Piercing for Minors: New York City

How old does my child need to be to get pierced?

Your child must be 5 or older. We will pierce cartilage on minors as young as 13 and up and nostrils/septums and navels of minors starting at 15. Minors ages 5-9 require a consultation appointment with one of our piercers before getting pierced.

What do I need to bring to my child’s appointment?

We require a birth certificate, parent with an ID present at your piercing appointment, and a consent form that can be found on our website. The ID and birth certificate must be an original document, not digital copies or photocopies. If you are not the birth parent you will need to provide proof of legal guardianship. If you cannot present the required documents for yourself and your parent, our team has the right to cancel or reschedule your appointment for a different time when you can present the requested documents.

Do you use a piercing gun?

No, we do not, our piercers are trained and certified to pierce with a needle. We use a hollow, single-use needle for each piercing. A piercing gun uses the blunt end of a piercing earring to pierce the skin, which causes trauma and complications, leading to a higher probability of infection as well as improperly placed piercings. 

Do you numb the ear before piercing?

Numbing cream constricts the tissue which can lead to crooked piercings. When numbed, we cannot guarantee the quality or placement of the piercing due to distorted tissue. If you are too nervous about the pain of a piercing to consider completing it without numbing cream, we recommend waiting until you’re ready.