It's easy to forget about Hot Rod, since it's upstairs, but check it out next time you visit Oakland.
The interior is clean and crisp, decorated with African sculptures and masks.
I had my tragus done 6 years ago and it was less traumatic than my lobe piercings since Hot Rod only uses sterile needles, guided by hands and a receiving tube.
Today I stopped in to get my septum done. First, my nose was lubricated and massaged to find a favorable spot to pierce. Then, I laid on the table, and let the piercer double check that the hole would be straight. I felt the needle rest against my nose before being quickly shoved through. My eyes watered, but it was the least painful of my head piercings. Six years since my first visit, and Hot Rod is still the best place to get a new hole in your body.