1. Does the studio have a license to operate?
This is the first thing you should make sure of before allowing someone at a studio to pierce your body. However, a license does not mean that the piercer is properly trained to perform your piercing properly. Some areas have established requirements for piercing studio locations to receive a license to operate whereas other areas only require a fee to be paid in order to gain a permit.
2. Is the studio well kept and clean?
This is perhaps the most important aspect to be sure of before letting someone pierce you. You don't want any complications if you can prevent it.There should be a specific room for performing the piercings and another space for sterilizing tools and equipment. Both the premises and the staff should be noticeably clean.
3. Does the studio own an autoclave?
Also known as the sterilizer, the autoclave is a piece of sanitizing equipment that every piercer should have in their studio to make sure the jewelry and equipment that is being used is safe and clean for you. In fact, a studio should not even be in operation if they do not own an autoclave sterilizer.
4. Have spore tests been performed recently?
Spore tests provide proof that an autoclave is working correctly. They will test the autoclave's ability to kill dangerous organisms and viruses. Also known as biological indicators, the results of these tests should clearly state "pass" - and a piercer should be happy to show them to you!
5. Check out their portfolio of work
Are the example piercings they have performed previously healthy and well placed? You wouldn't get a tattoo without checking out the artists' work, right? Why would you let someone pierce you without seeing their previously performed piercings? Healed shots of the piercings in the portfolio are also a good indicator of a professional piercer.
6. Does the piercer provide you with aftercare guidelines?
If they do, they're doing the right thing. Every reputable piercer should inform you of the proper aftercare procedures to make sure that you and your new piercing have a hassle-free healing process. Not only should they verbally address proper aftercare instructions; your piercer should also provide you with a written handout explaining the information for your own reference.
LASTLY, just use your own intuition.
Don't be impulsive without being informed. If a price seems too low to be true, it probably means that you're not working with a professional piercer. You get what you pay for, so make sure you trust your instincts to let you know if a piercing studio is right for you and your desired piercing. Oh, and if you see a piercing gun - run away!
Check out safepiercing.org to find a professional piercing studio near you & learn more information from the APP (Association of Professional Piercers) too!
