Posted on July 26, 2007 in Latest News
A body-piercing decision is certainly a bold one. Leaving fashion-statement part of it, you would be expose yourself to a variety of health risks. If you are one of the first time piercees then you’ve got to make sure of a few important issues.
- Piercing Parlor: Take a good look at the Parlor. Does it impress you? Is it clean and professional looking? If yes, proceed further. If it doesn’t make a good first impression, its better to leave and find a better Piercing Parlor.
- Credentials: Do not hesitate to ask the staff and the piercer to show you their license. It should be issued by Association of Professional Piercers (APP). An APP certificate indicates that the piercers have taken classes and been through a rigorous apprenticeship program.
- Talk to the Piercer: In order to make sure you are at a safe place in safe hands, you should be asking questions. If you get clear answers and advice from the staff and piercers then you can proceed further. If the staff looks inexperienced and doesn’t answer your questions with expected answers its better to leave. But what should you ask the piercer? A set of simple questions like – a) How long have you been piercing, and how did you learn? If the piercer doesn’t entertain your queries and seems defensive and irritated over your questions. Its better to leave. b) Can I see your he room where you’ll be piercing. Ask if you can see him pierce some other client. You can observe if they wipe down the area before and after every piercing, wear gloves, maintain a clean, dust free environment at all times, uses gloves for the entire piercing and changes them frequently.
- Tools: Ask the piercer, What type of needles do you use? You can really differentiate a professional piercer with an imposter here. If he doesn’t answer your question saying, “Single-use, pre-sterilized, disposable needles”, leave immediately. And if the piercer uses a piercing gun to pierce, run as fast as you could from the place. No APP certified Piercer would use a piercing gun for body piercing. Gun Piercing causes bruising, trauma and excessive tearing and bleeding.
- Hygiene: It is important to go and have a look at the piercing room and sterilization process itself. Make sure the disposable needles are opened in your presence. Ask the piercer - Do you sterilize your tools in an autoclave? If they sterilize their tools they have to use an autoclave because autoclave sterilization is the only method approved by the Association of Professional Piercers. e) Do you conduct a spore test. If yes, how often. May I see your spore test results. If they do not conduct a spore test at least once a month, leave.
- Ask for Printed Information: Good professional piercers always provide their clients with up to date printed step-by-step instruction guide and after care tips. If they don’t have printed literature available, leave.
- Abiding by Laws: Make sure that the Piercers follow the law. They are supposed to thoroughly check the identity and age of the piercee and call for a guardian if the piercee is a teenager. If they ignore one law for money, they might as well ignore others for a little more. They might just take advantage of you if you are underage and risk your life by reusing needles to save a little money.
Looks like you have done your home-work now. Have a safe and stylish piercing.
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