Getting Ears pierced

cailinoBAC

Amazingly I've gone through 31 years without ever having my ears pierced. However, I've decided I may as well get it done now....the fact that I'm getting married later in the year might have something to do with it. So any advice for a first timer?

bfocusd

cailinoBAC wrote: »

Amazingly I've gone through 31 years without ever having my ears pierced. However, I've decided I may as well get it done now....the fact that I'm getting married later in the year might have something to do with it. So any advice for a first timer?

Go to a tattoo-piercing parlor, some accessories shops do it, but I wouldn't recommend them.
Take a deep breath when they say to and keep it sterile till it heals, then enjoy!

Twee.

Have heard that going to a body piercer, rather then jeweler/pharmacist, is less painful and is most definitely safer.

Check out this thread from the Tattoos and Piercings forum here on Boards http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055287992

Cherry Blossom Girl

Definitely agree that going to a reputable piercer and getting it done with a needle rather than piercing guns is way less painful!

I can still remember the pain of getting my ears pierced at aged 10 with a piercing gun. When I got another ear piercing last year it was done by a piercer with a needle and honestly it barely hurt at all (until afterwards and even then it wasn't bad) , I was so surprised!

Also, make sure that you are committed to cleaning them multiple times a day for about two weeks (I think) you don't want them to get infected! And dont remove the earrIngs too soon after getting them pierced, I learnt this the hard way

bfocusd

Twee. wrote: »

Have heard that going to a body piercer, rather then jeweler/pharmacist, is less painful and is most definitely safer.

I had one very basic piercing done in a jewelry shop and it was really painful, it was done with the gun and the woman hadn't a clue how to get the gun off after piercing it, she pulled it and my ear started to bleed, I ended up taking it out after a few days.

It was a spur of the moment idea and I had gotten several piercings previous to it and the were all fine.

If I was you op I would pay the extra for a needle piercing

Posy

As the others have said, don't get it done with a gun!!!
Somewhere like Snakebite or Bodyshock, in Dublin city, will do them with a needle in a totally sterile environment. It'll be a LOT less painful than a gun too. I got ear cartilage pierced with a gun and nearly passed out from the pain, needles are a lot kinder and better for your ears in the long term.

Pythia

I got all my ear piercings done with a gun, including a cartilage one. The cartilage one was a terrible idea, never healed properly and I ended up taking it out.

The ones with the gun were fine and I still have them but I got another piercing done with a needle and it's a lot better. I was scared of going into a tattoo shop but they were really nice and it was so clean. The guy did piercings all the time so he knew what he was doing. I would recommend it over a gun.

Also remember that after care is very important! You will have to put surgical spirit around the piercing twice a day, if you don't, a nasty infection could result.

Lia_lia

Got mine done by a guy in a jewelry shop when I was about 7. With a gun. I remember it being really painful. Then they closed. About 8 years later I pierced mine myself. 3 times on each ear. Don't do this!!

I echo what every says about a piercer. Any piercing I've had done by a piercer haven't been painful, so I can't imagine the ears being painful at all Make sure you keep them clean!

convert

Just had my ears pierced for the first time 3 weeks ago in Wildcat in Stephen's Green. Making the decision to go and get them done is actually the worst part of it. Getting the piercing done itself was not at all painful, and the staff there were helpful and went through the aftercare process with me.

From the research I did before getting my ears pierced, a needle is much more hygenic than a piercing gun, and as the piercers do a lot of piercings each day, they really know what they're doing. I've heard horror stories about the 'training' that some 'percers' get in jewellery or accessories shops! :eek:

The link that Twee provided has really good info in it, and you can always start a thread in the Tattoos and Piercings forum asking for recommendations on where to go - they're really nice and helpful ppl over there! And they'll also advise you on what to look out for to ensure the place is reputable piercing studio!

Best of luck!

bfocusd

I've found wildcat ink very good, I've gotten about 8 piercings and a few tattoos there and never had any problems, they also have another shop on Jervis st, it used to be celestial ring on abbey st if you want to research it.

cailinoBAC

Thanks. I knew there was a piercing forum but couldn't find it last night. I think I have plenty of advice here. I'm actually living abroad, but will probably wait til I get home. At least that way I'll know I'm going to a reputable place. Most people here get their ears pierced when they're a few weeks old.

Looking Glass

I got my ears pierced twice in my life - both at Claire's Accessories. From what I can remember, each time went swimmingly.

convert

Looking Glass wrote: »

I got my ears pierced twice in my life - both at Claire's Accessories. From what I can remember, each time went swimmingly.

Interesting choice of phrase!