Septum Struggles
I've been a licensed body piercer for 1 year. I've been doing everything I can think of to keep growing. I've been getting feedback, taking classes and shadowing other, more experienced piercers so that I can keep getting better. There are so many piercings that intimidated me at the beginning of 2025 that I'm proud and excited to do for my clients now.
But septums...... I have done less than stellar septum piercings. I was doing pretty well free handing them (having my client lay down and doing the piercing from above). I did 2 septums that I was NOT proud of at the beginning of Oct. I always act with honesty in these scenarios. I tell my client "Okay, I want you to see what I'm seeing. Look in the mirror and let's talk about this." I usually suggest we pull the piercing and I hook them up with a more experienced piercer to have their septum done at a later date, no charge.
I thought maybe going back to the clamps would act as training wheels. It did not. I failed at 2 septum piercings today. Both times I felt for the "sweet spot", visualized it and placed the clamps. When I inserted the needle, I felt resistance. Red flag.
For the first piercing I free handed it, and it went in like butter-but it had a lilt.
For the second piercing, I told my client I was ditching the clamps and that I was going to freehand it. They said "Should I be worried about that?".
Initially I said "No!". Then I lost all my confidence. This person was so kind and so patient and they deserved to get the piercing they wanted.
I took a step back from them and said "Maybe you should be. Would you be willing to reschedule this piercing for another day? If you'd like, I can get you booked with a piercer that has a little more experience than I do."
They were super sweet, but clearly disappointed. I did not charge them for their nostril piercing but they still chose to tip me.
My feelings are so hurt. I failed my client!
Ultimately all this is to ask: What can I do?
Do I stop offering them and refer them to someone else? I don't want to do that. Should I find and take a class? I love my septum piercing and I want to be able to offer this to my clients.