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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Please talk to me about ear piercing, its doing my head in today.

95 replies

PurpleBurtle · 13/08/2016 19:08

So my 9yrold daughter (10 next month) really wants her ears pierced. Ive been looking into it today and deciding on where and which method but I keep coming up with mixed opinions and have changed my mind a few times...I need to get this done asap so she has a good few weeks for healing before she might have to take them out for a day when she has P.E once back at school..I know Ive still left it a bit late.

Anyway Ive been looking at gun vs needle and the needle seems to be the one people say is best so thought I had decided, however I have called a few tattoo/piercing studios today and they use a gun anyway!

Im still reluctant to use the gun method but think its going to be difficult to find somewhere that will use the needle!

AIBU to hold off a bit longer or should I just go for it. Claires seems the easiest place but heard mixed views, dont really know what to expect from a tattoo studio, woman I spoke to didnt seem to know much, and said they use an air pressured gun, and they get lots of kids in and use titanium studs, dont know what the aftercare is like

Please help me decide what to do, Ive also looked at the jewellers f hinds but wont be able to get an appointment with them till next week, they use a studex 75 gun but not sure if this is the same as claires.

Its all doing my head in to be honest..maybe Im over worrying and I should just pop down to claires tomorrow get it done and do a bit of shopping after.?!? I mean it seems like alot of people use them

OP posts:
FreyaB84 · 13/08/2016 20:16

I've got 3 piercings in each lobe, two done with a needle and one with a gun. I've never had any problems with any of them and the needle definitely hurt less! The only annoying thing about the gun piercing is that one is slightly lower than the other and you can feel the scar tissue when you press on the ear, which I don't have with the needle piercings.

I would avoid Clare's at all costs. A friend of mine used to work there and their training leaves a lot to be desired! 'Training' consisted of a morning spent watching a few videos and practicing on a teddy bear before she was considered 'qualified' and let loose on the public!

I would always choose a reputable tattoo/piercing studio, where they will be piercing people all the time.

EdmundCleverClogs · 13/08/2016 20:20

I think it's really irresponsible getting a piercing done with a gun, especially letting a child having it done that way. I don't know why it's deemed acceptable to take a child to a cheap-tatt shop to have a procedure (as small as it is) done Hmm. They don't even have proper training, it's like going to a Boots till assistant for a broken arm.....

Original poster
PurpleBurtle · 13/08/2016 20:56

The tattoo studio said they used a titanium stud, is this better than a gold one then?

Claire's also have a new rapid aftercare lotion, Im intrigued by this but have read that its a false claim and can't speed up the healing process, thoughts?I think its a definite no for Claires though apart from the horror stories Ive never like the idea of doing it on a packed shop floor!

I think it seems Im gonna be hard pushed to find anywhere that will use a needle??
Looks at though it just a case of doing the gun method but making sure its the right place..

OP posts:
PuraVida · 13/08/2016 21:12

Do you have a Blue Banana nearby?

Original poster
PurpleBurtle · 13/08/2016 21:19

Never heard of Blue Banana, now I know why..ha just googled it and my nearest one is over 70 miles away!

OP posts:
BigginsforPope · 13/08/2016 21:26

Myself and my DDs have piercings done in a local tattoo parlour. The man who did them used a needle each time and titanium rods were put in. They have all healed fine. I am not aware of any law which says that under 18s are not allowed in tattoo parlours. My dd's were 11 and 12 when we went.

nolongersurprised · 13/08/2016 21:35

My 10 year old has a really low pain threshold and just had hers pierced with a needle with hardly any pain. Aftercare was saline and no twisting and ,3 weeks later, they haven't even oozed. The piercer noticed that her lobes were slightly asymmetrical (I hadn't noticed) and spent some time getting the placement right before she did the piercing.

coconutpie · 13/08/2016 21:38

You would be batshit crazy to go to Claire's or anywhere else that uses a gun. First of all, it is blunt force trauma so can cause serious damage to the ear (which if happens, may require surgery to fix) and secondly, guns cannot be sterilised so blood-borne diseases can be spread - there is no infection control with guns because as they are made of plastic, they cannot be sterilised in an autoclave. Wait until she is older. Her health is far more important than a piercing.

0hCrepe · 13/08/2016 21:39

Dd had hers done recently with a gun and it was fine. Had it done in a salon and I was quite particular about where to make sure they were symmetrical. 5 weeks later and they're healing fine and she's desperate to wear some of her new ones! I think a needle is needed for other areas but gun fine for ear lobes. I had a gun piercing many years ago at the top of my ear and it got infected.
Dsis has several piercings and was happy to get her dd's done at Claire's as they did them at the same time.

TooMinty · 13/08/2016 21:41

Don't get the anti-gun thing although I accept things might have moved on since I had it done. First time was in a up market (ish) high street jewellers when I was 12 - gold studs and some sort of antiseptic wash to clean them with, piercing was quick and stingy rather than sore, no problem keeping them clean. Have no recollection of the second set so clearly not painful in anyway. Last one was a stainless steel stud in a slightly dodgy piercing studio but still no problems. I have had my navel done too although a needle that time - think a 9 year old may struggle to stay still for a needle? Gun is quick, over and done with! Agree you are over thinking, just find somewhere reputable close by that isn't Claire's Smile

Darthvadersmuuuum · 13/08/2016 21:42

Recent experience here. I phoned several reputable piecing studios and all pierced lobes with guns as they considered it safe. That's what we want with and all was and is well.

DD's friend had hers done at Claire's and they're wonky Hmm

HerdsOfWilderbeest · 13/08/2016 21:42

Is she definitely allowed to wear them at school?

BeautyGoesToBenidorm · 13/08/2016 21:43

I've written dozens and dozens of posts on here regarding gun vs. needle piercing (I'm a professional body piercer), so I'm not going to trot it all out again, but yes, please try to get them done with a needle.

There are a large number of tattoo studios that still pierce lobes with a gun, this is far from unusual, sadly.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 13/08/2016 21:48

How's it done with a needle?

kilmuir · 13/08/2016 21:49

Blimey , never known anyone over think such a trivial matter!
Crack on, they will be back at school soon

StillRabbit · 13/08/2016 21:49

Has DDs done on the last day of term at end of year 7 so she was 12. Needed the six week holiday as no earrings at all allowed in school until she got to year 12.

Local tattoo parlour did them with a needle and titanium studs but only on production of our passports and proof that I had parental responsibility. They also had her in for check ups and advised her when she could switch to other earrings.

She s now 18 and considering a further hole in each lobe and says she will go back to the same place again.

lougle · 13/08/2016 21:51

2 of my girls have had their ears pierced at Claire's in the last 3 weeks. Two different dates, two different piercers, same branch.
-They don't use a 'gun' - it has no firing pin. It's simply a spring loaded cartridge holder that they squeeze one in place.
-The 'gun' doesn't actually come into contact with the ear - the sterile (well as sterile as it can be once open to the air) cartridge does.
-They spend more time deciding where to place the holes (about 10 minutes) than doing the piercing (about 10 seconds).

It's not 'blunt force trauma'. By definition, it's created a hole, so it's a (deliberate) penetrating injury. It just isn't coring the ear as a hollow cannula would.

Girl 1 (7) has two days left before she can change her earrings. She's had no weeping, redness or soreness whatsoever. Cleansed and twisted gently to left and right 3 times each day. Girl 2 (10) ditto, but has 4 days left to go.

At the end of the day, do what you think best Smile.

Babyzoo · 13/08/2016 21:53

I don't know anything about the best method but I would say please do your research before getting them done.

I had my ears pierced at a local salon when I was about 8. They aren't straight they are different positions.

I went on to have more piercings in my teens and although it's no massive deal I now have scar tissue in my lobes. It kind of annoys me even now.

The onus is on the parent and the piercer to make sure it's done properly.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 13/08/2016 21:53

Don't they shoot the earring through your ear any more?

RaspberryOverload · 13/08/2016 21:53

Some tattooists will pierce under-18s, but it all depends on the licencing they get from their local council.

My local tattooist won't do under 16s, due to their licence, but DD has just had a helix piercing done (with needle) which is healing nicely with just saline and no turning or fiddling.

She'd had her original piercing done at a local salon when aged 10, all fine and hygienic, but a second set of piercings was badly done. The holes were so close to the original holes that the earring were rubbing. Spoke to the tattooist piercer and we've taken those studs out to let the lobe heal and DD will have them re-pierced in a better position.

lougle · 13/08/2016 22:21

Dame no. When I had mine done as a girl around 24 years ago, it was a proper 'gun' - a big click when they squeezed the trigger and the jolt as it went through. Now, it's just a spring loaded box that holds the sterile cartridge, which holds the earring - each earring comes sealed in its own cartridge, with the earring on one side and the back on the other, so that when they squeeze the box the front of the cartridge will move towards the back and the earring back will fix onto the earring (with the ear in between!). Because the earring has a sharp end (although not as sharp as a hollow cannula used with the needle technique) it pierces the ear as the cartridge is pushed closed.

At Claire's they pierce both ears simultaneously. A poster on another thread said it's because they're not allowed to pierce the ear of a distressed child. I think it's a pretty good idea - I remember having my first ear pierced and slightly dreading the second all those years ago. My DDs simply spent 10 seconds listening to someone saying 'right, we'll count from 3 then pierce your ears....ready?...3,2,1...done!'.

wobbuffett · 13/08/2016 22:21

I used to be a piercer.
We used Studex ear piercing cartridges, not guns. they come pre sterilised in a little packet. There's loads to choose from. We only pierced with needles when there was scar tissue in the ear (like, they had been sewn up/reconstructed, not healed over).
This was a proper piercing place that also sold body jewellery and the like.

Tips:

-Studex is a renowned piercing business (USA I think?) and most places use them (even Claire's!)
-do NOT go to Claire's. They will tell you to twist the jewellery, clean it with alcohol, etc.
-NEVER touch a piercing, unless you're cleaning it.
-The piercing will heal after about 8 weeks if you clean twice a day with HOMEMADE SALINE SOLUTION ONLY. The stuff Claire's give you is basically contact lens liquid. Half a teaspoon of salt to a mug of lukewarm water, get a gotton bus and go front and back to get crusties off.
(Mine took a lot longer. I don't ever clean my piercings with salt water. They will heal [eventually] if you just practice normal hygiene.)

If you get them done, it will probably be with a cartridge from Studex. They don't hurt but just be careful not to sleep on them or touch them unless cleaning. And they should be fine :)

lougle · 13/08/2016 22:25

Ahh, brilliant. A name! Here you go, a picture of the cartridge 'gun' www.studexuk.com. As you can see, it's not the 'gun' that contacts the ear. It's the cartridge.

Jizzomelette · 13/08/2016 22:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

milpool · 13/08/2016 22:28

lougle you can say it's not blunt force trauma all you like, but the fact remains that with a gun (alright, "spring loaded cartridge") it's the earring itself being forced through the ear rather than a sterile needle. Have you seen the thickness of those earring posts?! Much thicker than the pointy end of a piercing needle.

Granted they might sterilise part of the gun but they can't do all of it.

I've said it before on these threads but I genuinely don't understand why you wouldn't take your children to the safest possible place for something like this (most definitely not Claire's!).

OP, I wouldn't trust Claire's as far as I could throw them. Any "faster healing" solution they're peddling is bullshit. Saline solution is the best thing for fresh piercings. That and leaving them well alone!