Ancient Arts

I got my tragus pierced with a hoop that the piercer recommended. I went to another place 5 months later complaining about it not healing yet and being weird, and was told that a tragus should never be pierced with a hoop (only a bar) as it won’t heal.

I wish I could give 0 stars. I am very disappointed in how my piercing turned out. It’s no surprise that when I went back to the Ancient Arts site, Matt left after committing dishonest acts (stealing jewelry and abruptly leaving). I am now seeing how dishonest he was in doing my cartilage piercing. I got my piercing done last June and since around last July/​August, I’ve had difficulties in keeping the bumps away despite how often and careful I’ve cared for my piercing (salt water solutions, plain warm water cleanings, careful clean procedures, etc.). After doing much research, I am thinking it may be due to an allergic reaction to the jewelry. I can’t wear certain types of jewelry since my skin is sensitive and I communicated this to Matt. Also, my piercing is very slanted and always has been. When originally pierced, I thought this was okay since he had received many positive reviews. I believe this may also be causing the relentless bumps. I am very frustrated and upset that this happened. The only sad part about them closing is not being able to get my money back. That reminds me — in going back to Matt being dishonest, I am realizing now that I overpaid for my piercing and jewelry and Matt said nothing about it. Goes to show his terrible character. Avoid Ancient Arts at all costs, even if Matt is gone and they reopen. Find somewhere else.

Got my rook pierced by Matt today! Matt is extremely helpful in explaining and the afterwards-​care. It was great! Definitely recommend it!

Like everyone else says, Matt is the man.
He’s an amazing conversationalist, and was super professional about the process, telling me what to expect and what exactly he was going to do when I got my septum pierced. I was worried that it was crooked at first, but it totally straightened out after it was healed. Definely going to him if I ever wanted to be poked again.

Love my piercings and my conversation with Matt. Very good.

Unpopular opinion puffin: Matt (I think?) is not funny. Now keep in mind that I did not actually have anything pierced or tattooed here, but this was in spite of my best efforts.
So I walked in at noon on a Saturday – strike 1.
«What does the sign say?» asked Marty?
«Uh… it says ‘be right back?’»
Matt poked his head out to look at his sign.
«No. There.» There’s a half sheet of paper above the big BRB black board with the hours typed up neatly, 12 point font. «We open at one.»
«Okay, I’ll be back!» It was an oddly sunny day, so I headed off to loiter around at City Sports, scoring some cheap shorts amidst its 80% off death throes, and then for an iced chaider at Blue State. I walked back into Ancient arts at 1:20.
Okay, so I was there to get my lobes pierced. Yeah, I know, a grown woman without pierced lobes is an anomaly, and a grown woman looking to get them pierced is somehow an object of pity, like Steve Carell in 40-​Year Old Virgin, it’s not a huge deal, but like, how? (I do have a helix piercing from the fabulous Maria Tash in NYC – between the thirty minutes it took to get to Brookline and the 4 hours it takes to get to Soho, I wish I’d picked the latter.) But I have some pride left, which meant I would shell out any amount of money not to have to go to Claire’s and sit there among dusty shelves of High School Musical lip balms that Disney rolled out by the ton but never seemed to sell, saying tragic shit like, «I still remember when Zefron first became a sex symbol,» which would remind all the twelve year olds waiting with me that youth and beauty and Corbin Bleu’s time in the limelight are all fleeting.
Which is how I wound up getting into Matt’s hair (which is gathered interestingly into a malnourished segmented salt-​and-​pepper saucisson at the nape of his neck), simply because this place had the highest reviews out of the 4 not-Claire’s piercing places in Boston.
But Ancient Arts, as its name suggests, takes itself seriously. Matt’s searing eyes gauge each person who walks through the door for worthiness, or at least edginess. And I, suited up in overalls and a backpack, hair down and covering my fabulous single helix piercing, looked like the most innocent of daffodils who’d never in her life felt the sharp sear of heroin or tattoo ink. And Matt probably only cracks jokes with people who have known suffering – strike 2.
After I told him and the shop assistant I wanted a lobe piercing, they showed me the appointments list. Booked until 2:30.
«Oh, I have to be somewhere at 2:30. What other days are available?»
«Days?» Matt Unilocaled, so aghast that I had to shut down mentally for a moment and think about all the meanings of «days,» as English is my third language and while I was an English major in college I’m still hyper-​aware of malapropisms, and I also mumble a lot, and sometimes people are more focused on the visuals and assume that I’m muttering in a foreign language and then they start speaking really slowly and using 50% more body language.
«Um, yeah, what other days can I come in for an appointment?»
Thankfully, his assistant took pity on me (that one star is for you, miss!)
«If you come in on a week day, you won’t need an appointment, not a lot of people come in then.»
I walked out in a days. Sorry, daze. As soon as the last of my backpack left the doorframe, I heard Matt shriek, «What the fuck?»
And in that moment, I knew that in addition to a deep obsession with piercings (mine merely being nascent and at the time hidden by my hair) Matt felt the same frustrating mutual inexplicability, that feeling of attempting to communicate to something completely other, that I felt during our discourses. (But really, yelling that while I was just two steps gone? It goes to show that we can all work on timing.)

Got septum pierced on my birthday during my quick visit to Boston. Matt was my piercer, he’s super cool and super funny!
I booked an appointment with him over the phone and at the same time spoke with him about general information on septums. He was very patient and informative with the amount questions I had for him.
I booked my appointment as soon as I landed at the Boston Airport, which isn’t too far from the shop. I was running a bit late due to baggage claim, car rental, etc etc so I gave him a call that I may be cancelling my appointment (the shop closes at 9pm and it was close to closing time) As soon as I mentioned cancelling my appointment, he told me to just call the shop as soon as I got everything situated and was on my way to the shop. That was super nice of him since it was probably already 8pm when all of this was happening.
Eventually got to the shop — I think at this point it was almost 9pm. Matt was still there, and still willing to pierce my septum. Apparently he’s lived in San Jose one or two decades ago, so it was cool talking about my hometown as I was filling out the consent form. After that he took me into the room.
The entire time I was there he was bustin’ jokes and tellin’ stories — which I thought was cool. He noticed all the other piercings on my face and ears and even critiqued them — I didn’t mind because he was super informative about each of my already existing piercings.
The actual piercing process was a breeze! He puts in this really funky smelling stuff to clean the insides of your nose beforehand and uses a clamp for the septum. Everything is super sterile, and he will even tell you he’s washing his hands after he gets a good feel of the insides of your nose. Getting the septum pierced was virtually painless, he explained this was so because I had a large sweet spot — haha. In my opinion, my double nostril piercings hurt more than getting a septum done. I didn’t even shed a tear during the piercing of the septum. (The nostrils are a whole ‘nother story). Piercing was $ 60 including jewelry.
I’m going to give this shop and Matt a huge recommendation if you’re in the Boston area, he writes down all the information of your jewelry in the after care sheet. He even drew some stuff explaining on how to treat my hypo-​tropic scars on my nostril piercings.

Matt pierced my daughter’s navel about a year ago. She’s ready for piercing number two. I wouldn’t take her any place else. Matt made us feel at home. Ancient Art is super clean! Matt has a strong looking but he’s very gentle. I highly recommend this place.

Matt is amazing! I came in incredibly anxious about what a different location had done, and my only intention was to have him remove it. Within a few minutes Matt had me laughing and was able to put me at ease! He explained what should have been done, and was able to redo the piercing for me!

It took me just about 2 years to come back for more pain lol!
In love with my new piercing and purchased some cool body jewelry before leaving. Matt made the process easy and answered all of my questions!
Would definitely recommend this spot!

Matt is FANTASTIC. I did a ton of research before heading into Ancient Arts to have my nostril pierced. I was blown away by the experience. Clean, comfortable — Matt knows his stuff backward and forward and, most importantly, loves what he does. The piercing itself was quick and easy and done with very high quality jewelry. I’ve never healed so quickly or so painlessly. Best piercing experience I’ve ever had, hands down.

Matt is the absolute best piercer I’ve come across in 15+ years of piercings. He is extremely knowledgeable on the subject and utilizes the best techniques. I had dermals on my rib cage a few years back but they are not flush with my skin. As Matt informed me it’s because you are not supposed to pierce there or any area that has bone that close to the surface. The dermals he did were perfect and he is very efficient so that when he pierces it isn’t as painful. Very clean and professional, I highly recommend! If you are considering getting pierced don’t go anywhere but here!

I went to Matt in the beginning of June to get my nipples pierced. I had done a lot of research before, but I went alone, haven’t been pierced at all in six years and never in that area, so I was quite anxious when I arrived.
Matt put me at ease and was extremely effective at creating small talk that was not awkward, even when my tits were out. Everything was extremely clean. I got titanium barbells in both nipples and the total was $ 110.
It was well worth it. A friend said «But I know a place in Billerica you can get them done for $ 65!» No, thanks. Even though I have 38D breasts my piercings are completely healed in less than two months. This is a piercer with a LOT of experience, the highest quality jewelry and an extremely clean work environment. It is well worth it and I absolutely LOVE my piercings. I healed extremely quickly. I wore sports bras and rinsed with warm water 5 – 7 times a day for two weeks and within four weeks they were fine.
I did recommend this place to a friend with much smaller breasts and she healed in less than a week. Constantly changing into new, clean sports bras was key. You also want to watch your immune system for rapid healing. Eating well, Drinking less, taking vitamins and shit helps.

Matt was awesome! Very relaxed and careful which makes you feel better when getting the piercing done. He is incredibly knowledgable about piercing care and methods which made me feel very at ease. It was also a very clean studio. I’ve been to four piercing places and this was by far my favorite!

Hey guys!
I have to say Matt is a great piercer. I went on holiday near Boston and made my wish come true and got a helix (I normaly live in Germany). So I searched here and found him. Everybody said to me are you sure to do it in the US and to go to a piercer you found and searched on the Internet? And said yes i will. So we went to Matt and he is great, He told me everything I have to know and it didnt hurt when He put the needle through. Im so happy that i went to matt. :)
Ramona
Hallo Leute,
Also fuer die deutschen hier unter uns, die mal im Urlaub sein sollten und genauso wie ich Lust kriegen sollten sich ein Piercing stechen zu lassen. Ich kann matt sehr empfehlen. Ich habe mir bei ihm ein Helix stechen lassen und es ging ohne Probleme, war schnell, tat nicht weh und er hat mir alles erklaert was man wissen muss und hat mir auch meine Fragen beantwortet und alles. Also ein super Piercer kann ich nur weiter empfehlen.
Ramona

Very clean and professional. Matt is an amazing piercer and I would recommend him to anyone.
When I got my piercing I almost fainted and he was very supportive and offered me water. He made sure I felt comfortable before leaving his shop and I really appreciated it.

Hands down the best piercer I’ve ever been to. Stephanie was pleasant and helpful and Matt definitely knew what he was doing. He worked with me to get the custom industrial that I’d always wanted but wasn’t sure I could get, and I couldn’t be happier. He is very professional and personable, which makes for an awesome piercing experience. I will definitely be coming back.

Matt is great! Incredibly professional and great to talk to. I highly recommend getting your piercings done here. You will be in good hands. He will answer any questions you have knowledgeably. I felt so comfortable and happy throughout the whole process.

I was very pleased with the professional demeanor of Matt; he showed genuine interest in the questions leading up to the piercing, keeping everyone informed during the process and as he explained the aftercare. He made us feel welcome, respected and comfort to revisit with questions or post care.
Ancient Arts seems to be truly dedicated the art of piercing and not the promotion of ‘cool.’ This I can appreciate.
Great place — definitely check it out!

I always like a place that focuses on doing one thing really well. Not that you can’t get a good piercing at a tattoo parlor, but I feel better knowing that piercing is what they do and all they do here.
Matt did my piercing and lemme tell ya, the guy was a PRO-​FESH. And seeing as I went last night to pay to have someone shove a needle through my nose, that’s kind of an important factor. He chatted me up while he was getting everything ready and talked me through the cleaning process. Mercifully (for me at least) he did not explain the piercing process or show me the instrument of torture beforehand. I’m sure he would if you ask about it, but it was nice to have someone just do it and not babytalk me the whole way. He didn’t hesitate with either piercing my nostril or putting the earring in after, which really helped. Like I said, the guy is steel.
$ 52 bucks later and I now have a nose stud that looks and feels great. The jewelry was simple, a small silver stud with a diamond-​looking stone (that’s the one I got, check out my picture to see). They also have a silver ball stud or several different colors of stones in the same setting that I got.
The piercing itself doesn’t feel at all crooked and I have no redness or swelling, only a little sensitivity. I would definitely recommend this place.
I had a chance to check over the prices, and 80% of every piercing they do is $ 50 including the jewelry, so the prices seem reasonable. It’s also quick, there was no wasted time, which was nice because it gave me less time to build up weird anxiety that would make me blurt out stupid jokes.
FREE TIP FROM MY SHAMELESS BARGAIN-​HUNTING LIFE: They have pamphlets on the wall that have a coupon for 20% off a piercing on the back. Being the plucky opportunist I am, I presented one of these to the man when he was ready for me, to which he replied, «did you just grab that off the wall?» Me: «uhh, yeah. I did. I just saw it so…» Him: «At least you told the truth, so many people are like no! no, I didn’t just grab it off the wall!» Learn from my embarrassment, children.