Ear piercing

The (excellent) piercing studio I use has recently started doing kids lobe piercings. They won't do kids under 8, and I asked why last time I went in. The piercer said that it's because by 8, most kids are able to understand basic aftercare instructions and have the manual dexterity to remove and replace their own earrings, which seems pretty sensible.

Check the schools' policy as many will make you take them out for PE (which you can't do if they're freshly pierced). Your DD will also be expected to be able to take them out/put them back in herself which can be fiddly.

Don't take her to Claire's or anywhere that uses a gun - it needs to be a needle and they need to use proper hypoallergenic jewellery. I'd expect to pay around £30 and that normally includes jewellery and saline solution for cleaning. It should also cover any check-ups and often the first jewellery change too if needed.

But a lot of proper piercing places won't pierce under 12's, so you may need to look around to find somewhere that does and be willing to travel for it too.

Check the school’s policy as well. Some schools require them to be removed during the school day not just covered with a plaster. When I had mine done recently (by a piercer with a needle) I would not have been able to take them out after 7 weeks and leave them out for 8 hours without the holes closing over. So even getting them done after school on the last day of the school term before the long summer break may not give her a long enough healing time if her school has the same policy.

Think @AnotherPoxyName got everything in their message, here to second their advice. I’m a piercer, you want a piercing shop or piercer who uses the best jewellery and needles for this. You can search for UKAPP members online, they’re best of the best piercers-wise in the UK- or alternatively internally threaded implant-grade titanium and a piercer with an excellent portfolio. You may have to look around a little to find a piercer willing to do her ears age 6. Don’t do as my mom did, my ears were done age 6 at Claire’s and they’re so wonky now! Piercing guns are so unsafe and unhygienic, it’s awful they’re still legal!

Does your daughter's school have a policy on ear piercing? And does she realise it will sting a bit when it's done?

Oh also my eldest was 8 and had her second lobes done at 11. My youngest is 9 and hasn’t had hers done yet as she isn’t ready and that’s fine.

Ask on your local fb page for recommendations of a piercist who uses needles. Ideally they will use internally threaded jewellery and it MUST be implant grade titanium or their shit. Expect to pay around £65 for this. They should also recommend aftercare such as neilmed piercing solution, no touching, a downsize in around 6 weeks and tell you that it won’t be healed for 12+ weeks.

do not, for the love of god, go to Claire’s. And please please research gun piercing if you’re inclined to go down that route (firmly do NOT recommend).