Clean twice a day
Spray sterile saline wound wash on the front and back, then pat dry with clean paper. No cotton buds, creams or oils.
Fresh needle, fine metal, plain aftercare
Ear, nose and other piercings with sterile single use needles and implant grade titanium or solid gold. Every piercing comes with aftercare in plain words and a checkup to fit a shorter post once the swelling settles.
Single useneedles, never guns
Titanium or goldin every fresh piercing
Checkupincluded at 4 to 8 weeks
- Sterile single use needles
- Photo ID for every client
- Checkup and shorter post included
- Implant grade titanium and solid gold
Piercing prices
Each price includes the piercing, implant grade titanium jewellery and the checkup. Solid gold is added at the price of the piece you choose.
| Piercing | Price | Heals in about |
|---|---|---|
| Earlobe | $40 | 6 to 8 weeks |
| Upper lobe | $45 | 8 to 12 weeks |
| Helix or forward helix | $55 | 6 to 12 months |
| Tragus | $55 | 6 to 12 months |
| Conch | $60 | 6 to 12 months |
| Nostril | $55 | 4 to 6 months |
| Septum | $60 | 2 to 3 months |
| Navel | $65 | 6 to 12 months |
| Eyebrow | $55 | 2 to 3 months |
| Lip or labret | $55 | 2 to 3 months |
| Tongue | $65 | 4 to 6 weeks |
Healing times are typical ranges and vary from person to person. A pair of earlobes is $70.
Clean, and shown to you
Every needle is sterile, used once and opened in front of you. Jewellery is cleaned, sterilised in a steam steriliser and sealed in a dated pouch until the moment it is fitted. Gloves are changed whenever they touch anything outside the clean tray, and the chair and surfaces are wiped down between clients.
We never use piercing guns. They cannot be sterilised in the same way, and they push a blunt stud through the skin instead of a fine needle. Studio licences and inspections are set locally and vary by country, so ask any studio to show you how it meets the rules where it works.
- Needles and jewellery opened in front of you
- Fresh gloves and barrier film for every client
- Steam steriliser tested and logged every week
Metals we put in fresh piercings
Plated jewellery, sterling silver and mixed metals can irritate a healing piercing, and some carry nickel, a common cause of skin reactions. A fresh piercing gets one of these, and nothing else.
Implant grade titaniumOur standard for every new piercing
Anodised titaniumColoured by a light charge, not a coating
Solid yellow gold14 carat or higher, never plated
Solid rose gold14 carat or higher, never plated
NiobiumFor healed ears, dark or bright
Gem endsSet stones on titanium or gold tops
How a piercing goes
Most visits take twenty to thirty minutes, and the piercing itself takes a few seconds.
Request and ID
Send a request with the piercing and a day. Bring photo ID, and anyone under 18 brings a parent or guardian too.
Check and mark
We look at the shape of your ear or nose, mark the spot, and you approve it in the mirror before anything is opened.
Pierce
A sterile needle and sterilised jewellery are opened in front of you, and the piercing is done in one smooth movement.
Checkup
Come back after four to eight weeks for a look and a shorter post once the swelling has settled. It is already paid for.
Aftercare, in plain words
Lobes heal in weeks and cartilage in months. These six habits do most of the work, and the same advice comes home with you on a card.
Hands off
Wash your hands before touching it, and never twist or turn the jewellery. Movement slows healing.
Sleep on the other side
Pressure causes most cartilage bumps. A travel pillow lets you sleep on a fresh ear piercing without pressing on it.
Stay out of the water
Avoid pools, hot tubs, lakes and the sea until healed, and keep hair products and makeup away from the piercing.
Downsize at the checkup
Posts start long to allow for swelling. A shorter post fitted at four to eight weeks stops snagging and drifting.
Know the warning signs
Tenderness and a clear crust are normal. Spreading redness, heat, thick yellow or green discharge or a fever mean see a doctor.
This is general aftercare, not medical advice. If a piercing worries you, see a doctor and keep the jewellery in unless they tell you otherwise. If you feel very unwell, call your local emergency number.
Healed and fresh work
Ears, noses and the studio itself. Every piercing shown was done with a needle and fitted with titanium or solid gold.
After the needle (example reviews)
The needle pouch was opened in front of the chair and the mark was checked twice in the mirror. The helix healed without a single bump by following the aftercare card exactly.
A first nose piercing at forty two, and nobody made it feel odd. The checkup at six weeks swapped the long post for a shorter one in five minutes.
Earlobes for a twelve year old, with ID checked for parent and child and the consent form read through together. Every question was answered without hurry.
Questions before the needle
How old do you have to be?
The legal age for piercing, and whose consent is needed, varies by country and sometimes by region. We follow the law where the studio works and add our own limits: earlobes from 10 with a parent or guardian present, ear cartilage and nostril from 16 with a parent or guardian's written consent, and every other piercing from 18. Everyone shows photo ID.
Why no piercing guns?
A gun cannot be sterilised the way a needle tray can, and it forces a blunt stud through the skin. A fine single use needle makes a cleaner channel that tends to heal more smoothly.
Does it hurt?
A sharp pinch for a second or two, then a warm ache that fades over the day. Cartilage usually feels stronger than a lobe. Eat beforehand, and tell us if you feel faint.
When can the jewellery be changed?
The shorter post goes in at the checkup. For a change of style, wait until the piercing has fully healed, and we are happy to swap it in the studio so the channel is not damaged.
What if it looks infected?
Some redness, tenderness and a clear crust are normal while healing. Spreading redness, heat, thick yellow or green discharge or a fever are reasons to see a doctor. Keep the jewellery in unless the doctor advises otherwise, and let us know.
Is anyone turned away?
We do not pierce anyone who is drunk, unwell, pregnant or unable to show ID. If you have a condition that affects healing, such as diabetes, or take blood thinning medicine, check with your doctor first and tell us before the appointment.
Request a piercing
Choose the piercing, the metal and a day. A piercer replies within a working day to accept the time, offer another, or ask a question about placement before you come in.
- Photo ID for everyone, parents included
- Price confirmed before the day
- Payment arranged directly at the studio
Find the studio
Ring the bell beside the record shop door and come up one flight of stairs. The waiting area has a window seat and a mirror for checking placements.
Contact
First floor above a record shop, in the lanes behind the old cathedral square
Studio hours
| Tuesday to Wednesday | 11:00 to 19:00 |
| Thursday | 11:00 to 20:30 |
| Friday and Saturday | 11:00 to 19:00 |
| Sunday | 12:00 to 17:00 |
| Monday | Closed |
Bring photo ID
Every client shows photo ID. Anyone under 18 comes with a parent or guardian who also brings ID, and proof of the relationship where the law asks for it.