Mumsnet Talk

TheCat Why risk it though? IMO using a gun is equivilent to using a dirty needle. You just wouldn't want that. Obviously you're not guarenteed to get an infection from a gun but they just cannot be cleaned properly.

I had my ear pierced at 16, and a few weeks later one of the butterflies got embedded in my ear lobe. I had to have it extracted (by the place that did the piercing). I've very rarely been able to wear earrings since, as I react very strongly to pretty much everything (even high quality gold). I've not worn earrings for about 20 odd years now but the holes haven't healed and still get infected every now and then. I wish I'd never had them done really.

I'm 26 and I didn't get my ears pierced until about 18 months ago for much the same reasons that you haven't. I then just decided one day to do it, and did! I went to a tattoo/body piercing place and the girl that did them was great. She did use a gun as she thinks that is ok for the lobes, but not anywhere else, and not if you have thick ear lobes. For the cleaning she said to use sea salt water, and to absolutely not twist them, as all that does is break the skin that is trying to heal, and risk infection. I didn't have any problems with mine really. I tend to only wear silver earrings, but have a pair of cheap ones that I have worn for a night out and they were fine. It doesn't really hurt - there's a kind of red pain, but it doesn't last long, and it is only low level. I am really pleased I finally had mine done - I didn't think I ever would as I was always really squeamish with other people's piercings, but mine are absolutely fine and I have no problems changing them, or thinking about the earring being there, which I thought I would.

Most people have their ears done with a gun. Three of my five were. It's not the ideal, for all the reasons previous posters have given, but it's not a one-way ticket to putrefaction and decay. They'll heal up perfectly well in the end.

If they try and pierce your ear with a gun, run for the hills.

Piercing guns cannot be probperly cleaned it is a lot better to go to a proper piercing place so not Claire's and get it done properly as there will be less chance of infection.

My mum took me to a proper piercing place to get my first holes done, they turned out fine. I went with friends, to claire's when I was 16 to get second holes done and they charged me an extra non-optional £8 for crappy cleaning fluid and they got infected.

It also doesn't feel how you imagine. I have two holes in each lobe and none of them felt stabby. It's more of an impact than a stab IMO.

I always reacted to non-gold/silver earrings. I had tried using clear nail varnish. That sometimes worked. Then my SIL told me to use white spirit. That completely works. I wish I hadn't given away so many non-gold/silver earrings. I can now wear any earrings, not for days at a time, like I can with gold, but I can wear them for the day or evening.

With regard to having my ears pierced - a little bit of pain. Make sure you are scrupulous about cleaning. DD had a bit of trouble with hers, but white spirit sorted it.

Ears don't hurt it's the nipples that are fucking sore

Second/third go to a body piercing place and get it done.

I wouldn't bother.
Mind you I don't like clips much either; I used to buy www.oaksjewellerycraft.co.uk/products/gold-plated-ear-screw-fittings/ and convert any dangly earrings I wanted. Even better are the screw/clip fittings which can be screwed to the right level of non-painful security, but then clipped on and off.

Not much use if you like studs or hoops but fine for almost everything else.

I would second a body piercing studio- I think the needle is better.

Go to a jeweler and ask to see the certificate of the piercer.

sorry but this will mean nothing whatsoever. You need to go to a body piercing stodio where they actually know how to pierce and no don't go anywhere that uses a piercing gun!!!

Go to a jeweler and ask to see the certificate of the piercer.

If they do it with a gun it doesn't really hurt, it stings a bit afterwards.

If you have long hair wear a pony tail in bed while they are healing.

Ask around for decent local places.

It stings for a bit afterwards but IMO clip ons hurt your lobes far more by the end of the evening.

Make sure you check & double check the marks before they pierce. mine are a bit lopsided.

It's a shock for a moment, and takes longer than 6 weeks before you can comfortably change the earrings and fiddle with them, but if you keep them scrupulously clean they'll heal and be no further trouble.

those with allergies- have you tried painting the posts,wires with clear nail varnish ?
There isn't really pain in piercing, it's more a feeing of shock and afterwards perhaps a bit of throbbing.Keep them absolutely clean religiously and turn the posts regularly. I've had the top of my ear pierced too and that honestly didn,t hurt. I've had mine pierced at a Claire's but also at a piercing/tattoo studio where they used a needle rather than a gun,which is meant to be better.

I had them done at 16 when I got my first ever pay packet. Total disaster. Swelled up, infected and had to take them out.

Got them done again in my 30's and absolutely no problem. Just stung and were red around the site afterwards. No infections and am really happy I did it. I have to wear silver or gold ones though as other metals make them sore.

I had mine done at a local beauty salon. It was a 100% less traumatic then I expected.

myhead I can't even wear gold or silver.. very annoying as I bought some beautiful earrings in St Ives thinking it would be fine but they still flared up.
Ended up giving them away.

I know I don't have to have them done, I want them doing but I'm scared!
On the same note, how do you find out where is a good place to get pierced?

I cannot wear cheap earrings, terefore don't wear any!

I'm the same everlong. I have to wear sterling silver earings as I react to gold and to pretend silver/plastic.

It doesn't hurt really but I have some weird reaction to having earrings in.
Has them peirced at 11 and they went funny left it for another 30 years had them done again and the same thing happened. Big swollen mess.

I've give up now.

Agree with the above poster. It's up to you if you want to get them pierced or not but you don't have to.

As for the pain. It hurts for about a second and then it's over. It doesn't hurt afterwards. Make sure they are kept clean and disinfected to avoid infection.

There is no law that says you have to get them pierced. There are plenty of nice clip on earrings these days.

Is it worth it? How much does it really hurt? It's just the thought of having a hole punched through skin and metal sticking in it...sends me queasy!

I really want them doing though as I've seen so many pretty earrings about. Come and fill me with your tales of ear piercing gone wrong, I like stuff like that.