5 Things You Should Consider Before Getting A Piercing

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Obsessed with watching constellation piercings all over the internet? Maybe this is a sign.

I know what you’re thinking: it’s time for a change. We’re all itching for something new, whether it be physical, mental, or spiritual change, there’s that voice inside your head telling you to do something about it.

If you’re one of us who are tiptoeing into the world of body art, then you’ve come to the right place. A change in appearance is definitely a big deal, especially if it’s something permanent like getting inked or getting body piercings.

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Before you give in to the urge for piercings, here are five important things you should do or think about.

GET TO KNOW YOUR BODY

This may be a little vague, but I’ll get into the details real quick. Where do you want your piercings to be? Tragus? Helix? Septum? Take a look at your body and think about where you want to see that shiny new jewel. If you’re unsure, test the waters with fake piercings and see how well you like it on your body before committing to the real thing. No-pierce jewelry is magic!

Before the day of your actual piercing session, make sure you get enough sleep to strengthen your immune system. Also, don’t forget to eat something beforehand to keep your blood sugar steady. Just take it from me, who vomited and blacked out after spontaneously getting my ears pierced without properly prepping for it. It was not a good look and I advise against it.

WHERE TO GO FOR PIERCINGS

You might be asking, is it safe to get one now? Just make sure to practice safety precautions and go to reputable shops, then you’re good to go.

It’s pretty common to see mall boutiques offering free piercings when you buy their earrings. Most of them only do lobe piercings because they use a piercing gun, which is not recommended if you want a smooth recovery. Piercing guns are not sterilized because it’s made out of plastic, so the only thing sterilized is the actual earring. Resist the piercing gun to avoid infections and blunt force trauma.

Instead, what you need to do is go to a reputable shop that takes necessary precautions in place and get to know the equipment being used. Pick out a parlor that knows what they’re doing. A trained piercer will know how to use hollow needles or “cannulas,” and/or hand-pressured piercing instruments.

You can check out Piercings by Ravana, who pierces the likes of Rei Germar and Ry Velasco. The shop has good pre-appointment and aftercare instructions to ensure a safe and fast recovery.


Another reputable piercer is Oskie Esguerra, the body piercer of Kathryn Bernardo. Check out 55 Tinta in Makati or Maginhawa and get to know more of their piercers.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT EARRING

One of the most fun parts about getting piercings is choosing the stud. The first thing you should ask is: can you commit to that stud for 6 to 12 weeks without removing it? Make sure you really like the design and ask if it’s a premium hypoallergenic metal. Also, make sure that your clasps aren’t too tight to allow optimal airflow and safer healing.

PAIN IS RELATIVE

via GIFER

Your friends might have told you that it didn’t hurt one bit after getting their bodies pierced, wherein some have had traumatic experiences that led to bleeding, infection, and all that nightmarish stories.

Remember, your body is different from theirs so the pain you feel won’t be the same as theirs. Pain is relative and it varies from person to person.

SAFE HEALING

It is an absolute must that you have proper aftercare, especially for your more complicated piercings. It is never advisable to have more than three piercings because your body needs to heal itself.

Wash your hands before touching your piercings and only use the aftercare solution provided by your trained piercer. You should also turn the earrings one full rotation everyday. Do not remove your piercings for more than 24 hours after the 6-12 weeks of healing because it will close again.

… Last but not the least, do not pull an Annie and Hallie. Never DIY your piercings no matter how tempting it is.