TRUE EXPRESSION - Fine Piercing Studio — Local services in New York

I've been frequenting True Expression for about a year now, and I feel that I have had enough experiences with this studio and staff to write a comprehensive review. I have exclusively seen Sebastian for any services I have gotten done. My first visit, around November 2022, was a check-up for existing piercings I had done elsewhere. Sebastian was very knowledgable and informative, and advised we take pictures now and review progress in 6 weeks, as he didn't want to sell me jewelry for piercings he wasn't sure would fully heal. One was worse off and showed no improvement so it was removed, while the other showed a slight change for the better, and only then was new jewelry installed (~$40 plain titanium barbell). This interaction made me feel at ease since the beginning, since I am a grad student and would like to save money wherever possible. Around that time, I also had a jewelry change for a nostril piercing done elsewhere. The front of house staff helped me pick out a beautiful yellow gold Swarovski crystal piece which was about $90. The install was quick and effortless thanks to Sebastian. My first piercings at this studio were done shortly after, in February 2023 (about 8 months ago now). I chose to get a double conch piercing with some lavender opals by Neometal. All in, it was about $200. He continued to see me for checkups every 6 weeks and would help me with any concerns, issues, or irritation bumps. Around this time, I also got my second lobe (the one I mentioned previously that had to be removed) repierced with a Neometal piece that was about $40. I expressed interest in stretching my first nostril piercing this summer, and Sebastian ordered titanium clickers in the size I needed that they happened to be out of. Two visits later, they had arrived! That same visit (three days ago from writing this) I also wanted to add a third nostril piercing above my current two. I picked a beautiful opal piece that also went for about $40, along with the clicker ring which was $30. The process was flawless as usual and I felt very comfortable. The same night, I was looking at the new piercing and decided I wasn't fully satisfied with it; it didn't lay completely flat against my nose and stuck out when looking at me head-on. I DM'd their Instagram account for advice and Sebastian was able to see me today to assess it. It was determined that a repierce was necessary to get the look I was wanting, so Sebastian removed the jewelry and held onto it to reprocess it (a very labor intensive and time consuming process). He was very reassuring that it was fine to not be satisfied with the outcome, and their job was to ensure that I left with a piercing that I was happy with. I felt comforted hearing this since it was clear how much care they had for their clients.

I cannot sing the praises of this studio enough. The atmosphere is very pleasant, the staff are great, and the jewelry selection will have something that interests everyone (and if not, they can help you order something that will!). I appreciate the commitment to a safe, quality piercing experience and the staff's dedication to improving and keeping up on new piercing information by attending the yearly APP conference and classes. Sebastian himself is very welcoming, comforting, and friendly. I enjoy talking to him just as much as I enjoy the piercings I get. He gives great piercing and styling advice and I trust his opinions. Queens is very lucky to have such a great studio!

My advice to new clients: don't forget your ID, don't be afraid to speak up to ensure you get exactly what you want, budget for the piercing fee stated on the website + $40 minimum jewelry fee (+ tip if you had a good experience), be patient when waiting for ordered jewelry to arrive, bring a max of one person along with you, take pictures of new piercings to keep track of them, and be early, if not on time! It's right by QCM so parking and traffic is...

I have rarely (if ever? maybe only once before) written a review. But this place DESERVES IT! I'm very new to piercings (only ever had my lobes pierced...in June of this year at another "highly reputable" ie super trendy shop in NYC, and unfortunately, they were pierced crooked), but decided on a whim that I wanted my nipple pierced. Though it was a quick decision, I did not take it lightly. I spent a few hours on the internet scouring for advice for best piercers in NYC, and stumbled across True Expression. They are one of few places in the NYC area who are APP certified, and all the reviews I found in all the various places I looked were glowing. So a few hours later, nervous as can be, I entered their beautiful studio.

From the first 5 seconds of talking to Katherine, who was running frontline at the shop, I knew I was at the right place. She was SO welcoming and kind, and gave me the energy I needed to feel encouraged and empowered (not pushy in the least, to be clear). She then introduced me to my piercer, Sebastian, and the good times just kept rolling! I explained my nipple nerves, said I was also interested in a three more (total) lobe piercings, maybe even too nervous to do my nipple, and he talked me through all the options. He actually told me that getting three plus the nipple would be too many for my body for healing afterward, which I really appreciated. He then told me that he could ready everything, but that there would be no pressure to actually go through with any of them. If I got one (or NONE) and then felt done, that would be perfectly okay! What a lovely way to run a business!! I really felt that he prioritized my comfort.

In the end, I did go through with all three (which was the goal, and I couldn't be happier) and only because of Sebastian's continued warmth, knowledge, and clarity. He knew EVERYTHING. He diagnosed my previous crooked piercings, showed me the exact process for measuring everything correctly, talked me through the impeccable sterilization process, and explained everything he marked on my body, in addition to giving me stellar recommendations for piercers in the Bay Area where I spend a ton of my time in case I happened to be located there when it was time to downsize/check up on the piercings. I knew that if at any second I changed my mind, he wouldn't have blinked twice.

But, I'm so glad I didn't! The actual nipple piercing itself wasn't painless, but it was not terrible, and was likely a lot less painful than it could have been if I'd gone elsewhere. Plus it was over in a second! I went to sleep a few hours later with ZERO pain, and woke up with ZERO pain with a beautiful new decoration to boot. My ear piercings were pretty much devoid of any discomfort at all. His work is a million times better than my first piercings, and I would return to him in a second for any future piercings despite the hour commute to Queens.

In conclusion, GO HERE. THEY KNOW WHAT THE F THEY'RE DOING. THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR CLIENTS AND WANT YOUR BODY TO HEAL. PLUS THEY'RE REALLY AWESOME HUMANS.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for a wonderful...

OK so, I had such a great experience at True Expression getting my helixes (helices??) pierced, my first attempt at this review was practically a gotdamb novella. So I’mma cut right to the tl;dr, otherwise I’ll never actually post this review because I’ll keep thinking of things I loved about this studio and the people there.

True Expression is the only professional piercing studio in Queens; both piercers (Paul, who’s also the owner, and Sebastian) are members of the Association of Professional Piercers, and it shows.

The professionalism and adherence to safety and hygiene protocols is on point; the energy is calm, chill, inclusive, and just correct in general.

The place was immaculate; clean, free of clutter, organized both on the floor/in the front and in the piercing room. It’s also just cool and aesthetically pleasing.

Kathy (whose name I originally spelled wrong but I fixed it!) greeted me as soon as I walked into the shop. She was friendly, welcoming, and super knowledgeable about both the procedure and the selection of body jewelry they had available.

Kathy showed me a number of great options for body jewelry based on what I described I wanted; there was no pressure or upselling and she was patient and attentive (but never overbearing) the whole time.

Sebastian was not only fastidious about hygiene procedures and protocols, he narrated them for me as he did them.

Sebastian also narrated every step of the piercing process as we went. He was professional, confident, kind, and communicative about what he was going to do, whether talking to me about placement based on my specific anatomy to ensure I would be happy with the result or letting me know when he was about to touch my ears.

Both Sebastian and Kathy put me at my ease immediately with a combination of knowing and clearly explaining all the aspects of the process, asking questions to ensure I’d be happy with my piercings and the procedure and listening to my answers, and being cool af.

Everything about the experience made me feel like I was in excellent hands, and also empowered; I was given all the information I needed to choose placement, jewelry, and piercings that suited my body and fit exactly what I wanted.

Great work, safe, professional practice, and dope people. Highly recommend. Would (will) (get)...