FAQ

Absolutely not. There are no devices that shove jewellery through the tissue (i.e. spring-loaded trigger activated, hand pressure cartridge/cassette systems, etc.,) used by any staff member at Freestyle Tattoo Studio or Sisters Inked. Find more information about the irreversible risks of guns here: https://www.safepiercing.org.au/piercing-guns/

Typically, I will pierce from ages 14+ with parental consent and when ID requirements have been met, however anyone under 16 and/or 18 is restricted on what piercings I will perform on them. See below:

14+ Piercing Services

• Lobe (incl. seconds, thirds, etc.)*

• Helix*^

• Flat*^

• Conch*^

• Nose*

16+ Piercing Services

• All basic piercings*

18+ Piercing Services

• All piercing services incl. 18+ services.*

*If anatomy allows and is viable for client

^These piercings can be quite challenging to heal and look after for young people. Please reach out to Salem with any questions or concerns regarding this.

NOTE: I will NOT pierce navels or tongues for children under the age of 16. Please contact Salem directly with any questions or concerns regarding this.

14+

• Must have parent or legal guardian present (if legal guardian, must have documentation proving this)

• For parents: Must provide a valid and in-date form of Photo ID

• Must provide valid and in-date Medicare card or Birth Certificate of child proving guardianship and child’s age

For child: Must supply student ID card and/or proof of age (i.e., vaccination record, birth certificate, centrelink records, etc.,)

16+ & 18+

Must supply valid and in-date form of Photo ID.

NOTE: NO 18+ PIERCING INCLUDING NIPPLE, GENITAL, SURFACE/DERMAL OR BODY MODIFICATION STYLE PIERCING WILL BE PERFORMED ON ANY PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18. NO EXCEPTIONS.

I only trust and supply NeilMed Piercing Aftercare spray.

NeilMed has innovated a safe and gentle way of going about aftercare.

The only contents of NeilMed is sterile saline. That’s it! It is a fine mist that evenly and thoroughly cleans the healing piercing with little to no manipulation of the piercing, is completely vegan AND cruelty free.

For more information on NeilMed, please visit https://shopau.neilmedpac.com/

I only pierce with implant grade ASTM F136 compliant internally threaded or threadless titanium jewellery. I will also pierce with 14 or 18 karat solid gold that is free of nickel, lead and cadmium free and glass that is lead-free such as fused-quartz, borosilicate or soda-lime however I do not keep stock on hand for these and they will need to be ordered in by client request.

I use flat-back style labrets for most basic piercings. Butterfly backings or clasp backings are unsafe for healing piercings and are not used.

Because I’m just a lil sole-trading piercer!

For the time being, I will only order in glass and solid gold on the request of the client due to rising costs. Being a sole-trading piercer, I supply everything myself which means unfortunately not being able to splurge too much. I only pierce with solid 14 or 18kt gold and these pieces can reach quite high prices at times.

Due to this, unfortunately I just can’t stock and have heaps of gold on hand that may or may not be used and therefore prioritise putting my finances into other high-quality materials that I know will be used and that I know I can comfortably replenish each fortnight.

14 and 18kt gold, while although not 100% pure, is verified as a safe medium gold for body piercings by the AUPP and APP as long as it is nickel, lead and cadmium free.

9kt is too impure for a healing piercing and typically causes reactions as such.

22 and 24kt gold is too soft to be inserted into a body piercing, which means it is not autoclavable and therefore cannot be sterilised due to the softness of the gold which can lead to warping and further softening.

Plated gold is not pure gold. Typically, it is an alloy of gold and tends to chip, scratch and tarnish (go green).

A gold alternative that I will use is anodised gold.

100% I do! I offer in-house anodising for a broad spectrum of colours! If a jewellery piece was included in a batch anodising process, you can be pierced with it at no extra charge.

If you want a specific colour that I don’t batch anodise, there will be a $5 anodising charge applied.

Anodising is an electrochemical process that increases the thickness of the natural oxide layer on the surface of metal jewelry, particularly titanium and niobium.

This process alters the way light interacts with the metal, creating a range of vibrant colors without adding any additional materials. It's a safe and durable way to add color to jewellery as it doesn't change the base metal and can enhance the metal's strength and resistance to corrosion.

Of course, your tissue is being penetrated by a sharp object!

However each and every individual’s experience is not the same. Everyone has different pain thresholds and all ‘pain scales’ are subjective.

You can be at ease knowing you’re in gentle, caring and quick hands!

Absolutely! Please feel free to bring along a friend, family member or partner to your piercing appointment.

Disclaimer: You may bring as many supports as you like, however only one extra person is allowed in the piercing studio at any time. This is due to space capacity and to minimise distraction.

Unfortunately, no.

If you arrive to your piercing appointment and you have numbing cream on, or I suspect you may have used numbing cream, your appointment will be rescheduled to a later day.

Numbing cream changes the skin’s shape and texture when used and because of this, even though the piercing may look straight and even immediately after piercing; once the numbing cream wears off, the skin will snap back into it’s natural position and the piercing will then have a look of being ‘off’ or even angled.

My piercing procedures are super quick and the pain is over before you know it! So, you don’t need to stress, you’re in good hands!

Well, yes and no.

If you would like to be pierced with your own jewellery, you will need to come in prior to your appointment for a short consult.

All personal jewellery must meet the following criteria to be eligible to be pierced with:

• Must be ASTM F136 compliant titanium or 14kt/18kt solid gold that is nickel, lead and cadmium free. (NOTE: a Mill certificate will need to be supplied to you by the manufacturer to determine authenticity of the material)

• Must be internally threaded or threadless

• No externally threaded, rings (unless anatomy requires such as daith and septum), if solid gold - no hallmarks must be engraved into the jewellery, surgical steel, sterling silver, butterfly backings, bullet backings, ‘step-down’ jewellery or plated jewellery. No exceptions.

All up-to-date information i get through the AUPP (Australasian United Professional Piercers) association and the APP (Association of Professional Piercers).

AUPP - www.safepiercing.org.au

APP - www.safepiercing.org