Professional Piercing in Raleigh, NC
Whether it’s your first piercing, a new addition, or a little help with one you already have, you’re in good hands. Our resident piercer Justin Koce offers professional ear, nose, facial, and body piercings at Mad Ethel’s in Downtown Raleigh’s Glenwood South, along with jewelry changes and ear styling. We take your comfort seriously, keep things clean and professional, and are always happy to answer questions along the way.
Piercing Hours & Walk-In Availability
Tuesday–Friday
11 AM–6 PM
By appointment. Same-day walk-ins may be available before 4 PM, but are not guaranteed.
Saturday
11 AM–5 PM
Walk-in only, first come, first served. Wait times vary.
How to Book
Send a piercing request with the piercing you want and when you’re free. We’ll get back to you about booking an appointment or a consultation if you need one.
Age Requirements
Different piercings have different age requirements, with earlobe piercings starting at age 10. Anyone under 18 will need a parent or legal guardian with them, along with the required identification. Before your visit, check the age and ID requirements for the piercing you’re interested in so you know exactly what to bring.
Justin Koce, Resident Piercer
Meet Justin, Mad Ethel’s resident piercer. Knowledgeable, laid back, and never interested in rushing you through your appointment, Justin takes the time to understand what you’re looking for and make sure you feel comfortable before anything starts.
He’ll talk you through placement, anatomy, jewelry, and aftercare, and if something isn’t the right fit, he’ll help you find an option that is. Whether it’s your first piercing or you’ve had plenty, questions are always welcome and the process stays professional, clean, and relaxed.
Explore Piercing Services
Ear Piercings
Planning your first earlobe piercing or adding a cartilage piercing? Bring your placement ideas or a photo of the ear stack you like. Justin will help you choose a spot and jewelry that work with your ear shape and existing piercings.
Common placements
Earlobes • Helix • Forward Helix • Flat • Conch • Tragus • Rook • Daith • Industrial
Have a placement in mind? Send us a piercing request and tell us what you’re thinking. Ages vary by placement.
Planning a visit for your child? Read our children’s ear-piercing guide for age, ID, and appointment information.
Ear Styling + Curation
Looking to build the curated ear stack of your dreams? Justin can help you create a look that works with your anatomy, existing piercings, and personal style, from choosing jewelry to planning future placements.
Start from scratch, refresh jewelry in healed piercings, or build your stack one piercing at a time. In your request, tell us what you already have, what you’d like to add, and your jewelry budget. Inspiration photos are welcome.
Nose Piercings
Thinking about a nostril or septum piercing? Whether you know exactly what you want or just have a vague idea, bring it to us. At Mad Ethel’s, we’ll help you dial in the placement, jewelry, and overall look so it feels right for your face and your style.
Common placements
Nostril • Paired Nostril • Septum
Explore our nose piercing guide for nostril and septum options, pricing, and what to expect.
Not totally sure what to ask for? Send a piercing request and we’ll help you figure out the rest.
Facial + Lip Piercings
Facial piercings can be subtle, statement making, or somewhere in between. If you’re thinking about an eyebrow, bridge, or lip piercing, we can help you figure out the placement and jewelry that work best with your anatomy and the look you’re going for.
Common placements
Eyebrow • Bridge • Philtrum / Upper Lip • Center or Side Lower Lip • Paired Lower Lip
Some placements require a consultation or separate appointment. Send us a piercing request with what you have in mind and we’ll help you figure out the best next step.
Body Piercings
Body piercings are personal, and the right placement can depend on your anatomy, lifestyle, and the look you’re going for. We’ll help you understand your options, choose appropriate jewelry, and know what to expect from the piercing and healing process.
Common placements
Navel • Nipples
Have questions or another piercing in mind? Send us a piercing request and tell us what you’re thinking. Age and appointment requirements vary by piercing.
Piercings Requiring a Consultation
Some piercings need a little more planning before they’re booked. For placements where anatomy, tissue, jewelry, or healing can affect what will work, we start with a consultation to look at the area, talk through your goals, and figure out the best approach for you.
A consultation is required for:
Dermals / Surface Anchors • Stretching • Large Gauge Piercings • Select Genital Piercings
Other anatomy dependent placements may also require a consultation before booking.
Have something specific in mind? Send us a piercing request and tell us what you’re thinking. We’ll let you know what the next step looks like.
Existing Piercing Help + Jewelry Changes
Need help with a piercing you already have? Book an appointment for jewelry changes, downsizing, fit or placement questions, or help with a piercing that isn’t behaving the way you expected. We’re happy to help even if it was pierced somewhere else.
Jewelry Changes • Downsizing • Existing Piercing Help
These visits are booked as appointments so Justin has time to help. Tell us which piercing you have, when it was pierced, and whether you need a jewelry change, downsizing, or help with its fit. Ask about the service fee and jewelry cost before your visit.
Piercing Fees + Jewelry Pricing
Single piercings start around $75–$80 with basic jewelry
Based on a $40 piercing fee plus basic jewelry starting around $35–$40 per piece. Jewelry upgrades affect your total.
Piercing fees do not include jewelry. Jewelry is selected and priced separately.
Ear piercing fees
One earlobe $40
Two earlobes, same visit $70
($35 per lobe)
Cartilage placements $40 each
Helix, forward helix, flat, conch, tragus, rook, daith
Industrial $80
Nose piercing fees
Single nostril $40
Septum $40
Paired nostrils $80
Facial + body fees
Single placements $40 each
Eyebrow, bridge, navel, philtrum / upper lip, center or side lower lip, one nipple
Paired lower lip $80
Paired nipples $80
Dermal or surface bar
$60 each
Consultation pricing
Genital piercing pricing is provided after the required consultation. Include stretching, large-gauge, jewelry-change, or downsizing requests in your inquiry.
Tell us your placement and budget. We’ll help you explore your options.
How Piercing Appointments Work
1. Tell us your idea
Send us a piercing request with what you have in mind. Know exactly what you want? Great. Still figuring it out? That’s completely fine too.
2. Plan your visit
We’ll let you know how to book and whether your piercing needs a consultation or anything else before your appointment.
3. Placement + jewelry
At your appointment, we’ll look at your anatomy, talk through placement, and help you choose jewelry that works for the piercing and the look you want.
4. Piercing + aftercare
We’ll walk you through the piercing before we start, then make sure you leave knowing how to care for it, what to expect while it heals, and when to come back for things like downsizing.
Some piercings require a consultation or additional planning before they’re booked. We’ll let you know exactly what you need when we review your request.
What Piercing Clients Say
Justin did both of our piercings and he was absolutely fantastic. Super chill vibe, explained everything from start to finish, and was quick with the needle.
Mads · Google
I got two lobe piercings, and my experience was awesome! Justin was funny, knowledgeable, very careful regarding cleanliness, and more than fair price wise!
Chance Morris · Google
Piercing FAQs
We’re at 215 Glenwood Ave, Suite D, in Raleigh’s Glenwood South district. Free customer parking and the shop entrance are behind the building.
Yes, depending on the day. Tuesday through Friday, piercings are by appointment, with possible same-day walk-in availability before 4 PM. Saturday is walk-in only from 11 AM–5 PM and services are first come, first served.
You don’t need to figure that out on your own. Justin will check the area you want pierced and talk through placement and jewelry. If it won’t work well for your body, he’ll explain why and help you explore another option.
Your total is the piercing fee plus the jewelry you choose. Basic jewelry generally starts around $35–$40 per piece, so a single piercing with a $40 service fee starts around $75–$80 with basic jewelry. See Piercing Fees + Jewelry Pricing above for individual service fees. Upgrades affect the final cost. Tell us your placement and budget in your request.
Absolutely. Let Justin know you’re nervous and ask whatever’s on your mind. He’ll talk you through the placement, jewelry, and what to expect before getting started. You don’t need to know all the piercing terms to come in.
Mad Ethel’s offers select piercings beginning at age 10. Minimum ages vary by placement, and clients under 18 have additional parent or legal guardian and identification requirements. Review our full Piercing Policies & Age Requirements before visiting with a minor.