To Pierce My Own Ears

[Lazypeopledrivemecrazy]

Hi there

Posting here for traffic, as I'd like to know if anyone has used one of the DIY ear piercing kits, available from Amazon and other places, and if so, how easy was it to do, and was it painful? Also, were the earrings provided of decent quality?

I'm not thinking of doing it this way to save money, although obviously that would be a bonus, but because most places want you to make an appointment, and due to an unpredictable health condition, all too often I am forced to cancel at the last minute, which is really annoying both for me, and the person that I've inconvenienced. So I figured if this is something I can easily do myself, it might be a way of getting around the problem.

I should perhaps say that I actually had my ears pierced at 16, and wore earrings most of the time, up until about 6 years ago, when again, due to health problems unrelated to my ears, I stopped wearing them. Then when I was finally able to try again, I found that the holes had healed up, and try as I might, I just can't get an earring through these days. So I now find myself with loads of earrings, which unless I can get my ears pierced again, will just have to continue sitting in a drawer.

Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated.

I’ve never done it but I can’t imagine it too difficult with one of those kits.
if you don’t want to though, I got mine done at Superdrug with no appointment. The woman who did it was lovely x

I did my own with an ice cube and a pair of sharp earrings when I was 15, it didn't hurt so I imagine a proper kit would be fine.

I’d not risk it but then I’m crap at lining things up evenly. As Em94 says there are places where you can walk in. H Samuel Jewellers, Superdrug, Claire’s and no doubt lots more I don’t know of.

I've done it with a super cheap kit from amazon. Quick, really easy and surprisingly painless. It's like a little plastic stapler pre loaded with the earring so you literally squeeze it together, the earring goes in and the plastic breaks off. I bought very cheap ones so the earrings were cheap and definitely not quality - fine for me for a couple of weeks while it healed but you might want better earrings if you have sensitive skin.
Overall I'd definitely recommend!

All I would add is if you are re piercing rather than new, as in the same location, I really would get than done with a needle in a professional place. If you explain, maybe they could help with flexibility and offer you a way? It’s worth an ask.

re-piercing can result in a lump at the site - it has a name - I wish I could recall. Much less likely to happen if done with a needle by someone who knows their trade.

Is it that expensive to get it done professionally?!? I'm not brave enough to try a random kit off Amazon! It's screaming a visit to a&e!!

It is fairly easy with the kits - my daughter has done several on me and herself. I think I'd find it difficult to do on myself just from lining it up etc. we have had piercings in Superdrug as walk-in as well (as PPs have said) so I think I'd do that if I didn't have my daughter to do it

Personally I wouldn’t, especiallly not as a repierce.

i have rung ahead and had piercings done within the hour at a tattoo shop, and Claire’s/Superdrug don’t require an appointment either.

I would. My daughter did loads of piercings on herself without issue! Seems a small risk. However, I think "guns" are a bad idea, you need a cannula needle.

You should only get your ears pierced with a needle and a bar. Never use yourself or go anywhere that use those stapler things that force an earring in and don't leave room for swelling. Needles "make room" for the piercing unlike the "stapler".

As a foolhardy youth I pierced my own ears by just sticking an earring through my ear. Didn't have any issues. Didn't use an ice cube to numb. Can't quite remember if any amount of white lightning had been consumed.

This

I did it with a safety pin and some alcohol as a teenager, it didn't hurt.

I got the kit with studs and re-pierced my ears second piercing from years ago. I usually only wear one earring in each ear. I bought Emla cream from an internet chemist which numbs your ear before you pierce. I found that squeezing the tool quickly and firmly was good. It didn't hurt. I bought extra alcohol cleaner pads. 4 weeks on and I can take studs out and put other dangle earrings in.

I made an appointment at Clair's but once there they showed me lots of earrings and every one I picked they didn't have in stock. Hence I went on to Amazon and bought a DIY kit.

I did mine with a bodkin and an ice cube when I was 15. It didn't hurt. I would imagine that a kit would be ok.

I think those kits are no worse than what they use in Claire’s. Exactly the sort of thing I’d have bought when younger. I pierced my own ears and those of several friends and family in my youth using an ice cube and a needle.

I would continue to contact more places. I’ve had my ears peirced a few times and never had to make an appointment.

My sister pierced my ears with one of these kits. I have a lot of piercings ( done professionally )

And the kit things off Amazon are really easy to use, it's like any other piercing, short sharp pain then it's done

I'd actually rather pierce my own ears (or whatever) than go to Claire's or anywhere that uses a gun!

Didn't mean to quote you @blaringcube , but I absolutely agree about needle instead of gun. Claire's have no idea how to pierce properly.

due to an unpredictable health condition, all too often I am forced to cancel at the last minute,

Just walk in to a piercer, you may have to give it a couple of goes but more often than not they will be able to fit you in or say come back in half an hour or so - go for a coffee then go back.

My piercer, at a tattoo parlour, does walk in appointments, I imagine many others are the same, so you could just go when you're feeling well.
I'd be too scared to use a kit on myself, it would end up wonky!

I'm looking at getting mine re done as the holes have closed up. It's 50 pounds a lot of decent places near me. So yes that expensive.

I've never made an appointment to get mine in our local piercers you just wait your turn.