Piercings Should Be Safe and Beautiful – Not Risky and Damaging
At Flux Piercing Studio, our priority is your safety, comfort, and the long-term success of your piercing. Unfortunately, we see many clients who come to us with complications from piercings done elsewhere. These are often performed in unsafe environments, by people with minimal training, and using poor-quality jewellery.
This newsletter is not meant to scare you. It is designed to give you clear, honest information so you can make informed decisions when choosing where to get pierced. Because the truth is, a poorly performed piercing can have serious consequences – from infection and scarring to permanent tissue damage.
Let’s talk about what to look out for, and how to protect your body.
1. Not All Piercers Are Properly Trained
One of the most important things to understand is that the piercing industry is not as deeply regulated in parts of the UK as the public expects. This means almost anyone can call themselves a piercer, even if they have little or no proper training.
You may come across people offering piercings who have:
- Only done a one-day or weekend course
- Watched a few online videos and started piercing at home
- Been trained quickly by someone else without formal education
- No understanding of anatomy, sterilisation, or wound care
Worse still, many of these individuals use piercing guns which are not only outdated but unsafe. Piercing guns force jewellery through the tissue using blunt pressure rather than a sterile needle. This can cause unnecessary trauma, crush cartilage, and dramatically increase the risk of infection and long-term damage.
A professionally trained piercer takes time to learn:
- How to assess anatomy safely
- How to use sterile tools and single-use equipment
- How to understand bloodborne pathogens and healing responses
- How to prevent complications before they happen and advise when they have occurred to get them under control
- How to identify jewellery sizing (length and width) by sight to ensure what’s the safest option for your specific anatomy
At Flux, we invest in ongoing education and work to the highest possible standards to ensure your experience is not only safe but comfortable and informed from start to finish. We attend industry lead conferences and training seminars to ensure we’re continuing to learn how to hone our craft along with completing both bloodborne pathogen and first aid courses.
2. Unsafe Environments Put You at Risk
Even if the person piercing you seems friendly or confident, the environment matters just as much. We have seen people being pierced in:
- Hair and beauty salons with no separate, sterile workspace (as nothing will remain sterile if not separated)
- Bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms in private homes
- Shop floors in retail settings, with multiple people passing by after touching all the items on the shelves
- Pop-up, non-sterile stalls at markets or festivals
None of these places are suitable for performing body piercings. Sterile technique is essential when puncturing the skin. Bacteria from the air, surfaces, or surrounding people can easily enter a fresh wound and cause serious infections.
A professional studio should have:
- A dedicated piercing room separate from public areas
- Autoclaves and sterilisation logs
- Single-use needles and tools
- Clean, sterile packaging for every piece of jewellery and equipment
If the space does not look like it belongs in a medical or clinical setting, it is not a safe place to be pierced.Don’t be afraid to leave – your safety should always come first.
3. Poorly Performed Piercings Can Leave Lasting Damage
When a piercing is done incorrectly, the results can be more than just disappointing. We often see people come to us with long-term complications such as:
- Obvious scarring or raised scar tissue
- Keloids which may continue to grow over time
- Blowouts caused by piercing with a gun or using the wrong angle or jewellery
- Shattered cartilage, which can never fully heal and may leave lumps or misshapen areas
- Migrated or rejected piercings that have moved from their original position or grown out completely
- Crooked or shallow piercings that are impossible to correct without scarring
In some cases, these issues can be helped with scar treatments or re-piercing, but often the damage is permanent. There are clients we have had to turn away because the original piercing caused so much trauma that it would no longer be safe to re-pierce the area.
This is why we always encourage people to choose their piercer carefully, even if it means waiting a little longer or saving up for a quality service. Your body deserves to be treated with care and respect.
4. Jewellery Quality Is Just As Important
Another major factor in the safety of your piercing is the type of jewellery used. Many poorly trained or low-cost piercers use jewellery made from low-grade metals that can trigger allergic reactions, cause inflammation, or delay healing.
Jewellery to avoid includes:
- Unknown metal mixes often labelled as “surgical steel” without proper certification
- Plated jewellery which can flake and expose base metals
- External thread jewellery which can tear the inside of the piercing channel
- Jewellery that is too short, too heavy, or the wrong shape for the placement
Improper jewellery can lead to complications like swelling, prolonged bleeding, pain, and rejection.
At Flux, we only use high-quality, implant-grade materials such as:
- ASTM F-136 titanium
- Solid gold (not plated)
- Niobium
- Internally threaded or threadless jewellery
We also custom-fit your jewellery to your anatomy and swelling to help promote proper healing from day one.
5. Good Aftercare Starts With a Good Piercer
Safe piercing is not just about the moment the needle goes through. It starts with proper planning, includes the right jewellery, and continues through months of healing.
A good piercer will:
- Take time to explain what will happen during your appointment
- Answer any questions clearly and without judgement
- Provide written aftercare instructions based on current best practices
- Be available for follow-up appointments if you need help or advice
- Never rush or pressure you into a piercing that you are unsure about
If you feel uncomfortable or confused during your consultation, that is a red flag. A trustworthy piercer will always make sure you understand everything before beginning and will welcome any and all questions you may have. If they are unhappy to answer or provide reassurance with the process and sterility of their craft – walk away.
Final Thoughts: Choose Experience, Safety, and Respect
Your body is unique, and every piercing you get becomes a part of it. Whether it is a small lobe piercing or something more complex, it deserves to be done properly.
At Flux, we are proud to offer:
- Professionally trained and experienced piercers
- A sterile, welcoming studio environment
- Only body-safe jewellery
- Honest advice that puts your health first
If you have questions, concerns, or past trauma from a piercing gone wrong, we are always here to talk. Whether you are ready for your next piercing or just need guidance, you are welcome to reach out anytime – pierced by us or not. There will never be any judgement, just honest care for you and your body.
Ready to Book or Learn More?
Pop into the studio, send us a message, or give us a call. We are here to help you make informed choices and feel confident in your piercing journey. The Fluxy girls love to chat about anything piercing and jewellery so allow time for a chin wag!
Your safety. Your body. Your story.
The Fluxy Girls 💎