I went into Nomad to purchase a new Ear Ring. Â They were so nice to me, answered my questions and even told me they would insert the new jewelry. I was impressed with the sterilization process that the piercer went through, even for an insertion. The room was like an operating room.
I will go back just for the ease of having someone else put new jewelry in.
The worse experience in my life!!! I am chocked with this ranking and will not trust Yelp anymore!!!
I am surprised of this good ranking, and I question it because of my recent horrible experience at this location! Here's what happened:
- I called and asked for the price of Stud earrings, and a gentleman replied that it was $40. Normally when you buy earrings, you expect that they come as a pair. Because of their good ranking, I decided to visit the store.
The woman at the store, who was covered with tattoos and piercings up to her neck, was not welcoming and accommodating at all. I asked her for the stud earrings and wanted to see different sizes and compare prices. So she said that the large one is $40 for one earing, and when I asked for the small ones she said $40, without clarifying that only one earing is $40 not a pair. I made my order, which consisted of one only large stud and one pair of small earrings. I proceeded to make the payment. After she made the transaction, she informed me that she would now go and get my earrings.
She returned with a box, and opened it: There were two single stud earrings in one closed plastic zip bag. I pointed to the small one, without opening or touching the earrings, and said that it was only one. She replied that earrings came in singles! I was surprised, as I thought that $40 was for a pair of small earrings, since one large one was for the same price. She aggressively replied that, no, it is always this way, and everyone knows it...!!
I was very irritated with her attitude and was still trying to come to grips with the situation, and said that maybe I would come back later for the small one, and requested a refund on the small earring. This time, she became extremely aggressive and showed me the small sign on the side of the table, which stated that there were no exchanges or refunds!! I said that I did not even touch the earrings, as it was still on the table... I was trying to indicate to her that she had just made this transaction... I was shocked... Her reaction to this was even worse and this time her colleague came and tried to be nice, by saying that they were not able to do any refunds since they were not managers. Subsequently he advised me to return to the store the following day and talk to the manager. I responded by saying that I understood their position, however, I was not going to take the earring, because if I did, the manger would definitely not return it, because of hygienic reasons... After hearing this, he got angry and aggressive as well, insisting that I had to take the earring with me, as it was mine and I couldn't leave it there. By this time, I was thinking that maybe I should just get the other pair when I realized the small earring was the wrong size!! I advised him about this, but he was not even listening to me and just getting more irritated and aggressive that I must take my earrings and leave the store!! Just then, my friend called and I explained to him what had just happened, and he was shocked and tried to make suggestions, but the guy at the store was yelling that I must take my earrings and get out of their store immediately! And they were going to call the police if I don't leave!! I just stepped out of the store without the earing to understand and hear my friend better. The moment that I stepped out of the store they slammed the door behind me!! After about a minute, while I was talking to my friend, the store attendant came out of the store and put my earrings on the ground in the midst of pedestrians!! He yelled that I was not allowed in their store and they didn't want any business with me!!
I thought that the receipt was still with them... so I made a phone call to the police. When the police came they got my earrings from them because I had thrown it back into the store during the time when the incident was happening...Police I guess also was kind of not doing anything and got the earrings and the receipt.
The next day I called and spoke to the manager (Summer). She actually sounded very understanding and acted in a professional manner. After our conversation, she advised me that she would talk to the owner and get back to me. When she got back to me, she said that she cannot do anything, as the owner did not want me to return to his store and not have any business with me!!
My experiences at Nomad have always been awesome. The staff is very helpful and you can ask dumb questions and they dont treat you like you're an idiot. I dont mind paying for excellent service and the knowledge that I'm safe in their hands. They show you all the sterile equipment and the entire place is very very clean and they have a nice display for all their jewelry.
I got my lip pierced here a little over a year ago and the staff takes however long you need to perform the piercing. They allow you to calm down & walk you through steps to get you relaxed. After the jewelry is in they make sure that you're cool to stand up & if not you can rest for however long you need.They will also have a nice conversation with you & arnt all business all the time.
I've had zero problems with my piercing. I ended up purchasing a ring from them after the stud that had originally been put in started rubbing my teeth & was pretty uncomfortable due to the rubbing. Again, a great experience with switching out my jewelry. Â
Thank you Nomad!
Josh and Samar were awesome!!! They were patient and answered all of our questions. We did not receive any piercings from here but did purchase jewelry and have it inserted. Prices were very reasonable. The store was very clean, employees were very friendly and informative. Excellent experience.
Review Source:Definitely pricey for what you get, but you pay for what you get! They sterilize/autoclave everything- literally wipe down the dentist looking chair; not just chane the sheet of paper.
They were open on 4th of July, and had what I needed desperately! Cyrus is super nice and knowledgeable. Thr lady workimg thr front is kinda standoffish.. But still helpful. I liked them so much, I came back a few days later for another jewelry purchase.
Also, they anodize jewelry (titanium to be exact) for $10 bucks. It's super cool to see for yourself. There's also a check I'm deal for ten percent off on jewelry.
Comparing my experience here to my previous experience at other piercing parlorcs.. You can definitely see the difference. The price is well worth it.
I have had two very good experiences at Nomad. The first time I had my second ear piercings re-opened, and it was quick and cheap. The second time I got my nose pierced, and the experience was very professional.
I feel very good about the advice they gave regarding placement and jewelry, and the piercing appears to be very well done. The stud is gorgeous. I felt very prepared and well taken-care-of.
My only complaint is that their gold jewelry is very expensive. I know it can never be as cheap in a retail outlet as online jewelry, but it was still pretty steeply priced. I could have had the piercing done with quality inexpensive jewelry (which they offer) and changed it out once it healed, but healing can take months. I wanted to have something really beautiful right away. So... I chose to pay for the expensive jewelry.
The piercing is top-notch though, and the staff are wonderful. I highly recommend going to Nomad for your piercing. Please remember to tip your piercer well!
Just know that you can get the gold jewelry a LOT cheaper online. It may be worth asking whether you can bring in your own.
One day I thought to myself, I don't have enough puss coming out of my head, so I decided to get pierced here... three times. I have had 3 separate failed attempts at this spot.
You're thinking I'm dirty. Or that my body just can't handle foreign objects in it. Maybe you're thinking my head is simply full of puss. These would all be reasonable assumptions, but incorrect.
Why did I keep going back? The staff is excellent. Especially the chick who had to dig my monroe piercing out of my face after my body half-ate it. But they insist on using these studs with flat backs for all their piercings. My body just ends up eminent domain-ing  the back of the piercing.
After the monroe monstrosity, I was pretty shaken. I went somewhere else to get the cartilage piercing re-done - somewhere that uses rings.
Precision and cleanliness are what you hope for when a foreign body penetrates your dermis. A surgeon-in-training underwent such a procedure here (I observed) and it's a testament to Nomad that she reported no complaints about either.
I noted Nomad's professional and rigorous approach to jamming barbs into sensitive areas. They also have a sweet dragon mural which really ties the room together and provided a comprehensive rationale for the care and maintenance of the newly opened flesh wound which is now forced to close around a lodged, non-organic object.
I decided to get my nose pierced on a whim and happened upon Nomad Body Piercing because it was close by. I didn't need an appointment (and actually am not sure if they take them?) and was helped right away. It may sound silly, but my main reason for wanting a nose ring was so that I can wear a hoop every now and then as an outfit accessory (when I want to look super edgy, duh) and had every intention of just getting something super small and unnoticeable for the time being. Well they literally had the most perfect gold, heart shaped stud that I am now obsessed with and may never even switch out.
The guy I worked with talked me through the whole process, include their thorough sterilization techniques and when it came to the piercing he was very calming and I literally felt almost no pain. I have had my piercing for a little over two weeks now and have had zero issues with the healing process. I have been doing as he said and not thinking about it, not touching it, not putting anything on it and I now actually forget I even have a piece of jewelry on my face except when I look in the mirror and realize how RAD i look.
I highly recommend Nomad for your next piercing!
I was a bit panicky yesterday, because I'm visiting SF and I managed to lose my nose ring. Â As I'm about 2,000 miles away from the piercing studio I've gone to in the past, I took to the trusty Yelp pages to find a quality studio.
Yelpers, you did not disappoint.
Nomad is exceptionally clean and has excellent practices. Â The staff was friendly and knowledgeable: Â they took the time to answer all of my questions so I could choose a great piece. Â The piercer (I'm not even going to attempt to spell his name) even asked me if I wore my ring all the time (I do) so that he could bend it appropriately.
While they were prepping, I took a look around. Â they have BEAUTIFUL jewelry. Â I would have stayed there and pierced every spot on my body if I didn't have dinner plans immediately after. Â It also seems to be very reasonably priced! Â
I highly recommend Nomad to anyone who wants a safe location to get the piercing of their dreams!
OK, this place has
AWESOME jewelry
Really nice staff (the guys who work here)
Beautifully decorated space.
But poor management.
I bought a pair of earrings here, and spent time speaking with the manager about them (the only girl who works there, I forgot her name). She was nice, and I was on the fence about my purchase and asked her if there was a return policy, and I remember hearing that you could exchange for store credit.
I come back the next day, and there were two guys who were really sweet and helpful. I asked them about the return policy and they seemed unsure of what it was. They called the manager, and she told them no and that all sales were final as its written on the receipt.
Now this could all be very true. I'm not saying she directly lied to me, but everyone seemed confused by what was going on. Which makes me think the policy wasn't so clear to begin with.
The guys also added that her decision must be based on a hygiene issue with the jewelry since the store could not accept pieces which have been worn by different people. Now, this is a very solid theory, though completely inconsistent with how the store actually runs things. I was able to try on a few different pairs of earrings with her, and saw other buyers doing the same thing when I first was there. Thats why I assumed they seemed initially cool with me bringing it back.
This place is really, really fantastic. The jewelry, and guys behind the desk are awesome. I'm just a stickler for good management. Especially when it costs me a lot.
Okay.  I really tried.  I went here years ago and had a great experience with my piercing and replacement jewelry.  Now, I am going on the SECOND time I have driven into the city from Oakland and tried to get some services at this place  during business hours and have been greeted by a locked door and a sign stating that someone couldn't work that day or was "away" for a few hours.  Really?  Is this a business or a front?  I wish they would be consistent and post business hours they can adhere to.  Very very frustrating!
Review Source:I have a tendency to pull out my nose stud while I'm sleeping. Yikes! Painless, but annoying. I didn't realize it until I was in my office the next morning, and I knew it had begun to slight close on the inside since it was a newer-ish piercing (a second hole on my nose, next to a ring). I looked up piercing places within walking distance of my office on Mission and 9th. Nomad seemed to be the closest and the best reviewed so I gave it a shot!
I was not disappointed. I showed up a little early since I took my lunch to fix my dilemma, and Cyrus (sp?) was kind enough to open up for me. He was the only one in at that point. He did a great job of informing me on my options, and I decided I would go with a second ring, since it had been long enough since the piercing had been performed. Everything was sterile and top-grade. He was very gentle with my nose, as there was some catching when the loop went through, Â but I can handle a little pain so everything went great! He was very friendly and I'd have to say he is for sure my favorite piercer I've had the pleasure of working with! Definitely go to Nomad piercing for all your piercing needs.
And the art that covers the place is fantastic as well so you get some great eye candy!
Came here for my 6th piercing since Body Manipulation was too crowded and rude. I'm glad I ended up here because Shon was super sweet, patient and very thorough.
I was a little apprehensive because I was getting my lady parts pierced - 1. I knew it was going to be painful and  2. A man was going to be looking at my cooter! -_-
He assured me I had nothing to worry about and that he would walk me through the process beforehand.
After a 5 minute pep-talk, he began the process. Everything was sterile and it was the worst, most excruciating pain for all of 5 seconds! I didn't scream, just silently died on the inside. No pain before or after the procedure but those 5 seconds seemed to drag on foreverrrrrr!
He cleaned me up and handed me a mirror....beautiful! Disco ball cunts are quite the sight!
*I got a vertical hood piercing with a standard (straight) barbell. The initial gauge I got pierced with was kind of bulky and I eventually sized down and switched to a curved barbell. Curved barbells flow with your body and are uber comfy. (recommended)
**You can kiss your jeans goodbye, cause you probably won't be wearing them anymore. Disco ball + jean friction = !!! It's too much, trust me.
***This will change your sex life forever.
Josh is amazing. Â He did my forward helix (with a continuous heart!) and it was painless. Seriously. He is polite, professional and knowledgable. The shop is exceedingly awesome... SUPER clean, fantastic, beautiful jewelry selection and high ceilings. Only one piercing room- that's a good thing. I will return for him to change my jewelry.
Review Source:Shon did an amazing job guiding me breathing deeply with me, almost pain-free through two piercings (they were experienced pain-free by me, but do not want to present unrealistic experiences for others). His explanations of aftercare were clear and helpful. He also colored my Titanium eye-brow piercing with his anodizer machine which is really cool to see your jewelry change colors..
As a returning customer, I received a large discount.. Loving the PeaCock Blue Opal..
HAPPY with Nomad as always!!
Ready for a story? Â
Actually, if you want the back story...look up Nomad Piercing in Portland and you can read all about the ordeal!
I "had" three vertical nape dermal implants done in Portland. Â One rejected. Â The remaining two were pissed off little demons. Â
My honey says to me on Saturday the 14th..."hey you wanna go on an adventure?" Â I say "where to?" Â He say's "I'm gunna go buy a new drum kit at Guitar Center and if you go with me...we can stop by Nomads to get your neck looked at." Â *****SOLD!!
We go to Nomads. Â I've just gotta say...the girl behind the counter was friendly, helpful, cute as a button and knowledgeable. Â Don't let the reviews below scare you off. Â Maybe the people below were snotty little brats or something and got the attention (or lack there of) because they were snotty little brats. Â I don't know. Â All I know is that the attention I received was top notch and I am really happy I can say that. Â I will admit, I was a bit concerned (based on the reviews below) at what I would encounter when we got there. I even told the honey...I hope the counter chick isn't mean to me. Â Very pleased!!!
The piercer that day was "John" and he was awesome. Â I showed him the neck carnage (it wasn't THAT bad, but it FELT that bad) and he was polite, professional and let me make the decision on what course of action I wanted to take. Â I opted to have them removed. Â John said that the positioning (vertical) on the nape of the neck for dermal implants is almost a no go. Â He said he probably would have told me no if I were in his shop asking for that particular placement. Â Because my Portland piercer didn't say no...I now have three lovely little scars for making a silly, uniformed choice.
Anyhow, John told me what he would be doing and then walked me through EVERYTHING as he was doing it...like a good piercer should. Â It barely hurt at all and what a relief when it was over. Â Cost me $5.00 to have them both removed. Best five bucks I've ever spent.
The story continues. Â
I had wanted a nose ring for-ever. Â I was going to get it done in Portland when I got the dermals, but it was too expensive for everything at once. Â So...fast forward to the day I saw John. Â Since I couldn't have the dermals anymore...yep...I got the nose ring. Â :)
Everything was EXTREMELY sterile and clean. Â They put the jewelry through an autoclave, used special sterile gloves, and I have gotta say that I was really impressed with the sterile, clean and professional aspect of this experience.
The only reason they got a four star instead of a five is this:
My nose got really swollen the second and third day. Â The swelling was making the jewelry sink into my nose. Â I went to see two other piercers and they both said the jewelry was bent too short. Â However, everyone swells (or doesn't swell) differently. Â I decided that instead of freaking out and having them take it out to re-bend the jewelry...that I would try and reduce the swelling on my own. Â I took two to three Advil every four to six hours during the day. Â I cleaned it by doing the salt water soaks as instructed (which I was already doing) and I iced the side of my nose. Â It worked!! Â Everything is beautiful and the piercing now seems to be healing like a champ.
Thanks Nomad of San Francisco! Â You rock!
I stopped by here yesterday when I needed a replacement ring after one fell out and disappeared (probably on the streets of San Francisco somewhere). I actually wasn't sure what size I needed and the girl behind the counter suggested I get the piercer to take a look at what I was trying to match up as well as get him to put the ring in (since most of the time I wind up with the beads never being in tight enough, leading to them falling out and hence, the whole reason I wound up at the shop to get a replacement).
Between the awesome salesgirl interaction to discussing options with the piercer in the back room, I wound up buying and replacing all three rings in the area. The feedback, advice and professional attitude were spot on and I was extremely comfortable and at ease.
I can't speak for having an actual piercing done here, since I haven't purchased that service (yet?) but if it's anything like my interaction with just getting jewelry replaced, I'd have no reason to remove any stars from this rating. I'd be more than happy to go by here again as it's not too far out of the way from downtown and easier to get to compared to the shops up in Haight-Ashbury.
rocked in mid-week midday cause i needed a new body mod. or i had been considering one, and after spending one minute talking to their guest piercer Chris, i knew i wanted him to do my work.
very clean, new needles, super sterile. all standard from a good shop.
what made Nomad great for me was the cheerful, yet calming welcome i received when i walked in the door, and obvious patience and affection the two working had for their art. i asked questions, hemmed and hawed over gauge size, and they laughed with me and answered my questions.
beautiful jewelery selection as well.
i guess what i'm saying is, i've found my piercing shop. done.
oh right, ended up going from nothing to 2G ears. i love them, and will likely go to 00 before i stop... with the ears anyways.
The guy who pierced my ears was pretty awesome. He made sure he changed his gloves a lot and he let me know when he was gonna stick the needle in my ear, etc. It was a pretty calming experience and it didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. So this places gets the a-ok from me because the experience of getting my ears pierced was a good one.
As for the lady at the counter, she was kinda terrible I'm not gonna lie. I asked her how much my jewelry would be and she barely gave me any information. She said yeah about $10-$30. So I got the least expensive posts I could get. What I didn't know is that I would have to pay for the stupid backings as well which cost $20 each. So I pretty much spent $60 all together on jewelry alone, and that was not the only piercing I got today.
Yes I could have been more thorough with my questions, but the lady should also do her part to inform the customer of what they're getting in to.
Their patient staff are willing to talk with you about any piercing fears. Chris pierced my belly button and did a superb job. I've had it pierced two other times at different establishments, and he was the first one who got it right. Clean environment, good jewelry selection, highly recommended.
Review Source:I had a 10% off coupon and had wanted to get my dimples pierced for weeks. I was so excited. I have been to Nomads on multiple occasions. I came here because my friend did- and they do a good job. However they didn't carry the right jewlery for the piercings i wanted. Typically there will be two people working but there was only one today. It was raining so hard outside and after i finished filling out the paperwork he told me he didnt carry what i needed. He sent me to Cold Steel America on Haight saying they were just as good, clean, and professional. He was really appologetic, but in a way i was glad i made the extra treck out in pouring rain. It made me find Cold Steel. Don't get me wrong Nomads does a great job, but Cold Steel was impeccable. The place is larger and the people are SO much more outgoing and amiable. Everyone in here was so insanely sweet and Mic has to be one of the best piercers out there. Nomads is clean and does a really good job- but i found Cold Steel to be even better, and the best piercing experience i have ever had by far. Â It costs the same on muni to eithr place- and though Nomads is alot closer to me i will make the treck to Cold Steel from now on. I'm sad i didnt get to use my Yelp Coupon though, but i still would've paid slightly more here for the same piercing, with alittle less of a good experience. There are some amazing people that work here, but some have attitude. Two of my friends went here to get dermals *they are both regulars at Nomads* on their chests and left without them because the piercer on duty had major attitude. I don't have to call ahead to see if the awesome people at Cold Steel are working that day- because they are all awesome.
Review Source:I've had multiple piercings from multiple places over the years. I had to remove them all for boring jobs that didn't like them. Now I have a great job, and schooling that means I don't have to work for boring people again, so my friend and I decided to go get piercings. We literally just ended up at Nomad, and it was the best thing we could have ever done! I had my nose done and she had both nipples done. Samantha pierced us, and she was honestly the best piercer either of us has ever had! She was smart, funny, honest, clean...all the things you want from someone shoving holes in your body! I live in the Sacramento area, and will ONLY get pierced by Samantha at Nomad now!!
Review Source:I had to take my plugs out last year when I was working downtown (*snore*) and I've been wanting to get re-stretch my ears for some time now that I have a better job with a better company (yay!). I'd been trying to get them done at a "local" shop for over a month, since I rarely leave SOMA, but their piercer was never in and then they got someone new but didn't have any supplies. I was having a stressful day at work and was really itching for a good endorphin rush to get me through the rest of the afternoon.
I called Nomad and Cyrus told me to come on by, so I hoofed it over to check out the shop. Cyrus took a look at my holes and told me that he could re-stretch them or just re-pierce them so I decided to get them re-pierced at a gauge closer to what I want anyway.
Quick, clean, and reasonably priced. Yay! Thank you Nomad and thank you Cyrus!
Wow! I had an awesome experience today with Cyrus for my piercing (nothing too adventurous, just another ear cartilage piercing). I got some peer pressure from my friends to go get a long-planned piercing randomly, and one of them brought me here. First of all, the interior is spacious, clean, and really nicely decorated; it puts you at ease immediately. The art's also really cool. There's foreign music playing in the background, a pretty blue beta fish in a bowl on the counter, and a special arrangement of moss growing inside display cases of jewelry!
Speaking of jewelry, the selection is jaw-dropping; they have everything (seriously, EVERYTHING from places around the world, it looks like, they even had some ancient Korean royal earrings on display on the wall - represent).
Now, to the most important part: the process. Cyrus went over everything with me in detailed manner - making a copy of my ID, the permission form/disclaimer, what he would be doing to my ear, how he would be doing it, aftercare directions, etc. (They use a special testing strip to test the sterility of the tools they're going to use, which I thought was really cool.) He was professional and personable, the two most important "P"s in the business world. Also, the receipt they give you has the measurements of the jewelry for your piercing for easy reference just in case; that really impressed me.
The piercing went perfectly; I was actually surprised (disappointed?) that there wasn't more pain hehe. I really liked the fact that they make the customer lie down on one of those puffy examination beds even for a small ear piercing.
As for pricing, my piercing came out to about $52~. It felt pricey to  me, but I can't comment further on that because I don't know the price range of piercing parlors in the Bay area. Regardless, I'm more than satisfied with the price for the quality of service that I received. After reading some of the older reviews, I'm glad I came after the new owner was brought on board! A+, would do again. Thanks, Cyrus!
The second star comes from the fact that I had one really nice experience at Nomad, and ordered some jewelery and was told by a gentleman who took the order that it would be about 2 weeks or so. Â I called to follow up at week 6 and my order was lost. Â I pre-paid which wasn't the best idea).
Now 8 weeks later, I go into Nomad to follow up. Â I own a small business and work with kids throughout the city, so it's tough to find a few minutes to pop in, but I was finally able to and was sorry I did. Â
First I knocked because the door was locked at 12:15. Â I was greeted with 'the door is open.' Â Very friendly. Â The door was, in fact, locked to her surprise. Â (btw, she was tall, dark short hair, worked on Wednesday afternoon). Â She then looked around for my stuff and could find nothing. Â Okay, not her fault. Â I then asked a few questions about what could have possibly happened to confuse the order, trying to suggest that maybe the order... INTERRUPTED by her saying "No." Â Then I said, "I know, but do you think it's possible that "- INTERRUPTED by her saying "No." Â I calmly asked if she even knew what my question was going to be, so she said "no, go ahead," and I said "Since the jewelery is ordered in LA, is it possible" - INTERRUPTED AGAIN by her saying "No." Â I was dumbfounded, and just took a breath, said thanks, and left.
I'm sorry, but her ONLY job is customer service, and that's not how anyone should be treated, especially a patron. Â I just don't get it. Â If she has some other issues in her life that she's not happy about, I do feel for her, but there's no excuse for bringing it with her to work. Â
Body Manipulations is close-by and every time I've talked to them they have been more than courteous, so I'd take my business there if I were you.
Summary: Really great and friendly, clean, professional, but personable. Affordable? I dont know the references for pricing these things, but it seemed reasonable :) The most important thing for me was I felt like trusted my piercer. If I have another whim, I will come back to Nomad.
Full Story:
I stopped by on a whim on my bike ride home from brunch with my boyfriends mom, where we had some yummy fried chicken eggs benedict from "Brenda's" (saucy name, huh?)
The place looks isolated, but mysterious, sort of lures you in esp with the strange high door knob (youll see when you go). Cyrus talked to me for 40 minutes happily answer all of my concerns/questions/curiosities about my "industrial." He got all sterile, autoclaved the piece, and pricked me with a smooth 1, 2! wiggled the piece into place and now I can say my head feels a little heavier on one side ;)
Happy hunting!
Got my nose pierced here over 9 years ago, so when I lost my ring and feared that I'd have to get my nose re-pierced, I figured, hey, why not try Nomad's again. I was amazed to see how much had changed, decor-wise, since my last visit there in 2002! Very clean...spotless to be exact. When the landlord barged in during my consultation and proceeded to walk into the workspace, the piercing practitioner ran after him and scolded him for possibly breaking sterility! The staff was extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and patient. They take their job and your safety/health seriously. My husband decided to get his nose pierced as well, and he has a great experience as well.
Review Source:I got all of my two piercings here and I have to say... I am a happy camper. Â I came here six years ago to get my tongue pierced and I'm glad I choose Nomad's. Â No appointment needed.. I just walked right in and everything was smooth sailing ever since. Â My tongue didn't swell up like most of my friends. Â Thank god, right? Â I also got my lip pierced here which I was pleased with as well. Â This place is very clean, professional and laid back. Â They really know how to make a good lasting impression. Â Whether it's your first time getting a piercing or you just want to find a place that offers a good deal, Nomad's is the place.
Review Source:I went for a piercing yesterday, and I would rate it as one of my top five life experiences. No joke. I had my nostril pierced nearly 10 years ago, and that pales in comparison to this!
Samantha was piercer, and I don't know who was at the counter, but they both made me feel extremely at ease. I initially wasn't sure how I would feel in the long run about it, but they both made me feel totally comfortable, and more excited than I was to begin with!
The shop was clean, had great art, and the displays of jewelry were beautiful!
I'm definitely going back! I can't wait!
I got my first piercings at Nomad by a really sweet guy named Cyrus. I was super nervous going in because I had done extensive online research about piercings and how much a helix piercing would hurt. Regardless, instead of getting a lobe piercing as my first, I went straight for the helix on both my ears.
Before I begin explaining my experience, I'll tell you about my first impression of the shop-- the outside didn't look all that impressive and I could have easily missed it if I wasn't specifically looking for that shop/address, but as soon as my friend and I stepped inside, we knew that it was a really credible/professional and clean piercing and tattoo shop. Although the shop was small, it was cool with the fan overhead spinning as well as mellow-ish music playing in the background. For some reason, although the music was a bit eerie, it definitely helped me ease the stress and tension that was building up as I got ready for my first piercings ever.
First off, the man behind the counter (Cyrus) greeted me warmly and  was really helpful and took the initiative to ask me what I was looking for and answered any up front questions I had (like how much a cartilage piercing would hurt). Next, he made me sign a kind of lease form acknowledging that I am fully responsible for the permanent marking(s) I will make on my body after the procedure, etc. Fair enough.
Next, Cyrus handed me an Aftercare brochure that he said he had written along with the other artists/piercers who work in Nomad SF and assured me that as long as I followed the aftercare procedures, my healing process should be quick and fine.
Cyrus was really nice and answered all of my questions patiently while reassuring me of how the shop sanitizes and double checks for sanitary needles by using machines and what have you. The shop itself was also pretty neat and small and definitely super clean (cleanest piercing/tattoo shop I've ever passed by or walked into, seriously!)
So basically, my friend went with me while I got my piercings done and according to her, Cyrus changed gloves at least 6 times for every time he moved my hair out of my ears' ways or if he touched something else (talk about amazing quality and cleanliness!).
Anyways, Cyrus was really professional and friendly while he laid me out on the piercing/tattoo table (it was like a doctor's table--which he fully sanitized with some kind of spray and then put a white paper over like in a doctor's office). While he was cleaning, he overheard me telling my friend nervously of piercings gone wrong on youtube and even commented on how professional piercers (APP) have watched the youtube videos and found them ridiculous (haha, he's very smooth at conversations too). Cyrus then told me to sit down on the patient's table and marked both my ears with approximate locations of where I was to be pierced. He let me check it out in a hand mirror and do a rain-check with my friend before continuing with the procedure.
Before he pierced my ears, he cleaned them thoroughly and then dried them with a sort of gauze material (I think) and explained that after he instructs me to take in two breaths, he'll count to 3 and pierce my ear. The pain only lasted for what seemed like a long second, but it was over before I knew it. It felt like a super heavy pinch, which is exactly what Cyrus had said said to me as soon as I asked him about helix piercings. He definitely knew what he was talking about and he was so quick at the piercing, it only hurt but a second and I felt a surge of relief flooding through me. He let me relax for a minute before beginning the same sanitary procedure with my right ear (changing his gloves again) and this ear slightly hurt more, but it was still bearable. Maybe as painful as getting blood drawn, but definitely not even a tenth as long as drawing blood.
After Cyrus was done with both ears, he asked if I felt okay and I said yes and we went up to the cashier where he charged me a fair price around ~$110 Â for both piercings and the two threaded titanium earrings.
Overall, I had a really good experience at Nomad SF and I'm definitely going back there to get my next piercings, as I'm sure I want at least 2-3 more in my ears! It's been 3 days and my ears aren't too irritated or swollen still, even though I walk around intensely and sweat a decent amount. It's been about 3 days since I've gotten my helixes pierced and so far, so good. They itch every now and then and appear slightly more pink than the rest of my skin but it's normal. I've followed the saline soak procedure as instructed by Cyrus in person and from reading the brochure and I think it's working just great.
Thank you Nomad SF for such an amazing first piercing experience!!! I would highly recommend this shop to those who are looking for piercers who know what they are doing and HOW to make you feel comfortable during the procedure (especially if you're the nervous type like I am
This was my first time here. I actually was yelping a couple of piercing shops, to see where I could get the best deal. I called Nomad's up on Sunday, and a guy answered (Darn forgot his name..). I asked him questions about nose piercings, and when we hung up he said "Not a problem hun!" So I already felt at ease by just that small comment.
I took myself right over and was there right away. It was pretty dead on a Sunday afternoon, and it was just the two of them there. They showed me the different jewels for my nose, and I was able to hold them up to my face while I decided.
After all the paperwork, they explained to me that they were going to put the needles through some sort of machine to make sure if the tools were sterile and clean. At the end the machine should let us know to move forward or not. Which I thought was pretty cool, since other places I've been to never do that. They just pierce a hole through your face and thats that. But not Nomad's! Anyway.. so me being petrified of needles, I was a little nervous. But the process was quick. And it didn't hurt as much as it did the first time.
I paid for my piercing. And I noticed the girl at the register drinking some really tasty smoothie. And she offered me some, since she made a bunch. She brought me down a champagne glass with smoothie in it, and it was good! We talked for a bit and I finished my glass and thanked them for the experience.
If I ever decide to get another piercing, I'll be back! Or at least I'll refer others here. I've already done so actually!
Read some of the reviews from a while ago, and this place is completely different, new ownership, new staff, new look, new attitude.
Had my ears scalped to even them out. Originally had 00 but let them close up, after having them done again they healed up nicely and have stretched beautifully. I'm pleased with the results.
Didn't hurt as much as I thought it would, also the shop was super clean and sterile! The staff was super friendly and informative.
Since then I have purchased jewelry from them, they have an amazing selection. It's not cheap and crummy either, it's well worth the price. Forget Hot Topic and their plastic plugs, I'll take the grown-up jewelry thanks.
Beautiful artwork as well, inside and out!
Also had scarification done by the new owner Shon, excellent job!!!
Thank You Nomad SF!!!
Excellent service and friendly knowledgeable people- not to mention a fantastic price!! Â The studio is beautiful with great artwork everywhere. Â They take care to make sure everything is sterile (even running a test on it in front of you and showing the result that it is not contaminated). Â They're also incredibly helpful for piercing care. Â I got two upper ear piercings and it hurt a lot less than similar piercings I've gotten in other places; walked out incredibly happy with the results and with perfect instructions on how to take care of my new jewelry! Â
I didn't buy any except the studs for my piercings, but they also have a great selection of jewelry to buy- it's gorgeous!!!
Got my nostril pierced here it was super clean and yeah the girl who pierced my nose, steph was super friendly.
after getting it pierced i tried to take it out like 3 weeks later because i really wanted to stick in the ring. bad idea lol
went back and steph was super nice about putting it back in Â
yeah
awesome place to go!!! :)
i came here years ago to get my tongue and nose piercing. place is a bit small but overall staff was good and friendly. i forgot who pierced me i would recommend going to Nomads. Never had any problem with any of my piercings. I recommended a few of my girlfriends here. they also do tattoos
Review Source:After watching my Mom getting her nosed pierced at Body Manipulations, I was a bit inspired to take my one ear piercing (woo hoo) up a notch at Nomad's. I went with 4-gauge plugs on each ear. Steph, who has 8+ years of experience, was there to meet, greet, and pierce! Since it's been years since my first piercing (which happened to be at Nomad), she took great care of me without any pressure. I agree with Daniel F., "prices are hard to beat" and they have a great selection of jewelry. Thank you Steph and see you again soon!
Review Source:Walked into Nomad Piercing a week ago to buy some new jewelry and was so impressed with the shop, the selection, the staff, and the service. I've been planning on getting some piercings lately and decided to swing back to that shop yesterday to get my septum done. Cyrus did the work on me and I'll reiterate on my experience from last week: An absolutely fantastic experience. The place is super clean and and brilliantly designed. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. And the prices are hard to beat, all things considered. I'm fairly hard to impress, especially when it comes to things as personal as piercing and tattoo parlors... but I can say without a doubt that I will be returning.
Review Source:By far THE most professional piercing place that I have ever been to. Extremely sterile and very friendly and welcoming staff. The actual piercing room looks like an operating theater in a large hospital. Also, their prices are reasonable and they have an enormous selection of unique jewelry. I wouldn't go anywhere else after my experience here..
Review Source:Straight up best body piercing shop in SF!
The new owner of the shop Shon has been doing all of my piercings for the last 4 years & now that he opened up his own shop i recommend everyone getting all their piercing needs met here. Everyone that works at this shop are super friendly, professional, extremely knowledgeable & make you feel right at home. The shop itself is gorgeous! Extremely clean great atmosphere awesome art best selection of quality jewelry & it's totally affordable. my best friend and i came here the other day she got a vertical labret done by Steph she totally walked my home-girl threw all the aftercare & really took her time making sure the placement of the piercing was perfect & that my friend was comfortable, she did an amazing job it turned out looking absolutely beautiful. I think everyone should check out Nomad its seriously the best shop i've ever been too hands down.
Nomad saved me! After an awful experience at Zebra in Berkeley, I came to Nick with a nasty nasty piecing. He quickly explained what had happened to my piercing, gave me multiple options on how to correct the problem, provided me with a new sterile ring, and gave me great advice on how to take care of it.
I only give them four stars because I haven't been able to get back to the...the hours are mad shady....
other than that I totally recommend them!
i read the reviews here before i went to get belly piercing, i was sooo nervous and i forgot his name, but he made me feel a bit calmer....
although it was reallly crowded that day and they were kinda rude.....but hey all i cared about was getting it done and over with. it was a pretty easy process and it didnt hurt THAT badly i guess......but he had a problem screwing it on and he had a problem doing that for my friend too...so there was blood. EH. cost around 70-80 i think.....yea....no complaints about the belly piercing.
I've heard a lot of good things about them, but like other yelpers said , they are never open. I decided to have a mother-daughter bonding day and took time off work to go to the city to get pierced. their website said they were open at 12. So we got there at around 12:20 and found a locked door. They had a note on the wall that said no deliveries until 1PM (probably due tot he fact that they are always late). So we decided to sit in the car and wait until 1PM. I called to see if someone was in the shop but no one answered and they had no voice mail. We ended up calling Braindrop and someone actually answered the phone and said they were open. We drove right over and had the best experience.
Review Source:I came here to get my ear scalpeled twice. Â By the owner. Â He was fantastic. Â I felt relaxed and my ear healed perfectly.
I would go here for all my piercings (except that I have no more room anywhere).
Everything was very professional and clean. Â I loved how many times gloves were changed (or maybe I'm a freak).
Go here! Â Yes, it's out of your way and open odd hours, but it's totally worth it!
I don't get why everyone loves this place. As someone who's been to a bunch of different studios, this place was the least professional, clean, or private of any I've been to. There aren't any separate rooms, just curtains that divide the space. Maybe it's because they knew that I wasn't my first time getting pierced or that I wasn't freaked out, but the piercer didn't even count before shoving the needle through my skin. Just said, "Are you ready?" And then a few seconds later it was in. He also didn't ask if I liked his placement (what?!!) or even handed me a mirror to look at it afterwards. I also had him change jewelry on a different piercing and they didn't even have a standard titanium 3/4" CBR in stock so he had to use the display one. There was also no covering on the piercing table, which is something that I've never seen before, and my piercing came out crooked. I'm really unhappy and really wish that I had spent the MUNI fare and gone back to Braindrops in the Haight. Total waste of my $60.
------------------------------
Came back to get my labret jewelry sized down for the last time and the door was locked. I knew the place was open late and, sure enough, the "open" neon sign was on in the front. I looked in, didn't see anyone there, and figured that the guy was working alone and had gone to the bathroom. Walked back to my apartment to drop off some stuff, came back 10 minutes later, and it was still locked, sign still on, and no one around. I needed to get this thing sized down since I was leaving for Seattle the next day and was not interested in spending any more cash on this piercing that was overpriced to start with. So I call the shop on my cellphone as I'm standing right outside, wondering if maybe someone was in the back, and the guy picks up. I tell him the door's locked and he lets me in. Turns out he was taking a nap in the back during normal business hours. CLASSY. He staggers back, drops shit on the floor, and spends a while wrenching my piercing around. When he goes to look for the piece he needs, it turns out HE DOESN'T HAVE IT. Surprise, surprise. So he puts the jewelry back in, and just before I leave he says, "Bye, TESS," in this sort of pseudo-threatening way, as though to say "I know who you are." What the fuck?! I got my jewelery changed when I got into Seattle-area by this guy named Mitch at Top Tattoo & Body Piercing in Shoreline, WA. He changed my jewelry so quickly and painlessly that he just stared at me afterwards and was like, "Whatcha doing lying down for?" I had expected more pain and wrenching around after my experience at Nomad. When I told him I had gotten pierced there he said, "Oh yeah, that place has gone down hill." No joke.
I came here 3 years ago to get my belly pierce. I was really nervous and I was holding one of my friend's hand when i was laying on the table. The guy used a pen to mark where he was going to stick the needle in and silly me I thought it WAS the needle so I screamed a little. He looked at me funny like wth it was the pen! haha Anyways he said he was going to count to 3 so I would prepare for the "pain" but he only counted to 2! ahhh tricky tricky man. I guess that would've been better since on 3 I probably would've flinched my tummy and I bet that would've hurt more. -_-
$50 for a belly piercing..wow...but I'm glad I got it over with.
This 5 star review is for Nick. I am not even sure if he works here anymore, but if he does then he is the piercer for you! :) I actually followed him here from Body Exotic in San Jose. Nick has done my labert, my bellybutton, removed my eyebrow piercing and pierced my nose as well. He is extremely professional, very gentle, and damn he just always does a good job.
Review Source:got my tongue pierced here senior year of HS.
they were real nice and calmed and talked me through it... Â this was at their old spot on mcallister.
now at their market st. location...
when i was having problems w/my nose piercing, the guy [dunno his name but had tribal tattos on his face] Â was real helpful! Â kept it real and told me to take it out, let it heal, and repierce it. it was cool that he genuinely cared about that condition of my nose and wasn't trying to just make an extra buck! Â i swear i keep closing and poking this nose hole for god knows how many times... Â sometimes i think it's a sign.. i have it pierced again and it's fine -- for now! Â *fingers crossed*
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