Got two helix piercings on the same ear done by Chuck here at Sanctum. I originally called on a Sunday to see if I could walk in, but just like the website says, they are busiest on weekends so appointments are recommended if you want to go in on a Saturday or Sunday. I made an appointment for Wednesday instead since that was the next time I was free. The guy who greeted me was very friendly. I let him know that I was interested in two helix piercings and he showed me the studs/rings that people typically get. I knew that I wanted rings (though beware: getting piercing with rings might make the healing process more annoying because the piercing can be irritated more easily) so I picked the surgical steel rings. (I don't remember if they were implant grade now though. I didn't react to the material anyway. For people looking to get pierced, you should double check that.) Chuck was both professional and very helpful. When he was marking the placement on my ears, he gave me a few choices and even suggested one combo over another. I was thankful for it because I have super tiny ears and I didn't want it to look too crowded. Nearly 5 months later, my piercings are perfectly fine. There was some irritation along the way (totally my fault, I'm fidgety...) and a little bump formed but I continued to do the suggested sea salt soaks and my piercings have healed beautifully. As for jewelry selections, I didn't take much time to browse, but it seemed like they had a good variety to choose from. Especially a great place for Rutgers students to get pierced since it's a brief walk from CAC to Easton Ave. I have a friend who's gone here twice -- once for a nose piercing and another for her own helix. Definitely recommend this place! read more

Ball was not screwed in correctly by Chuck, now I can't unscrew it to fix it. As I was leaving after getting my jewelry changed it started bleeding a lot. I was not told it was bleeding or that it was irritated. Next thing I know there's blood dripping down my face in the car and I have to pull over. HORRIBLE COMMUNICATION. Paying upwards of $100 for a service and jewelry and you would think they could at least screw the ball in correctly or voice that I was bleeding. WTF?! read more

Sanctum Body Piercing - Ball not screwed in correctly (I just soaked it that's why it's wet) - Piercing Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

poor service from Chuck. very unprofessional. friend's ear was bleeding. he made unnecessary comments during the process

Giving 3 stars because I now only have one nip ring. I got my nose pierced here like 5 years ago and it was great, healed fine and I liked the jewelry. On a separate occasion I Got both nips pierced like 4 years ago, one was fine and healed properly and the other one I struggled with , it actually was pierced at a different depth than the other so it looked different/ crooked and I'm convinced it never truly healed. The last straw with it was after years of a constant crust on the jewelry it finally got infected and was hurting really bad for months, so I took it out. I just think it wasn't pierced right which is unfortunate. But I still have the other one so 3 stars. The lady who did them was cool and it was clean in there. read more

Kate is amazing! I highly recommend this shop!!! Kate has done a number of piercings for me over the past eight years. Most recently i had my rook pierced. The shop was busy and kate happened to be working solo for the day. Everything was handled so professionally and safely even though they were busy. I will continue to go here for all piercings and recommend this place to all my friends!! Patiences, kindness, cleanliness, and sincerity is what i got here !! Make an appointment. read more

Looks amazing inside but it's appointment only & it's not stated on their page so it was a waste of my time.

Beyond pleased with how this whole experience played out. I made an appt a day in advance and got Chuck to do my nipple piercings. He is so great at what he does. Super calm guy and makes the whole experience relaxed. Amazingly friendly woman who greeted and took appointments/explained aftercare and did payments. I have heard nothing but good reviews of Sanctum from friends and family and was able to experience them myself.. very very pleased. I don't think they're overpriced either like some reviews had said... you're getting high quality jewelry from a highly experienced and certified piercer. Go here! You won't regret it. (Literally making this review one hour after getting pierced lol) highly recommend. I forgot to mention, they are insanely professional and clean!!!! They take piercing very very seriously. read more

I still love love LOVE Sanctum. Every time I go I have a great experience, Katie makes you feel so comfortable and every single piercing i've gotten here has healed without a single issue. I'd 100% always trust Katie for my piercings. read more

Sanctum Body Piercing - fresh rook and conch, plus an old helix that Katie used a taper to stretch back open - Piercing Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

Went today with my daughter to get a few ear piercings that she's wanted for a while. She did 2 lobes and a helix. Entire staff was so nice, patient and totally professional. Tori was her piercer and was fantastic. She spoke directly to my daughter, explained everything to her before she even touched her. She explained the entire healing process and how to clean and take care of the piercings. Was a great experience. A few reviews on here have complained about the pricing but honestly I think when it comes to tattoos and piercings you get what you pay for. Will definitely come back. You wanna cheap ear piercing? go to Claire's! It did take us a good 20 minutes to find parking so make sure you leave plenty of time before your appointment to find a place to park and be ready to walk. When I called to make the appointment the girl even told me make sure you leave plenty of time to find parking. Great place, great staff and I have a happy kid. read more

I brought my daughter here for her first body piercing. I wanted to take her somewhere that is professional, clean and has the best reputation . The team here is Amazing . Tori pierced my daughter and she was so nice, thorough, took her time and explained everything she was doing . They also have a great selection of jewelry! If you're looking for a great piercing experience, look no further!! read more

Like everybody else, this place is great! And very clean. Katie pierced my nose and my daugter's nose. When she says blow out, blow out hard and you won't feel a thing - at least I didn't. Katie was awesome. She has the demeanor of your favorite, sweetest, teacher. My eyes didn't water either, which I'm told is unusual. I bought their sterile saline spray, followed all their directions and I haven't had a problem at all. I love my piercing! read more

Sanctum Body Piercing - Piercing Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

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If I can give zero stars I would. The piercing it self was professional but they are so cocky they thinks they are actual doctors or something. Paid a deposit and was told I would lose it if I'm 10 min late. Then later they barely gave me any instructions how to maintain it and they were rude the whole time. I'm paying you so respect that I chose to come here not treat me with an attitude. Disgusting customer service read more

Worst body piercing place I've ever been to. Every single person in there is extremely disrespectful. I've never had such a horrible experience. There's way too many places out there, I'm sure you can do way better than go to this place. read more

Horrible. Got my nose pierced and the placement was not correct. Additionally myself and 3 other friends all have experienced infection from this place. All of us never had infection in our prior piercings, but "coincidentally" the ones that we got at Sanctum all were infected. We recently discovered this when chatting about piercing experiences. I had to remove my nose piercing and have it pierced on the other-side at my usual joint, Infinite Body in Philly. No infection from that one and it has healed perfectly. A friend of mine had to remove nipple piercings after dealing with months of infection. And two other friends are currently dealing with infection from their piercing done at Sanctum, and are making plans to remove them. TLDR; save yourself the time and money & go somewhere with properly trained individuals who actually practice sanitation methods. read more

I got my nose pierced here about 3 years ago. The typical time it takes for a nose piercing to heal is about a year. Till this day I have had to spray my nose piercing with saline solution because if I do not, the piercing gets inflammed and starts to look infected. I thought it was just me or maybe my body rejecting the piercing but I have heard from 2 other friends who also got pierced there are having the same issues with their piercings. This tells me that either sanctum doesn't sanitize their jewelry or there is something else at work here. I strongly advise NOT getting pierced here. read more

We had relatives here from Germany and our sweetheart Emilia had turned 13 on Sept 29th. She always wanted her ears pierced so my sisters and I decided to take her to Sanctum Body Piercing for her special birthday present (pierced ears) My niece Stephanie had recommended Sanctum VERY HIGHLY she said she goes there for her tattoos and piercings said how wonderful they were and how clean the place is and that they respect the COVID-19 rules. We went because of her recommendation Very nice, small place,street parking but I am so glad we decided to go even though it was 45 min drive. The two girls there were very professional -talk to Emi to make sure she was comfortable then Emilia and her mom followed Tori into the other room and when they returned ~~all smiles when they came out! As my sister and I were waiting the other girl told us they do not numb the ear first to my surprise ~~ we were wondering if Emi (Emilia) would change her mind and come out without having them done or with only one done.... ....We were so happy to see that beautiful smile and two morganite stud earrings sparkling in each ear Yes I would recommend them read more

I wanted a tragus piercing for 2 years. I decided that I would get it for my birthday last week. I had read a few reviews and decided on this place due to the positive feedback from most people. I made my appointment with Katie, because Yelp reviewers had the most positive things to say about her. I must say that my experience was much like many others. Chuck was very professional, but pretty stoic in demeanor. Mr. Personality, he is not. He did go over with me how I should care for my piercing after it was done, told me how long I could expect it to take to heal, and gave me written material to take home with me on how to care for it. Katie was as sweet as pie. She is a breath of sunshine for the place, and was also very professional. She not only explained what she would do before she did it, but she sensed my nervousness and tried to make small talk with my boyfriend and I (he came with me to hold my hand) to help me get my mind off of the piercing. Before leaving she thanked me and did a quick review of how to care for my piercing. I found the place to be very clean and neat. They used sterile products, and my experience was pleasant. I liked that they had certificates of inspection and of their training hanging up where all could see. I paid a total of $110 ($65 for the Swarovski crystal earring, $40 for the piercing, and $5 for the ear care solution). I also left a tip for Katie. Overall, I am VERY happy with my piercing and my experience. I certainly recommend the place. Definitely book with Katie. read more

Sanctum Body Piercing - The prep before the piercing. I am SO nervous here! Lol - Piercing Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

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I got my septum done here back in October, and I had such a great experience. The entire staff was so nice and answered any and all questions I had. It was easy to call and make an appointment, and they have SO MANY options for the jewelry they can put in for you. My septum and nose are a little crooked, so I was always nervous to get it pierced. But the girl who did my piercing took her time and made sure that it was perfectly straight for me. I wish I remembered her name, but I know she was there October 14th 2021. Definitely would recommend this place to everyone, and I'll definitely be back for all my future piercings. read more

Got my anti helix pierced here. $35 for piercing plus another $45 for the jewelry. After visiting other shops, this facility had a nice layout of their jewelry but your definitely paying more money. I think the quality of the jewelry was nice, just not sure if it is worth triple the price of what other businesses charge. I had my piercings changed as well by the owner. I could tell he was getting a little annoyed with all my questions and concerns. I don't think I will be returning again unfortunately. Facility is nice and clean and they can help you order jewelry from bvla which was one of the main reasons for me to come here. read more

found on yelp, called, and came in the same day. Went for a removal i believe if you do anything more you have to make an appt. the piercer was very helpful, sweet, and professional! parking was hard to find but otherwise everything was great! read more

Just went today for a nose piercing- though it is a bit pricey, you certainly pay for what you get. The place is clean, the staff is friendly, and I got exactly what I wanted. The piercer took his time cleaning and walked me through everything. Just hours after my appointment I feel no pain or discomfort. I recommend making an appointment, but they took me even when I was early. They give you $5 cleaning solution and free instructions on how to clean/care. They will also see you for free for a follow up appointment if you have any questions or if you want to adjust anything. Parking wasn't bad- there are at least 2 parking lots nearby and a 2-5 minute walk up Easton Ave from there. read more

Sanctum Body Piercing - Piercing Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

I have had 4 piercings done here since 2008. 2 rooks, belly button, and nose ring. Overall I have had a neutral experience. They are never particularly nice, but they are clean and I have not had an issue with a piercing I had gotten here until my nose. My nose piercing was painful and had an irritated bump for over 5 months. I went back on 2 occasions to see if there was something I could do differently or an issue with the piercing itself that was causing the irritation. The first time the jewelry was downsized which was painful and I left bleeding. After 2 months of continued irritation and swelling, I went back to see if the piercer could give me feedback. The second time I went, I was assured that the swelling would go down in a week if I continued the aftercare as I was directed to perform from the beginning. There was no change in the level of irritation or swelling. By chance, I went to a different piercer with a friend while she was getting pierced. The piercer looked at my nose piercing and said that likely the jewelry itself was causing the irritation. He changed the jewelry for me to a titanium nose screw from what Sanctum had told me was a titanium labret-style stud. Within one week of changing the jewelry from Sanctum the piercing was no longer painful or swollen. The bump that was previously present for months also went away within 1 week of changing the jewelry. read more

I've been assisted by all 3 employees over the years- Torie pierced my nostril, Kate did my conch, and Chuck has helped install several different pieces of jewelry for me. Yes, the jewelry selection is pricey, but you get what you pay for. They carry high quality jewelry from well known, reputable brands and are affiliated with the APP. Everyone has always been very polite to me, I really enjoy interacting with all of them when I visit. I'm going back soon for an ear curation by Kate and I can't wait! read more

After YEARS of wanting a nose ring and a belly button ring, I finally took the plunge! I called Sanctum up to confirm their policy on jewelry and they informed me that I would have to buy jewelry from them, so I decided to go on Sunday to check out the jewelry offerings. The guy at the counter was SUPER helpful!! He found time for me and my questions even though he had other customers with appointments. I made an appointment for the day after, since they were pretty booked up. When I went in the next day, my heart fell when I realized Chuck would be doing my piercings, instead of Katie! (I read the yelp reviews and one thing was clear - Chuck was to be avoided!) But apparently, I had nothing to worry about, as Chuck was amazing. His no nonsense, you've got this attitude actually kept me from freaking out too much. And even when I freaked out, he was great! I couldn't be happier that I chose Sanctum for my piercings! The cost of jewelry and piercing for belly button and nose, if done together, start at $80. I ended up spending $120 for it. read more

I've been here twice, and both times I was pierced by Chuck. He explained exactly what he's doing at every step. He is very professional. The first time I came here I wanted to get my industrial pierced but he explained to me that it probably won't look good on me because of how my ears are shaped and my glasses would be in the way. Therefore I got my septum pierced instead. I very much respect this because it shows that he cares about his clients and not just about the money. My septum piercing, along with the titanium jewelry I got costed about $70 in total. It was honestly painless although my eyes did teared up like crazy. I got it pierced about 2 years ago. It healed beautifully. The second piercing I got were just 2 weeks ago. I got both my nipples pierced. That costed me about $100 for the piercings plus the surgical steel barbells. It was pretty painful for a brief second when the needles went through but afterward it didn't hurt at all. It's still healing now but so far so good. I was offered an aftercare cleaning solution for $7 but I declined because I'm broke. Both times I was a walk-in but they were able to fit me in before their next piercing. I did not have to wait long at all. It's a very nice and clean place. I was given instructions on aftercare both verbally and on paper. People here are very friendly. I definitely trust Sanctum to get my piercings done, and I would go here again for any future piercings. I would also recommend my friends to go here for their piercing needs. read more

So, so glad I stumbled across Sanctum! I was going to go into Revolver Tatt which is literally right down the block (not that I'm throwing shade on Revolver, I probably will go there as well soon), but the lack of parking sent me in circles around Easton, and I eventually saw the big "Piercing and tattoo sale" on the front of the Sparks hair salon (the place that used to house Sanctum, now its it's own separate shop upstairs, housed with Anchor tattoo that also opened recently) and I couldn't pass that up. The space is small and clean looking, and there's a great selection of unique jewelry that you won't find at a Hot Topic. The sale is only for the grand opening (1/21-2/3) and it was a pretty sweet deal. Twenty bucks for the piercing (my tragus) itself, and jewelry is $15 and up. Not bad at all, considering most places minimum seems to be around $35. I was lucky enough to be pierced by the senior piercer, Chuck. He's got a few holes in his face as well, which I honestly like to see when picking a piercer. He was quite nice, making small talk, complementing my "beautiful" tragus, and best of all, super quick with the needle. I felt virtually no pain. The insertion of the jewelry probably bugged me more than the actual procedure. He has an extensive portfolio and performs many different types of piercing.(http://www.facebook.com/SanctumBodyArt?fref=ts) Of course, I picked out a Swarovski crystal stud that ran me forty dollars, but it is super sparkly and cute, what more could a girl ask for? I also bought a very interesting septum clicker for $70 but I think it's worth it to have a unique piece that no one else has. I'm very, very pleased with Chuck and my new body ornaments! Will definitely be back, if not for a new piercing, for some awesome jewelry! read more

I've been here multiple times and always had the best experiences. Katie is super friendly and professional, I cannot recommend her enough! They are also listed as APP members, so they can be trusted with the best jewelry and piercing techniques. They are my top choice for piercing artists in New Jersey! read more

Chuck, owner of Sanctum, is the person I've trusted for my piercing for years. There is no comparison to any other piercing salon. The folks at Sanctum are honest and will always let you know if a pierce is right for you. I've never gotten an infection from their work and even the pain has been minimal. The store is clean, bright and everyone there is friendly - no glowering posers here. I keep Sanctum business cards on hand to give to people who mention that they are interested in getting a pierce. There's no place better. read more

Got my nostril and my daughter's ear lobes pierced here and Katie did such a wonderful job. Highly recommend her services .

I had been considering getting my nipples pierced for a while now, but had put it off because I was afraid of the pain. Yesterday I bit the bullet and made and appointment with Katie based upon the positive reviews... and I am thrilled that I did. I went by myself, and I was very nervous but Katie has such a calming effect that it went by really fast and was overall a very pleasant experience. She listened to exactly what I wanted and was very accommodating. The studio was very clean and orderly. I also really like that the piercing and tattoos are on separate floors with distinct names. Some shops look as though the piercing aspect of the business is an afterthought. This was clearly not the case at Sanctum. (It also made it much easier to find reviews for just the piercing aspect and not have to wade through dozens of tattoo reviews!) These were my first piercings in over a decade, so I can't speak to price, but I thought it was extremely fair. I love my new piercings! If I get another piercing I will absolutely go back and I will be referring all my friends! read more

I recently had my rook pierced here. The shop isn't flashy, but it isn't sterile either--you get the feeling that Chuck and his staff are here for working, not playing. Katie was super bubbly when she greeted my wife and I; Chuck, although a man of few words, was friendly and attentive. As we discussed my piercing, Chuck looked closely at the ear I pointed to, noticing a (apparently rare) vein right through the area, and wouldn't touch it out of professional concern. Luckily, I have 2 ears and only that one vein, so pierced I became! The aftercare was thoroughly explained, with the reminder to call them anytime if I had concerns. Great experience! read more

I've been looking for a reputable tattoo shop to do my "Sheba" piercing, after months of searching I finally stumbled upon reviews for Sactum. Chuck did my piercing, he explained everything to me, went over all the details and explained each step as he prepared to do the piercing. The place was clean, easy to find, and prices are remarkable. Would definitely recommend to anybody getting a piercing! I traveled 45 minutes out the way just to have it done there. read more

The walk up is a little bit eerie, but otherwise this place is amazing! I got a double helix piercing-- my first cartilage-- and Katie made it a totally stress free experience. She was constantly checking in making sure I was okay and was super considerate of my needs. I scheduled an appointment about a week in advance and all told I was in and out in about 30 minutes. I'll definitely be going back when I'm ready to get an Industrial. read more

I've always had a great experience here. Chuck is amazing at his job and they always make sure you're comfortable. The jewelry and price of piercings are affordable. Not only that, but they have several options of types of metal to choose from in case you are allergic to one kind. I highly recommend going here for your next / first piercing read more

Don't get pierced here. I got a nostril piercing, 3 months later it still wasn't healing well. Could not get the stud out. Went to a different place & they told me the earring wasn't meant for a nose & they had no idea how I was pierced with such a thing. Also Sanctum told me it was a titanium earring, the new place I went to showed me how the earring was turning black (& staining my skin), and titanium doesn't do that. ALSO was told the saline aftercare spray they push you to buy is actually bad for healing and clogs your pores. The new place advised me to stick to sea salt washes only. Avoid this place !!! read more

Came here twice for a nose piercing and I was extremely satisfied each time. Chuck did my piercing and not only is he patient and helpful, but also very quick and clean. All the staff knows what they're talking about, I would definitely recommend this shop- especially if you don't have much experience with piercings. read more

I came here a few days ago to get my industrial piercing done, and it was a very good experience! If I get any piercings in the future, I'll definitely come back here. I was kind of skeptical, since they aren't part of the Association of Professional Piercers (APP), but they do a great job, and are very professional. My overall experience here was very pleasant! I was really nervous, since this is my first piercing aside from my earlobes. The place was nice and clean, with lots of cool art on the walls that you can look at. When I walked in, I was greeted by Katie, who was very sweet and made my feel comfortable and welcome. She asked me what I was getting, and then got me the paperwork and let me pick out my jewelry, and then went over the aftercare process very thoroughly. Once all that was done, I went to a little side room room, where Chuck did my piercing. Although Chuck didn't talk much, he was very reassuring, and made sure that I was fine with the placement of the piercing. He really seemed to know what he was doing! Once my ear was cleaned, he did the piercing. He told me when to breathe in and breathe out, which really helped with the pain. I have a very low pain tolerance, but Chuck was patient and let me rest for a minute before inserting the jewelry and finishing up. The piercing itself was $40, and then the jewelry I picked out, a silver titanium bar, was $25, making the total $75, which I think is a decent price for an industrial piercing. This was definitely a great experience, and if you want to get a piercing, definitely go here! read more

I had the awesome pleasure of working with Katie on 4/18/15! I am a needle phob and this is my 4th time having to get my belly re-pierced; two times it fell out (I heal quickly) and the last time I had surgery which required me to take it out. So anywho - I told her this was my 4th time and why and she said to allow her to look at it to asses if it really needed another piercing or was possibly still open and just needed some probing. Thankfully all I needed was some reopening!!!! She saved me from a needless repiercing and for that I will always be forever grateful :) She was super calm and soothing as she reopened my hole - we did some laughing and chatting. After it was all said and done, I HAD TO give her a hug. I was just so impressed with her knowledge and her temperament! About the place - I was seen quickly, I did call for an appointment first and arrived on time. It is small but super clean and had a nice vibe to it. I paid $50 for my jewelry and I felt that was reasonably priced. Highly recommend, especially if you are a needle-phob like me :) read more

I had a good experience with this place. I went before Covid-19, but even then, everyone was nice and they kept everything clean. The woman who gave me my nose piercing was named KatieI think. Personally, I think some of the prices were a bit high but it was worth it because it is good quality. The main problem I had at this location was looking for a parking spot. read more

I have been to sanctum a few times for my friends piercings and have been putting off getting my nipples pierced. I ended up going in with a friend and although they were completely booked they found time to fit two customers. I believe chuck did mine and my friends piercing. He is a little antisocial but if you find the right humor to work with he isn't all that intimidating. He performed so well that i barely notice I got them done. The jewelry is a little over priced in my opinion but the price for the piercings where unbeatable. Usually you get each done for $50+ but I paid a total of $111. Overall I enjoyed the visit and I'm happy with the results. read more