Does Not Offering Every Piercing Make You Less of a Piercer?

It genuinely surprises me that some people and, - more surprisingly, some piercers - believe you need to offer every piercing service available to be considered a “real” piercer.

Personally, I think “I don’t want to” is a perfectly valid reason not to offer a service.

Yet every time this discussion comes up, the same arguments appear. You’re told that you’re limiting yourself. That you’re letting the industry down. That you’re somehow less professional because you’ve chosen not to perform certain procedures.

I disagree.

The Industry’s Real Problem

One of the concerns often raised is that if experienced piercers stop offering certain procedures, technical skills won’t be passed on and those services will eventually disappear.

But I think we’re asking the wrong question.

The average piercing career is relatively short. So is the problem really that knowledge isn’t being shared fast enough, or is it that our industry struggles with retention?

If piercers are leaving the industry after only a few years, shouldn’t we be looking at why?

Could forcing people to perform services they don’t enjoy be contributing to burnout, dissatisfaction, and ultimately shorter careers?

Learning Isn’t Always Technical

My own career started in an environment that was incredibly demanding.

I grew up with the “harden up” mentality. Work harder. Talk less. Don’t complain.

While it taught me resilience, I wouldn’t necessarily call it healthy.

Before focusing solely on body piercing, I trained in hairdressing and beauty therapy. One of the most valuable skills I learned wasn’t piercing-related at all - it was waxing.

Particularly Brazilian waxing.

At fifteen years old, that kind of work forces you to grow up quickly. You learn how to communicate professionally. You learn how to touch people with confidence and purpose. You learn to respect vulnerability, modesty, and personal boundaries.

Most importantly, you learn that every body is different.

That kind of education can’t be taught in a ten-minute technique video. It comes from experience, exposure, and time.

It’s why I believe some of the most important skills in our industry aren’t technical at all.

 

The Monkey-See, Monkey-Do Problem

One thing I notice when watching technique videos online is that sometimes the technical aspect is fine, but the way the client is being treated isn’t.

And that’s how habits get passed on.

Someone learns from someone else, who learned from someone else, and eventually poor practices become accepted simply because they’re common.

Despite being a creative industry, piercing can be surprisingly resistant to change. Many piercers are raised in environments where education is withheld, competition is encouraged, and growth isn’t always supported.

You’re expected to do everything.

But at the same time, you’re often denied the education needed to do those things confidently.

You’re told you’re not a “real piercer” yet.

You’re told you haven’t earned it.

You’re told to wait your turn.

It’s an unhealthy cycle.

Why My Team Doesn’t Have To Do Everything

At Cherrycore, I’ve never wanted my team to perform services they don’t enjoy or don’t want to do.

That doesn’t mean we don’t challenge ourselves.

Whenever someone says they don’t want to offer a particular service, the conversation is always:

“Do you dislike it because you genuinely don’t enjoy it, or because you don’t feel confident or educated enough yet?”

Those are very different things.

If it’s a confidence issue, we can educate, mentor, and reassess later.

But employment should not require somebody to offer every service imaginable.

I’d rather have an exceptional ear piercer who focuses on ear work than somebody who performs every piercing available at an average standard.

Specialisation exists in almost every profession. I don’t know why piercing should be any different.

Experience Changes Your Priorities

When I started my career, I wanted to learn everything.

I wanted to do everything.

I wanted to prove myself.

Over time, that changed.

The longer I’ve worked in this industry, the more I’ve narrowed my focus toward the services I genuinely enjoy.

Because when I love what I’m doing, my clients get the best version of me.

They’re not getting someone who is counting down the minutes until the appointment is over.

They’re getting enthusiasm, passion, attention to detail, and genuine care.

That’s better for everyone.

The Arguments I Keep Seeing

Whenever this topic comes up, a few comments always appear:

• “You’re not a real piercer.”
• “You don’t have to be happy about everything.”
• “You should put yourself aside and do it for your community.”
• “What about future generations losing these skills?”

My responses are simple.

“You’re not a real piercer.”

If you’re employed performing piercing services, you’re a piercer.

The number of services you offer doesn’t determine your professional identity.

“You don’t have to be happy about everything.”

This isn’t about happiness.

It’s about consent.

When two people are involved in a service, both people matter.

A client deserves a practitioner who wants to be there.

The expectation that someone should ignore their own boundaries for the sake of a job quickly starts to resemble workplace exploitation.

“Do it for the community.”

This one feels like the industry’s white-knight argument.

If a service isn’t right for you, recommend someone who loves doing it.

Put the client’s needs first.

Building strong referral relationships is far more beneficial than reluctantly providing a service you don’t enjoy.

“What about future generations?”

We live in a different world now.

Knowledge is more accessible than it has ever been.

We have books, online education, professional organisations, conferences, videos, and global communities.

Skills aren’t disappearing because one piercer decides not to perform a specific procedure.

The Genital Piercing Conversation

Let’s be honest.

Whenever this topic comes up, the conversation almost always ends up focused on genital piercings.

And I think it’s important to acknowledge something many people don’t talk about openly.

Genital piercing can attract inappropriate behaviour.

Over the years I’ve dealt with prank calls, inappropriate conversations, and people who clearly weren’t seeking a professional service.

The respectful clients absolutely exist.

I’ve met many of them.

But unfortunately, the difficult interactions leave an impact too.

There was a period where I had a predominantly male team, including a male piercer who offered genital services. If a client made staff uncomfortable or something felt off, he could take over those consultations.

Today my team is predominantly female.

I don’t wish to expose them to situations that could compromise their comfort or safety.

Genital piercing is not a sexual service.

It should be approached with the same professionalism and respect as any medical consultation.

Being sexualised by clients shouldn’t be viewed as an unavoidable part of the job. It should be recognised as unacceptable behaviour.

My team deserves a safe workplace.

That isn’t negotiable.

Community Over Competition

One of the biggest problems I see is the belief that other studios are the competition.

I don’t think they are.

The real competition is the version of yourself from yesterday.

At Cherrycore, we regularly refer clients elsewhere for services we don’t offer.

We don’t criticise other studios.

We don’t shame clients for going elsewhere.

We simply want them to receive the best service possible.

When piercers build genuine community, everybody wins.

Clients get better outcomes.

Studios develop stronger relationships.

Knowledge gets shared.

The industry grows.

Being Great At Something Matters

I don’t believe we’re lesser piercers because we no longer offer every service.

If anything, I think we’ve moved beyond the need to prove we can do everything.

Instead, we’ve focused on becoming exceptional at the things we’re most passionate about.

The old saying goes:

“Jack of all trades, master of none.”

While the full quote is often misunderstood, the principle remains relevant.

There is tremendous value in specialisation.

There is value in mastering a craft.

There is value in recognising your strengths and building a career around them.

Most importantly, there is value in creating a career that remains fulfilling for the long term.

I’d love to see more piercers feel proud of whatever level they’re at.

Whether they offer every piercing imaginable or focus on a narrow specialty.

Because success isn’t measured by how much you do.

It’s measured by how well you do it.