted a cover up on a former tattoo and emailed Brian about setting up a time to meet. He replied quickly and I came in to set up an appointment and allow him to view my current tattoo. Brian is also very friendly, humble, and helpful. Please do note that being tattooed by Brian requires and appointment since he is in such high demand (just speaks on how great his work is). I have friends who have been tattooed by him as well they have gorgeous pieces.Lastly, I walked into Dogstar in need on new jewelry for my two naval piercings and help putting current jewelry back in a rook piercing. Although I have never been pierced by Shea, I can only speak highly of the work I have seen on friends. Shea was also very helpful when I was selecting what jewelry I wanted. Dogstar only has quality jewelry and has a wide range in sizes, styles, colors, and metals. He sized the jewelry perfectly for both my upper and lower naval and switch my jewelry out free of charge. He also put my rook jewelry back in free of charge. He too is friendly, humble, and helpful.Overall, Dogstar is the most professional shop in the Raleigh-Durham area with some of the best artists and piercers.

I got a tattoo done here by Chris. It was my first tattoo and I was generally pretty nervous but Chris did a great job. The facilities are clean and the whole team is very inviting, they were able to offer suggestions and answered all my questions. It’s been two weeks since I got the tattoo and it has been healing well. I am already considering getting another tattoo here!

TJ is AMAZING! I am so happy with my art work! He and his apprentice were both so awesome! this was my first tattoo and they both helped me stay calm and were super informative. im so grateful for them and how professional everyone was! Whenever I am ready to go back for my next I will DEFINITELY be back!

Artists here take their craft to heart and pour out some amazing work. Piercer here is very thorough in medical and wants to make sure your piercing is cared for, and the tattoo artists want to make sure that your new piece is to your liking and will gladly make adjustments as needed. However, giving them the reins to your next piece is the best way to go as these guys are really good. Jessica has tattooed me twice and both are colored and layered like an oil painting. My wife has gotten two tattoos from two different artists, both are absolutely fantastic and keep so well long after. The shop is also wonderfully designed, and the front desk is always happy to answer any questions or concerns you might have. I always look forward to coming in.

I had one of my ears pierced, Shea took his time measured against my other ear that was pierced. Everything was explained in detail, the place was immaculate and earrings and equipment used sterilized. Received written instructions for post care. They were very thorough. Highly recommended.

Loved my experience with Emity! She was super professional and walked me through every step of what she was doing. The shop is very clean and they have such a great selection of jewelry. Would recommend to anyone! 🖤

Everyone is so welcoming and I got a piercing i was put as ease. They did a great job and explained everything making sure I knew how to take care of my piercing and give warranties on their jewelry. Afterwards they even do a free checkup to make sure I was healing right. I will be back.

5 stars is an understatement. I got my helix pierced by Seth and it was it a pleasant, relaxing experience--the place is beautiful, well lit, extremely clean, and beautiful. But really I am giving 5 stars because my piercing got inflamed after a few days--I called Dogstar and Seth gave me wonderful advice after hours on his own time. This is the most expensive place Ive been ($50 for one helix piercing), but worth EVERY PENNY for quality piercing and service! THANK YOU SETH!!!

The place has a sterile, clean feel. Staff is helpful and friendly. Seth did my nose piercing and made it as quick and painless as possible. I showed him a photo of my mom from when she was about my age with the type of piercing I wanted and he did an amazing job. Theyll do a free check up a month after your piercing and a free refitting as well.

Saw Emity to check on my daith. Unfortunately, that baby had to come out as it wasn’t pierced in the optimal position. I only learned that because Emity noticed; my daith has been driving me nuts for a year now and my previous piercer (out of state) had shrugged it off more as user error. I’m looking forward to returning to get it re-pierced and pick out some new jewelry. They carry BVLA and Buddha; it’s top notch, beautiful jewelry that you will not find anywhere else in the area. Check out their IG (BVLA and Buddha) and you’ll be even more inclined to visit the shop. A good piercing with a stunning piece.Thanks for the help today, Emity!

My husband took my teenager to get her nose pierced. She was so excited that the procedure did not hurt at all. Shea made her feel relaxed and explained the procedure while performing it. He also provided her with aftercare instructions. My husband also advised the shop was very clean and professional. I highly recommend them.

I recently came here for a conch and a second lobe piercing and had a wonderful experience. the piercer was professional and nice and the piercing went quickly. the information about aftercare was also very good and left me feeling very informed. i would absolutely come here again for another piercing

Professional, friendly, and talented staff and impeccably clean facility. A group of us went for piercings ranging from noses, ears, and helix and were so pleased with the time, effort, and care put into the process. Would HIGHLY recommend this place for piercing. Perhaps a bit more expensive than other places but 30 seconds in and youll see why!

Emity was so lovely with helping me get new jewelry. Also offered great ideas on new piercing options. Will be back!

Awesome! I had my rook pierced by Shea Collins! He was super nice, professional, put my mind (and my nerves) at ease, and made the experience perfect. The shop was well maintained and clean. I HIGHLY recommend Dogstar :)

This gone sound like a paid review but I swear my experience was just this good.This was my fifth time getting a tattoo and, hands-down, the best overall tattoo experience that Ive had. It was my first time at Dogstar in Durham, and Im already plotting my next visit.First, I spoke with Nick and Megan via email and phone to set up my appointment. They were extremely patient, pleasant and helpful and responded quickly to all my inquiries.The shop itself was extremely well-designed and welcoming, which made me feel at ease because I deal with social anxiety and public spaces can be difficult at times. Theres even a gallery wall with what appears to be art for sale? I dont know for sure.Michael Beckwith was the artist who worked with me. I sent over a few reference photos via email and explained what I wanted--a single-line minimalist design of my wife and I with a flower incorporated, and he drew a piece that was EXACTLY what I envisioned. Even better, actually. (And it looks just like us!) He talked me through every step of the tattoo process. Helped me nail down placement. (He even reprinted and changed the orientation of the stencil when I told him I wanted to switch arms, so that it would better follow the contours of my arm). And, he asked several questions to confirm that he understood what I was asking him to do. The line-work was about as painless as getting a tattoo can be and theres no damage to my skin. Michael is a really nice artist to work with, who is clearly 100% committed to his art and to good customer service. I cant wait to work with him again.I brought my wife along with me and she scheduled a nose-piercing at the same time of my tattoo appointment. Benji, one of the piercers at Dogstar, took VERY good care of her. She couldnt stop talking about how comfortable she felt and how painless the process was. He even had the forethought to put her stud in a location where she would be able to change it to a hoop later and helped her decide on jewelry color based on the undertones in her skin. like, come on yo? It dont get no better than this. And their jewelry selection is fly!!Lastly, the playlist was FIRE. Id come here and chill here just to listen to the music. 10/10 experience, on everything. Peace!

I worked with TJ to get my first tattoo, but unfortunately we were unable to complete the session. I was describing some visual changes to the tattoo and supplementing them with pictures, but he seemed to get frustrated with the changes I was asking for. Ultimately, he told me he didnt think he was the right artist for me, and I was refunded and referred elsewhere. I appreciate his honesty, but I wish the artist had been more cordial and patient with me. This is a big decision and Id like to give it the time and thought it deserves!

Seriously, the best!! I went here to get my nose pierced and was super nervous, but Shea was helpful, accommodating, and made me feel comfortable. This was my first piercing that wasn’t my earlobe and a great experience.

Had tattoo session today with artist TJ and he was absolutely amazing. Best tattoo experience I’ve ever had. Shop is super clean and everyone was beyond friendly. Can’t wait to get back in TJ’s chair for my next piece. 10 stars ⭐️ and highly recommend!!!Thanks for the great experience.Shasta

Came for a cartilage piercing and left very happy! Incredibly clean, knowledgeable, and friendly. Shay took the time to get things exactly how I wanted them and asked questions before doing anything. Very straightforward with aftercare and follow-up.

Went in for a nose piercing; the staff were incredibly professional, helpful, and knowledgeable and the facilities were top-notch and couldnt have been more sanitary. They offer a range of free follow-up services, and even helped my friend with an ear piercing issue without charging. Would highly recommend Dogstar to anyone!

Everything about my experience was great. Very relax but professional staff, and my artist, Aldo was awesome. I got my head tattooed and I was a little nervous but he completely helped me through it and eased me into it . Overall I would give this place a 10/10

Jessica did an amazing job and was able to get me in and out quickly. She made sure I was comfortable the entire time and actually ended up charging me less than I was originally quoted because my tattoo took less time than she had thought. I appreciated the honest approach!

Just got my ribcage tattoo started here and i love it! Zeus does awesome work and i look forward to getting it completed. he was really great with helping me with my nerves and talked to me to help me ignore the pain, and he really did talk to me and ask my opinion and work with me on the design. the rest of the staff were super friendly and the place looks great :) outside is deceiving, but this place is totally awesome! i will definitely return here for every tattoo i get and recommend the place to others :) two thumbs up!!!

Highly recommend the piercer Shea. The experience is unparalleled. Ive visited Dogstar 8x now, specifically requesting Shea each time. Shea is knowledgeable, friendly, and incredibly talented. Ive received nothing but positive feedback from the numerous friends Ive sent his way. Great atmosphere, fair prices, clean environment, high class jewelry.On the other hand, if you were looking for a more unpleasant experience - might I recommend you trouble Alan for conversation. Although I do not know his role at the shop, Alan went above and beyond to display how rude and condescending he can be to loyal customers.

I would highly recommend Dogstar tattoo to anyone. I was in earlier this evening and got my nose pierced by Shea, he was very informative and caring. The piercing was quick and easy. I also got a back tattoo from T.J. He took his time, yet it seemed like it was over before I knew it, I appreciated that he often asked if I was doing alight. Both of the men did an amazing job, I will definitely be back.

All I have to say is...SHEA COLLINS!!!!He is THE BEST body piercer EVER!!Hes gentle, professional and lets you know what he is about do or doing, letting you know when and how to breathe, giving you complete aftercare instructions. On top of that, he is constantly honing his already excellent skills by going to training events and conferences ON HIS OWN DIME!!UGH, I cant say enough great things about Shea!I wont see a dime for this review; he deserves it. But feel free to tell him Monica sent you!

Went with my sister in law for a piercing. Worked with Shea, and he was great. Very professional and thorough - way above and beyond what I expected for just a second earlobe piercing. (But maybe I am just ignorant of the procedure lol). Very pleasant overall!

I got my first tattoo done here about a week ago and I couldnt be more pleased. Their desk staffed walked me through the process of designing what I had in mind and my artist (Juliet) did an incredible job. Awesome people and very professional. Highly recommend.

I have gotten a nose and helix piercing here, both by Shay. The area was sterile and comfortable, my piercer was experienced and friendly, and the jewelry options good. My piercings are both very healthy and comfortable! Adjustments and checkups are welcome and free.

I had the absolute best experience! Got a septum and tongue piercing today! Shea is the absolute best! He talked me through everything he was doing, and explained everything to me! Nothing but gr8 things to say about this place! I will be going back! Thank you Shea!

Great place, service here was amazing. Went in to discuss a tattoo and to get my nose re-pierced after having to take the last one out years back. Talked to a gentleman about my tattoo and got some information on it. Even had him suggest a second opinion to make sure I got exactly what I wanted.Then once that was done got my nose pierced. Seth who did my piercing was great. Talked me through everything. Even helped with picking a piercing that didnt shock the boss whos been used to clean cut librarian me. He helped me pick the small starter piercing I got just to break my nose in plus pick the next one that will be permanent for once the boss settles in to me being pierced and tattooed.Cant say enough great things about the process. Seth talked me through everything, explained every step of the way. He stopped after every bit to explain what he was doing and show me everything. The piercing was very quick, as painless as one can hope for and much better than my first one in some dingy place in Camden in London. All in all I suggest going here to anyone looking for piercings or tattoos.

I got my nose pierced at Dogstar back in July and went in this past December to have a hoop put in. When Shea inserted it, though, he poked a new hole on the outside of my nose. I think the inner hole is the same, but I now have a second hole slightly below the original. I went into the shop to talk to him about it, and he tried to tell me it was just an open pore, but that’s not the case. My nose was very swollen in the days following and is still irritated because I’m going through the healing process all over again.This is the second time I’ve had problems at Dogstar. Seth pierced my nose back in July. I actually thought he did a really great job and was very informative. The stud, though – a small gold dome – was so small that it kept sinking into my nose over the course of the healing period. After about three weeks (and many, many sea salt soaks), the bump had not improved. I went to the shop and Shea told me it was perfectly normal and to continue the sea salt soaks. But after two more weeks, I was still having the same problem, and ultimately went back to the shop to get a bigger stud. Once a larger piece was put in, my nose finally began to heal properly. But I felt that a nose ring that tiny should never be recommended for a first ring, and read a lot of articles about how, in most shops, it’s not recommended to have such a small stud immediately after piercing.I understand that we’re human and we all make mistakes, but I’ve invested about $250 into my nose ring, and now I have the stress of dealing with a brand new hole and another six months of healing. Dogstar was recommended to me by my boyfriend, who is a local tattoo artist, and we are both incredibly disappointed with the whole situation.In all honesty, if Shea had just admitted that he created a new canal in my nose and apologized for it — that alone would have made me feel a little better and would have helped me understand what to expect in the healing process going forward. Dogstar – and all tattoo shops – have a responsibility for the people they work on, especially since that work involves the possibility of permanent scarring and infection. I hope that, in the future, the piercers stay on top of safety and avoid complacency.Note: I sent the above message to the owner of the shop in December. I did get a reply from the staff because the owner was out, and their only response was to come in and see them – which, at this point, I feel is futile. What’s done is done, but I can only hope that what happened to me doesn’t happen to someone else.

I got my first tattoo here (besides the cosmetic tattooing I had done years ago). My artist was very personable, worked great with my design ideas and was extremely clean and professional. Pricing was fair also. Whether you’re looking for a place to get your first tattoo or your 31st, Dogstar Tattoo is the place to go.

I got my septum pierced by Shea and he did such a great job. His calm and collected vibes made me feel reassured and the piercing was over in a snap. Clean, thorough, professional, and very easy to talk to. Thanks, Shea!

I got my nipples pierced here. The piercer was very professional, clean, and patient. I was very nervous but he was well informed and helped ease my nerves. It was quick and easy but on the pricey side.

I was visiting my daughter in Durham from New York and was ready for another tattoo....a very special one to honor my great-nephew who has Down Syndrome. I found Dogstar and a new guy, Brian, who worked with me at what I wanted.....he Aced it. It was incredible the design he came up with it and it just portrayed the love for my great-nephew that I wanted. The shop was awesome as well as the other employees. Thank you Brian...

I had a wonderful time and Shea was amazing. He told me all the information and options I needed about my piercings and I really appreciated his knowledge and professionalism. I was really comfortable talking with him!

Looks can be deceiving. I walked into the tattoo shop wanting a simple anchor, the size of a quarter. Within minutes, the tattoo artist drew up an anchor for me; however, it didn’t even resemble what I wanted, so I then showed the artist a clip art image of the exact anchor I wanted. Much to my surprise, he told me that I couldn’t get “exact triangular lines” and refused to correct his drawing. Like excuse me? Do you not realize you’re in the business of customer service? I’m paying for your services and you’re not going to correct your sketch? I think not. Nonetheless, because he was so rude and unaccommodating, I ended up walking out of the shop without new ink. I would never recommend this place to anyone, yes they do good work, but simply because their customer service sucks, I wouldn’t even give them a second thought.

Amazing piercing experience. Everywhere was super clean and sterile, piercing staff incredibly friendly, warm, and welcoming. I was very nervous but they made me feel very safe.

NEVER GOING BACK!I got a rook piercing done here and within a month it unfortunately became so infected I had a fever and had to go to the ER. I first went to Dogstar when I experienced discomfort with my piercing and they told me it would be a 25 minute wait. I was fine with that and waited in my car, but when I walked back in they said their piercer had just left and it would be another hour before their return. At this point I was rather ill from the piercing so I just went back out to my car and called the store to request that the piercer be ready to remove my piercing as soon as they come back because I really needed help. As soon as I mentioned the word infected they hung up on me and refused to pick up any of my calls afterwards! Completely unprofessional and disrespectful! Im already 30 minutes away from the parlor, but I had to drive 30 more minutes afterwards to go to Ascension Piercing and Tattoo Parlor on Franklin Street where they gave me the advice Dogstar could have EASILY given me over the phone when I called. They told me that my ear was too infected for them to help me due to liability reasons, but suggested causes of infection and that I get immediate medical help. The employees at Ascension were far more kind and professional in their attitudes and I trusted them more, the woman who helped me had several years of experience under her belt. I had all my questions answered at Ascension in a five minute conversation and Dogstar gave me nothing but grief and wasted gas. I know where Ill be taking my service to next time!

Came in to get quoted for a tattoo of 1991 on my upper back. Wouldn’t be bigger than a small woman’s hand. The artist I talked to told me he could do it and didn’t give me a price until the paperwork was being filled out which was $360. Outrageous. I couldn’t even see his work until I got home. Think his name was drew. I left an unrefundable deposit and got home and saw his work and was very disappointed. His price made it seem like he was a great artist. Terrible work. He can have it. If you want to get cheated out of your hard earned money for mediocre work go to Drew smh

Its a huge warehouse-like building with great lighting. My piercer, Shea, was really good. He walked me through the whole process and didnt stop talking even while performing the piercing, which greatly helped with my nerves.

Zeus at Dogstar is awesome! He takes the time to talk to you about your tattoo, and hes truly an artist. He works to make sure you understand the process and aftercare, and wont give you a tattoo youre unsure about. The new space at Golden Belt is beautiful, clean, and accessible. Will definitely be going to Dogstar for all future tattoos!

TJ did my tat and did an AMAZING job!! I jus moved here from Kansas May 2020 and this was my first tattoo in NC and it was a representation ok Kansas with a sunflower and I’m absolutely IN LOVE with it!! Dogstar came highly recommended when a newbie to NC like myself asked around. TJ is amazing!

Ive gone twice for jewelry for my existing piercings. The quality is the absolute best around. They were so helpful and patient while I spent time looking at pieces.

Unreal. After discussing the thoughts about the tattoo two days prior to the appointment, I come to the appointment and happen to be 15 minutes early. My tattoo artist literally stands there until the 15 minutes is up and comes up to me and says what did you have in mind. Even though we had discussed it two days prior. I showed her and told her what I was thinking and asked her to draw her idea of it and she just continually said we can’t do that. I asked what part of it you cannot do And her response was the whole thing. I asked her if she could just do the art artist part of being a tattoo artist and draw me her idea and she basically did not want to. Both times I have been to the salon they have been very difficult in dealing with the artwork. They want me to do the drawings and give them exactly what I want, yet in my mind I’m looking for an artist to help me get it on paper. Not happy.

My experience was great my wife got here piercing replaced and it didnt cost anything cause we had previously bought the Jewelry there she had a MRI and had to take it out what it was a great experience they just replaced it for free....

Emity was super nice and kind and cool ♥️ They called me darling and made me feel super comfortable through the whole process, will definitely come back for any and all piercing needs in the future.

I haven’t been tattooed at dogstar YET 😉 BUT i have been pierced here many times and will continue to return to dogstar for all my piercing needs. shea is the best when it comes to pretty much anything- i’ve never had even a slightly negative experience with him. he’s beyond professional, so nice & easy to talk to and he knows exactly what he’s doing. everyone else i’ve spoke with at dogstar (front desk, artists) is also very welcoming and helpful! worth the drive & the price every single time!

This place is by far the cleanest tattoo/piercing spot Ive ever been to. It felt more like a medical procedure than a piercing, which is exactly how I want getting a piece of metal stuck in my face to feel! Everybody was really friendly and they have really neat jewelery.

Excellent experience here. Got my first tattoo here with Chris. It was clear that he was both a professional and talented artist. Everything was clean and I felt comfortable the whole time. 10/10 experience will be coming back here if I ever get another one.

Amazing experience. Benji was thoughtful, thorough and informative. He opened my lobes and helix and did my daith. I will absolutely go see him again and I absolutely recommend him for all your piercings.

My friend and I had a very pleasant experience at Dogstar Tattoo today! Shea the piercer is a goddamn delight. He was very kind, clean, friendly and thoroughly explained everything to us. 10 out of 10 would recommend.

I walked in without an appointment and got an original piece by Kohen Meyers. He fit me into his schedule between appointments but never made me feel rushed. His tattoo turned out beautifully amd has healed perfectly. The whole vibe of the shop was very humble and welcoming from the receptionists to the other artists. Highly recommended.

Shea was very nice and talked me through the whole process. Sterilization is done right in front of you to prove that everything is perfect. I will definitely be getting my next piercing here.

Just got my second lobes pierced today by Shea and wow!!! I was treated kindly by him and felt at ease through the whole process. Totally recommend and will definitely be back!

Just got my first tattoo to honor my first grandchild - yes, Im a grandma! TJ could not have been more professional, putting me at ease and talking me through the whole experience. He did a phenomenal job designing and applying the tattoo. Its perfect ! Thank you, TJ

From A to Z a Great tattoo artist shop. Jessica did a great tattoo for me to memorialize my mom. Exactly what I asked for. Clean and polite. I dont think they are crazy expensive. You have to pay for a service and the art. Very fair price for my tattoo.

I went into Dogstar to get my nipples pierced and Shea was very nice and knowledgeable about after care. Im looking forward to seeing him for my 1 month check. Ill be back for future piercings.

Incredible work by TJ! EXACTLY how I pictured a tattoo of my sweet boy.

Got my septum done here and had a great experience with Shea! It’s healing nicely and I didn’t have any complications like previous piercings gotten elsewhere.

The shop was very clean and had a nice atmosphere. I had my piercing done by Shea, and he was very friendly and professional. He set me at ease and explained aftercare very consisely in an easy to understand way.Thanks, Shea!

Emily did an amazing job on my wifes piercing, she loved it and the healing has been very easy.

Nate is the man! Super professional but also really chill cool guy. Highly recommend, I’ll be back here for more tattoos.

I highly recommend this shop. I called with one day notice to see if they could squeeze me in for a super small line tattoo. They were so accommodating and I was in and out in 30 minutes. I love the simple design and natural light of this space, so clean and welcoming!

Highly recommend. Clean environment. Very professional artists who care about their craft and their clients. Juliet and Michael are very talented and take your vision and create (in my opinion)a masterpiece. Thank you so much.

Kohen did an absolutely amazing birds of prey wing on my left scapula extending to the front of my shoulder and chest. All 38 feathers were handled with precision and care, and the shading is phenomenal. Almost feel like I can fly. Couldnt recommend him enough!

I went today for my first tattoo with Aldo and I just want to say that I LOVE IT ! the whole shop was clean, organized and so artsy. I loved everything about it, definitely will be coming back for more.