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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Ear piercing

38 replies

justalittlelemondrizzle · 01/08/2015 23:28

Aibu to think £35 to have ears pierced is extortionate! Both dd's want theirs doing this summer. We can't afford £70 for this on top of everything else we have planned to keep them happy.

I can only think of Claires accessories. Is there anywhere else we could go that is cheaper but obviously still safe/deal with kids regularly.

Shamefully posting here for traffic...

Thanks Smile

OP posts:
squoosh · 01/08/2015 23:40

Does Claire's charge £35?? The best place to have ears pierced is in a reputable tattoo/piercing parlour.

landrover · 01/08/2015 23:42

The majority of beauty salons pierce ears safely!! Just ring your local xx

thecatsarecrazy · 01/08/2015 23:43

Is t with gold earings? They have shot up in price maybe that's why.

VelvetSpoon · 01/08/2015 23:44

My GP did mine in the 1970s for free...am guessing that's not a service they still offer.

Alternatively my Exp and his mates got their ears done as teens by one mate's sister using a sterile needle and bag of frozen peas Grin I wouldn't recommend that option tbh!

Purplehulk · 01/08/2015 23:46

£15 at local piercing and tattoo place last summer, including titanium studs and great aftercare

TheWintersmith · 01/08/2015 23:48

Good greif, my local tattooist charges £5 per piercing for lobes with a gold plated stud, £15 for cartilage, and that is with the medical grade titanium.

Claire's seen to be charging rip off prices. Go to a professional.

PatriciaHolm · 01/08/2015 23:50

Crikey. DD just had hers done at Regis hairdressers, £20 for gold studs.

Etak15 · 01/08/2015 23:53

Don't go to Claire's what a rip off, my dd's had there's done at a local jewellers, was £8 each and a mum and daughter team very experienced. - they do both ears at the same time ( one at each side). They have been absolutely fine. Have you left enough time to get it done this summer though? Our school they have to take them out for PE x3 days a wk and some schools don't allow them at all?

Nikkinoo77 · 02/08/2015 00:07

Go to a tattooist/piercer. No where near as dear as that and they'll use needles to pierce. Guns cause damage to cartilage, much safer to use a needle

PurpleSwift · 02/08/2015 00:09

Um Claire's isn't exactly what I'd call safe...Hmm

Do your research OP and look into local piercers who use needles, not guns

goodasitgets · 02/08/2015 00:28

Local piercer. Mine regularly does children's ears and it's nowhere near that price. Needle, not gun

Original poster
justalittlelemondrizzle · 02/08/2015 01:04

Thanks for the advice everyone. Yea I don't think school makes them take them out for pe as long as they're plain studs. Dd1 will start swimming lessons when they go back but presume that won't be till a few weeks after going back so I think we have over 6 weeks or so. If it causes a problem re pe lessons I will demand she just covers with a plaster.

Does it hurt less with a needle. I know its better but I'm worried they will have one ear done and then refuse to have the other one done. They're mardy bums Hmm

OP posts:
goodasitgets · 02/08/2015 01:13

Hurt me less with a needle than with a gun and I have 10 piercings Grin

Etak15 · 02/08/2015 01:55

Swimming lessons they can wear studs, but our school for Pe they can't put plasters on they have to take them out or no Pe. But all schools have different rules maybe check with dd's friends parents or ask your dd's they will know what goes on at school!

Etak15 · 02/08/2015 02:01

Nikkinoo - there is no cartilage in earlobes, unless op is planning on having the tops of her dd's ears pierced?

CuriousVillage · 02/08/2015 03:44

Just had DDs done for her 13th birthday. I did heaps of research and read tons of customer reviews. This all clearly led me to a tattoo shop! Having never been inside one I was rather apprehensive but it was like being in a private hospital! The appointment lasted well over an hour and they pierced with a needle and used medical grade titanium posts. Amazing choice of fronts at all price points. Exceptional aftercare guidance and we go back in 5/6 weeks for check up. They then usually swap to shorter posts (as the original ones are longer to allow for any initial swelling). I was blown away by the sterile environment, expertise and 'consultation'. Cost £25 per ear including the medical grade titanium posts and all/any aftercare.

RitaKiaOra · 02/08/2015 04:11

That much, really? Claires in Germany is 10 euros for both ears. 5 euros for silver studs. That might be telling, now I think about it. Wink

cariadlet · 02/08/2015 05:04

dd is 13 and had her ears pierced recently. After reading a similar thread on here I took her to the local tattoo parlour. Like CuriousVillage, I'd never been in one before and wasn't sure what to expect, but it was great. If she wants any more piercings when she's older then we'll definitely go back there.
I can't remember how much I paid, but it was quite reasonable. dd wanted me to hold her hand when it was being done as she was a bit nervous, but afterwards said that it didn't hurt much and she hasn't had any problems since.

Zillie77 · 02/08/2015 05:30

I have six piercings, and I agree that the needle piercings are less painful, but that may be because most professional needle piercers seem very well-trained. I go to a tattoo/piercing shop and they always make me feel very comfortable.

Zillie77 · 02/08/2015 05:31

It's also a little bit more fun to go to a tattoo shop, and would make it more of an experience for the girls.

NobodyLivesHere · 02/08/2015 05:51

I went to a local beauty salon. £10 for both ears.

FindoGask · 02/08/2015 06:42

We were £25 each at Claire's, I think, for titanium studs. We had to go to Claire's as my daughter is only 8 and local piercing places wouldn't take her that young, plus I thought she'd find a tattoo/piercing studio more intimidating (I don't, but then I'm 37 and covered in tattoos)

Having previously had a cartilage piercing and nose piercing with a needle, I must say i didn't notice that much difference in pain between the two methods. People say the needle is less traumatic to the tissue, which itself could be true, but you still have to get the jewellery in afterwards. Both our ears (I had mine done too for moral support!) healed up fine afterwards, no bother at all.

TheCatsMother99 · 02/08/2015 09:35

Do NOT go to Claire's.

I don't think someone who has had an hours training is very safe.

Go to your local tattoo/piercing shop.

SoupDragon · 02/08/2015 09:39

if you can't afford it then just say no.

I agree with others - when DD leaves primary, I will take her to a tattoo/piercing place to have hers done if she wants them done.

Nikkinoo77 · 02/08/2015 10:14

Etak...none at all? Didn't know that
My bad