SAFE & PROFESSIONAL PIERCING IN BEAVERTON, PORTLAND & VANCOUVER
Your Health and Safety is Our #1 Priority.
All Adorn Body Piercers are members of the Association of Professional Piercers.
Here at Adorn, we make every attempt to make your piercing experience a safe and happy one. All our Piercers are trained professionals, who disinfect the area to be pierced and use sterile piercing instruments, sterilized single-use disposable needles, and piercing jewelry of the highest quality.
Attention Minors!
If you are under 18, you must have parental consent to be pierced. We know you love piercings and we love giving them to you… however, it is illegal for any minor to be pierced without parental permission. This means that we require a legal guardian present with state or federally-issued identification. Adorn also requires some form of identification from the minor: state or federal ID is preferred, however, if your last name matches that of your legal guardian, school ID is okay.
For further questions and clarification, please call or contact our piercing studio.
We would also like to note that each piercer may have different age restrictions for each piercing based on their individual personal and professional comfort, however genital and nipple piercings on minors are strictly illegal in the state of Oregon.
Safe, Reliable, and Absolutely Gorgeous Body Jewelry
Whether you are in the market for a classic titanium stud, or feel it is time for a complete solid gold jewelry makeover strewn with precious gemstones, we recommend taking a peek at our full line of body jewelry. Or get in touch with our talented and knowledgeable staff who would be delighted to make recommendations from our selection or help you create your very own, heirloom quality piece in concert with our trusted jewelry makers.
- We have spent decades meticulously curating the Pacific Northwest’s largest selection of premium body jewelry.
- All our jewelry lines adhere to stringent health, safety and ethical standards.
- All our jewelry for initial piercings is internally threaded or threadless and hand polished to provide painless insertion into your piercing.
- We go above and beyond the highest standards set by the Association of Professional Piercers (APP) when it comes to body jewelry quality.
We Strongly Support Ethical Jewelry Makers
We source all of our initial piercing jewelry (eg. rings, barbells) from established American companies. Only safe, reliable, and proven metals or glass from ethical manufacturers are used. This includes all our 14k/18k gold as well as our implant-grade titanium and stainless steel options. These well-respected and vetted companies provide unparalleled guarantees and assurances against manufacturing defects.
Our commitment to quality extends to providers of stone, bone, wood, brass, copper, horn, and silver jewelry for our clients’ well-healed piercings. Adorn chooses to use original designers rather than those exporting knock-offs who profit from stolen designs often at the sacrifice of quality and integrity. We applaud the makers who put their artistry and effort into creating beauty in this industry.
We can’t wait to share our passion for adornment with you and assist you in bringing your unique personal vision to life. We are happy to share our expertise regarding tattoos, piercings, jewelry, permanent cosmetics, or tooth gems. We hope you’ll journey with us as we aim to destroy conventional ideas of beauty.
MEET OUR Professional Piercers

DESTA | PIERCER
PRONOUNS: SHE/THEY
Desta is Adorn’s Founder. She started our Beaverton studio in 2000. Twenty years later with the opening of the Uptown Vancouver studio, she accomplished her goal of triangulating Portland so that there would always be an Adorn nearby to serve you.
Desta began piercing professionally in 1995 after attending the Gauntlet Piercing Seminars in New York. With a strong commitment to personal and professional advancement, Desta has been called “relentless” by her staff when it comes to growing the studios and every team member’s individual skillset.
Rarely behind the needle these days she still takes an active role in promoting the values that drive Adorn’s Culture and establishing support for Continuing Education. She is a regular and dreaded visitor to the studios overseeing everything from displays to inventory and customer service protocols.
A proud and active member of the Association of Professional Piercers (APP) going on for two decades, she regularly attends classes at the annual Conventions and Camps. She credits her time attending, auditing, and acting as a Mentor at the Fakir Body Piercing Intensives as both Inspiring and Informing the entirety of her beloved career.
Adorn is always staffed with her personally chosen professional piercers and counter, including her only apprentice and heir to the throne, Ben Kelvin. When left to her own devices, she is busy traveling and spending time with the furry beasts in her life, including her sweet and handsome hubby, Josh.

BEN | PIERCER
PRONOUNS: HE/HIM
Hey! I’m Ben, and I have been piercing since 2001. I started my long career in body piercing when I did my apprenticeship under the one and only Queen of Adorn, Desta Fury.
Piercing has led me to some awesome things in my life and has helped to keep me grounded through the less amazing times. My favorite piercings to perform are Nostrils and Curated Ears. I love helping my clients plan out the placement of multiple ear piercings and guiding them through the jewelry selection for their ears. It is super satisfying for me to help bring a project to life!
I am also the General Manager of the Adorn studios and I am usually found piercing at our Uptown Vancouver and West Beaverton locations, however I do occasionally work at our Southeast Portland location as well. When I’m not piercing I spend most of my time with my girlfriend Kylynn who is a cosmetic tattoo artist at our uptown location and our dog Otis. I also love to BBQ and play poker!

SETH | PIERCER
PRONOUNS: HE/THEY/THEM
Seth Dietz is more than just a fabulous beard. He is a passionate, professional, and dedicated piercer who is esteemed by his peers – clients and industry co-workers alike. He started piercing professionally in 2005 and has continued to challenge himself by learning everything he can to be the best piercer possible. He attended the Fakir Body Piercing Intensives – Basic (2006) and Advanced (2008). He both takes and teaches classes annually at the Association of Professional Piercers Conference in Las Vegas and he has been a member of the APP since 2011.
Since moving from Tennessee to join the Adorn family in 2010, he has been very active in the local body piercing community. He is a founding member of the Oregon Professional Piercers (OPP). He also served on the State of Oregon’s Board of Body Art Practitioners from 2012-2017. During that time, he was on the team that helped institute some of Oregon’s best regulations to help keep all Oregonians as safe as possible. Seth loves working with gold, opals, and helping you find the best jewelry for your piercing. His favorite piercings to perform are nostrils, ear lobes, conches, ear projects, nipples, and genitals, and making sure all clients leave feeling excited and confident about how to take care of their new piercings. Seth is currently licensed in Oregon for all standard body piercings, as well as both specialty level 1 (all basic genital piercings) & specialty level 2 (all advanced genital piercings). When he’s not piercing, he’s hiking or climbing a mountain somewhere with his awesome wife in the great outdoors, or drinking a pint at a local beerfest.
Follow Seth on IG: @SethTheBeard

ZANDR | PIERCER
PRONOUNS: SEXY
Zandr is new to Oregon, originally from California. He spent years in the Bay Area before deciding to make Portland his new home sweet home. His fascination with body piercing began when he was just a young boy. It all started when his dad took him to get his first ear piercings which inspired Zandr to pursue an apprenticeship in 2009. He has continued his ongoing education by attending the last two years of the Association of Professional Piercers annual conference in Las Vegas, as well as partaking in online forums and seminars.

CHERISH | PIERCER
PRONOUNS: THEY/THEM

DANA | PIERCER
PRONOUNS: HE/HIM
Since the early 1990’s I’ve been helping clients to sparkle, shine, grow, learn, and become happier with themselves. From the boring yet beneficial side, I’ve been a public advocate and industry instructor for safer practices within the studio since 2007. At the beginning of my years in Piercing I spent lots of time and energy making jewelry and designing projects based on anatomy aesthetics and the wonderful differences from the body to body. Working with anatomy to make unique projects, custom jewelry designs and selections are still some of my favorite parts of this adventure! Ultimately if clients leave happy with new shiny parts, I’m happy.

ALEX | PIERCER
PRONOUNS: HE/THEY
Alexander is a multi-talented artist who believes in self-expression through body art and jewelry. Joining the Adorn family in the summer of 2018, Alex worked as a front of house counter person before becoming a licensed piercer in 2021. Taking pride in helping others feel more comfortable in their own skin, Alex enjoys creating customized styles that range from small singular piercings to larger full curation projects. With a keen eye for aesthetics and a trauma informed approach to piercings, Alex loves nothing more than seeing someone’s transformation through their self-expression.

BEN C. | STAFF, PIERCING COUNTER
PRONOUNS: HE/HIM
What’s up Oregon! My name is Ben and I’m new to the Pacific Northwest from the Bay Area. I started my journey in the piercing industry in 2013 and I’ve loved every moment of it. Body modification has been a passion of mine since a young age. Nothing makes me happier than finding that perfect piece of jewelry for that perfect piercing. Come on in and let’s step up your jewelry game! When I’m not in the studio drooling over all the gold, you can find me watching one of my favorite shows like Law and Order, Friends, or Ridiculousness. I’m super excited to be a part of the Adorn family and can’t wait to see the beautiful faces of Portland drip in gold.
Do You Take Appointments?
We operate by appointment only. Schedule today!
Can I Be Pierced With My Own Jewelry?
If your jewelry is from our studios, then we will reprocess it for your use. Drop your jewelry at the studio a minimum of 72 hours prior to your piercing appointment. We are unable to pierce with jewelry from outside our studios.
Does It Hurt?
The single most common exclamation post-piercing is a joyous “That wasn‘t as bad as I expected!” Each of us has a different tolerance and response to pain primarily determined by our attitude. Even if you can’t shake the pre-piercing jitters, the quick pinch/pressure of a piercing is over almost immediately. By the time you see how awesome your new jewelry looks, you’ll forget all about it. Stop allowing fear to hold you back…Live your life NOW! On the related subject: Painkillers will not help, nor are they necessary. We are not legally able to tattoo or pierce anyone under the influence.
How Old Do I Have To Be To Get A Piercing/Stretched?
Individuals 18 and over can make independent piercing/stretching decisions. If you are under 18, you will need a verifiable parent or legal guardian present at the time of piercing/stretching to sign documentation. All parties will need to provide proper state or federal photographic identification with the date of birth. (Simple jewelry changes such as gem size or color may be provided without parental consent.)
Additional criteria and restrictions to what can and cannot be safely pierced are based loosely on actual age and more specifically on levels of physical and emotional maturation and lifestyle in combination with the different professional piercers’ ideologies and comfort zones with regard to minors. It is best to call or drop by adorn to determine the best timing for your minor piercings. Adorn does not perform infant ear-piercing or any piercings on clients who cannot have a discussion about the care and consequences of piercings and give informed consent. Check out our children’s piercing section for more information on infant/child piercing.
Can I Get Pierced While Pregnant/Nursing?
We do not pierce anyone who is pregnant or nursing. Your system is under tremendous stress from dramatic changes that leave you and your baby susceptible to increased risks of infection, allergic reaction, and/or rejection. It is best to wait until you are finished nursing before considering a new tattoo or piercing. On a brighter note, if you already have a piercing that is healed and comfortable there is rarely a medical reason to take out your jewelry. There are flexible jewelry alternatives available if as your pregnancy progresses any problems with fit or comfort arise.
Can I Start With A Ring?
Yes and No. Whatever your ultimate jewelry choice is your piercer can discuss any and all questions you have regarding proper jewelry size and placement. It is important you let them know what your goals are and then trust them to guide you on the best way to get there. Even if we are telling you something you don’t want to hear, it will always be based on our professional experience with your best interests in mind. Some facts to consider when starting with a ring:
- Rings are more likely to get bumped and snagged.
- Physical injuries set back healing and can create some unsightly scarring.
- Initial piercings require jewelry that will allow your body to swell. Barbell posts are just slightly longer – with rings the entire diameter gets bigger. This creates a look that is not as snug as current American fashion prefers.
Why Do I Have To Have A Bead On My Ring?
The captive or threaded bead provides a gentle stop to the jewelry which prevents excessive spinning and also smoothes out edges that could harbor bacteria or irritate fragile tissue. The bead also provides a visual clue and reassurance that the piercing remains fully intact. The minute gap in the continuous/seam/infinity rings can be irritating to piercings and has the added potential of lodging in your piercing and allowing a disconnected channel – effectively rendering your piercing incomplete and necessitating abandonment or re-piercing. There is an array of beautiful jewelry awaiting you once you are properly healed.
I Am Going On Vacation. Is It A Good Idea To Get Pierced?
It is important to factor in personal, family/social, and employment concerns when deciding to get pierced. Do you really want to spend your trip pampering a potentially problematic piercing?! We say NO… Go enjoy yourself! Go swim. Go hike. Go play. Get pierced when you are home and have access to a professional piercer and/or medical care if complications occur. Whether it’s a family reunion, spring break, or rugby season: There is a time for everything! Discuss your concerns with your piercer to find the timing that is best for your situation.
Will My Involvement In Sports Affect My Piercing?
Most authorities have specific and variously enforced rules about piercing jewelry being worn during practice and games. While some of these restrictions are unnecessary and even arbitrary, rules are rules. Find out the guidelines to which you will be subject before deciding to get pierced. It is ideal to be fully healed prior to the start of your sports season as removal of jewelry even for short periods can cause complications from mild to severe. There are various options and forms of jewelry available for making piercings less visible. Drop by Adorn and we can discuss all the pros and cons and make an educated decision together.
Is It Safe?
While we cannot guarantee absolute safety, you can rest at ease knowing that every aspect of your care has been considered and measures have been put in place for your well-being. The risks associated with body piercing include but are not limited to: Irritation, allergic reaction, infection, scaring, migration, and even rejection. All these risks can be minimized by choosing a professionally trained piercer in a clean studio with proper quality jewelry. That is why we have gone above and beyond all state, federal and industry standards for sterility, jewelry quality and continuing education.
Do You Do ________________? (Insert Body Modification Of Choice –scarification, Branding, Tongue-splitting, Magnets, Ear Pinning, Ear Cutting, Ear Shaping, Implants, Suspension)
Anything that requires a tool other than a needle used to insert visible jewelry into flesh is beyond our scope. We are licensed to perform professional body piercing services. It is important when researching these other procedures that you do your homework. Ask around and get the proper contacts and referrals, look at portfolios, etc. Not all artists/practitioners are created equal and hastily chosen work can turn out disastrous. Be prepared to dig. These underground networks are not always the quickest to trust strangers and neither should you. Hopefully, we have covered all your questions here, but if not… COME ON BY! We look forward to seeing you!
Why Can’t I Touch My Piercings In The Studio?
Even fully-healed piercings secrete substances specific to your body than can create a health and safety risk to others you expose. We aren’t trying to say you are dirty, but… well, you are dirty. We all are! What we are truly saying: “We care about your well-being and that of the clients who will come after you.” You wouldn’t share your chewing gum with a stranger so please don’t take your tongue piercing out of your mouth and put it on the counter. We will gladly take care of everything. Just let us know what you would like with your words and not with your hands. And if we do have to ask you to use the hand sanitizer you do not have to feel embarrassed or admonished… You are not the first nor the last, and we aren’t judging but we have to protect you. That’s our job.
How Long Does A Piercing Take To Heal?
Different individuals and different piercings have different healing times. These times represent an average first stage of healing; actual healing can take well over a year. Even if your piercing is no longer swollen or tender it is not necessarily healed. Most of what people consider healed is far from it. Not even Superman could heal a piercing in two weeks. It is best to come to Adorn and see a piercer if you are unsure about your current stage of healing.
Should I Twist Or Rotate The Jewelry During The Healing Period?
Twisting came into popular lore from ear-piercing guns that use blunt force trauma to put inadequately sized, improperly designed jewelry of dubious metal quality into jagged and brutally formed “holes”. Professional piercings provide little to no risk of adhering because the jewelry is implant-grade properly polished mirror smooth and custom sized to be of appropriate length to your specific anatomy. There is nothing to gain from twisting, in fact, rotating the jewelry increases your risk of infection, rejection, and scarring dramatically and therefore increases healing time. Hands off for better healing!
Should I Use Peroxide, Bactine, Anti-Bacterial Soap, Neosporin, Etc.?
NO! Chemicals most often cause more damage than good and increase the likelihood of complications. The only thing you should clean your actual piercing with is a spray can of sterile saline.
How Long Should I Wear My Jewelry?
The appropriate time for changing jewelry varies depending on what you get and how well you take care of it. (For instance, if you sleep on your piercing it will likely take longer than average time to heal and subsequently lengthen the amount of time before jewelry can be changed or removed.) Unless your jewelry change is prompted by a healing issue it is best to wait and err on the side of caution. We have put together a list of piercings and their average heal times here to use as a guide. It is always advisable to have the first few jewelry changes done professionally and to wait a minimum of 6 months before doing changes independently. Come in to see Adorn for a quick post-piercing check-up. We will gladly help you determine your readiness to switch and go over some of the long-term care considerations that will keep your piercing happy for the long haul.
Can I Sleep On It?
Ideally NOT. This is especially true for ear cartilage piercings. Sleeping on piercings can be painful and cause healing complications. Even without pain it is likely that sleeping on a piercing will result in unsightly scarring. Often the weight of the body on the jewelry will cause it to move the piercing into a crooked an unflattering position. This shifting out of alignment is especially problematic in cases of multiple or paired piercings, leaving them unflattering and imbalanced. Do your best to stay off your piercing. Try using the opening gap of a travel pillow to frame your piercing and eliminate some of the direct pressure. If problems still arise come in sooner rather than later so we can help guide you to a solution.
Can I Go Swimming?
Sorry but NO. Lakes, rivers, oceans, bays, streams, creeks, pools, puddles hot tubs and even bathtubs (but not showers! Please shower!) are all to be avoided. Chemicals in treated water can irritate piercings and still leave them open to infection. The many and varied bacterial strains in our untreated water sources make infections imminent and difficult to treat. Even baths are suspect as they are often shared with other dirty humans and soap or cleaning chemical residue can be irritating. We suggest not swimming or soaking until you are healed. Waterproof bandages may provide some level of protection if swimming is unavoidable. Bandages are not infallible, use them at your discretion. Read about Portland’s water quality.
Can I Eat/Talk Normally After Getting A New Oral Piercing (Tongue, Lip, Cheeks)?
It takes a little time to adjust but you can do it! We suggest that you stay away from extremely spicy, acidic, or salty foods for the first week. Sipping ice water will help minimize swelling which will make speech and eating easier. Inebriation of any sort will make you more likely to bite down on it causing healing complications and potentially major dental expenses. Eat slowly and deliberately being careful to avoid biting down on the metal jewelry and doing damage to your teeth! Last but not least: SHORTEN your jewelry as soon as swelling allows. Downsizing guidelines are in your aftercare instructions.
Will My Involvement In Sports Affect My Piercing?
Most authorities have specific and variously enforced rules about piercing jewelry being worn during practice and games. While some of these restrictions are unnecessary and even arbitrary, rules are rules. Find out the guidelines to which you will be subject before deciding to get pierced. It is ideal to be fully healed prior to the start of your sports season as removal of jewelry even for short periods can cause complications from mild to severe. There are various options and forms of jewelry available for making piercings less visible. Drop by Adorn and we can discuss all the pros and cons and make an educated decision together.
How Do I Remove My Jewelry?
Different jewelry styles work in different ways. Some thread, some use pressure, some twist some pull, some snap. For example, view our extensive selection of styles and types and hints and tips on how to use them look at the Jewelry section of the website or come in for a tutorial. We are happy to show you all the styles and how they work and answer any questions. We are also happy to install and remove almost anything so please don’t hurt yourselves or your piercings trying to do it alone.
What Do I Do If I Think I Have An Infection Or Allergic Reaction?
Often times what people think of as an infection is simply irritation. Left unchecked, an irritation can lead to an infection. If your piercing is not 100% come into the studio and let us look at it. If there is intense redness, heat, dark or odorous discharge, or pain, seek a professional medical doctor without delay. Important: Bacteria causes infection, not piercings or jewelry. Removing jewelry closes piercings and seals infectious waste in the body. It is counterproductive to actually treat infection but that does not stop some healthcare workers from allowing personal prejudice to affect professional judgment.
There’s Something Wrong With My Piercing. What Should I Do?
Come by the studio at your earliest possible convenience to discuss your situation and options for putting your healing back on track. Call or email for help if an immediate trip to the studio is not possible. Either way, do not take advice from your BF, your well-intentioned Uncle Joe, or the mixed bag of “experts” that are found on Google and YouTube. And please do not ignore the problem. Come on in, we will be happy to help.
I Have Surgery/MRI Scheduled. Do I Need To Remove My Jewelry?
There are some legitimate and not-so-legitimate concerns with wearing jewelry during a medical procedure. If the jewelry is in the actual surgery or image site then it makes perfect sense to remove it. If the jewelry is not in the way then it becomes a matter of professional/personal discretion and bias. We carry copies of the Association of Professional Piercers pamphlet geared towards assisting you in making an informed decision in cooperation with your healthcare provider.
PIERCING AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS
Knowledge is power!
We are here to help you, so if you have any questions about healing your piercing feel free to ask us! The best way to get a hold of us while we’re reopening is by emailing AdornSafely@gmail.com
Need aftercare instructions? No problem! Download our piercing aftercare brochure, or continue reading!
Piercing Aftercare by Adorn
Let’s talk aftercare! For further information, please continue reading below.
Basic Piercing Aftercare
The first step to healing is to be healthy! Happy, healthy bodies make for happy, healthy piercings. Good personal hygiene and a stress-free life, complemented by a nutritious diet with proper hydration will enable the body to heal faster. The combination of showering daily along with proper saline irrigation will reduce the chances of infection and minimize irritation. Keep it simple: eat your veggies and please, keep your filthy hands off.
Cleaning Instructions
Sterile saline is the universally accepted choice for wound care in hospitals and medical facilities. Sterile saline and shower water are the only “solutions” to use directly on your piercing.
- Sterile saline sprays are the perfect portable isotonic solution. When used properly they will not damage tissue or cause allergies or alter the normal healing process.
- Irrigation is an essential component of healing. Flush your piercings after a daily shower and periodically throughout the day, as needed.
- Wound Wash sterile saline is available at Adorn with a specific piercing-friendly tip. When purchasing sterile saline spray from the drug store make sure and AVOID any and all additives…especially preservatives or anything “anti-bacterial.”
- Special circumstances may arise where heating and cooling through sterile saline saturated gauze compresses is indicated. Check in with your piercer to see if your situation qualifies.
Daily Showering
Over or under-cleaning is counter-productive to your healing. Rinsing your piercing in clean, warm, running water once or twice a day is usually sufficient. Follow with saline.
- When showering, wash your body as normal, but do not get soap directly on the piercing.
- NEVER rotate the jewelry through the piercing, especially with soap on it.
- Using a mild, fragrance-free liquid soap such as Dr. Bronner’s Baby Mild Castile, on jewelry and surrounding area, reduces the likelihood of irritation. Avoid bar, anti-bacterial, fragranced, or deodorant soaps.
- Stay in the shower for an additional 3-5 minutes, allowing the warm water to fully flush your piercing.
- Spray your piercing directly with saline immediately after showering to ensure any remaining dirt; oils or soaps are flushed out and restore natural salinity.
- Dry off gently but thoroughly with a clean linen or paper towel. Warm, moist environments harbor bacteria.
Oral Piercing Aftercare
- Get a new toothbrush.
- Rinse the inside of your mouth with saltwater solution approximately 4-5 times daily, primarily after meals and especially before you go to bed.
- Avoid any mouthwashes with alcohol, peroxide, or witch hazel. Biotene is one good option.
- Eliminating (or at least cutting back on) smoking and drinking alcohol will help avoid healing complications.
- Once the swelling period is past it is ESSENTIAL you come in for a down-size to protect your teeth and gums.
- Ice water often helps as do anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen, when taken as directed.
Downsizing & New Jewelry
Swelling is a normal part of the healing process and varies in intensity dramatically depending on a multitude of individual and environmental factors. Consequently sizing adjustments are a normal part of the healing process. The jewelry we use for initial piercings will likely not be the best/final size for your healed piercing. It may require a couple of size adjustments to heal properly. Keep all the various lengths safe and accessible for the different phases you will flow through. If the jewelry seems uncomfortable in any way, long or short, come in for assessment and possible adjustment.
Please note: There is a charge/fee for any new jewelry used to make size adjustments.
Possible Infection
Actual infections are rare. Often what clients feel is an infection is simply an irritation that can be remedied without medical intervention. Signs of infection include pain, swelling, heat, and discolored discharge.
Do not remove your jewelry! Bacteria cause infections, not piercings. Stop by the studio at the first sign of trouble. If we can’t help you we will gladly refer you to a physician.
The No’s (Seriously No!)
NEVER handle your piercing!
- Hands are very dirty, no matter how clean they look. The vast majority of infections come from people touching their piercings.
- Avoid chemicals: DO NOT use rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Bactine®, Neosporin®, antiseptics, anti-bacterial soaps or any other chemicals.
- NO ointments, lotions, creams, hair sprays/dye, or makeup, or glitter on or near the piercing site.
- NO swimming/submerging: avoid lakes, rivers, pools, bathtubs, hot tubs, oceans, creeks, ponds, or mud puddles. Waterproof bandages may or may not work sufficiently to prevent contamination. Consider the consequences when deciding whether or not to take the risk.
- Avoid tight, restrictive clothing at the piercing site (e.g. pantyhose or restrictive waistbands on a navel). Breathable cotton fabrics are best for healing.
- Avoid sleeping on a piercing for the entire healing period – especially cartilage! Put fresh, clean, animal dander and fur-free linens and towels into use.
- NO tanning during healing! Delicate healing tissue can be sensitive to heat, oils, and chemicals used in this environment.
- Avoid other people’s body fluids: sweat, saliva, and semen.
- DO NOT remove your jewelry for any reason during the healing process. Healed piercings may not remain fully open if the jewelry is removed for even short periods of time. If jewelry DOES come out, please return to a professional studio immediately for assistance! We can usually get it back in even if you can’t.
- The use of cotton swabs is sometimes warranted to remove stubborn lymph or debris from jewelry. The bleach and fibers of these products can be damaging to fragile tissue. Dampen with sterile saline and use VERY gently.
Disclaimer
The information herein is based on our extensive experience as professional piercers and current industry standards. We are not doctors. In case of infections or other medical issues please consult your Physician!
You have been lovingly pierced with professional care. And now, with great piercings comes great responsibility.
—Good Luck!—
PIERCING FOR MINORS & CHILDREN
So your child wants their ears pierced? Congratulations, you’ve come to the right place! Getting your kids’ earlobes pierced can be a surprisingly controversial topic and finding clear, useful information online can be extremely overwhelming. So, we’ve put together some information to help you plan. Please read through the following details and information. As always, please feel free to contact us if your specific question isn’t addressed below.
Ear Piercing Aftercare
We’re nerds about knowledge and have used the last 17+ years of professional piercing experience to develop the most reliable, gentle, and user-friendly form of aftercare guidelines possible. The same rules apply for healing earlobes on adults as they do on children:
- Don’t touch, do use your aftercare solution, and wear quality jewelry when healing and even when healed. (All of the following information and much, much more can be found in our aftercare pamphlet, but the following is an overview of the basics). Touching your piercings introduces bacteria, debris, and other harmful irritants into your healing wound, which can cause irritation or worse: Infection.
- The myth of needing to twist your earrings while healing is to prevent your body from “growing onto the jewelry”, a process only possible with low-quality, highly porous jewelry. Our jewelry is implant-grade (meaning meant to be worn within the body for life) and polished to a mirror finish, making twisting jewelry an obsolete aftercare technique and a direct link to irritation/infection.
- The suggested aftercare solution is made by a medical supply company called NeilMed and it is a preservative-free, drug-free, string-free sterile saline spray designed to encourage the healing process of piercings. It eliminates the contamination risks of making your own saline solution at home, offers a time-saving convenient solution to aftercare on the go, and keeps caring for your piercings consistent.
Earlobe Piercing Healing Time
Lastly: Jewelry quality matters. Like, REALLY matters, for both healing and healed piercings. You’ll always be safe with the jewelry you’ve been pierced with at Adorn, but wearing this jewelry 24/7 until fully healed (about 3+ months for earlobes) is crucial to allow your body a safe material to heal on. Jewelry that is improperly fitted/poorly made/made of irritating metals all can complicate the healing of a piercing and even be significantly problematic to an otherwise happily healed piercing.
What Do I Need To Get My Child’s Earlobes Pierced?
Minors must be accompanied by their parent/legal guardian for all piercing services and BOTH the parent and minor must each bring a valid form of identification. ID is required for all clients of all ages for all services. Adults must provide a valid state or government-issued photo ID, and minors can provide a driver’s license/permit, passport, birth certificate, or student ID.
(For any alternative forms of ID, please check with us in advance so we can help you find an acceptable form of identification to bring. We hate telling people “no”, so please don’t forget proper identification!)
What Are Your Age Requirements For Piercings?
When piercing the earlobes of minors, we prefer that they’re at least 8 years old and are able to say themselves that they want their ears pierced. “Informed consent” is a very important part of our business practices, and we apply this same level of respect to even our youngest clients. For this reason, we prefer that they’re old enough to be able to have a comfortable conversation with our staff so we can talk them through the prepping, piercing, and aftercare process.
What If My Child Doesn’t Want Their Earlobes Pierced?
We are happy to facilitate a safe, professional environment for earlobe piercings on minors, but under no circumstances will ever force a child to get a piercing that they themselves do not wish to receive. We prefer that all minors are able to provide verbal consent to piercing their earlobes because it’s important to us that this is something *they* say that *they* want to do. Sometimes children get a little too nervous when they arrive or don’t have the courage to sit through the second earlobe piercing, and that’s absolutely OK! We will stop the piercing procedure as soon as any client (regardless of age) asks us to, and will gladly revisit the experience on another day once a little more courage has returned to them.
Do I Need To Make An Appointment?
We will be operating as appointment-only for the foreseeable future for all tattoo, piercing, and jewelry changing services. No walk-ins are allowed.
What Kind Of Jewelry Do You Use And Can I Bring My Own?
We only offer the safest and highest quality body jewelry available to give our clients the best possible experience with their piercings, and for this reason (as well as in accordance with Oregon state law), we cannot pierce with jewelry from outside of our studio. All of our body piercing jewelry is American-made, guaranteed for life, “hypoallergenic”, internally threaded, and made of either nickel-free implant-grade titanium, nickel-free 14 – 18 karat solid gold, or implant-grade stainless steel.
Oregon state law requires that everybody art facility can prove the content and quality of body jewelry that they pierce with, and for that reason, we carry mill certificates from every manufacturer to verify product content and quality. Although your personal jewelry collection may not be fit for the piercing/healing process, we’re happy to help you put in your own jewelry once the piercings heal completely.
How Much Does Earlobe Piercing Cost?
The overall cost depends on the choice of jewelry, but it starts around $150 including the piercing service fee, jewelry, and aftercare supplies. It covers the service for piercing both earlobes, a pair of implant-grade titanium earrings available in over a hundred gemstone sizes and color combinations, plus a 1–2-month supply of sterile saline aftercare. We also have solid gold, genuine gemstones, diamonds, and more available, and their prices vary. Sometimes our younger clients complete the paperwork, jewelry selection, cleaning, and marking process only to realize that they’re not ready for the last and final step: Getting pierced. We completely understand being too nervous and wanting to retry another day, but there is a $25 tray fee to cover the cost of time and materials used during the attempted service.
Does It Hurt? Can You Numb It?
Yes, piercings can hurt and no, there is no effective form of numbing. We always want to be 100% honest with our clients, no matter their age. Let’s face the facts: Piercings can hurt a little bit, but it’s going to be okay and we’ll get through this together. You’re tougher than you think! In the grand scheme of things, earlobe piercings are pretty easy and just a quick pinch. There’s no truly reliable form of numbing out there, and most topical “numbing” ointments can actually cause more harm than good. Please do not add numbing agents to your child’s ears before their service. A good night of rest, a big breakfast, and a little extra confidence is the best preparation available.
How Do We Take Care Of The Ear Piercings As They Heal?
Use the aftercare solution as suggested, wear proper jewelry 24/7 until fully healed, and never ever touch/twist/turn your piercings – These golden rules and much more information is included in the aftercare pamphlet you’ll be provided upon checkout.
What If Something “Goes Wrong” Like Irritation Or Infection?
Beyond just the piercing service, we’re always happy to assist with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your piercing, jewelry, or healing. We’re here to help! Getting pierced is the easy part. Healing a piercing takes due diligence and commitment, especially with young clients that may struggle with piercing awareness or aftercare responsibility during the healing process. Sports, extracurricular activities, swimming, and roughhousing on the playground are all common culprits for piercing problems, but don’t worry: If anything ever looks or feels out of the ordinary with your piercing, we encourage you to call or come in so we can help. Actual infections are rather rare and most complications are easily fixed if caught early and treated with an adjustment in jewelry or aftercare.
Will You Pierce My Infant?
We agree with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) which recommends waiting until a child is old enough to take care of the piercing his/herself. Additionally, while we respect that many cultures have a tradition of infant’s ear piercing we have chosen to honor the rights of the individual over those of society. Consequently, we prefer to not perform any piercing on anyone who cannot engage in some sort of conversation about the risks and benefits.
How Much Does A Piercing Cost?
The cost is broken into two parts: the procedure fee and the jewelry cost. Piercing fees average $40-$60 Specialty level I and II piercings require separate licensing and have an additional service charge, averaging between $80-$100. Jewelry costs start at $20-$45+ and increase depending on your taste and budget. Adorn has the finest custom jewelers in the world, making exquisite pieces in gold and platinum with genuine diamonds, sapphires, and rubies as well as solid, top-of-the-line reputable American-made implant-grade titanium options to suit every budget and style. For a more detailed look at piercing prices, keep reading or drop by the studio to look at the jewelry selection.
PIERCING PRICING
The following is our basic structure for piercing prices. Jewelry costs range dramatically from a simple stainless steel ring, starting at $20, to 18k gold septum clicker with genuine diamonds or other precious stones at $500 or more. All Adorn piercing jewelry is manufactured in the United States in strict accordance with APP’S standards.
Our jewelry is superior in every way to the majority of cheap import jewelry flooding the market. That is why it comes with a 100% guarantee of safety and reliability against manufacturer defects.
JEWELRY PRICES
Jewelry prices are determined by material and craftsmanship. Our prices start as low as $20 and go into the $1000’s. We pride ourselves on carrying the absolute top pinnacle of the body jewelry quality pyramid.
Offering quality American-made goods, hand-crafted and meticulously designed and inspected for the safest most comfortable piercing experience.
Our manufacturers stand proudly behind their jewelry offering unprecedented quality guarantees you won’t find by the foreign companies carried in the malls. Sometimes you pay more upfront for quality but in the end, quality always pays.
AVERAGE PIERCING COST
Single lobe: $102 ~ Double lobe $147
Cartilage: $102
Industrial: $112
Nostril: $102
Lip/Labret: $102
Monroe: $102
Philtrum: $102
Eyebrow: $117
Tongue: $100
Navel: $117
Bridge: $112
Nipple (Single): $112
Nipples (Double): $202
Septum: $87
Surface anchor: $117
Surface piercing: $142
Genitals (Basic): Price varies upon anatomy
Genitals (Advanced): Price varies upon anatomy
Additional Prices:
Install/Removal of jewelry: $10 – $20
Tray fee for incomplete services: $25
Anchor piercing removal: $20
Jewelry Anodizing: $10
For multiple piercings on the same person, the cost will be the sum of the different piercings you would like and will include a multiple-piercing discount.
For groups of people, the appointment cost will be per person individually.
Why Is It So Expensive?
We have made a commitment to using only the top-of-the-line, American-made, implant-grade jewelry. Our jewelry is all manufactured in state-of-the-art facilities by trained, inspected, and compensated adult workers. It is a matter of health and safety and support of the local economy. We want your piercing to heal with as little risk of problems as possible. Cheaply made jewelry, bargain-priced services, and lack of professional expertise often result in the following problems: poor/impossible healing, hyper-pigmented scars, allergic reactions, excessive scarring, migration, rejection, irritation, infection, etc.
Our manufacturers proudly represent their impressive names and reputations with their superior products. They stand behind the quality of their jewelry even if there is ever a problem regarding repair or replacement. Cheap imported jewelry does not stand up over time and is not guaranteed when gems fall out, components break or threads fail. Our jewelry is guaranteed for life against manufacturing defects. After years of experience in the industry, we have found that the cost of cheap jewelry/piercings is a short-term saving with a heavier price to pay in the end.
TIPPING YOUR BODY PIERCER
Body piercing is a service industry similar to restaurants, salons and others. The typical gratuity is between 10% – 30%. Piercers do a lot more than just poking a hole and sending you on your way.
Things to consider when tipping your piercer:
- Perhaps your piercer helped you install a piece of jewelry you could not put in yourself? Maybe they took a peek at a piercing to make sure it was doing well when you were worried about it? Tipping them for their time is a great way to say “Thanks!”
- What if they dedicated a good amount of time perfecting the placement of a single or multiple piercings? Did they curate a whole new jewelry look for you? Did they just make you feel and look amazing? With those types of situations you may feel inclined to tip more.
- Occasionally, our nerves may get the best of us and if your piercer was there for you not only to alleviate those fears, but also helped walk you through your piercing with compassion and care, then tip them accordingly!
- You should always feel good about tipping your artist, but never obligated.
- If you don’t have the financial funds to tip, things like homemade gifts or a great review online are excellent ways to express your appreciation as well!




