Piercing clients don’t always ask about sterilisation — but when they do, it’s usually after something has gone wrong elsewhere.
One client came in needing jewellery changed after a piercing became infected shortly after being done at another studio. When we asked about the setup, they couldn’t remember seeing any sterilisation process at all.
In professional piercing, sterilisation is non-negotiable.
At OSCO London, reusable tools are first cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner to remove debris you can’t see. They’re then sealed in sterilisation pouches and processed in a medical-grade autoclave. Each cycle is logged and checked. Nothing is reused unless it has passed through that full process.
Piercing needles are single-use, sterile, and opened in front of the client. They’re disposed of immediately after use.
This routine doesn’t change based on how busy we are or how simple a piercing seems. Consistency is what makes it safe.
In that client’s case, we replaced the jewellery with implant-grade material, assessed the piercing, and guided them on next steps. The issue resolved — but it could have been avoided.
Sterilisation isn’t visible once you leave the studio. That’s why it matters so much that it’s done properly every time.
