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-For our Immune Compromised clients, please contact us at adornsafely@gmail.com for masked accommodations.

-We remain appointment only with no children under 8, however, we will accommodate walk-ins for piercing troubleshooting and other urgently needed services whenever possible.

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-Our entire staff is vaccinated.

-As always we maintain advanced sanitation protocols which include constant disinfection on all surfaces, infrared scrubbers in our HVAC system, and HEPA filtration circulating the air in every room.

We kindly ask of you:

-If you have had a recent exposure to COVID-19, please reschedule your appointment for another time.

-If you’re feeling under the weather, please reschedule your appointment for another time.

-Please follow the CDC guidelines if you are exposed to or have symptoms of COVID-19.

Thank you. We look forward to seeing you at your appointment with Adorn!

Piercing Gun Vs. The Needle

April 3, 2014 5:47 pm Published by

Piercing guns have been used for years in malls and department stores for piercing people of all ages. Today, though, professional body piercers want to see the gun banned. Why?

I talked to a lady (who shall remain nameless) who works in a jewelry boutique at a local mall. She said that she has been doing piercings there now for about 6 months. Her “training” took all of 2 weeks, which consisted of watching others and practicing on a teddy bear. (huh?) Although she claims that in the time she has been piercing she has only gotten one complaint, that does not mean this procedure is entirely safe.
The first concern when it comes to piercing is sterilization. Any kind of procedure which involves contact with blood or bodily fluids requires strict adherence to cross-contamination prevention. Piercing guns are usually made of plastic and cannot be sterilized in an autoclave. Sure, they wipe it with alcohol or antiseptic in between uses, but how sterile is that? It is not unreasonable to guess that in a 2-week training course, these mall piercers are not being taught about infection control and blood-borne pathogens. A quick wipe with a sterile pad is not effective in removing disease-carrying blood.

Some will argue that the piercing gun never comes in contact directly with the customer’s skin. This might be true, but the piercers hands do – if they touch the customers’ skin and then touch the gun, the gun is now contaminated. Period. And when the gun drives the stud through the flesh, if the skin starts to bleed there is no way of knowing whether or not tiny particles of blood could have been dispersed into the air contaminating everything around it.

But Doesn’t The Gun Hurt Less?

Sterility is just one of the possible problems with gun piercing. Tissue trauma is another. The gun forces a blunt stud through the skin, causing it to literally rip in order to make room for the jewelry. Then, it pinches the back of the jewelry in place snugly against the skin, allowing no way for the new wound to breathe and heal properly. The customer is then told to turn the jewelry a couple of times a day, which only further pushes growing bacteria into the wound, causing infection.

True, many customers get pierced with guns and never have any problems with it. But why put yourself at risk when there is a safer, less painful way to go about it?

Why the Needle is So Much Better

In comparison to the two-week training of the mall piercer, a professional body piercer goes through extensive training that can last as long as two or three years. They learn about the human body and how piercings affect the circulatory system. They learn how to avoid hitting nerves that can cause severe pain to the customer. Most importantly, they learn about cross-contamination prevention and how to properly sterilize their instruments. Anything that touches the customer that cannot be autoclaved is thrown away immediately. Workstations are fully disinfected before and after every piercing procedure.

The piercing process itself is also much safer and less painful than having a blunt stud forced through your skin. A piercing needle is actually hollow and extremely sharp. It slices through the skin, safely pushing the tissue aside to make room for the jewelry to be inserted. That may not sound too appealing, but it is actually a very quick process and the method is virtually painless for most body parts.

The jewelry that is used in professional piercing shops is also much better for you. Barbells and Captive Beads Rings are specially designed to allow removal of dirt and bacteria effectively during the healing process. Allowing for full movement of the jewelry makes it much easier for you to clean it without counter-productively pushing more bacteria into the piercing. The metals that are used in this jewelry are also better for your skin and less likely to cause a reaction. High-grade Surgical Stainless Steel and even Titanium (which is virtually nickel-free) give you the best chances of infection and reaction-free piercing.

Although it is true that professional piercing prices run higher than those performed in mall stores, why put a price on your safety and well-being? The quality and personalized service you receive by going to a professional is certainly worth a few extra dollars. These trained professionals are also happy to follow up with you should you have any questions or complications. Your mall piercer might offer their opinion on how to treat an infection, but who do you think will be more qualified to help you? The answer is obvious.

Needless to say, the use of the needle for piercings is less painful, less traumatic, and much safer for the customer. How does this apply to piercings on children? As a concerned mother of two girls, I asked a few professional piercers their opinion. Even I did not realize that in many states it is allowable for children to be pierced in a professional studio. Although the age of consent is much higher for tattoos, most children can get their ears pierced professionally as long as a parent or guardian is present and signs the paperwork.

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Dani P.
Dani P.
2022-11-12
Really great place. Awesome selection and professional staff. I've had a tattoo and nose piercing and I'd go back again for a new service.
Tammy K.
Tammy K.
2022-10-06
I first came to Adorn to get my piercing I received at Slave to the Needle (in Seattle) checked, it was a Daith. I was developing a small pyogenic granuloma and Lia checked it out, suggested I use saline to clean it twice a day and even took pictures of it to determine progress if it gets worse later. I was told by Lia and my dermatologist that it might not go away, as some don't. But It cleared it RIGHT up!Then I went back because I took out all my piercings because I had to get an MRI. Lia was my piercer again and got it back in within minutes. It was a newer piercing so I was worried it had closed... and to my surprise it did a little but Lia was able get it right back in. It was tricky but she was patient and calming the whole time.I plan to get 2 more piercings and I'd love for Lia to do them. She was gentle and so knowledgeable. I'm also going to bring my daughter to get her ears pierced when she's a little older, and I pray pray pray Lia will still be here when my daughter is ready to get her ears pierced. I don't think I'd want anyone else touching my little girls ears besides anyone at Adorn!! Id especially love for Lia to do it but I haven't had the pleasure to meet any other piercer (might be fate though.. when I made the appointment I just made it for available piercer and both times I got Lia).Oh and the jewelry here is AUHMAZZZING I want them all!!!Fair prices and amazing selection.Definitely coming back soon!!!
Megan P.
Megan P.
2022-10-03
Had a lovely experience at my appointment and leading up to my appointment. Everyone was very nice and the place was very clean. Only bummer was they didn't have the jewelry I wanted in gold. Will be going back though for sure.
Reva P.
Reva P.
2022-09-27
Stop what you're doing and make an appointment to get something pierced with Dana. He is amazing and a total expert in his craft! Plus his patience is close to sainthood. I was so anxious when I got there and he was able to put me at ease and answer all of my dumb questions. Plus he is so personable that you feel very comfortable which is a necessity when someone is putting a hole in your body. I cannot recommend this place enough!
Ruby H.
Ruby H.
2022-09-24
I had my septum re-pierced and philtrum pierced recently here. 2+ piercings in 1 session gets you a discount, which is awesome! The team at Adorn is APP certified- meaning they are extensively trained in safe piercings from clean stations to clean jewelry practices- they are experts at what they do. They have jewelry options for different price points- lots of stainless steel, inexpensive and beautiful jewelry options as well as a wide variety of gold, white gold, and gemstone jewelry on the pricier end. I love that they offer more luxurious and high-end jewelry here. My piercer was Dana, he made the experience very relaxing and I felt super comfortable. They answered all of my questions, and their team deeply cares about the people who come into their shop. Im so happy with my new piercings, I highly recommend Dana and Adorn Body Art.
Gabby L.
Gabby L.
2022-09-11
I got my lip pierced here today by Zandr and he was very nice and made me feel very comfortable also he was very fast which I really appreciated because I was nervous and prefer to get it done and over with as quick as possible which he did! Everyone was also very nice and the place was very clean and professional.
jennifer b.
jennifer b.
2022-09-08
I took my daughter (8 years) to get her ears pierced. Dana was so calm, informative, and kind. He made the experience easy. My daughter is thrilled. Everyone working there were extremely nice. I would highly recommend Adorn!