Dahlia piercings, sometimes called joker piercings, are piercings that pass through the tissue at the corners of the mouth. They rest inside the mouth and do have a fair amount of contact with teeth and gums given the high-movement nature of this area. They are fun, glittering piercings that add some sparkle and shine to any smile. While the aesthetic of these piercings is unmatched, they are not seen too often. And this is because dahlia piercings are among the more difficult piercings to heal, and the risks they carry are among the most serious. Today we will discuss what the risks with dahl ..read more

In an ideal world, every piercing we do would heal perfectly with no issues, no irritations, and no problems. Alas, we don’t live in an ideal world, and many of us will experience bumps, over-swelling, or problems during the course of our piercing healing. And somehow we always deal with these things when we are away and unable to get to our piercer, traveling, or just really busy. Thankfully we have the internet and social media- meaning virtual checkups and troubleshooting are possible. Send your piercer some photos of what’s going on, and we can take a peek and see how we can assist or offe ..read more

As a Piercer, I see a huge variety of clients come through the doors of my studio. Young folks who are excited to get their first ear piercings. Seasoned regulars working on a multi-year project across their ears. Awkward teenagers, sweet grandmothers, and everyone in between. Their reasons for being pierced are as diverse as the piercings they get and the jewelry they select. But one reason seems to be very consistent, across many of the clients I work with. “Yeah, I’m actually going through a breakup right now. I’ve wanted this piercing for a while and just decided…screw it, I might as well ..read more

Hello Hello friends! It’s that time of year- conference season is upon us. Every year summertime is the primary season for professional events in the piercing industry, and none more prominent than the Association of Professional Piercers conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. We are a few months away from conference, but if you are anything like me, you’ve already started prepping for it. And honestly, this is the move, because conference prep can be a lot. So this blog post is for all the first timers, and even the veterans, covering everything I like to do to prepare for conference. Physical Pre ..read more

When I think of most piercers I know and consider friends, colleagues, and peers, one word comes to mind above most others- a perfectionist. I would say just about every piercer I know is a perfectionist. They come into the studio each day and carefully set up their space for the day, morning routines of cleaning and organizing ingrained in them. They take their time, meticulous in every step, from checking jewelry over before sterilization, setting their autoclave cassette up just so, and having the perfect speech prepared to tell clients about their piercings. They spend minutes and sometime ..read more

We have already talked at length about nostril piercings here on my blog. In fact that post is one of my longest to date, full of every single thing I think you could want to know before getting your nostril pierced. It’s the perfect primer for today's blog, where we will be looking at high nostril piercings. ((And I mean that, please read that blog first because it’s the foundational information for this one!)) Now often I have clients say well….isn’t it just a nostril? Just higher up? And that…that is where folks get this piercing very wrong. High nostril piercings are piercings placed above ..read more

Planning a trip? A vacation? Maybe found yourself needing to move? Packing is often one of my least favorite activities when it comes to any form of travel. But packing can get even more stressful when we consider trying to travel with some of our most fragile and prized possessions- body jewelry! You are torn between just wearing a single pair of plugs and weights all week or trying to figure out the best way to keep these things safe as you travel. So, as a professional traveler, here is some of my best advice for traveling with your plugs and ear weights! For Short-Term Trips A vacation, a ..read more

Hoops! Rings! Huggies! Clickers! No matter the name, this popular style of jewelry is as timeless as piercing itself. Hoops are never out of style, from delicate and dainty to chunky and thick. Hoops are a unique and adorable aesthetic that clients from every walk of life enjoy. They are also some of the most contested and debated jewelry styles amongst piercers. To pierce with hoops or not? What styles can be safe? Are you a “bad” piercer if you start with hoops? If you refuse? Today, I want to address the use of hoops in fresh piercings. The pros and cons, and the reality of healing with hoo ..read more

When we think of all the things we need to consider before getting pierced, it’s usually things like what piercing we want to get, what jewelry we plan to wear, and how we should take care of it while it's healing. Something we don’t often consider is how will my lifestyle affect this piercing. There are lots of lifestyle elements that can affect how our piercings heal, from the products we use on our bodies to the medications we take to the climate we live in. Today, I specifically want to talk about how what we do for work can affect piercing healing. And more than just that- what if we work ..read more

Helix piercings! Is there a more quintessential, more classic piercing in modern times? I’m not sure. Most teens grow up considering getting a cartilage piercing, seeing glittering studs, snug hoops, and decorative ends adorning an upper ear. These piercings are spotted on celebrities, politicians, doctors, teens, and everyone in between. They are most folks’ introduction to piercings beyond earlobes, and they are consistently one of the most popular services at most studios. They have a history that dates back hundreds and thousands of years, with cultures all over the world depicting adornme ..read more