Frequently asked questions

Yes — we work by appointment so we can give you real time, not a rushed turn in a chair. Every piercing appointment includes time with a Jewelry Specialist to choose the right piece before your Piercer ever picks up a needle.

A valid, government-issued photo ID (see our age & ID policy), and if you have a design reference for a tattoo or a specific jewelry piece in mind, bring that too.

It varies by studio and day — call or email your nearest location and we'll tell you what's open. Booking ahead is always the more reliable route.

No piercing is ever 100% risk-free, but we minimize it as much as it can be minimized: sterile technique, single-use disposable needles (never piercing guns), and APP-member piercers trained specifically in disinfection and placement.

Pain tolerance is personal, but most piercings are quick — the discomfort is brief, and most clients are surprised by how manageable it is. We can't pierce anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and painkillers aren't needed beforehand.

It depends on the jewelry style — threadless pieces pull apart from both ends with a slight twist, threaded pieces unscrew. If you're ever unsure, stop by any studio and we'll show you, free of charge.

Our piercers are licensed specifically for piercing — an oddly specific skill that took real training, not just steady hands. Scarification, branding, subdermal implants, and their relatives sit in a legal gray zone Oregon hasn't finished writing rules for (some are restricted, some are flat-out prohibited), so we leave them alone entirely. If that's what you're after, you'll want a specialist elsewhere — vet them carefully: licensing, sterilization practices, reviews, all of it.

With a consultation — you and your artist talk through placement, size, and style before anything is drawn. It's a conversation first, a design second.

Cosmetic tattoo (brows, lips, and similar fine detail work) uses a much lighter, more restrained hand — the goal is for it to read as you, not as an obvious tattoo. It starts with the same kind of consultation on shape and tone.

We walk every client through aftercare in detail before you leave, and it's all written out on our aftercare guide too — worth a read before and after your appointment.