app, opening times, standards, ukapp

OFF TO THE UKAPP CONFERENCE

Posted on by The collective
Nicole Holmes, Lola Slider and Matt Lodder
15
Aug

It gives us great pleasure to announce that we are attending the annual UKAPP educational piercing conference, held in September.

This provides us a fantastic learning opportunity but unfortunately  means we will closing early, 4pm, on Saturday 16th and closed on the Monday 18th September.

We will be returning to normal on Wednesday 20th all bright eyed and bushy tailed and with heads filled with knowledge and pockets full of new shiny jewellery!

 

CLOSING EARLY 4pm Saturday 16th Sept

CLOSED Monday 18th Sept

 

app, opening times, ukapp

OFF TO THE APP CONFERENCE

Posted on by The collective
13
Jul

Its that time of year again when we take the opportunity to expand out knowledge.

This year I have the pleasure in announcing that I won the AD Scholarship to the APP conference in Vegas where I will be representing the UK piercing industry for the UKAPP13592813_1254713047874779_3450645977338330434_n

Not only will there be amazing piercer networking opportunities and a wonderful chance to learn at dedicated seminars but also a huge amount of jewellery to invest in for the store. So expect lots of photos soon of new stock!

So, there will be away from the studio: Monday 18th July – Thursday 4th August

healing, standards

100% NITRITE GLOVES

Posted on by Nici Holmes
a tattooed lady in a white vest putting on black gloves
25
Jan

While there is a price difference between the standard use examination gloves and the safer Nitrite or non-latex gloves we will be using. There is a clear difference in safety. We hear of so many lovely clients suffering from this common allergy and having to remind health care workers, partners and dentists on a regular basis to take caution.

We decided since there is such a straight forward solution, an easy alternative: we are making the permanent switch.

latex-imgIt’s understood that numerous people have an allergy to latex and many more are sensitive to it, resulting in possible skin complaints and discomforts or worse.

We discussed at the end of the last year the option of going fully latex free throughout our store. Both to prevent ourselves from developing issues and furthermore to stop and incidents regarding yourself, our client.

 

However the journey has not been easy, with all new equipment there can be a trial and error stage of finding suitable suppliers in strength, quality and availability as well as the many things a piercer loves: stretchiness, comfort, grip etc

 

But it gives us great pleasure to announce that now and forevermore all services undertaken in Blue Lotus will be made with Nitrite examination gloves or similar. Never latex

There is no cure to a latex allergy, those with it can only avoid contact with latex

about us, app, standards, ukapp, Uncategorized

THE ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL PIERCERS

Posted on by Nici Holmes
11
Jun

proudmemeber

 

WE ARE THE FIRST PIERCING STUDIO TO ATTAIN APP MEMBER STATUS IN THE UK FOR MORE THAN A DECADE

 

As of this today, Blue Lotus are proud members of the APP – Needless to say this has been huge cause for celebration at the studio.

Whats the APP I suspect you wonder? The APP has been around since 1994. Yet its existence is not as widely well known as it could be. Beginning as a political action group in California to address legislation concerns, it has grown to become a nonprofit  health and safety organization dedicated to the decimation of information regarding body piercing.

The Association of Professional Piercers [APP] is an international health and safety organization. It is a nonprofit voluntary alliance dedicated to the dissemination of information about body piercing. Governed by a voluntary elected Board of Directors, the APP is a united group of piercing professionals that freely shares information to help fellow members, piercers, health care professionals, legislators, health inspectors, and the general public get the best and most up-to-date information about body piercing.

“During the first week of my apprenticeship which started in 1999 I was handed copy of the APP health and safety procedure manual. 
Although it didn’t contain much looking back [but] at the time it was gold dust. A bible. I must have read that worn copy cover to cover over a dozen times.
I knew back then that my future contained the APP. That I’d eventually run my own studio and be responsible for the decisions that would include APP membership”  … Nici

The APP do not constitute as ‘the piercing police’ telling piercers how to pierce or judging their technical abilities – rather – actually ensuring that stringent environmental criteria are set, maintained and updated accordingly. Becoming an APP member does not mean a studio has better piercers. It means the environment you are being pierced meets the highest of safety standards currently required of any professional piercing body.

jewellery

THREADING & WHY IT MATTERS

Posted on by The collective
the left shows the quality of finish that comes from Anatometal jewellery as apposed to other pieces on offer
18
Feb

If you don’t already know that internally threaded or press-fit jewellery is the best choice for your initial piercing you’ve possibly had your head buried in the sand or been on a long holiday to the moon. Big organizations like the Association of Professional Piercers [APP] and companies like Anatometal Inc shout about it all the time because they take great pride in the quality of the body jewellery they promote and produce.

But do you know why?screwed for web.jpg.opt409x529o0,0s409x529

Having internally threaded or press-fit jewellery inserted in a fresh piercing is much more comfortable due to the smooth surface compared to the ridged surface of externally threaded pieces.
But this is not the only benefit: bacteria can live inside the teeny threading crevices which wrap around the ends of external jewellery. Which in turn come in direct contact with the piercing.
New piercings are susceptible to irritation and infection which can cause a whole range of problems and using externally threaded jewellery unfortunately vastly increases that risk.

We have always used the very best of titanium. But now we are also using the very best of threading too.

The comfort of your body jewelry should be high on your priority list, but your health should certainly be at the top. Using internally threaded jewellery with initial piercings greatly increases your chance of healing quickly and issue free. Internally threaded jewellery does cost a little more, but that is because it is more difficult to manufacture. It is more often made from greater quality materials and truly: when it really comes down to it, can you put a price on your health?