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Knowledge is power, therefore my fist tip for surviving your first piercing is to be well informed.

There are three stages to a successful piercing, that you should be fully informed about before taking the plunge and getting yourself pierce- before, during and after.

Before you get pierced, the most important thing is to choose the right piercer for you (please refer to choosing a body piercer article in same channel). Shop around and make sure you are happy with the sanitary conditions and level of expertise you will receive well before the day you intend to have your piercing. Look at portfolios, check the autoclave has had a recent spore test and talk to your piercer. Ask friends for their experiences as well. This should all help you feel less anxious and better emotionally equipped to deal with your first piercing. Do not be surprised if the studio asks you to sign an agreement stating you are aware of their liabilities and your own- this is standard practice nowadays.

During the piercing expect sterile gloves, clamps and a careful examination of the area to be pierced to determine suitability. The area will be cleaned and some piercers use a disposable (one use only) marker to mark the route of the piercing, they may also apply a topical anesthetic (like a freeze spray). Equipment should be removed from sterilization pouches- if this is not the case, ask the piercer to use equipment you can see them open (but make sure you are polite when you do so).

The needle will be lined up, the piercer will ask you one last time if you are ready, then they'll slide the needle through- this will only take a few moments in total- before sliding the starter jewelery into the piercing via the hollow needle. It depends on your tolerance for pain, whether or not a topical anesthetic was applied and whereabouts you got your piercing as to how much this hurts.

The piercer will then give it a final check and should then give you detailed aftercare instructions- both orally and on paper.

Make sure you avoid alcohol for 24 hours before the procedure, and make sure you eat two hours before hand so that you don't feel faint immediately afterward.

Learn more about this author, Sarah Burn.
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