Body piercers in Minneapolis and St. Paul are regulated by the city in which they work. The rules vary slightly between the two cities, but they both hold body piercers to high safety standards, restrict piercing of minors, and require body piercing studios to collect identifying information before they perform piercings.
Always use a licensed body piercer.
Licensed body piercers have to have been trained in proper hygiene and safety procedures including the sterilization of piercing equipment, body jewelery, and their studios.
Photo ID is required to be pierced in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
You must be over 18. At the studio's discretion, they may perform certain piercings (such as ear and nose piercings) on minors with their parent present and with the parent's consent.
Before being pierced, you must sign a consent form that the studio will keep. The studio will also record and keep details from your ID such as your name and address, and information on the type and location of the piercing.
The studio must also provide information on the piercing's aftercare. Any reputable studio will encourage you to call or visit if you have any questions or concerns about your piercing.
Using a licensed body piercer means one who meets safety standards. It doesn't guarantee a body piercer's skill or talent. So, how do you pick a studio from the many in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and the Twin Cities?
Axis Body Modifications in Minneapolis is the Twin Cities' only dedicated body piercing studio. Axis is located in Dinkytown, upstairs from a small doorway bearing the message that they work by "appointment to royalty".
I had my tongue pierced by Evan McKnight. The studio appeared very clean, and the staff ran clearly through the safety procedures they use.
No, it doesn't hurt that much, although it's very uncomfortable to stick your tongue out for long enough to complete the piercing hygienically. It does hurt for a week or longer afterwards, as I was graphically forewarned by Evan.
Tongue piercings have to wear a long barbell initially to accommodate swelling. A few weeks afterwards the piercing, once it was healing well, I went back to Axis Body Modifications to have the original stud replaced by a shorter, more comfortable one.
I'm thrilled with it, and both times I've been to Axis Body Modifications, another delighted customer has just been leaving, indicating that they do good work.
Fluid Ink is in St. Paul's Midway. The resident piercer is known as the Gr8 Skot. Belying his heavily pierced, scarified appearance, he's actually the most gentle piercer I've met.
Fluid Ink's studio is downstairs, as stark as basements get, but as clean as it should be. (Decorations: photos of Skot suspended by his skin from hooks, and post-it note messages from past customers.)
Skot ran though safety and hygiene procedures clearly before starting, and checked again afterwards about important points, and made sure that I had aftercare information sheet before I left.
This time I was having my ear pierced, with an industrial with a helix piercing right above the back of the industrial barbell.
It's reassuring to watch your piercer scrub their hands, open sealed packets with the needle and jewelry, and mention that the ink used to mark the position of the piercings is also sterile.
We discussed exactly where each piercing was to go. Skot listened to what I wanted, discussed the pros and cons of different options, and made a few suggestions, but with no pressure at all. Then he marked up my ear, ready for the needle.
I've heard accounts of the pain involved in industrial piercings ranging from a little pinch, to excruciating agony. Mine was briefly painful but nowhere near as bad as I expected. I think feeling comfortable that you are in the hand of good piercer helps a lot with the pain.
It's exactly what I wanted. It's still healing and very sore, but I love it.
Other Body Piercing Studios in Minneapolis and St. Paul
As well as the two studios I've visited, these studios in the Twin Cities also have good reputations. I have never used any of the following so please use your good judgment when visiting.
