A well-established piercer who has relocated their business to Shaw is determined to inspire change in the industry - and provide a well-needed safe space for LGBTQ+ people in Oldham.
Pricklez Piercing and its owner, AJ, go beyond a regular piercing shop, using only the best quality materials and the highest standards in the piercing industry.
Not only that, but AJ lends an ear and a shoulder to lean on for LGBTQ+ people seeking support and opens the shop as a guaranteed safe space for anyone vulnerable who may need it.
AJ only moved into the new premises, situated on Marketplace within the Black Widow Tattoo Studio, which is co-owned by their partner, Holly Atherton, a few months ago.
Although Pricklez Piercing has been renowned in Bolton for years, AJ said it has been "very difficult" to set up again in Oldham as they are fighting a crisis on multiple fronts - from gaining local recognition to the cost-of-living crisis and competing with cheaper studios in the area.
The 27-year-old explained: "My wage is taking a beating because gas and electric are more expensive.
"It also gets to you sometimes when you're waiting for a walk-in - I was flying in Bolton, I had a massive name for myself and people knew me when they saw the cactus.
"But in Oldham, no one knows who Pricklez is.
"I've had to go on Universal Credit", they added.
They said they are also competing with lower-end studios in the borough which offer significantly lower prices where, AJ said, the standards and safety practices might not be there.
The basic price for a piercing at Pricklez starts at £40 which AJ admits is on the high end, however, clients can expect industry-quality care, book in for custom projects and enjoy safe piercings with quality metals.
The studio doesn't use plastic, surgical steel or stainless steel and the piercer will study each client's anatomy ahead of the job.
Customers can also choose their own design of either white gold, yellow gold or rose gold and can opt to mix up the material with implant-grade titanium.
However, AJ said some are still being drawn in by studios offering piercings as low as £5 on deals that are "too good to be true".
They said: "A&E is becoming rammed with people with infected piercings.
"People's lives are at risk - I've seen people have to get parts of their bodies amputated because of a bad piercing.
"It's a massive problem that is putting more strain on the NHS. It's the same when it comes to botox treatments and things."
AJ continued: "Yes, you pay more with me, but I'm one of the only studios in the whole of Oldham where you can be pierced with 14 or 18-karat solid gold and you'll be safe under my wing for years after.
"I swear to god, clients are bouncing out of the shop with confidence.
"My aim is for people to recognise our studio as the way a safe body piercing studio is supposed to run."
Another passion for the piercer, who identifies as non-binary, is providing an inclusive space.
Pricklez Piercing prides itself on functioning as a safe space as AJ said they have heard harrowing stories over the years, from homophobic abuse and misgendering to more serious and heartbreaking tales where women and children have taken shelter in the shop.
They said: "Sometimes I feel like a therapist. What people tell me haunts me.
"I've had as many as 10 or 15 people a day.
"The suicide rate in the LGBT community is massive", they added.
Even the paperwork is as inclusive as possible with preferred names and pronouns asked on consent forms.
"I'll be there for anyone, no matter what walk of life they come from.
"It costs nothing to be decent", they said.
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