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.

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

I don’t think it is. When I went for my tragus piercing the customer before me was a six year old girl! With her parents, obviously.

All my lobe piercings were done with guns and they’ve healed ok but they all have that hard lump around them. I’ve heard that lobes pierced with needles don’t get that but I’ve never felt any to check!

I’d take my kids to a proper piercing studio if I ever have any.

Much more pleasant environment than a dingy tattoo studio

Liberty & Selfridges have needle piercing.

The woman who did most of my piercings now works at Harrod's. Most piercing & tattoo places appear dingy from the outside because they've put film on the windows to give customers another layer of privacy - they need excellent light to be able to see what they are doing - so the inside of the premises is completely different.

One of the main jobs for a piercer/apprentice is to clean, organise and sterilise everything every day (not just wiping up) - all jewellery, the tools they use to hold different parts and anything that is metal but not single use is autoclaved - like you get in a dental surgery, a GP practice or health centre. The standards they have to adhere to are so much stricter than a shop that sells hairbands - I've seen people turned away, not just because they haven't got ID to prove their age/that they are old enough as per the terms of the license the council has issued, but because they haven't eaten, because they've been drinking or because they have a medical condition that makes them unsuitable - which can be anything from the common cold upwards.

I’ve never not had a problem with a gun piercing and any of DDs friends who have had a Claire’s piercing have ended up infected / wonky / removed quickly. I have had two needle piercings which were quick and painless (in a room that resembled an operating theatre) and DD had needle piercings (in the same place) - not a day’s trouble and perfectly positioned. My gun-pierced lobes have a hard lump around them and are far too high (they also leaked pus for months).

Big fan of the trained professional with the needle here.

As ever, it is all in the personal experience of the poster.

My DD's and all their friends has theirs done with a gun, but in professional beauty salons. Ergo, clean, professional, disposable gun cannisters, gloved, trained, high quality gold plated studs, follow up appointments. No-one I know had any issues.

TwistinMyMelon Tattoo parlours are not 'dingy' though. They are HIGHLY regulated, constantly inspected places with commercial sterilising equipment and professionals who have spent months learning sterilisation, disinfection, cross-contamination and other health and safety issues before piercing daily. This somehow offends you whereas a retail shop with none of the tight hygiene regulations and a random shop person with limited training who scoots over to the piercing chair after serving someone at the till seems preferable to you. Folks is weird alright.

The woman I am considering had pierced the ears of at least 20 local girls we know, and I can see reviews/photos back 5 years on her business Facebook page. A local lady who has a home salon and it very well known/respected/professional.

Do you want to take your DC to a hairdresser, for whom piercing is not her main profession and who has done 20 over 5 years (so what, 1 every few months?) as opposed to a professional piercer who is trained solely in piercing and probs my does at least 5 A DAY?

I've had my ears pierced both ways btw and I can categorically tell you now that a gun hurts a gazillion times more than a needle.......

If you are anywhere near London I would highly recommend Maria Tash. Not cheap but absolutely brilliant- incredible care taken (and all needles), scrupulous sterilisation, wonderful free after care. The earrings are beautiful too but expensive.