Happy Stabber’s Carlo King named South Australia’s best body piercer

After almost a decade in the industry, South Australia’s best piercer is no stranger to the unique word of body modifications. See who won and how to book your new piercing.

Carlo King at his body piercing business, Happy Stabber. Picture Dean Martin

After almost a decade in the industry, Adelaide piercer Carlo King is no stranger to the unique world of body piercing.

Mr King has pierced all over the world including London, Sweden and Spain but his Frome Street shop Happy Stabber has become home.

The 32-year-old was voted SA’s best piercer by our readers and received more than 30 per cent of reader votes in our latest poll.

Mr King says after a decade in the industry it was fantastic to be recognised as the state's best. Picture Dean Martin

Mr King said it was great to be recognised as the state’s best after years of hard work.

“I had to work myself to the bone to build the business which has now become like a standard for the industry in South Australia,” he said.

The top five body piercers in SA

1. Carlo King, Happy Stabber, Adelaide

2. Emma Louise, Golden Needle Tattoo and Piercing Parlour, Mt Gambier

3. Darrin and Jake, Hairhouse Warehouse, Modbury

4. Morag Draper, Inner Steel, Tea Tree Gully

5. Sharon Eves, Piercing Perfection, Torrensville

While many choose to be pierced solely for aesthetic reasons, Mr King said a new piece of body jewellery can mean so much more.

“We can help people with their own bodily autonomy, a lot of people who are victims of trauma or things like that can have a reclamation of body by doing that,” he said.

“Also a lot of times people can just have a fun time and it’s as simple as improving their aesthetic and they feel better about themselves, it’s pretty great.”

Mr King in the studio. Picture Dean Martin

After nine years of piercing, Mr King has seen all many of body parts come into the piercing chair.

“It’s all pretty much the same to me, there’s cool things about everything and everybody’s body is different,” he said.

“Every body part is like a fingerprint and is completely different to the next one so it’s really cool when you can find differences in morphology that some people have that others don’t.”

Mr King is looking to hire another piercer and apprentice to join his Frome Street studio.

Mr King says every body part is different and makes the job fascinating. Picture Dean Martin

“I would immensely like to take on an Indigenous person as the oldest piece of body jewellery ever found, around 50,000 years old, is from Australia,” he said.

“I would love to give the opportunity for someone to continue the ancient practice of their people.”

Emma Louise from Mt Gambier’s Golden Needle Tattoo and Piercing Parlour was voted second in the state with Hairhouse Warehouse Modbury taking out third.

Keen for a piercing? Contact Carlo at the Happy Stabber at 189 Frome St, Adelaide, on Facebook or at his website.