If you’re one for counting sheep, it’s time to follow the herd and flock to Brighton’s latest exciting art installation! We’re taking part in a special event this autumn. Shaun by the Sea is a sculpture trail showcasing local artistic talent in tandem with lots of fantastic local businesses.
In conjunction with Aardman Animations, Wild in Art is working to bring the beloved Shaun the Sheep to Brighton and Hove. You’ll find 40 fabulous Shaun the Sheep sculptures alongside our city’s most renowned and adored sites. With both well-known and up-and-coming artists working on the project, it’s sure to be a bit of fun for locals and visitors alike.
But it’s not just about a spot of arty entertainment – this is all in aid of a great cause. Martlets is a local charity offering crucial care to those impacted by terminal illness. Helping patients and their loved ones, the work this wonderful charity does is supported by local businesses, trusts, and people in our community, alongside an NHS grant. This means they can provide their services for free – an invaluable gift in times of need.
Time with your loved ones is precious, so to help raise awareness, Punktured is sponsoring one of the fabulous Shaun the Sheep sculptures. Francesca Grace McLeod is the talent behind our woolly wonder. Creating evocative and emotionally charged work, Francesca uses oil paints and an array of surfaces to capture powerful impressions of people, landscapes, and more. After the exhibition, running from 9th September – 5th November, the individually designed sculptures will be auctioned off, with the proceeds going to Martlets.
As if all of that wasn’t exciting enough, when you spot our Punktured sculpture amongst the flock, you’re in for a real treat. Find our unique code and bring it to the shop to receive a special goodie bag.
Feeling a bit sheepish about getting your next piercing? Fear not! Come and see us at Punktured and our friendly team of experts will put your mind at ease. Or maybe it’s time to spruce up your jewellery collection but you’re not quite sure what to go for. Well, we stock all sheeps and sizes, so you’re bound to find something you love. Okay, okay, enough sheeping around for one day. Just give us a call on 01273 688144 or visit us at our store on Gardner Street to book in.
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We want your piercing to look good and heal property. In short, we want you to love it and come away from your experience with nothing but nice things to say. As such, you can be sure that we’ll always be up front and honest with you. If something isn’t going to work, then we’ll tell you.
We’re very glad you asked. There are actually a few reasons, so we’ll just get right into it.
Firstly, everybody’s anatomy is different. This is why we always check to make sure your body is suitable before going ahead with the piercing. One such example is navels, where you can have ‘innies’, ‘outies’, or in between.
People come in all shapes and sizes too, so a ‘traditional’ navel piercing may not work. It may also be worth opting for an alternative jewellery style if the piece won’t cooperate with your body. Unfortunately, there are some instances when a piercing is simply not going to play ball.
Placement is another factor to consider. Some people’s ears are not suited to scaffolding, for example. In this case, 2 conches may work better. If you can have a scaffolding but also wear glasses, we may need to consider alternative angles to ensure your glasses are not a hindrance.
It’s also important that you are realistic about whether a new piercing can fit in with your lifestyle. Can you really keep a fresh piercing clean and safe if you’re playing rugby or another high contact sport several times a week?
Regardless of lifestyle, we always advise against piercings in very mobile areas such as the hands and fingers. They run the risk of catching on clothes etc., therefore they’re more partial to injury and infection.
We really care about the safety and wellbeing of our clients. As such, there are some piercings that we flatly refuse to perform.
One such example is horizontal tongue piercings. This involves pinning the two muscles of the tongue together, which can prevent them from working independently. Other risks associated with horizontal tongue piercings include gum erosion, chipped teeth, and lisps.
We don’t do snug piercings either. Why? Well, they just don’t want to heal. Ears hate being pierced here, so they will reject the piercing and almost certainly scar. Oh, and it’s a pretty painful process too. For a lovely alternative, we can offer a ‘faux snug’. This involves using 2 barbells which look like a surface piercing to stunning effect.
Yes! Before getting excited about a piercing, make sure that you actually have the body part in question. This might sound a bit silly, but it does happen. One example is a lip frenum, which not everybody is blessed with.
At Punktured, we’re very passionate about what we do – we adore the art of body piercing. This is why we will only give you a piercing a) that you’re sure about and b) that’s right for you. And do remember, if you have any issues during the aftercare period, we’re always on hand to lend some advice. Just pop back into the shop and we’ll take care of you.
Still have questions? No problem! Give us a call on 01273 688144 or send an email to info@punktured.co.uk and we’ll get back to you within 24-48 hours. If you’d prefer a face-to-face chat, then that’s fine too. Pop by and say hi!
]]>Whilst we wish new piercings would heal overnight, it’s not always that simple. It’s totally normal for the piercing site to be tender and sore – you’ve just had a needle inserted into your body, after all. This is to be expected, and with the correct aftercare your piercing will heal, hopefully hiccup-free! Read on to learn about looking after your new piercing and what warning signs to look out for as it recovers.
Following the correct aftercare plan for your specific piercing is vital. Sometimes though, life happens, and things go awry. Don’t panic! With the right advice, you can deal with any problems that arise. It could be as simple as changing the jewellery or adjusting your cleaning regime.
Another important thing to remember is the length of time it takes your body to heal. Some piercings take months – or even longer – to completely heal. Your piercing may look and feel fine, but if you accidentally catch your piercing on something, this can cause a flare up. Always contact your piercer if you’re concerned about an infected piercing.
Beyond following aftercare instructions, we have some tips to help keep your piercing in tip-top condition.
Firstly, keep it clean and dry. New piercings are essentially open wounds, so good personal hygiene is vital. We know it’s tempting, but avoid touching it. Your hands, hair, mobile phone and even bedding are not sterile, and every contact encourages bacteria to enter the wound. Keep your hair away from the site and regularly change your bed linen too. It’s also prudent to avoid going to bed with wet hair and ensuring the wound can breathe.
Next, wear good quality jewellery that’s the correct size and shape. At Punktured we pierce with high quality titanium and can recommend the correct jewellery for you. We don’t advise changing the jewellery too soon (unless necessary) as this could cause further irritation.
Lastly, consider the placement. Have you been pierced in a place prone to knocks? Ear cartilage piercings, for example, are likely to be disturbed during sleep. Using a travel pillow can lessen disruption to these piercings. Other piercings may be susceptible to rubbing from clothes, so consider loose fitting clothing.
If you notice changes, it’s natural to be concerned. People frequently assume it’s infected, but often it’s just irritated. Piercings can become sore, tender, swollen, and even secrete fluid when knocked or aggravated. Through process of elimination, we can usually determine the problem and go from there.
Lumps and bumps are one of the most common issues with new piercings. Cartilage, nipple, and navel piercings are particularly susceptible, but usually just require extra patience and care. The most common lump is called Hypertrophic Scarring, which is an irritation lump formed by a build-up of collagen. With most lumps and bumps, it’s likely the jewellery is ill-fitted or unsuitable, or the cleaning regime simply needs tweaking.
Excessive swelling can occur if you’ve accidentally snagged or bashed your piercing. This can mean the bar or ring is now not big enough, leading to the jewellery embedding into the skin. It may feel hot and painful with a pulsating sensation, and even fluid secretion. A simple jewellery-change to relieve pressure and saltwater cleanses should sort it out. This is not to be confused with an infection.
Although the sight of blood may be alarming, it’s totally normal to notice blood from your piercing site. Most common piercings aren’t located near major arteries or veins, so don’t fret. Small capillaries may get nicked during the piercing process and cause a little bleeding but should settle down and heal relatively quickly. If you’re concerned, contact your piercer or a medical professional.
If sticky fluid is building up and causing crusting around your piercing, don’t panic. It may be unpleasant, but it’s usually just moisture levels increasing and aggravating your piercing. This is most common with ears and navels. Dry thoroughly after cleaning, possibly with a cool hairdryer, ensuring you get both exit points of the piercing. As mentioned above, avoid going to bed with wet hair when you have newly pierced ears to limit the build-up of moisture. Lastly, remember the first rule of piercing aftercare: don’t touch – and avoid picking the crust!
We understand your concern, but infected piercings are rare. People often confuse the normal ups and downs of the healing process with infections. Chances are it’s just one of the issues we have discussed.
Infected piercings are horribly painful and tender. They’re swollen, hot to the touch, with abnormal (sometimes green), smelly discharge, and occasionally accompanied by a fever. Infected piercings are hard to miss. They often need antibiotics from a doctor. In the unlikely event of infection, the jewellery shouldn’t be removed, as keeping the hole open may help to drain infected fluids. However, if you are wearing ill-fitting or poor-quality jewellery, it likely does need to be changed.
If in doubt, always seek professional advice. Don’t blindly trust friends (however well-meaning) or Dr. Google – come and see us first! Give us a call on 01273 688144. Our helpful staff are always ready to talk you through any concerns and offer their expert opinion.
Please note: these suggestions are not to be considered a substitute for advice from a medical professional.
]]>But before we touch upon some of our aftercare products (available for purchase through our website), here are a few general rules to always bear in mind:
Now that’s out of the way, let’s have a look at our products and go through their proper use.
SALINE SOLUTION (The Blue One)
Ideal for fresh external piercings – or those that might have been slightly damaged – The Blue One is both hygienic and completely natural.
HYGIENIC SOLUTION (The Orange One)
The Orange One is tailored towards eliminating bacteria located on the skin’s surface. Its anti-bacterial properties mean it is the perfect solution for flare ups or those more stubborn piercings that take a while to heal. It can also be used as a preventative measure. It contains chlorhexidine digluconate (CHG), a disinfectant and antiseptic used specifically for skin disinfection.
CLEANSING FOAM (The Green One)
Used for daily cleansing of healed body piercings, The Green One has been carefully developed to respect the body’s skin – flora balance. Does not contain perfume.
Ideal for mouth piercing maintenance, its delicate formula respects the natural balance of the microbial flora, allowing for frequent use. Clove is a central ingredient containing antibacterial, antifungal, and congestion relieving properties.
All of the above are available on our online store. But it’s not just aftercare products. We have a wide variety of jewellery for you to choose from, including some online exclusives.
]]>Hi, I’m Julie – the owner and founder of Punktured. I am often asked what made me get into piercing. I should be honest and say that it was by complete accident. Before working in piercing, I was a licensee of a pub/club in Brighton’s West Street. Eventually, I fell out of love with the job and decided that I needed a change. I always had a love for the art of piercing (and Biology!), so I decided to pursue an apprenticeship with a local piercer in Brighton.
After completing training and working as a piercer for four years, Julie opened Punktured on Friday 13th August 1999 – unlucky for some but not for us.
Throughout the years we have seen some changes. It all started above Julie’s friend’s shop in North Road – now GAC. Sometime later, the ground floor became available, so we began to use this as a reception and jewellery shop.
2005 is when we moved to our current shop on Gardner Street. Haven’t seen it? It’s bright pink and has a giant snail (their name is Conch) above the entrance; you really can’t miss it. Initially, we housed a shop and 2 studios, but in 2010 we added a third studio. That same year we also set up our web shop.
In 2018 - while still handling lots of the background nitty gritty - Julie decided to take a step back from the everyday running of Punktured. This was when she handed the reins over to Elliot. A former piercer and receptionist in the shop, under Elliot’s leadership we have gone from strength to strength. We really could not be prouder of him!
A couple of other things that people may not know about us – but that we are very proud of – are:
Our bold colour scheme in store is not just decorative – it’s a statement. We want to be known as the bright and welcoming piercing studio. Drab and hyper-masculine is not our style; we want everybody to feel welcome. Oh, and don’t forget our friend Conch sitting above the entrance. We mentioned that, right?
Appearances aside, we pride ourselves on offering an unmatched and relaxing experience with an emphasis on your entire journey. From booking, to appointment, to aftercare - we are here to take care of you every step of the way.
Our aftercare advice is something that we are particularly proud of. We will always take the time to explain proper piercing hygiene, and if you have any issues or questions, we are always on hand to help.
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When it comes to shopping for jewellery online, it is a matter of being thorough and properly educated. You want to be sure that you are choosing the correct pieces not just in terms of design, but also size, material, and even seller. To help you out, we have listed just a few things that are important to consider when shopping online (or offline) for body jewellery.
This is obviously very important. If the piece is too small, it will start to irritate. If it is too large, then you run the risk of it catching on clothes, or it may not fit properly. If you were pierced at Punktured, your original size will be written down on your aftercare instruction leaflet. Otherwise, we would recommend that you call your piercer to find out your original piercing size.
Still unsure? Not to worry. Check out our Measuring Body Jewellery Guide.
You should always think about when you will be wearing the items you are considering purchasing. Certain pieces will be ideal for constant wear, while others will be a little more fragile. Some of the jewellery we sell is very delicate and only intended for special occasions – not daily wear. If you are unsure whether something is appropriate for long term wear, you should always ask. We will be glad to advise.
Some of the jewellery we sell at Punktured is very delicate so is intended for special occasions and not everyday wear. We would be glad to let you know know which items are more suitable to be worn everyday.
It is vital that you choose the correct materials when buying jewellery online. This should always be listed clearly by the seller, so do keep an eye out. If it is not, we would recommend using another vendor (such as Punktured!).
If you have certain allergies or sensitivities, then this step is especially important. At Punktured we always pierce with grade 23 titanium, but once healed you should be able to wear other materials. If you are especially sensitive to certain substances, it is always worth double checking with us; some jewellery may not be suitable for you.
Apart from size and material, be sure that you have selected the correct design and colour. Most places (us included) will not accept returns on pieces of body jewellery. This is simply because it cannot be guaranteed that the piece hasn’t been worn. So, make sure that you have ordered the right items for you and avoid losing your hard-earned pennies!
You should never be afraid to get in touch with a retailer before making your purchase. If they want you to be happy with their product, then they should be more than happy to answer any questions that you have. We certainly would be. If they don’t answer your queries with the attentiveness that you deserve, then that’s likely a sign that you should go elsewhere. We hear Punktured are pretty good…
When shopping for body jewellery it is always vitally important to make sure that it’s safe, and not just beautiful. After all, you will be wearing it in your body. For this reason, you should always make sure to use a retailer that you know you can trust. Who better than Punktured?
If you are unsure of how to change your jewellery, then took a look at our handy guide on Self-help Guide To Changing Your Own Jewellery.
We want to make sure that you find the right item for you. Please don’t hesitate to call on 01273 688144. Our friendly staff are always on hand to help you pick the best items for you.
]]>Wearing the correct size of body jewellery is very important. If the size is too small, it will irritate, and if it’s too big, it can catch on clothes. Here’s our easy guide to sizing your body jewellery.
]]>If you’re looking to change your body piercing jewellery, you will need to know the correct size to order. But don’t worry, it’s very straightforward!
You will need 2 measurements, the gauge and the length/internal diameter. Both measurements should be in millimetres.
The measurements to consider with each piece of jewellery are:
Length / Diameter of the jewellery. (A / B in the diagram above)
If you need to know the gauge of your own jewellery, the easiest way is to ask your piercer. At Punktured, we write it on your aftercare leaflet too.
The gauge of body jewellery is the thickness of the bar or ring. Generally, the smallest gauge is 0.8mm with large gauge jewellery going up to 12mm and beyond. (Navel jewellery and tongue bars are usually 1.6mm gauge.)
Measure the space between the balls of your bar; so looking at your barbell, it’s the space from the bottom edge of the top ball to the top edge of the bottom ball/disc. Don’t take the balls off to measure your bar.
If the barbell is curved, measure the space between the balls in a straight line. (Don’t measure the bend in the bar)
You are looking for the internal diameter of your ring. So just measure the space between the inner edges of your ring. A simple way to do this is to put your ring on a piece of paper and use it to draw a circle on the inside, then measure across is.
It’s worth taking the time to properly measure your piercing jewellery, as you cannot return or exchange it if you buy the wrong size.
Often it may be better to directly measure your piercing between both holes using a ruler, although this can sometimes be difficult on your own!
Please remember to clean your replacement body jewellery before you put it in. The easiest way to do this in to fill a cup of boiling water, add a little salt (so now you’ve got a saline solution) and pop your jewellery in for a few minutes. Remember to let it cool down before touching!
]]>If, after reading through this guide, you are still unsure, please visit Punktured in Gardner Street and the staff will be happy to help.
We strongly recommend you don’t attempt to change your jewellery until at least four months after your piercing.
Wash your hands thoroughly first. If you have latex gloves, these offer a good grip. Clean the new jewellery with a saline solution or alcohol wipe. Allow to dry.
With a saline solution (available from Punktured shop), clean the piercing site and carefully remove the installed jewellery. From there, choose which type of jewellery you are inserting, and use this guide to help you.
Unscrew either ball, insert the jewellery through the piercing to the desired position, clean the thread with saline solution, and screw the ball back on tightly. See below.
As above, but only unscrew the smaller of the two balls, and insert into the piercing.
The bead will come away from the ring.
To do so, grasp the bead tightly and pull it away from the ring in a hinge motion that pulls one dimpled side away first.
Place the jewellery into the piercing and insert the bead back into the ring. This is usually easier if you place one dimpled side onto the ring first, then push the bead into the ring until you hear the other dimpled side click into place.
Similar to BCR (see overleaf), but instead there is a segment of the ring that is removed. Follow the BCR instructions but replace ‘bead’ with ‘segment’.
A similar version of a segment ring, where one side of the segment is attached to the ring with a hinge. Simply pull the ring apart, pulling the non-hinged ring side of the segment away from the ring until it opens. To close it, push the ring and the hinged segment together again.
As hinged/segment rings. Only the shape of the jewellery is different.
Place the end of the stem into your nostril – up to the curve of the jewellery. Twist the jewellery into your nose, following the curve of the stud, lifting the stud away from your face slightly as you do so. Follow the motion around until the stud is in place.
It helps to place a finger on the inside of the nostril to feel when the stem goes through.
Remember – if, after reading through this guide, you are still unsure, please contact us or visit in person on Gardner Street, and the staff will be happy to help.
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