Alex Isenhart has been involved in body modification in one way or another since he was a kid, excitedly following along to his mom’s piercing and tattoo appointments. Even being terrified of needles, he was fascinated with the process from start to finish; meeting the piercer, selecting jewelry, and the methodical and precise procedures in which the piercing was completed. As he continued his own personal journey with needles after starting HRT, he realized that he is capable of doing hard things and facing his fears, and got his first piercing, a helix. He researched piercing and modification and learned just how queer the industry is, and delved into heavier modification rituals like suspension.

In 2021, Alex began working as a jewelry specialist and front of house in his home state of Washington, excitedly blindly stumbling into the industry after learning that a shop in town had multiple other trans people that worked there. First hired at Deep Roots Tattoo and Body Piercing in 2021, working alongside piercers like John Figone and Derek Holman, and then in 2023 making the move to Laughing Buddha Seattle working alongside Lynn Loheide, Colin O, and LJ. Through his 4 years at these two well known studios, he honed not only his customer service skills and his industry knowledge, but also his incredible talent for curating and photographing jewelry and clients. These industry opportunities gave him the ability to establish and grow his own name in the industry, and really focus in on what he knew was going to be his aim; becoming a piercer.

In 2025, just three months after opening, Lynn Loheide of Nexus Body Arts took on Alex as their first full piercing apprentice. Alex is excited to learn everything about being a piercer, from critical problem solving to self regulation (you gotta take care of yourself, kids), to assisting on the NBA suspension team, and creating a safe and welcoming community space. He wants to “meet people where they are,” and recognizes that not all body modification journeys are the same:

”Everyone has a different experience with body modification, and that’s what is so beautiful about it.” 

 

For Alex, modification is more than a simple piercing or tattoo. It’s a process of coming back into your body after feeling disconnected from it for so long. His modifications have played an integral role in his transition journey, and make him feel more at home in his own body.

When not at the studio, Alex spends his free time being an RPG superstar (The Elder Scrolls is his absolute favorite series of all time), scavenging record stores to add to his vinyl collection, playfully bothering his cats, Smokey and Toby, and of course, just generally being a big nerd with a passion for mods.