Sliding Scale Piercings

Piercing as a practice is thousands of years old, spanning multiple cultures, religions, systems of belief, and ritual practices. Piercings can be a beautiful adornment, an affirmation of our identity, an offering to our gods and goddesses, and a cathartic release as part of healing. Piercing as an industry is a newer existence, in some ways based in a legitimization of this craft, but more often rooted in colonization, capitalism, and the constant process of finding profit in all things. As piercing as an industry has progressed, it has often pushed out the people for whom piercing is sacred, cultural, and essential. Piercing does not exist in a vacuum, and is not free from the effects of capitalism. I believe as piercers it is our job to work toward equity in the industry, decolonization, and challenging capitalistic and classist structures that influence both our industry and the world around it. A sliding scale is one way to take into account these systems of injustice and oppression that many of us face, and to offer economic justice on a personal and local level. I have included a list of factors to help you decide if this is right for you. You will not be asked to prove anything. I trust you to understand your own needs and intersections when deciding this. If you are unable to pay even the lowest amount, please contact me directly and we can discuss things. My hope is through offering these slots I can make safe piercing more accessible to the Seattle community, and help folks find self-love, confidence, and connection through body modification.

Sliding Scale Rates:

No Piercing Fee
25% off any Titanium or Steel Jewelry
One Downsize Included in 25% discount
Free checkups for first 6 months

Ex: A Nostril has a 35$ Piercing Fee and an Implant Grade Titanium labret post and simple bead would be 40$ all together, making it 75$ for a nostril piercing. With slicing scale pricing, you would not pay any piercing fee, and jewelry would be 30$, making it 30$ for the entire thing.

Cheek Piercings, Dahlia Piercings, Custom Industrials, and High Nostril Piercings are not eligible for sliding scale rates due to the risk factors of these placements, the required labor to perform them, custom jewelry, and the multiple downsizes necessary during healing.

I will accept 3 sliding scale spots every month. At the beginning of the month, I will randomly select from submissions placed in the last month. If anyone is unable to make it in for any reason, I will continue to randomly select till the slots are filled. Form submissions will reset monthly- if you are not chosen one month please resubmit next month to be considered. The link to the form can be found below.

*At this time sliding scale slots are for those 18+. Please stay tuned as I work on offering these for minors as well.

Submission Form

Consider submitting for a Sliding Scale Piercing if you:

are a person who experiences racism directed at you, and/or via systemic oppression
identify as Black, Indigenous, First Nations, and/or a person of color
are transgender and experience related discrimination and/or violence regularly
are gay/queer and experience related discrimination and/or violence regularly
have medical expenses not covered by insurance
are eligible for public assistance
are an unpaid community organizer
are supporting children or have other dependents
use piercing as an identity-affirming service, and struggle to access other identity-affirming practices
work in the industry and have experienced abuse, violence, or other unsafe situations in the industry
work in the industry unpaid, and struggle to access safe piercing experiences and education

Consider paying full studio price if you:

own the home you live in
have investments, retirement accounts, or inherited money
work in the industry and have access to procure your own safe jewelry and safe piercing experiences
are able to access consistent healthcare and all your expenses are covered
can afford to travel, or are traveling to get this piercing
have access to family money and resources in times of need
work part-time by choice
have a relatively high degree of earning power due to level of education, gender privilege, racial privilege, class background, etc. Even if you are not currently exercising your earning power, I ask you to recognize this as a choice.

When you pay full studio price you support me as a piercer, my studio, and the amazing team of front of house and back of house who make this work possible. You also support the jewlers who make the pieces you wear, and companies that pay ethical wages and create safe working environments for their staff. When you pay full price you also give me the ability to offer things like sliding scale work and help us support others in our community who benefit from these services. When you pay less, you allow yourself to be supported and held by the community. Both of these are acceptable ways to participate.

This sliding scale was referenced from ABM tattoo.