Being deaf, I’ve always felt different. This industry embraces being different, standing out and thoroughly emphasises beauty in all shapes and forms.
I have been in this industry for just over 5 years now. I spent over a year asking around for piercing apprenticeships, looking to shadow piercers and try to get my foot in the door but had absolutely no luck.
I saw an advert about piercing courses and was sceptical but being so desperate to learn I ran it past a friend in the industry who was looking for a piercer for the tattoo studio he was opening.
He said to book it and get the basics I needed. With that in mind, I booked it. Despite doing the course, I knew how frowned upon it was and still is. I used to almost dread people asking me where or how I learnt because I knew I would be judged - an apprenticeship should be the only way to learn. It gives you that guidance and knowledge, day in, day out.
However, with that being said, if I didn’t do the course I wouldn’t have got my foot in the door at all!
After completing the course, the job I was offered fell through and I searched for months for somewhere to take me on, until I found Vanity Tattoo which gave me a space to grow and learn.
I was then taken on by another studio whilst at Vanity and was given an opportunity to be guided by the president of the TPIU to help me learn all things piercing and running a business too. For this opportunity I am forever grateful.
The first piercing I ever did was a conch piercing! Still to this day they are my absolute favourite. They always look stunning.
Being deaf, I’ve always felt different. Even though so many people are deaf/hard of hearing, when I was younger I didn’t know anyone else who was so I always felt I was the black sheep.
This industry embraces being different, standing out and thoroughly emphasises beauty in all shapes and forms. It brings out a confidence in people.
I really love doing conch piercings, it’s my go to! Especially with a fancy attachment.
It’s so simple yet so eye catching.
I also love piercing on an anatomy that is slightly different. It enables clients to love parts of themselves that they may not have loved so much before. I’m all about self-love!
I have 13 piercings.
I was always a rebellious teenager, getting something pierced and then dreading going home knowing I’ll get told off by my Mum. Now she doesn’t even notice!
I think piercing a 94 year old lady has to be up there with one of my best memories!
She was on a day out from her care home and decided she wanted her ears re-pierced.
It was an appointment I’ll never forget.
To have a client wanting all of the attachments from my jewellery line. That would be such a pinch me moment!
I love a glowy ear curation!
Hang in there. This industry is a tough one to crack, but if you want it bad enough then it’ll happen!
Get piercings from reputable piercers and ask questions. Never be afraid to ask questions. Always be eager to learn.
Looking at all the beautiful stones to choose from.
And creating the names. So much thought has gone into the names as well as the designs themselves. I planned for weeks and weeks on what sort of designs I wanted and asked so many clients what type of styles they liked.
Having the ideas was great but actually drawing them up was a challenge.
I drew pages and pages, narrowing them down to the final 9 was tricky! But I hope everyone loves them as much as I do.
This collection is inspired by my family. The naming of the attachments and the stones I've chosen are all based on my incredibly supportive family - they have always believed in me, no matter what I do.
I also have a piece in my range which is “I love you” in BSL which relates to me being born deaf.
Jayden runs Jayden’s Piercing from the Skin Illustrations Sittingbourne Studio.
