Last weekend I had the absolute pleasure of attending the 10th UKAPP Conference in Nottingham (28-30 September 2025) — and wow, what an experience! It was the kind of event that reminds you why you fell in love with this craft in the first place: connecting with brilliant minds, deepening your technical skill, and yes, getting to party in full costume.

Diving into fresh skills & perspectives

One of my highlights was Helen Wardell’s session on Gender-affirming Piercing. Her sensitivity, clinical rigour, and lived insight into trans and nonbinary needs really struck a chord. She challenged us to think beyond “standard anatomy” and tailor our approaches with compassion and inclusivity. I came away with a fresh perspective on the importance of language use and the need to listen carefully to clients’ narratives.

Ryan Oulette’s Daith Piercing class was another standout. Ryan is a master of his craft, with 25 years of experience in the industry—methodical, precise, and always open about what works (and what doesn’t). Watching him navigate needle angles, tissue handling, and considerations for anatomic variation was like watching a surgeon in the studio. 

Then there was Needles the Cutting Edge with Brian Skellie — a session that felt almost philosophical at times. He explored the geometry of bevels, how tool choice affects tissue behaviour, and how even tiny deviations in angle can make or break a placement and effective healing. I found myself nodding along repeatedly and feverishly scribbling my notes.  This highly experienced individual is the widely acclaimed expert on all things piercing!  He boasts over 30 years in the industry and is the current President of the Association of Professional Piercers.

Kat Henness delivered a fascinating session on the science of Wound Healing and Infection Dynamics, breaking down the cellular processes in a way that was both deeply technical and highly practical for our everyday work. It was a reminder of how much microbiology underpins our craft. Meanwhile, Becky Dill’s classes on adult piercings provided thoughtful insights into how placement, jewellery and lifestyle can affect piercing choices and outcomes. Both talks were engaging and newsworthy, adding even more depth to the already rich conference programme.

And I can’t forget Breo Hoek’s talk on Live, Laugh, Large Gauge. His honesty and depth of experience were inspiring. His mix of technical detail and real-world perspective reminded me of our responsibility to clients who trust us with such big steps in their body piercing journey.

These classes reinforced something I already believe deeply: as piercers, we must never stop growing. The industry evolves; clients’ needs shift; our own standards should climb higher. “Always learning” isn’t just a cute slogan — it’s essential.

Faces, brands, and industry friends

One of the best parts of UKAPP isn’t just the classes — it’s reconnecting with the people behind the stunning jewellery Brands you all know and love.  It was lovely to catch up with Terry and Tammy, the life partners, owners, and true innovators of LeRoi Fine Jewellery. Likewise, spending time chatting with Paddy, Ryan and Eden from Industrial Strength UK and Stiletto Piercing Supplies gave me a fresh perspective on what’s happening at the cutting edge of their new releases. And I really appreciated catching up with Ian, Nick & Rick from Junipurr — their passion for piercer support and online engagement always inspires me (and I may have picked up a few sneaky hints from them).  And I can't forget the gorgeous Raquel & Aaron from Pierrced and their eye-catching, brightly coloured silicone displays.  Look out for our aquamarine body parts plus many new jewellery arrivals and restocks, appearing soon!

It wasn’t just the big names, either — across the conference, I met so many talented piercers, brand reps, and educators, all eager to exchange ideas, tools, and stories. Those conversations fuel creativity more than you’d think.

Fancy dress, fun & photos

And yes — the fancy dress party was legendary. A huge shout-out to Junipurr, ProBodyArt, and BooksOpen for hosting the cabaret and themed evening. Seeing everyone’s costumes and parody portraits (from the subtle and chic to the wildly theatrical) was a great deal of fun. I’m still giggling at some of the outfits I spotted. If you look through the photos from the event, you’ll see Steph & me rocking Pandora-inspired blue spandex (for which we were runners-up in the competition!). Those moments capture the joy, the camaraderie, and the lighter side of what we do.

The evening also featured a cheeky surprise — The Piercer Edition cocktail menu, with drinks as playful as they were delicious. I couldn’t resist trying a sip of “The Split Tongue,” while others raved about “The Smokey Prince Albert” and “The Piercers Punch.” It was the perfect mix of humour, flavour, and celebration — exactly the kind of bonding experience that makes this community so unique.

Why this matters

Why go to all this effort? Because our clients depend on us not just for safe technique, but for trust, artistry, respect, and evolving excellence. If we don’t continually push ourselves — physically, intellectually, and ethically — we risk stagnation. Conferences like UKAPP are crucial because they bring together diverse voices and techniques. They remind us we are part of a community, not isolated studios.

So yes — I left Nottingham thrilled, energised, and more determined than ever. I’ll review my notes, test small changes in my studio, and stay connected to these networks. To all who taught, organised, exhibited, or just showed up — thank you. Here’s to more knowledge, connection, and bold creativity in piercing. Always learning, always striving.

Thanks for reading! 

Emma Rance, Owner & Head Piercer at Isha Body Jewellery