AGE RESTRICTIONS
It is my policy to not pierce anyone under 16 years of age. No exceptions (not even earlobes). People 16+ must be able to show government issue photo ID when asked (this is a UK driver’s licence or provisional or a UK passport), CitizenCard – or any proof-of-age card showing the ‘PASS’ hologram. I do not accept anything other than the forms listed above, the ID shown must be in date (I cannot accept expired ID) and details on the ID (including but not limited to: name, date of birth, address and signature) must match those given on the consent form. For nipple, genital, bridge, microdermals/skin divers, surface piercing, cheek/dahlia piercings and other body modification procedures including stretching piercings, I will only work on people 18+ and the client must be able to show photo ID as above. I will fit body jewellery (see below for info/charges) and give help with a problematic piercing (check-up, jewellery resize, jewellery removal, clean up) on anyone of any age EXCEPT NIPPLE AND GENITAL PIERCING – where I may ask to see proof of age that you are 18+. I reserve the right to refuse service if I have any suspicion that the ID shown is fraudulent or does not belong to the person being pierced. An easy way to figure this out – If I cannot legally own a photo of it, I cannot pierce it.
CHILDREN (under 16) IN THE STUDIO
Children under 16 are not permitted in the studio at all. We have had to introduce this due to the high number of incidents where children have been loud, disruptive and have put themselves in danger. If you are coming into the studio for any work to be done (tattoo, tattoo removal, piercing, etc.), you will need another adult with you to watch your children OUTSIDE the studio, we STRONGLY advise not to bring children to the studio at all. Please be aware that ALL tattoo studios are adult environments and are not suitable for children.
JEWELLERY UPGRADES
Jewellery upgrades are available on all initial piercings for an additional cost. Prices stated on my price list will always include one piece of basic titanium jewellery, but you may have something different to this for an additional cost (this will vary with the piercing, anatomy, and client – please feel free to discuss with me) and may be something you need to return to the studio another day for. Any upgrades which need to be processed must be paid for upfront (when requesting) and this payment is NON-REFUNDABLE for any reason. A contact number must also be left. Once the item has been processed, you are expected to return within 2 months (unless agreed prior to the procedure – and in which case you must return within 2 months of the agreed date). If the piece is not collected within 2 months of the processing/agreed date, this item will be sold on and no refund will be issued.
CUSTOMERS ORDERING BODY JEWELLERY (or any other order-in/pre-order items)
Payment in full is required upfront (before I place the order) and is non-refundable for ANY reason once the order is placed. A VALID phone number is also required. When ordering in the studio you will be given the option for delivery, if you want it (online/PayPal orders I will only order if you have paid a P+P cost and left your address). Delivery is free for orders od £10+ – otherwise, £2 P+P charge. If you want this, no problem, items will be posted as soon as I have them, if you are collecting in the studio; once I have contacted you and let you know your jewellery is in, you have 2 months to collect it. If you haven’t collected it within 2 months (or paypalled me the P+P cost), it will be sold on or returned to the supplier, and any amount paid will NOT be refunded. It is your responsibility to ensure the address for any posted-out items is CORRECT.
PAYMENTS (See above for details on ordering in body jewellery/other items)
My price list is subject to change, if you are unsure of any prices (procedures or jewellery), please ask before getting pierced/jewellery fitted. Payment is required in cash or in valid Skin Seamstress vouchers – see below for voucher policy. I do not accept cheques and do not have a card machine. Payment is required in full immediately after the procedure, unless agreed prior to it. I cannot accept PayPal payments in the studio as there have been cases where a payment has not cleared after several days. Any person who leaves without paying (unless agreed prior to this with myself) will be reported to the police and the matter will be treated as theft. If you need to visit a cash point, please do this BEFORE coming in. If you need to get cash AFTER your procedure, you must leave your phone and wallet/purse (other than your cash card) in the studio if you are alone, or if you have someone with you, they must wait in the studio until you return. If you do not return, the police will be informed, and the matter treated as theft. I hate having to ask for this, and my request often offends – but due to past attempts at theft, this is now my policy.
VOUCHERS
I offer vouchers in £5, £10 and £20 values. They are available for sale in the studio and available for mail-order. However, they can only be redeemed in the studio (not online). Voucher must be presented when paying; it will be taken from you. Photocopies or pictures of vouchers are NOT accepted. Vouchers are valid from 6 months of the date shown on them, after that time, they are void and cannot be used. Vouchers can be redeemed against anything (body jewellery, merchandise, delivery, piercing procedure, any other body modification procedure). Any ‘change’ from the value of the voucher will be given as the form of a credit note. Vouchers can be used as part payment, paying the remainder in cash. Please note that my vouchers are separate to those of the studio I work in, so you must request PIERCING vouchers if coming into the studio to purchase – I cannot accept vouchers belonging to the tattoo studio, only Skin Seamstress vouchers, and the tattoo studio cannot accept MY vouchers are payment for tattoos.
FITTING BODY JEWELLERY/STRETCHING PIERCINGS
Any jewellery bought from me (either in the studio or ordered in) will be fitted free of charge, you just pay the cost of the jewellery. If the piercing is of a higher gauge (thicker) than the existing piercing then a £10 charge (+ jewellery cost) is applied for the stretch service (if more than one piercing is to be stretched, as long as they are both being stretched to the same size, this £10 charge covers them all. If more than one piercing is being stretched and they are different sized, the £10 charge applies once for each different size). Once body jewellery is fitted, it must be paid for in full, you cannot ‘try on’ body jewellery for hygiene reasons. Please note, I will not fit body jewellery which has been purchased elsewhere.
MICRODERMALS/SKIN DIVERS
I offer a free re-pierce on any PROPERLY CARED FOR microdermal or skin diver that comes out within the first 2 months of having it. I will remove any microdermal or skin diver which I have done (however long ago) free of charge, though if a healed microdermal or skin diver is removed, the re-pierce (if necessary) will be done at the client’s expense. If I did not do the microdermal/skin diver which is to be removed, there is a £10 charge per microdermal.
BODY JEWELLERY EXCHANGES/REFUNDS
I will not exchange or refund for any jewellery bought (worn or not) unless faulty – for hygiene reasons. Unless I have given you an incorrect size, or the measurements were wrong due to MY error. If the jewellery is faulty or the wrong item sold due to my error, I will offer a refund by means of a credit note or a replacement piece, or alternative piece to the value of the original piece (you can pay more for a more expensive piece). I cannot reimburse you or exchange if you request the wrong item/size.
MULTIPLE PIERCING DISCOUNT
I offer a £5 discount on each additional piercing done on the same client in the same sitting (highest value piercing to be paid in full, £5 off each additional piercing). This discount is at my discretion and applies to piercing with basic jewellery only. Please ask about pricing if getting a jewellery upgrade.
CLIENT CHOOSING TO NOT COMPLETE A PROCEDURE
If a client chooses not to complete a procedure (at any stage), this is permitted – just ask. You do not need to give an explanation why, and if you do not wish to go through with a procedure, you can always come back on another occasion to have it done. As long as no equipment (except a swab and gloves) has been unpackaged, there will be no charge for the procedure. If any other equipment has been unpackaged or used, the client is required to pay 50% of the cost of the procedure stated on my price list. If the piercing cannot be completed because I feels it is unsafe or the piercing/procedure cannot be performed for reasons beyond the client’s control, then there is no charge at any stage. If, at any stage, the client discloses information during the procedure which stops them from getting pierced, which was not declared on the consent form (pregnancy, for example), they must pay 50% of the piercing fee.
CLIENT IS UNHAPPY WITH PIERCING PLACEMENT ONCE HEALED
Swelling can skew a piercing slightly, so I will only offer a free-of-charge re-pierce or refund if the piercing is not in an acceptable placement once swelling has fully subsided and that I believe the client has followed my aftercare instructions. Piercings that have been ripped, torn, or pulled at will NOT be re-pierced free of charge, but I will offer advice on jewellery to keep the piercing looking neat, or the option of a re-pierce, done at the client’s expense. If you remove your jewellery before coming in to discuss a piercing I have performed which you are unhappy with, I cannot offer any refund or reimbursement.
PROBLEMATIC PIERCINGS
Some piercings will take longer than estimated to heal fully. I will always offer free help and advice on the issues present on any piercing I have performed, though this may involve the client returning to the studio. I will also offer help and advice on piercings not done by me, but if I need to offer more than verbal advice, there is a £10 charge plus the cost of any new (and sterilized) jewellery required, though I will only offer jewellery changes, etc. on piercings done elsewhere 28 days or more after the piercing was done. I ALWAYS recommend you return to your original piercer for help and advice on a piercing that they have done. If the client wishes to ‘give up’ on a piercing I have done and have it removed, this will be free of charge (£10 charge if I did not do the piercing). I will always offer alternatives (more aftercare options, different jewellery, etc.) before removing a piercing permanently. If you remove your jewellery before coming in to discuss a problematic piercing I have performed for you, I cannot offer any refund or reimbursement.
MORE SWELLING THAN EXPECTED
Fresh piercings will always swell and so are pierced with jewellery slightly longer/larger diameter to allow for this. In the rare case that a piece of jewellery is too small for a fresh/healing piercing which I have done, I will offer a replacement piece (longer/larger diameter than the original piece) free of charge, this ‘free’ piece will be a basic piece of titanium – however any ends purchased will be fitted on the new jewellery. You must return to the studio for this. The original piece can be re-fitted, and the ends replaced if needed, once the swelling has subsided enough to allow this. On piercings which I did not do, there is a £10 charge plus jewellery cost. Downsizing jewellery is done at the client’s expense in all cases.
CONSULTATIONS/COOLING OFF PERIOD
In some cases, I will insist on a face-to-face consultation and/or a cooling off period before I will perform a procedure. This is primarily to ensure client care. I am not obligated to offer EVERY procedure I can perform to EVERY client who requests it, and I have the right to refuse service to any person for any reason (see below). Face to face consultations are free of charge, and if you would like to chat confidentially, just ask. No obligation to return for any procedure discussed, and any discussions are in complete confidence. Many procedures and clients are such that – in my professional capacity – I feel they require additional thought AFTER a consultation, so I may ask a client to return at a later date for a piercing (a ‘cooling off period’). There is no obligation to return. My decision to not offer a procedure the day it is requested is final.
CLIENT IS PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING
While there is no law about offering a service while a person is pregnant or breastfeeding, my policy is not to offer this to a person who is currently pregnant/breastfeeding or has been/done so in the last six weeks – meaning you must wait a minimum of 6 weeks after a pregnancy ends/birth, and if you breastfeed, 6 weeks after you finish breastfeeding.
RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE
I reserve the right to refuse any service to any person for any reason. This may include but is not limited to: there being any doubt that the ID shown is fraudulent or not that of the person being pierced, the person’s anatomy not being suitable, the person being aggressive or abusive to myself or another member(s) of staff or person(s) in the studio, if a client’s medical condition or medication could cause any problems during the piercing procedure or healing, if there is any possibility that the person being pierced is doing this under coercion or against their will, client having other piercings which are not healed which I feel could inhibit the new piercing’s healing process, a prior refusal to pay/attempted refusal to pay or deception, intoxication due to alcohol or drugs, and if the client is pregnant/breastfeeding, or has been in the last 6 weeks. If a client is recovering from an illness, injury or surgery, or taking antibiotics, even if the illness/injury is unrelated to the placement of the piercing, I may request the client to return at a later date. For a piercing in the location of surgery (a nipple piercing after breast augmentation, or re-piercing an earlobe after a reconstruction for example) I would insist on the client being a minimum of 6 months post surgery.