Two piercers, one standard.
Tom Manning and Kat Thurlow. The protocols here are drawn from clinical medicine rather than the piercing industry, and they do not change depending on who you see or what you are having done.
Tom, head piercer.
He trained and worked as a Clinical Trials Aseptic Pharmacy Technician in hospital settings, a role with no margin for error in sterilisation. He moved into piercing because the gap between what the industry offered and what the work needed was too wide to ignore.
Every BVLA order goes through him, from the first conversation to the fitting. Clients come from Wellington, Christchurch and Sydney for that.
Kat, second chair.
The same tray, the same protocol. Her way of working is calm and unhurried, which matters most to the client who is nervous or being pierced for the first time.
She takes appointments in Taiwanese Mandarin: the consultation, the anatomy, and the aftercare, in the client's own language.
I don't measure what I do against what's typical in this industry. I measure it against what the work actually needs.Tom
Piercing is permanent.
Asked often.
Are you walk-in or appointment only?
Appointment only, always. One client in the room at a time, so the room is yours for the whole appointment.
What is Tom's background before piercing?
Tom trained and worked as a Clinical Trials Aseptic Pharmacy Technician in hospital settings, a role built on pharmaceutical-grade sterilisation. He carried that discipline into piercing, which is why the protocols here are drawn from clinical medicine rather than the piercing industry.
Do you pierce children?
Yes, earlobes, with the same needle and the same implant-grade titanium as every other piercing. Never a stud gun. A parent or guardian stays in the room, and each step is explained to the child before anything is touched.
Can I ask for a particular piercer?
Yes. Tom works Wednesday to Sunday, Kat Sunday to Tuesday. If you have a preference, whether for the day, for language, or for any other reason, book accordingly.
I haven't had a piercing in years. Will I feel out of place?
No. Most clients are either coming back after a gap or arriving for the first time. You don't need a plan; the tray comes out first and we work it out from there.
Not sure which piece? Come and hold the tray.
Sit at the low table with the tray and a mirror, and we'll say where each piece would sit on your ear. Styling and placement are half the work, and there is no needle in the room.