Friday the 13th is coming up, and this time we got a little out of control.

We usually make 50 designs for our Friday the 13th flash event. This time we somehow ended up making 100.

The designs have already dropped, so you can start figuring out which ones you want.

If you’ve been seeing people talk about Alysa Liu’s smiley piercing, that’s because her look, and especially her piercing, got a ton of attention during the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Join Cherry Bomb Studio, a queer owned tattoo & piercing shop, next Friday the 13th through Valentine’s Day weekend for $50 flash deals + little treats throughout the day. We are dropping 50 exclusive $50 tattoo designs from 12PM–10PM.

If you've never done a Friday the 13th tattoo event in NYC, here's the deal: Cherry Bomb's version is fast, high-energy, and totally no-frills. And honestly? That's what makes it great.

We quietly added genital piercings to the menu at Cherry Bomb last week…and five people booked immediately.

Friday the 13th tattoos are a staple of tattoo culture, and as it so happens, NYC is one of the best places to experience it. Shops across the city celebrate with flash tattoo deals, small black and grey designs at discounted prices, one day only.

By the time someone comes into Cherry Bomb, they’ve often already tried another shop that made them feel smaller than they walked in. Although the reasons vary, the result was the same. Their experience wasn’t centered (or even on the map). So they turn to Google to look for female artists, femme and queer owned studios, basically anywhere that feels like it won’t repeat the same story.

The mainstream beauty industry has spent decades teaching queer and trans people to doubt themselves.

Our bodies and our identities rarely work in perfect harmony. For those navigating gender, sexuality, and self expression, the body can feel foreign, something assigned, not chosen, and every selfie is a reminder of the distance between how we feel and how we appear.

For much of tattoo history, the art form was defined through the male gaze. Women and femmes appeared in the imagery but rarely behind the machine. Their stories were about being looked at, not looking back.

You’re lying on black leather, willingly allowing a needle to pierce your skin, completely vulnerable in a stranger's hands, questioning every moment that brought you here.

Okay, let's talk about one of the most misunderstood things in the piercing world: rejection.

If you've ever Googled "piercing bump cure," you've probably seen tea tree oil recommended in forums or TikToks. It sounds natural, so it must be safe... right?

From flash fads to copycat chaos, here's what the algorithm is doing to our skin and our sanity.

Walking into a tattoo studio can feel intimidating, especially when everyone else seems to know exactly what they're doing. Here's the thing though, even the most seasoned tattoo collectors felt nervous their first time. The key is knowing how to communicate your ideas effectively while keeping things collaborative and respectful.

Imagine this: You and your best friend decide to get matching tattoos.

I didn’t realize I was burnt out.

Saturday morning, you scroll past a flash sheet on our feed and the itch hits. Do you grab your jacket and head straight over, or do you pull up the booking page and pick a date? Here’s the plain truth.

No two tattoos cost the same, but this should clear up the big numbers before you walk in.