Read time: 7 minutes

Getting a piercing is an exciting experience. There’s jewellery to choose from, placements to pick, and that unmistakable ‘just pierced’ feeling. But a new piercing isn’t just for the weekend, it’s something to take care of, nurture, and eventually, stack!

To help you on your piercing journey, we asked some of our community’s top questions to an expert. Our A&M Piercing Experience Lead, Ara. Think of her as your piercing Agony Aunt, here to help you build a happy and healthy ear stack - one piercing at a time.

Meet Ara

Ara has worked with A&M for over five years, providing an incredible service as a piercer, mentor and innovator of the A&M piercing experience.

We asked Ara a few questions about herself...

What's your favourite placement to pierce?

'It's definitely the Conch. It's a common favourite amongst piercers and I love that it's such a statement piece, so it really makes someone's stack.'

What's your favourite piercing on yourself?

'Also the Conch! I love that it can handle bigger jewellery pieces and be seen from every angle.'

Do you have a favourite piercing stud?

'I love the Navette Topaz Fan Stud in Solid White Gold because of how big it is and because it's extra shiny.'

What piercing look from our recent campaign speaks to you the most?

'For me, it's ‘The Missing Link’. I was involved in developing the Ear Curation Chains and I love the way they can be customised and personalised - I have one on my stacked lobe at the moment!' 

Ear Curation Chain™

Crafted in solid gold, an Ear Curation Chain™ can elevate your piercings by simply attaching to your everyday studs. They’re a charming way to add extra shine to your ear stack. Currently only available as an in-store experience in House of A&M, Manchester, Glasgow, and Amsterdam.

Shop Online Collection

Here’s what our community wanted to know…

Muse 1# - I already have 14 piercings! How many more can I get? 

More is more in my opinion! But it entirely depends on your desired look. If you’re a fan of smaller pieces and like a busy feel, then you’ll be able to get a lot more piercings. But if you’re more into statement styles, then sometimes less is more. There is no limit to the number of piercings one person can have, as long as they have the right anatomy. 

To plan your next piercing, visit our Stack Curator. It’s an online tool to help you curate the stack for your dreams. 

Muse 2# - I used to have more piercings, but I took out the jewellery and now they've closed up. Can I get re-pierced in the same spot? 

Whether you can be re-pierced in the same spot depends on how your old piercing has healed. Our piercers will check your ears for the scar tissue that can form at the site of an old piercing and how much scar tissue there is will determine whether the same placement can be pierced again or not. Either way, our piercers can always suggest a new piercing placement to ensure you get your dream stack again!

Muse 3# - I have a special occasion coming up and I don’t know how to style my current piercings. Do you have any advice? 

Our team is always happy to help you curate the perfect stack in-store. Just bring in your A&M jewels and a stylist or piercer will offer their advice on how to style your pieces. 

Have you tried our Stack Curator?

Use our Stack Curator to try out a new piercing - without the commitment. Simply select the piercing placement you’d like to explore and see what it looks like with the rest of your stack. Then, once you’re happy with your new look, book in for a piercing appointment to make it a reality.

Start Stacking

Muse 4# - I got my helix pierced a week ago and it’s still bleeding. Is this normal? 

Since your piercing is still in its very early stages of healing, bruising and bleeding can be normal in certain cases. However, we would recommend that a piercer takes a look at your piercing. They can assess the situation, go through any troubleshooting questions, and help you find the best solution.

Muse 5# - What’s your preference between piercing a rook with a barbell or hoop? Is one more recommended than the other?

A curved barbell is the most recommended piercing jewellery for a Rook piercing and at A&M we only pierce the Rook with barbell jewellery. We believe this sets up our customers for a smoother healing process, as the barbell style allows for swelling, unlike a hoop which can be too tight and cause irritation. Curved barbells can still look decorative and sparkly!

Rook Jewellery

• Heart Rook Bar in Solid Gold - €230

  €230

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• Molten Opal Rook Bar in Solid Gold - €240

  €240

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Muse 6# - I’ve planned out my dream ear stack and I want a lot more piercings, but it’s taking me ages to get them. Why is there a limit to the number of piercings you can have in one session?

Most studios and piercers will recommend getting a maximum of three piercings at once to give you the easiest and smoothest healing journey. Having too many new piercings at once can put a lot of stress on your immune system and extend the healing times of all piercings. 

A couple of other things we’d recommend: if you’re planning multiple cartilage piercings, stick to one side of your head at a time - it’ll make sleeping much more comfortable. Also, try to limit yourself to no more than two cartilage piercings at once, as they already have a longer healing time.

Muse 7# - Is there a way to make changing my cartilage piercings any easier at home? I struggle every time I want to switch them out. 

This really depends on the type of jewellery you were pierced with. At A&M, we usually pierce with flat back styles, which many people struggle with because of their delicate, dainty designs - even with all the right tools, I still struggle with mine!

My best advice? Grip the back of the jewellery first, then gently twist the front to unscrew it. If you're finding it too fiddly, don’t hesitate to ask a friend or family member to help you out. Just tell them to follow the same steps.

You're always welcome to pop into a store for a jewellery change. There’s no service charge, and if the piercing is fully healed, you're welcome to bring in your own A&M jewellery from home - or browse and buy something in-store!

• Heart Cluster Piercing Stud in Solid Gold - €240

  €240

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• Garnet Heart Piercing Stud in Solid Gold - €185

  €185

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Muse 8# - I had my helix pierced a few years ago with a gun (at a different brand), but the hole is so small that I can’t fit any other jewellery in it. Do you have any advice?

Okay, so here’s what’s going on. Gun piercings often use smaller gauge jewellery, which is why you’re struggling to fit standard sized jewellery into your piercing.

We’d suggest you see a piercer so they can check whether your piercing is happy and healthy, and what the gauge of it is. Once they know that, they might be able to use a taper (a piercing tool) to gently stretch the hole to a more standard size. This can be done in one appointment and would be uncomfortable, but not like the pain of getting a brand new piercing.

Or, in some cases, it may be easier to let the piercing close up and, after a bit of time, re-pierce it in the same or a similar spot with a needle. 

Muse 9# - I’m pregnant, can I still get pierced? 

Firstly, congratulations! We hope you and baby are doing well. For safety reasons, we do not pierce anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding. This is because the immune system can be more vulnerable during this time, increasing the risk of infection and complications during healing.

We recommend waiting a few months postpartum to get a new piercing, to allow hormones to regulate and support a smoother healing process. However we will not refuse service postpartum.

• Snake Piercing Stud in Solid White Gold - €210

  €210

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• Pavé Horseshoe Piercing Stud in Solid White Gold - €185

  €185

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Muse 10# - Can anyone get a nose piercing? I heard something about people with too many veins in their nose not being allowed as it could bleed a lot, is that true? 

This is a piercing myth, but there is some logic behind it. It is true that the nose has a rich blood supply, but this doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be pierced. Pretty much anyone can get a nose piercing, and a good piercer will simply check your anatomy carefully during the consultation and advise the best piercing placement to avoid any bigger veins. 

With any piercing it’s normal to bleed a bit when first pierced, and our piercers will always do their best to minimise this and ensure it still looks sparkly before you leave!  

Nose Jewellery

Micro Crystal Titanium Piercing Stud in Gold - €55

€55

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Muse 11# - I listen to a lot of music. Can you tell me which piercings are likely to interfere with my earphones so I can avoid them? 

It’s smart to think about how any new piercings will affect your lifestyle before you get them. If your earphones are non-negotiable, you probably want to avoid getting your Tragus or Daith pierced, as these are the two piercing placements that sit directly next to the opening of your ear canal. 

However, the opposite would be true for our headphone lovers - the Tragus and Daith would be good piercings for them to get and they’d probably want to avoid helix piercings. With any new piercing, it’s important to make sure your earphones or headphones are clean before each use. 

• Molten Daith Ring in Solid Gold - €255

  €255

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Muse 12# - I only have my first lobes pierced and I’m nervous about getting any more. How does the pain compare between a helix and a lobe piercing?

Lobe piercings are generally considered to be less painful than cartilage piercings due the soft, fleshy tissue in this part of the ear. That being said, everyone’s pain tolerance is different, so experiences can vary. I’d personally rate a lobe piercing a 3/10 for pain and a helix around a 4 or 5/10. 

It’s worth noting that if you’re getting multiple piercings in one session, our piercers will start with the cartilage piercing first. This helps with pain management, as your adrenaline is typically at its highest during the first piercing.

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