Piercing FAQs

How do I care for my piercing?
Your piercer will give you personalised aftercare instructions during your appointment please follow their guidance carefully, as different piercings heal in different ways. You can also find helpful aftercare advice on our studio blog (Link to blog).

If you ever feel unsure about anything during healing, you’re always welcome to come back to us for support.

How long will my piercing take to heal?
Everybody heals differently, but the full maturation of a piercing can take up to 2 years. Most people find their piercing feels “healed” much sooner, often within several months to a year but this doesn’t mean the tissue is fully stable internally.

Can I get pierced whilst breastfeeding or pregnant?
We do not pierce anyone who is pregnant, as this can increase risks and affect healing.
If you are breastfeeding, it is generally recommended to wait until your body is stable, rested, and your immune system is not under additional strain.

Where are you located?
We are located in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, just off the central market square. By car, we are approximately 20 minutes from Bedford, Hitchin and St. Neots, just off the A1. Also 30 minutes by car or 45 minutes by train from Cambridge and approx. 30 minutes direct from Kings Cross, London by train. There are direct trains also from Stevenage, Hitchin, Peterborough and St Neots.

View our pin on Google Maps

Can I bring a friend to my appointment?
Unless you require assistance, we try to dissuade people from bringing friends/family along, as there’s often not enough room, and it can be off putting for the artist. Your friend is welcome to accompany you to the appointment and either wait outside on the benches just by the studio or in the seating area downstairs, as long as it’s not too busy. If you do require support or assistance just let us know and we can accommodate requests.

Can I get tattooed while breastfeeding?
There’s always a chance of infection when breaking the skin & although highly unlikely, if you were to get an infection, you’d need to have antibiotics. The main reason is that post-partum, the body is repairing itself, plus your hormones would be all over the place, which would affect the skin & healing. Your immune system plays a massive part in healing tattoos & piercings, so needs to be 100%. It’s best to wait a minimum of six months to a year post-partum, particularly on big designs. 

Do you offer gift vouchers?
Yes, we do. They can be to any amount and are valid for a year. You can either pop by the studio to pick one up or we can email them out for you to print off at home & pay via PayPal or bank transfer. 

How do I book for a piercing service?
You can book yourself in online using Booksy, where you’ll find all the piercing related pricing & information. If you head over to our social media pages & website, you can also find the link there. If you have any trouble with this, please message us and we can help from here.

Do I need an appointment or do you accept walk-ins for piercing?
We prefer bookings over walk-ins, as we are a very popular studio and appointment spaces fill up quickly. Walk-ins may be available depending on the day/time, but booking ahead ensures you avoid disappointment and guarantees that a piercer is ready for you when you arrive. Please note, we do not offer intimate piercings or intimate jewellery changes on a walk-in basis.

Why are your prices higher than high street stores like Claire’s?
We pride ourselves on being different from high street piercing brands. We don’t cut corners
and provide the best possible service we can, which does come at a price. Some of the reasons we stand above high street piercers include:

• The quality and selection of our jewellery.
• Specialist equipment designed specifically for body piercing.
• Our aftercare practises.
• The skills and knowledge of our practitioners, who attend professional development courses and conferences at least once a year.
• Our safety standards and hygiene levels, including piercing in a sterile field and aseptic environment.

For a full view of how we set our pricing so you can understand exactly the value of what you’re getting, have a read of our blog, Piercing Pricing Explained.

Do you use a gun for piercing?
No. Any spring loaded contraptions (guns) are unsafe and outdated. They are known to spread hepatitis and other bloodborne pathogens, as they cannot be sterilised – and would simply melt if put through a sterilising machine. The jewellery used is generally one size, which is too small for an initial piercing as it doesn’t accommodate swelling and is usually sub-standard in quality. This can cause all sorts of problems such as rejection, allergic reactions, embedding and infection.

We pierce exclusively with needle blades specifically designed just for body piercing. These allow for a cleaner piercing gliding through the skin with minimal trauma which aids healing, as opposed to guns, which tear a hole in the skin by forcing the blunt jewellery through. Piercing practices have modernised and we provide far better options than what used to be available, so why play Russian roulette with unsafe outdated equipment with yours or your loved ones’ health?

What jewellery do you use?
We use only high-quality, implant-grade, hypoallergenic materials, which are most suitable for jewellery which pierces the body. This includes implant-grade titanium, niobium, and solid gold. We size and select each piece carefully to ensure comfort and proper healing. All of our jewellery is guaranteed nickel and copper free.

Can I bring my own jewellery?
No. As members of the UKAPP, we only fit and use jewellery from verified, certified manufacturers to ensure quality and safety. We also only use jewellery that has been through a strict quality control and cleaning process. Your own anatomy would also need assessment from our trained professionals to ensure we are using the correct size jewellery for your specifications. This is something you may struggle with and there is no such thing as one size fits all!

We don’t advise buying jewellery online or from high street stores even for a healed piercing, as you can’t guarantee safety or quality, despite their claims. It may look very shiny and sparkly on the shelf, but due to the mystery metals it is unlikely to stay like this for long and can cause a lot of problems, including rejection.

Can you help me decide what jewellery to choose?
Of course. We include time to browse our extensive jewellery in the piercing appointment, and we have several staff on hand who are able to discuss options with you. If you know you are a little indecisive, you are welcome to come to the appointment early and take your time.

You are also welcome to book in for a jewellery buying consultation prior to booking on Booksy or just pop by to take a look.

Do piercings hurt?
Pain varies from person to person and depends on the area being pierced. Most piercings involve a quick, sharp pinch that lasts only a moment. We make the process as smooth and comfortable as possible, and we’re always happy to talk you through it and help you feel at ease.

How many piercings can I have at one time?
We advise not to have more than four piercings in one session, also depending on which ones you have chosen. This is because multiple piercings can overwhelm the immune system leading to a reduced ability to heal effectively.

Can I have a ring in my piercing straight away?
Outside of specific piercings which require a ring to fit the anatomy, e.g. the daith, we only pierce with a labret/stud as we find this is better for healing. We don’t pierce with rings as they move around and aren’t as stable which can affect the healing process. We pierce with a slightly longer bar to allow for swelling, then make you a follow-up appointment, when we would then do a free change to a shorter, snugger fitting bar, as long as the healing is going O.K.

If your eventual goal is a ring, we can of course help with that. We advise waiting minimum of 4 to 6 months from the initial piercing, then we can change it over for you, as long as there are no healing issues.

What can I do if I don’t have the correct anatomy for a piercing?
We will advise on piercings specifically suited to your anatomy, and will make suggestions on
jewellery and placement to suit your body type. If what you want doesn’t work, we will not just take your money, pierce you, and send you out the door with something that can potentially cause discomfort or harm. We can offer informed alternatives, (e.g. a floating navel instead of a classic belly piercing), or sometimes it can be just helping find jewellery that is more suitable for your particular anatomy.

You are welcome to book in for a piercing consultation on Booksy

Can I have my friends come into the piercing room?
We do ask not to bring an entourage with you, but can accommodate one or two people for support depending on the piercers digression. If you are under 18, this will need to be a parent or guardian.

Can I bring my children to my appointment?
Ideally, it is best not to bring young children to an appointment. Children cannot be left unattended at the studio, and as we need your sole focus on the experience, regarding aftercare and best practices, it is best to come to the appointment alone or with just one additional adult for support. However, if this is unavoidable, we can accommodate up to one child in the piercing room. As they cannot sit on the couch with you during the piercing, they need to be of an age where they can sit calmly by themselves, and our piercing room does not have the space to accommodate buggies or pushchairs. If in the waiting area, under 10s will need supervision from an over 13 year old. Please be aware we reserve 30 minutes for each appointment, and children may get bored during this time.

Please contact the studio if its an emergency and you need to bring a child.

What happens if my child only wants to do one lobe piercing after booking in for both?
This doesn’t happen often, but if the child does not want to proceed, we will not do so. We strive to provide a positive experience for customers, and if that means coming back another day when they are feeling braver, so be it. You will only be charged the price of a single lobe. We do have a tandem piercing option where two practitioners pierce at the same time; you can find this option and more about it on Booksy

Can my friend be my parental consent?
No. Due to local regulations, our insurance policy and our personal safeguarding values, we require a parent or legal guardian to be present to give consent for piercings of those under 18.

My piercing feels sore, what can I do?
Many people worry about the general aches and tenderness after being pierced, but don’t worry, this is normal. Some piercings can be more tender than others, perhaps for longer than we may want, but in time and with the correct aftercare, your piercing will heal but it’s not going to happen overnight. It’s important to follow correct aftercare, yet occasionally things can still go awry with a piercing. The main thing is not to panic. It could be just a simple case of changing the jewellery or adjusting your aftercare regime. Always consult a professional piercer at the first sign of any issues or if you have concerns. Check out our blog for more info on General Piercing Aftercare.

My piercing has a lump, what shall I do?
This is one of the most common issues people can have, especially with cartilage and navel piercings, which are prone to getting knocked and caught. There are many reasons as to why a bump may have developed and there is a lot of misinformation out there, referring to Dr Google is never a good idea. But don’t worry, there are steps to treat it, and it’s unlikely to be a keloid. You don’t need to remove the piercing, it just requires a little patience and care. Steps to treat the issue are:

• Don’t touch it.
• Keep it clean & dry. Don’t go to bed with wet hair. Dry it thoroughly with a hairdryer after showering, cleaning etc.
• Don’t put any creams or ointments like TCP, Tea Tree oil, Savalon etc. on it.
• Ensure clothes/glasses are not rubbing on the piercing.
• Check that the jewellery you have is of a good quality and the right size and shape (we can help you with that)
• Sleep with a travel pillow/pillow with a hole (if appropriate for ear/facial piercings) to avoid compressing the piercing.
• Apply a chamomile tea compress.

Feel free to contact us if the problem persists or worsens. Check out our Lumps and Bumps blog for more details.

Is my piercing infected?
It’s very unlikely to be infected, but the best thing would be to pop by the studio, we can take a look & advise. With infection, you’d likely have a fever & feel nauseous, plus you’d have a foul smell & it would be immensely painful. It is much more likely that it’s just irritated. Check out our Common Piercing Problems blog and feel free to contact us at the studio.

Can I come to you if my piercing was performed elsewhere?
Certainly! Whether you’re experiencing problems or are looking to update your jewellery, everyone is always welcome to come to us, regardless of where you were pierced originally. As members of UKAPP (United Kingdom Association of Professional Piercers), we provide the most up to date guidance and offer the safest and highest quality jewellery. In order to confirm quality and suitability, it is our policy to only fit jewellery purchased at the studio .

Feel free to message us any time, we’re here to help. You can also book in for a piercing concerns appointment on Booksy or you’re always welcome to message us for any queries.

What can I expect during the appointment?
Your appointment is private, respectful, and designed to help you feel at ease. We begin with a consultation and anatomy check. Once everything is prepared, we complete the piercing quickly and provide clear aftercare instructions. Our goal is to make sure you feel informed and comfortable from start to finish.