The body piercers at our studios in Leeds have put together answers for some of the most common questions we get, before, during, and after an appointment.
It is extremely important that when you are attending your appointment that the following guidelines are followed:
1 - Please wash or disinfect your hands when you arrive at the studio.
2 - Guests will be unable to enter the piercing or tattoo rooms other than parents or guardians, or if it is a genital piercing.
3 - Face coverings must always be worn unless stated otherwise.
4 - Always Follow the floor markings and maintain social distancing rules of 1 metre.
5 - There may be limited seating within the reception area.
6 - Please reschedule your appointment if you are awaiting results for a Covid-19 test.
7 - Please rearrange your appointment if you think you have been exposed to Covid-198 - Jewellery changes, oral piercing, or nasal piercings may be subject to localised government guidelines.
You can find further information on our blog here
For general piercings there is no age of consent within UK law and it is generally down to piercing studios to decide what they believe is ethical. At Rude we require anyone under the age of 16 to have parental consent, and to be accompanied by an adult when coming to the studio for any appointments.
Intimate piercings are different and due to the nature of these piercings people under the age of 16 cannot consent to these types of piercings. We do not carry out intimate piercings on anyone under the age of 18. The ages of consent at our studios are:
From 8 Years of age: With parental consent and presence at the studio.
Ear piercings
From 14 years of age: With parental consent and presence at the studio
Navel
Some parts of the ears,
Nose
Septum
From 16 Years of age
All the above
All areas of the ear
All facial areas including lips (except the cheek)
From 18 Years of age
All the above
Cheeks
Tongue
Nipples
Genitals
Our piercing studios in Leeds can give you excellent information and advice on the pros and cons of different piercings, jewellery and aftercare. The decision is ultimately yours and there are some factors you might want to consider. Think about your employment, aftercare/maintenance and your social life while your piercing is healing.
This is one of the most common questions we are asked and there is no simple answer. How much a piercing hurts will depend on where the piercing is, and your pain threshold. Some people are just more sensitive and aware than others when being pierced. Some people feel pain, others feel uncomfortable.
Piercings are generally over in a matter of seconds but some piercings in sensitive areas of the body may feel more uncomfortable in general. Prepare for your piercing both psychologically and physically by avoiding negative content around piercings being painful, and ensuring you have a fully belly before arriving to the piercing studio.
Although there are numerous numbing creams on the market, we do not recommend the application of these prior to having a piercing. Neither do not use any medical (local / general) anaesthetics within our studios.
Different piercings take different periods of time to fully heal. Your aftercare will play a role in how well the healing process goes, and some areas of the body such as the tongue naturally heal quicker than your belly button.
Ear lobe: 6 to 8 weeks
Ear Cartilage: 6 to 9 months
Nose: 6 to 8 weeksSeptum: 6 to 8 weeks
Eyebrow: 2 to 3 monthsTongue: 4 to 5 weeksNipple: 3 to 6 months
Belly Button :6 to 9 months
Using an aftercare product specifically made for the healing of piercings will be a good investment as these may speed up overall healing times.
A safe piercing experience will rely on the professionalism and hygiene precautions of the piercing studio, and the level of aftercare you are able to administer. Always choose a piercing shop that is registered with your local authority, and one that can easily answer all your questions regarding safety precautions and practices.
Your biggest risk is an infection at the piercing site, but having a well thought out aftercare plan, making changes to your normal routines, and using the correct aftercare products will reduce the chances of infections.
You Can find a list of all our piercings and prices here PIERCING INFORMATION.
It is recommended to avoid submerging your piercing in water for at least 3 weeks after the piercing. Doing this too soon can increase the risk of infection. Avoid swimming in rivers and lakes, as well as the sea where bacteria can cause infections.
All our body piercers are fully trained, and all our studios are government health registered. Proof of registration can be requested when visiting our piercing studios in Leeds city centre and Headingley.
The Rude Studios Merrion Centre location is the only studio in Leeds to have achieved accreditation with the UKAPP (UK Association of Professional Piercers) along with studio owner, and celebrity piercer Sam Myers.