Getting a piercing is kind of a big deal. If someone is going to be putting needles into and through your body, especially in sensitive areas, trust is key. As professional piercer Johnny Pearce knows firsthand, clients want assurance that piercers know what they’re doing and how to do it safely. That’s why trust, legitimacy, credibility, and safety are of the utmost importance in the piercing industry. This is what groups like the Association of Professional Piercers are hoping to bring to the industry: awareness, education, and trust. Acclaimed piercer Johnny Pierce is both a member and huge supporter of the APP and other groups like it that seek to reduce ignorance and increase the public’s trust in the industry. 

What is the APP?

The Association of Professional Piercers (APP) is a non-profit health and safety organization dedicated to spreading vital health and safety information about body piercing to piercers, healthcare professionals, legislators, and the general public. “It’s really a wonderful organization full of passionate people and volunteers who care so deeply about the health and safety standards of our industry,” Johnny says. He believes that other piercers should join the organization and support their cause to build a better industry for all.

The APP website is full of educational information about piercing and jewelry standards, as well as a search option to help find an APP member near you.

Improving the Industry with Education and Awareness

 Not only is education and awareness important for piercers, but it also means a better, safer experience for clients. Education is the difference between a piercer practicing a clean, aseptic technique and one who is recklessly transferring harmful bacteria to their client. Furthering education in your field is a key difference between who you are right now and the best professional version of yourself. We have this mantra in the piercing industry, “Forever Learning.” Even if you’ve done this professionally for 20 or 30 years, there’s still something more to learn, there’s still a way in which you can improve. That stands just as true for myself: I am never done learning.”

Johnny hopes that over the course of the next few years, the piercing industry will be even safer and more regulated than it is today, with more informed clients and more educated piercers. He wants to lead the charge towards a safer, more trustworthy, more reliable piercing industry. “I’ve always wanted to build a reputation for myself as one of the most trusted artists in the piercing industry,” says Pearce. “I put my clients’ safety and comfort before anything else.

The Origins of Johnny Pearce

Originally born Jonathan Lawrence Pearce of North Carolina, Johnny Pearce began his piercing career in 2010. His recognizable piercing style and comprehension for photography eventually gained him notoriety among the international piercing community and became a key foundation for his success. He’s an active member and passionate advocate of The Association of Professional Piercers, a non-profit international health and safety organization dedicated to the dissemination of information about safe body piercing. Johnny Pearce attends and teaches at the APP’s educational conference in Las Vegas each year, where thousands gather to freely share information to help fellow members, piercers, healthcare professionals, legislators, health inspectors, and the general public get the best and most up-to-date information about body piercing. 

Featured on The Today Show and even as a special guest on Impractical Jokers, his client list includes recognizable names such as Cardi B, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Savannah Guthrie. After settling into a permanent role at Manhattan’s very own Nine Moons Piercing in 2019, he remains a New York City resident, actively piercing in SoHo.

Learn more about Nine Moons Piercing on the official website. Follow Johnny’s work on Instagram (@johnnypearce). Find an APP member at https://safepiercing.org/find-a-piercer/.