Since Elaine's retirement from studio life in March of 2006, Nomad's piercer, Blake becomes the longest practicing piercer at any studio in the world. Blake began piercing semi-professionally in San Diego in 1988 and professionally in 1990 at San Francisco's Body Manipulations, the second piercing studio in the world. In 1993, Blake opened Nomad, the first tribal studio in the industry in San Francisco’s Haight District.

In 1994, Blake and Nomad were original co-founders of the APP. In 1995 Blake opened Nomad, Australia, the first piercing studio down under. From 1996 to 1998 Blake brought his tribal gospel to the east coast and there apprenticed nearly a dozen piercers.

In 1998, he downshifted his life from 80 piercing clients a day to a humble 20. He founded the Nomad Museum, the only museum of personal ornament in the United States. In 2003, Blake authored "A Brief History of the Evolution of Body Adornment in Western Culture", the first book ever written by a piercer.

He presented the APP's esteemed Anthropology Lecture at the Las Vegas conference in 2004. There, Blake and Fakir had a book signing and release event. In 2006, Blake presented the APP's first Anthropology Lecture in Mexico City, this was an industry milestone. In 2006, he released the long-awaited Nomad DVD, a procedural and historic reference for advanced piercers.

In the spring of 2007, Blake moved (as Nomads do) to Portland with his beautiful wife and daughters, and opened another Nomad location there. In April 2008, they welcomed a new baby boy to the growing Nomad family. Blake is currently working on a to-be-announced special exhibition with a major museum and is still giving talks to clients, piercing enthusiasts and anthropologists at the Nomad Museum in Portland.

The year 2008 marks Blake's 20th year as a piercer which makes him the longest practicing piercing studio proprietor in the world. Every client at the Nomad Portland location receives the expert service of this industry pioneer — from consultation to quality jewelry and unsurpassed piercing skills. Blake still, after two decades, enjoys providing the best for his dedicated clients.

Important Note: when considering a piercing in the state of Oregon you should be aware that body piercers in our fine state are required NO training or apprenticeship of any kind in order to obtain a license (write your local elected official and support the "Nomad Bill" if this concerns you). For example, hairdressers (licensed by the same people), are required over 1,000 hours of training: therefore most "piercers", especially at low-end, tattoo, or multiple service shops lie about their experience (or lack of it). It's your body. Seek out the most qualified piercer you can find. Bargain shopping for cheap jewelry and cheap piercing is for idiots. You get what you pay for. Do it right the first time. Do it at Nomad.

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