So you are ready for a new piercing? Heres some info to get you ready for your big day:

Stay Hydrated: Drink lots of water.

Get Plenty of Sleep: Get a good night rest.

No Alcohol: do NOT drink alcohol the night before or the day you get getting pierced. Even the smallest amount could still thin your blood and make your more sensitive to pain. Not to mention it can impair your judgement.

Be Healthy: If you are sick or feel like you’re getting sick, please wait until you are better to get pierced. Coming in sick exposes the piercer, other employees and clients to your sickness. it may also hinder your piercing’s healing process.

Proper Identification: Check to ensure you have the proper identification (see Age Requirements for more information).

THE DAY OF:

Hair: If you’re getting an ear piercing and have long hair, please bring a hair tie to help keep your hair out of the way.

Makeup: The area around your new piercing will need to be cleaned before being pierced. If you’re wearing any makeup, you should be prepared to have the area thoroughly cleaned before the procedure. (Please don’t ever reapply makeup on or near a fresh piercing!)

Clothing: Wear appropriate clothing. We need easy access to the area being pierced. Also keep in mind your fresh piercing will be tender. It's usually best to wear comfortable clothes that aren’t going to rub or otherwise constrict the piercing. This is true during the healing process as well.

Cleanliness: Consider hygiene. please make sure you shower or brush teeth beforehand.

Eat/Drink: Always eat a meal at least two hours before heading in to get pierced!

Medication: Pain relievers/ swelling reducers are best saved for after the piercing. If you are on any regular medications, you might consider asking your doctor ahead of time.

Consent: The consent form you’ll have to sign has a detailed list of conditions like a bleeding disorders or heart conditions. Please be honest, saying you have one of these conditions doesn’t usually mean we can’t pierce you. We want you to be safe when getting pierced.

Sobriety: We will not pierce anyone under the influence. It is illegal.

Time: Make sure to set aside plenty of time for getting your new piercing. We get busy sometimes, but we still like to take our time giving each client the attention they deserve. If you’re on a limited time frame (like a lunch break) please be understanding of the wait or try planning on coming back later when you’ll have more time.

Friends/Family: Bringing a friend with is fine and can help put your mind at ease if you're feeling anxious. Please don't bring large groups of people. This can be distracting and the piercing room gets easily crowded. Parents consenting are allows allowed in the room with their child.

THINGS TO CONSIDER WITH CHILDREN AND BABIES

If you have made the decision to get your child pierced or considering it, this is a great guide to start with.

No Use of Piercing Gun: There is all kinds of information about piercing your child’s ears. However, if there is one thing you should avoid, DO NOT get them pierced with a gun. We do NOT pierce with a piercing gun.

When To Do It: Why is it a good idea to pierce your baby’s ears so young?

•Babies are not able to remember the pain

•They are less likely to touch the earrings

It is recommended to wait until at least your baby has had two sets of vaccines (around 2 months old. Also, keep in mind the size of your child’s ear lobe. If it is really small, you may need to wait a while longer.

Where To Go:

You can first ask your child’s pediatrician or dermatologist if they do pierce kids’ ears. If they do not, the best thing is to go to a professional licensed body piercer.

Our Licensed body piercing studio uses surgical steel products and sterile needles which limits the risk of an allergic reaction. The needle used to pierce ears is one-time use and disposable.

What To Expect:

On the big day, make sure your baby is happy, healthy, well-fed, and rested. Bring a favorite toy along for comfort and security. A nursing session immediately after may soothe pain.

GETTING PIERCED AT INKIADORE:

If you can, please make an appointment. We like to give you and your child privacy as well as time.

If you have a baby or toddler it is best to schedule an appointment around the child’s feeding time. We will pierce one ear and give your child a chance to calm down. (One of the best ways to do that is by eating so, it’s good to have their bottle or snack ready.)

We do have a private area that is cut off from the rest of the studio, so you can breast-feed if need be.

IMPORTANT:

We do have jewelry available (surgical steel) however, if you would like to bring your own jewelry that is completely fine.

However, it is best to have real 14kt gold to prevent against an allergic reactions especially on the new additions to the family.

We do not use numbing cream or have any for your purchase. If you chose to get your own, numb cream is perfect safe to use before a piercing. Please remember to read the directions and ingredients carefully.

KEEP IN MIND:

Be aware that your child may bleed, this is very normal when doing a piercing. Make sure you have comfortable clothing, preferably a something you do not care to much about for them to wear the day of their piercing.

TIMING:

It usually only takes about 30 minutes to do your child’s piercing, but please allot an hour just in case.

If you have anymore questions please feel free to contact us and we will be glad to answer them for you.

Use one or both of the following instruction to heal your new piercing.

BODY PIERCINGS

•Wash Hands: make sure your hands are clean before touching your fresh piercings

• Saline: Dissolve 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt ( you can get this from you local grocery store) into one cup (8 oz) of warm distilled or bottled water. A stronger mixture is not better; a saline solution that is too strong can irritate the piercing.

• Soak- use a saline solution to soak your piercing at least 2-3 times daily until piercing Is healed.

Make sure you leave jewelry in at all times during the healing process

You up may also use antibacterial soap or tea tree oil. If you have any questions about these you may call and ask me how to do so .

AVOID

• Moving jewelry

• Unhygienic bodies of water

• Rubbing alcohol

• Clothes that may get caught on jewelry

What To Buy For Every Piercing But Oral:

You will need to have some items to heal your piercing and it’s always best to have them on hand before getting your piercing

•Sea Salt Can be found in the Bake Goods Aisle of your local food store.

• A mild, fragrance-free liquid soap anti-microbial or germicidal with an active ingredient of Chloroxylenol or Triclosan. Satin or Porvon are your best option however antibacterial soap that is mild and free of additives can be used.

•Distilled water for soaks.

•Disposable medicine or shot glass size cups or an easy to clean shot glass for soaking the piecing.

•Paper Towels for compresses and for patting dry the piercing after cleaning.

•With Nostril piercings done with a nostril screw you will need cotton tipped applicators like Q-Tips.

•With Genital piercings where the piercing may bleed for up to 5 days, a Panty Liners or Sanitation Pads maybe need for the first week of healing.

ORAL PIERCINGS

• Rinse- you want to make sure you clean mouth with alcohol-free mouthwash. After you eat, drink, smoke, etc…

You may also use a saline solution for your oral piercing however it’s not the best tasting.

AVOID:

• Playing with jewelry

• Hot/Spicy foods

• Sexual contact

• Alcohol

• Straws

What To Buy For Oral Piercings:

•A non alcohol based antiseptic mouthwash. I suggest Biotene Antiseptic.

•ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or other anti inflammatory

•Stock up on Soft foods like Yogurt, baby food, applesauce, Ice Cream, popsicles, Smoothies, jell-O and soup broth.

•Crushed ice to suck on for the first day or two.

BOTH BODY AND ORAL PIERCINGS

If you got a piercing that is both body and oral, follow both instructions and what to buy.

Example: Lip piercings

Does piercing hurt?

Yes, of course, the real question should be, how much? The piercing itself is brief, but pain is relative to each person. Talking through any fears or concerns that you may have with your piercer will help.

What is Normal?

Initially: some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness, or bruising.

During healing: some discoloration, itching, secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus) that will form some crust on the jewelry. The tissue may tighten around the jewelry as it heals.

Once healed: the jewelry may not move freely in the piercing; do not force it. If you fail to include cleaning your piercing as part of your daily hygiene routine, normal but smelly bodily secretions may accumulate.

A piercing may seem healed before the healing process is complete. This is because tissue heals from the outside in, and although it feels fine, the interior remains fragile. Be patient, and keep cleaning throughout the entire healing period.

Even healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes after having been there for years! This varies from person to person; if you like your piercing, keep jewelry in—do not leave it empty.

Is there any Pain Reliever?

There are various options available; some people will choose to take ibuprofen prior to a piercing especially for oral piercings as it is also an anti-inflammatory. Do not take aspirin as this will thin your blood and could pose problems should you bleed.

How long before I can change my jewellery?

Healing times can vary from person to person. The first part of the healing period is when your body creates a layer of skin between you and the first piece of jewellery used; the full healing period is when your new piercing is completely healed. Changing your jewellery before your piercing has completely healed remember that you could be re-opening the ‘piercing wound’. This will slow your healing process and will require thorough aftercare to prevent any possible infection. When you change your jewellery you are likely to irritate your new piercing, no matter how careful you are. If you are still keen to change your jewellery we advise that you wait until your piercing is no longer tender to touch (with clean hands) or sleep on.

Why do I have to start with titanium, stainless steel, or gold jewelry?

High-grade Surgical Stainless Steel, which is virtually nickel-free, will give you the best chances of an infection / reaction-free piercing. Jewellery used by professional piercers is specially designed to allow removal of dirt and bacteria effectively during the healing process. Allowing for full movement of the jewellery makes it much easier for you to clean your piercing properly. The metals that are used in our jewelry are also better for your skin and less likely to cause a reaction. There will be plenty of time to change your jewellery to reflect your personal style later.

Needle versus Gun

Using a needle for the piercing process itself is much safer and less painful than having a blunt stud forced through your skin. A piercing needle is not only hollow but it is also extremely sharp. It slices through the skin, safely pushing the tissue aside to make room for the jewellery to be inserted. This may not sound too appealing, it is actually a very quick process and the method is virtually painless for most body parts. Piercings that have been done by a needle will heal quicker than those done by a gun.

If I have a skin condition can I have a piercing?

If you have a rash, burn, broken skin, or sunburn in the area that will be pierced, you must wait until the skin has healed before you can receive the piercing. It is possible to pierce through scar tissue (to re-pierce an area where you used to have a piercing, for example), but the scar must be completely healed. If you remove a piercing and wish to re-pierce the area, in most cases you should wait one to two months after removing the jewellery for the old piercing to fully heal.

Why is my tongue really white with a whitish ring around my piercing?

This can be caused if you are using mouth wash too frequently and/or it contains alcohol. As it can destroy the layer of healthy bacteria on the top of your tongue. If this is the case reduce the amount of times you use mouth wash.

What can I do to help my piercer?

Be honest about any health concerns, your piercer is a professional and has a responsibility under data protection to work in a confidential manner. Be honest if you do not like the position your piercer has suggested for your piercing. It is your piercing, take the time to look at where the potential piercing will be sited. Keep calm, try and relax, take a deep breath and slowly let it out as the piercing takes place. Tensing up can cause some difficulties with piercing certain areas. Follow the aftercare advice given to you by your piercer; your piercer is in the best position to advise you.