I have been going to Enigma for years and have always loved it but I just wanna say that you guys rock! Today Evan helped me stretch my ears from a 1/2" to 9/16" and it was quick and painless. I love my new jewelry and am super excited to get some fancy stuff in 9/16" when my lobes are healed.
Review Source:I was highly satisfied with my experience with Enigma. Evan did a jewelry change for my 6 month nose piercing he was very personable and had great customer service. In addition to being awesome he answered all of my questions and was a wonderful teacher. This place is VERY clean and conveniently located. Thanks again Evan for a great experience I will definitely be back!
Review Source:I decided to pay Enigma a visit today to get an  ear piercing - an inner conch.  The shop is spotless, and the staff makes you feel right at home.  Evan did a wonderful job seeing that any questions or concerns were addressed, and then he proceeded to do a great piercing.  I'll be headed back when I'm ready for another.  I highly recommend!  Oh, and they have a nice jewelry selection too.
Review Source:Very clean, nice staff, perfect assortment of jewelry.
Got my nose pierced and a new lip ring, all for 89 big bucks. I think that's the most I've ever had to spend on a piercing and earring. My lip ring wasn't the right size so I took it back and had to spend an extra $20 to replace the right size :/
The guy at the front counter, is probably my favorite. He's very sweet, soft spoken and very nice. The "owner" , I'm guessing..didn't even greet us after learning what I needed to be fixed, he seemed a little nicer. Angie pierced my nose, and she to is nice.
Not the best prices but you get what you pay for. My nose piercing is perfect.
Just had an amazing experience getting my lip pierced! Had to rave about them! I had gone here about 9 years ago when it was a different shop, had a good experience, so I went back.....it's now Enigma! I'm so sorry that I don't remember the name of the helpful, friendly guy who was behind the counter.I think it was James...? He had me fill out paperwork. He was very nice and soft spoken.....funny too! Evan is the guy who pierced me. The whole place felt clean, kept up and professional! I even got to see this strip thingy that showed me the jewelry was sterilized....fancy. Evan explained every step and was incredibly knowledgeable! I was 100% comfortable....which you should be when getting pierced, but there's been times I haven't felt that! It was practically painless. Felt a quick pinch, slight sting and it's perfect! I would highly recommend this shop to anyone looking for a professional, awesome piercing! Great experience!
Review Source:We visited Enigma yesterday for my 5 year old daughter's ear piercing. She has been asking for quite some time but she became anxious when we got there. Angie was AMAZING! She talked us through each step and was completely kid friendly and patient. She made sure my daughter understood each step and made sure the jewelry was exactly what she wanted. She was also extraordinarily gentle and the actual piercing went quickly and as close to painlessly as possible. My daughter is THRILLED with her earrings and we felt that we got 5+ star service. Truly as good as it gets!
Review Source:I got a Prince Albert piercing today, done by Mercedes. Â Super friendly staff, I was very nervous going into the building, but the guy behind the counter calmed me down and gave me a lot of information about the piercing, and answered any question I had in a very professional manner. Â As for the piercing itself, Mercedes took me into the room after a short wait, and explained what would happen, what was going to be the most uncomfortable, and explained what she was doing step by step, from the start of cleaning, to the jewelry getting put in. Â Didn't hurt that much! Â Sharp pinch, then it was over! Â I will DEFINITELY be going back for my next piercing!! Â Super happy with this studio!! Â No complaints!!
Review Source:Angie was awesome! I faint with needles and she was super patient and made me feel comfortable. It was great to know how sterile the instruments, jewelry, and piercer were at this studio. The receptionist was very knowledgable in helping me pick out my jewelry! It was the best experience. I highly recommend for all your piercing needs!
Review Source:I found this shop through Yelp and decided to give it a try for my first major piercing experience back in January. I was definitely not disappointed in the slightest!
I set up an appointment with Evan and was immediately excited. He was so polite over the phone and had me already feeling like I made the right choice by going to his shop.
I came in on a Friday and I filled out my necessary paperwork while Evan got prepared. Be prepared to wait a little bit while he sets up! He cleans all tools with an autoclave ONCE you arrive to ensure you get the absolute cleanest equipment. Once I was told this I was even more pleased with this shop. Cleanliness is so important in establishments such as these and it shows exceptional care for the client by taking the extra time to sterilize everything only once they arrive.
Now, I was going in to get my nipples pierced. This was my first piercing (other than my ear lobes when I was an infant), so I was excited, nervous, and a little hesitant all at once. Go big or go home, I guess! I was worried that I would feel awkward and was concerned about how the setting was going to be with... ya know... my goods all out and what not. haha You are taken back into a private room that has an actual door, not a curtain! The room looks very similar to a doctor's office, including the standard doctor's exam table. It was extremely clean! :)
Evan was so sincerely kind and professional and not once did I feel uncomfortable with him. Even though he's seen it all with his profession, he still turns around while you undress in order to make you that much more comfortable before he begins. He also explains each and every step to you with detail so you are never wondering what is going on at any time. If you have any questions about your soon-to-be new piercing, Evan can answer it with confidence and set your mind at ease.
Overall, I was completely thrilled with his service. I love my piercings and they healed wonderfully with his detailed instructions on after-care. Professionalism is so important these days and he is excellent at what he does. I recommend this shop to anyone looking to get a piercing and I will be returning for my future piercings as well! Thank you, Evan!
These guys are awesome! very down to earth! Most piercing places I have been to make you feel shitty for not having 93475987298 piercings already, not these guys! Enigma is super professional, very clean and they give you the tools to clean and take care of your piercing for after care. I went in for a nose piercing and will be back. Can't say enough good stuff!!
Review Source:This is my first review on yelp and there's a reason for that! I'm so impressed with this place! Mind you, I haven't been to very many piercing shops so I can't really compare. But what I can say is as a nurse, I'm all about cleanliness and friendliness and this place did not let me down!
I went with a friend today who actually heard of Enigma by her friend who works in public health and rated cleanliness for these places, naming Enigma the cleanest.
I got second piercings on my lobes and a helix on my left. I dont have any recollection of my very first ear piercings since my mom had them done on me when I was really young, so as excited as I was, I was of course very nervous about the pain (although everyone on yelp says it was nearly painless). And I have to say, yelpers were right! I hardly felt any pain! My piercer was EVAN and he is soo awesome! He's so nice and very thorough; you can tell he knows his stuff! And he really cares! He made sure that my helix would be in a spot that's visible, while also considering the possibility of eventually putting in a hoop. He also marks where he will pierce with surgical marker to make sure you'll like where it's placed. They also give you great information for aftercare, including a lil baggie of sea salt! This is so important because as clean as they are, if you don't take care of it, it's practically useless.
Even the guy at the counter (I apologize for forgetting his name) was so friendly too! This place is so impressive it makes me want to go back for more! So if you're looking to get pierced, this is the place to do it! Might be pricey, but I'm a true believer that particularly with procedures like these, you get what you pay for! Thank you Enigma, especially Evan! You guys are amazing! (:
Visited the ship today to get a center lip piercing. Was greeted by a really nice guy at the front who had me do all the paperwork and prepare the autoclave for the jewelry I chose.
Got to meet Evan who did the actual piercing itself. This guy is really friendly, approachable, and incredibly knowledgeable in his craft. I have several piercings already and have been to shops all around the country but this was the most welcome I have felt in a shop.
Evan marked the position of the piercing and got it perfectly lined up. I laid down and he did the piercing completely freehand, definitely a first for me but not having the clamp was a welcome change. A quick pinch and then that was it.
He gave aftercare instructions and off I went.
I really don't understand what other people are saying about this place being pricey their prices are pretty standard among all of the other shops I've been to. You definitely get excellent service for your money's worth and I will be returning and referring business to Evan and this shop.
Loved this place. Decided I wanted a hood piercing, and review lots of piercing parlors and his one had the best reviews. Evan was the guy that helped me. He was super chill and made me feel comfortable. He even let me have a friend in the room since it was a tender area. I watched him clean and fanatics everything, opened up clean needles and he verbally walked me through the entire process. I recommended three more friends to go to this shop. I was happy and they definitely were too! Ill be back!
Review Source:My 4 year old wanted her ears pierced, and after walking into Claire's I thought to myself maybe I should look into this procedure more. I wasn't fond of a untrained teenager, puncturing my baby's ears with a gun( who knows where it has been before!) I did my research and came across Evan. The whole process from my lil one choosing her earring, to the end was about 35 mins. Evan was so gentle with her, and told her everything to expect. My baby didn't cry at all! Im impressed. Her 1st piercing was pricey, but it was well worth his expertise on piercing a lil one for her 1st time.
Thank you :)
Had a short visit with Evan today for a backing-switch, post piercing. He was professional and charming as always, and sized up what I needed with a quick (but very thorough) check. Â I'd also like to note, as another reviewer has done, that Evan is a member of the APP (Association of Professional Piercers), and one of he few you can find in San Diego.
Everyone in SD County should get their piercings done at one of the two Enigma studios. What a great place, and such great service!
I just took my 4 month baby girl here. after reading a few reviews I thought I would check it out! As a new mother its very important to have the best for my little nugget! I knew I didn't want to get her ears pierced with a cheap gun u find at the mall, but with a needle (way more sanitary, Â and logical since a piercing gun really just shoves the earring into ur ear,).
Evan was great, professional and goes through everything step by step. . Put me at ease while holding my squirmy little chunkster! Definitely recommend, Â especially for babies! Â :)
TL;DR EXPENSIVE, SLOW, DISCOURTEOUS.
I'll admit, it pains me to write this review. Enigma got such high ratings and is right down the street from me. I wanted to be as smitten as everyone else. But that just wasn't the case.
I was picking up some dinner at Carnitas Snack Shack and needed to have my tragus jewelery replaced after an MRI that morning. So I called Enigma, explained the situation and asked if they could take a walk-in. No problem, Evan said. When I arrived, there were five other people in front of me. No one greeted me or offered assistance. I hung around until the place cleared out, told James at the counter what I needed and picked out some new jewelery. Then I sat and waited.
For about an hour.
While my food got cold.
I have gotten this 'procedure' done many times before and figured there was no way it could take more than 15 minutes at most. I mean, what sort of piercing studio has only one employee working on a Friday night? I would have left, but tragus piercings are notorious for closing quickly, and mine are set deep enough that it's impossible to replace the jewelery myself.
When the three girls ahead of me, who had gone in as a group, came out to pay, James harangued one of them who said she couldn't afford to give a tip. Now, I agree this is pretty egregious behavior, but I felt bad for the chick. She was embarrassed and being chastised in front of all the other customers.
I went in and, I will admit, Evan was intelligent, kind and explained everything, even though it was a simple procedure. He switched out the barbells James had selected for longer ones that were more appropriate for me, sanitized everything and was gentle.
When I paid, James told me my total was $86.12. Are you kidding me!? I got the piercing itself done for $80. That means I got both ears pierced for $40 each, jewelery included. After that, replacement jewelery (the same exact brand) was $10 each. And that was at a studio with amazing service and staff, not some hole in the wall place. How can Enigma get away with these prices? Is it a So Cal thing?
Personally, I don't believe in across-the-board tipping. I tip when someone goes above and beyond, and I don't when I am offered sub par service. I do believe that people who are entrusted to stick needles through your body for a living deserve to be tipped well. But, come on. I spent $100 to have two teeny tiny pieces of metal put into my ears, which, as I mentioned before, had already been pierced three years prior, AFTER having waited over 45 minutes. Hell, if I wait five extra minutes at my coffee joint, they give me a free coffee! If I get bad service at a restaurant, they comp the meal! Where's the business sense in overcharging customers who waited an hour to have a five minute procedure done?
The one star is for Evan's attitude, their thorough sanitization practices and clean shop.
Everything else sucked.
We brought our 7 year old daughter here last month to get her earlobes pierced. Evan was awesome. He was very clear on what was going to happen and our daughter was very comfortable with him. The process was quick and she didn't even wince when he put the studs in. Everything was super clean and there was a great selection of small studs to chose from. Evan walked through the sterilization process with us. I would definitely recommend them and we will be back! We went to the location on Adams.
Review Source:For my daughter's 5th birthday, she wanted to get her ears pierced. Â A friend of mine suggested Enigma as she had just got her infant daughter's ears pierced here as well. Â After the recommendation from her, I then turned to Yelp and found many helpful reviews with 5 stars! Â Evan was fantastic with my daughter and her best friend who came along and got pierced as well. Â It took us 2 attempts before my daughter actually went through with it, but needless to say, she did it! Evan was patient, made funny jokes, calm, and really good with kids! Â The healing of her earlobes is going great and the quality of the jewelry is great. Â Prices are high compared to yucky malls, but I'll take sanitary, knowledge of Evan as a piercer, and patience over a mall any day. Â Kudos to Enigma and to Evan!! Â Thanks!! What a memorable 5th birthday for my daughter and her BFF!
Review Source:This place is awesome. I like the location, the look and feel of the shop. Pricing wise its expensive which is similar to any other shop because piercings are never cheap (all of it's expensive to me either way, im el broke-o.). If they are cheap, then it will most likely come out crappy anyway.
Evan is fantastic. He's super nice, professional, meticulous, put me at ease and i also think hes pretty damn cute which definitely didn't hurt the experience ;) . I was pretty nervous because I had recently had my septum pierced by someone else and they pierced my septum too low/in the wrong spot. When Evan did it, it was quick, painless and he was super gentle. They also had a cleaning care card/cleaning stuff ready for me when i was done which was nice because i've been pierced different times and all the other places never gave me anything to clean my piercings with. I love my septum piercing and I definitely plan on going back to this place for more piercings/jewelry in the future. ^_^
Three days ago I came here to get my septum pierced. Going with Evan at Enigma was a great choice as I was impressed from when I entered until I left.
Evan was very friendly and personable and made me feel at ease. He explained everything thoroughly and was by far the most professional piercer ive encountered. I felt calm and safe going into the piercing as he sanitized the retainer prior and was meticulously clean with everything.
I wouldn't recommend anyone else but Evan. He knows what hes doing and will safely take care of your piercing needs.
**He's also a part of the APP (Association of Professional Piercers) and one of he few you can find in San Diego.
I just had my nose pierced and had a second earring added to my left ear. Â This is a beautiful little store front on trendy Adams Avenue. Â The shop is immaculately clean and they have a beautiful selection of handmade jewelry. Â Evan was patient, gentle and sweet. Â I love my new vanities...thank you Evan!
Review Source:Came here to get my belly button pierced. Â It was a bit more pricey than I had anticipated, but it's mostly because of the jewelry i picked. Â ANyways, the guy that pierced me was Mike [i think]. Â He was really nice, and gentle, and went over each procedure with me. Â I barely even felt the needle go through me! THe whole process probably took less than 10 mins. Â Afterwards, the guy thoroughly explained the healing/cleaning process.
Although Enigma is a bit pricey, the workers are all very gentle and seem really trustworthy. Â And they also said that almost no one gets an infection from them...so hopefully it was worth it!
I wanted to get my tongue re-pierced after having it done over 12 years ago initially. Â So I really did my homework and researched all of the piercing studios in the San Diego area because I wanted it done right, in a safe sterile environment with great results. Â
Enigma came out on top for me because it had the most reviews of any piercing establishment and everyone gave it a 5-star rating...now I know why. Â I went to the shop located on Adams Ave. Â They were super helpful and friendly from the second I walked in. Â Asked me how long I had thought about getting my tongue pierced, told me I should go eat because the soreness afterward would make it difficult...they really went the extra mile to make sure I was prepared. Â I liked the fact that they take the sterilization of the jewelry serious enough to show me the indicator they use that shows just how sterile your jewelry is before they put in...something that I never saw when I had it done 12 years ago. Â The procedure was pretty much painless. Â Only a little swelling or soreness and they totally explained the aftercare and even gave me some non-ionized salt for the soaks. Â Great place, great atmosphere, Â great location, and great customer service. Â I would recommend Enigma to my friends and anyone looking for a safe and pleasant piercing experience. Â These guys are totally awesome!!
This place is awesome, I got my eyebrow and lip pierced here. I was totally freeking out but they were all really nice and made me feel comfortable. The piercings didn't even hurt and they turned out great! If you want your piercings done right...don't go to a janky place. They absolutely know what they're doing.
Review Source:If I could give this place 10 stars, I would!
I came in wanting a nape piercing but was nervous since I've heard that the probability of it getting rejected was over 90%. However, Angie, who was just filling in from Florida for a few weeks was very reassuring and did an excellent job. It was painless and it's been well over a month now and my piercing is healing normally with no signs of rejection or irritations. The sea soaks were definitely helpful. If you ever get piercings, make sure you do sea soaks twice a day!
It was a tad expensive but it's definitely worth it when the piercings are done right the first time. And they even test the piercing supplies for 100% sterile. Definitely recommend and would only come back to this place from now on :)
Went here today to get my tongue repierced and I got pierced by Mark. He was chill and very friendly. Also suggested that I should get food before I got it done since it would be hard for me to eat afterwards. The place was very clean and organized, I would definitely recommend going here! I was in and out within 5-10 mins. He explained the procedure and the healing procedure really well and asked if I had any questions. Overall it was a good experience .
Review Source:Been here a few times just to look at the place see what they have to offer and their entire stock was just over whelming I literally wanted everything but merr broke college student.
So I brought my bf here the other day to get his tongue pierced as a birth day present and I must say, the cleanliness and the calm collected and caring attitude was really nice. I had called previously about pricing and you really do get your moneys worth at this place. Bf got his tongue pierced and it looked really good, said it didnt hurt and now im planning to get my piercings done here too now :D
I highly recommend to any one!
I've gotten four piercings from Enigma (from both the Adams & Garnet locations). Ears, tongue, and then some ;) Â . All healed quickly and with no infections or irritation, which was a first for me because I have super sensitive skin and have gotten infections from other piercing shops in the past (even though I'm hard core religious about proper aftercare). Enigma's shops are very clean and organized - they even autoclave their jewelry! You really get what you pay for here, with top quality, internally threaded jewelry and a high level of expertise. Also, I never felt "looked down upon" because I don't have any visible body mods (besides my ear piercings); the staff is courteous, friendly, and welcoming, whether you're new to piercings or coming in for something more technical. Â
I've been pierced by Mark and Evan, and you couldn't ask for more professional, down-to-earth people! Evan remained calm, cool, and collected while I was a nervous babbling wreck before my one "specialty" piercing haha. Sorry Evan! Â Mark pierced my tongue, placing it perfectly so that you can't see it when I talk (awesome for job interviews!), and it never clacks against my teeth. If you're even thinking about getting a piercing, or if you're having trouble with a piercing you got somewhere else, definitely call the shop or visit. Would give 10 stars if I could!
I went in yesterday to the garnet location to get a triple forward helix piercing, my first piercing since my ears which my mother had done when i was four, so I was a little nervous to say the least. Â The staff was extremely knowledgeable (they actually guessed which piercing i wanted before I even told them!!) and helpful.
 They first made sure I was formed correctly for the piercing, then when they didn't have the jewelry I wanted they sent me to the Adams Ave location where I was helped by Evan. Â
THANK YOU EVAN!!! Â He was super helpful and explained everything he was doing the whole time which set my mind at ease, and the way he talks about piercing you can just tell how passionate he is about it! Â the piercing turned out better than I could have imagined AND they gave me a discount on the jewelry as well as the piercing because I had to drive to both locations! If i ever need another piercing I will always go back to Enigma!
Thank you Evan for taking care of my baby girl!!
So, I had been dreading taking my 5 month old to get her ears pierced but finally decided it is time to get it done. Â I called another place prior to Enigma but they couldn't get my daughter in for a week. Â
I called Enigma at 12pm yesterday (Friday) and spoke to Evan who was very kind and understanding of my nervousness. Â He was able to see us at 3:30pm.
When we got there and it was finally time to have my daughter's ears pierced he was very informative and explaining everything he was doing. Â He even had me initial the test strip they use so that I know that the tools he was using passed the sterilization. Â Never knew of a place to do that, AWESOME especially with a nervous first time mommy. :-)
Evan was as quick as you can be with a squirmy baby. Â She cried of course :( but I had a bottle ready to go and she calmed down fairly quickly!
Thank you Evan for putting me at ease with such a nerve racking situation with my little girl.
I will certainly recommend you to anyone I know who is planning to get their babies ears pierced or even their own!
Oh and peeps, be sure to ADD YOUR TIP BEFORE they charge your credit card!! Â Glad I asked in time cause I wanted to make sure Evan get his well deserved and highly appreciated tip!
I came in for a labret piercing, and immediately noticed how beautiful, bright, and clean the shop was. Evan was my piercer and incredibly nice and informative. He did my piercing totally freehand, with no clamp, and did an outstanding job. The placement was perfect.
My only cons were that they didn't have any of the push-top bars in stock to pierce with, and they were a little pricey, but overall very good. I would be worried if they were crazy cheap!
Very nice place.
Went to Enigma today after hearing some great feedback on Yelp... Just went in for a nose piercing and was extremely happy with the quality of service from Evan and the guy manning the counter; both super friendly and professional above and beyond. DEFINITELY recommend this place. They talk you through everything from the jewellery, to the actual moment of piercing and aftercare.
I'll be back next time i'm in SD.
Enigma is the ONLY place I will go to get decorated as well as recommend to friends. I've gone to both locations and they are ALWAYS professional and so knowledgeable about anything you'd ever want to know. The people are also so so cool and always make me feel comfortable when I'm there.
My sister and I went to go get matching conch piercings and were both pierced by Brody. Seejay was also there and helped answer some of our questions. They were both hilarious and the piercing was smooth and quick. The placement is perfect on both of our ears. :)
I also have to give a huge shout out to Evan who just helped me out big time with my nipple piercing. I spontaneously got it done in New York (I will never cheat again) and the jewelry the woman initially pierced it with was way too short and it wouldn't heal properly. Evan let me try on 3 different pieces of jewelry so I could find the one I liked  and that fit my piercing best. I felt so bummed about it going in, and when I left I felt like a weight had been lifted off, so thank you so so so much Evan for making my sad nipple piercing look beautiful!
I will alwayyysss go back to Enigma, they are simply the best!
I lose plugs mysteriously every couple months and so I'm glad I have a place down the street from my house that I can pop into for replacements. I've been coming here for about 5-6 years now and they always have great selection on jewelry and are always very helpful. Now I'm contemplating getting a nose stud. Is it still appropriate at 30?? :)
Review Source:For a couple of weeks now, I was contemplating on whether or not to get my tragus pierced again. In the past, I had my left tragus pierced and I loved it, but ended up sleeping on it and pushing the entire ring into the hole, getting it stuck =( Talk about painful and bloody. Since I rarely sleep on my right side, I decided why not try it again.
After reading the Yelp reviews on Enigma, I decided to stop by a little after they opened. A very nice man (can't remember his name) greeted me and I told him that I wanted to get my right tragus and both second earlobes done. He said no problem and he explained everything to me. They have a very beautiful display of jewelry- I was very impressed. I decided to get some crystal studs, signed my contract, and waited about 10 minutes while another guy, Mark, my piercer, sanitized the jewelry.
I thought it was very interesting that they had this sanitization machine in the back. I don't think I've ever seen one before at other parlors. This eased my mind because I'm OCD about cleanliness. Mark was very nice and explained everything to me before he did it, so there were no surprises.
The pain was minimal. In total I got 3 piercings, so I was slightly sore afterwards, but I'm feeling fine now and following their aftercare directions (sea salt soaks).
This place has extremely good customer service. I felt very comfortable and am pleased with the results. Location is pleasant and easy to find. The only issue is that this place is a bit pricey. For 3 ear piercings, I paid around $170 total. I don't know if this is usual, but at other places I've never paid this much. In any event, you can't beat the service here. They are truly professional and know what they're doing. You're definitely in good hands if you visit Enigma =)
Wow. Such a good experience today for my nose piercing. They were friendly, efficient and clean. Mark (I think that's his name) did my piercing and he was sooo informative and friendly and put me right at ease. He even explained the 5 minute sterilization that was taking place next to me. He was so quick and this experience was much more painless than I thought.
He went through all my questions and advised on cleaning and other tips. I even asked him if I could get my belly button pierced and he said no because I am at high risk for infection. I really appreciated his honesty.
I will DEFINITELY be returning for future purchases and piercings!
I got four back dermal anchors here today. Walked in, no appointment or anything and was greeted by a very, very nice guy. While I was waiting, the guy at the front was helping another customer fill out a form so he could order jewelery they didn't have which was nice of them. He was also talking about how they use internally threaded jewelery in case any of you were curious. They are upfront about price which is awesome, too.
After a short wait I was introduced to Seejay and I told him exactly what I wanted and he made sure he knew exactly what I was talking about. He was extremely precise in marking the points of my dermal anchors on my back dimples in the design I wanted. He explained everything to me and kept me calm because to be honest, I was pretty psyched out about doing this.
So he started to put the dermal anchors in one by one and kept me calm through every single one. He also let me take long breathers through every pinch (I'm a baby, I know). Seejay is very professional and has one of the nicest personalities! He gave me direct instructions on how to clean my dermal anchors as well as a paper with instructions. If I ever decide to pierce something else, I'd go back here.
Today I got a triple forward helix piercing at Enigma. Didier wasn't in the studio at the time, but the guy manning the counter called him at home and he came right over. He was super knowledgeable and friendly. He took a lot of time carefully observing my ear and determining what would work best. He also took his time with the piercing itself and talked me through the process. He's very good at keeping the mood calm when you're in the stressful situation of getting a piercing. They were kind enough to give me a deal on my piercings because I was getting three of them.
I will not get pierced anywhere else from now on.
The hubby and I came in last June after much googling and researching piercing spots. I got my belly pierced and he got his tongue pierced. It was clean, quick and we are 100% satisfied. This was our first piercing and I wouldn't recommend any other place.
Pricing for piercing was average/decent. Jewelry was kinda high. (About $50 for my belly ring!) But they did sterilize it in front of me, which made it worth the price.
Today I was at the Garnet location and inquired about the "Toof Bling" that I read about on Facebook today. Â The wonderful lady behind the counter, showed me her bling (thank goodness because my man was against it) and told me that I had to go to the other location to have it done. Â My BF saw and said yes.
After I was done at Garnet, I went to have lunch, brushed my teeth with my whisp and we headed to Adams Avenue. Â I was happy to see as we arrived that no one was there.
Once again, greeted by the wonderful friendly staff. Â Told them what I wanted and they were more than happy to assist me.
CeeJay and the other gentleman in the store made experience so easy for me to deal with. Â They were very friendly and advised me on what I wanted.
10 minutes later...I had two tooth blinged out. Â "Ting"
And CeeJay was nice enough to mention that there was a sale with the "Toof Bling" - 2 for $40.....Ohhhhh yeah!
BEST in San Diego for piercings!
Didier is super knowledgeable, and all of his employees are equally friendly and have a wealth of information.
Do NOT go here if you're the impatient type. There is often one or two people working. If they are both occupied, you'll be greeted but you have to be prepared to wait. They take each of their customers seriously, and having to wait is not a big deal...as I like to see that they care about the customers.
Second, in reference to a poor review earlier. There are TWO shops, therefore the owner is busy. You cannot blame or get angry at an owner for not being there at all times. He's essentially running two businesses.
I prefer the customer service at the Adams Avenue site over the PB site, as they are much friendlier.
The selection of piercings is the best in town. I go here to get my organic earrings. I got my piercings at the PB site, although I've talked many times about additional piercings I'd like to get in the future with the piercers at the Adams Avenue site.
Every set of earrings I own from this place, I get compliments on. I'm always asked where I get my earrings. And I'm always pleased to say from Enigma.
My mom and I recently went and got our ears pierced here. Â And I was pleasantly surprised. Â This was my first cartilage piercing and to be honest I was slightly nervous. Â But turns out there is absolutely nothing to be worried about when you go here to get any type of piercing.
Even did our piercings and was very professional yet personable. Â He was very diligent on making sure everything was sterilized and what not. He thoroughly explained the process and talked through each step. Â He made sure we were alright constantly and was very reassuring! Â And offered great advice and insight about piercings.
If you are trying to figure out a good place to get pierced, this is the place to go! I don't think there is one bad review on here. Two thumbs up! :)
I got my ears pierced at Enigma last July. Â I had researched piercing studios in San Diego and trusted the consistently positive reviews here at Yelp. Â I had a great experience. Â Evan did my piercing. Â Very professional, washed his hands several times, explained what he was doing and checked in with me on how I was doing several times.
Today, I went back to get a couple more earrings. Â Evan was there and remembered me. Â Again, very professional. Â You can't go wrong with these guys and you will be very pleased with the cleanliness and customer service.
I came in to get a piercing removed before a job interview. I had tried to get it out with pliers, but without success. After being greeted by the owner (?), I went to the operating room. Within seconds the piercing had been removed and dropped in a plastic bag. I was told there was no charge, so I reached in to get a $10 tip, but the dude refused. I told him in that case I'd post a hot review (this is it).
The place has a LOT of hardware and there's a tattoo parlor next door (not sure if it's part of the same operation), so if you want to get an extreme makeover this would probably be a good place to start.
I came in here to get my septum re-pierced a couple weeks ago. Against my better judgement, I took it out in June. I had it out for about a month and decided I wanted it back. I couldn't quite fit my 12g in, so I went to get it done. I definitely did my research and Enigma stood out. They had great reviews and they weren't too far away and the price was right. Triple threat.
There was only one guy working (I don't remember his name! :() and no one else was in there. He asked what I wanted, I told him, and he took me straight back. I'm used to waiting for a few minutes, so that was nice! I watched him get all the equipment ready and before I knew it I was pierced! The guy made it look so easy that my husband almost walked out with one!
I would definitely recommend this place and I will definitely be going here when I need a new piercing!
Here's a review I never thought I'd be writing but here goes.  When my teenage daughter wanted to get a cartilage piercing, I immediately went into hyper vigilante parental  mode.  She calmed my worries and did the research.  She picked Enigma based on all the positive reviews.  Since she was underage, I had to accompany her.  We were helped by Damien and Pierre, two pretty friendly guys who put this mother completely at ease.  They were exceptionally professional and strict about having the proper identification  They explained the process--including the ever important aftercare procedures.  My daughter felt completely at ease and so did I.  These guys know their craft.  I was impressed.  I doubt I'll ever get a cartilage piercing, but if I did I'd head over to Enigma!
Review Source:Getting a new piercing felt like embarking on a trip to an unfamiliar destination. It has been over a decade since I have spent time in a piercing studio. Enigma stood out because of the consistency in high reviews. We called ahead and were genially welcomed to come on down without an appointment.
Enigma has great selection of jewelry. We had so much fun perusing all the beautiful carved and cast jewelry. The earring offerings are out control and one beautiful pair had me wistful, but I was not here to get my ears gauged. Evan was our piercer and he was thorough, professional, and so dang nice. He has a great demeanor and had me at ease in no time flat. He explained the entire procedure and went off to clean the jewelry and supplies.
Evan was incredibly comfortable answering all our questions, even the irrelevant ones. He inspired so much confidence with his patience and diligence. He has a gentle touch and the procedure went smoothly and quickly.
Enigma has a very personal feel. We've been back in a few times to look at jewelry and each time I am blown away by the staff's charm and charisma. They are a nice group of people and very generous with their knowledge and experience. I also happen to love the plants filling the front part of the space. Really, by far, Enigma is one of the best piercing studios in San Diego.
Awesome place! I Â wanted to get my 3 month old daughters ears pierced but refused to take her to the mall or claires and risk infection and poor quality. I yelped piercing parlors and decided to go here because of the good reviews and I'm so glad I did! Didier was wonderful. He showed me how he sterilizes the metals and explained the process thoroughly. He did one ear and then allowed me to breastfeed in private to relax her for the next one. I actually recommended them the other day to a friend who was wanting to her daughter's ears pierced!
Review Source:I researched piercing studios prior to my visit to San Diego and came across all the stellar reviews for Enigma on Yelp. Â I decided that with so many excellent reviews, I couldn't go wrong. Â Wow, was I right!
I went in on a Saturday (today) in the late afternoon and there was absolutely no wait. Â I wanted to get a second nostril piercing and asked for advice as to which side and as to placement.
Evan and James were AMAZING! Â So warm, friendly and helpful. Â Evan did my piercing and was very detailed with letting me know exactly what he was going to do and made me feel completely at ease.
Interestingly, Evan seems to be a bit frightened of spiders. Â Definitely highly amusing to hear him squeal when he saw a daddy long leg spider on the floor. Â
No pretenses here, genuinely honest and sincere people with an extremely professional demeanor.
If you're in San Diego, go to Enigma....You won't be disappointed!
I came in recently, without an appointment, to get my ears stretched after a year of wearing the same gauges. I wanted to go one size up and James working the counter cheerfully brought out every style I was interested in. After I picked a pair, Didier brought me to the back to stretch.
Here is where, for the first time in 5 years, I did NOT have a clean stretch. When the gauge was going in, my ear split and cut, with blood streaming down. Didier quickly put pressure on it with saline solution and gauze, then, when the injury was under control, went out and found an in-between size for me to stretch with until my ears were in better shape. The in-between stretch didn't hurt at all, and he explained every step all the way. He was so quick and knowledgeable about how to keep my ears clean and free from infection and yet reassure me about the safety of the entire process.
Jewelry selection, cleanliness, customer service, and piercing services all earn a full 5 stars. I am so grateful for Didier's quick and calm response to something that could potentially have been very dangerous for me.
I've been here twice now. The first time I came in to buy jewelry and I instantly felt welcome when James flashed his incredibly warm smile! He helped me pick the perfect gold nose bone i had been looking for.
Second time, I came for some moral support while my friend got her nose pierced. Once again, greeted my James :) Evan pierced my friends nose. He was very thorough with his cleanliness and explaining his every step, which was awesome! My friend left happy as a clam!
It's very refreshing to find a piercing place where everyone is knowledgable, thorough, and SUPER DUPER nice :)
I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this place. I came in without an appointment last Saturday afternoon to get my nostril pierced. Â Evan, my piercer, and James were both so incredibly friendly and inviting and they were able to get me in right away. Evan explained every single step along the way and was incredibly clean. I mean, INCREDIBLY CLEAN. The whole process took less than 30 minutes and I was a happy camper out the door with a perfect piercing.
They have a great selection of jewelry; the piercing was $25 and the jewelry was $25.
If you need a new piercing, or some new jewelry come here. It's no joke when people tell you it's the best in town!
I did  my research before deciding where I wanted to jab a needle through my nostril and DUDE, I sure am happy I decided to go with Enigma! Since Enigma has great reviews already I just wanted to say that they are all true. This place is superbly clean, sterile and professional.
Evan was my piercer guy and he was really nice. Both dudes at the shop were very nice and didn't let me wuss out of my nose piercing. Evan was informative and made sure that the pain was super quick and over. I really like that they steralize your jewelry in that machine thingy too. Claires definitely doesn't do that.
Oh, I don't know if this info helps or not, but I walked in without an appointment on a friday afternoon. I was the only customer there so there was no wait at all. Maybe because it was friday the 13th?? i don't know. hah! Parking is easy peasy on the street meter. Jewelry selection is freakin incredible. SO much beautiful wooden things that I want to shove through holes. $25 bucks for my nose stud and $25 bucks for the piercing. I tipped also, just added it on top of the total amount.
Just had my nose pierced today! (By Damian I think his name was?). Â It was my first piercing other than ears so I was pretty nervous. He helped me calm down and was very informative as to what to expect and how to clean my piercing (saline solution soak ONLY!) Â Piercer was professional, sterilized everything right before the piercing, he wore gloves, etc. The piercing was super quick and for me, didn't hurt more than getting a shot (and only for a sec). I'm happy to say I had a great experience here. =)
*Tip, stay away from reading and watching videos about piercings online! The info is conflicting and will most likely scare you. That's what happened to me!
After a terrible history of piercings gone bad and infectious, Ive been putting off wanting to get my nose done for a while.
Well, for my birthdat I decided "why the hell not."
Fellow Yelpers were raving about Enigma and I was NOT disapointed.
Walked in at about 7pm, no appointment, and didnt wait long.
Simply put, I will be going to Enigma to get future peircings done. No wher else.
The Awesome:
-The staff. To say the least Im a clean cut, looking kind of gal, so going into a piercing place I most likely look out of place. But I walked up, said I wanted my nose done, and the guys behind the counter were actually excited for me. They can be intimidating looking, of course theyre covered in their own ink and piercings, but the staff is seriously professional and friendly. Mark did my piercing and he was knew everything I had a question to- he helped me decide where to put the pierce according to the kind of jewerly I wanted to wear and answered every single question I had. The other man at the desk (his name escapes me right now) was sweetheart and had stories to tell me about his own piercings. I was made utterly comfortable! Besides everyone being super cool, the piercers have credentials up on the wall and are apart of the Professional Piercers Association, nice.
-the store. CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN. I work in a vet clinic and I know sterile when I see it. You could eat off the damn floor in this place. Always a plus! They even sent my nose stuf through an auto clave. Basically, they made my stud so freakishly clean, an infection is impossible.
-Merchandise. Beautiful selection of body jewerly, specially the bone and ivory. Just looking at the stuff made me want to get more peircings so I can wear them!
-Price. These guys are up front and no hidden fees. They tell you what the price is for the piercing itself and the additional cost for your jewerly. Everything said and done, it was $50. $25 for the pierce and $25 for the jewerly. They even give you a great after care kit so you keep your piercings nice and clean! They dont require you to tip, but its a nice gesture.
The bad? There is none. Ill be going back in a few weeks for Mark to check up on his handiwork and get my ears done.
Highly recomended and only place Ill go.
I just want to say that I LOVE this place! VERY nice, professional, & they treat you like an old friend. I went in for a piercing & Peck was absolutely WONDERFUL. He knew I was nervous so he made it his duty to get me at ease. Talked me through every step & made sure I understood what was going on! Â Didier provided me information on the healing process in depth! OMG! I can go on & on about this place! You know have yet another long time customer & I WILL be bringing my friends in
Review Source:So, I'm brat...no denying it. I want what I want. And more times than not, I get it through my own diligence, hard work and gusto.  So it should comes as no surprise I was feeling "Atlanta Brave "yesterday and walked into Enigma on Adams Ave.  First off, the jewelry they offer is very beautiful. James was first to greet me and asked me what I was looking for.  I was wanting to get three anchor piercings, small gem studs below my left earlobe.  Cool, they had plenty of gems to choose from, so I selected three purple amethyst  and then came my time with Jeff. Â
Jeff is awesome and wealth of knowledge on all things pierced! Â He explained the process and I had no worries about his skills. Â The place was super clean and very sanitary. Â Within 20 minutes of walking in, I am pierced as request, holding my cleaning care instructions and promise to return in a week for Jeff to take a look at his handy work!!!!
The only problem I have is how to keep my Mom from finding out!!!
I wandered in with a friend in early October. The man helping us was standing in from elsewhere (Santa Cruz, I think?), but was extremely helpful, patient and dedicated to providing knowledge. The environment is very clean, supportive and positive!
This place has most definitely earned my recommendations.
After a horrible experience at another piercing place that day I came to Enigma to remedy the situation.
When I walked in the gentlemen at the counter realized I just had a bad experience and asked what happened. The guy, I think his name was Mark, seemed like he genuinely wanted to listen. Instead of trying to capitalize on the situation he just wanted to help. He didn't charge me for his services, just for the jewelry. Talk about great customer service from people who actually care about other people.
Enigma is always such a nice and sanitary atmosphere with very professional and knowledgeable people who work there.
It is very true that you get what you pay for. Enigma may be a little more expensive than other salons but it is worth it.
I had read all the reviews here before I checked it out and completely agree with the yelpers:
-Most clean environment that I've ever been pierced in.
- Wide selection of jewelry, if you want something you don't see they will order it for you
-Prices were very reasonable considering how high quality the work and the jewelry is.
-Attitude, quite possibly the most influential factor. Â Didier was AMAZING. Â From start to finish he made me feel that he was piercing me because he enjoyed his work, not to make money. Â
I tend to be a nervous person and have never encountered anyone as calming and patient as Didier.
I have been professionally pierced about 15 times and I feel like I have now found my home. No other shop that I have every set foot in made me feel as welcome and appreciated as Enigma.
This an an APP (Association of Professional Piercers) accredited shop with well trained staff and beautiful jewelry. They have done a fabulous job answering my quick questions, doing new piercings, and selling me the jewelry that I need. They are also a wonderful source for special orders. If you're in San Diego, I highly recommend Enigma, either in Pacific Beach or in North Park.
Review Source:Simply the best piercing studio in San Diego (or that I've ever been to). They sell the highest quality jewelry, are extremely knowledgeable and passionate, and use medical grade sterilization techniques.
Furthermore as a business institution, they make themselves so accessible that when I go in there I get the same feeling I do when I go into my favorite neighborhood restaurant or boutique-- the kind of feeling that makes you feel comfortable and good about being a repeat customer.
So if you want the highest grade piercing adorning your body, go here, if not, go elsewhere. And always remember proper etiquette, tip your piercer-- they're the ones with the sharp objects near your face.
i LOVE this place, ive gotten 3 piercings done here, eyebrow, naval, & industrial. Everybody is nice there, and not intimidating at all. i recommended 2 other people and they as well LOVED being there.
Their jewelry is so clean, and stylish, and their display makes you want to buy it all. I order all my jewelry from them, and although it takes a little while, it is worth the wait. i will definately return for more.
I am happy to have one awesome friend who referred me to the best piercer ever Didier! Thank you so much! I totally love my experience and the painless piercing. I trusted his expertise and knowledge. How to take care of them and keep it clean! The shop was also cute and they had really nice jewels on display. Everyone I talked to there over the phone all nice and sweet!
Review Source:Excellent! I got a Prince Albert done here last night and Kyle did a great job. I was a little apprehensive going in, after all, it's a part of the body that you need everything to go exactly perfect. The whole staff is very professional and friendly. Kyle really put me at ease. If you're looking for a real pro, he's it. The whole process was so fast and efficient, it was over before I knew what happened. The result is perfect. The piercing looks even better than I expected. His advice on the after care was great also. After leaving the studio, I had a question regarding the piercing, called, and Kyle got right on the phone. Amazing customer service!
The studio is immaculate. Clean and very professional. I've been to doctor's offices that don't come close to the cleanliness of this place. I think Daina F who said the shop wasn't clean must have confused this place with some other place, there's no way she was in the same studio I was in last night. They use medical grade supplies and equipment. Everything is spotless.
I would recommend Enigma (on Adams) to anyone. I am a very satisfied customer and you will be too!
So I just got back from this place and joined Yelp just so I could write a review! I was not there to get pierced, just to buy some jewelery. I had been to two other shops looking for what I needed.
First off...The place is clean, not just clean, spotless, imaculate. Every piercing shop should be, but some are not and this is crucial to me.
The selection is HUGE, I doubt there is anything they don't have. And it is beautiful. I think I might re-stretch my ears just wear some of the pieces they have!
The guy working there, a piercer, was great. Didn't get his name, big burly guy with a beard. Very nice, just a little bit standoffish, but you could tell he took his work very seriously.
I am used to tattoo and piercing shop that are assholes, so when I find a nice clean comfortable place...I gotta say something!
Came in looking for replacement jewelry. Both locations do have an amazing selection of organic jewelry... which is not what we were looking for.
The shop smelled strongly of urine (maybe someone pee'd out front but damn it smelled like a urinal inside), and both of their pothos plants were dropping leaves from fuzzy white scale infestation. Â Ewww gross.
We could hear someone in the back interacting with a client... but no one came out front for at least 10-15 minutes. Â We ended up leaving before anyone ever came out.
I really don't think I will go back.
After several weeks of either trying to find a shop that had the jewelry that I was looking for, or at least a shop that would order jewelry for me... Â Let's just say after much disappointment resulting from unprofessional and flaky (owners & employees) shops I happened upon Enigma a couple of days ago. Â Hallelujah!
Professional, courteous, and a great attitude.
Didier worked with me to get the right jewelry at a fair price.
So long as I live in San Diego, I will continue with loyal patronage.
me gusta!
i came in last night to get my nostril re-pierced (since the first place i got it done did a crap job *ahem*) and had a great experience. autumn is awesome, very professional and easy to talk to. she helped me figure out a better placement for the hole and even gave me a few bucks off since it wasn't right the first time, even though enigma didn't do it. now that's what i call service.
Piercings can be scary. However, this isn't the case with the reputation of Enigma and their amazing piercing experts: Didier Suarez and Luis Pingarron. Here's why:
The Muy Bueno
-Although Didier and Luis can look intimidating, they are genuinely nice guys with a vast knowledge about piercings. All employees get an official "professional piercing" certificate. This puts people like myself at ease.
-The shop is spotless! From the display cases in front to the actual piercing room in the back, these guys are serious about sanitation. They take that extra care, which makes all the difference.
-They only carry the highest quality in jewelry and sanitize everything before it's placed on your body. Plus, Enigma is the only place that carries Quartz retainers (which are much safer and cleaner than their plastic friends).
-A fair price! When hunting around San Diego for prices on septum piercings, I found that Enigma included the piercing and jewelry at a cheaper price than other pierce shops.
In all seriousness, the BEST part of Enigma are Didier and Luis. Didier manages the shop and has a kickback attitude to him. Luis is just as amazing looking to make you feel comfortable. I love them! Actually, I plan to see Luis soon to pierce my tragus and stretch my ears.
Let's recap:
A knowledgeable professional piercer + sanitized location + high-quality jewelry + fair prices for jewelry and piercings + (Didier and Luis) = ENIGMA!
Math doesn't lie. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this place. They deserve 6 outta 5 stars!
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