Meet Marissa Young | Professional Body Piercer & Jewelry Stylist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marissa Young and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marissa, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Having the opportunity to become a piercer was the easiest decision that I’ve ever made! I have had the passion for being artistic and creating things since I was a little girl. When I was 16 I started my first business and began making handmade jewelry that I sold on Etsy. Once I knew that I could make a product that I loved making that I could make a living off of (which wasn’t much at the time), I knew that was the only direction that I wanted my life to go in. Working in a creative career fuels my spirit and feeds my soul in so many more ways that I can explain and I encourage any other creative mind to try to take the opportunity to work in it as a career. Most days at work don’t feel like I’m working at all!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I really value every single experience that I have with my clients and it is so rewarding to watch people feel more confident and beautiful after getting something done with me. I take everyone’s preferences and lifestyles into consideration when planning a piercing or curation rather than doing what is easy. Every person is so different in their work life, home life, style preferences and anatomy so it is extremely important to me that I consider every factor for my clients. Piercings, in my opinion, should be something that reflects your personal style and should naturally match your life. After working on my process for the past few years, I feel confident in my ability to do that for anyone who walks in the door, regardless of their needs. Another thing that I am proud of is offering the best communication for my clients so they will never have to question anything in their healing process. My Instagram inbox will always be open for answering piercing questions, sending quotes, placement ideas based on anatomy, and any other information that I can offer. Piercings can sometimes take a full year to heal, and I will be there to help my clients every time they need me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m definitely more of a homebody and prefer hiking and more isolated activities, but when I do go out, I really enjoy going to coffee shops, museums, and antique malls. The High Museum is a must, bonus points if there is an interesting exhibition going on. The aquarium is another museum that is definitely worth seeing! We would have to get hot chocolate at least once at Cafe Intermezzo. I love going to the botanical gardens, especially during the holiday season for the Christmas lights. I’ve enjoyed the open mic nights at Laughing Skull Lounge *almost* every time I’ve attended and even cried from laughing so hard one time! I’ve been to The Masquerade way more times than I can count for concerts. The Roof at Ponce is easy for a great night out. For the weirder stuff, I love Antique Factory in Chamblee because they never disappoint me if I want to see any unique antiques. Rainy Day Revival is an oddity shop that I think is interesting too if you’re into that kind of stuff!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many factors that go into how I have become the piercer that I am today but I can confidently say that Mike Cummings, the owner of Inksomnia, has been the biggest contributor to my success in my career. Mike gave me the opportunity to work at his studio over 6 years ago with absolutely NO experience. Since then, he has put his full trust in my vision for our jewelry selection and the shop’s success and I cannot be more thankful for him allowing me to be the piercer I am today. Jason King, my mentor, has always encouraged and supported me in my decision to peruse piercing and I am grateful for his generosity and friendship over the years. I am endlessly thankful for my best friend Melissa Liu, another great piercer that I met a couple of years into my piercing career, who has given me invaluable knowledge along with her friendship. Lastly, I’d like to thank my mom for inspiring me to take action in my career and transforming the “brand” that I’ve created for myself. She has helped me prioritize and improve the experience that I provide for my clients and has greatly inspired my shift into a more business mindset when dealing with my career goals.

Website: https://piercingsbymarissa.com

Instagram: piercingsbymarissa

Other: TikTok- Piercingsbymarissa