Choosing a piercing professional

According to some sources, navel piercings are the piercing type most often attempted at home, either as a do-it-yourself project, or by a well-meaning friend. Simply put, this is not a good idea. The risk of infection and blood borne diseases rise exponentially when the piercing is done outside a professional piercing studio that follows sterile procedures. In addition, piercing professionals are well-versed in dealing with any emergencies that may arise in the course of the piercing procedure.

Unfortunately, many states don't require licensing or formal exams for people who perform body piercings. If you're considering a body piercing, we strongly suggest that you take the time to research the piercing studios in your area rather than choosing one on a whim, or just because a friend recommended it. Your main concern in choosing a reputable piercing professional is cleanliness and safety.

BME magazine, one of the most authoritative if not THE most authoritative sites about piercing on the internet, suggests that you pay an initial visit to the piercing studio BEFORE you intend to have your piercing done. That way, they say, you won't feel pressured and can take the time to observe the surroundings and procedures. Below is a list of things you should ask about or look for when you make a preliminary visit to the piercing studio.

1. Appearance counts. The shop should be clean and tidy, with counters wiped down and floors and walls swept and washed. The staff should be neat and clean, and the restrooms tidy and clean.
2. According to the Association of Professional Piercers, a good studio will have five separate areas: the counter, the waiting room, piercing rooms, a bathroom and a separate sterilization room.
3. Proper sterilization is key. Do they use an autoclave to sterilize instruments and equipment between uses? Ask to see their spore tests - those are tests run to make sure that the autoclave is working properly. If they don't have an autoclave or do, but don't run regular spore tests, find another studio. Your health is too important to risk.
4. Does the studio have a license to operate? Not all states require them, but if your state or city has special codes or licenses for piercing studios, check to be sure that the shop has the necessary licenses. If they haven't bothered to conform to the law, it's not likely that they're following appropriate procedures to do safe, sterile piercings.
5. Ask about the studio's age requirements. Most studios refuse to perform any body piercing on customers under the age of consent, and many are adamant about not performing particular piercings on those under age eighteen. If a studio seems more interested in making money than in upholding those standards, you may want to find a different piercing palace.
6. Does the shop resterilize used needles? The piercer should, in your presence, open a new, individually packaged needle to be used in your piercing. Do not ever allow a piercer to use a needle on you that has been soaking in liquid, or resterilized.
7. Ask questions. Seriously. Even if you know the answers, you should ask questions of the person who will be doing the piercing and gauge the way that they answer. Ask about experience, how long they've been doing this and how they learned.You should get a good sense whether they know their stuff, or whether they have to grope for answers. An experienced piercer will be able to recommend appropriate body jewelry for you, talk to you about aftercare and explain the risks of the procedure without any hesitation.
8. Read the aftercare sheet before you get pierced. A piercing studio should have a standard aftercare sheet. If it mentions using hydrogen peroxide or cleaning your piercing with ointment, you should be concerned that they are not keeping up with industry standards and research.
9. Watch the piercing professional set up for your piercing. He (or she, of course) should wash his hands thoroughly before putting on a new pair of gloves. The equipment should be in sealed, sterile packages placed on a tray. If the piercer touches anything other than you and the sterile equipment after putting on gloves, he should change his gloves. If you have any concerns at all, get up and walk away.
10. If the studio uses a piercing gun, don't do it. Piercing guns can't be properly sterilized, and use so much force to drive the stud through skin that they can cause blunt tissue damage. In many states, it's illegal to use a piercing gun on any part of the body but the earlobe.
11. Do they have a good selection of jewelry? Many piercing studios will not insert jewelry that they do not supply. This is not because they want to make more money, but rather because they can't be sure of the sterility and quality of jewelry that you buy elsewhere. For that reason, it's important that they have a good variety of jewelry in order to have the appropriate piece on hand for a piercing. As a rule of thumb, a piercing below the neck should always use 14 gauge jewelry or larger (and since gauges get thinner as the numbers get higher, that means a 12 gauge is okay - an 18 gauge is too thin.) All jewelry should be nickel-free, surgical steel or titanium.
12. Use your instincts. If the place just doesn't feel right, don't do it. You don't want to be the one saying later, "I should have trusted my gut." Just trust it.