To think ear lobe piercing with a gun really isn't that bad?

[AngryAtYouTube]

Been asking around for local recommendations as my daughter has been begging for years.

And get lots of the "don't go anywhere that uses a gun" replies.

Which I get - I have numerous tattoos and piercings. But my ear lobes were all gun and were all fine (have 6). As are anyone else I've met who has ear lobe piercing.

It's pretty hard to find a piercer who'd needle pierce someone under 13 anyway.

@EerieSilence 70 quid?!! To get your ears pierced at Claire's?

My youngest dd had her ears pierced with a needle at a proper piercing studio.

She had no end of problems for a year despite careful cleaning and aftercare. They eventually healed up thank goodness.

Both older dds had theirs done with a gun with no problems afterwards.

Needle piercing doesn't always guarantee good results, I think a lot is down to luck.

Most tattoo type places are strictly over 18 due to licensing

What license dictates that?

The key is after care.

No, the key is how the hole is created. A smooth, sterile, sharp hypodermic needle vs forcing a blunt earring through the flesh with a gun that can't be fully sterilised. That affects how the wound heals internally.

I've had my ears pierced several times, all with a gun. They did all get infected, but that was due to me being allergic to anything metal not the gun! The only thing I will say is when I went in for a third lobe piercing the lady couldn't do it on one ear because the 2nd piercings were uneven so there was no room for a third piercing on one ear, I imagine it must be quite hard to be precise with a gun.

@smashstore minors are not allowed in tattoo shops, generally due to potential exposure to chemicals, blood and sharps. Also because of intimate body parts that may be on display. A tattoo parlour is no place for a child

I’ve had gun and needle lobe piercings, and I found the latter much less painful. The gun hurt like billy-O. I’m pretty heavily pierced too so not adverse to the pain! I didn’t have any issues with it after to be fair but I’d much prefer to be in a nice sterile studio with a qualified piercer who takes their time to do it right then plopped on someone’s kitchen chair and shot in the ear!

minors are not allowed in tattoo shops, generally due to potential exposure to chemicals, blood and sharps. Also because of intimate body parts that may be on display. A tattoo parlour is no place for a child

Indeed. However I asked about the license not your opinion. Tattoo parkours have receptions and separate rooms. You don't just go through the door and fall on a needle.

@RandomAmanda, yep, plus earrings, funny enough. Which were shite. A horrendous sum. Every time I'm there and see a girl who wants to have her ears pierced, I just comment loudly to my daughter, remember how they destroyed your ears and you had to have them repierced for a fraction of the price?
Btw, I gave them the feedback at the time but I think they have enough money from that thing that they didn't give a damn, so I'm not only passive aggressive.

minors are not allowed in tattoo shops, generally due to potential exposure to chemicals, blood and sharps. Also because of intimate body parts that may be on display. A tattoo parlour is no place for a child

What nonsense. Plenty of tattoo parlours allow minors so long as they are accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 18.

You don't walk into a tattoo parlour and see people being pierced and tattooed! They all have receptions/waiting areas and all piercings and tattoos take place in private rooms.

Unlike Claires where of course you just sit in the window for the world to see, and get pierced by people whose training involves piercing each other and stuffed animals - very professional

Guns are absolutely fine for lobes, not for anything else though.

Had my lobes done with a gun by my beautician, no problems. I'd research for the places with the best reviews/reputation near to you and make your choice that way. Just steer clear of Claire's !!!

Looks very common on kids under the age of 14-15 in my opinion.

That's interesting given it's completely normal in many cultures to have this done at a young age. In south asian and latin culture it would be considered extremely odd to not have it done as a child.

@smashstore depends on the shop. I could name two local to me that are literally one room. You go in and there’s literally the front desk and the tattoo chair behind it. I’ve been in a couple of times and seen women with their tits or arses out getting tattooed. As for the licensing it depends on what country or state you’re in. And also consider their insurance which will Usually disallow children onto the premises even if the licensing doesn’t

Ive had all 6 of my lobe piercings done with a gun and both my cartilage piercings done with a gun and had no problems at all. Personally I'd only ever get them done with a gun not a needle. A gun is one click and done, rather than needle through then pulled out then pushing the earring through then putting the back on. That sounds worse to me (not that I found it painful in any way at all)

Why wouldn't you rather wait than risk an infection or other damage?

If you've started a thread on it you obviously aren't 100% about it.

You said you have no evidence it's risky, people have provided that evidence and links to more information.

No child I know has ever died from choking on a grape despite them eating them whole. I still plan to cut them up when I have a child. Anecdotal evidence isn't a scientific way of approaching risk.

Again I was referring to the specific license referred to in a comment made by another poster. I asked that poster the question. Not sure why you are attempting to argue about it on their behalf. I just asked what license THEY were referring to.

The license is from the local council. All places that pierce have to have one.

The license is from the local council. All places that pierce have to have one.

Indeed. But it doesn't say as per the poster I was talking to that under 18's are not allowed in.

I had my lobes done with a gun, as did everyone I know, no issues.
I wouldn't for any other piercing, but lobes yes.

Just my opinion obvs.

@smashstore honestly I don’t know. It might be the insurance. Under 18’s aren’t allowed in tattoo shops. Different councils require different things on the licensing. They do come and check sharps disposal and hygiene etc.

I'm not asking because I don't know. I was asking the person who stated Most tattoo type places are strictly over 18 due to licensing what license they were referring to.

I have had one set of gun piercings and the rest are needle. The difference in quality is noticeably in favour of the needle.

DD had hers done aged 10 in a piercing studio by needle. My rules were:- if we couldn’t find anywhere that did them by needle at her age, she waited and needle was the only option. The cost was £12 per ear include piercing grade titanium jewellery, a check up appointment after six weeks and none of this bollocks “fast healing lotion” that Claires flog just instructions for salt water solution.

*I'm so far behind the curve, and it's been so long since I had my ears pierced, that I didn't know using a gun was remotely controversial.

Don't know that I even knew there was any other way to do it. Apart from in the bathroom with a needle and an ice cube, like Frenchy and Sandy in Grease. *

Same!!

@smashstore oh ok. I don’t really understand what you are asking. What’s the answer then?