FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
Have questions for us? We’ve put together a list of our most frequently asked questions for you!
Don’t see the answer to your question here? Email us!
TOP QUESTIONS
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We do NOT pierce anyone under the age of 18 at So Gold, even with parental consent. It is just our policy. We’re always happy to recommend other great, local studios that do - just reach out!
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All piercing services (excluding genital piercings) have a service fee of $50 + taxes per piercing. This does NOT include jewelry, which is a separate cost and will vary depending on what you select.
Please check out our Pricing Guide for more detailed information by piercing!
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As a general rule, we do NOT accept any sort of outside jewelry for fresh piercings. We are members of the Association of Professional Piercers and have a strict set of guidelines that we must follow in terms of jewelry quality and style.
That said, there are occasionally exceptions to this rule! Please email us so we can discuss your options.
If you’re bringing your own jewelry to be installed in fully healed piercings, we have a $20 fee per every four pieces ($20 for 1-4 pieces, $40 for 5-8 pieces, etc.).
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Because of limited studio space, we have a limit of one emotional support friend per client.
Larger groups or multiple people will be asked to wait outside for the duration of the appointment.
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We are a private studio that focuses on one client at a time; all clients are required to make an appointment, even just to look at jewelry.
Please book a Jewelry Change/Jewelry Browse appointment to view our collection in-person!
If you’re unable to make it to our studio, you can shop online! While our web shop doesn’t necessarily feature all of the pieces we have in-store, it is a good representation of our core collection.
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That is completely up to you! We are a service based industry so, of course, tips are always appreciated <3
If you would like to tip your piercer, you will be offered options at checkout.
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So Gold Studios is on the border of Williamsburg and Greenpoint, in Brooklyn, NY, but parking isn’t as bad as you may think! Street parking is usually available within a couple blocks of the studio, but it’s always best to give yourself some extra time, just in case.
We are located at:
448 Humboldt Street
Brooklyn, New York 11211There is also parking garage close by, located at 371 Humboldt Street.
The closest subway station to our studio is Graham Ave (L train).
APPOINTMENTS & POLICIES
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All of our availability shows in real time on our website. We do NOT take appointments over the phone and we do NOT have a wait/cancellation list.
If your preferred time is not available, please keep an eye on our site as someone may cancel!
We release the next month’s entire calendar at 10am EST on the first day of the month prior (example: May’s calendar will become available on April 1st).
If you have a specific date/time in mind, please plan ahead!
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We require each person to have their own appointment so you will need to book individual appointments for each person interested in a service.
We highly recommend booking your appointment(s) on the first of the month when our calendar opens to guarantee space for you and your friend(s).
We also suggest booking back-to-back appointments with the same piercer, opposed to simultaneous appointments with different piercers, this way you and your friend(s) can spend the time together.
Please email us for special event requests.
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We allow for appointment changes and cancellations up to 24 hours before your scheduled appointment. If you no-show your appointment/cancel within 24 hours of your appointment, you will be charge the corresponding fee listed at the time of booking ($50-$150 depending on the service).
That said, we do try our best to be flexible with this policy! We’re all human; if you encounter a last minute scheduling change, please let us know ASAP and we will do our best to work with you on a solution.
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Check out our guide to styling appointments here!
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You cannot be pierced if you are pregnant. If you are breastfeeding, we recommend waiting a minimum of 4 months before being pierced.
Not sure if this applies to you? Please emails us prior to booking your appointment.
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We recommend waiting a minimum of 6-12 months post-procedure before being pierced in that area. In some cases, we may determine during your appointment that more time is needed and thus you may be asked to return once you’ve healed more.
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No problem, we do this all the time! Please email us to let us know how many piercings you need our assistance with and we’ll advise from there. As needed, we offer glass retainers for $20 + taxes each and are happy to install them with purchase!
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Please do NOT use numbing cream prior to your appointment. Numbing cream only affects the top few layers of skin and will not penetrate deep enough to prevent you from feeling the piercing. Numbing cream can also affect the structure of the tissue and cause unnecessary swelling in the area.
JEWELRY QUESTIONS
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As a general rule, we do NOT accept any sort of outside jewelry for fresh piercings. We are members of the Association of Professional Piercers and have a strict set of guidelines that we must follow in terms of jewelry quality and style.
That said, there are occasionally exceptions to this rule! Please email us so we can discuss your options.
If you’re bringing your own jewelry to be installed in fully healed piercings, we have a $20 fee per every four pieces ($20 for 1-4 pieces, $40 for 5-8 pieces, etc.).
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We’re always happy to help find or customize the perfect piece for you! Please email us BEFORE you book an appointment with any references or photos you may have, along with details on your preferences on the metal/stones/sizing. We will advise as to whether it is something that we can readily order or if it will need to be customized.
Please keep in mind that custom orders do take time to manufacture (sometimes a few months), so please plan accordingly!
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Fresh piercings with rings is a tricky subject. It’s possible, but the vast majority of people encounter issues with healing. For piercings that are done with rings to be successful, the rings themselves generally need to be a thicker gauge and larger in diameter, this helps to keep pressure off of the piercing. For this reason, the only piercings we start with rings are daith and septum piercings.
When pierced with rings that are too thin and too small/fitted to your body, the curvature of the ring puts pressure on the entrance and exit marks of the piercing. This pressure can cause irritation and create bumps. It’s also the reason that you commonly see such large rings in daith piercings.
Once your piercing is FULLY healed, you can switch to something thinner and more fitted if you’d prefer.
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Absolutely! We’re always happy to reuse any body jewelry purchased from our studio.
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The best way to view our available jewelry collection prior to your appointment is by browsing our web store (anything in-stock there is in-stock at our studio!) or our Instagram.
While we always keep a core collection of classic solid gold pieces, our inventory is constantly rotating to keep everything fresh and new! If there is a specific piece you are interested in purchasing prior to your appointment, please email us.
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We are a private studio that focuses on one client at a time; all clients are required to make an appointment, even just to look at jewelry.
Please book a Jewelry Change/Jewelry Browse appointment to view our collection in-person!
If you’re unable to make it to our studio, you can shop online! While our web shop doesn’t necessarily feature all of the pieces we have in-store, it is a good representation of our core collection.
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Sadly, this is not a service that we offer at the moment. Styling requires us to be able to clearly see and physically feel your anatomy to be ensure that certain piercings are viable.
If you’re not come to our studio for an appointment, we recommend using the member locator at safepiercing.org to find a reputable piercer near you. Keep in mind that not all piercers offer styling services, so it’s best to do your research and reach out to studios directly!
DOWNSIZING & AFTERCARE
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Just got pierced? Please read our detailed Guide to Piercing Aftercare!
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You should not be putting anything on your healing piercing besides sterile saline wound wash spray and warm water. Using topical treatments can cause irritation to your healing piercing; no tea tree oil, no antibacterial soap, no lotion, no face wash, etc. — we mean it!
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Downsizing is the process of replacing the initial backing/post you were pierced with, which commonly has excess length to compensate for swelling after the initial piercing, with one that is more fitted to your body. Installing a shorter post helps to prevent movement and reduce trauma to the area. While not all piercings may require it, most do!
Generally we recommend downsizing 4-6 weeks after your initial piercing, depending on both the area (some areas may take longer) and on how you’re healing.
If you were pierced at So Gold, we’ll automatically send you an email when it’s time to downsize. If you don’t see it, please check your spam!
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Infections in piercings aren’t as common as people may think! What most people experience is irritation; sometimes in the form of bumps or bubbles.
Please do not use homemade remedies; you must eliminate the source of the irritation and then your bump will go away. This could be anything from improper aftercare, moisture build up, trauma to the area (such as sleeping on it, snagging it, etc.), the quality of your jewelry, jewelry sizing, and, in some cases, could be from a poorly done piercing.
If you are worried, please reach out to your piercer (or us!) and they can advise you as to whether what you’re experiencing should be seen by a medical professional.
Check out our visual guide on piercing bump troubleshooting here.
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Absolutely! Please just let us know during your appointment if you anticipate flying over the next few days/weeks. Sometimes the cabin pressure and changes in altitude can cause excess swelling, so we like to compensate for that by giving the post/backing in your piercing a bit of extra length to be safe.
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We suggest waiting a minimum of 8 weeks before submerging a new piercing in water for extended periods of time. While salt water may be good for your piercings, the bacteria in the ocean (and pools!), is not.
