Getting a piercing on holiday in Castelldefels: what to know first
Piercing · Santos Tattoo & Barber ·
Yes. You can get a piercing in Castelldefels at Santos Tattoo & Barber, Carrer Arcadi Balaguer, 76. Plan it early in your trip, keep it out of the sea and pool, and follow your piercer's aftercare. Book on Booksy or message @santos_tattoobarber on Instagram with your dates.
Yes, but choose the day, not just the piercing
A piercing is quick. The healing is not. That is the one thing most visitors don't think about when the idea comes up on the second night of a trip. You sit in the chair for a few minutes, you walk out with new jewellery, and then your body spends weeks getting used to it. So the question is not only whether you can get pierced while you are here. It is when. If you are in Castelldefels for a long weekend, a piercing on the last morning means you will be at the airport with a fresh one and no way to ask anyone about it. A piercing on your first or second day gives you time to see how it feels, to ask us questions, and to come back if something worries you. That is the plan we would suggest to anyone staying a week or less: do it early, then enjoy the rest of the trip with it already settled in. If you live here part of the year, even better, because you can drop in and show us how it is going.
Beach, pool and sea: the part everyone forgets
Castelldefels has a long, wide beach, and that is probably half the reason you are here. It is also the main thing that clashes with a new piercing. The Association of Professional Piercers, one of the best-known groups of piercers in the world, tells people with a fresh piercing to stay out of pools, the sea, lakes and hot tubs while it heals. Sand, salt water, sunscreen and a hotel pool are not what a new piercing wants. So think about what your days look like before you pick the date. If the whole trip is beach and swimming, an ear piercing at the very start may not be the best idea, and you might prefer to wait for when you get home. If you will spend a few days walking, eating and exploring first, it fits much better. Whatever you decide, ask your piercer how to keep it clean and dry for your situation and follow their guidance, not what a friend did once.
Flying home with a fresh piercing
Many visitors ask if they can fly right after. For a normal ear piercing, people do travel with a new one all the time, and a flight is not the problem. The small practical things are what catch people out. Airport security can ask about jewellery, so keep your booking confirmation or the aftercare sheet from the studio in your bag. Cabin air is dry, and you will be handling your hands, your hair and your phone for hours, so wash your hands before touching the area and try not to fiddle with it. Bring whatever cleaning product your piercer told you to use, in a size that is allowed in hand luggage. And remember that a piercing can feel a little more sensitive in the first days. If you sleep on the side with the new piercing during a long trip, a travel pillow with a hole in the middle or just sleeping on the other side can be more comfortable. For anything specific to your piercing, ask us before you leave.
What to check in a studio when you don't know the town
When you are somewhere new you can't ask a friend which studio to trust, so it helps to know what to look at. Before you sit down, look at the room: is it clean, is there a separate area for the work, and does the piercer wash their hands and put on fresh gloves in front of you? Ask to see the needle come out of a sealed pack. Ask what the jewellery is made of and why that material is right for a new piercing, because a good piercer can answer that without thinking. Ask how they decide where to place it for your ear or your face, and whether they mark the spot first so you can check it. And ask for aftercare instructions you can keep, ideally written down or sent to your phone, so you are not trying to remember them on the plane. If a studio is vague on any of this, or rushes you, it is fine to leave. At Santos, our piercers explain each step before they start, and you can ask anything you want.
How to book and what to bring
The simplest way is Booksy: you pick a day and time from your phone, in English if you like. If you would rather talk first, send a message to @santos_tattoobarber on Instagram with your dates, the piercing you have in mind and a photo of the placement or jewellery that inspired you. That helps us tell you if it works for your trip. On the day, bring photo ID, such as a passport. If you are under 18, tell us your age when you book, because there are rules in Catalunya for minors and we need to know before you come. Eat something first, wear a top that doesn't get in the way of the area, and arrive a few minutes early. The studio is at Carrer Arcadi Balaguer, 76, Castelldefels. If you are unsure between two ideas, come with both and we will tell you honestly which one suits your anatomy better. We would rather you leave happy than leave with the first thing you asked for.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a piercing while on holiday in Castelldefels?
Yes. Santos Tattoo & Barber, Carrer Arcadi Balaguer, 76, does piercings. Book on Booksy or message @santos_tattoobarber on Instagram with your dates. It is best to do it early in your trip so you can ask questions afterwards.
Can I swim in the sea or a pool with a new piercing?
Piercers' associations advise keeping a new piercing out of the sea, pools and hot tubs while it heals. Ask your piercer what that means for your piercing and your dates, and follow their instructions.
Can I fly after getting a piercing?
Many people do. Keep the studio's aftercare instructions with you, wash your hands before touching the area and ask your piercer about anything specific to your piercing before you travel.
Where can I get a piercing in Castelldefels?
At Santos Tattoo & Barber, Carrer Arcadi Balaguer, 76, 08860 Castelldefels. Book through Booksy or send a message on Instagram at @santos_tattoobarber.