Our studio brings experienced piercers who share decades of experience creating custom pieces and providing clean and safe piercing practices for clients all over . We operate with industry standard sterilization processes, single-use sterile instruments, and implant-grade materials to ensure every appointment is as safe as it is unforgettable.
Meet the Artists
Desi Arellano
Desi Arellano is the proprietor of The Vault Piercing Company and also owns and operates the Artifact Piercing team in Santa Clarita, CA. and Laguna Gold in Laguna Beach, CA and The Gold Bar Piercing in San Luis Obispo, CA. Desi was born and raised in Southern California. After acquiring his Master's degree in Psychology, he worked with at-risk youth and young adults while apprenticing in body piercing and body modification. His career pivoted to full time piercing in 2012 when he started with Artifact Tattoo and Piercing in Santa Clarita. Desi eventually grew and took over the piercing program and developed and trained the Artifact Piercing Team. A few years later, Desi developed the piercing program within the Cast of Crowns Art Collective in Laguna Beach. As that piercing program outgrew its space, Desi opened Laguna Gold and from there went on to consult for many other business owners and eventually opened his third location, The Gold Bar Piercing in the heart of San Luis Obispo.
Desi has a true passion for body piercing and body jewelry and has brought together an amazing team across his three programs in California that work together to provide great customer support, client experience, and rotating jewelry selection. Desi also has a great eye for jewelry curation and flow and creative work-arounds for anatomies that may be more limited.
His favorite piercing is the one you waited forever to get and believes that body piercing is the pursuit of a sense of completion. “People have this idea of how they want to look to fit in or stand out or belong, but the body piercing studio is a place for anyone to come explore that closer sense of completion.”
Desi has a few personal favorite pieces of jewelry but his absolute favorite jewelry is the piece he was able to help make special and custom just for you. Something no one else will ever have and something that has never been made before. Desi aspires to continue to grow his programs and staff and eventually help them achieve their dreams of growing their own studios and continuing the practices and art we learned together in these studio
Johnny Laney
I started piercing in 2003 in a small town in California, then bounced around to places like Salt Lake and Las Vegas, before finally landing back in Santa Barbara. There, I teamed up with Josh Parkhurst to create Golden Eagle Body Piercing, which is now known as Above and Beyond. I stepped away from piercing in 2015, I was lucky enough to dive into the photo world, meet some incredible folks, travel, and learn a lot about life. I also met my wife, who jumped into my L.A. dream with me, and we decided to come back to our roots and settle down. I wouldn’t change a thing. It feels great to be back in a studio, helping younger piercers grow, supporting my friends, and using my skills where they’re needed.
Annie Padayao
Annie Padayao is our Senior piercer and studio manager! Annie hails from the beach cities of Southern Orange County. Annie has always been surrounded by the ocean, art and great community. A college drop out, she got to work until she found something she loved doing, she just didn't know it would be piercing.
Annie started her apprenticeship in West Hollywood, Ca in late 2018. A little over a year into her apprenticeship was interrupted by the COVID pandemic and she found herself at a studio in Canoga Park where she ended up wrapping up her learning and traveling a north to Camarillo where she dedicated 4 years of her craft. She currently pierces and is studio manager at Pierced SB in Santa Barbara and manages The Gold Bar Piercing in San Luis Obispo.
Having the opportunity to travel and perform work that she loves in multiple places is something Annie has been recently exploring and has come to love. One of her favorite moments was having the awesome opportunity to pierce at Coachella in summer of 2024.
Annie’s favorite jewelry is your missing puzzle piece. That one piece you’ve been looking for to complete the picture, continue the journey or take back that part of you that you've been missing. One aspect of the piercing industry that has been a big draw for Annie is the multiple ways you can express yourself through jewelry and placement. Whether it's a large multi-gemmed statement piece or a simple solid gold ring to tie the whole look together.
Jason Mosqueda
Jason Mosqueda is a Santa Barbara County native from Lompoc, Ca. One of his favorite activities is skateboarding, something he’s been doing since he was 7 years old. He loves spending time with his daughter and plays a Baritone guitar in his band CatacombsCA.
Jason’s favorite piercing placement is a Flat but he also really loves working with different elements of BVLA, Local Natives and Tether to create a unique look for clients. Jason aspires to travel and network within the piercing community! One of the many fun things you can do with this career!
Implant-grade materials, ensuring the highest quality materials for clients with metal sensitivity concerns.
Hand crafted pieces set with precious stone, semi-precious stones and simulate stones.
A life time manufactures warranty for all of the jewelry we carry in studio.
Your Questions, Answered
Sanitation Protocol
Here at The Vault Piercing Company, we uphold the highest standard of sterilization for every piercing and installation session. We go to the furthest degree to make you feel safe in our gallery. We will explain every step of the process along the way so you not only understand everything that is happening but also feel confident through the process. All piercing artists are certified and experienced in giving each client an enjoyable and safe experience.
We purchase pre-sterilized, single-use needles and re-sterilize the needle before use. We use medical-grade equipment and incorporate sanitation practices to ensure the utmost safety of our clients and staff.
What materials do you use in your jewelry?
We use only ASTM F-136 implant-grade titanium or solid 14K or 18kt gold to minimize irritation and metal reactions with the body’s natural physiology.
None of our jewelry we carry will have any traces of nickle or silver in it.
Minors (Clients under the age of 18) and Piercings
We welcome minors into the shop with a guardian present at all times. Each member of The Gold Bar Piercing is experienced in piercing procedures with kids and will walk you and your child through the process every step of the way.
Call us for a consultation prior to bringing your kid for an appointment and we will give you a fun exercise you can do with them to make them more comfortable around needles. It’s called the toothpick trick.
For any child under 12, we book by special appointments so that we can have two piercers on deck to pierce both ears at the same time. We have found this to make for a more smooth and comfortable experience for everyone. If you would like to book an appointment for a minor, please text the studio direct with their age and the desired piercing (Ear Lobes or Cartilage)
Stay in touch!
Ready to plan your next piercing or have a question about our services? Feel free to fill out the contact from and we will get back to you as soon as possible. For a more timely response, you can also reach out by texting the phone number below or our Instagram page.