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Original poster

Ear Piercing

16 replies

AriettyHomily · 22/10/2020 11:20

So I know this has been done to death re guns and needles...

DTs are 10 and want their ears pierced and I have agreed. Seems like a good time with currently no swimming and limited activities where they can rip them out...

Our local options are Claire's and a chemist who use the gun. Not particularly keen.

The two piercing places I have spoken to offer needle or the pushkin method which is apparently more hygienic as all a single use unit.

Any thoughts or experience on the pushkin please? I've never come across it before.

Thanks

OP posts:
Theyweretheworstoftimes · 22/10/2020 11:22

Go to the piercing specialists/ tattoo parlours.

I had my ears pierced with a gun many moons ago and i had problems.

Had 4 piercings re pierced at a tattoo piercing place this year and no issues at all.

Deadringer · 22/10/2020 11:32

All 4 of my dds have had their ears pierced with the gun and had no problems at all, not at Claires but at our local jewellers and our nearest chemist when they still did them. I have also had my ears pierced several times and the only time they got infected was the one time they were done by needle, i put it down to bad luck. In defense of Claires, by dd 16 got her nose pierced there in the summer and the assistant was wonderful, very pleasant and helpful and very careful with hygiene. I think a lot of people make a big fuss about piercing on here, while irl people are far more blase about it.

TheBodyPiercer · 22/10/2020 11:35

Any push system is the same set up as a gun. Can't be sterilised, jewellery is poor quality and one size fits all.

Please go to a reputable piercer who uses single use needles and internally threaded titanium as a minimum.

If you wanted to share your location I can try and recommend someone.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Beauty
Original poster
AriettyHomily · 22/10/2020 13:18

@TheBodyPiercer

Any push system is the same set up as a gun. Can't be sterilised, jewellery is poor quality and one size fits all.

Please go to a reputable piercer who uses single use needles and internally threaded titanium as a minimum.

If you wanted to share your location I can try and recommend someone.

Thank you! We are SE London, I have contacted two local studios who said it was my choice whether needle or pushkin.

Can I ask what you mean by internally threaded titanium please? For the needles, or the jewellery?

OP posts:
WitchQueenofDarkness · 22/10/2020 13:48

Can I ask what you mean by internally threaded titanium please? For the needles, or the jewellery?

It's the jewellery. Instead of having the screw thread on the outside like a normal screw, the part that goes through the ear is hollowed out with the thread on the inside and the decorative end screws into it rather than on to it. This keeps it away from your flesh and less likely to cause problems.

Cheap jewellery is likely to externally threaded,

Another vote for a needle, I have multiple ear piercings and the one set of gunned lobes I had as a teenager caused me more problems than all the rest put together

LagneyandCasey · 22/10/2020 14:08

Dd had internally threaded earrings done with a needle at a tattoo studio and her ears healed well with no infection. The piercer took loads of time marking the holes, talking dd through the process and carefully doing the piercing. Dd (who is the worlds worst with pain!) said it was very gentle and almost painless.

We couldn't get one of the earrings out after the six weeks so went back to the piercer who removed it and checked everything was ok. I think that's the difference between an independent place and Claire's - you tend to get good aftercare as piercers take great pride in their work.

It costs a bit more though. I think it was around £40 with the saline spray. It's worth the extra though.

Original poster
AriettyHomily · 22/10/2020 14:15

I'm peered to pay, looked at Claire's (wouldn't touch!) and it's about £60.

Really useful info thank you.

When they do it with a needle is there any numbing? They're so determined they're getting it done I just want to do it the best way!

OP posts:
WitchQueenofDarkness · 22/10/2020 14:19

@AriettyHomily

I'm peered to pay, looked at Claire's (wouldn't touch!) and it's about £60.

Really useful info thank you.

When they do it with a needle is there any numbing? They're so determined they're getting it done I just want to do it the best way!

Not normally no - it's so quick that by the time you register the ow it's done.

Some piercers will use co2 to numb the area. This can cause burns and most good piecers won't use it.

fairydustandpixies · 22/10/2020 14:23

I've had 8 ear piercings with a gun, first one was 30yrs ago, last was 3yrs ago. Never had a problem. Just follow the after care advice.

LagneyandCasey · 22/10/2020 14:24

Dd didn't have anything to numb the pain but I gave her paracetamol beforehand. I'm not sure it actually helped with the pain but it gave her confidence.

Rockbird · 22/10/2020 14:25

Everyone recommends tattoo parlours but when DD1 wanted hers done last year not one of them would let her over the threshold as she was under 16. Where are all these piercers that will pierce kids? I'm in outer London not the back of beyond btw.

Kidneybingo · 22/10/2020 14:53

We've done both needle and gun for lobes. To be honest, no difference in pain or healing with both. Recent gun ones have healed very well using salt water to bathe and minimal touching.

Paranoidmarvin · 22/10/2020 14:56

I had mine done at Claire’s a few months ago. The lady was amazing. Was all clean. She talked to me for ages. Were I wanted the hole. I was happy. It has been all fine and safe. And my ears are fine. I know this is not the case in all of the Claire’s but mine was good.

TheBodyPiercer · 22/10/2020 19:29

Those saying "I had it done with a gun and it was fine" is the equivalent of saying I went for a drive without my seatbelt and didn't crash. Its not something someones should advocate and isn't the safest way to do things.

Tattooist and piercers used to reuse needles and not wear gloves, I'm sure plenty of people were fine but it's not something you'd see as acceptable today.

Getting pierced by a professional is the safest possible option. Please consider though as in all careers not all piercers are created equal.

You want someone operating an aseptic technique, with implant grade internally threaded or threadless jewellery is a minimum.

Even in perfect circumstances things can go wrong, in the same sense that piercings done by your friend in a bus stop may still heal. But by going to a professional and doing your research you at least know you've done the best possible.

Torvean32 · 23/10/2020 00:45

Definitely go to a proper piercer. A gun cannot be fully sterelised. You'll also get after care, and there's normally a much nicer choice of jewellery.
I had gun piercings as a kid, I think needle piercings are far less painful.

Original poster
AriettyHomily · 23/10/2020 09:13

Thanks all, will definitely be going to the piercer and going for the needle.

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