Bopping to the mall with your girlfriends for a hand-holding, group-ear piercing session followed by warm Cinnabon comfort is so last century. Chic new piercing studios like Studs - debuting in Dallas' West Village on April 26 - take a more modern approach to the body-altering procedure.

"Studs has reimagined the antiquated ear piercing experience for new generations," says a release. "Their trained piercing experts use needles (never piercing guns!), allowing for better precision, safety, and healing."

The brand also touts itself as the authority on "earscaping" (which they capitalize and trademark-symbol in the release), the process of "stacking" several piercings up and down the ear.

"Their knowledgeable and skilled piercing experts offer personalized consultations, advising on the best piercing placement and earrings for your unique ear anatomy and style," they say.

Launched by co-founders Anna Harman and Lisa Bubbers in late 2019 (even before COVID brought health and safety concerns to the forefront of the beauty industry), Studs now has 18 studios nationwide and four in Texas. West Village is its first venture into Dallas-Fort Worth, after two locations in Austin and one in Houston. They clearly know where the piercing action is.

Photo courtesy of Studs

Studs co-founders Anna Harman and Lisa Bubbers have opened their 18th location in Dallas' West Village.

"When choosing a new location, Studs looks for cities with large Gen Z and millennial populations and shopping areas with strong foot traffic from locals and tourists and proximity to trendy and popular restaurants, hotels, coffee shops and boutiques," the founders say in the release. "Opening a new studio in the West Village shopping center was a no-brainer."

Their goal, the founders say, is to connect ear piercing with aftercare and earring shopping in a cool, fun, safe, and welcoming environment - without exorbitant prices. Piercing costs are as follows:

• 1 Piercing is $35 + the cost of jewelry
• 2 Piercings are $50 + the cost of two pieces jewelry

Besides offering piercings in a more clinical setting, Studs offers an assortment of affordable, on-trend earrings for purchase. They're sold as singles or pairs, made of high-quality materials, and prices range from $10-$160, they say.

Best-sellers include playful novelty earrings like a cowboy boot huggie ($28), cowboy hat huggie ($28), and Y’ALL stud ($22).

Piercing checkups, piercing jewelry changes, and flatback downsizing are also offered.

In just a few short years, Studs says, it has quickly become a favorite piercing destination for Gen Z and millennial crowds and celebrities, including Kaia Gerber, Emma Chamberlain, Dixie D’Amelio, and Rosalia.

Studs follows the opening of another dedicated ear piercing studio-jewelry boutique, Wildlike, which debuted at Dallas’ Shops of Highland Park in summer of 2021.

The new Studs, West Village, is located at 3699 McKinney Ave # 102, Dallas. Hours are 11am-7pm Monday-Sunday.