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| We are ready..... We sterilize every needle, tool and piece of jewelry individually in its own heat sealed steri-clave pouch in advance. We have enough done so we can pierce or tattoo on a moments notice. Q: How old do I have to be to get a tattoo? You must be 18 and older and you must have proper identification. We will NOT tattoo minors under any circumstance, And We Will Not Tattoo On Faces, Hands or Throats. Here are the answers to a few questions we are commonly asked about piercings. We hope this helps make your piercing experience easier and more enjoyable. Q: How old do I have to be to be pierced? A: No matter what your age, we do require that you have valid ID. There is no federal legal age for piercing in Canada. Some areas have local by-laws. Red Deer does not. Our shop age is sixteen without a parent's permission and with valid ID. We figure that if you're old enough to drive a 3500 pound piece of metal down a public highway at 110 kilometers per hour, then you're old enough to decide if you want a small piece of "Implant Grade, Surgical Steel" in your own body. If your son or daughter lies about their age and obtains a piercing from us under false pretenses, then we suggest that you deal with them about lying to get what they want and disregarding your wishes. We do a professional job of piercing and explaining aftercare; it is not our job to discipline your children. Navel and Neck up (Facial, Ears & Tongue) - You must be 16 years of age or older. It is important to make sure your parent is okay with you getting a piercing, or you may have to take it out and will have spent money that you cannot get back. Under 16 years of age - You have to be 14 to get a facial or navel piercing. We will do some ear piercings and nose piercings under the age of 14. You will need to bring in a parent with Valid Photo ID & proof of relationship to fill out and sign a consent form. If they are not with you or do not have Valid Photo ID, PLEASE DON'T WASTE OUR TIME!!! Basic earlobe and/or upper cartilage - we will consider doing younger, ie. 14 & younger. You MUST be 18 or older for nipple or genital piercings. Q: Do you use a "gun" to do any piercing? Are "gun" piercings safe? A: NO we do not & no they are not... and here's why. If you were to take your child to a "hair salon or the mall" and have them use a "gun", it is very unsanitary and lengthens the healing time. The "stud" used in the gun tears through the skin, and most of the cartilage piercings can/or will get extensive keloid scarring. Guns can also cause the cartilage to shatter. Here is a picture of one of our friends who got his upper ear pierced with a gun. Not only is the cartilage shattered, but as you can see, there is extensive keloiding. This is approximately 3-4 years old. Plastic surgery is possible to correct it, but once you keloid, the chance of it reoccurring is high.
The "guns" can not be autoclaved, only wiped down with 70% alcohol, which does not sterilize it. That means that there is most likely small particles of blood from earlier piercee's that can be lodged into a new piercee's piercing, ie. infect that person with Hepatitis B or C or other blood borne pathogens. Also prepping the area to be pierced with rubbing alcohol alone is not up to piercing or surgical cleansing standards. As we are a professional body piercing shop... we follow very strict cleaning & sterilization proceedures. Please contact us if you have further questions. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HIV/AIDS How do I know if tattooing or piercing will be safe? The safest way to get a tattoo or piercing is to go to a professional. In tattooing or piercing, HIV can be transmitted by tiny, invisible particles of blood on equipment that has not been sterilized correctly. These particles can also be in the tattoo ink. Professional
piercers: Professional
tattooists: Professional
piercers and tattooists: How do I choose a safe place to get a tattoo or piercing? Get
information from your local health department. Visit different shops and
ask to see: Check out several businesses; ask questions about their experience and safety measures. If you are not satisfied... LEAVE. If you have already had an amateur or professional tattoo and think you may have been infected with HIV, or hepatitis, or any other blood-borne illness, you should consider getting tested. Remember, behaviours and activities that put you at risk for HIV infection also put you at risk for infection by other viruses. Co-infection rates are increasing in Canada, particularly for HIV and hepatitis C, with approximately 11,200 people infected with both viruses. For
more information, contact your local AIDS service organization or health ~*~ Information taken from a publication for the Canadian HIV/AIDS Clearinghouse, the Canadian Public Health Association & Health Canada. |
