NOT CURRENTLY OFFERING PIERCING AT ARMOURY
At Armoury our friendly female piercers are all trained in using the Studex system for children earlobe piecings. A parent must accompany the child into the private piercing room. Accompanying children are not permitted to wait in the studio, although we have a the castelvecchi cafe next door.
We no longer have a piercer at Armoury and Eve , whom used to pierce, is too busy with tattoos. However, we have kept some information up should it be useful to you.
In paisley, metalworx may be the only piercer. For children there are chain outlets such as Claires and Superdrug.
Please scroll for information topics:
Is my child old enough? Is the process hygenic? What are the jewellery options? How do we care for the piecing? Can you doth both ears at once? What paperwork is required?
We no longer have a piercer at Armoury and Eve , whom used to pierce, is too busy with tattoos. However, we have kept some information up should it be useful to you.
In paisley, metalworx may be the only piercer. For children there are chain outlets such as Claires and Superdrug.
Please scroll for information topics:
Is my child old enough? Is the process hygenic? What are the jewellery options? How do we care for the piecing? Can you doth both ears at once? What paperwork is required?
Is My child old enough?
We may pierce children under six months and over five years.
In between these ages the risk of infection is increased due to the child touching the ears, and the pain of the piecing may be traumatic. This is not a legal condition but our store policy.
In the case of children under 6 months, as no consent is able to be given, we prefer to only perform this piecing if it is a high priority in the culture and ethnicity of the family.
In the case of children over 5, the child must be eager and able to give consent, therefore we will not pierce children who do not have a good command of English, as we do not have bilingual piercers.
Many children first decide they want earrings without a full understanding that the process will cause some pain, and must be performed twice. We encourage parents to have a conversation with their child regarding pain ….(erg, " There will be a sharp sting that will last for a minute, and then it will ache a little for a wee while.") The initial sting will fade in a minute, and we can wait for that to pass before doing the second piecing. Often, children are dissuaded from getting a piercing at this stage, and some months later, become more eager, and brave enough to get the piercing they want, with great determination. A little nervousness is to be expected and we will do everything we can to put your child at ease, but they must be agreeable to the procedure. These children fare well during the piercing, smiling through the first sting and eager to continue the process, even from the age of 5. But those who haven’t become emotionally ready are often upset and leave the parent in the position of having to bully them into the second earring or leaving with one. For this reason we now institute a consent questionnaire for the child, which will discuss their knowledge of expected pain, how long they have wanted earrings, and if they are a high priority for them, even though it will sting. If you feel your child is not ready to discuss these issues, then they are not ready to have a piecing at Armoury.
An interesting article about piercing chidlren who are not ready or willing can be found here:
pain/www.heart.co.uk/lifestyle/parenting/baby-ear-piercing-claires-children-screaming-pain/
In between these ages the risk of infection is increased due to the child touching the ears, and the pain of the piecing may be traumatic. This is not a legal condition but our store policy.
In the case of children under 6 months, as no consent is able to be given, we prefer to only perform this piecing if it is a high priority in the culture and ethnicity of the family.
In the case of children over 5, the child must be eager and able to give consent, therefore we will not pierce children who do not have a good command of English, as we do not have bilingual piercers.
Many children first decide they want earrings without a full understanding that the process will cause some pain, and must be performed twice. We encourage parents to have a conversation with their child regarding pain ….(erg, " There will be a sharp sting that will last for a minute, and then it will ache a little for a wee while.") The initial sting will fade in a minute, and we can wait for that to pass before doing the second piecing. Often, children are dissuaded from getting a piercing at this stage, and some months later, become more eager, and brave enough to get the piercing they want, with great determination. A little nervousness is to be expected and we will do everything we can to put your child at ease, but they must be agreeable to the procedure. These children fare well during the piercing, smiling through the first sting and eager to continue the process, even from the age of 5. But those who haven’t become emotionally ready are often upset and leave the parent in the position of having to bully them into the second earring or leaving with one. For this reason we now institute a consent questionnaire for the child, which will discuss their knowledge of expected pain, how long they have wanted earrings, and if they are a high priority for them, even though it will sting. If you feel your child is not ready to discuss these issues, then they are not ready to have a piecing at Armoury.
An interesting article about piercing chidlren who are not ready or willing can be found here:
pain/www.heart.co.uk/lifestyle/parenting/baby-ear-piercing-claires-children-screaming-pain/
is the process hygenic?
The Studex system, like other licensed and health approved systems, uses a machine to propel the jewellery through the ear, and does not contain any reusable needle. The sterile packet of jewellery you choose with your child comes with disposable guards to ensure that no part of the reusable machine comes in contact with your child's skin. The piercing hole is created by the sterile jewellery in one swift motion. It does, however, have a slightly sharp point to achieve this, and should be changed for other jewellery after a few months, such as gold sleepers.
what are the jewellery options?
The piercing will be done with the Studex system and we have a variety of gold-plated and surgical steel options, many with zircon jewels. It is also possible, in the case of an older child, (we recommend 13+) to use a needle method where we could insert a captive bead ring, or gold sleepers you may have bought, provided they are in sterile unopened packaging, such as those from Studex.
how do we care for the piercing?
Your piercer will discuss aftercare with you and provide you with an aftercare sheet to take home. We recommend salt water (1 tsp in a half cup) to clean the piercings and remove any discharge, and a daily 5 minute soak in cotton wool saturated in salt water for 2 weeks. Do not go swimming during this time or submerge in the bath. Keep fingers away from the piercing. Please monitor your child for touching Do not change the jewellery for a minimum of 8 weeks, even though the piercing will appear healed beforehand.
More information can be found at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/body-piercing/
can you pierce both ears at the same time?
No, we do not perform or recommend this practice. There will be a fraction of a second difference in the timing of the two practitioners releasing the piercing gun. If the child flinches at the first “pop” of the machine, or pain, the fractionally later piercing can be shifted out of aim, or even tear. You child should be ready to have the piercing performed twice, or not at all.
what paperwork is required?
We will need the parent present and their identification. The parent will need to fill in a consent form regarding the Childs medical history, and read information on the risks and appropriate aftercare. We also implement a questionnaire to assess consent of the child which will ask the child:
Age of child:How long have you wanted to have your ear pierced?
(Very recent is a contraindication)
Do you understand that the earring going in will hurt for a minute? And you still want to do it anyway?
(Child should be quite determined even with the foreknowledge of pain)?
Do you know that you have to get it done twice, both ears?
(Child should be dismissive of going through procedure twice)
And you know you can’t touch your ears or play with your earrings?
(Child to acknowledge)
So you think you are brave enough to have your new earrings, even though it will hurt for a minute
(child should be adamant - any hesitation on the part of the child, or appearance that they were not previously understanding the process may have pain, should prohibit the piercing until they are older and more determined)
Age of child:How long have you wanted to have your ear pierced?
(Very recent is a contraindication)
Do you understand that the earring going in will hurt for a minute? And you still want to do it anyway?
(Child should be quite determined even with the foreknowledge of pain)?
Do you know that you have to get it done twice, both ears?
(Child should be dismissive of going through procedure twice)
And you know you can’t touch your ears or play with your earrings?
(Child to acknowledge)
So you think you are brave enough to have your new earrings, even though it will hurt for a minute
(child should be adamant - any hesitation on the part of the child, or appearance that they were not previously understanding the process may have pain, should prohibit the piercing until they are older and more determined)