superrrrr sweet and amazing piercer!! workers were very nice and helpful with my questions. piercer made me feel welcomed and talked to me through the piercing. couple months later and it's perfectly fine:) read more

Barbella Studios - septum;) - Piercing Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Derek was amazing! He has good conversation which makes the process less nerve racking and patient! He makes sure the piercing is even/straight. He talks through all the steps so you know what's going on. If I decide to get more piercings I will definitely come back to him! read more

Came here about a month ago to get my nose pierced and I was so happy with how my experience went! Before getting pierced I was greeted by the lady at the register who was very nice and asked me right away if I was looking for anything in specific. She recommended me a stud piercing because it would heal very quickly and she was right! Glad to say I have not gotten an infection which was something I was scared about. My piercer's name was Derek and he was very nice and sparked up a little conversation, probably to distract from the fact that I was about to get a needle through my nose. Overall it felt like a quick pinch but nothing painful! His aftercare instructions were very detailed and you could tell that he knew exactly what he was talking about. I've been here before for some ear piercings so I was aware that the price would be a bit high, but I keep coming back for the exceptional customer service. You can tell the staff cares about quality and when it comes to piercings I'd rather pay more if I know I'll be taken care of! Including tip I must have paid about $85 (jewelry and procedure), they provide you with non-iodized sea salt to use when you go home. I will be coming back soon to switch my stud for a ring! what I like is that you get a little card that invites you to come back 4 weeks after you've come in for 15% off their jewelry! Love this place, if you need a piercing or want to buy high-quality jewelry come here! read more

I have gotten many piercings done in this shop with Stephen and I have all great things to say about my experiences there, but I will keep this short and sweet. He really knows what he's talking about and always does a wonderful job. He is all about making sure you understand what he is doing and explaining how to care for your piercings properly. They have great deals here on piercing services and sometimes have sales on jewelry, but you can always be confident that you are being taken care of and paying for the best services and products. read more

The staff was super sweet with my daughter (11yr). They explained everything and spoke casually without babying her. She felt like such a grown-up girl. Stephen Von Frankenstein was just the best with her. It was such a great and unforgettable experience. read more

Barbella Studios - Piercing Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Derek was awesome. Stretched two of my daughters piercings that partially closed and did a cartilage with no Pain. Would highly recommend read more

Took my daughter to get a second piercing. The piercing itself was fantastic-thus the four stars but I have to say they're a little over the top. The cost with the cheapest earrings-about $110-which I think is ridiculous. Then they tried to basically sell us organic salt to use to clean her ears daily for four weeks. Yes people get infections but the hard sell on cleaning her ears daily for four weeks and the general intensity about keeping things sterile was a bit too much for an ear piercing in my opinion . read more

got my belly pierced here 5 years ago, Steven is very informative and knowledgeable, still looks good to this day!

Just had a wonderful experience at Barbella. They were very cognizant of the current health concerns we're all facing and took extra steps to ensure their space was clean, safe, and comfortable. Stephen was wonderful to work with as well. Can't wait to be back soon. read more

I went to this shop on a whim the other day with my younger brother. I got my rook done and he got his ear lobes. My brother is autistic and gets overstimulated very easily/ isn't the biggest fan of being touched. Cat was our piercer and was SUCH an angel. Cat made sure my brother was comfortable the entire time and was constantly explaining each step of the procedure so that my brother wasn't caught off guard by any of the touching. They were so sweet to him the entire time and he was beaming and talking about the experience the entire ride home. I can say the exact same for my experience. I told Cat about how I usually get really woozy when I get pierced and they were making sure I was breathing and relaxed the entire time. It is by far my favorite piercing and piercing experience I've ever had. Everyone in the shop is so kind and I would 100% go to Cat for any piercings in the future :))) read more

Barbella Studios - earlobe piercing - Piercing Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I found Barbella Studios through Yelp! My first time visiting the shop was a couple months ago for two dermals on my chest. I've never had a surface piercing before, and my experience was amazing! The piercer was super informative, very kind, and put me right at ease. I returned again today to get my septum pierced, and received the same great service as last time. They were even having a sale on piercings! I can't remember the names of my piercers, but both guys were equally fantastic! Also, the guy up front was hilarious and very helpful. I definitely recommend Barbella Studios!! read more

Barbella Studios - Dermals and Septum piercings done at Barbella Studios! I love them. - Piercing Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I was washing a new piercing with soap and the earring popped off the bar. I called the studio and they would not squeeze me in. Covid precautions, which I respect. But as a business you have to be able to help your customers. All I needed was a new earring screwed on so my piercing would be secure. My options potential lose a new piercing or just be careful that so it doesn't fall out. This is not how you run a business. read more

Going in for a piercing I had never had before, zero expectations and knowledge about, and not being pierced in over a decade, I was extra friendly with the piercer (manager) while he was doing it, as I was maybe subconsciously nervous and being nice as a defense-mechanism. He reacted rudely as if I said something offensive. His overall demeanor was unpleasant and not professional. He did not make me feel comfortable but instead was able to make me feel bad. Thus far I've noticed a pattern of piercing studios, with staff having attitudes or acting better-than. read more

Came with my family today and we all got a Helix piercing. Derek was super awesome, funny, and accommodating. He was super knowledgeable about the different piercings and walked us through the process and after care. We felt great throughout the process and left with the biggest smiles. Derek was awesome and I definitely recommend getting your piercing here! read more

Barbella Studios - Perfect placing by Derek. - Piercing Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

randomly decided to get a nose piercing for my 21st birthday with my sister. we booked an appointment and also let them know we were running 10 minutes late and we were told that was fine. we get there and we are basically told the appointment was cancelled because we were too late. (which we were not, we arrived within the grace period) that's not even the worst part, we got charged a late fee without even being seen!!!! at first I wasn't even mad that the appointment was cancelled because we decided to get my nose pierced somewhere else but to then charge us a late fee without even seeing us and basically just kicking us out? that's just sad.. I normally don't write reviews but I thought people should know. read more

Went to Barbella Studios for the first time tonight for the OC animal fundraiser. (Awesome) and got a Monroe piercing. I am very happy with the piercing. They were nice, patient and the piercer explained each step. It was practically painless and I also like that they provided good aftercare instructions along with some salt for the healing process. read more

Barbella Studios - New Monroe piercing! - Piercing Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

A year later and I still stand by everything I said! Love this place and super excited for the jewelry they helped me custom order for me . Can't wait to change it out when my new piercings are all healed. Been coming here since my 18th birthday and will continue to return, this place is the bees knees and basically disneyland for any piercing enthusiasts read more

Barbella Studios - one of my fav piercing so far - Piercing Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Love Barbella's so much!! Got my nose pierced there around four months ago and I had no trouble with it. Hurt less than an ear piercing to me, honestly. Stephen Von Frankenstein is not only an excellent piercer, but also just a great guy to help you go through it!! Everyone there makes you feel really comfortable in the environment. I've stopped in a lot to get my nose piercing changed to a retainer for work, and they were always so nice and helpful. Other piercing shops wouldn't do the change for me, but Barbella's was very cautious with it, and nothing happened to my piercing. Highly recommend getting pierced here :) read more

Cannot be more pleased with my experience here! I was terrified to get my helix pierced for the longest time (I only had my earlobes pierced as a kid), and kept putting it off until my friend and I decided to go on impulse. All of the employees were extremely knowledgable and welcoming. Leesh at the front desk answered all my questions and let me take my time making every decision. My friend only needed a reinsertion, which went really smoothly thanks to our piercer Kat. I really appreciated how they recognized my anxiety and eased me through every step of the process, constantly checking in and making sure I was breathing/not in excessive pain. Aftercare instructions were thorough and straightforward (my friend said that the other piercing shops they went to weren't half as helpful as this one). So far, no complications, and I'm even considering coming back here for more piercings some day. 100% would recommend! read more

The front desk girl was so rude and cold. My friend got her nose re-pierced and with the Yelp deal, she only spent about $35 for the jewelry, service, and tip. Not bad, but I didn't care to support this shop. I ended up going to Agape--service there was so much warmer and more professional. read more

I came here a few years ago to get my belly button pierced and i loved my experience! They are very sanitary, professional and they make you feel at home. Stephen is AMAZING at with his piercings and really knows how to make a comfortable environment. It's been a few years and i recently went back to get my nose piercing changed to a ring, which Stephen was also amazing with. If you are looking for the perfect place to get pierced - go here! read more

All employees are super nice and helpful. They give detailed explanations of procedures and after care. I just went for a repiercing of earlobe holes that had closed, and I chose this place because there were pictures on Yelp of children getting their ears pierced and smiling. I thought if they're ok, I'll be ok. Lol. It's very impressive how careful employees are to keep the place safe and clean in this continuing COVID period. Before I went, I called for information and received patient explanations by phone as well. This is the place to choose for your piercings! read more

Ok - I have gotten all my piercings here since I was a teenager. Long story short, I lost my nose ring so headed over because this is the only place I've ever purchased body jewelry and I love every piece I have ever purchased. I show up, the store is empty but two people are at the counter. One comes to the door and tells me I have to make an appointment online to be seen right now. Annoying, but I start the process. Two pages of forms and a deposit to purchase a nose ring with picture ID? Honestly - what frustrates me is the lack of customer service on LAZINESS!!!! I'm 8 months pregnant and standing outside in 85 degree heat of an EMPTY store with two available employees who aren't even trying to help. Bottom line - the lost a sale and after talking to some other people sounds like a lot of customers. It's a bummer because the guy who owns it is really nice and I have gone here for years. I headed over to blue collar ink and was helped immediately! Amazing customer service over there! read more

"If your body is a temple, why not decorate the walls?" My favorite quote when people question why I've got tattoos on my back, foot, and well over 15 piercings. See here's the thing, it is my body, and at 65..I'm gonna be one cool ass granny haha! Like most of my piercings, this one was completely spontaneous and I had fun doing another piercing with my middle sister since I had previously done my conch with my little sister while she had her cartilage double pierced. Barbella is definitely one of my favorite piercing parlors in the OC, hands down. We popped in after my sister text me about a promotion they had going on, $10 piercing (+ your jewelry price). Considering most shops charge upwards of $30-$90 depending on where you're getting pierced, some spots may cost you over $100(guys, i'm looking at you....). Having already pierced the typical girl locations (belly button, and many holes in my ears), i finally crossed off my nose! woohoo! We showed up at the studio about an hour after opening, and there was already a decently sized line. The promotion did indicate that they would be packed all day, and walk in's only. After getting there, ya i can see why they clearly stated that haha! Filled out the standard paperwork and picked our jewelry. I opted for a ring to allow for room should i have to deal with swelling, which i was lucky to avoid unlike my sis :/ The receptionist took our paperwork and told us it would be about an hour to an hour and a half, then asked if we'd like to get a call when they got to us. She recommended this because they will only wait about 10 minutes for you after they've called you twice. Since my sister had her tots in tow, we said yes, and went to get grub. When we returned, the line had doubled! If you plan on taking advantage of their social media promotions, definitely get there EARLY or the wait could be HOURS. My piercer was Stephen, and he made the entire process a breeze. I have a fairly high pain tolerance, BUT i f**king hate needles. Getting on put through my face? Haha, oh what was i thinking, right? In the capable hands of Stephen, I've never felt that relaxed knowing i was about to be poked and pierced. My sister had gone first, and she had a different piecer, who used the traditional clamp method similar to what they do for your belly button piercing. Stephen on the other hand, bent a q-tip into a noose shape, and stuck it into my nostril. When i raised my eyebrow, he said it gives stability to the nostril so it doesn't flex and move when the needle is inserted and gives him better control of the needles. Exhaling, he told me to breathe and close my eyes. After instructing me through a few more deep breaths, i felt the pinch and warmth as he moved the needle through the cartilage. Yep, totally held my sister's hand here and IDGAF - because needle. After a minute, the ring was inserted and he used a pair of mini pliers to close the ring and insert the ball to close it. Aside from the needle being that close to my eyeballs, this was one of the most painless piercings i've gotten. With my ring secured, Britt and I went back to the front to collect our ID's and after care products. They've got several different types, she went with the standard salt solution, whereas i chose the $12 bottle of tea tree soap for sensitive skin because the salt dries my face out to much. Counterproductive to my healing process haha. Their aftercare instructions are very detailed and thorough, and the staff encourages you to call or drop by if you've got any questions about your healing time/care/abnormalities, etc. By far one of the best experiences I've had to date. Overall a great piercing day, and a great experience in which you gotta put a whole lot of trust into the person you just met 5 minutes before they jab you with needles. Barbella has quality staff, they provide top of the line quality jewelry, and a clean studio to ease any worries you might have. I can't find anything wrong with the shop, i mean..even hating needles.. i loved my piercing experience! When it came time to change it out, even though i opted for a nose bone instead of a smaller hoop, they showed me the best, a.k.a the least painful, way to remove the hoop and how to make sure i keep the bone lined up with the hole so i don't jab it into the cartilage in between (^_^) Yep, like i said..hands down favorite piercing shop in the OC. Got an itch to pierce yourself? GOOOO HERE! You'll be happy, and in love, with your new addition (^_^) read more

This place is absolutely high quality. All staff, both piercers and counter, are knowledgeable about piercing care and concerns and are kind and helpful. The jewelry is high quality, everything is sanitary, and they make sure you have the supplies and knowledge you need to take care od your new piercing before you leave. Barbella is also LGBTQ+ friendly. The forms piercees fill out have space for preferred names and pronouns, which the staff then honor with no questions asked or sideways glances. Plus, they incentivize coming back for a free checkup on new piercings by giving a discount on jewelry. I will never get pierced anywhere else after the positive experiences I've had here! read more

A friend recommended I come to Barbella for a nostril piercing, and I couldn't be happier about her recommendation. So far I've gotten 3 piercings here and actually had a different piercer each time. Every single piercer has been so kind, understanding, and respectful. The front desk staff is fantastic as well, and very patient and informative. The studio is also very clean, and they take Covid safety seriously, which I am very grateful for. If you've been hesitant to get a new piercing, I definitely recommend Barbella! They also have very high quality and safe jewelry, do a 1-month post-piercing checkup to make sure it is healing properly as well. I'll never go to another studio! read more

They gave me the wrong size belly button ring I spent over $100 on and when I asked to have it resized they were super rude about it and said that they don't take back jewelry and told me that they told me they don't take back jewelry when I left and no one told me that. Very Disappointed and I got hung up on read more

My friend and I went when they had a promotion and there was a very long wait list. They are very clean even my germaphobe roommate said she was impressed with how clean they were. They are also very friendly and try to make small talk to let you forget you're about to get a piercing. They are very good with their aftercare procedure and they give you free sea salt that you can come by and get again for free if you run out. My friend and I got cartilage piercings and it happened to us that we cleaned it really good for a while and when we stopped cleaning it as much it got very minimally infected so we had to keep cleaning it extra good. Overall though it's a very good place to go! I was impressed And if you're wondering they do pierce with needle never gun! read more

I've waited so long to write this! I had gauges when I was 17 and my earlobe ripped so I waited 7 years till I finally got my ear stitched and was able to Pierce it again! I came in here a few months ago and the guy who helped me told me to wait and that it was too soon, which I appreciated because my dr who stitched it told me to just wait 6 weeks but the guy here explained to me more of why I should wait so I knew I could trust them here that they knew what they were doing! So I came back today and the girl at the front who checked me in was very friendly and helpful, as well as Derek the guy who pierced my ear! He was great and took his time to make sure it matched my other ear that is still pierced. Excellent customer service and very clean and welcoming shop. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone! Thank you Derek! read more

Omg best piercing shop ever! I've gotten a bunch of ear piercings here and they always do a great job. I've gotten pierced by Derek and Stephan and both make the experience as painless as can be. Cat is always is super helpful. They have an awesome jewelry selection. If you want to get pierced, don't go to Claire's. GO TO BARBELLA. read more

I would highly recommend this institution for piercing, the employees were very knowledgeable and understanding of my nervousness. I felt very welcomed and not pressured. Prior to the service, I had to sign forms, choose my jewelry and was given the price (I didn't have to pay until after). I had my ears pierced as a baby and do not remember the event so it felt like my first time now. I told my piercer, Stephen, and he reassured me. He explained each step to me so I was informed and knew what was going on. When it was time, he had me take a deep breath in and as I exhaled he pierced me. I did tear up and Stephen checked in before proceeding. After completing the service, I was asked how it went, paid and was given a pack of salt with care instructions. Thank you for making my first experience memorable! read more

10 piercings in(as of yesterday) and I'm only sticking with Barbella. Derek installed in my ear yesterday a beautiful "14kt wht gold WU TANG CLAN Bvla piece" and I couldn't be happier with how it came out. I have been waiting to put this in since I got my first piercing (12g septum) back in April by him and I only trust his skills, he's very informative about placement and kept me calm the whole way through with a awesome music playlist and great conversation . The front counter staff; Madison and Kat consistently give me the knowledge I need on how to keep my new piercing Happy and Healthy(I got free salt for soaks) and they can help you pick out the best shiny jewelry for your body...Definitely recommend Barbella to all my friends and Fam...ps they have free DumDum lollipops read more

Barbella Studios - Piercing Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Derek is always welcome and easy to talk to. Makes the entire experience very comfortable. Highly recommend!

Barbella was amazing. I had an excellent experience getting my second earlobe piercings done. They healed quickly and painlessly, but then a few months later I accidentally got my earring caught on my mask and developed an infection. They were so kind and helped me out with it, putting in a longer post for my swollen earlobe to heal (which also saved my piercing) and cleaning up the site. Please go in for a check up if you ever have an issue with your piercing, it's super easy to make an appointment and they are very helpful. read more

Barbella studios staff went above and beyond for my daughter (6year old). She has wanted to have her ears pierced for 2 years, and has waited until we could get to CA (from CO) twice. Right before her appointment she started to get really nervous, Stephen was over the top kind, patient and honest with her, he took his time to make sure his markings were just right and even threw in a Stitch impression to get my daughter laughing. Well it worked, and she didn't end up a Pirate . I appreciated the professionalism of the staff, and especially the cleanliness of the studio! I would highly recommend them read more

Barbella Studios - High 5s after a job well done - Piercing Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I've gotten several piercings and jewelry changes here. Everyone that works here is really nice and welcoming. They are all very skilled and informative as well. The quality of the jewelry is very high. They have some beautiful and unique pieces. I would highly recommend going there for any body piercing needs you might have. Derek has done most of my piercings. He is so sweet and is really patient. Love this place read more

My daughter wanted to get her ears pierced, and I was firm on finding a good piercing shop with hospital grade jewelry and well-trained piercers. Dylan at Barbella was AWESOME! He made my little one feel very comfortable. The shop has a very calm vibe and is clean, well kept and decorated. My favorite part was that AFTER the piercing, Dylan and the shop manager showed Teagan how to take care of and clean her piercings on her own. They made her understand that it was HER responsibility to take care of her ears. As a mom, I loved that! Very happy I chose the right place for my daughter to have this awesome experience and face her fears. Highly recommend Barbella for kids wanting to get their ears pierced. Definitely more expensive than a Claire's, but SOOOOO worth it on many levels! read more

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Love them!! Very clean and everyone is so nice! I just went in for second lobe piercings but definitely have some other ideas and will definitely be going back to Barbella! read more

Honestly trying other places this place will always give hands down the best quality. From jewelry and to even friendly customer service. No matter how dumb the question they always are helpful and willing to answer. Everyone here does a phenomenal job and giving good piercing and after care advice. Got pretty much all my piercings here read more

I had a wonderful experience here yesterday. The shop is very clean and the staff is super helpful and kind. I was in and out very quickly. I love that they are extremely inclusive and make the shop a safe space for all. They are taking covid precautions very seriously which I appreciate. One person in at a time, they ask you to use hand sanitizer upon entering, and if you don't have a high quality mask they will provide one. Pricing was extremely fair and they had a great range of jewelry to choose from. I'll definitely be back if I ever need another piercing. read more