My fiance and I went in for back to back appointments today. My fiance was getting his first piercing -- a septum piercing, and I was going in initially to get my tragus done. Dan was incredible through and through. He explained everything very thoroughly to my partner and what to expect with healing. He even explained what the best type of jewelry was to start with given my fiancé's line of work in having to keep piercings hidden. For me, Dan took into consideration my profession and how a tragus may not be the best choice given that I have a stethoscope in my ears a lot. He suggested a conch piercing instead and I went with it. It was SO quick and effortless. Dan was incredible and I will be booking all my future appointments with him. He was so kind and it shows that he's really invested in this line of work and very passionate about his craft. read more

UPDATE: I've been coming to Enigma for years, and Evan is an excellent piercer. My review came from genuine disappointment at how much the overall experience has changed. That's why I genuinely taken aback by the length and tone of their response below. I'm not quite sure what they intended it to prove My review doesn't claim that they never replied. It explicitly says that I eventually received a response over a week later. I emailed them a few times during that time. By my third message, I'd explained the piercing was red, bleeding and producing green discharge, and that I was considering urgent care but understood it was better to consult the piercer first. I asked what I should do. I could have just come into the shop, but wanted to be respectful and ask first. A reply ten days after my first email isn't useful aftercare. In their public response below, Enigma claims that they first replied on May 26. After posting that response, they emailed me privately. They didn't repeat the May 26 claim in their email but did attach screenshots of their previous replies. Both screenshots are dated June 5, so 10 days after my original email. May 26 is the date I emailed them, not a reply from them. I've checked my inbox to make sure and there is no response from Enigma on May 26. They also admit that another more recent email "slipped through the cracks." When they finally replied on June 5, one email gave me Evan's working days and the other advised coming in to change the ring to a straight post. But by then, the problem had already healed up, so the advice was no longer useful. My complaint isn't about what they eventually said, it's that it took ten days and repeated messages to receive any help. Honestly, if the intention was to show that my review was unfair, sending me evidence of the very thing I complained about is an odd way to go about it. I stand by every word. read more

I'm gonna be so honest, I never leave bad reviews anywhere. But I went in today after booking an appointment for two cartilage piercings. I walked in and was greeted (barely), and I told them I had an appointment. I was then shown the jewelry options. If you've been here, you know they have quite alot of jewelry to choose from. I then was basically rushed to make a decision, saying that the time for my appointment was running out? Mind you, I had only been there five minutes. After I made my decision on jewelry, I waited up at the counter because I was unsure of what else to do. The girl with the mid-length brown hair just kept making eye contact with me and not saying anything. She eventually said "the piercer will come get you when she's ready". I went to sit down and then shortly after was retrieved by the piercer Ruth. She was very abrupt and kinda rude when asking me questions about which jewel I wanted where, re-asked me questions that the front desk girl had already asked me, and just was overall not kind. She using terminology that if you don't work at a piercing shop, you probably don't know what it means. And then would look at me like I was stupid for not knowing how to answer. The only good part about my experience with Ruth was that it was fairly quick and painless. She told me we were done and I was like dang, that's it? And she said "yeah? It was just a piercing and an earring change?" I was like okay, I'm not reading too deeply into this, she's just rude. Anyways. I said all that to say, when I go into a tattoo/piercing shop, I want to be treated with kindness, not to be rushed (I do understand they are on a schedule and I do respect that), I want to be taken seriously as this is obviously not my first rodeo, and handled with care. Ruth didn't even communicate what she was doing as she did it. All she said was "this will feel a bit tight" so I had no idea what was happening. I would say overall very disappointing and frustrating experience. They have beautiful jewelry, and a huge selection which is what drew my attention to them in the first place. However, if I'm going to spend over $100 somewhere, I would love to have a reasonable experience that reflects that. I won't be going back here. read more

I came to Enigma for two reasons: I had some swelling in my cartilage piercing, and I wanted to switch from a stud to a hoop. The piercer took one look and immediately advised me to take the piercing out, explaining that it had grown sideways because of my sleeping position, and that it likely wouldn't improve and could get worse. I was pretty disappointed to hear that -- it took me a while to adjust to the healing pain, and it was a piercing I'd really wanted. I decided to go with the hoop anyway and wait it out to see how it healed. Here's where the experience fell short for me. I arrived just five minutes late to my appointment, and after giving me the bad news, the piercer stepped outside, checked the time, and told me it was almost their lunch break and I'd have to come back in an hour. The way it was handled came across as a bit abrupt, and I felt a little unwelcomed. A bit more warmth or social awareness would have gone a long way toward making the visit feel better. So we went and grabbed happy hour, came back, and he swapped the hoop for me with barely any pain -- the actual work was quick and smooth. To be clear, my low rating isn't about the quality of the job; it's about how the interaction felt. read more

I waited to write this because I wanted to be fair and factual. Unfortunately, I would not return to Enigma after my experience with an eyebrow piercing. My piercing became infected shortly after it was done. I don't necessarily blame the studio for that. Piercings can develop infections and I treated it. What concerned me afterward was that the jewelry continued to look extremely snug, with essentially no room for swelling. I went back to Enigma specifically because I was worried the barbell was too short. The first piercer I spoke with agreed that it looked borderline and said they could change it if I wanted, but since I'd never had an eyebrow piercing before, I was looking to them for professional guidance. Another staff member then looked at it and reassured me that it was normal, talking to me about blood-pressure fluctuations and "piercing anxiety" and suggesting that staying calm was important for healing. I trusted their professional judgment and left the jewelry in. The pain, swelling and redness subsequently returned. I went to another established piercing studio for a second opinion. The piercer there removed the jewelry and found that the ends had been embedding into my tissue, leaving indentations. There was pus underneath the jewelry. He replaced it with a longer barbell and the pressure and swelling began improving almost immediately. What upsets me most is that I had already identified the problem and specifically returned to Enigma for help with it. Instead of addressing my concern about the jewelry fit, I was reassured that what I was seeing was normal and had my concern characterized as anxiety. It wasn't anxiety. There was a physical problem with the piercing that ultimately required intervention elsewhere. I trusted this studio with my body and then trusted them again when I came back because something didn't feel right. I'm very glad I eventually trusted my own judgment and sought a second opinion, but I shouldn't have had to. Unfortunately, I can't recommend Enigma based on that experience. read more

Enigma Professional Piercing Studio - This is after another piercer assessed it, removed the original jewelry, found indentation and pus underneath and installed a longer bar. - Piercing Near Me - San Diego, California

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I recently had Evan pierce my belly button and thirds on my earlobes, and I couldn't be happier with the experience. From start to finish, he was incredibly friendly, professional, and attentive. He took the time to help me choose the perfect jewelry for my anatomy, and the shop itself has an impressive selection to browse from. As a nurse, cleanliness is extremely important to me, and Evan truly prioritizes it. He showed me that all the jewelry was sterilized and worked within a proper sterile field during the piercings, which immediately put me at ease. The actual piercings were quick and effortless--no fuss, no discomfort, just smooth, precise work. I definitely recommend Evan to anyone looking for high-quality piercings in a clean, welcoming environment. I'll be coming back for more piercings in the future! Thank you Evan for doing my piercings! read more

I had a jewelry change done by Francheska and had an amazing experience. To back up a bit, the person helping me out at check-in/front desk is also super sweet. She had her hands full with customers both on the phone and in person, and made sure each of us was seen promptly. There is no lot parking but I got lucky with street parking when I went. The doorway is oddly cramped but there is a separate seating area just inside to the left, and they have a lot of cool art and cases full of jewelry on offer. My appointment started on time and Francheska was so helpful! She worked with me to pick the appropriate piece of jewelry for my piercing and changing it out was quick and painless. I appreciate that she offered options at lower price points, I think that is a major green flag for integrity. She asked if I had any other questions and she was able to accommodate a quick piercing cleaning as well as a downsize. I did not know one of my other piercings needed to be further downsized so I am grateful she noticed and had the time to do that for me as well. Overall, I have been coming to Enigma for all my piercing needs for as long as I've been in San Diego, and will continue to do so. Francheska is new to Enigma (but plenty of prior experience), but I highly recommend her for your piercing related needs! read more

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Always a great experience at Enigma! My wife has been here multiple times for piercings and it's always a great experience. Super clean, great customer service, and informative. Pricing is fair, and they have high quality jewelry with A LOT of options. Dan is especially skilled and kind. I recommend Engima to literally anyone who wants a piercing! read more

I have been to this location, the pb location and sister location in La Jolla. Overall, I have had a pleasant experience every time. Adams is my favorite due to the variety of gold jewelry options carried in store (Junipurr, Modern Mood, BVLA, Buddha, Mushroom, Pupil Hall, etc). Sometimes the shop is busy, however I do feel that the staff is attentive and helpful. If you are someone that needs dedicated attention, I recommend booking an appointment, going to the La Jolla sister site (Hummingbird), or coming during slow periods. I have not been pierced here, but Dan assisted me with installing new jewelry and adjusting the posts to two healing piercings that were ready to be downsized. I plan to come here in the future for my next piercings. I'm an awkward person, but I felt like I could trust Dan and Evan (when I visited the hummingbird location) every step of the way and they were both personable. I enjoyed both visits. I saw that some people were complaining about the pricing of the jewelry here in some reviews. The pricing of the jewelry here for the titanium and gold selections are in line with what you would expect with other reputable piercers. This is not Amazon, Claire's or Studs. High quality body jewelry is expensive in either material and is important to ensure your piercings heal properly. Keep in mind, the value of gold is through the roof right now too. I heal quickly and have multiple piercings done from professional piercers, at home and at places like Claire's. I have also had friends get piercings done at sketchy or questionably cheap places in Pacific Beach that had issues healing or rejecting. So do yourself the favor of inquiring about pricing (piercing + jewelry) to plan appropriately ahead of time to avoid surprises if you are not familiar with what to expect. Lastly, although I have not been pierced at either of the 3 shops and have only had jewelry changes, I did notice that all the piercers who have assisted me so far are very hygienic and conscientious. For this reason, to me, it is worth the investment of coming here read more

I've gone to both locations to get my different dad piercings and they are both amazing!!! Highly recommend either locations. They are both so friendly and great staff and vibe!! read more

I got my ears pierced by Dan and it was a great experience. The online booking is awesome, the check-in staff was very helpful and it was clear that several sterilization measures are in place to ensure a clean and well-healing piercing. Dan explained the process completely and it didn't hurt at all...and now I have titanium-posted bling on my ears! Be prepared for the additional cost of the earrings, which varies by the kind of metal post you choose and the size of the bling on top. Professional environment, friendly staff and quality piercing. read more

Dan is AMAZING!! and someone that I HIGHLY recommend and trust. As someone who has gotten multiple piercings done at other locations, I always somehow come back to enigma and it's because of their amazing service, quality jewelry, and care that they give. I did a booking online and came in for an infected helix piercing and Dan was kind, informative, and gave great advice on next steps. Unfortunately, we couldn't save it but Dan made the removal process fast, gentle, and I really can't thank him enough!!! Thank you Dan!!! read more

I recently came back to get my tragus piercing with Rubi. She is always very friendly and has a cool, laid back vibe during the appointment, which helps calms my nerves. She is very thorough with the consultation and always makes sure that I am comfortable/relaxed and that I am breathing correctly through the piercing process (I tend to hold my breath which is a big no no). I cannot recommend her, and this shop, enough! Also, I recently found out that she, along with other pierciers here, are part of APP, which is so cool! You're in good hands here! read more

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Enigma is my local go to for all my piercings and they've consistently provided extremely quality and professional service. Highly skilled piercers who can even make rejection prone difficult piercings work well. Well worth the price. read more

I had mt very first nose piercing on 3/18, as a birthday present to myself doing something that no one else would expect me to do. This was an important thing for myself to do and this place was recommended to me by a coworker who had piercings done there. Very simply...everyone was helpful with the process. it was a busy time where people were walking in and almost filling the place up. I brought my husband and my kids (older kids like adults) to join me. I was assigned to Mateo. From beginning to end, he was very kind and made me feel comfortable for what I was about to do. Place was very clean, organized and had sterile rooms for the piercings. I really appreciated the privacy too. Every step Mateo took, he educated me and informed me every step he was about to do before the nose piercing began. Then it was over....and was very happy how it turned out and how supportive he was moving forward. I realize everyone else experience has been or will be different, but I think it is worth mentioning the good experiences for first timers like myself. Going back for a follow up to make sure all is fine (which I think it has been) and going for a second piercings on my ears. :) read more

Brought my daughter in to get her helix piercing and we were pleasantly surprised by the whole experience. Everyone was super friendly and took their time helping her choose the perfect earring -- no rushing, no pressure to overspend. Lou was awesome! Great sense of humor, gentle, and made the process feel easy and comfortable. The piercing was done in a very clean and sterile environment, which gave us a lot of peace of mind. Highly recommend! Go see Lou! read more

I had my nipples pierced today by Dan and it was an amazing experience from start to finish. He was so sweet and really took his time to make sure the entire session was top tier. I'm so excited and feel incredibly sexy with my new piercings! Thank you Dan Clean establishment, beautiful jewelry displays, and the ladies behind the counter were also crazy friendly. I'll definitely be back. read more

Came here for a double nostril piercing since Enigma was recommended by a friend and I'm so happy I did! Everyone was so friendly, helpful, and patient. They gave me great recommendations for jewelry size and style based on my nose and what I was looking for. Rubi was awesome!! She took her time making sure my piercings would be even, and was so communicative throughout the entire thing, which I really appreciated. The experience was so easy and I felt so taken care of, I will definitely be recommending Rubi to my friends and will come back to Enigma and Rubi for future piercings. read more

One of the best piercing shops in San Diego I recommend every one to come here staff is always kind, respectful, and clean with quality 10/10! Big up read more

I scheduled an appointment for a reinsert of my piercings. They were very accommodating to me due to me being on crutches. Everyone was very helpful with my needs and requests. I love the atmosphere and they had a wide selection of jewelry. I will definitely be coming back for future purchases. read more

I have had two wonderful experiences at this location! Rubi helped me when I came in to replace some very old jewelry - it turned out it was the safest choice to stretch to the next gauge and she did a fantastic job making sure that I was informed and I felt very supported. More recently, Lou pierced my flat and it was just a ten out of ten experience. Fixe helped me out at the front desk with getting checked in and looking at jewelry; he was so friendly and I felt comfortable taking my time to pick the right piece. Enigma seems to really prioritize having a wide range of styles and finishes with their jewelry. I can't wait to come back for something else soon! read more

I booked an appointment for a tragus piercing and a rook piercing. The people who work there are all awesome. They are highly professional, kind, and genuine individuals. The quality of the jewelry they use on top of expert placement really makes this place special. read more

Enigma Professional Piercing Studio - Tragus & Rook Piercing - Piercing Near Me - San Diego, California

Took my 12yo daughter here for her second piercing. The piercing itself went beautifully, and healed nicely. Spendy, but worth the quality. The 3 stars is because her piercer was a bit impatient/rough, particularly for a younger client who was nervous (my daughter). When we went back to change out the backing, Ruth (the piercer) asked my daughter to turn her head so they could proceed. When my daughter hesitated, rather than let her take a second Ruth replied "if you can't hold still you can just do this at home". Thankfully the changing of the back was quick and we don't need to go back. If we were to go back to Enigma, I would not work with Ruth again. read more

As someone who has used this shop for piercings and jewelry for the last 12 years, I came to the shop to look at jewelry and ask a few questions. Today, I was "helped" by Marissa, which I will say was very loose definition of the term for how I was treated. I was left with more questions and told to make an appointment to be helped properly. While I understand that if I was looking to change my jewelry I would need to book but to look and purchase something should NOT require an appointment. Why is she working at the counter if she is unwilling to support customers with answering questions or being helpful at all? I had to ask multiple questions of her in order for her to explain anything and not just hold a box in her hand. This treatment was disrespectful and frustrating and needs to be addressed and corrected. read more

Just had an excellent experience with Evan for my 12 year old daughter's first ear piercing. He walked her through every step, had a great energy, and spoke to her with a lot of respect. The actual piercing went very smoothly. My daughter was surprised at how little it hurt. The place itself is very clean with a nice selection of jewelry. All of the staff we spoke with were very friendly with a wonderfully warm vibe. Highly recommend this spot. It was the perfect choice for my daughter's first piercing experience. read more

We went to Lou for my little girls nasal piercing. Lou was very kind and explained everything in great detail. What's super impressive is the sterile piercing environment. Years ago I got my lip pierced somewhere else and it was literally just grab with the instrument and wipe quickly and poke. Lou used complete sterile technique that could mimic the Or experience. I've worked in hospital environments and he draped correctly prepped correctly and even donned sterile gloves correctly. I know I'm hyper focused on this but it's critical to how safe they conduct their process that stands out. My little girl was totally at ease and Lou was very patient and kind as he talked her through it. read more

Enigma Professional Piercing Studio - Piercing Near Me - San Diego, California

I just got three piercings done with Dan, and it was such a fantastic experience! Dan was professional, friendly, and made the process feel incredibly smooth and low-pain. He explained what he was going to do before he began, and during each step in the process. The studio was clean and welcoming. The staff were also very friendly - as they took time to show me the jewelry choices and were helpful when I asked them to make recommendations. Everything they stock is high-quality and stunning btw! I left feeling really happy with my piercings and the experience. Highly recommend! read more

We were getting a tattoo up at Avilon 2( which they are amazing) and my baby sister wanted her nose pierced (we are visiting from IL & TN) they recommended to go downstairs for the piercing . So we did while we waited for our tatoo appt. We walked in, we're not greeted, my sister asked if there was anytime available for an appt. The employee said not until 2:10pm which was the perfect time bcuz it would be after the tattoo. Instead of going ahead and scheduling it (she was already on her tablet ans in the schedule) and she told my sister to go online to schedule it, because it will take her cc info Ok well how about you greet people as they come in and how about you schedule her and take her cc # bcuz you are already in the system??? I have specialized in customer service and trained teams in customer service and have worked in the same industry and this just did not sit right with me. My sister decided to wait until she went home to IL bcuz her person doesnt treat her this way! I was going to buy several nose rings and jewelry but now I will not. I refuse to give my $ to businesses that do not appreciate and show happiness and good custome service. I give 2 stars bcuz they did have amazing jewelry. read more

TLDR: You can't go wrong going here. I got more information and knowledge about piercings and healing in my first visit than I had from my 10 other piercings from other places. Every person there is awesome! So when my friend and I decided to get memorial piercings in memory of our good friend, I knew we would be taken care of here. Christopher took great care of us! I will for sure never go anywhere else. read more

Enigma Professional Piercing Studio - Rook piercing done this visit by Christopher. Double helix and conch done previously by Evan. - Piercing Near Me - San Diego, California

I got my second earlobe piercings here and had a great experience! I had Josh and he did a great job explaining everything and on my piercings. I was very comfortable and knew exactly what to expect before and after the appointment. I'd definitely recommend! read more

Went in today to get my boobs pierced. Super nervous but everyone was super nice and accommodating. Dan was very professional and helpful- answered any questions I had and ran me through the whole process ahead of time. Vibe is super causal and chill very comfortable. Will definitely be back, I had a great experience! read more

I got my septum pierced by Evan yesterday (6/27/25), and omg--it was the best experience! Right when I walked in, we were greeted by someone kind who offered us water and showed us where the bathrooms were. I didn't catch their name, but they were super friendly and welcoming. Then we were shown the jewelry. She explained that Evan uses a retainer as the initial piece. It's tucked up inside my nose and stays there for six weeks while it heals. The retainer jewelry was $30. When we were called back into the room, Evan explained everything in detail. He wiped down the bed to sterilize it, showed us the machine that sterilizes the jewelry, and walked me through the process. It was super quick, and he was really gentle. The actual piercing didn't really hurt--there was a brief sting, and then inserting the jewelry felt a little pinchy. But overall, it was easy and very fast! Evan let me know I'd come back in six weeks to swap out the retainer for whichever septum ring I choose. It was a fantastic experience--I'll absolutely return in the future! Thanks, Evan! read more

What can I say, but AMAZING. Evan was kind, gentle, and do sanitary. I've had several piercing, this is the 1st that used a sterile field. As a nurse I LOVE that Evan does this. He placed my basal piercing in the perfect location, verified it with me, and explained the healing and cleaning process before we did the piercing. The people that checked me in were friendly, knowledgeable, and super helpful. The place is clean, great selection of jewelry, and amazing people all around. I'm older, large, and pretty strait laced. I can catch attitude or eye rolls in tattoo or piercing shops, but not here. They were so welcoming and sincere. My piercing has healed quickly and with no issues. This was not my experience with my other piercings. I recommend getting the saline cleanser they sell, worth the money. If you're looking for an amazing experience, Enigma and Evan has you covered. read more

Enigma Professional Piercing Studio - Piercing Near Me - San Diego, California

I've seen Lou and Ruth and they're both incredibly professional and explain things well, including piercing aftercare. You can be completely honest with any questions you have and they won't judge you, and you can expect full honesty back from them. read more

Came here for a double helix a couple weeks ago: I didn't have a preference on who so when booking my appointment, I let fate take its pick and I was booked with Erika. The overall shop is clean and has so many option for jewelry! There's a large range of styles and pricing so you will definitely find something that you like. Girls at the front were nice and very helpful. Erika was super knowledgeable and informative, giving me a good breakdown of what she was doing and how to care for my new piercings going forward which is what I wanted in a piercer and gives me confidence in their skill. So far it's been a couple weeks and my new double helix is healing nicely compared to another helix piercing I had gotten from another shop. read more

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I've come here a few times never for a piercing but for help with some existing ones and these guys are always so nice and welcoming and extremely helpful! Definitely would feel comfortable with anyone from this shop as my piercer the next time I need one. read more

I am obsessed! I came here for a belly button piercing. I was extremely nervous but Evan helped to ease the nerves and made the whole process very simple! The piercing was so quick and I love the results. This place is on the pricier side but I think it's totally worth it. It is a very professional and nice environment. If I ever need another piercing, I know where I'm going. read more

From start to finish, this place surpassed all expectations I had. I spoke to two separate people on the phone regarding booking an appointment for myself + my daughter and both experiences on the phone were extremely pleasant. . . They were friendly, knowledgeable and took their time with me. Dan pierced my nose and pierced my daughter's ears. He spoke directly to my daughter and made sure she was comfortable the entire time. He was clean, thorough and seriously soooooo sweet. . . Neither one of us cried haha. If you're looking to get a piercing, I can't recommend this place enough. . . Especially Dan! Thank you to everyone at Enigma for giving us such a memorable experience! read more

Great experience. Very welcoming. Dan helped put me at ease and made the entire experience flawless. Will definitely be back!

Ruby did an amazing work, very professional and precise. I wish I had bring my little ones here when they got pierced. Ruby is also bilingual (Spanish/English) and it always eases my nerves when I am taken care of in my language. read more