A.W.O.L. Custom Tattooing Frequently Asked Questions...and here are some Myths as well.
Any serious medical questions should be referred to a licensed physician, all information herein is based upon the experience or research of persons from within the body modification industry.
What is the soonest that I can change my jewelry?
Why do I have to be pierced with a hoop or long barbell?
Can I use peroxide to clean my piercing?
Do I have to have to get a dermal piercing cut out if I need it removed?
What are the age requirements for different piercings?
What type of jewelry do we use?
What is the soonest that I can change my jewelry? (back to top)
This varies by the piercing. A cartilage piercing must be allowed to heal for approximately two weeks prior to changing the jewelry. A nostril piercing should be allowed to heal for at least three days. Navel jewelry should not be changed until four or more weeks have passed. The eyebrow can be changed after about a week. These are all approximations and may vary depending on your own body's healing time. You can refer to our piercing aftercare section for more information on piercings.
Why do I have to be pierced with a hoop or long barbell? (back to top)
The reason for being pierced with a hoop or long barbell is to allow for swelling. If the jewelry does not allow for swelling there are possible complications with the jewelry becoming lodged in the flesh and/or prolonged healing times. This is especially true with the nostril piercing. We have seen instances where the piercing was done with a nostril screw rather than a hoop and the swollen skin wrapped and healed around the jewelry. There is only a few days wait to change this particular piercing out so the wait can be well worth it. We have also seen piercings where the head of a barbell has actually sunken down into the skin because the person that did it used too short of a piece of jewelry. It is basically better to just let our professionals do what they know is best when it comes to your piercing.
Can I use peroxide to clean my piercing? (back to top)
Short answer, no. The long answer being that while your piercing is healing your body is forming new layers of skin and the peroxide can irritate or remove those layers which will prolong healing time and will be likely to cause infection. The best bet is to read our aftercare instructions or check with a physician.
Do Piercings hurt? (back to top)
Piercings definitely have a pinch to them, but it is generally a quick sharp pain and then it is over unless you swell a lot. Once they are healed they almost all have no irritation unless repeatedly rubbed or snagged on something. Rejections are rare and almost always go back to someone not properly caring for it.
Do I have to get a dermal piercing cut out if I need it removed? (back to top)
Not in most instances. You can typically just come in and have one of the piercists remove it for you without any problems. Occasionally a tiny cut is needed at the base in order to free it from a small piece of skin in the closure.
What are the age requirements for different piercings? (back to top)
Below is a chart for our staring ages for a variety of piercings. Mind you, all minors must be accompanied by a legal guardian having legal identification, with the minors birth certificate and either legal identification or a school ID. There are no exceptions to these starting ages and obviously anyone older than the starting age can get the piercing.
Age |
Piercings |
| 10 | Lobes |
| 13 | Nostril, Helix |
| 14 | Navel, Forward Helix, Conch |
| 16 | Industrial, Rook, Daithe, Snug, Tragus, Septum, Eyebrow, Lip, Snake Bites, Spider Bites, Angel Bites, Labret, and Monroe |
| 18 | Dermals, Tongue, Nipples |
If you do not feel that your minor is capable of properly caring for a piercing then tell them no, you are the parent after all.
What type of jewelry do we use? (back to top)
For the majority of our piercings we use implant grade stainless steel or annealed stainless steel. Our dermals are done with implant grade titanium. If you need different jewelry due to an allergy feel free to talk with our piercers about it.
How much do piercings cost? (back to top)
Our current pricing scale is as follows:
All single piercings are $30.00 for one, $50.00 for two, $80.00 for three, $100 for four, if on the same person. An industrial is $50.00 due to it being two piercings. Dermals are $60.00 for one, $110 for two, $160 for three, $210 for four, if on the same person. Starter jewelry is always included in our pricing. No surprise pricing, no ridiculous upcharges.
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