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!

  • 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 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 as we’re fortunate enough to often book up as far as 6 weeks in advance.

  • 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!

  • 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.

  • We require each person to have their own appointment so you would 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).

    Please email us for special event requests.

  • Check out our guide to styling appointments here!

APPOINTMENTS + POLICIES

  • 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 it’s best to do your research and reach out to studios directly.

  • We are located on the border of Williamsburg and Greenpoint, in Brooklyn, NY, but parking isn’t as bad as you’d expect! Street parking is usually available within a couple blocks of the studio, 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!

  • 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 you may be turned away.

  • 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.

additional questions

  • 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 the quality of your jewelry, jewelry sizing, improper aftercare, moisture build up, trauma to the area (such as sleeping on it, snagging it, etc.), 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.

  • 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, like navels, take longer) and on how you’re healing.

    If you got 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!

  • As a general rule, we do NOT accept any sort of outside jewelry. We are members of the Association of Professional Piercers and, therefore, have a strict set of guidelines that we must follow in terms of jewelry quality.

    That said, there are occasionally exceptions to this rule! Please email us so we can discuss your options.

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

  • 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 (and pools!), is not.

  • 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.

top questions

JEWELRY QUESTIONS

  • Fresh piercings with rings is a tricky subject. It’s possible, but the vast majority of people encounter issues with healing. For this reason, the only piercings we start with rings are daith and septum piercings.

    Piercings that are done with rings generally have to be a thicker gauge and larger in diameter, this helps to keep pressure off of the piercing. When pierced with rings that are too thin and too small, 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.

  • That’s no problem at all! Please email us 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 (often a few months) — Our team will advise you on turnaround times and pricing!

  • 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!

  • The best way to view our available jewelry collection prior to your appointment is by browsing our web store or our Instagram.

    We have 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, please email us.

  • We sure do! You can check out our online selection at ShopSoGold.com.

    Our web store only represents a small selection of our in-studio collection. To see everything, book a Jewelry Browse appointment!

STILL HAVE A QUESTION?