I wanted to get a conch piercing for my birthday but didn't want to break the bank and as I was researching affordable piercing studios I came across the review for Fakir Piercing. I reached out to them and Eve responded saying they have a workshop that weekend (woohoo!) so that worked out quite well for me. As a volunteer offering to get pierced you don't need to pay for the service and are only charged for the jewelry at cost price ($10). They use implant grade SS or titanium jewelry from reputed brands like Neometal. The session takes longer than a trip to a piercing studio as the instructor and trainee are talking through the process of the piercing and setting up piercing equipment. As someone who has a lot of piercings already, I loved the environment and learned a lot from them and other trainees. My trainee piercer, Naomi and the instructor (didn't get her name sadly) were super friendly and warm, walked me through the steps, gave me a heads up as they pierced me and thoroughly explained the aftercare. I felt very safe as this is a very reputed foundation in the body modification space and has well-qualified and certified instructors working with the trainees on every step to ensure hygiene and safety! Loved this experience and wish I had discovered Fakir Piercing sooner. Tips to be a volunteer: Email the team at fakir@fakir.org and ask to be put on the mailing list for volunteers as they have about 6 workshops per year. You will need to submit proof of vaccination and ID prior to coming in. read more

Came here to volunteer to be pierced at their Basic Piercing Workshop, and I left very happy with a great new forward helix piercing :) I actually was the very first person that my piercer has ever done, so she was super super nervous; good thing I've been pierced so many times and didn't feel nervous. During the whole process, the instrument watched very closely to each step and they really made sure everything is ultra clean. They gave me a steralized/autoclaved hair clip, wiped my ear with alcohol a few times followed by iodine, and cut out a gauze pad to put around my ear. Very few of my piercers did that much for me. On to the actual piercing. Like I said, my student piercer has never actually pierced anyone for real before. From what it felt like and what they were saying, I think she started poking me at one part, and decided to move a little bit to the side, so she made me bleed there. And once she figured out where to actually pierce, she did it really slow so I, for the first time, heard the sounds of cartilage being pierced through. It was not pleasant. It sounded like someone slowly stabbing a knife through thick cardboard. It was crazy haha, and painful of course, especially as she was putting the bead in the captive bead ring. That helix piercing ended up the most painful piercing I've ever gotten and its only the helix, but its her first time and I really think she did great! read more

I had a wonderful experience here. I did leave a couple voice messages and sent one email before hearing back from them to schedule and appointment for their next workshop. Eve quickly confirmed my appointment and also was very responsive to other post piercing emails that I sent. I received 3 piercings by Rob (?). I'm sorry I can't remember his name but he was gentle and knew exactly how to handle me. I am a kicker and curser when I am in pain and he was able to work around that. There was even a girl there massaging me. Rob (?) did an excellent job on my spider butts and I also received a bar in the back of my neck. I posted a pic that included a before and after pic. I LOVE my piercings!!! Great deal for $30! I also had some infection issues because I didn't listen follow the aftercare instructions that were quickly resolved after Eve advised me to do a salt water soak. Great job!!! I've been trying to think of other things I can get pierced so that I can go back. read more

Fakir Piercing - Before and After - I'm loving my spider butts! - Piercing Near Me

I completed basic and advanced over 10 years ago and have not worked in the industry for ages but it was a transformative experience. I've carried the wisdom of Fakirs instructors into every position I've held. Eternally grateful for this school. read more

Bargain-hunters, take note: getting your piercing here is a *great deal* because you only have to pay for the jewelry, which they seem to sell you at cost. If you're a shy person, this could be a traumatizing experience, as you will be surrounded by a group of people staring intently at you/your body/the piercing process. (On the other hand, if you're an exhibitionist, this might be heaven!) Once you get a piercing here, they will regularly send you postcards or emails telling you about upcoming workshops where you can get pierced for cheap. Getting pierced here over time is a great way to fly your freak flag ever higher on the great flagpole of life. read more

I found this service through a friend and they are great! The Fakir Piercing school provides a great program where the students who are about to graduate perform nearly any kind of piercing you want for the price of the jewelery required (usually about $10-20). These students are supervised by experienced instructor's and are very good at what they do. I've been here twice and both times I left satisfied (though a little sore) with piercings that heal great and I have never had a problem with infection or keloids. The set up may be a little daunting with 3 tables set up in an open air room, but the students always make you feel comfortable, I highly recommend! read more

Adding some more useful details: SCHEDULING: It looks like they do their piercing workshops every other month. They send out emails 2 weeks before each workshop. Your best bet to getting scheduled for a piercing is to subscribe to these emails. Sometimes the workshops are basic, meaning more complex piercings can't be done (my triple forward helix request was a no-go, but they happily did two normal helix piercings and one simple lobe instead). Sometimes the workshops are for their advanced classes, meaning the more basic piercings probably won't fit on their schedule (was politely told they didn't have room for lobe piercings or basic helix piercings). LOCATION: It's still at 1216 Folsom, and you have to ring the buzzer/doorbell to get in. PIERCING: Added 2 normal helixes and a lobe piercing to my left ear. A little bit more pain involved than my first piercing, probably due to my piercer's slight nervousness, but that's something that comes with volunteering for a piercing class! The piercings turned out perfect. Zero issues with them so far. Still love this place and the really nice people who run it. read more

Over the past 5 years, I've gotten 8 piercings through Fakir's workshops. I've never had anything but an incredibly professional experience and complete satisfaction with my piercings. They are _very_ clean and health conscious. The instructors are right there next to each piercer, guiding and helping at every step. I've always felt confident that I was going to be well taken care of. They also make sure to provide step-by-step communication about what they're doing when with you and always provide aftercare instructions before you leave. As if this experience couldn't get any better, all you have to pay for is $10 per piece of jewelery! No piercing fees and jewelery is at cost! I love all the instructors and Fakir is also just a really awesome guy. I'm happy to support his work and the work of the many people he has taught and continues to provide his wisdom and experience to. read more

I found Fakir Piercing on Yelp, and for 10 bucks I knew I'd have to try it. Every so often I'd check their site for volunteers, and the minute they needed volunteers, I called to make an appointment. I arrived for my appointment at 2:30, and this place was swamped. But for a 10 dollar piercing event, I wasn't surprised. I didn't actually get taken until 4:30, it seemed like it might be a regular thing to run late. I didn't mind because I had nothing else planned that day, but it's something to make note of. In the future, I would try to book the first appointment if I'm able. When I was finally taken back, Jared, another student who was female, and the trainer all watched and paid careful attention. I was nervous that these were students, but the trainer made sure to evaluate everything he did. One thing that I love, is that all these people are totally into piercings, and because they're new and being watched you can be sure everything is clean. Jared changed his gloves three times while prepping me. Like a flash, it was in and done with. It went it straight, smooth, without a hitch. I'm sure I'll be back. read more

So far I have nothing nice to say about this group. All I wanted was a couple of piercings at their workshop today and it just ended up getting pissed. After weeks of trying to get an appointment they finally contact me, less than a week before the event. Then they don't confirm that I have the appointment until yesterday. So I didn't even know for sure it was happening until yesterday evening! When I attempt to locate them online I realize they haven't posted their physical address anywhere! And with no way to contact them directly I just ended up wandering around for half an hour with out ever finding them. Supposedly this would have been a good deal. I have yet to see how thats so. I would rather pay full price to a business that has anything resembling customer service, people who will actually TALK to me. Fakir Piercing can't even be bothered to answer a phone. After this is posted they will no longer be receiving my time, energy, and especially not my money. read more

I recently had two piercings done here in a single sitting that look amazing! You sign up to be a live subject for the students of Fakir's class to practice what they learned over the week. Some reference binders before the piercing to discuss the process, and review the procedures/diagrams. I had an instructor and two students working on me, and it took just over 2 hours. I loved it because I got to learn about other techniques, reasons for the piercing, common problems, various mental checklists the piercer needs to run through with the piercing, and other fun tid-bits of info. It is also neat to watch the students performing on other people while you are being worked on. Most piercings you could want are done in Fakir's beginning class, that includes some genital. Photo taking occurs throughout the time you are there, so be ready for it. If you hate needles/watching procedures, or easily loose your courage may not be the best place for you. Also, when you call to schedule an appointment you will have to leave a message with your name and number. It will take several weeks for them to get back to you, sometimes the day before or day of. The address of the piercing location was another thing I had to ask for... Communication would be why I took a star off. Overall, it was a great experience. $20 for a procedure that would normally be $100+ read more

I've gotten a lot of piercings done here: both nipples clitoral hood septum (twice) nostril It might seem scary that it's students who are piercing you, but they're supervised by super pro body piercers. It's cool because the supervisors walk them through it, and you can learn a little about the piercing process. Everybody is supportive, helpful and really nice. You only have to pay for the price of the jewelry. read more

The very best piercers patient and very skilled . However the location of the Piercing School is SOMA San Francisco NOT in Menlo Park. Adress given to those who volunteer to get pierced by students supervised by Fakir or very qualified instructors who are Pro piercers. read more

I just got pierced for the first time yesterday, and I have to say it was a very great experience! The place was a little difficult to find-- It was on a main street, but the little plaque with the address, kinda blended in with the door. Anyways, all of the staff (and the customers) were amazing people, and the experience was overall positive. I got two snakebite piercings, which were done by two different student piercers, with a couple of professionals hovering around the entire time. Very comfortable and clean, and especially cheap! 20 bucks for piercing and the jewelry to go with it. If I get any more piercings, I'll most likely be going to Fakir's. :D read more

Fakir Body Piercing and Branding Intensives - Is a wonderful place I been wanting to get Snake bites for a while now but ever where I go they got $80.00 and up and it might just be me but I think that just crazy. So $20.00 for it sounds so much better to me. The instructor Tod Almighty was amazing I was not only getting pierce but it felt like I was being teach at the same time. I never knew so much went into piercing before then made me want to sign up for a class. The girl that was doing the piercing was really cool too I forget her name but she was wonderful funny sweet and knew how to put me at ease. So if you hurting for money and want to get something done I say go here. read more

so despite my poor self-esteem & body image i drove from sac to sf early sunday morning on 5/23 to be pierced by students at fakir and kick it shirtless for an hour an half in front of a room full of people to get both of my nipples pierced. i have to say, it was probably one of my better piercing experiences because the vibe in there is seriously super chill. there were 3 students on my piercing team who traveled from massachusetts, washington state, and nevada to be taught by fakir and his former students, some who now own their own piercing shops all over the us. i had absolutely no clue how renowned he was. anyway, anyone considering coming here need not worry about being maimed or anything cuz the students are supervised step by step so you don't need to worry about any major fuck ups. the students made sure i established a steady deep breathing pattern to relax and alleviate the pain when they pierced me. i got props for not flinching, squirming, making any noise, and having a high pain threshold! i was told to come back anytime because i was an ideal piercing subject! yeayyyyr! the one thing i have to warn folks about is that there was a student walking around randomly shooting pics of me and other subjects during various parts of the process (i.e. hellllo boobies!) and i really don't remember signing any sort of photo release (or seeing any clause in the fine print re: photos- i could be mistaken though). not that i care if the pics end up on the website or anything, but that is something they should think about including somewhere should someone make it an issue for them in the future. i paid just $20 for nipple piercings ($10 for each barbell). the cheapest place in the bay and sac i found for getting both nipples pierced is at zebra, which was $75 for barbells without tip. if i was pierced in sac i would pay at least $110. i ended up tipping the students on my team $20. so i paid $40, which is still significantly less than zebra. so yeah, just go! you seriously won't regret it, and if you are self-conscious, just take the first slot available like i did (10am) to minimize the amount of folks seeing you topless (or bottomless if you are getting pierced further south). you'll be well taken care of here, and would mos def return again. read more