Piercing for Ages 18+
This section provides detailed information for adults (18 years and older) coming in for a piercing.
If you are bringing in a minor (under 18 years old) for a piercing, please refer to the appropriate age-specific pages. Those pages include all relevant details along with important requirements and restrictions that apply to minors.
We pierce both the Ear and the Nostril. We do not do other body piercings. There are certain piercings we do not offer due to the high likelihood of healing complications those piercings have.
If there is a particular piercings you are looking for and you are unsure if we pierce that spot please go to Get Pierced and select Piercing Services to view a list of the piercings we do or do not do with photos.
Page Overview
1 - Healing Times & Possible Restrictions
Quick overview of general healing times and possible restrictions
2- What to Expect During Your Appointment
General Overview of a typical appointment
3 - Studio Policy & Important Info
Our various studio policies
4 - Piercing Methods
Disposable Cartridge Piercing System or Needle Piercing
5 - Numbing Options
Strict requirements for anyone under 18 years of age
6 - Day Of Appointment Cancellation, Rescheduling, or No-Show Policy
Our 24 Hour cancelation policy and how to cancel when the studio is closed
Healing Times & Possible Restrictions
Healing Times
Ear and nose piercings require specific healing periods before jewelry can be safely removed. Taking jewelry out too soon may cause the piercing to close within minutes.
Healed enough to QUICKLY CHANGE JEWELRY
- Earlobe: Minimum of 2 months before changing jewelry
- Cartilage (ear or nose): Minimum of 6 months before changing jewelry
At these times if the jewelry is removed and not IMMEDIATELY REPLACED the piercing can close on the inside in LESS THAN ONE MINUTE
Healed enough to be PERMANENT
A piercing can take 1.5–2 years to fully heal and become permanent. Until then, there is always a risk of the hole closing quickly, especially the closer it is to the original piercing date. We do not recommend removing jewelry without immediately replacing it until after the 2-year mark..
Temporary Removal
If your child will need to remove their earrings for sports, medical procedures (such as x-rays or MRIs), or other activities, please plan the piercing so the jewelry can remain in place long enough for proper healing. Lobe piercings require at least 2 months with the original jewelry, and cartilage piercings require at least 6 months.
After this minimum healing period, a plastic retainer can be used for temporary removal. Because they are not metal, retainers are typically safe for medical procedures, scans, and most sports or activities. For team sports, dance recitals, or other group events where earrings are not allowed retainers can be placed in and since they are clear they are hard to notice and most coaches or instructors may not notice and ask for their removal.
Keep in mind that piercings are not permanent until approximately two years after placement, and piercings can close quickly—sometimes within minutes if less than a year old. If earrings are removed and left out, there is always a chance the piercing will close and require a new piercing with new jewelry, as we cannot reuse the original jewelry once it has been in place.
If you know your child has activities where earrings will need to be removed, please schedule the piercing with this in mind to reduce the risk of closure and the need for a re-piercing.
Water Exposure
Do not submerge a fresh piercing in pools, lakes, rivers, or oceans for at least 4-5 days after the procedure.
Bathing is completely fine as long as your piercing is cleaned afterwards to rinse off any leftover soaps that may remain on the piercing.
Sleeping Position
Avoid sleeping directly on a fresh piercing.If you are a side sleeper, using a travel pillow (with your ear resting in the center opening) can help reduce pressure while you heal.
Aftercare
Piercings must be cleaned at least twice a day with a saline wound wash solution for the full healing period, the first two months for lobe piercings and the first six months for cartilage piercings.
Piercings should also be cleaned more frequently if anything comes into contact with them, such as soaps, hair products, excessive sweat, or other substances you would not want on an open wound.
Failure to properly clean and care for your piercing can result in infection or other complications.
More detailed aftercare instructions will be reviewed in person during your appointment and provided to you in writing after your piercing.
What to Expect During Your Appointment
Appointments typically will take 15–30 minutes. During this time, we will:
STEP ONE - Review available earring options. We have different options for piercing with the disposable cartridge or the needle and depending on wether you want to pierce with titanium or gold.
STEP TWO - Go over aftercare instructions. These will also be given in writing so don't feel you have to memorize them on the spot!
STEP THREE - Carefully mark the piercing location before beginning.
STEP FOUR - Pierce! This will be the quickest part of all and should only take a few seconds or a few minutes depending of you pierce with the cartridge or the needle.
Studio Policy & Important Info
Earring Policy
We only pierce with oursterile, in-house earringsto ensure safety and hygiene. You can learn more on our Prices and Piercing Systems page.
Piercing one ear at a time or Simultaneously
Cartridge Piercing:
For earlobe piercings, we can pierce both ears simultaneously, provided the individual is able to remain still for a few seconds. This is typically possible for first lobe piercings and, in some cases, second or third lobe piercings, depending on the person's ear anatomy. If the curvature of the ear makes alignment challenging, we may recommend piercing one at a time to ensure optimal placement and symmetry.
For cartilage piercings, we cannot perform both ears at the same time. Due to the precise positioning required and the limited visibility when piercing both sides simultaneously, cartilage piercings must be done one ear at a time to ensure proper alignment and safety.
Needle Piercing:
Needle piercings must be performed one ear at a time and typically take about one minute per ear. Unlike cartridge piercings, which are instantaneous, needle piercing is a more controlled, three-step process designed for precision and safety. The process includes:
- Piercing the ear with a sterilized needle.
- Sliding the needle out while leaving a soft plastic catheter in place to maintain the piercing channel.
- Inserting the jewelry by guiding the back and then the front of the earring through the catheter.
Because of this multi-step method, only one ear can be pierced at a time to ensure accuracy and minimize discomfort.
Guests
We understand that ear piercing can be a meaningful moment, and we welcome support during the appointment. However, please keep in mind that we are a small studio, and space is limited. Adults can have up to two adult guests accompany them, if you need to bring children with you to your appointment see below for more info
Bringing Additional Children:
- If you need to bring other children with you because childcare is unavailable, that is okay as long as they are well-behaved and remain under the supervision of a parent or another adult.
- Our staff cannot watch additional children during the appointment, and for health and safety reasons, children must not be left unattended at any time.
- It is essential that we maintain a sterile, calm environment to ensure the safety and focus needed during the piercing.
Additional Guests:
We do have a small garden area in the back of our studio where extra guests are welcome to wait, weather permitting.
Please note that large groups cannot be accommodated inside the studio due to space and safety limitations.
We do our best to be flexible and accommodating, so if you have a unique situation or special request, feel free to contact us in advance—we’re happy to work with you whenever possible!
Strollers
Due to space limitations, strollers are not permitted inside the studio. However, we provide car seat stands for your convenience.
Timeliness
We operate by appointment only, and it’s very important that you arrive on time. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate late arrivals beyond your scheduled appointment, and we also ask that guests do not arrive excessively early.
Your appointment includes sufficient time to:
- Review earring options
- Discuss aftercare
- Carefully mark the ears
- Complete the piercing
Please only arrive early if you plan to use full numbing and meet the requirements for numbing. We cannot apply numbing cream unless all listed requirements are met. If you're interested in numbing, please review the full numbing information below prior to your visit.
Cancellations
Because we work by appointment only, each time slot is reserved specifically for you. If you are unable to attend your scheduled appointment, please notify us as soon as possible.
A $25 dollar deposit will be required to rebook if you cancel, attempt to reschedule, or do not show up on the day your appointment is scheduled without contacting us by the day prior.
If you need to cancel or reschedule before your appointment day and it is after store hours or on a day we are closed, please text our office at 516 595 9240 with your name, appointment date, and time. As long as we receive your text message by the day before your appointment, no deposit will be required, and we will process the request as soon as we return.
We understand that illnesses and emergencies happen. If you or a child scheduled for a piercing becomes sick or an emergency arises, please let us know as soon as you can, and we will happily cancel or reschedule your appointment at no charge.
⚠️ Important:
- We do not check voicemail messages. Any cancellations left via voicemail will not be valid.
- Do not reply to automated messages (such as appointment reminders or waivers); those responses are not visible to us and will not be received.
To avoid fees and ensure proper communication, always text us directly if you need to cancel or reschedule.
Before Your Appointment:
48 Hours Before Your Appointment
To ensure a smooth piercing experience, please:
✔ Eat a meal
✔ Stay hydrated
✔ Get adequate sleep
✔ Avoid alcohol, coffee, energy drinks, and
Medical Considerations
Please be aware that certain medications or medical conditions may make getting a piercing unsafe or not recommended. Common examples include taking blood thinners, using medications such as isotretinoin (Accutane), or being pregnant.
If you have any medical conditions, are taking prescription medications, or are unsure whether it is safe for you to be pierced, we recommend checking with your doctor before scheduling your appointment.
Piercing Methods
We offer two piercing methods: the medical cartridge system and the needle method. Both are safe, hygienic, and effective. We do not strongly recommend one over the other for most lobe piercings.
However, for cartilage piercings, the choice of method can make a difference. Certain piercings, such as the tragus, forward helix, flat helix, or nostril, can only be done with a needle. Additionally, needle piercings allow for specialized backing styles that are less likely to be caught on clothing or other objects when placed higher on the ear.
Click the methods listed below for for more info on each methods and general pricing
Needle Vs Cartridge
Cartridge Piercing
Cartridge Piercing
- Preferred by the American Medical Association
- Uses a manual, spring-free medical device—not a piercing gun
- Device is operated by gentle hand pressure for controlled, low-stress piercing
- Everything is prepackaged, sterilized, and disposable
Earring Options for Cartridge Piercing:
- Titanium: $55 Single / $95 Pair
- 14k Gold: $95 Single / $165 Pair
- 14k Gold with 3-point Diamond: $125 Single / $195 Pair
- 14k Gold with 5-point Diamond: $165 Single / $300 Pair
- 14k Gold with 8-point Diamond: $250 Single / $475 Pair
Needle Piercing
Needle Piercing
- Preferred by the Association of Professional Piercers (APP)
- Uses a hollow, single-use catheter needle for precision
Important: For toddlers, we only proceed if the child is cooperative. We do not allow physical restraint during piercing. If your child is unable to sit still for cleaning, marking, and piercing, we will not continue.
What to Expect with Needle Piercing:
- Piercing, stud insertion, and securing the back are done in separate steps
- Takes about 1 minute per ear
Earring Options for Needle Piercing:
- Primarily flat-back studs or seamless hoops
- Note: Hoops are not recommended for infants due to safety risks
- We use longer posts for swelling, and offer post-downsizing once the piercing heals
Important Note on Pricing:
Needle piercing earrings are priced per earring and tend to be in a higher price range due to the use of:
- Specialty flat-back posts, which are able to be custom fit
- Seamless hoops, which require more metal to manufacture
Needle Piercing Pricing:
- Titanium: $90–$125 Single
- 14k Gold: $150–$250 Single
- 14k Gold with Diamonds: $200–$1,300 Single
Numbing:
⚠️ IMPORTANT NOTE FOR NUMBING
Numbing cream is not required for ear piercing. Most clients choose to pierce without it, but it is available if you prefer to reduce sensation during the procedure.
If you would like to use numbing cream, please inform our staff at check-in. We do not ask every client about numbing since many people choose not to use it.
If numbing is requested right before the piercing, after check-in, jewelry selection, aftercare review, and ear marking, there will not be enough time for the cream to take full effect, and it cannot be applied at that point. To receive full numbing, you must arrive early as specified so the cream has enough time to work. If your appointment time does not allow for full numbing, please call or text us in advance to adjust your appointment.
If you have sensitive skin, skin conditions, or concerns about using topical lidocaine, we recommend checking with your doctor or dermatologist beforehand.
Lidocaine is a pharmaceutical product, there is always a small possibility of a reaction.
Note: If you are bringing a minor (under 18) for a piercing, pediatrician approval is required before we can apply numbing cream for them.
FULL VS PARTIAL NUMBING
-
*Arrive at appointment time*
Partial Numbing:
STEP ONE - Arrive at your scheduled appointment time. Partial Numbing does not require you to come in earlier.
STEP TWO - Let staff know at check-in that you would like to fully numb the ears.
STEP THREE - Cream must remain undisturbed for about ten minutes so we will apply it then go over earring section and then piercing aftercare and it should be partially numb by the time we will clean off the ears to mark the placement.
-
*Arrive 20 mins early*
Full Numbing:
STEP ONE - Arrive 20 minutes before your appointment. The cream will need time to sit so if you do not arrive early we cannot fully numb the ears.
STEP TWO - Let staff know at check-in that you would like to fully numb the ears.
STEP THREE - Cream must remain undisturbed for the full 20 minutes. Since our studio is small if you do want to fully numb the ears you must either leave and come back at your appointment time or wait in our garden if weather permits while waiting for the cream to take affect.
Full numbing cannot be done at appointment times that would require you to come in before the store is open for the day so keep this in mind when booking.
Times include Mondays & Saturdays at 10:00am or 10:15am and Fridays at 12:00pm or 12:15pm
Same-Day Cancellation or Rescheduling Policy:
Because we work by appointment only, each time slot is reserved specifically for you. If you’re unable to attend your scheduled appointment, please notify us as soon as possible so we can offer that time to another client.
A $25 deposit will be required to rebook if you cancel, attempt to reschedule, or do not show up on the day your appointment is scheduled, without contacting us the day prior.
If you need to cancel or reschedule before your appointment day and it is after store hours or on a day we are closed, please text our office at (516) 595-9240 with your name, appointment date, and time. As long as we receive your message by the day before your appointment, no deposit will be required to rebook, and it will be processed as soon as were back in.
We understand that illnesses and emergencies happen. If you or a child scheduled for a piercing is sick or an emergency arises, please let us know as soon as you can and we will happily cancel or reschedule your appointment at no charge.