FAQs
Check out our frequently asked questions, it you have any other questions please don’t hesitate to contact us.
What are your age restrictions?
Age restrictions vary for piercings. Full details of our age restrictions are available here - https://mattclarkepiercing.setmore.com as a rough guide:
Kids ear lobes start from ages 10 years and over
Most ear piercings start from age 14+
More complex ear piercings, facial and body piercings start from age 16+
Where are you located?
We are based on Erdington high street next door to KFC. We are around a 3 minute walk from Erdington train station and on the main road heading toward spaghetti junction.
44 High street, Erdington, B23 6RH
What is your level of accessibility for people with mobility issues?
The studio is a ground floor premise with a small step into the studio, unfortunately this can’t be changed.
The front door measures 74cm wide.
There is a small step into the studio that is 18cm high.
We do have a 5ft portable ramp measuring, if you require a wheelchair ramp please let us know before you arrive for your appointment if possible.
To get to the toilet and piercing room we have a fairly narrow corridor which is 73cm wide, it can fit a standard wheelchair but our small bathroom can not accommodate a wheelchair, unfortunately the corridor isn’t wide enough for all chairs and it may be worth checking before you come in Sadly our building is really old and we’re unable to make structural changes. If you have any special requirements please drop us an email and we will do our best to accommodate where we can.
I have a guide dog for my hearing or vision, will they be permitted in the piercing room?
Can I request a silent appointment?
How many piercings can I have done in one appointment?
Do you offer numbing?
Yes. In accordance with the 2010 Equality Act your guide dog can go everywhere you can and we are happy to make accommodations for this. No animals other than Guide Dogs are permitted studio access. Where possible we request clients with Guide Dogs to send us an email to arrange an appointment at the end of the day or at a time when no clients will be using the space immediately after you giving us extra time to clean down thoroughly. Most of our appointments are time sensitive so if you feel you may benefit from more time just drop us an email and we’ll be happy to help.
Yes you can. Although our appointments require a lot of talking, communication and verbal agreements for consent. We do understand that all the small talk and communication isn’t for everyone, which is absolutely fine, we do our best to accommodate everyone. If this is something you require out of your appointment, please send us an email prior to your appointment and we’ll be able to make notes on your booking ready for when you arrive.
If you’d generally prefer a quieter studio then making an appointment on Wednesday could be the better option for you. Wednesdays are piercing appointments only meaning the studio is quieter than our other days.
We offer a maximum of 3 single piercings during one appointment. We also recommend waiting around 6-8 weeks before you have any more piercings done. This is to allow the body to start healing and allow swelling and tenderness to settle down as much as possible, this makes aftercare more manageable and mitigates the risk of infection. When piercing cartilage we also recommend working on one ear at a time to allow you to sleep on the other side.
Do I need an appointment?
Ideally yes, however we do accept walk-ins if there is enough time between pre booked appointments.
You can prebook an appointment on our booking page
Can I bring my own jewellery?
No. We do not insert any jewellery purchased online or from another studio as we cannot confirm the quality and this goes against our insurance policy.
We only perform piercings with jewellery that has never been worn before and has been supplied by the studio. We can change your jewellery on fully healed piercings with jewellery purchased from the studio.
Can you pierce me with jewellery I've already worn?
No. Worn jewellery is exposed to bodily fluids and can carry bloodborne pathogens. Introducing worn jewellery into a clean environment can have serious health risks. All jewellery that arrives at Outer Circle is new, sealed and unworn, during your piercing appointment, your new jewellery is sterilised in front of you in a clean environment to ensure the highest hygiene standards for your new piercing. As only new jewellery is able to be processed this way, introducing a worn piece of jewellery will contaminate the studio space and equipment.
How do I care for my jewellery?
Standard piercing care should be enough to keep your jewellery clean and looking great. The jewellery we pierce you with is implant grade, what that means is that it’s biocompatible and will not break down over time when exposed to the heat and moisture of your body. Implant grade jewellery is not affected by things like showering, but exposure to harsh chemicals, for instance peroxide in hair dye, may tarnish jewellery. When wearing gold jewellery, please remember this is a soft metal, and it can break if too much pressure or force is applied to it. Implant grade does not mean unbreakable, so this is another good reason to have your initial piercing post downsized to help minimise the risk of snagging and damaging your piercing.
It is good practice to make sure your jewellery is tight every so often to avoid losing your attachment.
If it’s a threadless piece of jewellery, you can apply a small amount of back pressure against the flat base of your post or bead with your thumb and with your forefinger on the opposite side, gently pinch together.
If it's a threaded attachment, get a nice gentle grip on both ends, a twist to tighten or the opposite way to loosen. When doing this make sure your hands are clean.
Our piercer will explain and demonstrate how the jewellery works and fits together during your appointment.
What kind of jewellery do you use?
We only pierce with implant grade titanium ASTM F136 and niobium at Outer Circle. We also carry 14 and 18 karat gold attachments which will be fitted on titanium posts. We are very selective on the jewellery we carry at the studio, focusing on the quality of not only the material it’s made from but also the surface finish of the jewellery.
All our jewellery are from APP verified body jewellery manufacturers. Milling certificates are available for all our suppliers. Find out more about the UKAPP jewellery verification here
What payment methods do you accept?
In the studio we accept cash, card and mobile contactless payments.
In some instances we can accept bank transfer or paypal, however this is more for remote custom orders.
Is there anything I should do to prepare for my appointment?
Make sure you have something to eat or drink before your appointment.
Don’t have a heavy night of drinking prior to your appointment.
Don’t do drugs
Don’t get pierced right before you go on holiday as this may restrict you from swimming or in the worst case scenario if something happens to your piercing like infection/irritations you may be unable to care for it properly. Enjoy your holiday first and come visit us when you’re back.
If you have any questions before your appointment send us an email at Mattclarkepiercing@gmail.com . We’ll try and answer as quickly as possible and this will maximise your appointment time with us.
No, we don’t offer numbing and we don’t recommend you attempt any personal numbing at home before your appointment either. Numbing products “vasoconstrict“ which means they starve the skin of blood, which is harmful to a new piercing as a strong healthy blood flow is needed to start the healing process. In addition, numbing products can contort the skin, meaning we could mark the perfect piercing placement on you and hours later as the numbing product wears off the skin could relax and shift the piercing placement.
Numbing products are medical products and can pose a risk in terms of allergens and skin irritations, non-medical practitioners cannot legally supply or directly apply pharmacy-grade numbing creams to clients unless acting under the direct supervision or prescription of a qualified medical professional.
Piercings do hurt a little, but it's over in seconds, similar to getting an injection at the doctor or dentist - it’s not nice, but it takes a second and then it’s over.
Can I bring someone to my appointment?
Yes, but please don’t bring your entire family to your appointment. Personal carers and interpreters are welcome for clients who need assistance. We are a small studio and do not have loads of space for clients in the piercing room and waiting area. We do allow up to one other person into the piercing room, however if they are being disruptive, disrespectful or try to video the procedure, they will be asked to leave the procedure room and wait outside.
Can I be pierced if I have been diagnosed with a medical condition?
Having a medical condition shouldn’t stop you from having a new piercing, however some medical conditions can impose longer healing times and possibly issues with the overall healing. If you are concerned about this or would like a consultation to discuss this in detail, you’re more than welcome to book a consultation appointment. If you have an immuno-compromising condition please consult your medical professional prior to making an appointment to ensure this doesn’t impose a risk to your health.
What behaviour is considered inappropriate during a piercing appointment?
Inappropriate client conduct includes but is not limited to -
Commenting about the age, gender and physical appearance of staff.
Making comments of a sexual nature towards staff in person, by phone or via email.
Attempts to touch staff.
Attempts to inappropriately touch yourself.
Attempts to contact staff outside of professional channels via social media or in person.
Racist or abusive language towards the staff and or clients
Can I be pierced when I'm pregnant?
No, new piercings can not be performed while you know or believe you may be pregnant. This is because piercings are a voluntary procedure that can result in infection. We will not knowingly pierce any pregnant person and are not permitted to do so by our local authority or insuring body, we also advise against being pierced 6 months post pregnancy or while breast feeding.
If you’d like to have your nipples pierced, we suggest waiting for 6 months from when you stop breast feeding, this allows the nipple time to stabilise as breastfeeding can change the size and shape of your nipple substantially.
Will pregnancy affect my current piercings?
Maybe, bodies go through lots of changes during pregnancy and you may find you have some irritation or flare ups with your piercings, this is completely normal, we recommend caring for them as you would normally and if you have any concerns you can always contact us for advice or book in for a check-ups & troubleshooting appointment.
Navel piercings in particular may need longer jewellery to accommodate changes to your body, you can book a check-ups & troubleshooting appointment to look at the best options for you.
What is the UKAPP and APP?
The Association of Professional Piercers (APP) is an international health and safety organization. It is a nonprofit voluntary alliance dedicated to the dissemination of information about body piercing. Governed by an elected Board of Directors, the APP is a united group of piercing professionals that freely shares information to help fellow members, piercers, health care professionals, legislators, health inspectors, and the general public get the best and most up-to-date information about body piercing.
APP - https://safepiercing.org/
UKAPP - https://www.ukapp.org.uk/
What body jewellery manufacturers do you stock?
Junipurr - https://junipurrjewelry.com/ Junipurr body jewellery is currently our piercers standard for basics. If you book for a piercing with our standard jewellery, you’ll be pierced with their titanium range.
Anatometal - https://anatometal.com/
Neometal - https://www.neometal.com/
Inari - https://inariorganics.com/shop/
Peoples Jewellery - https://www.peoples-jewelry.com/
Canasteel - https://canasteeljewelry.ca/
Khrysos - https://khrysosjewelry.com/
All of these manufacturers are verified by the Association of Professional Piercers for safe implant use.
Can I take photos and a video of my piercing?
No but we can help you take photos after the procedure.
Pictures and videos are prohibited within the piercing room at all times.