Many people each day visit department stores or mall kiosks for their piercing needs, unaware of how much unnecessary pain they may have to endure because of that choice.
Let me start out by saying there are reputable piercing shops that may be located in malls, or possibly in department stores. After reading these reasons not to Visit a Kiosk or Department Store to Get Your Piercings you will be able to easily spick out and avoid the dangerous places to get pierced.
First, these locations use a 'gun' to do piercings.
Guns are bad for your health for multiple reasons-
1) they use blunt force to push the earring post through your ear whereas needles are sharp and remove a tunnel of flesh so that the jewelry may be safely inserted, allowing for much faster/easier healing.
2) there is no way to fully sterilize a piercing gun, so you are more likely to get an infection in your piercing. (infections are different than piercing bumps, and not often seen in piercings done safely with needles at a reputable shop)
3) the jewelry used with guns is most of the time very poor quality and not the correct jewelry that needs to be used in fresh piercings for optimal healing and overall health. This can cause unsightly complications and skin reactions! To learn more about the materials that are best suited for initial piercings, please see our blog post about it here>>
Second, these locations suggest cleaning and aftercare advice that is totally wrong!
Most of these locations will suggest that you clean your piercing with rubbing alcohol, or provide you with an alcohol-based cleaning solution that you are supposed to put on your piercing each day. This is NOT proper piercing aftercare, and alcohol actually dries our your piercing, making it take even longer to heal!
We have even heard stories about piercers at these locations suggesting that a client put Neosporin or other antibacterial ointment and a band-aid on their fresh piercing. This is absolutely incorrect, as piercings need room to breathe in order to heal properly!
If you would like to learn more about proper aftercare, click here>>
Last, there is *generally* a lack of education among these piercers.
Certified professional piercers are required to go through a lengthy apprenticeship in order to be able to pierce on their own, but most mall employees only get a small amount of training before getting thrown in there to do some piercings! Often, even if you get away with no infections or other complications, the result just isn't what you were wanting. Crooked piercings and incorrect placements are commonly what you will end up with!
Putting your health, safety, and appearance in the hands of someone who is barely trained is not something you'd do with any other procedure, so why would you take this risk with your piercings?
Find a safe, professional environment to get your piercings done in so that you can love and treasure them for years and years, rather than dealing with complications.
Tune in next week! We'll be covering how you can locate a piercing shop and a few key things to look for to ensure you've found a reputable shop!
Until next time,
Kourtney 🖤