You’ve finally decided to get the body piercing you’ve been wanting, and now you’re wondering where the best place to get your piercings is, especially since blood diseases are caught too easily through shoddy piercing parlors. This guide is intended to help people interested in piercing make an informed decision about where to get their body pierced.

The intent of this guide is to arm you with the knowledge you need to have a safe drilling experience.

1. Ask to see the autoclave or sterilizer in the room.

An autoclave is a machine that sterilizes and removes any bacteria or spores from the tools, necessary equipment, and the jewelry itself needed for piercings. The best units available will use a combination of pressure and steam to sterilize everything. Please note that ‘dry heat’ equipment is not appropriate for sterilization, and no study should be operated without this device, as it is a violation of safe health practices.

2. Spore test results

A spore test, which is a test designed to measure the biological presence of spores, is really the only way to determine whether or not the autoclave is working. This test measures the ability of the autoclave to kill the most resistant bacterial strands, including hepatitis and HIV. Any study should have the results on file and be willing to allow potential clients to examine them when requested.

3. Drilling preparation and assembly work

You should ask to be present for a piercing and watch when they start preparing for your piercing as well. The piercer should clean his hands well and then glove them. All used equipment should be sealed in individualized packages and placed in a tray for easy access. If the piercer touches anything in the room other than the sterilized equipment or you, you should immediately change to new gloves. All necessary needles must be individually packaged and opened only when you are present. DO NOT allow a piercer to use any needle on you that has been soaked in any type of fluid under any circumstances! All needles should be disposed of properly after use on a client in a sharps container, which is usually a small red box with a “biohazard” warning.

4. Does the study offer adequate guidelines and suggestions for aftercare? Any post-piercing care should be fully explained and provided in writing so you can take it home with you. Be sure to read this sheet completely before getting pierced and make sure you fully understand its contents! If the information directs you to treat the piercing with alcohol, ointment, harsh soaps, or hydrogen peroxide, this study does not meet current industry standards.

5. Evaluation of the drillers.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that piercing is actually an easy process. Far from it, since it requires time and dedication to learn how to correctly place a piercing and do it correctly. Quality piercers teach themselves through apprenticeships or teach themselves. Typically, most apprenticeships last between 6 months and two years. Self-taught individuals will often seek instruction and guidance from other industry professionals. Piercers who continue to further their education are the ideal people for the job. It is highly recommended to inquire about your piercer’s experience, how long they have been with the professional, their educational background, and what they have been doing to keep their skill set sharp, such as specialized courses in techniques, proper aftercare, anatomy, etc. .

6. The appearance of the studio: is it clean and well maintained? Does everything appear clean, are carpets vacuumed, and is the room well organized? Is the staff professional looking and groomed? Does the restaurant look clean and comfortable? Most studios should have these five essential areas: the counter, a waiting room, piercing areas, a bathroom, and a sterilization room.

7. Does the studio have a proper and current license to operate? A license to operate implies that the studio has met a set minimum requirement and has successfully passed inspection. To determine what established standards your area requires, if any, contact your state or local Department of Health for that information. If any studio you are considering does not have the required license, notify your local health department or business office immediately.

8. Application for portfolio examination

Take your time and study a salon photo portfolio. Do the piercings look flattering in the areas where they are placed, or do they seem out of place or uncomfortable? If any of the piercings look strange, ask if there are any photos of the healed piercings and examine them.

9. Compliance with the age requirement.

Regardless of the area, there are minimum age requirements for piercing minors, and in these cases, a parent or legal guardian must be present and authorize the piercing via a consent form. Legal guardianship must be determined through legal evidence and proper identification of both the guardian and the minor is required. If the guardian has a different last name and/or address than the child, legal documentation (divorce papers, certificates, etc.) will be required to determine the relationship to the minor. However, it is unacceptable for a piercer to pierce the nipples or genitalia of a person under the age of 18 at any time.

10. Pay attention to your instincts and intuition.

If at any time you don’t feel comfortable in the studio or with your piercer, walk away. Never doubt your instincts in these situations.

11. Use your head.

Don’t act hastily or be lured into getting a piercing by a low-price offer. You’ll usually get what you pay for, and some piercers who aren’t exactly skilled may also overcharge. For any piercing, ask for referrals from friends and your local health department.

While studios may vary based on specific requirements, most studios will generally expect the following:

– Provide proper identification.

– Refrain from being intoxicated.

– Clean yourself properly and have your hair trimmed or collected, if applicable.

– Food consumed in at least 4 hours.

– If your piercing is in the nipple or genital area, wear appropriate clothing that is clean and hygienic.

– If possible, try to avoid the use of anticoagulants before the piercing, such as aspirin.

– If you have any potential health complications, see a doctor before getting a piercing to make sure you’re okay.

12. General study etiquette

While on the counter, please do not touch any of your previous piercings, as this can spread bacteria in the common areas of the studio. Remove piercing jewelry and bring it in a container. Never place used jewelry on the counter or display areas.

Also, while you’re in the baths, don’t touch any of her piercings (note above). Please refrain from changing your jewelry in the bathroom or anywhere else while in the studio. If you want to change your jewelry while you are in the studio, have one of the piercers do it while you are in the piercing room to contain any possible bacteria.

While in the piercing room, follow all instructions the piercer gives you and place personal items to the side and out of the way before the actual piercing. Although taking pictures can help preserve memory, camera flashes can be very distracting and possibly cause injury during a piercing. If you must have photos, ask your piercer beforehand. Turn off your cell phone before entering the room!

13. Select the right jewelry

When buying jewelry, two main measurements are typically used. The first relates to the width of a ring, called the diameter, and the second refers to the length of a straight post or barbell piercing. Another frequently used measure is gauge, which deals with thickness. With gauges, the smaller numbers refer to thicker jewelry, with 1 being the largest gauge.

When selecting jewelry for any piercing, especially a new one, quality is a big concern as it will help determine the overall health of the piercing. All jewelry must be cleaned and polished to a high quality finish. All piercing jewelry should be to a high shine, and jewelry that is dull, has scratches or dents, or a compound in its finish should never be used in any piercing, new or old. Jewelry selected for new piercings must be made of materials that are not harmful to the body, such as stainless steel, titanium, 14 karat or higher gold, and/or platinum. For some piercings, plastics such as Tygon® or PTFE (Teflon®) can be used, but check with your piercer first. Sterling silver or acrylic should never be used for a new piercing, as neither leads to healing. Earrings are to be worn for the earlobes only.

14. Maintain your piercing with proper care.

Aftercare is a very important part of the piercing and it will vary. Each body is different and care depends on the type of piercing. In general though, there are a few different things you can do to speed up your body’s healing time. You can do the following:

– Don’t touch the piercing! Unclean hands are probably the main cause of infections. Unfortunately, throughout the day, your hand comes into contact with thousands of germs from various sources. If you handle your piercing or the area around it, you risk transferring bacteria to the piercing.

– Eat properly; as it is proven that a balanced diet promotes better health and healing. Also, consider supplementing your diet with vitamin C and zinc.

– Use sea salt to help treat the area with a gentle soak. This will also clean the area of ​​bacteria, reducing the chances of infection.

– Liquid soap can also be used to help clean the piercing, as long as it is mild and washes away. If in doubt, ask your piercer for recommended products. However, do not use the soap more than once or twice a day. Chorus of using more than one cleanser at a time. Using a mild soap and sea salt solution is fine.

– NEVER use any of the following solutions:

1. Hydrogen peroxide or alcohol: These products are too concentrated and often irritate the skin, causing more harm than help.

2. Antibiotic Creams: Unfortunately, many of these products attract dirt and germs and trap them in the piercing. These solutions are usually great for cutting, but not for drilling.

Mark Wilson works for http://www.fleshtunnel.co.uk.