Piercing Red Flags: When It’s Okay to Say No to a Piercing Client
In the piercing world, the adage ‘the customer is always right’ does not apply. In fact, it could be argued that the opposite is true; with all of the misinformation surrounding piercings, more often than not, the customer is incorrect.
Because of this, piercers need to understand when it’s okay to say no for their own sake and the sake of the client.
Sometimes, customers will want a piercing that’s not suitable for their anatomy and other times, clients might cross a line that makes the piercer uncomfortable. To create a safe space for all, you need to know your boundaries.
To help you know where to draw the line, here are some common instances that make piercers say ‘no.’
The client is under the influence
Although the spontaneity of getting a piercing after a fun night out makes for a great story, it also comes with its risks. Inebriated customers might regret their decision in the morning and come back irate, or they could easily make a wrong choice in terms of piercing and placement.
Beyond disgruntled customers, piercing someone who is clearly under the influence can have health implications as well. Alcohol is a blood thinner, so drunk people will likely bleed more. On top of this, they’re less apt to properly care for their piercing in the crucial first hours after getting pierced.
Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, consent forms signed by severely intoxicated people may not legally hold up. In the U.K., for consent to be considered valid, the consenting party must fully understand what they are consenting to. If they are heavily intoxicated, then the consent form could be considered void. Even if you don’t believe the customer to be overly intoxicated, it’s better to protect yourself by saying no than face possible legal repercussions.
The client seems coerced
A piercing should always be a voluntary decision. If a client comes in and seems unsure or pressured, confirm that this is something that they want to do. If they’re on the fence, make the decision for them by saying no and telling them to come back when they’re sure.
This is especially important when piercing new piercees or children. In some cultures, it’s standard practice to pierce children’s ears when they’re quite little—sometimes as young as 12 months. If you’re uneasy with piercing young children, it’s perfectly fine to tell the parents no.
Piercing children will come down to a personal preference. Many piercers carry the policy that their clients must be of an age where they can understand the piercing process. Others are okay with piercing younger children as long as their doctors have said that it’s safe. Either way, you should not feel pressure to pierce young children, even if it’s culturally important to the parents. There are plenty of other piercers who do feel comfortable with the practice that they can seek out.
The client has difficulty adhering to proper aftercare
Much of the success of a piercing relies on proper aftercare. Piercing bumps and infections often arise due to poor care, and you need to trust that your clients will do what they can to ensure safe and healthy healing.
If you have a return client that you know struggles with aftercare, or if a new client admits to you that they don’t care for their healing piercings as they should, you are well within your rights to say no to a new piercing. Even if you don’t have control over how your clients care for their piercings, the success or failure of their piercings may reflect on you.
The last thing you want is someone going around with an infected piercing saying that they got pierced at your studio, even if it was infected from their actions and had nothing to do with you.
In this case, you don’t have to give them a hard no. Ask some questions about their aftercare practices and the areas where they struggle, then find a solution that will set them up for success. For example, if they have difficulty sticking to aftercare for long periods of time, guide them toward piercings that take less time to heal so that they’re more likely to care for them for the entire piercing healing period.
The client doesn’t respect your boundaries
When you conduct a piercing, you have to get up close and personal with the client, especially if you do piercings in intimate areas. Just as you must do what you can to make sure that your client is comfortable and feels safe, your clients need to be respectful to you, too.
If at any point during the appointment, your client says or does something that makes you feel uncomfortable, you should always feel free to stop and ask them to leave. Even if you have already started the piercing process, you should never feel obligated to stay in a situation where you feel compromised.
The client’s anatomy isn’t correct
Many piercing types require certain anatomy to complete correctly. Some piercing types might seem universal, but in reality, most people can’t get pierced in that area. The navel piercing, in particular, has this issue. To heal properly, the belly button cannot fold in on itself when the piercee sits down. Because of this, a large portion of people do not have suitable anatomy for a belly button piercing, even if they have a flat stomach. This can lead to many disappointed potential piercees.
Don’t feel pressure to conduct a piercing on someone whose anatomy is incorrect.
You’ll likely experience one or two determined clients who want to push through with a piercing no matter what you say. Unfortunately, if you were to complete a piercing on unsuitable anatomy, the piercing could be rejected or have difficulty healing. In these cases, it’s unlikely that the piercee will remember that they pressured you to conduct a piercing you were uncomfortable with; they’ll simply blame you for the failed piercing. When in doubt, it’s best to say no and guide them toward another piercing choice instead.
It’s a risky piercing type
There are a few piercing types that are controversial in the piercing world such as cheek piercings, smiley piercings, and snake eyes tongue piercings. These all carry risks that could cause irreparable damage to the wearer, such as tooth decay or loosening. Because of this, a lot of piercers will refuse to do these types of piercings.
On the other hand, many reputable piercers still conduct these piercings. This is mainly due to the fact that they want to provide a safe space for customers who are determined to get them.
They know that the customer might seek out a less reputable piercer or, worse yet, try to pierce themselves if they’re turned away. They prefer setting the client up with the best chance of success rather than have them seek out a potentially dangerous scenario. In this way, the piercer’s decision to say yes to a piercing they don’t fully agree with is actually a way to protect the customer.
Whichever way you choose to go with these types of piercings, you should feel completely secure in your decision. Each option is valid in its own way, and it comes down to what you’re comfortable with.
In the piercing world, the word ‘no’ is about more than setting boundaries. It’s a way to keep your clients safe and the reputation of yourself and the piercing studio you work for intact. Take some time to consider your policies, draw your hard lines, and practice what you might say when you come across these difficult moments where you have to say no.
Publication date and/or Last Updated: March 14, 2024
Author: cesar@suprank.com
Views: 542
Copyright Holder: Acha Co., Ltd.
Company info: WholesaleBodyJewellery is owned and operated by Acha, a leading manufacturer and online supplier of piercing jewellery with more than 20 years in the industry.
