FAQ

Before Booking

ID Requirements

All individuals being pierced, and parents/legal guardians of those aged 10-15 must have physical government-issued proof of identification at their appointment. Parents/legal guardians must be present on site the day of the appointment to sign legal documents.

Acceptable Forms of ID:

Passport, Drivers License, Birth certificate*, Ontario Photo ID Card, Status Card, Nexus, Firearm License.

We DO NOT accept health cards as identification. They can only be used to support another piece of ID.

*Birth Certificates require support of photo identification

No piercings will be performed without an acceptable form of ID. If you attend an appointment without proper identification and are unable to be pierced you may be charged the full price of the piercing and be considered a ‘no show’.

Age Requirements

We do not pierce any individuals under the age of 10. We also request that clients do not bring anyone under the age of 10 to accompany them to appointments. Please also be aware we will perform no more than 2 piercings on a minor (10-15 years) at one time.

10+ : 1 Lobe, 2 Lobe

13+ : Helix (Forward), Flat, Tragus, Rook, Daith, Conch,

14+ : Nostril, Septum, Navel

16+ : All piercings excluding nipple and genital

18+ : All piercings

Individuals aged 10-15 years must be accompanied by their parent and/or legal guardian. Both the individual being pierced and their guardian must bring recordable valid identification to the appointment.

Extended family and/or close friends cannot act as legal guardians for appointments, regardless of age, connection, or whether or not they live in the household. If you attended an appointment without a legal guardian present you will be unable to be pierced and may be charged the full price of the piercing appointment as a ‘no show’.

** If you are the legal guardian through adoption, or have been appointed custody of the minor in question we will require proof of guardianship.

How much does it cost?

There are two main costs associated with the piercing, the procedure cost and the price of jewellery you choose to have put in. The jewellery cost is not included in the booking price. We will only pierce with jewellery purchased from our studio, from the same client. Our implant grade titanium starts at $50 per piece for our most basic styles and goes up from there depending on style and size. Our solid 14k and 18k gold options range from $120-$500+ per piece. All jewellery is sold as single pieces, not in pairs.

For the fresh piercing we install a longer labret or barbell to allow room for swelling and initial healing, on average clients will be able to downsize around 6-8 weeks after the initial piercing.

The initial downsize is discounted at $15 per labret post or barbell (some exceptions apply).

All additional up and downsizing are $30 per labret post or barbell (some exceptions apply).

Can I numb the area to avoid pain?

We will not pierce an area that has been frozen or numbed. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, numbing creams can affect the skins texture and feel which can impede our ability to pierce properly. Secondly, we need you to be able to feel what is going on in case anything were to go wrong. We want to know if a piercing causes an out of the ordinary reaction, and because of this we do not perform piercings on any area that have been numbed or frozen.

I am pregnant and/or nursing, can I be pierced?

We do not pierce anyone who is pregnant or nursing. It is best to wait until you are finished nursing before considering a piercing. Because your system is under tremendous stress during this period it leaves you and your baby susceptible to increased risks of infection, allergic reaction and/or rejection. On a brighter note, if you already have a piercing that is healed and comfortable there is rarely a medical reason to take out your jewellery.

Do you pierce infants and toddlers?

No, we do not pierce infants and toddlers. While we respect that many cultures have a tradition of infant ear piercing, we have chosen to honor the rights of the individual over those of society. We prefer to not perform any piercing on anyone who cannot engage in some sort of conversation about the risks and benefits, for the reason we have chosen to only offer piercing for children aged 10 and above. We also ask that clients refrain from bringing guests below the age of 10 into the studio with them.

Do I have to purchase jewellery - can I be pierced with my own jewellery?

For health and safety, as well as insurance purposes, we will only pierce with jewellery purchased from Vanity. We will never pierce with jewellery that has been inside anyone previously, which is why all of our jewellery is final sale.

Jewellery can be reused on the same individual for multiple piercings if possible with healing, anatomy, etc. We will not pierce with jewellery from one client to another even if the jewellery has been purchased in the studio and sterilized. Should you wish not to purchase jewelry from us for your appointment, we will be unable to pierce you may be charged the full price of the piercing and be considered a ‘no show’.

We can assist with inserting your own jewellery into a healed piercing, please be aware if sterilization is necessary there is a $10 fee.

I do not see the piercing I am interested in, do you perform it?

If you have a specialty or rare piercing in mind we recommend you book in for a consultation with our piercers Marie or Tine to discuss possible options available. Please be advised that we do not perform the following piercings regardless of consultation:

Genital piercings on male autonomy

Horizontal tongue - sometimes referred to as snake eyes

Dermal on arms, legs, hands and feet

General

Cancellations, No Shows, Late Policy

You can cancel or reschedule your appointment up to 24 hours before the appointment at no charge and with no cancellation penalties. 24 hours or less to the appointment any cancellations or rescheduling will be charged half the price of the appointment.

If you do not show up to your appointment you will be charged the full price of your appointment and be charged as a ‘no show’. Calling at the time of the appointment to reschedule, cancel, or inform us of being late may result in a no show charge.

If you are booking less than 24 hours our cancellation and no show policy will still apply.

Late policy - Your appointment is your one on one time with your piercer. We have scheduled our piercing appointments to have time for jewellery browsing, aftercare explanation, time to align and match piercings, and to pierce you comfortably and confidently. In short, we don’t like to rush, and pride ourselves on our level of service and care.

Please understand that if you are 10+ minutes late to your piercing appointment we no longer can guarantee we will be able to pierce you and you may be charged as a ‘no show’.

For all other appointments, understand that arriving late will only shorten the length of your appointment and will be up to the discretion of your piercer if you can be seen.

Credit cards are used to hold appointments and will not be charged unless a cancellation or no show occurs. When you book your appointment no immediate charges or payments are made to the credit card.

A credit card is needed to book an appointment. If you do not wish to confirm an appointment with a credit card, please call the studio so we can find another option that will suit your needs.

What forms of payment do you accept

We accept most major credit cards, including American Express, as well as interact and cash. Our payment terminal is rarely able to process credit gift cards so we do not recommend relying on those for payment. Also we are unable to split payments between cards, but payment can be split between card and cash.

Is there parking available?

Hour long street parking is usually available on a first come first serve basis. There are three smaller pay parking lots surrounding us at 245 Dalhousie St., 255 Dalhousie St., and 282 St.Patrick St. We are also within walking distance of the Rideau Centre.

Please review your parking options before arriving and understand that Vanity is unable to guarantee parking for clients and is not responsible for any costs incurred.

Does it hurt?

There is almost always going to be some discomfort or pain associated with having a piercing done. Each of us has a different tolerance and response to pain, a lot of which can be determined by our attitude. Even if you can’t shake the pre-piercing jitters, the quick pinch/pressure of a piercing is over almost immediately. By the time you see how awesome your new jewellery looks, you’ll forget all about the pain.

Do you pierce with a gun?

We do not pierce with guns or have them in the studio. We only pierce with hollow single use sterile needles designed for piercing.

Aftercare

What can I expect during the healing process? How long will it take?

The healing process begins as soon as the piercing is completed. Firstly your body is going to react to the procedure. This can involve inflammation, bleeding, bruising, and tenderness of the area. These reactions usually last around 1-2 weeks though may take longer for them to subside.

After a few days your body is going to start regenerating tissue which will cause secretions (serous exudate) and crusties to form around the jewellery. It is common for the secretions to be off white/yellowish in colour. This is completely normal and build up can occur throughout the entire healing process.

Over the next few months the fistula (tube of skin where the jewellery sits) will continue to build scar tissue to form a secure tube around the jewellery. This is why things like angles cannot be changed once initial healing has begun. Clients will want to continue their cleaning routine for the majority of the healing process. Piercings heal from the outside in, which is sometimes why clients believe a piercing to be healed earlier than expected, we always recommend coming in for a checkup if you are interested in how your piercing is progressing or before you remove/change the jewellery.

These timelines should only be used as a guide as all clients' bodies are different and the healing process may vary.

Soft tissue piercing: 3-6 months

Cartilage: 6-12 months

Nipple, navel, genital and dermal: 6-12+ months

How do I take care of my piercing?

Your piercer may recommend more or less cleaning, or variations in the aftercare process depending on each individual piercing, body and healing process. We recommend following your piercers recommendations.

In general we recommend cleaning your piercing morning and night with the following steps.

Start by setting yourself up in a clean area and washing your hands. This ideally should be the only time you are touching the jewellery or the pierced area.
Spray both the front and back of your piercing with a sterile saline solution. *This should be the only product being used to clean your piercing besides water.
Take a clean piece of paper towel and fold it to create a point. Dampen the paper towel with warm water and use it to rinse off the saline solution and gently remove any build up or crusties.
Either using a new piece of clean and dry paper towel, or a hair dryer on a low cool setting, dry the area completely. Gently dab if using a paper towel, trying not to push the piercing in and out of the channel. If using a hair dryer make sure it is on the cool setting as to not burn yourself or cause damage to the jewellery. Make sure the piercing is fully dry.
Once clean and dry leave the piercing alone. Try your best to avoid irritants like; sleeping on the piercing, touching or playing with it, submerging it in water, applying creams or makeup to the area, and bumping or snagging the piercing.

What things should be avoided after my piercing?

Sleeping on the piercing.

Bumping or snagging the piercing.

Touching the area outside of cleaning or playing with the jewellery.

Swimming or submerging the piercing in water.

Improper cleaning of the piercing; not removing crusties and build up, pushing the jewellery in and out of the channel, not drying the area fully.

Using any products besides sterile saline on the piercing to clean or care for the area.

Avoid cleaning with Betadine®, Hibiclens®, Bactine®, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil, Dial® or other soaps containing triclosan, as these can damage cells.

Avoid wound healing creams and ointments like Polysporin® as they prevent necessary air circulation and are not intended for this type of wound.

Removing the jewellery before it healed.

Switching to a different jewellery style too soon, for example switching a stud to a ring too soon.

Avoid over-cleaning. This can delay your healing and irritate your piercing.

Avoid all oral contact, rough play, and contact with others' bodily fluids on or near your piercing during healing.

Avoid stress and recreational drug use, including excessive caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.

Can I go swimming/take baths after being pierced?

Ideally we would recommend not submerging your piercing in water for the duration of the healing period, which can take 9+ months for some piercing. We recommend to avoid jacuzzis and hot tubs for the full duration, and for pools, bodies of water and baths to wait a minimum of 2-3 months of no irritation and to cover the piercing if possible while in water.

Rinse the piercing after submerging in water, making sure to dry the area fully afterwards.

If you experience irritation after swimming or baths, take that as a sign that your piercing is not ready for water.

Jewellery

Warranty

All of our jewellery has a lifetime warranty through the company for the following:

Manufacturer's defect if a prong comes loose and results in the stone coming out.

Discolouration to the gemstone.

Pin or threading defect.

Warranty does not cover natural wear and tear, chemical reactions to improper aftercare, damage caused by the client or lost jewellery. If we need to remove your jewellery to return it for repairs, we will replace the piece with a titanium bead or disk to preserve the piercing from closing. If your jewellery is loose, please contact us to examine or tighten it before it falls out! We are unable to replace missing pieces.

Downsizing

As carefully and skillfully as we pierce, there is always going to be trauma caused by piercing. Because of this we install a longer backing to fresh piercing to allow for room to swell. Even if you are someone who ‘never swells’, or ‘heals at incredible speed’, installing a shorter post is not recommended. We expect most clients will be able to downsize around 6-8 weeks after the initial piercing to a more permanent and fitted backing. Though some piercings may need multiple up and down sizes to facilitate the healing process.

The initial downsize is discounted at $15 per labret post or barbell (some exceptions apply).

All additional up and downsizing are $30 per labret post or barbell (some exceptions apply).

I’ve changed my mind on the jewellery, can I return it?

All of our jewellery is final sale. We will never pierce or insert used jewellery into a fresh piercing. As soon as jewellery leaves the store it is considered ‘worn’, and

because of this all jewellery is final sale once purchased or inserted. You can reuse jewellery used on yourself for other piercings if healing and anatomy allows.