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EDINBURG — If you’re like anyone and have gotten your ear or nose or whatever pierced, it’s likely been at a tattoo parlor or by that one cousin who seems to know how to do everything.
What Erick Helix and Jessica Lee are trying to change is that once you walk into their business doors, you won’t want to go anywhere else to get pierced.
The Edinburg couple, both 43, are the owners and operators of Helix Piercing and Jewelry, located at 922 S. McColl Road, Suite A in Edinburg.
Erick, who has been a piercer since 2001 at tattoo parlors and similar facilities, explained that he was motivated to open a piercing studio to bring a safer way of piercing to the Rio Grande Valley.
Although he had initially stopped being a piercer for some time, when he returned he realized that nothing had changed in regards to the proper piercing methods in the Valley.
That’s when he opened Helix, on Sept. 29, 2022.
“We do more piercing corrections than anything else so obviously something is not working,” Erick said, adding this only emphasized the need for Helix.
They wanted to create a place that offers clients a sterile environment, and authentic gold jewelry due to many people having allergies to other types of jewelry.
“If it’s one thing I’ve learned over the years is that the quality of the jewelry, the education of the piercer and the sanitation of the way they practice their actual craft is a big big step in the healing process and also just to have a successful piercing,” Erick said, adding that all of their jewelry has a life guarantee.
Comfort is everything for the duo, who have worked to create a comfortable environment for their customers. The goal is to put them at ease, build trust, and relax their muscles so they won’t tense up. “We welcome everyone with open arms and hand sani (sanitizer),” Erick joked.
Clients are asked to schedule appointments on the Helix website, where Jessica and Erick have included their policies. This helps prepare customers about what they can expect when arriving.
For instance, you have to be let into the business where Erick and Jessica use a Ring camera to screen for appointments, looking for a driver’s license or ID. They’re thorough in order to verify appointments and control the environment inside, guaranteeing it remains sterile and private for each client.
Although they acknowledge that their policies may be viewed as strict or can come across as intimidating, Jessica explained that by establishing these policies it allows them to give each client their undivided attention.
“I know we have a lot of policies, but It’s for the sake of the client to be prepared,” Jessica said, adding that they don’t want their clients to be surprised.
Once the client is inside Jessica walks them through the process step by step, starting with the consent form.
Erick then does an anatomy assessment for each client where he will explain why a particular piercing may or may not work with one’s anatomy as well as reviewing the jewelry with the client.
“For example let’s say we have somebody that wants a tragus piercing (the small flap above the ear lobe). That particular part, if it doesn’t stick out just enough it doesn’t have enough actual depth to it and everything else. I cannot pierce that,” Erick said. “(I) look at it from different angles just to check to see if their anatomy is actually suited for that particular piercing.”
This is what separates Helix from most other piercing services thanks to the business focusing entirely on piercings.
“If they’re about to spend some money, we don’t want them spending that money if it’s just not gonna work out,” Erick said.
For Jessica, a facility like Helix was a necessary change for the Valley; it was a service that was “very well overdo,” adding that it is currently offered nationwide and internationally.
Although nursing is a different scope of practice than piercing, Jessica, who has been a nurse for nearly 14 years, said there are some similarities when it comes to patient or client care, such as bedside manner.
Her nursing experience in wounds and wound care gives Jessica a unique skill set in piercing and corrective piercing services, knowledge they apply to their work in the studio.
This also helps them keep the environment appropriately sanitary given the services performed there.
“We have an autoclave, we are certified in bloodborne pathogens to prevent cross contamination,” Jessica said, currently working on becoming certified in CPR as well. “I think to us it’s very important because anything could happen with our clients. We have a lot of clients that will have diabetes, hypertension, seizures.”
They want to be able to tend to their clients in emergency situations.
Not only is Jessica still a registered nurse, but Erick — who is the primary piercer at Helix — also has an understanding of the medical aspects due to his previous experience pursuing a career as a surgical technician.
In fact, Erick’s path to Helix began after previous aspirations to be a surgical technician, a medical assistant or a phlebotomist didn’t work out, mainly as a result of his school asking him to leave because he had tattoos, he said.
Although that was an unfortunate experience, he added, it led him to a career that’s become more of a calling at Helix, one that has become not only profitable but a source of learning.
“Knowledge comes before profit,” Erick said, adding that there is always something new to learn, which is why he and Jessica continue to educate themselves on their profession and pass that knowledge on to their clients.
Now two years after they’ve opened Jessica and Erick are seeing the fruits of their labor.
“We started off with $5,000 and an idea,” Erick said, adding that it took them a year just to open the studio.
That small investment came from his dad which accounted for a big leap of faith, one that has paid off since.
“We must’ve probably told each other that we want to quit about 10 to 12 times,” Erick said, recalling them living in a small room at the time and finding ways to save money.
They recalled facing various challenges as they worked toward opening the facility, such as purchasing necessary tools including face masks, surgical gloves and other medical supplies.
Erick recalled prices “skyrocketing” for medical supplies at the time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He explained that throughout the process of opening their studio they would reach out to piercers within the Association of Professional Piercers for advice.
Jessica recalled moments before first opening the studio, when they were questioning if they would even be able to sell the gold jewelry.
“That first week we were booked and we sold mainly gold,” Jessica said, adding that since its opening they’ve continued to receive positive reviews, with over 120 reviews all giving the studio a five-star ranking. “It’s not easy but the reviews, the feedback from the clients really means a lot.”
Erick cautioned that entrepreneurs who seek to do the same can expect to lose money, but like any idea that’s forged from passion and practicality, persistence is everything.
“If you’re trying to open a business you’re going to lose a lot of money at first,” Erick said
“And you’re going to make a ton of mistakes,” Jessica added.
Erick agreed, adding that those mistakes help one learn and continue to improve.
For information on how to make an appointment, visit the Helix website.
