A Genital Piercing Specialist - A Hood Piercing Specialist - A Penis Piercing Specialist--That's me!
Surely any rational person would want to have their piercing performed by a professional who knows what they're doing, regardless of whether the hole is going on the ear, face, or body. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't give this matter due consideration. They might think, "Well, this tattoo studio does piercings, so they must know what they're doing," yet that isn't always the case. You can see literally hundreds of stories in my blog from people who've received botched piercings due to this oversight.
You might be surprised to learn that a license or permit does not mean that a piercer is competent. In some cases, obtaining one merely requires paying a fee to a city or state agency. Such a document does not guarantee that the piercer has received adequate training to perform the job. Even in regions with the most stringent regulations, almost none require any evaluation of a piercer’s skills and abilities.
Your experience and the outcome (how well your piercing heals) are highly dependent on the proficiency of the person wielding the needle. Piercing is a hands-on profession that must be learned through practical experience. It can then be mastered only through practice, which commonly involves trial and error. No courses of study (not a single one!) are available from any accredited institution to confer a degree or adequately prepare someone to work in the field. Sound instruction ideally involves a lengthy apprenticeship with a qualified mentor, but such opportunities for aspiring piercers are rare. Watch out for certificates that look impressive because they do not always represent much formal instruction.
When it comes to piercings of the genitals, expertise is even more critical. Genital piercing is unique because it has the potential to affect your sexual pleasure. A poorly placed piercing can result in a missed opportunity for enhancement, or worse. Our nether regions have such a high concentration of nerves that a misplaced piercing can cause a temporary or permanent loss of sensation, which could ruin your sex life rather than enhance it. Because of variations in genital anatomy and personal preferences for sexual stimulation, each piercee must be evaluated (even counseled) on an individual basis before deciding on a genital piercing.
I didn't set out to become a genital piercing specialist; it was an organic process in my career progression. When I first became a professional piercer in the 1980s, genitals and nipples were the most popular locations on the body. Those were the initial placements I learned to perform. The triple forward helix and industrial piercings had yet to be invented, and hefty septum rings were far more common than delicate nostril ornaments. It was a different time. Over the years, as the piercing possibilities expanded--and I helped to push the envelope--I performed all of the different placements. I'm even credited with inventing some and popularizing others (including tongue piercing).
In 2006, I closed my studio in New Orleans, moved to Mexico, and finished the first edition of The Piercing Bible. Then I became a touring guest piercer. I traveled around the United States and worked in the studios of my colleagues. Over time, there was more and more demand for me to perform genital and nipple piercings. That meant I did fewer and fewer of the other placements. One day, a client in Philadelphia had an appointment for a daith piercing, but so much time had passed since I'd done one, I’d all but forgotten how. I figured it out and successfully completed the job, but I realized that I feel much more comfortable sticking to vulvas and penis piercings. At that point, I decided to specialize exclusively in below-the-neck piercings (minus navels), and that's what I've been doing for more than a dozen years now.
I feel like I've returned to my roots--to the piercings I "grew up" doing. And I absolutely love my clientele, which is surprisingly diverse—with the exception of a shared attraction to erotic piercings. My work is incredibly rewarding, especially when I get feedback from my clients about enhanced sexual experiences (including their first orgasms or multiples, at times!)
I am genuinely more comfortable piercing a clitoral hood, labia, penis, or scrotum than an ear! That’s because…it is what I do. That’s my everyday work life. And when I’m not touring and piercing, I’m providing online consultations, primarily for genital piercings. Though I do offer anatomy/placement and piercing problem consults for all areas of the body. I also provide one-on-one piercer coaching (customized continuing education for industry professionals). If you have been to a piercer who didn't do a good job, please send them my way! I'll be happy to offer additional training to make sure they improve their skills and knowledge.
To my knowledge, there are no other piercers who specialize exclusively in nipple and genital piercing as I do. However, all of the piercers on my referrals list have abundant experience, and they are among the world’s best for the job. Make sure to read the details on that page, however, as not all of them are recommended for all piercings—some don’t do triangle piercings, for example.
If you can’t get to me or visit one of the practitioners on my referrals list, then I’d highly suggest you read The Piercing Bible. (It would actually be good to read for anyone interested in piercings.) It will fully prepare you to evaluate piercers and studios and empower you to make good decisions when it comes to piercing placement, a professional to do the job, the jewelry you’ll wear, which aftercare you will provide, and much more.
