 Annika Carlson shows her two chest surface piercings, above, and her new finger surface piercing, below, Wednesday at tattoo and piercing parlor Untamed Art.Steven Devine/Argonaut
The microdermal piercing fad sweeping the country may look familiar,
but it’s a little more complicated than the peel-and-stick earrings
some have as children.
Using a small plate placed under the skin, microdermal piercings appear
to rest on the surface and are permanently embedded in the person’s
skin. They have become quite popular in the last few years as people
are catching on and more piercers are learning the craft.
Jon ‘Stitch’ Slichter, head piercer at Untamed Art Tattoo Studio in Moscow, has been perfecting his skill for nearly eight years and is a rare commodity in the area.
“I am the only one that does it outside of Spokane and outside of Boise,” Slichter said, “I am the only person that does these or surface piercings.”
Although it may sound painful, people are jumping on board in Idaho to try out the new trend.
“I had a friend who had gotten it and I liked it. I though it looked cute on her and I just wanted a new piercing, so I thought I’d try it out,” said freshman, Kassidi Braase, “It didn’t hurt that bad, it just like felt like a sting.”
Other people are looking for something unique and simple.
“I went to a piercing studio with friends who were getting piercings and I didn’t want one that a lot of people have,” said junior, Carrie Van Bakel. “The piercer had it done and I decided OK, I want that. My hair doesn’t get caught, it doesn’t get infected — it’s pretty easy.”
Safety is high up on Slichter’s list when it comes to piercing clients.
“You need to know what you’re doing. Honestly, you should be piercing for at least five years before you start doing these because that way you can understand the concept of what came before this,” Slichter said. “You want to be careful. You don’t want to do it over any of your arteries. There are certain places I will not do them, I will say no. But for the most part you can do them just about anywhere.”
Slichter prides himself on the fact that he was primarily self-taught and has the confidence to do his job properly. He compares his dedication in the craft to a grandma’s cookies.
“She puts love into it, she honestly cares that people are going to eat those cookies and enjoy them. So there’s all that energy being put in it,” he said. “It’s not like I consider myself to be a grandma, but I do care. I do tell people if they have problems, if they have questions, to come in and see me immediately.”
Slichter said he will advise his clients on piercings to help ease their nerves and help their confidence in the piercing process.
“People tend to freak out a little more than what’s necessary. Other than the back of the neck, everywhere is real easy, over and done with,” he said. “I’m quick, I don’t
mess around.”
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