Thinking of getting my ears pierced . . .

[hobnob]

. . . as part of my campaign to look jollier for 2008. What are the pros and cons, anyone? And where should I go? (I'm in Oxford.)

I will say go for it.

I had my ears pierced when I was 26, and have loved it ever since. I love wearing pretty sparkly dangly earrings. Make sure you have a good quality pair of very comfortable studs to sleep in. DON'T take the piercing pair out for 8 weeks, you would not BELIEVE how quickly those holes will close.

go to a proper piercer who will do it with a needle rather than a gun

Def do it. Not painful really.

I have had my ears pieced a few times, have had them done at jewellers, hairdresses and professional piercers. I think professional piercers are probably more hygienic but tbh my best holes (never get infected or sore, can wear any metal in them) were done in a posh hairdressers. Try and get them done with solid gold, or another solid good metal (platinum?).

yes, agree get it done with solid gold studs

good luck

Ditto smurfgirl. The piercing guns in hairdressers are not sterilisable and they use the stud itself to pierce which is blunt and can cause more damage.
My dd won't be having her ears pierced until she is brave enough to go into a professional piercing studio.

any cooled boiled salt water to clean them at least 3 times a day, and when you shower/swim etc

and. not any

Thank you very much, everyone! Is a needle more or less painful than a gun (though it does sound more hygienic)? What do they do to numb the lobe?

a needle doesnt hurt, generally in professional piercing studios they will freeze you first. it is sharp, goes straight through.

when they use a gun, they shoot the blunt stud through your ear. can cause damage, depending what part of ear you are having pierced

plus, they use one use only disposible needles

guns dont get sterilised i dont think (i could be wrong)

I fancy getting pierced, not my ears tho, but cant quite decide where. (not my tongue tho)

Well that sounds good. Many thanks again, everyone.

i have a needle phobia, and it really doesn't hurt. It hurts more ^afterwards, when your ear catches up with what just happened.

having it actually done feels like your ear just got flicked.

I want to get my ears pierced too, had it done about 5 years ago in a well known high street store and they got infected.

What is the best way to find a reputable professional piercer? Some for stupid question

I am 33 and have just had my ears pierced (8 weeks ago). I had them done at Claires . They got 2 people to do it at the same time and it didnt hurt. I have been through childbirth fgs!!

i have just been able to change them and am loving wearing big hoops ..cant believe I havent done it before.

If you have it done you have to wear studs for 6 weeks and are supposed to clean them everyday 3x .

go for it!!