Senior Piercer & Studio Founder · Since 2010
Blue Mason founded The Apollo Tattoo Studio and still pierces there daily. Fakir-certified, dual-discipline (piercing and tattoo), and the studio's go-to for facial and body piercing work.
A working bio for Blue — the specialties, the styles, the Fakir-lineage credentials behind the practice, and how to book. Blue has been piercing since 2010 and tattooing alongside that across the same career. Before founding Apollo, [artist's first training shop name] — the deeper lineage Blue can walk you through at consultation.
Is Blue right for you?
Apollo has two senior piercers with complementary books. Here's how to tell if Blue's the fit — and when Bunny Vogt might be the better match.
Blue is Apollo's go-to for facial piercings (septum, bridge, nostril, labret, lip variants, eyebrow) and body piercings (navel, nipple, surface, genital). If your piercing isn't a straightforward ear lobe or simple cartilage piece, Blue is very likely the right fit — especially for anything with unusual anatomy or a procedure that requires formal Fakir-lineage training.
For ear-curation projects involving technically demanding piercings — industrials, orbitals, multi-piece structural clusters — Blue's the right piercer. Simpler ear-curation projects and kid/teen work usually route to Bunny Vogt, Apollo's other senior piercer, whose book specializes there.
Blue is also a tattoo artist — one of the rare practitioners who does both at senior level. Clients sometimes book a piercing and a small tattoo in a single visit, or plan complementary work across both disciplines. Ask at consultation if this is something you want to explore.
Blue is formally trained through the Fakir Intensives — the lineage Fakir Musafar established as the standard of professional body piercing education. If the provenance of your piercer's training matters to you, Blue's curriculum and certification are public-record and documented.
As Apollo's founder, Blue sometimes takes on the edge-case consultations — complex anatomy, troubleshooting migrated or rejected piercings from other studios, planning work that will intersect with scar tissue or surgical modifications. If a previous piercer has told you 'we can't do that,' a second opinion with Blue is worth the consult.
If your anatomy won't carry the piercing, I'll tell you. That's the conversation, not the piercing.
Implant-grade or fine gold, nothing else. We don't stock what we wouldn't put in our own skin.
Fakir taught me the procedure. The client teaches me the specific body, every single time.
What Blue does best
Blue's book runs from standard facial piercings to Fakir- specific body procedures, technical ear work, and troubleshooting consultations. These are the specialties he's most booked for.
From simple to anatomy-dependent complex
One of Blue's most-requested facial piercings. Standard septum placement through the sweet-spot (the thin tissue column at the front of the septum) is a routine Blue appointment. Complex cases — deviated septa, sinus history, anatomy that lies outside the standard column — require more consultation time and sometimes an honest 'this isn't a fit' conversation.
Standard, high-nostril, and double configurations
Standard nostril piercings, high-nostril placements, and double-nostril configurations (two piercings on one side). Blue assesses nostril shape and cartilage density in consultation and plans jewelry selection accordingly. Fine-gold hoops and discrete titanium studs are both common starters.
Anatomy-critical, surface-piercing category
The bridge (between the eyes, across the top of the nose) is technically a surface piercing with a long healing window and specific anatomy requirements. Blue does bridge piercings for clients with appropriate anatomy and is honest about migration risk in the long term. [Portfolio highlight here once user provides reference.]
Center labret, side labret, Monroe, Medusa, vertical labret
Full range of lip and chin piercings. Blue walks clients through the specific tissue behavior of each placement — some placements eat through tooth enamel over years, some push against gum tissue, some are far more durable. The consult covers trade-offs before the piercing happens.
Surface-category piercing with specific healing
The eyebrow piercing is a surface piercing with elevated migration risk compared to cartilage or lobe work. Blue takes the appointment for clients who understand the trade-offs and will follow the longer healing protocol. [Portfolio highlight here once user provides reference.]
Anatomy-dependent, technique-specific
Navel piercings for clients with appropriate shelf anatomy; Blue declines the piercing in consultation when the anatomy won't support a long-term heal. Surface piercings (nape, sternum, anti-eyebrow) as case-by-case bookings with explicit long-term trade-off conversations.
A specialty Blue books regularly
Single or paired nipple piercings, performed with the full Fakir-lineage procedure. Blue walks clients through healing expectations (6–12 months for full heal), jewelry selection, and placement-specific considerations before the appointment itself. Privacy is handled with studio-standard discretion.
Two piercings connected by a single bar
The industrial (standard: two helix piercings connected with a single straight bar) requires specific upper-ear anatomy. Blue assesses carefully — not every ear supports an industrial and forcing the piercing produces migration and scar tissue. When the anatomy's right, Blue plans placement for the bar's long-term fit.
Multiple piercings connected with a single ring or decorative grouping
Orbitals (two piercings sharing a single ring) and decorative ear clusters that require technical planning across multiple placements. These are Blue's specialty inside ear curation — the pieces that demand the higher-technical-complexity work.
Full Fakir-lineage genital piercing practice
Blue performs the full range of genital piercings taught in the Fakir Intensives. All genital piercings are consult-first — we never do genital work without a dedicated pre-piercing consultation to assess anatomy, discuss healing, and ensure the appointment is a fit. Privacy protocols and studio-standard discretion apply throughout.
Second-opinion consults
Clients whose piercings have migrated, rejected, or refused to heal at other studios. Blue assesses what happened, whether the original piercing can be salvaged (downsize, jewelry change, placement shift) or needs to close and be redone. Often the consultation is 'give it six months to close fully, then we'll redo it correctly.'
Black and gray, ornamental, script
Blue also tattoos. His tattoo specialty styles include black and gray ornamental work, decorative script, and small-scale illustrative pieces. Clients sometimes book tattoo and piercing work together or across coordinated visits. See Blue's tattoo portfolio before the consult.
Six styles
Each style has a different consultation depth, session structure, and credential backing. Knowing which one you're in narrows the booking.
Septum, nostril, bridge, labret, lip variants, eyebrow
Blue's deepest specialty. Years of facial-piercing practice and the Fakir curriculum behind it. Every facial piercing is anatomy-assessed in consultation and placed for long-term healing rather than momentary aesthetic.
Navel, nipple, surface, genital
The full body-piercing range taught through Fakir Intensives. Every body piercing is anatomy-first — Blue declines work where the anatomy won't support long-term healing, regardless of what the client wants.
The complex end of ear curation
The structurally-demanding end of ear piercing. Industrials, orbitals, and multi-piece clusters require technical planning across multiple placements and jewelry that fits the planned composition. Simpler ear work usually routes to Bunny; technically complex ear work comes to Blue.
Migrated, rejected, or problematic piercings from other studios
A significant share of Blue's consultations are second opinions — piercings that migrated, rejected, or haven't healed after work elsewhere. Blue assesses whether a salvage is possible or whether the piercing needs to close and be redone. The consultation itself is the service.
Piercings that specifically require Fakir-lineage training
Certain piercings — specific genital piercings, specific surface piercings, certain Fakir-tradition ritual piercings — are only performed by Fakir-certified piercers. Blue's Fakir certification opens these procedures at Apollo.
Blue as dual-discipline senior artist
Blue is one of a small number of practitioners who works at senior level in both piercing and tattooing. Clients occasionally book coordinated visits — a piercing plus a small tattoo, or tattoo work that visually coordinates with existing piercings. Ask at consultation if this interests you.
Selected work
Blue does both tattoo and piercing at Apollo. The tiles below sample from his studio book — piercing curation healed alongside the tattoo work that shares the same bench. Tap any tile to open the full chronological portfolio.
Full portfolio → /artists/blue-mason-piercing/portfolio/
Five session modes
Blue's appointments come in five recognizable shapes. Knowing which mode you're booking sets the pacing and the expectation for the visit.
Septum, bridge, complex nostril configurations
Blue's default booking for facial work. A pre-piercing consultation (often on the same visit as the piercing, when the book allows) walks through anatomy, jewelry, and healing expectations before the piercing itself.
Standard nostril, standard labret, single Monroe or Medusa
Facial piercings that can be consulted and executed in a single visit when anatomy is straightforward. Most clients come into this category with clear anatomy and low complexity.
Nipple, navel, surface piercings
Body piercings with longer consult time, dedicated privacy, and aftercare walk-through specific to the placement. Nipple and navel piercings are common; surface piercings require more consultation time.
Industrial, orbital, multi-piece cluster work
The technically demanding end of ear curation. Blue plans the whole cluster at consult and executes across one or two appointments depending on complexity and healing-window overlap.
No new piercing — assessment only, or assessment plus next-step planning
A consultation focused on evaluating existing work. Often results in a plan rather than a same-day piercing — let it close, troubleshoot jewelry, or plan a redo at a later date.
Session durations
Pricing is discussed at consultation and scales with session length, jewelry selection, and complexity.
Eight collaboration shapes
As studio founder and dual-discipline practitioner, Blue's work threads through a lot of Apollo's other services. Here are the most common collaboration shapes.
When a client is deciding between ear-focused and full-body piercing work, Blue and Bunny consult together. The studio routes simpler ear work and kid sessions to Bunny; complex body and facial piercings to Blue.
Blue is one of few practitioners who works at senior level in both disciplines. A single-visit tattoo + piercing session is a real booking option. Ask at consultation.
Blue occasionally consults with Apollo's tattoo artists on work that will visually coordinate with existing piercings — jewelry placement, neck tattoos that frame ear curation, chest work that sits near a nipple piercing.
Blue's tattoo work lives primarily in black-and-gray ornamental. Clients interested in that style can start from his piercing consult and add a tattoo consultation to the same visit.
Clients drawn to fine-line tattoo work sometimes add delicate facial piercings with Blue in a coordinated aesthetic. Register-matched planning across both disciplines.
Blue is the piercer Apollo routes to when a client arrives with problematic work from another studio. The consultation often becomes an ongoing relationship — clients return for the redo and everything after.
Certain piercings require Fakir-lineage training; Blue's certification makes Apollo a referral destination for these specific procedures from clients who've searched for the credential specifically.
Clients who were pierced elsewhere but want Apollo's stocked implant-grade titanium or fine gold for their upgrade jewelry. Blue fits and installs, and often takes over the client's ongoing piercing relationship.
Consultation
Expect these to come up. Coming in with answers to each saves consult time and produces a better-fit piercing.
Blue's first question is always placement and anatomy. Some piercings (bridge, rook, daith, industrial) require specific anatomy to heal well. The honest answer at consult is more valuable than a forced piercing.
A rejection history shapes jewelry choice, placement planning, and aftercare protocol. Blue wants the history up front so the new piercing is planned around it, not against it.
Apollo stocks implant-grade titanium and fine gold specifically for sensitive clients. Even so, Blue wants to know the reaction history so jewelry selection starts from the right baseline.
Facial piercings interact with glasses, phones held to the ear, side-sleeping habits, exercise, swimming. Blue asks before recommending a specific placement so the choice is matched to the healing reality.
A single piercing is planned differently than the first step in a multi-piercing or multi-visit project. Blue maps project-mode work across months so healing windows overlap cleanly.
Because Blue works in both disciplines, a client asking about one sometimes benefits from hearing about the other. He'll mention tattoo options only if you want them mentioned.
Most 'bad piercings' are just piercings that should have been a different piercing from the start.
Come back for the downsize. That's the appointment that finishes the piercing, not the original one.
I founded this studio to be the place clients come back to — not the place you get pierced once and never again.
Common misconceptions
Most disappointing piercings come out of one of these eight patterns. Catching it at consultation prevents it in the chair.
Not every ear has a daith fold; not every nose supports a bridge; not every navel has the shelf anatomy for long-term healing. Blue declines anatomy-forced piercings and has the conversation about alternatives that will heal correctly.
Certain piercings — complex genital work, specific surface placements, some Fakir-tradition procedures — have established training standards. Getting them done by an untrained piercer produces elevated complication rates. For these procedures specifically, Blue's credential is the reason to book here.
Surgical steel isn't implant-grade. Chrome isn't implant-grade. Amazon or eBay jewelry isn't verifiable. For fresh piercings and healing work, Apollo stocks only implant-grade titanium and fine gold — and Blue won't install work below that standard regardless of what the client brings in.
The temptation to swap starter jewelry for a decorative piece at 6 weeks is strong. The reality is most piercings aren't structurally healed until months 3–12. Blue tracks your specific piercing's timeline and tells you when it's actually ready to change.
Saline mist, twice a day, is the whole protocol for most piercings. Blue sends clients home with specific instructions. Clients who improvise (peroxide, alcohol, antibacterial soap, over-twisting) slow healing and introduce complications.
Initial jewelry is sized to accommodate swelling. Once the piercing settles, a downsize to a shorter post reduces snag risk and speeds final healing. Many clients never book the downsize — and end up with the starter length indefinitely.
A piercer whose answer is always 'yes, we can do that' is a red flag. Sometimes the honest answer is no — your anatomy doesn't support this piercing, or this placement will migrate in six months. Blue declines piercings regularly; it's part of why returning clients trust him.
Professional-body membership, Fakir Intensives certification, and state-licensure training are distinct credentials with distinct standards. Blue carries formal Fakir-lineage certification plus the studio's state licensure. Understanding what a specific credential means helps clients evaluate piercer fit.
The first-visit recipe
Eight decisions the first visit walks through on purpose — whether you're booking a standard nostril or a complex Fakir- specific procedure.
Personalization
A piercing becomes yours in three layers. The first is the piercing itself. The last is the years-long relationship with the studio founder.
Placement, jewelry, and technique. Blue's baseline is Fakir-lineage procedure with implant-grade jewelry in every case. The baseline is the part that doesn't vary — it's the same careful execution for a standard nostril as for a complex industrial.
Once the initial piercing is healed, decorative jewelry selection, curation planning, and coordinated-piece additions become the ongoing work. Blue maintains notes on returning clients so each appointment builds on the last.
Piercing is a relationship more than a transaction. Clients who book their first piercing with Blue often return for every piercing and jewelry change after it. The studio's record of your healing history, reactions, and preferences makes each subsequent appointment easier and better-fit.
Working with Blue
Blue's appointments come in four relationship shapes. The studio's routing matches each to the right booking window and privacy protocol.
The most common booking shape. A single client, a single appointment, whatever level of consultation the piercing requires. Default for most of Blue's work.
Coordinated couples' piercings — matching nostrils, complementary septums, coordinated body work. Blue handles these as a single appointment with both clients present for each other's piercing if they want, or separated if privacy is preferred.
Clients who've been with Blue for years often build long-running piercing and tattoo projects across many visits. The relationship aspect matters — Blue knows your reaction history, your anatomy, your preferences, and the consult time shortens accordingly.
Body piercings and genital piercings are handled with full studio-standard privacy protocols. The appointment is scheduled when the studio's private room is available. No other clients see the room, hear the consult, or know what piercing was performed.
FAQ
Eight questions covering credentials, specialties, jewelry, booking, and what to expect at the appointment.
Fakir Intensives is the body-piercing training curriculum established by Fakir Musafar, widely recognized as the foundational body-piercing educator in modern American practice. Fakir certification means a piercer has completed formal training in the Fakir-lineage methods, procedures, and safety standards. The certification is distinct from industry-body membership and from state-licensure requirements — it's a separate professional credential focused on procedure and technique. Blue carries Fakir-lineage certification plus the state licensure Apollo maintains, and the specific procedures the Fakir training enables are part of what Blue is booked for.
Apollo's two senior piercers have complementary books. Blue is the piercer for: facial piercings (septum, bridge, nostril, labret, lip variants, eyebrow), body piercings (navel, nipple, surface, genital), technically-complex ear work (industrial, orbital, cluster projects), Fakir-specific procedures, and second-opinion consultations on migrated or rejected work from other studios. Bunny's specialty is kid and teen ear piercings, first-ear-curation adults, and warm-room sessions where the pacing matters more than procedural complexity. The studio matches clients to the right piercer at booking time.
Yes. Blue works at senior level in both disciplines, which is uncommon. His tattoo style is primarily black-and-gray ornamental, decorative script, and small-scale illustrative work. Clients occasionally book coordinated visits — a piercing plus a small tattoo, or tattoo work that visually complements existing piercings. If you want to explore this, mention it at consultation and the booking will accommodate both disciplines.
Apollo stocks only implant-grade titanium (ASTM F-136 or equivalent) and fine gold (14k and 18k) for fresh piercings and initial jewelry. No surgical steel, no chrome, no plated pieces. Implant-grade titanium is the standard for sensitive skin and new piercings because it's biologically inert and carries no nickel. Fine gold is an option for clients who prefer it aesthetically. Blue selects jewelry from the studio's stocked lines based on the specific piercing, anatomy, and healing expectations.
Through Apollo's online booking and consultation system (linked on every page of this site) or by calling the studio directly. When you book, specify that you'd like to consult with Blue — the studio cross-books between Blue and Bunny based on what each piercer's book specializes in, and mentioning Blue at booking time ensures you land on his schedule. For first-time clients, we generally recommend a dedicated consultation before the piercing itself, especially for complex facial, body, or Fakir-specific procedures.
Yes — second-opinion and troubleshooting consultations are a regular part of Blue's practice. Clients whose piercings migrated, rejected, or refused to heal at other studios come in for assessment. Depending on the specific case, Blue might recommend a salvage (downsize jewelry, change placement slightly, shift the healing protocol), a full redo (let the old piercing close completely, then redo it correctly in the same or a different placement), or a 'this piercing isn't going to heal for you, let's consider an alternative.' The consultation itself is the service — come in with no expectation of a same-visit piercing.
Yes, through Blue specifically. All genital piercings are consult-first — we never perform genital piercings without a dedicated pre-piercing consultation to assess anatomy, discuss healing expectations, and confirm fit. Privacy protocols are full studio-standard: dedicated private room, no other clients in or near the space, discretion throughout. Blue's Fakir-lineage training specifically includes the full range of genital piercing procedures.
Sterile saline mist twice a day for the first 30 days, then as-needed until fully healed. No peroxide, no alcohol, no antibacterial soap. Don't twist jewelry. Keep the piercing dry during the first few weeks — no swimming, no saunas, no submerged baths. Change pillowcases regularly for facial and upper-ear piercings. Clean hands before any contact with the piercing. Full aftercare walk-through happens at every appointment, and returning questions are welcome by phone or at the 4–6 week follow-up visit.
Ready to book with Blue?
First consultations with Blue are booked through Apollo's online system or by phone. For facial piercings, expect a 45–60 minute first visit. For body, Fakir-specific, or troubleshooting work, expect a longer dedicated consultation session.
