Studio Policies & Frequently Asked Questions

Appointments are encouraged and same-day appointments are often available. Walk-ins are welcome on a limited basis; we fit them in between scheduled appointments as time allows, so wait times can be unpredictable. To skip the wait and guarantee your spot, it's best to book in advance. Book HERE. If you are coming as a walk-in, we suggest arriving at least two hours before close.

Piercings rarely hurt as much as people expect. Everyone's pain tolerance is different, and most clients are surprised by how quick and manageable it is. Our highly skilled piercers will guide you through every step of the process with your comfort as a top priority.

Comfort and easy access are the main things to keep in mind. For piercings on or around the torso -- such as navel or nipple piercings -- we suggest wearing something that is easy to remove and put back on. A button-up shirt, for example, is a great choice for nipple piercings, and for navel piercings you will want to avoid anything tight or high-waisted that sits over the area. For ear piercings, having a hair tie handy can be helpful if you like to wear your hair up. When in doubt, think about what will give your piercer easy access to the placement and keep you comfortable throughout the appointment.

You are welcome to bring a support person to your appointment. Please keep in mind that for nipple and genital piercings, anyone accompanying you in the procedure room must be 18 or older and will need to provide valid ID. For minors, please review our Age & ID Requirements page for full details on who needs to be present. Space in our procedure rooms is limited, so we may not always be able to accommodate large groups.

Coming in within 4 hours of your last meal will greatly decrease the chance you could become lightheaded or nauseated at any point before, during, or after the procedure.

Anyone getting pierced or having jewelry inserted into a piercing must provide proof of age and identification.

Please read our Age/ID Requirements page for more information.

We do offer ear piercing on children who are old enough to request and consent to the piercing, and understand how to care for them while they are healing. For legal reasons, we do need proof that a minor’s parent or legal guardian is there to sign the release form- so please review the Age & ID requirements.

In most cases, yes. If a piercing has closed or you are looking to re-pierce a healed placement, we can usually accommodate that. There are some situations where re-piercing may not be advisable, and our piercers will assess the area and let you know what is possible and what they would suggest. The best thing to do is come in for a consultation.

Absolutely. We are happy to help with piercings regardless of where they were done. We offer free consultations and can assist with jewelry changes, checking on healing, and general piercing health. Our team is always there to answer questions and point you in the right direction.

We understand that you may need to temporarily remove your piercings for surgery, imaging, or other medical treatments. Our team can safely remove your jewelry and replace it with a clear and/or flexible retainer designed to keep your piercing open while ensuring it is compatible with medical procedures.

We offer a variety of Jewelry Change appointments to suit your needs. Find them here.

We do a great deal of daith piercings at Evolution, but as licensed piercers we only do piercings for reasons of aesthetics. Claiming we are curing ailments of any kind could be construed as practicing medicine, and we are not doctors. We perform piercings because we believe they are a beautiful way to adorn the body, and any other benefits our clients may receive are simply an added bonus!

We do not offer traditional cheek piercings past the molars that would pass entirely through the cheek, however we do offer single point piercings in a placement that will give you a similar appearance while removing the majority of the risks involved in traditional placement. To learn more about risks and reasons we don’t offer cheek piercings, read Elayne Angel’s story HERE.

We do not offer snake eye or frog eye tongue piercings. A snake eye piercing uses a horizontal barbell through the tip of the tongue that connects both muscle groups, restricting their ability to move independently and causing damage to the surrounding oral tissue. Frog eye piercings use two vertical barbells at the front of the tongue that similarly work against the tongue's natural structure. Both piercings are known to cause significant dental damage from the jewelry resting directly against the teeth, and carry a high risk of migration and rejection. Stop in and chat with one of our piercers about the tongue piercing options we do offer!

As licensed body art professionals and members of the Association of Professional Piercers, we do not use ear piercing guns for any procedures. Learn more about the dangers of piercing guns and why we don’t use them HERE.

Piercing prices at Evolution vary depending on the placement and your jewelry selection. Our pricing includes both the piercing fee and your initial jewelry, and we carry New Mexico's largest selection of quality body jewelry, from implant-grade steel and titanium to niobium, gold, and gemstones. For a full breakdown, visit our Services & Pricing page.

We don’t generally have specials on piercings, but we currently offer $10 off the piercing fees for additional piercings (after the first) when a client has multiple piercings done in one sitting.

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We do sell gift cards in any amount you desire!

Tipping is never expected, but always appreciated. There is no industry standard when it comes to the amount, most clients tip based on how they felt about the experience and quality of service. You'll have the option to tip a percentage, custom amount, or forgo the tip at checkout. If you are short on cash but want to express gratitude, a kind word or glowing review goes a long way!

For new piercings, we generally only use jewelry purchased at Evolution. Here’s why:

• Documentation – By law, we have to keep records on every piece of jewelry we place in a fresh piercing. That includes proof of the manufacturer and certification showing it meets implant-grade standards. Since we don’t have that documentation for jewelry from other sources, we can’t use it.

• Material integrity – Jewelry bought elsewhere may have been altered, polished, or handled in ways that cause hidden damage. Even if it looks fine, it could compromise the safety of your piercing.

• Warranty – All jewelry purchased through Evolution comes with a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty against defects. We’re not able to offer that same protection on jewelry purchased elsewhere.

• Your safety – Using only verified, high-quality jewelry makes sure every piercing we do meets the standards we’re known for: safe procedures, smooth healing, and jewelry you can wear long-term.

As licensed piercers, we are required by law to keep information including the manufacturer and metal certification (mill certificates showing steel or titanium jewelry to meet the ASTM or ISO qualifications for implant-grade materials) on file for anything we put in a new piercing. It is important to know that jewelry marked “surgical steel” is often not implant grade, as it is a marketing term and can be written on anything.
If you wish to be pierced with jewelry that was previously purchased at Evolution, please note the following:

• By law we have to record the manufacturer of all jewelry we use in a new piercing, so in the absence of a receipt we will need to be able to find in our records when the jewelry was purchased so we can record that information. If your jewelry was purchased in the past 5 years, locating it in our current system will not be a problem.

• The jewelry will need to be inspected for any damage or defects, and must be the appropriate style and size for the placement of your new piercing.

• If the jewelry has been worn, it will need to be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner and then sterilized in an autoclave before use. You will need to drop your jewelry off at least 3 days before your appointment, and there will be a $15 sterilization fee at the time of drop off.

If you have jewelry previously purchased at Evolution that you would like to use for a new piercing, there are a few things to keep in mind. Previously worn jewelry must go through a full cleaning and sterilization process before it can be used. This includes an enzymatic cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning, and inspection before it ever goes into the autoclave for sterilization. This is not a quick process, and we cannot guarantee same-day sterilization, so we ask that you drop it off at least three days in advance. There is a $15 sterilization fee at the time of drop off. When bringing your jewelry in, please make sure it is in a clean container or baggie so it does not come into contact with any surfaces in the studio. Our team will also inspect the jewelry to make sure it is the appropriate style and size for your new piercing, as what worked for one placement may not work for another. Please note that we generally only use jewelry purchased at Evolution for new piercings. For more information on why, see the question above.

Many people have allergies to certain metals, but the good news is that there are many jewelry options that work for even those who have very severe sensitivities! At Evolution, all steel and titanium body jewelry is implant-grade and we keep metal certifications and mill certificates on file to verify that (this designation sets it apart from “surgical steel” which is a marketing term and can be written on anything). We also carry solid 14k gold and niobium, and we can special order 18k gold or platinum. Allergic reactions to some of these materials do exist, however they are extremely rare. Please stop by the studio to speak with one of our piercers about your history with metal allergies and see what options are available for you!

Unfortunately, most piercings would need to be healed before any of the clear or very discreet options would be safe to wear. The septum would be the exception to that, as we can fit jewelry to be shown or hidden during the healing process. If you are interested in a discreet piercing, the best thing would be to come in and speak with a piercer who can show you what options would be available for an initial piercing, as well as what you could wear once your piercing was healed.

We build time into every appointment for jewelry selection, so you will have the opportunity to browse and choose during your visit. If you would like to explore your options ahead of time, we are happy to offer a free consultation. You can book one here.

Healing times vary depending on the placement and the individual. Earlobes, for example, tend to heal faster than cartilage piercings because of differences in blood flow to the area. It is also important to understand the difference between initial healing and a fully matured piercing. A piercing may look and feel fine well before it is truly healed, and rushing that process is one of the most frequent sources of complications. Factors like lifestyle, sleep habits, and how consistently you follow aftercare instructions all play a role in how smoothly the process goes. Your piercer will also talk to you about downsizing at the appropriate time during your healing journey. For specific healing timelines and aftercare guidance, visit our Aftercare page.

We generally advise waiting until the end of the initial healing period before changing your jewelry, and your piercer will let you know when that time has come. Before that point, most piercings will need to be downsized - this is when your piercer swaps your initial jewelry for a shorter post once the swelling has gone down. This is done carefully in the studio to avoid trauma to the healing tissue. When you are ready to change your jewelry on your own, we suggest doing so promptly and not leaving the piercing empty for extended periods of time, as even a healed piercing can shrink or close quickly.

First, don't force it. Repeatedly trying to push jewelry through resistant tissue can cause irritation and scarring, which makes successful reinsertion less likely. What feels like a closed piercing is often a piercing that has simply shrunk, and if you come in soon enough one of our piercers may be able to reinsert your jewelry using an insertion taper with no re-piercing necessary. The sooner you come in the better, as piercings can shrink quickly once jewelry is removed. If re-piercing does turn out to be the right option, we can discuss that as well.