Most people walking into a piercing studio for the first time have done a bit of nervous Googling on the way in. They have read three contradictory things about salt water, seen something terrifying on TikTok about cartilage bumps and they are still not totally sure whether their lobes need an hour or a year to heal. That is fine. Most of the people who walk into Shallows are in exactly that position.

This page is the front door for everything piercing related at our Manchester studio. It covers what we do, how it works, what to expect when you arrive and where to find every piece of guidance we have written. Whether you came here for a quick lobe top up or you are weighing up your first septum, there is something below that will help.

What We Pierce

We offer the full range of standard body piercings, which covers everything from a first lobe through to more advanced work. The list below is the everyday stuff our piercers do on rotation. If something you want is not on it, message us and we will tell you honestly whether we can do it well.

• Ear: lobes, helix, tragus, conch, rook, daith, flat, snug, industrial
• Facial: nostril, septum, eyebrow, bridge, anti-eyebrow
• Oral: tongue, lip, labret, Monroe, Madonna, smiley, snake bites
• Body: navel, nipple, surface anchors
• Genital: by appointment only, full consultation before the day

Curious about which piercings are most asked for right now? Our piece on the most popular piercings covers what is trending in Manchester and why some classics never really go away.

How a Walk-In Piercing Works

The honest version is that it takes longer than the piercing itself. The needle is over in seconds. Everything around it is what makes a good piercing experience: the conversation, the marking, the jewellery selection, the aftercare brief.

When you arrive, one of the team will take you through a short consultation. We check the area, talk about placement, anatomy and what you want from the piercing long term. Some piercings that look fine in photos do not suit your specific anatomy and an honest piercer will tell you that before you sit in the chair.

From there, we pick jewellery from our titanium range and let you choose ends, gems or hoops within what is appropriate for a fresh piercing. Then we mark up, you check the mark in a mirror, we adjust if needed and only then does the needle come out.

Pain, Pricing and Other Honest Questions

Three things almost everyone asks before they get pierced. We answer all of them properly here rather than dodging, because the dodging is what makes people more anxious in the first place.

Does It Hurt

Yes, but not for long and not as much as you have probably built up in your head. A lobe is a sharp pinch lasting under a second. A nostril is the same. Cartilage piercings like a helix or a conch have a stronger pressure feeling that lasts a second or two. The areas that genuinely hurt more, like nipple or genital work, we talk through in detail before the day. For the full breakdown by location, see our pain guide hub.

How Much

Prices vary by piercing type and jewellery selection. A standard lobe with titanium jewellery starts from £35. Cartilage work starts higher, partly because the jewellery is more specialised. Surface and genital piercings are priced individually. The shop floor team will give you an exact quote before you commit to anything.

How Long Does It Take to Heal

It depends on the piercing. Lobes are roughly six to eight weeks. Cartilage runs six months to a year. Navel piercings can take nine months to a full year for the deep healing to complete. Our healing guidance hub has individual timelines for every piercing we offer.

Jewellery, Materials and Why It Matters

The single biggest difference between a piercing that heals cleanly and one that gives you grief for a year is the jewellery you start with. Cheap jewellery causes reactions, slows healing and produces the bumps and crusts that most people blame on the piercing itself.

We use implant-grade titanium as our standard. It is biocompatible, hypoallergenic and the metal of choice for any piercing studio that takes healing seriously. We also stock 14k and 18k solid gold for clients who want to upgrade once their piercing is fully healed. We do not use surgical steel for fresh piercings because, despite the name, it contains nickel that can leach into healing tissue.

The full breakdown is in our piece on the best jewellery materials for piercings, including why titanium beats surgical steel for new work.

These are realistic ranges, not the optimistic numbers you sometimes see online. A piercing that has stopped feeling sore is not the same as a piercing that has fully healed internally. Read our week by week healing guide for a more detailed picture.

A piercing is a small wound. Treat it like one. Clean it gently, leave it alone and the rest of your body knows what to do.
Shallows piercing team

Aftercare in One Paragraph

Wash your hands before you touch the piercing. Clean once or twice a day with sterile saline solution, not table salt mixed at home. Do not twist the jewellery. Do not pick scabs or crusts. Avoid swimming pools, hot tubs and lakes until fully healed. Sleep on the opposite side where possible. If something looks or feels wrong, ask us rather than asking the internet.

That covers the basics. The proper version of all of this is in our aftercare guidance hub, which goes piercing by piercing and answers the awkward questions that everyone has but nobody asks at the desk.

Common Questions Before You Walk In

Do I Need to Book

For standard piercings on the ear, nose or face, no. Walk in any time during opening hours and the next available piercer will see you. For nipple, navel, surface or genital work, we recommend booking through our system to make sure the right piercer is on shift and has the right jewellery in stock.

What Should I Bring

Photo ID for anyone who looks under twenty-five, a friend if it helps your nerves, and ideally something to eat in your bag for after. Low blood sugar is the most common cause of feeling lightheaded post-piercing. Our what to bring guide has the full list.

Can I Get Pierced on My Period

Yes. There is no medical reason not to. Some people find they are slightly more sensitive in the days before their period, but it is not enough to put off the piercing. Hormones, hydration and sleep all play a bigger role.

Will You Pierce Children

We pierce lobes only on children, with a parent or legal guardian present and ID for both parent and child. We do not pierce children with a gun under any circumstances. Single-use sterile needle, the same standard we use for adults.

Can I Bring My Own Jewellery

For a fresh piercing, no. The jewellery you start with has to meet specific standards for material, finish and threading, and we cannot verify those from outside stock. Once your piercing is fully healed, you are welcome to bring jewellery in for us to fit safely.

Reading any of the hubs before you arrive will make the consultation faster and the result better. The studio also runs a tattoo arm if you want to look at the bigger picture. Our tattoo Manchester page covers the rest of what we do.