Vrae

AGE AND CONSENT
Unfortunately, there is no legally defined minimum age at which piercings or tattoos can be carried out in South Africa. It is because of the lack of guidance and regulations in this area of expertise that many tattoo studios, piercing parlours and the like, carry and follow their own in house rules and standards.

Step Up tattoo, piercing and permanent make up studio uphold our integrity, moral and ethical code when it comes to the practise of all procedures.

• We do not perform any procedures on minors (under the age of 18 years) without a legal guardian or parent present.
• Should any procedure take place on a minor for any reason it will be at the artists discretion.
• The legal guardian or parent must accompany the minor, and will be required to sign consent on the minor’s behalf.
• The legal guardian or parent must be present at all times during the procedure
  • please note: Legal guardian refers to someone who has been granted and assigned custody/ guardianship by a court of the minor and legally has the authority to make decisions concerning the protection and care of said minor
  • Parent refers to either biological or adoptive mother/father
• Please note: NO exceptions will be made.

As a parent or guardian, you will be signing a portion of our waiver form, that says you state that you are the biological parent or court appointed guardian the above minor you are accompanying, and legally give consent for the procedure to occur.
Should someone falsifying documentation, or imitate the role of legal guardian or parent, (which is an act of fraud), the person who signs the waiver acknowledges that they accept that they will be held responsible should any legal action be taken by the legitimate legal guardians or parents, due to the person falsifying information or imitating and assuming the role of legal guardian or parent.
They also accept that our studio may lay a charge of fraud against them for their actions.

Ongelukkig bied ons tans nie die volgende piercings of liggaamsmodifikasies in ons ateljee aan nie

• Anale piercings / juweliersware veranderinge
• Anale tatoeëermerke
• Koraal inplantings
• Sny
• Elf Ore
• Ooginplantings
• Oogbal re-pigmentasie tatoeëermerke
• Genitale piercings / juweliersware veranderinge
• Genitale tatoeëermerke
• Magnetiese inplantings
• Nasallang
• Scarification
• Slang tong/gif piercings
• Subdermale inplantings
• Opskorting
• Tong skeur

Mense met 'n aktiewe leefstyl
– Permanente grimering laat 'n persoon meer selfvertroue voel wanneer hy aan aktiwiteite deelneem wat gewoonlik konvensionele grimering laat afsweet.

As jy min of geen wenkbroue hare het nie
– Dunner wenkbroue is 'n teken van veroudering en gee die illusie dat die gesig val. Microblading-haarhale kan so op die wenkbrou-area toegepas word dat dit lyk of meer wenkbrouhare groei, die gesig raam en lig.

As jy dun lippe het
– Lipliner en Full Lip Colour kan krimpende lippe voller laat lyk en afbreuk doen aan lyne rondom 'n verouderende mond. Dit help om die rand van die lip te herbou en gee 'n gladder rand aan die lippe

As jy min of geen wimperhare het nie
– Wimperhare dun ook met ouderdom. Permanente oogomlyner gee oë die illusie van dikker wimpers.

As jy aan gesiggestremdheid ly of kontaklense dra
– Soos ons ouer word, verminder ons visie. Dit maak dit moeilik om hul oogomlyner en wenkbroue aan te wend.

As jy aan Allergieë ly

as jy onstabiele hande het
– Soos mense ouer word, word hul mobiliteit belemmer en is dit moeiliker om grimering op 'n presiese manier aan te wend. Permanente skoonheidsmiddels laat jou toe om verseker te voel dat jou grimering heeltyd goed en konsekwent lyk.

Dit is perfek vir diegene wat net heeltyd wonderlik wil lyk sonder die moeite

Ons permanente kosmetiese prosedures word uitgevoer met behulp van 'n permanente grimering masjien, mikro-lem wenkbroue word gedoen met 'n lem. Jou afspraak sluit 'n mediese oorsig en 'n gedetailleerde bespreking oor jou verwagtinge in, insluitend ontwerp en kleur. Die toediening van die pigment is volgende. Jy is deel van die hele proses tydens die prosedure. Alles word met totale waardering aan jou verduidelik dat jy Step Up gekies het en ons vertrou met jou permanente skoonheidsmiddels.

Tegnies word permanente kosmetiese prosedures as permanent beskou omdat die kleur wat in die vel ingeplant is nie afgewas kan word nie. Soos met enige tatoeëermerk, kan vervaag egter dikwels voorkom, wat periodieke instandhouding, kleurversterking of verfrissing vereis. Net soos haarkleur, meubels naby 'n venster, of selfs huisverf, sal die ingeplante kleur mettertyd vervaag afhangende van jou gesondheid, veltipe en hoe goed jy vir jou vel sorg.

Jou gemak is vir ons baie belangrik! Ons is trots daarop om ons kliënte so gemaklik moontlik te maak. Die meeste mense ervaar 'n mate van ongemak wat vergelyk word met 'n pluk- of skuursensasie. Dit sal verskil volgens elke individu se drempel. Die gebruik van verskeie aktuele verdowingsmiddels wat medies ontwikkel is vir permanente grimering, maak prosedures redelik gemaklik.

Na die aanvanklike prosedure wil jy dalk terugkeer vir 'n opknapping. 'n Touch-up is 'n kleurverfrissing. Permanente kosmetiese grimering kan 'n proses wees. Dit word aanbeveel dat jy ten minste 6 weke wag voor jou herstel sodat jou aanvanklike prosedure tyd het om behoorlik te genees. Om die vel vroeër te traumatiseer, kan ongemaklik wees en laat nie genoeg tyd toe vir die pigment om in die vel te vestig nie. Vir microblading is dit 4 weke, aangesien dit 'n vlakker proses is.

Die aanvanklike prosedure sal gewoonlik ongeveer 90 minute tot 2 ½ uur neem; daar is rekords om vas te stel; foto's om te neem; gewenste ontwerp en kleur om te bespreek; die prosedure om uit te voer; en die nasorgvereistes om te bespreek.
Opvolg- of kleuropknappingsprosedures vereis gewoonlik nie dieselfde hoeveelheid tyd nie.

Terwyl wenkbroue min na effek kan toon, kan oogomlyner en lippe effense tot matige swelling toon. Dit hang baie af van die hoeveelheid werk wat verrig word. As voorbeelde; 'n wimperverbetering sal baie min reaksie op die tatoeëringprosedure toon in vergelyking met 'n meer matige reaksie wanneer wye oogomlyner uitgevoer word. Dieselfde filosofie geld vir lipkleurprosedures. ’n Lipomlyner of gemengde lipomlyner sal minder effekte van die prosedure toon as dié van ’n vol lipkleur. Sommige mense swel ook meer as gevolg van geringe veloortredings as ander.
Tydens die prosedure kan daar effense bloeding wees. Dit is weereens kliëntspesifiek. Baie mense neem daagliks bloedverdunners, so 'n bietjie bloeding kan verwag word. Ander toon min of geen tekens van bloeding nie. Kneusing is skaars, maar weer, as 'n persoon op bloedverdunner is, kan kneusing voorkom. Wat meer gereeld gesien word, is dat wenkbroue selde of ooit enige kneusing veroorsaak; geringe kneusing tydens oogomlynerprosedures is moontlik as die vel wat getatoeëer word baie dun en naby die vaskulêre stelsel is. Dit geld ook vir lipprosedures indien die kliënt meer volwasse is. As kneusing wel voorkom, is dit gewoonlik gering en verdwyn dit binne 'n paar dae.
Daar is gewoonlik 'n mate van sagtheid vir 'n paar dae. Die kleur is baie donkerder as wat jy vir die eerste ses tot tien dae kan verwag.

Permanente grimering hou lank, maar mens kan steeds modieuse grimering saans dra of grimering aanwend vir 'n vars en natuurlike voorkoms vir die dag. Permanente grimering bou eenvoudig die grondslag om perfek te lyk sonder om gegrimeerd te lyk. Die beste opsie is om 'n subtiele alledaagse kleur vir permanente grimering en jou dapper keuses in jou grimeringsak te kies.

PIERCING Gereelde vrae

Studio Piercing Regulasies

• Alle piercings en liggaamsmodifikasies word deur ons gesertifiseerde inwonende piercer uitgevoer
• Ons Piercer voldoen aan OSHA en praktiseer internasionale higiëne- en sterilisasieprosedures en -praktyke
• Alle piercings en liggaamsmodifikasies word uitgevoer met individueel verpakte en gesteriliseerde toerusting
• Alle piercings en liggaamsmodifikasies word uitgevoer met individueel verpakte en gesteriliseerde juweliersware vervaardig van die hoogste graad materiaal vir jou veiligheid
• Alle piercings en liggaamsmodifikasies wat 'n naald gebruik word uitgevoer met individueel verpakte en gesteriliseerde eenmalige chirurgiese graad naalde
• Alle pryse sluit die piercing en standaard piercing juwele in
• Indien nie-standaard piercing juweliersware gebruik word, sal 'n ekstra koste gehef word.
• Ons piercing sal slegs 'n piercing doen met juweliersware waarvan ons die oorsprong ken, maw ons sal nie juwele wat nie uit ons ateljee kom vir 'n aanvanklike piercing prosedure gebruik nie.
  
  

PIERCING OF BABY'S EARLOBES
At Step Up, we believe that children should have a choice in whether or not he/she/they would like to have their earlobes pierced. Where we understand that there are some cultures and traditions which stipulate whether or not a baby should have their earlobes pierced, we believe that the child should have some say in the matter. After all, it is their body, and they do have the right to say NO!
For this reason, we will only pierce a child’s lobes if:

• The child is old enough to understand the procedure
• The child wants the procedure and is able to ask for it
• The child is capable of understanding the aftercare process and procedures
• The child is accompanied by their parent/ legal guardian and the parent/ legal guardian signs consent
  **For children’s lobes, we do have a medical device/ instrument which is similar to the needle method of piercing.**

Please also note the following when considering getting your child’s ears pierced at a young age:

• While the rest of our body shrinks as we get older, our noses, earlobes and ear muscles keep getting bigger.That's because they're made mostly of cartilage cells, which divide more as we age. At the same time, connective tissue begins to weaken, and can result in jewellery or piercing site migration.
• Most Children sleep on or tug at their ears, this could result in migration of the piercing site or jewellery.
• Children are more susceptible to resistant bacteria as they have many ways of being exposed to germs and infections because their hygiene behaviour is different to adults and their immune systems are not fully developed.

GUN vs NEEDLE
our resident piercer, has undergone professional training to understand human anatomy, piercing procedures and the correct manner in which each piercing should be placed, pierced and adorned.
We understand that many people suffer from Trypanophobia (fear of needles), and when booking a piercing appointment raise their concerns regarding which method is used for the piercing of their choice.
One of the most asked questions is- "do you use a needle or a gun?"
We have decided that it would be best to educate our clients as to why professionals prefer the needle method and instrument method over the gun method of piercing.

Piercing Guns:
Piercing Guns are usually the most cost effective and common method of receiving a piercing, in fact you can walk into many malls and lean over the counter and get a piercing done by a sales representative who has probably undergone 2-7 days of training with said equipment. Most of these sale representatives have little, too no, knowledge of cross contamination or bloodbourne pathogen training, which can be a risk for both the sales representative and the person getting pierced .A lot of piercing guns are made with a spring action release which "shoots" and forces the blunt jewellery through your skin once the trigger is depressed, thus causing blunt force trauma, shattering or tearing to the piercing site. The butterfly is then closed tightly on top of the piercing wound, which doesn't allow for swelling or breathing, which can in turn result in bacteria harbouring beneath the butterfly and possibly lead to infection. Utilising the Piercing Gun incorrectly can lead to misplacement, incorrect angles or piercing complications.

Professional Needle piercings:
Locating a professional piercer may not be as easy and convenient as finding a sales representative to do a piercing, but it is worth the search if you'd like piercings done correctly. Needle piercings may be a little bit more costly, but are definitely worth the money. Not only do you get your piercings done by someone who has undergone the correct training (piercing and health, safety, cross contamination and bloodbourne pathogens training), but you also have someone who specialises in their field on a daily basis doing the piercings for you. A professional piercer will also be able to use the correct jewellery for the piercing, unlike the use of a blunt stud-butterfly combination that the piercing gun is limited to.A professional piercer using a needle, has more control and precision when it comes to body piercings. A needle, although to some may look scary, is a less traumatic experience for your body. The needles are medical grade and extremely sharp yet hollow inside, allowing them to safely pierce the tissue and allow space for the jewellery to be placed, making the procedure hurt less.Many people are worried about having their bodies pierced via needles as they’re worried it will hurt when in reality, needle piercings are much less painful than gun piercings.
Professional instrument/ medical device piercings:
Piercing medical devices or instruments offer a very convenient method of piercing when used by a professional piercer. The instrument is a device which utilises the hand pressure of the piercer and the jewellery replaces the needle in this piercing procedure. The jewellery is sharp and glides through the piercing site without causing trauma.The instrument is limited to specific piercing sites, such as Cartilage-free areas of the ear (ie lobes) and the nostril, and are ideal for children’s lobes.

A tattoo is created by puncturing your skin thousands of times at a rapid pace. This process creates a large area of vulnerable skin and an open wound. When you finish your tattoo session, your tattoo immediately enters the healing process .

The tattoo healing process, while similar to general wound healing, is its own unique progression. In fact, you can break it down into three stages. These stages can vary in length and severity by person, making it difficult to give an exact time line for when and for how long your body will experience them.

What are the tattoo healing stages?
The first stage is essentially considered the ope would stage. This is the period of time in which your body is still trying to seal its open skin and when you are at the greatest risk of infection and complication.
Your body will try to seal its open wound by excreting a substance called plasma, that will help the process. It is natural for our bodies to produce this healing element, which helps break down dead tissue and rebuild new tissue.
Under normal circumstances, these healing elements would dry up or evaporate quickly, creating a scab. However, i tattoo healing, scabbing is detrimental to the design.

To avoid this, you keep the tattoo well- moisturised and covered with the tattoo bandage through out the healing process. This keeps the skin from scabbing ad allows the body to heal without creating a pesky shell that could potentially pull out the ink.

During the second stage of healing, the skin becomes tight and itchy. During this portion of the healing, the top layers of the skin that were traumatised through out the tattoo process loose ad begin to lift off, giving the ski a peeling appearance. It will essentially look like a peeling sunburn. Again, keeping it moisturised during this process can help ease the itching and protect the tattoo from ay additional trauma caused from drying out.

The third stage of healing actually takes place below the skin after the open wound portion of the tattoo has closed up. At this point, the ink begins to settle into the layer of skin called the dermis. Your risk of infection has passed at this point in the healing process, however it is vital to keep the area well moisturized to assist the skin returning to its normal PH levels as the tattoo wraps up the final stages of healing.

Now that you are aware of the healing process of a tattoo, please see our tattoo aftercare page.