1123 Jackson Street * Omaha, NE 402.342.2885

How old do you have to be to get a piercing?


You must be 16 with ID; and your parent must be present. You and your parent must have ID’s with matching last names and addresses to be pierced or tattooed at Big Brain.

Do you use clean needles?


Do you use clean needles?
Absolutely. All of our needles are single use. This means they’re brand new and sterilized before being used…then disposed of after being used. We do NOT reuse needles. Be sure to ask your piercer any questions you want about the sterilization process.

Do I need an appointment for a piercing?


Nope. Just come on in.

What if I'm pregnant or nursing?


It is unsafe to the child and to the mother. It is also illegal to in the state of Nebraska.

Does it hurt getting pierced?


It does a little. Don’t worry though, it only hurts for a second then it goes away. It is like getting shot with a rubber band maybe even less.

What do you suggest for aftercare?


A copy of our aftercare instructions are given to every client after their procedure. Please refer to the “Aftercare Instructions” section of this web site if you are unsure of how to care for your piercing. At Big Brain we believe that the biggest problem with aftercare is the tendency to over do it rather than under doing it. Give your body a chance to figure out what just happened and how to fix it before you start throwing every thing in the medicine cabinet on it. Remember, JUST SOAP AND WATER until we tell you different.

There is stuff coming out of my new piercing…is this normal?


This is normal and a healthy part of the healing process. Please read the “Explain the healing process” if you are unsure what the process is. Although it is normal there are still some things you should know: do not squeeze it out of the hole, do not switch from soap to something stronger, do not let it build up on the jewelry, do not rotate it while it is dirty and don’t pick it off with your fingers. All you need to do is get some warm soapy water and clean it.



My piercing is red…is this normal?


Redness is normal (in small amounts), especially the first week or two, but a lot of redness along with pain and swelling can be a sign of a problem. So, if you think you are having a problem; don’t call-come in right away.

My piercing has a bubble on it…is this normal?


No…it is not normal to have a bump, bubble, or blister on your piercing. If you notice something please come to the store and let one of our professionals take a look. Most of the time this is a problem that is easily fixed but we need to catch it early. So, come in as soon as you notice a problem.



Can I start with a barbell?


Well…it depends. Some piercings you can, some piercings you can’t. We leave it up to the piercer’s best judgment. In other words, it is on a case by case basis. Come on in and discuss your options with a trained professional.



Can you lose feeling or become paralyzed if you get an ear or facial piercing?


No, but this is a common myth. The truth is, piercing is very safe when done and maintained properly. This is not to say there is no risk; because there is, but most of it can be avoided with minimal care.

What are the names of the different ear piercings?


Please refer to the piercing portfolios for the names and locations of all these piercings. Keep in mind that no two ears are the same, so talk to your piercer to find out what may or may not work on your ear.

Do you use a gun to do piercing?


We never use a gun. All piercing is done by hand by a professional. If you really just want to know how fast it is…no worries, it’s just as fast as the gun. It is instantaneous.



Can I hide my piercing?


Yes, most piercings can be hidden. Please talk to your piercer, in person, to determine if your piercing is ready to be changed to a retainer. Unfortunately, we can not start your piercing with a retainer.

Can you start with gold?


No, we do not start with gold. Gold does not heal in body piercings as well as it does in ears. Please visit one of our professional piercers to determine when your piercing is ready to change to gold.

How long until I can change the jewelry in my piercing?


Every person and every piercing is different. For this reason it is hard to say specifically when you can change your jewelry. The general rule is: when it stops draining you can change it, but consult your piercer if you are unsure when that is. It may also be helpful to let them do it for the first time; they can show you how and what to do so you can do it yourself the next time.

Can you drink alcohol after getting a tongue piercing?


Yes. If you are following the after care instructions properly you should be fine. Our suggestion is to eat, drink and smoke as you normally would.

Can I start my nose with a stud?


Yes, in most cases you can. Your piercer will make the final decision at the time of the piercing though.

My tongue turned white or brown after I got it pierced…is this normal?


This can be normal but is not desirable. Usually this is caused by misuse of your after care product. Please come into the store and let us make a more official diagnosis…but don’t worry it’s probably not a big deal.

Will my tongue swell if I get it pierced?


Some do, some don’t. Your best bet is to use your tongue; in other words, eat and talk normal. If you “baby” it… the chance of swelling is higher. Ibuprofen will also help control swelling.



Will my tongue ring mess up my teeth?


Not if it is done properly and your jewelry fits well. If it is done wrong or you are wearing jewelry that does not fit…yes it can be hazardous to your teeth. Be sure to seek help from one of our professional piercers if you have specific questions about your situation.



If I take my piercing out will it leave a scar?


There are many variables to be considered when answering this question…like: What piercing is it, how big is the hole, how long have you had the piercing, etcetera. About the only thing we can promise is the longer you go without it…the more the scar will go away.

Can I breast feed after getting a nipple pierced?


Yes, in most cases you can. In some cases, however, it does interfere. Usually it is from repeated piercing or problems that occur after the piercing, like infection. But let me remind you these are rare cases…not the normal.

Do you do surface piercing?


es. We are a full service facility and offer all legal services. Please talk to one of our piercers to discuss your options.

Do you do genital piercing?


Yes. We are a full service facility and offer all legal services. Please talk to one of our piercers to discuss your options.



How long do you have to wait before having sex after getting a genital piercing?


It is the same for both men and women. You can have protected sex when you are not sore and are physically comfortable to do so. There is no minimum time limit. Unprotected sex is different; you should wait 2-3 weeks before resuming this practice.

Do men need to be erect before getting a genital piercing?


No you do not. This is a popular but untrue rumor.

What kind of jewelry do you use?


We use the highest quality body jewelry in the industry. There are many different products that meet that claim. Please ask your piercer what he recommends for your application. Some products work better than others in certain places. For most initial piercings we use implant grade steel.


I am allergic to nickel…can I still get pierced?


Yes, but you should inform your piercer if any problems arise in the healing process. Sometimes people with nickel sensitivities need a little extra supervision during this process but can and usually do just fine.

I am sick or have a disease…can I still get pierced?


Yes, but you should get your doctors approval. There are side effects associated to certain health problems that may interfere with the healing process. In regards to spreading a disease or sickness…we treat every customer like they are sick. Our sterilization and safety procedures insure that any contaminated equipment is disposed of in a safe manner. This, in turn, eliminates the possibility of transmitting blood borne pathogen from client to client.

How big can I stretch my piercing before it won’t go back to normal?


There is no answer that will hold true in every case because every person is different. This is a question that you need to discuss with your piercer before you start the stretching process.



What jewelry do you have in stock?


Our stock is constantly changing. We order jewelry every Monday and it comes in every Thursday; so check back often. If there is something specific you want we will place a special order for you.

Why is your jewelry more expensive than the mall?


There is a huge difference between mall quality and professionally quality jewelry.

How do I know when my piercing is healed?


Healed is one of those words that can be defined several different ways. Your piercing is not going to go from “unhealed” one day…to “healed” the next. It goes in stages. Please refer to “Explain the healing process” if you are unsure of when your piercing is in the healing process.

Will you help me change a piece of jewelry?


We would be glad to help you change your jewelry. You will save time by coming in during the week. Weekends get rather busy and you may end up waiting.

Explain the healing process.


Well…it starts with the actual piercing itself. After that in might bleed for a couple of minutes; most don’t but if you do don’t worry this is normal. It is also normal to stay red for several hours possibly days. The redness is usually accompanied by some soreness; not a lot but some. It might feel bruised. The second stage is re-growing the skin and tissue that was injured in the piercing process. This step is where most people get confused and start having questions. First of all…healthy people have very little to worry about. Even if you are one of the few who do have a problem; most healthy people can recover from a minor problem without much outside help. In other words, most people’s bodies will kick it into high gear and fix little problems that pop up here and there. Back to the second stage…re-growing that injured skin. You will notice during this stage that stuff starts draining from your piercing. Don’t panic this is completely normal. It is a watery by-product that your body makes while growing new skin and it will gradually get thicker. At one point it might even be a little discolored and look a little bit like puss. Don’t worry its not. In fact, an infected piercing does not have stuff coming out of it at all. An infected piercing is dry, very sore, swollen, red and warm to the touch (if you have these symptoms don’t call…COME IN RIGHT AWAY!). Back to the stuff coming out…this will only last a few weeks (usually 3-4) and then it will stop. This is the first major mile stone in the healing process. At this point you are probably ready to change the jewelry and reduce your after care down to only washing it once a day but it is not fully healed. Since it is not fully healed you will not be able to take the jewelry out for very long; so be careful changing it. If you need help come in and let us assist you. If you have made it this far you don’t want to lose it over something silly…like not being able to get the ring back in after you tried to change it yourself. The risk of it closing is usually gone after 8-10 months. We consider this fully healed.

How do I remove my jewelry?


The bead in a hoop is held in with tension. They do not screw in or out; they clip in. To get them out all you do is push. Barbells, however, do unscrew. They are threaded like a nut and bolt and should unscrew from both ends. It help to use rubber gloves…they help grip.

Is my piercing infected?


Please read the “Explain the healing process” if you still are concerned about your piercing…don’t call…come to the store right away. There is no way to diagnosis a problem over the phone or on the web.

Can I swim with a new piercing?


In a pool-yes. In a lake-no.

Can I go tanning with a new piercing?


Yes. Tanning poses no threat to a new piercing when done in moderation.

I am having surgery or an x-ray…what do I do about my piercing?


This is up to your doctor. If he needs you to remove them then we need to remove them. If he says you can wear them as long as they are not metal then we can help.

Do I need to spin or rotate me jewelry?


No, you do not. That theory only applies to stud piercings in ears and no others. It is to prevent the stud from embedding in your lobe and is not practical for other piercings. In fact, moving you jewelry in a fresh piercing creates a lot of unnecessary wear and tear and that can prolong the healing process. Another reason not to rotate your ring is because many time you are just dragging the contaminates on the ring back and forth though the new hole which creates a higher risk of infection.

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