How to Find a High-Quality Piercing Studio
Because a good piercing starts before the needle ever touches your skin.
Getting a piercing should be an exciting, positive experience - but not all studios are created equal. Whether it’s your first piercing or your tenth, it’s important to know what to look for when choosing a studio that takes your health, safety, and outcome seriously.
Here’s what we recommend you look for, based on real-world experience, industry best practice, and a genuine passion for doing things properly.
1. Clean, Sterile Environment
A high-quality studio will always:
Use sterile, single-use needles for each and every piercing
Wear sterile gloves (not just disposable gloves pulled from a box)
Use an autoclave to sterilise all tools, jewellery, and equipment
Have a dedicated, separate room for piercing, not a shared space, not behind a curtain
These aren't optional extras, they're basic standards. If a studio doesn’t show or explain their hygiene process clearly, that’s a red flag.
2. Proper Jewellery and Materials
High-quality piercers will only use jewellery made from safe, implant-grade materials — the kind your body can tolerate long-term without causing reactions or complications.
You should expect:
Implant grade titanium (Ti-6AL-4V ELI ASTM F136) – the medical-grade standard used in surgical implants
14k or 18k solid gold – nickel-free and polished to a mirror finish
Niobium or platinum – less common but highly biocompatible
What to avoid:
Mystery metals or “surgical steel” that doesn’t meet specific implant standards
Plated jewellery or costume pieces
Acrylic or plastic, which are never appropriate in piercings
3. Clear Consent and Aftercare
A professional studio will:
Ask you to complete a consent form
Check ID where legally required
Talk you through the process beforehand
Provide aftercare advice in writing
Offer support after the appointment (especially for things like downsizing or check-ups)
They should explain healing times, what to expect, and how to take care of your new piercing, without rushing you out the door.
4. Experience and Honesty Matter
A good piercer won’t just do what’s asked, they’ll advise what’s best for your body, your anatomy, and your long-term healing.
That includes:
Saying no to piercings that won’t work for your anatomy
Recommending placement changes or better jewellery options
Knowing when something needs medical attention, not just guesswork
Saying yes to everything doesn’t make someone skilled, it just makes them paid. Experience brings the confidence to do things right, not just quickly.
5. What You Should See (Or Ask About)
Here’s a quick checklist of things to look for or ask:
| ✅ Look For | ❌ Watch Out For |
|---|---|
| Sterile needle (in sealed pouch) | Piercing guns or "systems" |
| Autoclave machine onsite | Reused needles or tools |
| Clean, purpose-built piercing room | Piercings done in main shop space |
| Full consent process & ID check | No paperwork or verbal-only info |
| Implant-grade jewellery | Steel, plated, or unknown metals |
| Aftercare support + downsizing | No follow-up, no written advice |
Final Thoughts
Piercings are more than a five-minute appointment, they’re a healing process, and they deserve to be done right from the start. Trustworthy studios don’t just give you great results; they protect your health, your investment, and your body.
If you ever feel rushed, unsure, or pressured, stop and ask questions. A high-quality studio will never mind explaining how and why they do things a certain way.
At Artmageddon, we believe safe piercing is the foundation of great jewellery. We’re always happy to answer questions, offer advice, or even suggest other studios if we’re not the right fit, because good piercing isn’t a competition, it’s a responsibility.