PIERCING FAQs

+ How old do I need to be to get a Piercing?

You must be 16 or over to get a Piercing.

If you are under 16, then you will need parental consent. This involves your parent coming into the studio to sign a consent form. Please note that we cannot accept handwritten notes, phone calls, emails etc from parents, they need to come into the store.

+ What kind of jewellery do you use?

We only pierce with Titanium jewellery to minimise any risk of metal sensitivities due to complications such as nickel allergies.

+ Can you pierce with my own jewellery?

No, unfortunately not. We only pierce with our own titanium jewellery.

+ Do you pierce with rings?

No, we only pierce with studs and barbells for better healing. For more information or to discuss, please book a Piercing Consultation.

+ Why can I not get my nose pierced with a ring?

Your nostril tissue is cartilage. Cartilage requires a significant piece of jewellery to heal around. We recommend a Titanium 18g (1mm thick) stud over a ring.

Yes, your nose can heal with a ring but this requires diligence with aftercare and the ring must be of a significant diameter and thickness and the majority of our clients ask for a nice fitted dainty thin ring.

Very thin jewellery in your fresh piercing creates a “cheese cutter” effect, especially when it is curved. Rings put pressure on the centre of the piercing channel and on the entrance and exit. The thinner the ring, the "sharper" it is. This irritates the channel, usually resulting in irritation bumps and problematic healing, sometimes healing as a small "slit" in the tissue.

Firm fitted, dainty thin rings are for well healed established piercings. As is sterling silver jewellery. Sterling silver contains copper and oxidises against fresh tissue and bodily fluids, causing the black tarnished effect on the jewellery. This oxidation can also tattoo your flesh, leaving a permanent blueish toned stain at the piercing site. It is also very soft and nicks and scratches are a breeding ground for bacteria... yet another reason we recommend you WAIT to change to this style especially.

Rings can also rotate while in your piercing. This can cause bacteria (or in the case of a hinged segment ring for the hinge) to be dragged through the healing fistula causing unnecessary irritation.

While there are certainly people who have had no issue at all with the above situation, there are many we have seen have had a terrible time and to eliminate the risk, we recommend you let your piercing heal with Titanium jewellery of a decent thickness, then change to a thinner ring once it has established itself.

Depending on you and your body, this can take anywhere from 3-6 months all going well. If your nose piercing is not healing, feel free to pop in to the studio and we can assess the situation

+ Do you sell jewellery and can you fit it for me?

Yes! We have a range of jewellery in store and if we don't have what you are looking for then chances are we can order it in for you from our many suppliers around the world.

We can also carryout jewellery changes for the small charge of $5.

+ Do you numb the area first?

No, there is no point numbing the area as a piercing penetrates too many layers of skin for it to be effective. You are however welcome to apply your own cream before visiting us for your piercing.

+ How should I prepare for getting a piercing done?

Have a good nights rest, shower (wash hair if getting an ear piercing), eat a meal at least an hour before coming into the studio and bring a sugary drink with you if you are feeling very nervous.

+ Do you pierce babies and children?

At Amplify we are of the firm belief that the child needs to understand that the piercing is going to hurt and they need to be able to sit completely still during the procedure. Therefore we recommend waiting until the child is around 4+ before proceeding with any piercings.

+ Does it hurt?

This will completely depend on your individual pain tolerance and of course every piercing is different for each person.

The most common thing we hear after piercing is "Well that didn't hurt as much as I thought it would!" ;)

+ Can I be pierced in an area I have been pierced before?

Because we use top quality piercing needles, it is usually not a problem to pierce over skin/scar tissue that has been pierced before. We would recommend booking in for a Piercing Consultation if you have any doubt or if there is extensive scarring in the area.

+ What safety/hygiene procedures do you follow?

We are registered under the Dunedin City Council Environmental Health Bylaw, which is one of the strictest in NZ.

All our needles are single use only and disposed of immediately in a medical sharps container. All tools used for piercing are first soaked in disinfectant in an Ultrasonic Cleaner and then individually packaged to be steam sterilised in our Autoclave. All jewellery is prepacked and also sterilised in the Auotclave.

Anyone is more than welcome to come in for a consultation and see our equipment and procedures before you are pierced.