Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have members of the Association of Professional Piercers on staff?

Yes. SLO Piercing is the first and only body art studio in all of SLO County to have APP members on staff. APP membership can be verified for all our locations at safepiercing.org

Do you offer earstyling or Ear curation piercings?

Yes. We specialize in earstyling and curations. An Earstyling Request Form is available to get started.

Do I need an appointment?

SLO Piercing: We prioritize piercing appointments but welcome walkins if available. Downsizing and jewelry shopping are by walkin. Our walkin hours are available on Google. Please note, that our staff does step out for lunch between 2-3pm. We cut off walk-ins 3o minutes before lunch and closing.

Lompokes: We accept walkins Tuesday through Saturday 1-7pm. No appointment needed.

Schedule is subject to changes! You can text us at (805) 441-4820 to verify our schedule.

How much do you charge for piercings?

Prices will vary a lot at our studio. We provide a breakdown of our starting prices under the Menu bar Prices.

HOW MUCH FOR A PAIR OF EARLOBE PIERCINGS?

Prices will vary a lot at our studio. We provide a breakdown of our starting prices for earlobes under the Menu bar Prices.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept all credit cards, cash and Bitcoin.

DO YOU USE PIERCING GUNS?

No, we don’t. We use a sterile single use needle for each piercing. Piercing guns are extremely dangerous and painful because guns 1.) can’t be sterilized, 2.) use blunt force to create a hole using only jewelry (no needle) and 3.) the jewelry is not implant grade with a terrible butterfly backing design for healing. Our method is the best and safest way to do a safe piercing.

What material is your jewelry?

We use ASTM F136 implant grade titanium posts and mostly 18k gold ends in a threadless or threaded design on fresh and healed body piercings. It is the best and safest material for piercings. However, we do carry other safe materials. Other materials include: ASTM F138 implant grade stainless steel, pure niobium and 14k or 18k yellow, rose, white gold and Platinum. We carry only the best professional grade body jewelry, so you won’t have issues with your piercings due to material sensitivity or an uncomfortable design. We’ve already done all the research for you on what is best for your piercing, so you don’t have to worry!

can I bring my own jewelry?

No. We only pierce or install jewelry that is sourced directly from our verified vendors. Everything that we need is available at our studio or can be custom ordered through a reputable verified vendor at our studio. This assures us that our clients are receiving a safe high quality product for their new or healed piercing(s) and maintains consistency from our studio.

Can I get pierced with a hoop?

We will pierce septum and daith piercings with a hoop. Outer cartilage, like a helix or earlobes are preferred with a stud but can make exceptions if we use a thicker gauge and wider diameter. Nostril piercings are only with a stud. Continue to the next few frequently asked questions for more information on new piercings with hoops.

Why can’t you use a hoop on a new piercing?

Small dainty hoops are great for healed piercings, but the worst choice on new piercings. We can use a hoop on a new piercings, however, it’s not what one may expect. Most piercings online displaying a small dainty hoop are either fully healed or new piercings done by an inexperienced piercer. The reality is that your piercing will have initial swelling and having a small dainty hoop is going to lead to guaranteed complications. If we do a piercing with a hoop, we need a thicker gauge and a wide enough diameter to accommodate for the initial swelling. Therefore, the best option is a stud. The good news is you’ll have hundreds of cute stud options in gold and titanium available to choose from at our studio.

How long until I can switch to a hoop?

Switching to a hoop will vary from person to person but realistically it will be about 9-12 months maybe longer if complications were experienced during healing. Some piercers may say as early as 4-6 months but based on our experience, even at 6 months it’s too early for most people. We strongly recommend waiting at least a full year. Be patient, it’s worth not having to deal with the healing complications. We see it way too often. Switching the jewelry to a hoop too soon is going to set your piercing back months or you’ll completely ruin your new piercing.

Can I record a video or take pictures of me getting a piercing during my appointment?

No. We do not allow recording or pictures of the procedure. Phones are not allowed in the piercing room. If you would like pictures, please ask our support staff after the piercing! We have a cool Instax camera upfront and our staff is happy to take a picture or two for you to take home after your piercing.

Do you offer piercing parties or private events?

Yes. We offer piercing parties or private events at SLO Piercing. Send us an email at least 7 days in advance to make a reservation. Our hourly rate is $100 an hour plus our regular piercing rates.

Do you sterilize everything before a piercing?

Yes. Health and safety is our highest priority. We are an all disposable, single-use studio that uses sterile gloves and all new sterile supplies for every single piercing procedure. We sterilize everything in front of you. We keep a solid record of every single sterilization cycle for every single client and can provide proof of our latest spore tests for our autoclave (sterilizer) upon request.

Can I bring someone for moral support during my piercing appointment?

Absolutely! One additional person is allowed in the piercing room for moral support. Moral support must be 18 years or older.

Clients under the age of 18 years old must have their parents or legal guardian present as moral support. No one under the age of 18 is allowed in the piercing room without a parent or legal guardian present.

Do you pierce kid’s earlobes? / DO YOU PIERCE Minors?

Yes! We do! You can review all of our requirements and the piercings we offer for clients under age 18 under the Menu bar Age + ID Policies.