Earrings for DD - gun or professional piercing, what's better and why?

[cloudjumper]

I have promised DD(8) that she can get her ears pierced in the summer, and I'm now looking where to go. When I had my ears pierced, using the gun (at a renowned and well-established jeweller) was the only option (it was a looong time ago), but I now hear from many people that they get their children's ears pierced at a piercing studio, and that the gun is apparently a big No-No.
Anyone got any advice to share on this? Pros and Cons?

A gun is also very unhygienic. They cannot be sterilised and when they force a blunt earring through an ear tiny microscopic particles of blood will spray up and contaminate the gun. These are often then given a cursory wipe with antibacterial wipe and that's it. They can't go in an autoclave as they would melt. That is enough to put me off. How many ears has that gun been on?

The blunt force trauma is also a big deal. You are forcing a blunt object through the ear. It is always going to hurt and swell up.

Go for a needle piercing every time.

Have it done with a needle at a professional piercer. They'll use titanium at an appropriate length to allow for swelling and the after care, if needed, is so much better than at a high street shop.

I found having a needle instead of gun was actually a fair amount cheaper when we got DDs pierced a few years ago. It was prob because they only offered the bar and ball style earrings but we were really impressed and they talked her through every step of the process.

I've pierced hundreds of ears - I worked in a salon that used a gun system but this was a long time ago, tattooists and body piercing wasn't common place, so guns were the only option really.

DD had her ears pierced last year - she went to a piercing studio and hers were done with a needle.

It is by far the best method.

My daughter had hers done at Claire’s years ago when she was 10 (before we realised how bad they were). We were sold the lotions and potions for cleaning and even though we were meticulous, they ended up painfully swollen and infected and the earrings were an absolute nightmare to get out. It had quite an effect on her and put her off. She never bothered with them again until a couple of years ago when she was 15 and decided to try again.

This time we went to a tattoo place, with a professional piercer. They were done with no pain, they healed quickly and nicely with no expensive lotions - just the tiniest bit of salt in water. The earrings were a breeze to get in and out when she got to the time that they recommended. I can’t recommend this option enough.

Guns are terrible. Needle is much safer

Going against the grain but with a lobe piercing I don't think a gun is bad (yes cartilage piercing should only be done with a needle). My eldest has had 2 lobe piercings at Claire's and my youngest (9 yo) has just had hers done at Claire's too. All have been absolutely fine, I chose a titanium stud for them both. I think with kids ear piercings it's more about being strict with aftercare and not letting them fiddle with them than where you get the piercing done

@RedHelenB I agree! DU took DD for her ears to be pierced. They went to Clare's - they had excellent service, all the aftercare solutions (granted you have to pay for them) but we had zero issues. Whilst many kids in her class who haven't used Claire's have had infections and trouble

Just our experience

If you’re near London, Maria Tash does from 8yo and they are excellent.

Needle all the way. DD (also 8 at the time) had hers done last summer, easy healing, very professional (private room, sterile equipment etc).

Our local tattooist uses a gun for lobe piercing but needle for any cartilage piercings. Agree with@HanaJane that what's more important is the hygiene and aftercare.

Echoing others that needle at a reputable piercer is the way to go - jewellery should be titanium flat back bars. Also please be aware of the actual healing time - it’s more like 3-6 months for lobes rather than 6 weeks which is what we were always told back in the day!
You should also be told to go back for a downsize of the bars to help with healing.

Fine until they get infected, swell up and the earring disappears inside the ear.

Yep.

Known that happen more than once with a gun.

I would not use Claire's on principle, as I have heard too many babies and toddlers screaming in there having just had their ears pierced. Very upsetting.

I had mine done with a gun when I was 13. They never healed properly, always gunky, took them out completely about ten years ago but one is still not properly healed. Dd1 is getting hers done when she is 11 and it will be with a needle by a proper piercer, more chance of them healing better.

I don't understand the fuss about guns. I've had my ears pierced both ways and there was no difference.

DD2 went to a beauty salon and had her ears pierced with a gun a few days ago. They're fine.

DDs 1&3 had theirs done in Claire's about 5 years ago. Both fine.

The fuss is that when it comes to hygiene and the body the times move on and we generally go with what is considered "best practice" ie least risk of infection. In the same way that medics etc review their handwashing practices. Why would anyone opt for a method that has shown to have a higher infection risk and cause more trauma to the body? Will everyone who has had their ears pierced with a gun experience difficulties? No. Is there a higher likelihood that they will? Yes. Why take the chance especially with a child?

I had my ears re pierced last year with a gun and a second piercing on one ear with a needle - both in the lobe. With the needle there is the thought that the stud then has to be put through once the needle withdrawn. I went to a tattoo shop and he thought the gun was better for children as quicker

When my oldest was 8 (and quite nervous) we had ears done at a local chemist who had a good reputation and used a needle and some numbing cream. Very little pain and healed very well.

Also 6 weeks that some places tell you is nowhere near the healing time. More like 12 but I’d be leaving them well alone for as long as possible. The advice now is also not to twist them every night, as I was told when I had my first set done as a kid. I’ve just had a second hole done with a needle and she said leave them alone, spray the solution on twice a day, don’t touch the earring at all. Mine look a bit daft now with the really long earring now I have no swelling but I’m planning on leaving them in as long as possible.

I’d consider sticking anything through the skin on a child to be a ‘poor option’.
As a teacher, I’ve seen so many children with badly infected ear lobes over the years that I think piercings should be banned for under 16s. It’s bloody barbaric!

Thanks everyone, that is really helpful! Looks as if piercing is now the better option... Will ask around locally what there is.

Just wondering about the healing time - can they go swimming with new ear piercings? We're going on holiday at the end of August, and DD will unleash hell if she's not allowed in the pool!

I’d check on the swimming before getting it done. I think they said no swimming or hot tubs or steam rooms for 4 weeks but I wasn’t planning any of those so didn’t really remember the exact time frame.

Mine were done by gun, no issues at all, healed beautifully. DDs also done by gun no issues. I get it a bit of pot luck as to if the person doing it is experienced, but I do know kids who had issues from needles too, especially them not healing