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So I want to get a piercing, what do I need to know?

• For ear piercings, you must be 16 years of age with photo I.D. proof of your age as well as your birth certificate or other supporting documents to attest to your actual date of birth.
• For any other piercings, you must be 18 years of age or older with two forms of I.D.(Photo I.D. and Birth Certificate).
• If you are under 18 years of age, you must have your Parent or Legal Guardian attend with supporting documented proof of Guardianship/Custody as well as Photo I.D.
• Written notes of authorization and/or phone calls from parents/guardians do not work.

We are very clear about this point - No I.D. No Piercing.

Now you have I.D. and you are old enough or have your parents, now what do you do?

Shop around, visit the shops you have interest in and talk to the piercers, look at the studios ask some smart questions. Don't price shop, use your head, we are talking about your body and putting a hole in it somewhere. Do your research on the piercing you want then ask the piercer about the piercing and the aftercare for the piercing. Use common sense and gut instinct. If you don't feel comfortable at the shop you are in or you feel rushed by the piercer, leave and come back later or find another shop.

Key things to remember when finding a piercing studio

1.  Reputation and referrals from friends and other people with piercings.
2.  Experience of the piercer you are talking to - how long have they been piercing?
3.  Environment of the shop - is it clean, comfortable, Licensed and Inspected?
4.  Materials used for the piercing - what type of metal is used for the jewellery?
5.  Aftercare routine - is it simple and do you get it in writing?
6.  Customer support - if you have trouble will they help you out?

Lets look at these points in detail.

Reputation and Referrals

Check the shop out with your local health unit - call the local inspector and ask about any complaints or problem with the shop you have interest in. If there are problems they will advise you. Referrals of friends and other people with piercings is also a good way to go, but be sure to ask a fair number of people before you commit and check out other shops as well, just because your friend was comfortable at one shop doesn't mean you will feel comfortable there.

Experience of the Piercer (see our piercer biography page)

Lots of piercers have taken training courses from various facilities in various places. This doesn't mean they are experienced at the trade, it just means they were taught by someone. Everyone needs to learn somewhere however you don't need to be pierced by someone who just finished a course and hasn't got enough true life experience under there belt. This is where the referrals are helpful when it comes to finding a competent piercer with experience. Ask if they have apprenticed under an experienced piercer and if so how long. If you are curious if this is true, call the shop where they apprenticed, someone should be able to verify the apprenticeship. A truly knowledgeable piercer should be able to talk to you about your piercing and give you written information to take and read at your leisure.

Remember if the shop is busy, don't leave feeling like you are being brushed off. Busy is busy and maybe a visit later on would be a good idea. However, you should be treated with courtesy and respect if you don't get that then take your business elsewhere. If you do talk to the piercer ask smart, researched questions but don't ask questions you don't know the answer to. Maybe asking about the procedure is the best way to find out what is done and how without coming across as cocky. You should get a comfortable feel from your piercer if you don't get that feeling of confidence from them then move along to the next shop.

Environment of the Shop

Lots of shops have their clientele and groups they cater to. Don't go into a shop where you feel like you have a third eyeball. If you feel like you stepped into a western style saloon and the piano player stops playing and everyone looks at you like there's going to be a gun fight, you just walked into some place that's not for you. You should feel like you walked into a place of business and greeted by someone with a friendly and helpful tone. Spend a few moments looking around before jumping into the question and answer period, get a feel for the shop and it's staff. You should feel at ease and the place should be clean and well kept. There are lots of funky little shops out there where they look a bit strange at first but within moments you feel like you are welcome.

If the staff are laughing and joking around this is a good thing, remember you are in a shop where people are quite nervous at first, but humor helps ease the tension and breaks the ice this makes the piercing experience an enjoyable one. Be sure the business has a current business license for the municipality or city they are in and it should be for the services they provide an example would be a license for Body Piercing in the case of a body piercing studio.

Mall Boutiques are never licensed for piercing, they generally have a business license for "retail sales" and therefore are not inspected and not licensed for piercing anything, this is important to remember. All Licensed Body Piercing studios have sterilization equipment and single use needles, most piercers will jump at the chance to show off thier autoclave used for sterilizing equipment. The Autoclave is a valued show piece to any licensed piercing facility and a big dollar item worthy of showing to the general public. No business license generally means no health inspection and you should be heading for the door. This is a clear indication that the business doesn't have a license for body piercing and isn't inspected by the local health unit or municipal inspectors.

Materials used for the Jewellery (see our jewellery information page)

Cost should never be a factor in getting a good piercing, if it is a factor then save your money or look further at other shops in major centers where there may be more shops and lower pricing. However don't be afraid to ask why a piercing may be cheaper at one shop then another - they may have a better supplier and better traffic flow and can afford to do the piercing at a lower rate due to the traffic flow. However be sure you are getting manufactured jewellery and not home made junk at expensive or reasonable priced studios.

In Europe the use of surgical stainless steel is banned for new piercings under the EU Nickel Directive. However in North America the use of 316L and 316LVM is still common and these metals contain more nickel than what would be acceptable in Europe. Some shops are now offering Implant Steel this metal has much less nickel than the 316L and 316LVM and is far superior in body acceptance and healing. If you have a choice always go for the best, and settle for nothing less, you owe it to yourself and your piercing. If you bought a piece of jewellery from a store in the mall don't expect a piercing studio to use it for your piercing. Most professional studios will never use boutique bought jewellery in fresh piercings, generally this stuff is low grade metal and contains more nickel than the standard 316L or 316LVM jewellery they handle.

Aftercare for your piercing (see our aftercare page)

Ask about the aftercare for your piercing - do you get it in writing and what is recommended for cleaning and care? Here is where common sense comes into play. Don't be afraid to ask why certain products are recommended and how they are to be used. Aftercare is the number one leading problem with most piercings. Mis-use of solutions and cleaners can do more damage than the actual piercing itself so before buying a bunch of products read the labels and see what the manufacturer says they are to be used for and how. Don't blindly buy what you have been told and not know how to properly use it. More is never better and will not speed the healing of any piercing. Only you and your good health, proper diet and rest in concert with proper aftercare technique will ensure a happy piercing. Remember if the aftercare sounds a little out there or too involved with too many rules maybe this isn't the studio for you. Basically good personal hygiene in concert with your aftercare should be plenty to heal any piercing. You can over do cleaning to the point of irritation and this isn't the desired effect or reaction you want.

Customer support for your piercing

O.K. say you boo boo-ed and did something wrong to your piercing either but accident or error in judgment. Now what? Well any good piercing studio and professional piercer should be able to assist you with aftercare trouble shooting. This may take a little of the question and answer period to narrow down the problem but hang in there. Several things can go wrong with a piercing and some of the causes can be a bit elusive, so work with your piercer and answer the questions truthfully even if it was your fault, your piercer should take it in stride and help you out regardless.

Whatever you do, don't try to figure it out or fix it yourself, you will just confuse things further and make it harder to fix. Trust the experience of your piercer and follow the instructions given to the letter. If you still haven't found a solution to your problem within a 72 hour period then find assistance somewhere else, unless it's an infection then seek medical attention without delay. Always consult your piercer if you find problems arising with your piercing as soon as possible.

Remember piercers deal with piercing every day and are very experienced and understand several thing that can occur to piercings and know what to do to fix them. No professional piercer will turn away anyone who has trouble with a piercing, they will always view the piercing and then advise you on what should be done based on their experience and knowledge.

O.K. I am all set, what do I do now?

Well here's some things that you should consider before getting a piercing.

• Be sure you have your Photo I.D. and secondary proof of age. No I.D. No Piercing
• Parents or Guardians be sure you have I.D. and documented proof of custody and/or relationship.
• Ask about payment, not all studios accept credit cards or debit cards and generally no one accepts personal cheques.
• Be sure you are fresh and clean, truthfully most piercers hate working on someone who smells of garlic, or last nights booze etc. Have a shower and be happy.
• It's a good idea to be sure you have eaten at least two hours before you get your piercing done, it keeps energy levels up and prevents fainting.
• Scared? Ask about bringing a friend along to keep you company but don't bring 6 friends along they just get in the way and will distract you and the piercer.
• Make sure you don't have a cold or any other medical condition that will cause a problem with your piercing.
• Booze or Drugs for a little help? NO! No respectable piercing facility will render piercing services to you if you are on dope or alcohol, we aren't dumb we can tell.
• Relax, You will be in the care of a Professional Experienced Piercer who will guide your through your piercing experience with confidence and skill.

If you took the above information to heart and followed the steps you should be able to find a good studio and piercer you can be happy with. If you are still stuck and can't find a shop, give us a shout we will try to point you in the direction of a reputable shop near you.