How to Choose a Piercer

Piercing should only be done by a professional piercer

Ask your friends who have had good piercing experiences where they had theirs done. Visit shops and look at their portfolios. Choose an experienced piercer. If you don't have a good feeling for the person or you're not comfortable, leave.

To ensure the piercing shop is clean and safe, ask the piercer:

• If they use single-use, disposable, sterile needles.
• If they use medical gloves when doing the piercing and how often they change them.
• If they use sterilizing equipment - they should have an autoclave!
• About their experience, knowledge and their professional affiliations.

Needles and jewelry should be individually sterilized and kept in their sterilization pouch until ready to use.

Tools should be sterilized after every use.


All shops should have a working autoclave (a machine that sterilizes tools with heat and pressure). If you wish, you can ask to see the autoclave, and the records of the monthly tests that show that it is working properly. All needles should be single-use and sterile. Feel free to examine the autoclave packages, as these will prove that the needles and tubes were properly sterilized. The piercer should always use latex or nitrile gloves, have a source of running water in the studio, and maintain a clean work space. Remember that these practices protect your safety as well as the artist’s, and refuse the service of any artist who does not meet these standards of safety and cleanliness.