What Should You Expect During a Piercing Appointment?
One of the best things about the piercing process? The actual piercing is insanely quick. The average appointment may run 30 minutes — 15 of which usually involves filling out consent forms, selecting jewellery, and answering questions. The rest is used for actual piercing time, plus sanitizing the area, placing the jewellery, etc. "Once the piercing is complete, the area might feel a little bit warm," Hayler said. "This is normal and can last a while; the initial pinch and sting is usually over after a few minutes."
As for cost, Hayler said it varies by the jewellery and placement. In most cases, you'll pay for the jewellery as part of your total appointment fee, which can be more expensive than the piercing itself. "We have 14kt options from $170 or titanium options from $65 including jewellery and service," she said. With this in mind, it's important to consider a studio's jewellery selection before you book an appointment: "Make sure you are happy with the options and studio as you'll most likely be wearing the jewellery for quite some time."
What Type of Jewellery Should You Choose?
Remember what we said about safety? That applies to the type of jewellery that'll be used in your new piercing, too. Certain metals are more likely to cause a reaction than others (and vice versa), so it's extra important to be mindful during the selection process. "Solid 14kt gold or higher and implant-grade titanium or niobium are the recommended metals to be used within a fresh piercing," said Hayler. "These are the most biocompatible materials out there and have a very low risk of reaction." As for what to avoid? "Sterling silver or anything lower as these are mixed with nickel, which is what most people are allergic to."
On the aesthetic front, options will vary based on the type of piercing you're getting. For nostril piercings, you can opt for a ring or stud, though Hayler prefers the latter: "The piercing will heal more smoothly." For septum piercings, you can anything choose from simple rings to straight or curved barbells to arched "horseshoe"-style rings that have an opening at one end — Hayler's favourite. "It's easier to heal as these can be flipped up to hide if you need to for work or school."