Tips On Piercing Stores

Piercing stores come in all shapes and sizes. If you’ve been looking at various establishments to take care of your body modification needs realize that not all piercing stores are created equal. It’s your job to make sure that the store you choose meets your standards for safety and comfort.

Piercing Store Tip #1: Check Out the Piercing Store…First!

Piercing stores might like to convey a subculture atmosphere but it’s absolutely important that their supplies are anything but. On your visit make sure it’s clean and well-lit. Ask the piercing artist how the instruments are cleaned. An autoclave is an absolute necessity for cleaning and sterilizing all piercing instruments and should be visible. So should a certificate by the health department. Piercing stores don’t technically need a piercing license to operate…but they do need a business license and you need to be able to see it. Don’t worry about sounding anal----they know it’s their job to make you feel comfortable.

Piercing Store Tip #2: See a portfolio.

Just like a tattoo parlor the artists in piercing stores should have pics of happy, satisfied customers and the piercings they’ve gotten. Make sure they have experience in your kind of piercing. Not a big deal with a nostril or ear piercing but not every artist has experience with neck or hand piercings. (Some won’t even do surface piercings at all.)

If possible ask if you can talk to a piercing store’s customers. This will give you a great sense of the piercing process and if the piercing store’s staff is friendly and helpful. Remember: It’s your body….reputable piercing stores will understand you wanting to be careful.

Piercing Store Tip #3: Discuss your individual piercing with the artist.

Piercing artists are there to answer questions. Any piercing store that doesn’t want to thoroughly explain the process of your piercing isn’t one you want to do business with.

It’s good to find out what to expect from your piercing. How long will it take to heal? What kind of aftercare do I have to do? What behavior modifications will I have to make? Piercing stores want your business so they should be more than willing to map out a course of action for your piercing experience---no matter how busy they look.