A good piercer must necessarily possess all the technical skills and expertise to work on different parts of the body correctly and must know anatomy, different styles, safety techniques, and body jewelry, but must also possess essential and mandatory knowledge in the field of hygiene, prophylaxis, and safety.
Furthermore, they must stay constantly updated on the latest trends, regulations, and procedures in the piercing industry by participating in refresher courses required by law.
Finally, they must work with the best equipment to ensure the safety and perfect outcome of every piercing.
In this article, we want to focus on this last aspect, explaining which tools are indispensable for a piercer and how to choose them by focusing on certified, high-quality products.
The tools a piercer can’t do without
To work professionally as a piercer, in addition to operating in a studio that ensures compliance with all requirements and standards for cleanliness, hygiene, and safety to avoid any risk of contamination and infection, it is necessary to have fundamental tools to perform piercings safely and effectively.
Equipment must be strictly disposable (or sterilized in an autoclave) and every material and product must be taken from sealed packaging, with a visible expiration date, and opened only in front of the client before performing the piercing.
Among the tools you can’t do without are:
- Piercing needles
- Piercing scissors and mosquitoes
- Tapers
- Sterile markers
- Gloves and masks
- Disinfectants and antibacterial solutions
- Safety and disposal containers
- Piercing jewelry
Essential tools for piercers: needles
Piercing needles are the essential tool for manually piercing the skin before inserting the jewelry and must be high-quality, disposable, and sterile.
They can have different shapes, sizes, gauges, and lengths, depending on the type of piercing to be performed and the part of the body to be pierced, but they are always thicker than the jewelry to allow the wound to heal properly.
Piercing needles are generally made of high-quality surgical steel and are extremely sharp: these materials are safe for use on human skin, eliminating allergic reactions. The most popular are hollow cannula needles (similar to a hollow tube), which penetrate the skin quickly and painlessly and allow the jewelry to be inserted through the needle itself.
Both cannula needles and American needles are available for use.
Essential tools for piercers: Scissors and Mosquitoes
Piercing forceps called mosquitoes are useful tools during the piercing and jewelry insertion process.
They are used to stabilize the skin, maintain control of movements, and facilitate the insertion of jewelry into the hole, ensuring the highest level of precision.
They are also indispensable for handling and positioning piercing jewelry safely in small spots that are difficult to manage with just fingers.
Sterile surgical steel scissors are instead used to cut the cannula when performing a nostril piercing.
Essential tools for piercers: Tapers
Tapers are made with both internal and external threading based on the jewelry you intend to use.
In addition to ensuring a better grip and faster, easier work, they are used to insert piercing jewelry without any pain for the client, also helping to dilate the hole gradually and safely when it is partially closed.
Essential tools for piercers: sterile markers
Sterile markers should be used before performing the piercing: these are skin markers used to mark the exact spot where the skin should be pierced and the jewelry inserted.
They are disposable, sterile products with two tips, one extremely fine and the other more pronounced.
Essential tools for piercers: gloves and masks
Hygiene and safety are two key prerequisites in performing any piercing.
For this reason, the piercer must always wear disposable surgical gloves, which are essential for maintaining sterility during the piercing process and the handling of piercing jewelry, as well as a mask.
This PPE must be worn during every phase and not just during the execution of the piercing.
Essential tools for piercers: disinfectants and antibacterial solutions
Disinfectant products and antibacterial solutions are indispensable for cleaning and disinfecting the area to be pierced before and after the piercing to remove all impurities from the area.
Essential tools for piercers: safety and disposal containers
Since only disposable equipment is used, it must be disposed of in total safety after each piercing using special containers equipped with a tightly closed lid, extraction and calibration aids, and a closure that allows the box to be opened and closed easily.
Essential tools for piercers: jewelry
When it comes to piercing, the quality of the jewelry is fundamental for the healing of the hole and its stability over time.
The best, safest, and most biocompatible materials are Titanium, followed by surgical steel, gold, and biocompatible polymers (such as PTFE or Bioplastic), to be used when there is a need to keep the body metal-free, while they should be avoided for fresh piercings or for long periods of time.
If you want to learn more about the best materials to use for piercings, you can do so here.
The importance of choosing certified, quality piercing equipment
Safety is a mandatory requirement in any piercing activity.
It serves not only to be compliant with current regulations, but also to guarantee the client a clean, hygienically excellent, and safe job from every point of view, drastically reducing the risk of injury, skin damage, infections, and health problems.
Opting for high-quality piercing tools also allows for more precise and professional piercings, as every product is designed to high standards in every aspect, developed with the maximum level of reliability and protection, and built to withstand repeated use and last over time.
Investing in high-quality tools is also an effective way to reduce long-term costs associated with the frequent replacement of damaged or worn-out tools.
Finally, using certified piercing tools that comply with local and international regulations is fundamental to ensure legal compliance and reduce the risk of fines or legal action.
How to choose the best piercer equipment
As mentioned above, having high-quality piercer equipment is fundamental to ensure the safety, precision, excellence, and durability of every product.
The advice is to focus on tools that are certified and compliant with safety, sterilization, and hygiene regulations, made with high-quality materials safe for use on human skin, and developed by reliable brands.
Milano Tattoo School has chosen Wildcat as its official partner and supplier for all piercing equipment.
This is a company that, for over 30 years, has specialized in the production of very high-quality piercing jewelry that led to the spread of piercing as alternative jewelry and which, over the years, has perfected its catalog and distribution, adding equipment, terminals, and piercing accessories, always bringing new trends to the market.
Wildcat stands out for the care, reliability, and elegance of the jewelry it produces, transforming the piercing into a true object of fashion, jewelry, and cult status.
Wildcat’s commitment is to maintain a very high level of quality and reliability: this is why they have been by our side for the 1500-hour Piercing Course, where students can use all the high-level Wildcat-branded materials.
Milano Tattoo School is the leading school in the piercing industry
For those who dream of entering the piercing profession and turning it into a successful career, MTS offers two specific courses.
The first is the Piercing Technician Course: a comprehensive 1500-hour training path that will allow you to:
- Learn the knowledge and skills necessary as a professional piercer
- Have all the fundamental tools to enter the job market
- Independently manage and carry out the future profession of piercing technician
- Grow and stand out in the piercing scene
- Have access to internship opportunities at studios in Lombardy
- Obtain Regional Certification recognized throughout the national and European territory
The path is divided between classroom lessons and laboratory sessions (where more than 50 piercings are performed on people) conducted by a staff of high-profile experts and experienced tattoo artists led by Dimitri Daleno, founder of Milano Tattoo School and world-renowned piercer with nearly 30 years of experience.
The Piercing Technician Course offers the opportunity to participate in workshops and seminars held by world-renowned piercers to acquire advanced knowledge and further refine your artistic and technical skills.
The second is the Technical Piercing Course: an intensive 30-hour piercing course, also led by Dimitri Daleno, which represents a unique opportunity to learn and deepen the techniques of the most important piercings through:
- practicing every phase of the execution process
- knowledge of the tools
- the diversity of jewelry
- in-depth study of safety, hygiene, issues, and care associated with each type of piercing
MTS is the best choice for those who want to learn the art of piercing and turn it into a successful profession.
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