How to choose the best piercing parlors?

Store Research

Learning the different aspects and areas of what makes a good store can be difficult at first, and you may not have the support of friends who have been pierced before. Regardless, there is a lot you can do on your own to make your piercing experience a good one; where you are safe, comfortable and fun.

Most research starts online, through local company reviews or social media pages. Pay attention to how and when the store updates their pages, if they have a website, and if they are well known in the community. You'll be able to get a lot more up-to-date information if they've been running for a while and if someone in town is talking about them in one way or another.

You should always try to explore the store as much as possible before stopping by, unless you happen to be in the area. Often you can eliminate the bad ones just by digging around the internet or even word of mouth locally.

Store setup

If you have already found a place where you want to get pierced, your work does not always stop there. For the first time, you should get to know the artists and their work. Sometimes the store has a group of piercers who specialize in a particular type of piercing, so ask the staff when you visit.

Some artists may also have specific piercings that they have more experience with, so you should review the portfolio of the artist you want to work with beforehand. Throughout this process, you should feel comfortable and take care of yourself, no matter what questions you ask.

Questions

In addition to general questions about your piercing, there are some specific questions you should pay attention to that will help you better understand what exactly you are doing:

• How do you sterilize equipment?
• What should I do and not do after my piercing is done?
• How long will this piercing take?
• What permits does your business have for the types of piercings you do?
• What jewelry materials do you use and what do you recommend?

Keep in mind that any professional shop will be happy to answer these questions and more, so don't be afraid to ask questions. Some stores may even have an online FAQ section with these questions that you can review before entering, but you should still check with staff and artists about exactly what you want to know.

Hardware Understanding

Professional piercers will use a hollow needle to pierce the skin or cartilage in the area where you want to attach the jewelry. It is similar to a hypodermic needle used to draw blood. This way you don't shed the skin, instead it shifts to allow the needle to pass through the superficial layers of the skin. Piercing needles do the same, but the jewelry is pushed through the area instead.

In addition, they will use sterilized gloves and other equipment that touches your body. All of these should be cleaned after each use or one-time release situation to prevent the spread of disease and infection.

Nowadays, almost no professional artists use guns to pierce ears or any other parts of the body, as they have a much higher rate of infection and the spread of blood-borne diseases. Make sure the company you're getting your piercing follows this rule or you're taking a risk.

Piercing procedure

Whether you want a tongue ring or a seawater piercing, your stylist should guide you through every step of the process to make it less scary for you.

Contrary to popular belief, a hollow piercing needle does not remove tissue from your body. Instead, it sort of “pushes” it back and away from where your jewelry will be. This is why some piercings always require jewelry because they seal and heal over time, sometimes with scar tissue, which can make it difficult to re-pierce.

While you may feel some discomfort during a piercing, most real pain goes away incredibly quickly and easily, no matter your tolerance. 

All about aftercare

Every piercer will tell you that aftercare is the most important thing you can do for the health and longevity of your piercing. Because piercings are a unique, intimate form of body modification, there are many unique things to look out for when you get them done.

In most cases, postoperative care will consist of keeping the area clean and free of any harmful particles that could harbor bacteria and cause infection. This means keeping an eye on your piercing for the first few weeks to see how it heals.

Also, you should use an antibacterial soap or a non-irritating solution to rinse the area frequently, especially if you're sweating or notice any debris in the area. Preventing an infection is usually much easier than curing it, so be careful when you get your piercing done, following all the directions you are given.

Sterilizing your jewelry

You can sterilize body jewelry in several ways, namely by boiling water or by using a chemical formula. Boiling water and soaking jewelry in it for at least five minutes is a tried and true way to kill any harmful bacteria.

If you are using chemicals, make sure they do not contain bleach or any other irritants that can cause allergic skin reactions. Place the jewelry in the bath for at least one minute to properly disinfect it.

Following these steps will ensure that your piercing experience is safe and happy, enough that you can even come back for another one sooner rather than later!