Kid piercing INformation

At Emerald Sun Studios, all of our Piercer’s are highly experienced and skilled in working with kids. We pride ourselves on being a kid-friendly, family-friendly studio where the child’s comfort comes first every step of the way. Our goal is to create a positive, empowering experience, not just a piercing appointment.

We start by going over all of the jewelry options together, helping your child get excited about picking their first pair of earrings. From the very beginning, we make sure they know they are in charge of their appointment. This builds confidence and helps them feel safe and supported.

Once we head back to the piercing room, we let kids choose something to watch on the TV to keep them comfortable, entertained, and a little distracted while we handle the cleaning, marking, and piercing process. We always engage with both the parent and the child throughout the entire appointment, but our priority is the child, they are the client, and this is their experience.

For kids who are ready but feeling a bit nervous, we also offer tandem ear piercings at our Howell location on Saturdays. This means two Piercer’s work together to pierce each ear at the same time, so the actual piercing moment is quicker and often easier for the child.

Emerald Sun Studios is an APP-member shop, and all of our Piercer’s follow APP standards at both locations. APP stands for the Association of Professional Piercers, the leading international organization for safety, technique, and jewelry quality in professional piercing. Our jewelry, tools, sterilization practices, and piercing methods all meet or exceed these standards, ensuring your child receives the safest, most professional experience possible.

At Emerald Sun Studios, we provide a professional, clean studio environment with highly trained Piercer’s in a family-friendly setting. Our Piercer’s are honored to be part of your child’s first piercing experience and proud to show you how far this industry has come. Each of our Piercer’s completes extensive training, including annual week-long continuing education through the Association of Professional Piercers conference. This isn’t just a job for us, this is our career.

We pride ourselves on being extremely kid-friendly. We focus on the child’s comfort every step of the way. We start the appointment by going over all of the jewelry options together and helping your child feel involved and excited. We let them know that they are in charge of their appointment, which builds confidence and helps them feel safe and supported.

When we move into the piercing room, kids can choose something to watch on the TV to help them stay relaxed, engaged, and a little distracted while we handle the cleaning, marking, and piercing. We fully engage with both the parent and the child throughout the entire appointment, but our priority is always the child, this is their experience, and they are the client.

For children who are ready but a little nervous, we offer tandem ear piercings at our Howell location on Saturdays. This means two Piercer’s work together to pierce both ears at the same time, making the piercing moment quicker and often easier.

Emerald Sun Studios is an APP-member studio, and all of our Piercer’s follow APP standards at both locations. APP stands for the Association of Professional Piercers. Our jewelry, sterilization practices, and techniques all meet or exceed APP standards to ensure the safest piercing experience possible.

Required paperwork

Minors (Under 18)

For anyone under 18, Michigan law requires three separate documents. All three must be presented at the appointment:

1. Parent or Legal Guardian’s Photo ID

Must be a valid government-issued ID.

2. Minor’s Identification

The minor must have one of the following:

  • State ID

  • Passport

  • School ID

  • Yearbook with a clearly identifiable photo

3. Proof of Legal Relationship

This document must show that the adult signing consent is the minor’s legal parent or guardian. Accepted forms include:

  • Birth certificate

  • Court-issued guardianship papers

  • Adoption paperwork

  • Custody paperwork (if applicable)

For Young Children Without School Records

If the minor is too young to have school-issued identification, the following will be accepted as their ID:

  • Their birth certificate

This applies only to young children who do not yet have any form of school or government ID.

Name Matching Requirements

The parent or guardian’s ID must connect clearly to the proof-of-relationship document (such as the birth certificate).

If the parent’s last name does not match the name listed on the birth certificate, we must see:

Legal paperwork showing how the names connect, such as:

  • Marriage certificate

  • Divorce decree

  • Court-issued name-change document

  • Updated custody paperwork

This verifies legal guardianship and is required by law.

Legal Compliance

These requirements come from Michigan state law regarding consent for piercing minors. They are not rules we created as a studio. Emerald Sun Studios follows these laws exactly to ensure safety, proper documentation, and full legal compliance.

FAQs

Is my child ready for a piercing?

Piercings require responsibility, maturity, and patience. Earlobe piercings can take 6–9 months or more to heal. During this time, they must be cleaned daily and lifestyle adjustments may be needed. If your child is not ready to take healing seriously, or if their schedule makes healing difficult (contact sports, water sports, etc.), it may be better to wait. It is always okay to wait, and we are happy to discuss these concerns during your appointment.

Why might certain lifestyles make piercing difficult?

Some activities can increase the risk of complications during healing—especially sports involving helmets, straps, sweat, or physical contact, and activities with frequent water exposure. If your child has a lifestyle that conflicts with healing, you may want to schedule the piercing during a less active season.

Why don’t you use piercing guns?

Piercing guns are unsafe because they cannot be sterilized, are prone to malfunction, and are often used by individuals without professional training. They can cause tissue damage and significantly increase healing issues. We only use sterile, single-use needles for every piercing.

For peer-reviewed information on piercing gun risks: https://safepiercing.org/piercing-guns/

How old does my child need to be?

We focus on children old enough to understand the process, give clear verbal consent, sit still, and follow instructions. If you’re unsure if your child is ready, we can schedule a consultation.

Can I bring my own jewelry?

For new piercings, we require studio-provided jewelry to guarantee proper materials, sizing, and quality. After healing, you may bring jewelry for us to evaluate.

What kind of jewelry do you use?

We use high-quality, implant-grade titanium and other APP-approved materials. We have many kid-friendly options that are safe for long-term healing.

Can someone other than a parent bring my child?

A parent or legal guardian must be present to sign consent and provide documents proving their relationship to the minor. Only legal guardians with documentation may sign in place of a parent.

What documents do we need?

  • Parent/legal guardian’s photo ID

  • Child’s birth certificate or guardianship paperwork

  • Any additional ID the child may have (passport, school ID), if available

If you’re unsure what you have, contact us before your appointment.

What if my child gets nervous or changes their mind?

Consent is essential. We will never pressure a child. If they feel overwhelmed, we can pause or stop. Sometimes waiting is the best choice.

Do you offer consultations before the piercing?

Yes. Your child can:

  • See the studio

  • Meet the Piercer

  • Ask questions

  • Get comfortable with the environment

This can help reduce nerves.

Do you offer tandem piercings?

Yes, on Saturdays at our Howell location. Two Piercer’s pierce both ears at the same time, which is great for kids who feel ready but slightly nervous.

What should we expect during the appointment?

Your child selects their jewelry, we empower them through every step, and in the piercing room they can choose something to watch on TV while we prepare and pierce. Our priority is always making the child feel safe, respected, and confident.