Am I brave enough to get my ears pierced?

[CrinklyCraggy]

I had them done when I was a teenager, removed the earrings when I had babies who pulled at them, never put them back in and in the subsequent 20 years, the holes have closed.

I now have a new short haircut, which I love, but I'd love to have some statement earrings to go with it.

So, I understand I need a needle piercer, probably at a tattoo place. That's daunting in itself, but how much will it hurt? I'm not so worried about short lived pain at the time, but how sore and for how long will it be afterwards? I remember not being able to sleep for days last time.

Also, does the piercer provide the earrings?

The piercer will provide earrings.
They should not hurt for days, a reputable place will give you aftercare instructions which will be different from years ago.
The less you touch and fiddle with them, the faster they will heal.

Buy emla cream online. I used it prior to a belly piercing years ago and felt nothing. Its also used on children, or adults with needle phobias when taking blood/inserting cannulas etc.

You need to keep it on an hour for it to absorb into the skin, so often comes with clear, plastic dressings to hold the cream on. I'd add a pea sized blob to your ear and lightly spread it on the front and back- wrap in a sealed dressing and leave at least 1 hour before the piercing. Its not a cream you rub in like a moisturiser, its meant to be white and blob. It will turn an opaque, gel once absorbed. Best of luck.

Pain is all different so it's not fair for me to say "oh it won't hurt".
However I have had my lobes done twice, my helix done and my belly done.
I'd probably say my belly was the least painful and my helix was the most. My lobes felt like a sharp pinch which was totally bearable.

I am also not needle phobic though. So that might help.

We went to a piercing place for my daughter, they used a numbing spray and she didn't feel a thing!

I had my ears pierced at 18 many years ago and it didn't hurt a bit - I'm sure they used a numbing spray. I hate pain and can't tolerate it so you'll be fine. I'm sure Boots did mine!

Oh and yes piercer does provide earrings (small stud one) which you keep in for about 2-3 weeks if i recall before exchanging with others.

I was debating just getting one of mine done xD as I've always liked the idea of wearing one of those dangeling cross earrings in one ear lol. Was just gonna go to Claires but is that not wise? Lol

Maybe you could get one ear done one day and the other once it heals?

Make sure you time it so you're not doing anything special or crazy in the few weeks after; I lost my piercing stud in the sea the following week and got infected! I hadn't thought that through.

I’ve had lots of ear piercings. It won’t be pain free but it is generally a very short pinch-like pain (and nothing compared to having babies).

It’s best to avoid places like Claire’s and go to a piercer that uses a needle. It might seem intimidating but every piercer I’ve been too has been lovely. If they’re not then walk out.

They will provide sterilised earrings and then they should heal in 6ish weeks. Then you can change your jewellery. Many piercers will do the first change for you and check how they’ve healed (often for a small fee) if that makes you feel better.

You might expect some tenderness if you knock them in those first few weeks but anything more extreme go back to the piercer to check for infection.

Where are you based, we might be able to offer a recommendation?

Following @CrinklyCraggy I need to do the same

Find a good piercer. Even some ‘proper’ studios still use guns.

APP members is a good place to start but doesn’t mean a piercer not on there is bad.

www.ukapp.org.uk/

I had 3 pirceings yesterday. 2nds in my lobes and my Helix. Honestly, it hurt. For a few seconds. I slept fine last night.

The lobes feel fine today. The helix is a tad sore by I keep knocking it.

Definitely worth it for a few seconds of pain.

DD had hers a few weeks ago and said it hurt “a bit”. She winced when the needle went through but didn’t hesitate to have the second one done immediately (and winced again). Swelling went down very quick, a few days.

Tip from the piercer for sleeping: use a travel pillow, one of those neck ones, if you sleep on your side. Ear goes in the hole so you’re not pressing against anything .