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What are Body Piercing Kits?

Janis Adams
Janis Adams

Body piercing kits contain all the necessary items to perform a body piercing without having to go to a store or piercing parlor. Along with the items necessary to perform the piercing, many body piercing kits will include the jewelry that will be used once the actual piercing has taken place. Body piercing kits range largely in price and in what is included in the kit.

Those body piercing kits that are considered starter kits will include seven basic items. These include a sterile needle with a needle holder, a forceps used to hold the skin in place while the piercing is done, and a needle-receiving cork. The kit will also contain some type of cleaning and healing solution and some type of jewelry made of surgical steel, as this type tends to cause the least reaction to the skin surrounding the newly pierced area. Sterile cotton swabs are also included as part of a basic kit.

Body piercing kits for the navel area may be more expensive than more common piercings.
Body piercing kits for the navel area may be more expensive than more common piercings.

There are different body piercing kits offered, dependent on the intended body part to be pierced. A basic nipple piercing kit will contain a different different type of forceps than that of a belly button piercing kit. The difference is in the needle holder, as the type of needle will differ dependent on the type of piercing and the body part that is to be pierced.

Along with the items necessary to perform the piercing, many body piercing kits will include the jewelry.
Along with the items necessary to perform the piercing, many body piercing kits will include the jewelry.

Body piercing kits for the more advanced piercer will include approximately eight items, all necessary for a safe and hygienic piercing. The items included in an eight-piece piercing kit will include different sizes of opening pliers, large and small ring closing pliers, and special-sized bending pliers. These kits often come in a handy carrying case, where all of the piercing equipment can be safely stored when not in use.

A body piercing kit may come with protective gear like sterile gloves.
A body piercing kit may come with protective gear like sterile gloves.

Although not always included within body piercing kits, sterile piercing needles are part of some comprehensive kits. These types of kits will often also include the medicinal cleansers for both before and after the piercing, as well as aftercare washes and ointments. Proper care for a piercing is very important for the health and hygiene of a person who has received a piercing. The aftercare is as important as the process of the piercing.

An anti-eyebrow piercing is placed at the top of the cheekbone.
An anti-eyebrow piercing is placed at the top of the cheekbone.

Sizes of instruments and colors differ in body piercing kits. Knowing the type of piercing and the jewelry that will be worn in it will be the greatest determinant in choosing a piercing kit that aids in achieving the safest and most painless piercing possible. Piercing is a popular trend, and as performing piercing at home verses in a commercial venue becomes more widespread, the materials offered in body piercing kits are becoming more and more well made and marketed.

Discussion Comments

Wisedly33

I thought at first the kits meant this is what you would take to the piercer, to make sure you got tools that hadn't been used on anyone else, and they would sterilize them. But for home use? Oh, my stars. I can't even imagine the nasty infections that would be certain to result from using an at-home piercing kit.

I'm surprised I haven't read about some stupid kid dying from sepsis after buying a kit online and trying to pierce something himself. That's just insanity. I don't care how popular piercing is becoming -- it should only be done by a trained professional in a clean, licensed studio.

Scrbblchick

Body piercing at *home*? Really? Oh, I don't think so. I didn't even know such kits were available, although I'll bet ER doctors are aware of them. I'm sure 99 percent of the infected piercings they see were done by someone using one of these kits.

I'd be scared to death to even use one to pierce my earlobes! I guess the concept of using very unsanitary needles, tools and jewelry doesn't bother some people. It would bother me!

The American Association of Piercers recommends a studio have an autoclave on the premises, and people want to pierce at home? I can't imagine how they think they would sterilize their equipment.

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    • Body piercing kits for the navel area may be more expensive than more common piercings.
      By: shime
      Body piercing kits for the navel area may be more expensive than more common piercings.
    • Along with the items necessary to perform the piercing, many body piercing kits will include the jewelry.
      By: Concept web Studio
      Along with the items necessary to perform the piercing, many body piercing kits will include the jewelry.
    • A body piercing kit may come with protective gear like sterile gloves.
      By: eldadcarin
      A body piercing kit may come with protective gear like sterile gloves.
    • An anti-eyebrow piercing is placed at the top of the cheekbone.
      An anti-eyebrow piercing is placed at the top of the cheekbone.
    • Sterile piercing needles are included in some body piercing kits.
      By: 07photo
      Sterile piercing needles are included in some body piercing kits.