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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

183 replies

AngryAtYouTube · 07/02/2020 13:48

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.

OP posts:
dunnyplop · 07/02/2020 16:46

Honestly a needle does not hurt at all, it's a sharp sting like an injection & that's it.

cologne4711 · 07/02/2020 16:49

This thread has been a revelation to me. I've never had my ears pierced but thought everyone had them done with a gun. Having it done with a needle sounds (even more) horrible! Oh well, it doesn't really matter as I don't have any intention of having it done ever (although DH says it would give him a new thing to give me for birthdays and Christmas Grin

Also didn't realise how expensive it was.

Pipandmum · 07/02/2020 16:49

Here most girls get it done last day of year 6 (so most are 11) as they are not allowed to wear earrings in junior school but can wear studs at senior, and it heals over summer in time for the Y7 start in autumn. Most have the needle piercing which seemed painless compared to the real pinch I got when I had mine done with a gun over 40 years ago.

cologne4711 · 07/02/2020 16:51

A piercing gun will have been used on hundreds of other people, which might not sound bad at face value, but its impossible to sterilise a piercing gun

How is that even legal in the light of HIV or CJD?

MaggieAndHopey · 07/02/2020 16:54

"How is that even legal in the light of HIV or CJD?"

Because it's not actually true? This from the wikipedia page about modern piercing guns:

"However, more modern designs of reusable piercing gun have addressed this problem by the use of self-contained disposable cartridges. With these new designs, all parts of the gun that could come into contact with the customer's body are made of medical-grade plastic, which is sterilised at the time of manufacture and stored in sealed packaging that is only opened immediately before use in exactly the same way as the needles used by body piercing establishments. This automatically removes the problem of possible disease transmission found in the earlier types of device."

cologne4711 · 07/02/2020 16:54

Oh well that clears that up - it did sound extremely odd!

Biancadelrioisback · 07/02/2020 16:55

I had all 4 lobe piercings with a gun and 2 cartilage. All my others were done with a needle.
Honestly, my lobes are fine but my two cartilage ones (next to each other) and at slightly different angles so I can't wear two studs, it's less obvious with hoops but I notice it every time. That's more down to a shit piercer than the method I think.
But it's one of those things I've learned more about as I've gotten older and now, knowing what I know, I would always go for a needle.

MaggieAndHopey · 07/02/2020 16:56

If there was any actual risk of disease transmission by piercing guns then of course they would have been banned years ago. In the same way that there are (rightly) strict regulations around other scenarios where bloodborne diseases can be spread between people.

smashstore · 07/02/2020 17:05

why should I be embarrassed about what was done to me?

That you support it I meant. But I'm sure you know that.

EerieSilence · 07/02/2020 17:10

@smashstore - I see no problem with it.
Explain, why it should be a problem.

smashstore · 07/02/2020 17:14

- I see no problem with it.
Explain, why it should be a problem.

Really? You need someone to explain why piercing the ears of a baby is wrong Confused

LowcaAndroidow · 07/02/2020 17:15

I've had my ears pierced with a gun and a needle and the needle was definitely the better experience!
I had it done with a needle at a beauty salon and they do lots of children, and only with a needle.

If/when my DD wants her ears pierced I'd definitely go for a needle in a nice, clean salon over a gun.

LowcaAndroidow · 07/02/2020 17:16

Also the needle hurt much less at the time, and I also didn't get the throbbing pain afterwards you have with a gun piercing.

EerieSilence · 07/02/2020 17:17

@smashstore obviously yes. So how about you stop having those pearls-clutching comments and get clear.

smashstore · 07/02/2020 17:18

obviously yes. So how about you stop having those pearls-clutching comments and get clear.

Ah, the pearl clutching accusation Sad

It's not pearl clutching to suggest piercing the ears of a baby is wrong.

JRUIN · 07/02/2020 17:19

I pierced my own ears with a gun. Didn't realise it was a problem.

EerieSilence · 07/02/2020 17:23

@smashstore and the logical reasoning behind that is?

smashstore · 07/02/2020 17:26

and the logical reasoning behind that is?

Well I rather think it's down to pro baby piercers to explain their reasoning, given that unpierced is the status quo therefore no explanation needed.

welshsoph · 07/02/2020 17:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EerieSilence · 07/02/2020 17:29

Well I rather think it's down to pro baby piercers to explain their reasoning, given that unpierced is the status quo therefore no explanation needed.

It's a tradition that doesn't damage anyone. It doesn't cause any damage, side-effects, it's reversible if you don't wear earrings because they close, especially when you're young. I see no problem with the ears pierced just like I don't see a problem with them not pierced.

CherieBabySpliffUp · 07/02/2020 17:29

How does a baby express consent for an unnecessary procedure to be done to them @EerieSilence?
What is the parents motivation?
Who is to say that the child won’t want to wear earrings when they are older? Then they would have gone through the pain for no reason!

ClientQueen · 07/02/2020 17:29

I've had both done
Gun - the back didn't go on, she said she wasn't allowed to touch it so repierced the ear she had just done. Incredibly painful, took ages to heal
Needle - barely felt it, healed v fast as such a clean hole. She also did my lip which honestly was about a 1/10 if that on the pain scale
Great piercers manage the pain, she always marks up, gets you to check it's exactly where you want. Big breath in, and as you breathe out she pierces you and it's done. It's v gentle and quiet

Shinycat · 07/02/2020 17:30

@AngryAtYouTube A 'piercing gun' to pierce ears is fine. YES even at CLAIRES! Ignore the hysteria.

MitziK · 07/02/2020 17:30

95% of office workers can't even manage to operate a staple gun or hole punch accurately despite using the bastarding things everyday - and that's with paper/card of guaranteed thickness and weight with no possibility of infection.

amazedmummy · 07/02/2020 17:31

I'd personally prefer a trained piercer. They are the pros and if the healing process hits any issues they know how to help. In my experience tattoo parlours have separate areas for piercing. Primarily I would assume to accommodate more intimate piercings without an audience.