(First published on 13 October 2018)
(Last updated on 7 July 2020)
Hey there!
I decided to write a comparison review between....
Attic Jewelry & Piercing vs Spec Body Art (Tattoo & Piercing)
TL;DR: I prefer SBA over AJP.
Due to my (obvious) love for piercings, people have asked me where they should get pierced and why.
Back in 2015, Attic's was the only piercing studio that I knew of that did piercings with needle. So up until August 2018, I had my three helix + rook piercings done there. A bad experience with my rook piercing made me seek out alternative piercing studios. I found Spec Body Art through Instagram, read a ton of positive reviews on their Facebook/Google page, and ultimately decided to have my daith + future piercings done by their piercer, Ronny.
Piercers from both parlors attend the Association of Professional Piercers's conferences which updates them on the current industry standards and state of the piercing industry as a whole.
(1 May 2020) Also congratulations to Ronny for being the first official member of the APP in Malaysia and Southeast Asia! (An APP member is a piercer that practices safe piercings (regarding technique, equipment, jewelry, sterilization, etc) and provides accurate and relevant education about body piercing.) The SS15 branch of Spec Body Art is now officially an APP certified piercing studio.
There's going to be more focus on Spec Body Art in this post, because I was also interviewing Ronny and taking photos for an article that I was writing for an assignment. (I don't have any photos from Attic's because they don't allow photography there)
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Side note:
Ronny (the piercer at SBA that I go to) offered me a discount on my piercings going forward [as of 2019] (so I don't pay for the piercing costs, only the jewelry) because he appreciated the shoutout.
I was surprised and very thankful because I didn't expect it and I think it's extremely kind of him to do this for me because the piercing materials they use costs a significant amount of money to obtain/maintain.
Disclosing this for the sake of transparency. I don't intend to let it affect my review of either Attic's or Spec Body Art - I will provide information based on facts in accompaniment of my personal experience (yours may vary). However, I will acknowledge that biases are an unavoidable aspect of human nature so I will do my best to be aware of mine and maintain a sense of impartiality in my writing.
Ronny (the piercer at SBA that I go to) offered me a discount on my piercings going forward [as of 2019] (so I don't pay for the piercing costs, only the jewelry) because he appreciated the shoutout.
I was surprised and very thankful because I didn't expect it and I think it's extremely kind of him to do this for me because the piercing materials they use costs a significant amount of money to obtain/maintain.
Disclosing this for the sake of transparency. I don't intend to let it affect my review of either Attic's or Spec Body Art - I will provide information based on facts in accompaniment of my personal experience (yours may vary). However, I will acknowledge that biases are an unavoidable aspect of human nature so I will do my best to be aware of mine and maintain a sense of impartiality in my writing.
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PRICES
Base prices that include jewelry costs for surgical steel (Attic's) or implant grade titanium (SpecBodyArt).
There are additional charges for upgrading jewelry to titanium/solid gold or a specific design (cubic zirconia, opals, anodized jewelry etc).
Attic's has cheaper jewelry options - surgical steel, low grade titanium, unbranded... (that I suggest avoiding because they're poor quality) so if you purchase the higher quality jewelry they offer, I'd say the prices are about the same, more or less.
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JEWELRY:
If you choose to use steel jewelry, please be aware that you might experience an allergic reaction or irritation issues immediately or after a prolonged exposure to nickel.
Implant grade titanium (internally threaded/threadless) is the best and most affordable body jewelry material for avoiding allergic reactions, infections or irritation problems. Titanium allergies are uncommon, but if you have one, use niobium instead - it's known as the most biocompatible jewelry material and it's highly unlikely that you'll react to it. Solid gold is a favorite body jewelry material but some people do experience adverse reactions from the alloyed composition.
Implant grade jewelry:
1. Meets standards of ASTM for materials made for medical/biomedical purposes.
2. Biocompatible.
3. Smooth surface finish.
4. Removal of impurities in metal.
5. Implant grade steel - has surface layer that prevents nickel from leeching into body.
Body Jewelry Material
| Best | ASTM F-136 titanium Niobium Solid gold (14k, 18k, 24k) |
| Acceptable | ASTM F-138 steel |
| Worst | Surgical steel Sterling silver G23 titanium Brass Copper Silicone Bioplast Plated gold Costume jewelry |
Breakdown - Recommended Jewelry
| Implant Grade Titanium | - Nickel free - lower chances of allergic reaction - Bio-compatible - Wide range of designs. - Can anodize to different colors - Rare chance of allergic reaction - Highly resistant to corrosion caused by bodily fluids - Second most affordable high quality body jewelry material - Lightweight - Strong and durable ☓ More expensive than steel |
| Niobium | - Hypoallergenic (nickel free) - Most bio-compatible material - Can be anodized - Only material that has rainbow colors anodisation - Scratch resistant and highly durable - Malleable - Lightweight - Highly resistant to corrosion/tarnishing ☓ Rare and difficult to find ☓ Limited jewelry design selection |
| Solid Gold | - Amazing variety of jewelry designs from reputable body jewelry brands (e.g. BVLA, Body Gems, LeRoi) ☓ Expensive ☓ Contains alloys that might trigger allergic reactions for those with nickel sensitivities |
| Implant Grade Steel | - Most affordable body jewelry material - Lower nickel content than surgical steel - Highly resistant to corrosion, tarnishing, scratching - Lightweight - Malleable ☓ Low nickel content ☓ Not as hypoallergenic as titanium ☓ Might cause skin irritation, migration/rejection, or allergic reactions for some people ☓ Cannot be anodized |
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Why Needle, not Gun?
| Needle | - One-use only (no transmission of bodily fluids.) - Sterilized in an autoclave (no bacteria + living microorganisms) - More accurate piercing. - Allows for faster healing. - Allows use of wide variety of jewelry (lengths, gauges) to best fit one's body anatomy. - Piercers are required to undergo extensive training (regarding technique, infection control & healing practices.) - Less tissue trauma - Jewelry used is designed to be easily cleaned. - Can be used for any body piercing. ☓ Significantly more expensive |
| Gun | - Cheaper than piercing with a needle. ☓ Gun piercers are not required to have extensive training to perform a piercing properly. ☓ Not sterile (Higher risk of infection and disease transmission) ☓ More tissue trauma ☓ Higher risk of shattered cartilage + buildup of scar tissue + embedding of jewelry in skin. ☓ Difficult to pierce accurately. ☓ Uses standard length jewelry that is not a universal fit for everyone. ☓ Not enough post length to accommodate swelling. ☓ Poor starter jewelry quality ☓ Butterfly backs allow buildup of bacteria ☓ Risk of uneven piercings. |
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Criteria of Professional Piercer:
- Have the necessary experience & training to perform a piercing with the proper placement and technique
- Pierce with sterilized needles, equipment, and jewelry
- Use implant grade body jewelry that does not cause allergic reactions & irritation
- Provide good aftercare advice and guidance when you have issues with your piercing
- Pierce in a sterile environment to avoid contamination.
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FYI:
If you want more in-depth information about my piercing experiences at Attic's and Spec's, refer to my ear piercing experiences post - it delves more into the jewelry I use, how painful each piercing was, how the piercing process went, the healing process etc.
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Let's start with Attic's Jewelry & Piercing.
Backstory:
The co-founder, Jin says (in a comment below), "I, myself am a trained medical professional major in Biochemistry specializing in microbes (Bachelor) and have 3 years working experience in Embryology Lab at Raffles Hospital, Singapore before venturing into piercing business.
It is branched out from a shop in Melaka call Boutique Tribe own by Vie which is operating as a body piercing shop since 2006 and it is still operating, since we have 9 piercers all together, they are very well trained by me about procedures, aftercares and troubleshooting to help and answering questions from customers.
However, we are still learning how to cope with the expenses in Malaysia piercing market as we are unable to charge the similar pricing as United States or Japan. The equipment we uses are all lab certified. We are trying our best to explain and educate customers why cleanliness and safety is so important."
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Ear Piercing Process:
1. Select jewelry (choose material - surgical steel/titanium, post style - straight/curved/circular barbell or labret, ends - cubic zirconia/basic ball-ends/etc.). The piercer will suggest the best type for the piercing you plan on getting. You'll also sign a release form (if you're under 18, you need your parent/guardian's signature)
2. Go into a closed off area of the shop, sit on the stool while the piercer puts on some gloves, shows you the needle in the packet and explains what's about to happen to you. The piercer will then sanitize your ear.
3. The piercer will mark your ear with a pen and you check to see if you like the positioning. If you don't, you can tell him if you want it higher or lower, and he'll tell you his thoughts on it. (e.g. if it's too high, it'll hit your glasses constantly). If you're okay with potential issues like that and want it there anyway, they'll do it for you, no problem.
Step 4 may differ depending on your piercer.
4. (i) Piercer says "breathe in" and inserts the needle while you breathe out.
4. (ii) Piercer uses numbing spray then inserts the needle and jewelry.
5. Piercer cleans off the blood and other fluids, then briefs you on the aftercare.
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Pros:
i. the piercing placements were okay - my helix piercings have healed properly for the most part (except for the irritation bumps that commonly occur with helix piercings).
ii. different convenient shop locations (Sunway Pyramid, 1 Utama, Dataran Pahlawan) in malls.
iii. they sell Neilmed wound wash (which is the best aftercare solution for piercings)
iv. Attic Luxe (@Fahrenheit88) seems to be a cleaner and more professional studio compared to their other locations - in malls where the piercing space is where you sit on a stool behind a curtain. They have a decent range of high quality jewelry here, only pierce with needle and have a dedicated piercing studio. (I haven't been pierced here, so I can't say much about the piercer's skills or sterilization standards)
v. Some of their jewelry selection is high quality and imported from US (Industrial Strength, LeRoi Fine Jewelry, Anatometal, Buddha Jewelry Organics).
vi. They offer microdermal piercings.
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Neutral:
My piercing experiences there have always felt more like a business transaction. You get in, get pierced and get out. Your piercing is done in a flash.
It was very impersonal for me. I think the only things I said were:
1. What piercing I want.
2. Wanting a needle piercing.
3. This jewelry please.
4. How much is the total?
I guess it's nice for people who just want to get it done and over with, without thinking about it too much.
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Cons:
i. As a member of the piercing community that strongly advocates against the use of piercing guns and supporting any business that use them, I've always been conflicted about how Attic offers it as a piercing option. However, I understand that in Malaysia, we don't always adhere to the US piercing standards in our piercing industry.
I think Attic should make an effort to educate their customers on the dangers of the piercing gun (The piercer there I went to in 2015 did, but subsequent piercers didn't) , and hopefully transition into not offering that particular service anymore.
ii. The antiseptic cream they provide hinders the healing process (according to official guidelines set by the Association of Professional Piercers).
iii. After the horrifying experience I had with my rook (you can read more about that here), I realized that the cheaper jewelry they sell is low quality and not implant grade - surgical steel, G23 titanium, etc - which increases the likelihood of allergic reactions, irritations, and prolongs the healing period.
(Photo taken after switching out jewelry again at Spec Body Art)
They used the wrong jewelry size and length of low quality surgical steel material in my rook when I went to get it changed.
For reference, it was a 14g and 10mm curved barbell that's typically used in eyebrow piercings. For my anatomy, appropriate rook jewelry would be 16/18g (thickness) and between 6-8mm (length) - although you could opt for a longer/thicker jewelry if you want (when the piercing is healed).
You tell the difference in jewelry quality by looking at the polish. On the right, the opal barbell has a shiny mirror finish, while the regular barbell is duller in comparison.
Closeup comparison from APP.
I hope they transition into selling only implant grade jewelry in the future because customers who aren't informed about jewelry quality might have to deal with a lot of issues during the healing process if they purchase the low quality jewelry.
iv. They aren't very strict about sterilization.
There's been a few instances when I've gone to get my jewelry changed when they just touch my piercings with their bare hands.
When I got my double helix done in 2018, the piercer dropped the jewelry on the floor and "sanitized" it with numbing spray. I just cringed internally and got the piercings anyway.
Not sure if they use sterilized or non-sterilized gloves... the needle is sterilized but they don't sterilize their jewelry and don't have an autoclave to do it in store.
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Advice: If you choose to get pierced here, ask for implant grade titanium or solid gold jewelry. Avoid surgical grade steel/titanium because it's low quality - poor finish, dubious metal content, and has not been proven to be body-safe.
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Verdict:
I personally would not go there for piercings because I think SBA is a better alternative for reasons which I will list below.
But if you're too lazy to read further, TL;DR: they need to improve on maintaining a sterile piercing environment and providing only high quality jewelry before I will consider going back again.
It's an important step in preventing transmission of bloodborne diseases (e.g. hepatitis), bacterial infection, allergic reaction, and interference with the healing process of the piercing. And also not use low quality jewelry at all.
Update (5 Jan 2019) - The co-founder, Jin commented on this post to share that they are doing their best to improve the quality of cleanliness and jewelry, as well as educating their customers which I am happy to hear.
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As for Spec Body Art..
Note: Sungei Wang photos are from September 2018 and will be marked "SW" while SS15 photos were taken in July 2020.
2022 Update: The Sungei Wang outlet has since relocated to Pavilion Kuala Lumpur mall.
Their previous locations.
Business cards.
Sungei Wang Plaza, KL branch (2018)
The SS15 branch - Look out for this sign if you're driving down the street and can't find the studio. There's a huge SpecBodyArt logo at the bottom of the staircase that leads to the studio as well.
SS15 entrance (2020)
(Not pictured but there are some chairs to sit on while you wait for your appointment)
SS15 - This is where you'll sign the piercing form, select jewelry and make payments.
SS15 - Piercing Room
SS15 - Process Room
(for handling, storing and cleaning piercing jewelry, equipment and tools)
SS15 - Piercing tools
SS15 - Mirror
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Ear Piercing Process:
1. You select the jewelry, get briefed on aftercare and sign a release form.
2. Lie down while the piercer cleans your ear.
3. The piercer marks your ear. You check the positioning and tell him if it's okay.
4. The piercer puts sterile gauze around your ear.
5. You'll be asked to breathe in and the piercer inserts the needle into your ear.
6. The piercer puts the jewelry on the needle and slides the needle through your ear.
7. Once the needle is out, and the jewelry is inserted, the piercer fits in the jewelry.
8. The piercer cleans off the blood and other fluids. He sprays some saline solution on the piercing to cool it down.
Before & After
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Videos:
The piercing process for E's helix piercing.
Sorry it's not edited and I didn't film it properly because I had trouble staying focused after getting pierced myself.
Another video of E getting a conch piercing.
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Photos:
My Daith piercing.
(7 July 2020)
Current jewelry setup - all implant grade titanium.
Left: Neometal CZ + silver daith.
Right: Neometal Aurora Borealis + rose gold clicker.
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Pros:
i. Experienced, friendly and professional piercers (Ronny & Joe)
Ronny has been piercing since 2003. He gave us information on:
a. very detailed aftercare advice before and after the piercing
b. dangers of gun piercings
c. what he knew about the piercing industry (for the interview - but if you're curious, you can pick his mind about it)
d. why we have to downsize our jewelry after a few weeks
e. what he was doing during the piercing procedure and why (e.g. using sterile equipment and not reusing them)
He even sent E and I out to get something to eat/drink when we first got there when he met him for the first time because we hadn't eaten in 4 hours. (You can't get pierced on an empty stomach because you might feel dizzy or maybe even faint.)
His advice is equivalent to what I've seen other professional piercers (that I follow on Reddit, Instagram, Youtube + read their websites) say.
I haven't been pierced by Joe before, but you can refer to her Instagram page (joe_skull) for her portfolio and read the Google/Facebook reviews her customers have written, which are generally positive.
ii. He was very careful about keeping a sterile environment and showed us what he was doing step-by-step so that we'd learn about why it was important.
Tray setup.
SS15 - Statim 2000 autoclave
(this sterilizes and drys tools/jewelry much faster than other types of autoclaves)
SS15 - Ultrasonic cleaners in the process room.
SS15 - Antibacterial wipes/soap and latex gloves to be used for maintaining the cleanliness of the studio.
SS15 - A sink to wash hands in with a tap that's easy to turn on, an automatic soap and paper towel dispenser to prevent cross-contamination.
An isolated waste disposal area.
iii. They don't do gun piercings here.
iv. A wide variety of high quality implant-grade jewelry selection to choose from.
SW - Clicker.
SW - Clickers 😍
SW - Wings
SW - Clover
SW - Navel jewelry.
SW - Cluster tops.
SW - Different designs for tops that you can choose to go with your barbell. They have a flatback labret post too, that you can request if you don't like the ball-type barbell.
SS15 - Jewelry selection
SS15 - implant grade titanium Neometal ends
(round bezel/prong CZ, opal stones, trinity, flower)
SS15 - More implant grade titanium Neometal ends
SS15 - Solid gold Neometal ends with fascinating designs.
SS15 - Jewelry catalogs from the different brands they offer.
You also have the option of anodizing titanium jewelry.
It costs RM 15ish (I forgot, sorry).
But anyway, this is cool if you want fun colors, don't like the standard silver or want to imitate the look of solid gold jewelry.
Here's an Instagram video of anodizing titanium jewelry if you're curious.
(7 July 2020)
They've opened an online store on their website that you can purchase from or get a rough estimate of how much the jewelry you want will cost. It's not fully updated with all the jewelry they offer though, so I'd advise you to visit the store in person instead.
SpecBodyArt is gradually phasing out Invictus Jewelry (which is cheaper than other implant grade jewelry brands but not as high quality or APP approved).
Jewelry brands they carry: (click names for links to catalogs/websites)
If you're on a budget and just want simple starter jewelry -Neometal is the most affordable (if you purchase the implant grade titanium).
The studio will have pre-orders every 6-8 weeks, so if the jewelry you want isn't in stock, have a look at the online catalogs and place an order with your piercer.
If you're not sure about the sizing/gauge of the posts, gems or styles, Ronny will advise you based on your body anatomy and preferences.
All the brands offer lifetime warranty so if your jewelry gets damaged, it will be sent back to US or Japan (depending on where it came from) to be fixed and you'll get it back it in 2 months or so. The service is free, but you'd have to pay for the shipping costs (still considerably cheaper than replacing it with a brand new piece)
v. More personal interaction.
We appreciated how Ronny took the time to talk to us about himself and the store, plus educating us on piercings.
It reassured us of the fact that he knows what he's doing and made it easier for us to trust him. I also think that it's important for people who plan on getting piercings, to know the importance of things like not using piercing guns, sterilization, etc. And it's great that SBA cares about teaching customers about that.
vi. They offer more body modification services, if it's something that you might be interested in - coin slot, conch removal, tongue split, male genital beading, scarification, subdermal silicone implant, NFC implant, and body suspension.
vii. They host events (charity, special occasions, etc) that usually offers a discount on piercings and tattoos, as well as invite internationally well-known body-mod artists to share their services from their parlor.
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Cons:
It'd be nice if they had an online catalog for the entire jewelry selection they have because it can be overwhelming to decide what to get if you're an indecisive person like me 😅 I get around it by browsing the brand websites and creating my own wishlist with photos, and I take months to choose anything to buy.
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Verdict:
I suggest going to SpecBodyArt over Attic's Jewelry & Piercing. In my opinion, SBA is comparable to mid/high-end piercing studios in U.S. in terms of maintaining the industry standard of cleanliness and jewelry quality, while Attic still has some catching up to do.
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(Also note that as of Jan 2020, I won't be getting any new piercings until the ones I have are healed... or maybe not for years - so I might not be aware of any improvements or changes either piercing studio makes.
I'd suggest visiting both piercing parlors to meet the piercers in person and have them inform you themselves of the way they manage their studio, do piercings and all the aftercare stuff so you can make a more informed decision. And of course, read more reviews online and ask around to get a better idea overall of where to go.
Zoo Body Art is also another place you can get pierced with a needle at. I've never been there so I don't know what it's like. Reviews seem pretty good though.
I'll do my best to update when I can, when I have pertinent information to add.)
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Free PDF References:
"Guide to Getting Piercings In Malaysia".
Note: Not including additional images/videos. It's meant to be a more concise form of the information provided in this post.
"Types of Ear Piercings"
A simple visual reference of 20 types of ear piercings you could get.
(Will try to write up another PDF on other types of piercings, when I have the time)
"Guide to Getting Piercings In Malaysia".
Note: Not including additional images/videos. It's meant to be a more concise form of the information provided in this post.
"Types of Ear Piercings"
A simple visual reference of 20 types of ear piercings you could get.
(Will try to write up another PDF on other types of piercings, when I have the time)
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(Photos/videos were taken by me & Eunice Tan)
(Irrelevant but it's 2020, and I still don't know if piercing parlor or piercing studio is a more accurate term so I'll just use both, lol)
Anyway, I hope you find this helpful, till next time!
