Est. / 2017
Fine Line Tattoo & Piercing: a tattooed woman in steampunk goggles before a ring of gears

About Fine Line

Tattoo & piercing / since 2017

Fine Line Tattoo & Piercing Studio in Durban North is the brainchild of businessmen and body modification enthusiasts Etienne Louw and Wade Latham, together with founding member Dylan van den Berg.

We recognised the importance of the highest quality of artistry, hygiene requirements and customer experience. We combined these to create an unparalleled studio to usher Durban’s body modification culture into the new millennium. Our vision is to practice and promote the highest standard of customer service and satisfaction and, together with a moral and ethical code, to maintain the integrity of our art and that of our clients.

Fine Line Tattoo and Piercing is set up with the highest standard of equipment, hygiene and sterilisation systems and procedures. We proudly display our up-to-date Department of Health Certificate each year. Ours is a studio where you will experience a welcoming and relaxing time in a friendly, warm and inviting atmosphere. It’s a place where you can express yourself and experience your body modification needs without fear or judgement. All of this is done in a vibey studio with the capable guidance of professionals who excel in their craft.

We offer advanced tattoo techniques including cosmetic permanent makeup and specialised tattoos to cover scars, birthmarks and stretch marks. On the body modification side, we are one of a handful of studios in the country who specialise in dermals, advanced piercings and body modification.

We offer free consultations with our artists to ensure you are completely happy with your final design before helping you realise your body modification dream.

Best of Durban winner 2024, 2025 and 2026

One of a kind. Drawn for you. Tattoos & piercing in Durban North [/]

Custom
by design

Fine Line is built around custom work: careful collaboration, and designs drawn for one person only. Hours of craft. Years of meaning. Made in a moment, kept for life.

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Mon to Sat / By appointment

Selected works

Original pieces / no repeats

A curated selection of custom tattoos made in close collaboration with our clients. Every piece is drawn from scratch, with careful attention to form, placement and personal meaning.

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Curated archive / 01

About the studio

Built on craft

Established2017
Tattoo artists05
Body modificationIn house
DesignsCustom/flash
SessionsBy appointment
ConsultationsFree
A tattoo design sketched in the studio Leave a fine line
Black and grey portrait tattoo on a thigh

Fine Line Tattoo & Piercing is an independent studio in Durban North. Experienced artists with their own specialties: fine line, black and grey, realism, ornamental, Japanese inspired and custom work. Every piece is designed for the person wearing it, with attention to precision, anatomy and comfort.

Safety is part of the craft

Every workstation is prepared before each session. All equipment and jewellery is individually packaged and sterilised, and opened in front of you. Piercings use sterilised surgical needles and implant grade surgical steel or titanium jewellery. From setup to aftercare, every step is handled with the same attention to safety, hygiene and comfort.

Protocol / 02

A fresh tattoo being cleaned and wrapped

Work process

01

Idea

Tell us what you are thinking: the idea, roughly what size in cm, where on the body, and a reference picture if you have one.

02

Consultation

Free, 15 to 30 minutes with an artist. In studio, or by phone or online if you live too far away.

03

Design

Your artist draws the piece from scratch. A reference is inspiration, never someone else's tattoo copied.

04

Tattoo

Eat beforehand, rest, hydrate, wear something that gives easy access, and bring your ID. No alcohol.

05

Healing

Your artist gives you aftercare on the day. Keep it clean, out of the sun and out of pools while it settles.

Service index

ServiceFormatTime / details
Tattoos
ConsultationIn studio / online15–30 min / idea, size, placement / free
Custom tattooOriginal designFrom R575 incl VAT / plus R75 consumables fee per appointment
Fine linePrecision workDelicate lines, script and small details
Black & greyCustom designRealism, florals, portraits, illustrative
ColourCustom designNeo-traditional, watercolour, bold colour
Japanese inspiredCustom designTraditional, strong linework
Cover-upCustom redesignPhoto of the old piece / artist assesses first
Piercing & body modification
PiercingSterile needleFrom R180 incl VAT / plus R35 studio & consumables fee
Body modificationConsultation firstAdvanced and specialised projects, with Etienne
StretchingIn studioR200 / excluding jewellery
Infection controlDone elsewhereR200
AftercarePost sessionIncluded / guidance from your artist

Project notes / 03

A woman wrapped in white silk, her neck and shoulder tattooed with roses, two red butterflies custom only

Prices

Price list / 04

Tattoos

Prices include VAT

Minimum tattoo pricequoted on size, placement and detailR575
Consumables feeper appointmentR75
How tattoo pricing workstap to read

We base our quotes on the image, size, detail and placement of the tattoo. Please can you forward an image of what you like, how big (in centimeters) you want it and where on the body do you want it.

If you are doing script, we also would need to know what font you would like to use as the font does play a role in the quote. (You can visit www.dafont.com to see which font you would like.)

Once we have this information we can assist you with a quote. Alternatively, you can book a free consultation with an artist to discuss your design ideas and give you a quote for the design.


Piercings

All piercings are inclusive of VAT

Consumables feeper piercing appointmentR35
Intimate piercings

Prices include standard implant grade surgical steel or titanium jewellery. Other jewellery costs extra. A studio & consumables fee of R35 is added to all piercing appointments. Bookings are required. Under 18s may be pierced with a parent or guardian, present in the studio subject to age limits, and everyone brings ID.

The artists

Every artist in our studio brings their own style, technique and point of view. From fine line and black and grey to realism, Japanese and colour, each piece is drawn from scratch for the person wearing it. Find the artist whose work matches your idea, or ask us to suggest one.

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Dylan van den Berg, founding member of Fine Line
In memory of DylanForever part of the Fine Line family
Dylan van den Berg, founding member of Fine Line
In memory of DylanForever part of the Fine Line family

Marked
for life

Every tattoo tells a story: personal, permanent and impossible to repeat. This portfolio brings together recent work by our artists, from fine line and black and grey to realism and colour. Each piece was made for the person who wears it.

Products & merch

Fine Line merch and jewellery are in the studio. Ask us on WhatsApp what is in stock right now, or pick it up at your next appointment.

Good to know

Questions / 05

Let's talk. Ready?

Tell us about your idea. We'll take it from there

A tattooed woman wrapped in pale fabric with red butterflies A tattooed woman wrapped in dark fabric with a red butterfly A tattooed woman veiled in fabric with red butterflies

Book a session

Every tattoo starts with an idea. Send it to us here and we'll help turn it into a piece made for you. After hours, Muse, our assistant, answers and the team picks it up when they're in.

Durban North, KwaZulu-Natal / Session request / 06

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