Bay City Tattoo & Barbershop

Injecting a good dose of Polynesian pride and hospitality to the area, the banter from Bay City Tattoo & Barbershop echoes well beyond the walls of Lyall Bay Junction. Whether it’s a sharp fade or a new bit of ink you’re after, whether it’s a light spruce up or a whole new look, the boys Ken and Jaco have got you covered.

Much like its neighbours, the space is clean and simple: plain brick walls, high studs, minimalist decorations that accentuate rather than distract. Large windows offer sweeping vistas of the beach, the perfect view to soak up while you get inked up. With a comfy sofa to plonk yourself on, it feels very much like dropping by your friend’s garage - and that’s exactly the vibe Ken and Jaco have gone for, harking back to how they first got started in the game. Ken’s journey, for one, began with a gifted pair of clippers, cutting his mates’ hair after school, while Jaco’s love for art was born out of hours of doodling during class at school.

Now, the “two Samoan usos” from Lyall Bay and Titahi Bay (hence the shop’s name) channel their formidable talents at their versatile studio, offering everything from sharp and tidy haircuts to a range of tattoo styles, including black and grey, realism, fine line, Polynesian, Mandala, and geometric. Between them they have 30+ combined years of experience and a jaw-dropping list of clients: the All Blacks, Xzibit, Six60, and Coterie to name a few. Not bad at all.

Bay City doesn’t try too hard to be anything other than what it is: a place where good people do good work, and where you walk out the door with more than a new fade or tattoo. It’s just the kind of outfit that slots perfectly into the laid-back, unpretentious business community that’s quietly gaining traction in Lyall Bay.