FAQ
Can I bring a friend with me?
You are welcome to bring ONE or TWO guests with you for your piercing. This is to provide a safe, calm, and distraction-free environment for both the piercer and the clients.
(For example, if two clients are coming in to get piercings, they may bring 1-2 non-piercing guests.)
For children's ear piercings: Families are welcome, as we recognize this is a special occasion.
Can I bring in my own jewelry?
It is not necessary, as we carry surgical steel and titanium jewelry in the studio and can custom order Invictus pieces, gold or niobium if preferred. We can show you what we carry when you come into the studio.
We will accept ear lobe posts that are purchased from a fine jeweler such as Dales, Ingrams, Jensen, alpine, etc.
What is surgical steel and what makes it different from non-surgical stainless steel?
Surgical stainless steel and non-surgical stainless steel are very different. Surgical steel is used for biomedical applications because of its high corrosion resistance, antimicrobial properties, and low carbon content (compared to non-surgical stainless steel). In the medical setting it is used for plates, screws, prostheses, artificial heart valves, orthopedic implants, and medical equipment such as wires, mandrels, needles, knives, bowls, and trays.
Surgical stainless steel is a popular, well-tolerated metal in both the medical and body modification communities. Although it is classified as hypoallergenic, everyone is different and occasionally some people experience a mild sensitivity reaction (ongoing redness, itchiness, delayed healing). In this case, jewelry can be switched to titanium. In very rare circumstances, some people can only wear niobium or gold.
SURGICAL STAINLESS STEEL AND NON-SURGICAL STAINLESS STEEL ARE NOT THE SAME AND HAVE DIFFERENT PROPERTIES. This is why Non-surgical is not used in either biomedical applications or piercings. You can learn more about it here.
We use implant-grade ASTM F138 316 L VM surgical stainless steel or implant-grade TI-6AL-4V ELI ASTM F136 titanium jewelry (also known as grade 23 titanium) in the studio, unless gold or niobium are indicated. The benefit of both are that they are biocompatible and hypoallergenic, making them excellent metals for piercings.
Read more about our jewelry from Invictus and Metal Mafia: Material Information Metal Certificates
Can my sibling/aunt/uncle/grandparent/host parent sign for me to get a piercing if I'm under 18?
No. If you are a minor, You must have a parent or legal guardian present with you to get any piercing.
I have a temporary driver's license. Will you accept this for ID?
Yes. we accept temporary licenses because they are issued by the state.
Can I use Pink Himalayan or regular table salt instead of sea salt when doing aftercare at home?
We only recommend using non-iodized fine grain sea salt.
I purchased a saline spray for a previous piercing. Can I just use that instead of doing a sea salt soak? Do I need to use sterile or distilled water or can I use regular water?
You may use a spray, as most aftercare aerosols are the same recipe as our sea salt solution, although in our experience, our clients benefit more from soaks.
There are two main differences between a spray and a soak:
1. the soak is warm and this helps recruit more immune cells and nutrients to the site by increasing blood flow. You do not get this benefit from a spray. Once that heat is removed, the site cools down and continues to repair itself with that new influx of nutrients.
** NOTE ON TEMPERATURE: The solution should be warm, not hot; this will have the opposite effect on healing because it will dry out the sensitive, healing tissues and possibly burn them (the body will then have to clean up the damaged tissue and start laying down new cells over again. Burned, damaged cells are also more vulnerable to bacteria).
2. applying a compress (either a sterile dressing pad, clean cotton round, or paper towel) rinses the solution through the piercing tunnel and cleanses it of wastes and debris. a spray is more likely to only reach the outer, superficial areas of the piercing or only part of the tunnel. The solution's main purpose is to flush the tunnel, which is why many professional piercers only recommend soaks. A saline solution does not provide any significant benefit itself if it is not rinsing the tunnel. Cleaning gently with a mild antibacterial soap binds bacteria to the soap and the sea salt solution then rinses out both.
There is no known rationale for using sterile or distilled water and clinical studies have instead shown no significant difference. You can read more here: "Water is a safe and effective alternative to sterile normal saline for wound irrigation prior to suturing: a prospective, double-blind, randomised, controlled clinical trial"
here: Wound cleaning: Water or saline?
If the site continues to be inflamed (red, painful, swollen, or produces drainage with a foul odor, this indicates a metal allergy, a need for different-sized jewelry, or an infected piercing. Please contact us if your piercing is not healing or is re-traumatized and we can advise you further.
What kind of soap should I use to clean the piercing? How do I do that?
We recommend gentle, handwashing liquid soaps such Softsoap. Do not use dishwashing soap, because it is designed to strip oils and will dehydrate your piercing. Do not use bar soap, as it can contain harsh additives as well.
Simply wash your hands for 30 seconds, dry them and then add a little soap and water between your index and thumb. Gently clean the front of the jewelry without twisting or spinning it and then do the same on the back. All you are doing during this step is removing germs and debris from the piercing, so be gentle. Do not force soap through the tunnel, as some of it will naturally rinse through during the sea salt soak, and putting soap directly in the piercing will disrupt the pH and damage the repairing cells.
Do not clean the piercing with soap more than twice a day, as this can cause irritation. Twice daily soap cleanses are perfect (check the aftercare sheet to see how long your specific piercing(s) benefit from soap cleanses).
What piercings can I get tandem?
The only piercings we pierce at the same time are ear lobes and nipples.
Do you use numbing cream for piercings?
We do not using numbing cream in the studio. The reason for this is to minimize irritation at the piercing site, which can occur when using topical agents if you have a sensitivity.
we leave it up to the client whether or not they choose to apply numbing cream themselves, but we do not carry it and in our experience have found that clients don't find it necessary.
I have a piercing that was done out-of-state that I'm concerned about. Can I have you take a look at it?
Absolutely!
I faint when I have my blood drawn or see needles. Can I still get pierced?
Yes! We are highly experienced with helping clients who get lightheaded or faint and have beverages and snacks we can offer when you're feeling a bit better. If you drove to our studio alone but have a friend pick you up, you can leave your car in our parking lot for 24 hours.
I have surgery coming up in a week. Can I get a piercing?
We do not recommend getting a piercing within 6 weeks of surgery, as you will be required to remove the jewelry in the hospital and the piercing can shrink or close during that time. Wait until afterwards to get any new piercings!
I want to get an ear cartilage piercing but am a side sleeper. What Are your recommendations for easing discomfort at night?
Donut-shaped airport pillows are an affordable and easy way to relieve direct pressure on your ear after getting a cartilage piercing.
I need to reschedule my appointment. Will I be charged for that?
You may reschedule your appointment up to 24 hours in advance of your appointment date without charge. You will be charged a cancellation fee of the full cost of your appointment if you cancel within 24 hours or are a no-show. (Example: If you schedule an appointment for a $55 piercing and you are a no-show, you will be charged $55). Our time is valuable and we expect all clients to be present for their appointment.
May I bring my child(ren) into the studio?
Yes. You are responsible for supervising your children if you bring them and we reserve the right to ask any client to leave if their child is being destructive or disruptive. Children are not allowed to run freely around the studio or wander into employee-only areas. Parents are expected to keep their children within line of sight at all times.
May I bring my pet into the studio?
Small Support animals are welcome in the waiting room if they are well-behaved, held or leashed, and don't display aggression or jump on couches or clients. We reserve the right to ask you to take a pet outside if it is becoming disruptive.
If you have a dog out in your car, we have bottled water if they get thirsty.
Piercings make me nervous. Can I drink before coming in?
We strongly discourage drinking before any type of body modification. While we don't have a problem with a client drinking a peach bellini from Olive Garden before coming in for a piercing, we will send you home if you are clearly drunk, as you cannot give consent when you're intoxicated and also because alcohol is a blood thinner.
My family can't be with me in person to get a piercing but I would like for them to be able to watch on Facetime. Is that ok?
Yes! We always appreciate being asked before being filmed, and have many clients who like to record their experience for their loved ones to watch. If you come in to the studio by yourself but want it to be recorded or facetimed, just let one of us know!