How would a woman in her 40s go about getting her ears (re)pierced?

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I begged my mum to let me have them pierced, she finally relented when I was 15 and I had them done at what she said was a reputable jewellers, selling good quality jewellery, using solid gold earrings.

Then, 12 years ago, when DS1 was a baby I took the earrings out because he kept pulling at them and I've never put them back in. So, although you can still see the holes (or where they were) there's no way an earring is going through now.

I've just had my hair cut very short, which I love, but I do think it really means I need some make-up and/or earrings to feminise it a bit. Realistically full make-up everyday is not going to happen so I was thinking about getting my ears pierced again. But, I have no idea where to go. The only place I know of is Claires and that's not happening, not least because I know I need real gold earrings.

Is it asking too much to get the holes in exactly the same place as before?

Or should I just not bother?

You could try a piercing/tattoo studio

I had mine re-pierced in my 30's after they swelled up like cauliflowers the first time (16 at jewellers in town). This time they were totally fine. I went to a beauty salon locally. It had a good reputation and I felt confident the girl knew what she was doing. So might be worth going in somewhere and asking if that's something they do/are ok doing. Not sure about getting them pierced in the same place/or about the gold issues, as know nothing about that, but you could gauge whether you thought they were up to the job by how they handle your query perhaps?

I'm really glad I got mine re-done.

Just go to a piercer, who will do them almost painlessly with a needle.

I took mine out in similar circumstances when DD1 was a baby so hadn't worn earrings for 6 years or so when I decided I wanted to put some in last summer to attend a wedding. I'm afraid I went down the route of ice-cube on the earlobe and stud and just pushed until it went through . Had it not worked I was then going to try our local tattoo studio. I haven't continued to wear earrings so the holes have more or less closed up again though.

Another vote for a piercer who'll do it - exactly where the previous holes were if that's what you want - with a needle. Much more precise and hygienic than a piercing gun IMO, better all round.

My mum announced she wanted her ears pierced for her 60th, I took her to a piercing place I knew - wasn't having my mum in the window of Claire's! - she was very happy with the whole experience.

Your story is mine - my eldest is now 12 & I re-pierced mine myself about 3 months ago. I bought some good quality white gold studs so I could easily sleep in them (I'm not a yellow gold person). Wiped my lobes front & back with surgical spirit, froze them with ice cubes and put a sterilised(with a flame) needle through the holes, then the earing. I turned the earrings periodically for the first couple of weeks/dabbed the area with surgical spirit occasionally & they've been fine.

I had mine pierced for the first time at the tender age of 48. I didn't know of any decent piercing places, and the ones I saw locally looked so sleazy that I went to Claire's.

I had no problems at all - no infection, no soreness, nothing. But I know the general consensus on here is to avoid them.

I got mine pierced at 42 at a piercing shop. Don't go to Claires. Untrained and questionable.

If you are in London, try here

In my 40's I had had 2 new holes( tragus and cartilage)made and one redone because it was always too low. I went to a local shop that specialises in piercings and tattoos. The girl used a needle not a gun and I had no problems. Find a good place and they should easily be able to open up the old holes.

Am going to let my DD have her ears pierced this summer and was just wondering what is the problem with Claire's ?
Most of her classmates got them done there last summer with no problems.
I have looked at their website and am impressed with the detailed clear aftercare instructions. There are some good videos showing you exactly what to do and a chart you can print off to record your care routine.
I was just going to take her there at beginning of school holidays so they would have time to heal before return to school in September (still at primary who do not allow earrings to be worn in school)

Oh by the way she is 10 years old going into Y6 in September.

I don't know why Claire's is frowned on either, other than they will pierce babies' ears. The woman who did mine was older and very experienced. She told me that 80% of their business is piercing, so they can't be that inexperienced.

Thanks Bunbaker that is reassuring to hear its just where we live no beauty salons I know of pierce ears and I don't think I would feel comfortable going to a tattoo studio with a 10 year old even if I knew of one!

The reason that people who know about piercing are not keen on Claire's is because they pierce with a gun, which when you think about it is positively barbaric. If someone is going to make a hole in me I would rather they did it with a hypodermic needle, rather than firing a pretty blunt earing at high speed through my flesh.

The gun thing didn't put me off at all. It didn't hurt anyway.

A gun sort of shatters the flesh rather than just piercing a clean hole. I had my first set done with a gun, the butterfly back didn't go on. She said due to rules she couldn't just put it on. So I had to have it repierced through the hole she had just made ow wasn't the word
There's loads of reasons why I would always choose an experience piercer
jewelry.about.com/od/bodyjewelry/a/piercing_guns.htm

Some GPs do it - that's how I got mine done.