Ear Piercing - where to go?

[LuluHB]

First and foremost - please don't turn this into a debate on the evils or virtues of ear piercing. Thank you.

DD1 is talking more and more (and more and more and more . . . ) about having her ears pierced. There are quite a few little girls in her pre-primary class that have pierced ears and its becoming a subject she won't let go of. I personally think she's too young at 5.5 and had more in mind age 10, but I can see there is no way we'll last that long - I have told her many time that it hurts when you get them done, that you have to look after your ears with bathing etc, can't change your earrings for ages etc but she still wants them. I have started to question why I've put an arbitrary age on it anyway and am wondering if maybe I'm taking the very mature stance that if I had to wait until I was a teenager then she will too

Anyway, I digress. I remember when I got mine done when I was 13 that it was in a hairdresser's, they used a gun and it hurt like hell. I still remember sitting there not wanting to have the second one done. I've read in various posts people saying that you can get both ears done simultaneously so just wondering where everyone goes these days (all the mums of the preprimary kids had their girls done as babies, so not up to date info).

There seem to be more specialty piercing places popping up - either stand alone places or within shopping centres. Would I be right in assuming that these people would do a much better job than the local hairdresser, or have things changed since I was a wimpy 13 year old?

Thanks ladies.

[TeniBear]

Definitely go to a proper piercer. They'll do it with a needle instead of a gun. That way it doesn't hurt as much, and the flesh isn't too traumatised by a blunt object being punched through. Chemists, hairdressers, etc. are only given about half an hour to an hour's training on piercing, usually with a gun, and thus don't always know the right way to do things. It will admittedly be a little more expensive, but in the long run its better

Three is about my very lower limit for any of my kids, though I'd prefer it was up around five or six if I can stretch it out until then. I'm pretty much going to do what you've done - wait until they can ask for it, understand it will hurt, etc...

ETA - I meant to add, since it's with a needle, she's going to have to sit still a little longer. Maybe play some games with her where she has to sit/stand very still to get her to practice? That way you can see how she goes with it and possibly use that as another excuse not to get it done if she can't quite do it yet

[diannescruffy]

DD11 had her ears pierced for her 9th birthday, we had them done at the chemist and both ears were done at the same time.

Regards,
Dianne

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

I took the girls to a piercer at a beauty salon. They do all piercings (not just ears) and did both together with a gun.
Not a chance DD1 would let a needle near her (let alone twice).

They seem to be going really well & the girls love them.

[Liviam]

I went to a professional piercer in a hairdresser. She was fantastic. DD had them both done at the same time. She did cry when it was done and she cried for a while after. Warn DD that her ears will sting for a while after too. Give some panadol before you go. Mind you DD called out from the lounge that they stopped stinging after a few hours - little turd took them out!! She is starting to ask to have them done again so wondering if this time would be more successful.
Good luck - she's going to look gorgeous!!

[Emma09]

DD had hers done at 18 months.
It was in a popular hairdresser/hair products shop that has a great reputation around here for small children's ears.
They were done with 2 guns and over within seconds.
She was 100% fine within minutes.
I've since changed them twice with no issue.

HTH and good luck

[Rowellen]

I had mine done with a gun at a hairdresser at age 8. It didn't hurt at all. I was very careful about looking after them too as I had seen friends get infected ears.

I haven't set an arbitrary age for DD to get hers done. Only that she will get them done only if she wants them done as I believe it is her body so her choice. I think, depending on the child, 5.5 is plenty old enough to make that decision.

[leesha]

I don't think there needs to be an age bracket I had mine done for my fifth birthday! People I know have had their daughters done at the hairdresser and chemist and still with the gun. I have had more ear piercings over the years and always with guns, it doesn't hurt at the time but stings afterwards!

[Traveller]

I took girltwin to get her ears pierced this week actually so this is a timely thread She was so keen on having them done before starting school and yesterday was her first prep orientation day hence the decision to get them done. She is far from the youngest girl in her class to have them done.

Having a past bad experience with my own ears pierced using a gun (they ended up totally squint) I took her to a piercers to get them done with a hollow needle with the earring inserted in the end so as the needle comes out the earring stays in. Girltwin never made a sound as it was done and happily allowed the piercer to do the second one. Because they were done with a needle there was no chance of the gun slipping and them ending up squint so they are beautifully symmetrical. I showed her youtube videos of girls having it done beforehand and she was aware it would hurt but she had no reservations. They are starting to heal beautifully and DS2 had his done at the same place a few months ago and has only had one problem which was more to do with handling the earring with dirty hands than the technique used. So I would definitely recommend a proper piercer.

[HotI]

I had a few piercings as a young person, and once i had my first done with a needle i never went back to the gun. Needle so much better.

[LuluHB]

Mind you DD called out from the lounge that they stopped stinging after a few hours - little turd took them out!!

I remember her doing this and trust me, that shut Miss I up for quite a while when I told her about Mummy's friend's little girl who had to take her new purdie earrings out because they hurt her so much. I should be ashamed of myself for using your child's pain to make a point to my child but hey, I aint ;-)

Thanks so much for all the advice ladies. I'm so torn on whether or not to cave in and let her get them done - partly because I'm still not sure whether or not I should make it a special thing just for Miss I and make Miss E wait 12 months until she gets to the same age, and partly because neither of them have any respect for the "jewellery" they already own. I guess if she only has one pair of earrings to start with we can't go too far wrong on that front though. Of course, the part of me that really resents the money we spend on crap plastic presents for birthdays and Christmases that seem to do nothing but clutter the toy room jumps for joy at the thought of a permanent present idea!

[trishalishous]

proper piercer for sure! I wouldnt trust the gun (and Ive had piercings both ways)

[helle]

I've had piercings both ways and hated the needles! I had the lobes of my ears done with a gun (both at the same time) and the worst part was the noise... I was 20.

[Blixie]

i hate the gun! Hurts so bad cos it's a blunt object being forced through. The needle is sharp and hurts far less and doesn't throb so much after. DD1 is starting to ask for her ears pierced i feel she's too young and am trying to hold her off. Have showed her youtube videos and she still wants them. But when the day comes i will be finding a piercer with a good reputation and no gun! It's up to you though. If you prefer the speed of the simultaneous guns then that's your call, but definitely find someone with a good reptation. Good luck with it all

[frog]

I have had many piercings and body mods over the years, and a couple of years ago found The Piercing Urge in Prahran, Melbourne. I have always found them super professional, the shop is perfectly clean, and they can help give unbiased info on when a piercing is appropriate, risk factors, and educate on things like why they don't use or recommend piercing guns. I (and many others) could go on for hours about piercing guns, but the info is freely available online and speaks for itself. If you live somewhere near them, I'd recommend them whole heartedly, I travel to them from Tassie when I want a piercing! They would be more than happy to give you advice over the phone I'm sure. Not sure if this helps a whole lot, but they would certainly point you in the right direction. Their website has a lot of educational stuff on it too.

Bear in mind that "piercers" in shopping centres, hair dressers etc often don't have a lot of training, if any. Some watch a DVD to show them what to do and have no knowledge in the hygiene side of things. The gun can't be sterilised as it is plastic. Most would go to a short course. There is also a difference in needles too, there are the needles with the plastic tubing, and blade needles which take a lot more skill but are superior.

This is all my opinion only though, after trying lots of different methods and finally finding the most comfortable way for me with people that I trust to stick needles in some pretty dicey places!