Piercings in downtown San Diego.

We use a needle, not a piercing gun. It sounds scarier, but it's actually gentler and cleaner — a single-use needle makes a precise opening, so there's less trauma and it tends to heal more cleanly. The actual piercing takes a couple of seconds.

Honest version of "does it hurt?": most spots are a quick, sharp pinch that's over before you finish a breath. Some placements (like cartilage) are a little more than a lobe. We'll tell you exactly what to expect and go at your pace.

You pick your jewelry first, we mark the spot and check it with you in the mirror, then we pierce. We'll send you home knowing exactly how to take care of it.

Healing is mostly about leaving it alone and keeping it clean. We go over the details in person and text them to you, but the short version: rinse with a sterile saline spray, don't twist or play with the jewelry, and keep dirty hands off it. Different placements heal at different speeds — lobes are quick, cartilage takes longer.

You can always come back and we'll check it for you, swap jewelry, or answer anything that's worrying you. That part is free. See the full aftercare guide →