FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Have any questions about our studio, our policies, as well as the world of body jewelry? We’ve put together a list of our frequently asked questions for you!

APPOINTMENTS + POLICIES

  • Check out our ‘What is Ear Styling’ guide here!

  • Unfortunately, we do NOT pierce anyone under the age of 18 at So Gold, even with parental consent. It is just our policy. However, we are happy to recommend you to other great, local studios that do. Please do not hesitate to ask us for suggestions!

  • We are a private studio that focuses on one client at a time, so you would need an appointment to purchase jewelry as well. There is an option on the booking page to book a jewelry change/jewelry browse appointment and there is no minimum requirement to just browse our selection. We also try to post pieces regularly on our Instagram page.

  • We are fortunate enough to book up about 6 weeks in advance usually. Our calendar opens on the first of every month, for the following month (ex: March’s calendar will open on the first of February). If you’d like to get in ASAP, its best to keep an eye on the booking page for a cancellation and trust us when we say, they happen ALL the time!

    We also post on our Instagram as well as send an email out whenever we have last minute cancellations.

  • You would need to book individual appointments for each person interested in a service! You can also email us at info@sogoldstudios.com if you have a request. We highly recommend booking an appointment on the 1st of the month when our calendar opens to guarantee space.

TOP STUDIO QUESTIONS

  • Unfortunately, this is not a service that we offer at the moment. Styling requires a clear look and feel of your anatomy to be sure that certain piercings are viable. We recommend using the member locator at safepiercing.org to find a piercer near you. Keep in mind that not all piercers offer styling services, so its best to do your research and reach out to studios directly.

  • We are located on the very border of Williamsburg and Greenpoint, in Brooklyn NY, but parking isn’t as bad as you’d expect! Street parking is usually available, but it’s best to give yourself some extra time, just in case! There is a parking garage close by, located at 371 Humboldt Street as well!

  • We are a few blocks from the L train at Graham Avenue!

  • Because of limited studio space, we are happy with our appointments bringing one emotional support person!

    Larger groups or multiple people will be asked to wait outside for the duration of the appointment.

PIERCING QUESTIONS

  • Infections in piercings aren’t as common as people would think. What most people experience is irritation; sometimes in the form of bumps or bubbles. Do not use homemade remedies to remove these. Simply eliminate the source of the irritation and your bump will go away. This could be anything from your jewelry quality, jewelry sizing, improper aftercare, moisture build up, trauma such as sleeping on it, hitting it, etc and in some cases, just a poorly done piercing. If you are worried, reach out to your piercer (or us!) and they can let you know if what your experiencing should be seen by a physician.

    View our visual guide on piercing bump troubleshooting here.

  • If you are pregnant you unfortunately cannot be pierced. If you are breastfeeding we recommend waiting a minimum of 4 months before being pierced. Unsure, or have any other questions? Reach out to our team at info@sogoldstudios.com prior to booking your appointment.

  • Downsizing is the process of replacing the initial backing you were pierced with (which usually has excess length to compensate for swelling), with one that is more fitted to your ear. This prevents movement and aids in the healing process. While not all piercings may require it, it can be beneficial to prevent snagging and discomfort from the longer post. Placements like flat or helix piercings, should be downsized in 4-6 weeks to be sure the piercing angle does not shift. Once your piercing has shifted angles it is very difficult, if not impossible, for it to straighten back out and usually requires removal of the piercing. Oral piercings also require downsizing to prevent tooth and gum damage.

  • We do not suggest doing this prior to your appointment. Unfortunately, numbing cream only effects the first few layers of skin and will not penetrate deep enough to prevent you from feeling the process. It can also effect the structure of the tissue and cause unnecessary swelling. If you come in with numbing cream on, we will unfortunately have to re-schedule your piercing appointment.

  • We suggest waiting a minimum of 8 weeks before submerging a piercing in water for extended periods of time. While salt water may be good for your piercings, the bacteria in the ocean, as well as pools are not.

  • Absolutely! Just let us know during your appointment if you anticipate flying over the next few days/weeks. Sometimes the altitude change from flying can cause excessive swelling, so we like to compensate for that by giving your piercing a bit more length to be safe.

  • We would 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 you may be turned away.

JEWELRY QUESTIONS

  • We generally do not accept any sort of outside jewelry. We are members of the Association of Professional Piercers, therefore, we have a strict set of guidelines that we must follow in terms of jewelry quality. There are exceptions to this rule, so please reach out to us directly at info@sogoldstudios.com and we can discuss your options. For information on our jewelry quality and styles of jewelry that we work with, please visit our ‘pricing’ page located on the homepage of our site.

  • Unfortunately, this is not a service we currently offer due to the high turn around of our pieces. We have what is called a rotating inventory that changes quite often to keep everything fresh and new! If there is a specific piece you are interested in purchasing prior to your appointment, that can be done. Just email us at info@sogoldstudios.com. We also have an online store you can visit at shopsogold.com, but keep in mind our site inventory and our studio inventory are totally separate.

  • Fresh piercings with rings is a tricky subject. It’s possible, but the vast majority of people will have issues with healing. For this reason, the only piercings we prefer to start with rings are daith and septum piercings. Piercings that are done with rings, generally have to be much thicker and larger in diameter. What this does is it helps keep pressure off of the piercing. When pierced with rings that are too thin and too small, the curvature of the ring will put pressure on the entrance and exit marks of the piercing. This pressure will form 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.

  • Yes we do! Please visit shopsogold.com for our collection of jewelry available for online purchase. Similar to our studio experience, our online store will carry a small, but well curated selection of hand picked styles to ensure the best quality and variety. Our selection will be updated in batched releases. Be sure to sign up for our e-mail list to be notified whenever new styles arrive!

  • That’s no problem at all! Email us over at info@sogoldstudios.com with any references of the piece, the gold color you’d like, and your sizing and we can look into custom ordering any piece we may not have in our studio. Please keep in mind that custom orders do take time to manufacture — Our team will advise you on turnaround times and pricing!

    We also offer sit-down custom ordering appointments where you would work directly with us in studio to draw our your plans, look at gemstone options, and have your jewelry sized to your anatomy. You can also submit a request at our custom order page here.

STILL HAVE A QUESTION?