This is a perfect example of what many states are doing to regulate body piercing.  They are regulating (certifying) the piercing establishment, not the individual.  Here is what the law states – According to the new law, tattoo and body piercing facilities must fulfill health and safety requirements, such as sterilization and sanitation techniques, to receive certification.

As you can see they are not certifying the “piercing knowledge or skill” of any individual piercer, just the sterilization techniques practiced in the piercing shop.  This is basically universal in most states – THEY DO NOT CERTIFY THE INDIVIDUAL’S BODY PIERCING KNOWLEDGE OR SKILL OF BODY PIERCING.  This is why learning the art, skill and techniques of body piercing are so important.

Wearing body jewelry is much different than wearing a ring on your finger or wearing a bracelet or necklace.

Body jewelry is a foreign object placed into the body.  The body must adjust and co-exist with the body jewelry.  The body does not have any responsibility when you slip a finger ring, bracelet or necklace on.  The body acts only as a structure that is adorned with jewelry hanging from it.  The body does not react to this type of jewelry, unless, for instance a ring is too tight on your finger.  You simply remove the tight ring and the problem is solved.

When body jewelry does not fit correctly, the body starts reacting and communicating with you immediately.  It communicates by becoming red, swollen, and festered – producing liquid discharge.  If the jewelry is not corrected it can migrate out of the body leaving a scar behind.

When selecting appropriate jewelry for a body piercing, always select gauge, diameter, or length  that will easily co-exist in the body.

In addition, high-traffic areas of the body such as navels need special consideration when selecting jewelry.  High-traffic areas get a lot of movement from the jewelry and thicker jewelry is necessary to reduce irritation.  Play areas such as nipples and genitals also require thicker jewelry to avoid severe discomfort from play.

Discuss with your client the concept of how their body must adjust to and co-exist with the jewelry you insert into their piercing.  If they understand that the body is conforming to the jewelry, they will understand that the jewelry you select is very important, and must be of a certain size and gauge.

Therefore, don’t let other piercers intimidate you.  Just because they put big, unattractive jewelry in their clients.  Don’t let that persuade you to do the same.  They are not doing their clients a good job by putting big gaudy jewelry in their piercings.

There is something about adorning oneself that can become addictive. From jewelry to shoes and even tattoos.  It has to do with adding that little extra touch that either gives you individuality, shows personality or frankly, just looks great! On a physiological level the addictive nature all stems from the same thing. When you shop, or get a piercing or tattoo, natural endorphins or feel good chemicals are released into your body, and because it makes us happy—we keep going back for more.

Welcome To Your Next Obsession is our company motto at Body Creations.  That why training is so important to give your clients the best experience you can give.  If you do they will come back on a regular basis and bring their friends.

As body piercers, how many times have we been asked, “Does it hurt”?  We are asked that question every day over the phone or in the piercing room.

People really know that it’s got to hurt some, so the real reason people ask that question is to get some reassurance that everything will be OK!

When people ask me if it hurts, my answser is “Nobody Complains About It” and just leave it at that . . . don’t say anymore about the issue.  I have discovered over the years people accept that answer and generally say, “Oh . . . Oh OK” and the never bring the issue up again.  If others are not complaining about it, it must be OK.

In all of my Body Piercing Training Materials, and conversations working with clients during piercings you will observe that I use very general language. There is a reason for that. General terms are used so no one can “Fence Me In” or “Corner Me” into an indefensible or uncomfortable position.

There are very few absolutes in the body piercing business. That is why I use the word “generally” often.

For instance, people can heal their piercing many different ways, and somebody out there has used some product to heal their piercing successfully which you strongly suggest that they not use. In some cases people don’t use anything to heal a piercing and do it successfully. If you make an absolute statement, “you cannot heal your piercing with that particular substance, someone out there can prove you wrong.

During your piercing career you will learn to pierce a certain way. It is a way you feel comfortable with and is successful for you. That does not mean other ways will not work too. An example would be, you don’t feel a certain piercing should be done free-hand, but somebody else always does that piercing free-hand and seems to be successful with the piercing.

I am not a fan of free-hand piercings and OSHA is certainly not a fan of free-hand piercings – we will discuss this issue later . . . for now let’s get back to protecting you backside with careful, general-in-nature conversations with your clients.

Avoid arguments at all costs. As the piercer you will never win an argument . . . at least winning arguments will not pay your bills. Avoiding arguments means never talk in “Statements” or “Absolutes” with your clients and other piercers. Learn to temper your statements with questions. Questions take the edge and argument out of the important point you are trying to make.

Don’t misunderstand, you must communicate proper aftercare, jewelry selection, and a host of other information to you client, and you expect your client to follow your suggestions. The key is how you communicate that information to them that makes you a hero instead of a zero.

Watch for further conversations on how to stay out of trouble with focused conversation in your piercing business. Your words will make or break you body piercing business.

People will have problems with their piercings. You must service your piercees and the best way for you to get new business is to help other piercer’s piercees. Give of your time and experience to piercees who have been pierced by other shops. It will bring you great rewards.

You will get so much information from your piercee if you simply ask “good questions”, the LISTEN. If you listen long enough, they will eventually tell you what THEY ARE DOING WRONG WITH THEIR PIERCING. Keep them talking and they will tell you exactly what you need to know.

As piercers we-do-not diagnose . . . we suggest. This is simply a liability issue. If you diagnose you are liable for your diagnosis. If you suggest, you are not liable for your suggestions made in good faith. You can also use the terminology of “other people have found that” . . . . (using this aftercare or doing this helps their piercing). For example you could say, Many people have told me they tried this or that and it worked great for them.

Most piercing problems result from Irritation NOT Infection. This is why you need to know how to ask questions to find out what your piercee is doing to cause irritation to the piercing.

You do not need to go into big medical reasons for their problems. In most cases, they are just irritating their piercing, so it is your job to find out what they are doing that causes the irritation.

The first thing a person thinks when they see redness around their piercing . . . “is my piercing is infected”. I will cover more on Irritation Looks Like Infection in a future article. Learning how to pierce is more than just the actual piercing . . . it is helping your piercing clients after the piercing.

According to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) an employee with the potential for exposure to blood and other potentially infectious material (OPIM) is required Universal Precautions training annually.

Universal Precautions are infection control procedures that involve the use of protective barriers. These barriers include gloves, gowns, aprons, masks, and protective eyewear, which can reduce the risk of exposure. These measures also include personal hygine practices like hand washing and the disposal of contaminated materials.

Body Piercing is not a universally regulated industry, therefore, there are NO universal procedures and requirements throughout the United States. That is why body piercing training is so different coming from various providers . . . there are no common standards practiced and required by governing agencies. Therefore, it is very important that you do your own research to determine those standards that specifically apply to you in your individual state.

Operating a successful body piercing business starts with excellent records of your daily sales and piercings. The best way to do this is with a Sales Sheet.

It should contain the date, type of piercing, piercing fee, and your charge for the piercing jewelry. Your sales sheet should also contain space to log in non-piercing jewelry sold, and a method to keep track of after care products purchased.

The DAILY PIERCING SALES SHEET should be kept weekly, and start over with a new sales sheet at the beginning of the week. This way you can keep track of your statistics on a weekly basis. Although your financial accounting may be recorded on a monthly basis, the sales sheet is better if it is record strictly on a weekly basis . . . 52 weeks a year. Most of the time, you will have a partial week at the beginning and end of each year. . . that’s OK, it will work out better to keep all of your piercing statistics on a weekly basis.

Sadly there are no Universities, State Colleges, Communities Colleges, or Technical Schools where you can learn the skills and techniques of body piercing. Surprisingly, there are no industry sponsored programs to help you learn the art of body piercing either.

That leaves it up to YOU, to try and find help, in your quest to learn more about how to pierce.

It is obvious, at this time, if you are going to learn how to pierce, you must learn it from someone else who knows how. If you can learn it face to face with a mentor, that is great and desirable. However, if you do not have a personal mentor, you need to find other means to learn how to pierce. Most people tell me that they end up feeling overwhelmed, frustrated and ready to give up. Help is on the way.