Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

At Shaman Modifications we understand that many people are interested in getting a piercing but going into a body piercing studio can be intimidating. To help make coming to see us a more comfortable experience we have compiled a few of the more commonly asked questions below.

How do I care for my piercing?

Click here to see all of our super informative aftercare videos! 
On the aftercare sheet you receive it will say all of your recommend care plus a time frame listed in which we encourage you to follow up with your piercer via email to ensure healing is going smoothly and cover any & all questions you may have about your healing piercing. We pierce with longer jewelry for the majority of piercings to ensure there's room for your piercing to swell in the first stage of healing, so your piercer may also advise downsizing your jewelry during your virtual follow up. 

What should I do before & what do I need to bring with me to get a piercing?

We strongly suggest eating before receiving a piercing to ensure a comfortable & safe experience. 
If you're prone to fainting and you haven't eaten within 4 hours prior to your piercing we will advise you to go eat something before we perform your piercing to ensure your safety. 

If over 18, you must have your own state/government issued ID present. Mobile photos of any form of ID for an adult are not acceptable. If you are under 18, or bringing a minor in with you to be pierced, please check out our age requirements page to see what proper documents are needed. 

What forms of payment do you take?

cash, card, venmo, zelle, applepay....

Do you pierce children's ears?

We can definitely pierce children's ears! The youngest we pierce is 5 years old, however, it is with select piercers and we require a consultation with children between the ages of 5-9 years old.  Read more about our process on the age requirements page! 

What is the name of this thing in my ear?

Here's a little diagram that should help answer many of your questions. Please keep in mind that not everyone has the proper anatomy for every piercing and if you get a piercing that is not right for you there can be problems with placement and healing.  
A consultation with one of our experienced body piercers may help you determine what will work best for you.  

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What does, "anatomy specific," mean?

Anatomy specific piercings means that some piercings require a specific anatomy to be able to acquire said piercing. Some areas of the body need more or less tissue, more or less elasticity, etc. in order to hold and properly heal a piercing. This is not exclusive to genital piercings and navel piercings, although these piercings will always begin with an anatomy check, sometimes even oral piercings and some ear piercings require a certain anatomy to make a piercing work!
Every piercer is different, so every piercer will have an idea of what the ideal anatomy to hold specific piercings is.
​If one piercer isn't comfortable or confident that the piercing desired will heal well due to anatomy, we will always be sure to refer you to the piercer we see fit for the job. 

What if I have trouble healing the my piercing, are they guaranteed?

We do guarantee our work for the life of the piercing (from the time the jewelry is put in until it is taken out)! To ensure your piercing will be guaranteed, please make sure you are following the aftercare given to you by your piercer and follow up with them for downsizing, as well as any and all issues you may experience. With the precision we use when it comes to piercing, the jewelry we install and the aftercare we suggest, the piercings we do tend  to heal very well but sometimes there are unforeseen obstacles during the healing process that can delay and/or interrupt the health of your piercing. Contact your piercer directly and they will work with you to get your piercing healed. If, in the rare event, nothing we suggest is working and your piercer advises you to take out your jewelry, we will re-pierce at no charge.  We are invested in your safety and comfort; when you look good, we look good!
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We've come up with this troubleshooting guide to assist you in what may be going on with your piercing, in the event of an irritation or a troublesome "bump." Of course, ALWAYS feel free to swing by as we are always here for guidance and reassurance but we'll more than likely run you through these series of questions to see if there's anything happening that is avoidable to ensure a happy, healthy piercing. If any irritation persists for longer than 4-6 weeks, swing by!

How do you pierce septums?

We pierce septums a bit differently than most places do - with good reason! The way we pierce them, we typically see about a 2 month healing time overall, versus more often than not they take 4-6 months or longer to fully heal.
So, how do we do it? We pierce septums at a 12 gauge, which is a little larger, with something called a septum retainer, it looks like a staple, and then once the piercing is done we flip it up and ask that it's left flipped up for one to two full months, after one month you'll follow up virtually. It takes two months minimum for your septum piercing to heal before we can change it. We also pierce this way because more often than not we see a lot of our clients having something called a deviated septum, so with piercing larger and downsizing later on, it helps it settle into a space that fits the best on each individual's face. 

Can you custom order jewelry for me? 

Yes we can! We love placing special orders to ensure you get that dream piece of jewelry you've always wanted. 
When placing custom orders with us from one of the many wonderful jewelry companies we carry, it is best to stop in on a weekday so we can take our time, assess sizing, go over the possibilities of the piece and check pricing with the jewelry companies (almost all are only open on weekdays).  After we've gotten all the specifications worked out and the pricing for you, we'll have you do some paperwork and then you'll put half of the cost of the piece(s) down and the rest down upon pickup. Most of the jewelry companies we work with take a few months to create your jewelry but having exactly what you imagined is worth the wait. 
If you're unable to stop in, feel free to email us and we will do our best to accommodate you in that way!

What jewelry companies do you carry? 

We carry tons! BVLA, Anatometal, Neometal, Leroi Fine Jewelry, Buddha Jewelry Organics, Tether, Clickerino, Oracle Body Jewelry, Glasswear Studios, Diablo Organics, Maya Jewelry - to name a few! We post jewelry photos regularly on our Instagram! 

Do piercings hurt?

There may be some temporary discomfort but we will keep you informed and prepared during the piercing process.  We try our best to be 100% honest with you and just like some people are ticklish and some people are not, what may be uncomfortable to one person is not for another. 

How does my jewelry work?

Can I bring in my own jewelry to be pierced/stretched with or installed?

We cannot use jewelry purchased outside of our studio in fresh or healing piercings. We are accountable for what we put into your body and to ensure a safe piercing and healing process we only pierce with our own jewelry. Shaman has an ongoing relationship with the top body jewelry companies and you can rest assured that what you are putting into your body is safe, high quality and comes with a lifetime warranty that covers any manufacturers defects (they do not cover LOST jewelry).
We have tons of options though that are beautiful and suitable for everyone, we're sure you'll find something you'll love for your new and/or existing piercings! Additionally, we cannot offer installation of jewelry not purchased from our studio to ensure we don't cause harm to any of your piercings, fresh or healed, in the unfortunate event your personal jewelry isn't suitable and/or sized correctly for your piercings.

Do I need an appointment to get a tattoo?

Yes - currently all of our artists work on an appointment only basis unless stated otherwise on their social media.
To set an appointment, check out the artists on austintattoo.com and contact them directly!
​Some pointers for constructing your DM's :
- On the subject line, specify consultation, tattoo, appointment, etc. 
- Your ideas! We love hearing out all of your ideas to ensure we can get a well rounded idea of what you're wanting
- Reference photos 
- Size / placement
- When exactly you're looking to get it done nad/or what days work best for your schedule

Can I purchase a gift card?

Yes you can! Feel free to stop into any of our locations to purchase one or email us at [email protected] with your desired amount and we will send you an invoice via Paypal.

Can I take a video?

We do not allow videos of any of the services we offer at any of our locations. 
Some piercers & tattooers are okay with photos, just ask! 

Can I get a piercing/tattoo if I am pregnant?

For your safety, and ours, we cannot and will not offer any piercing or tattoo services to someone who is currently pregnant. The changes in your body during pregnancy make getting an infection and/or having serious issues healing a fresh tattoo or piercing much more likely which is dangerous for you and a liability for us. If you plan to breastfeed, we also suggest waiting 6 months for the same reasons listed above.

Are masks required?

We no longer require clients to wear masks. While we feel that masking inside is still safest, and a helpful step keep spaces more accessible for immune compromised and high risk people, we cannot ask our staff to enforce the mask requirement at this time. Immune compromised and high risk clients may request a KN95 at the door and we will be offering limited appointments outside of business hours at our Dallas and Eastside ATX locations for clients who do not feel comfortable with these changes. ​Please email [email protected] with any questions or concerns.