Ear Piercing? The mall vs Piercing studio

[KyleEdric]

Back in high school, (still female back then) I got mine pierced for the first time at the mall (claire's) and the piercing cost I believe $40-50? They give you all you need for aftercare, but my ears still got a minor infection, and one lobe started bleeding because the piercing was BENT when it was jabbed in, as a result, part of the piercing was cutting into my ear! So yeah, my bet is going to a place that knows it's stuff like a studio. The holes ended up sealing anyway after I left a set of earrings out too long and I couldn't force them back in :/

[V M]

What I would recommend is to just do some research before you decide where to go and who you will allow to do your piercing

Look around the shop, what kind of cleanliness standards do they keep? Ask questions, about their training, are they certified to do piercings, is their equipment sterilized?

I visited quite a few shops before I decided on who I was most comfortable with, which is probably allot better than the first time when a friend and I did our piercings in his sister's garage during my death rocker days 

[Jill F]

I visited quite a few shops before I decided on who I was most comfortable with, which is probably allot better than the first time when a friend and I did our piercings in his sister's garage during my death rocker days 

Does this look infected to you?

[Rikosa]

I just recently had mine done at a local studio that a friend recommended.  A friend online summarized it this way, "If you want it cheap, you can do it in the mall, if you want to make sure it's done right, best to go to a studio."

It was $10 per ear for the piercing itself and then I splurged on the jewelry at $37 per earring, so I ended up walking out of there for a bit over $100 after leaving a nice tip since they were kind and very informational.  I could have gone much cheaper with the earrings, but I wanted something nice that I could continue to use in both male and female roles.  I've just been having a heck of a time finding a necklace to go with the earrings that I like.

The way I looked at it was it's a one-time expense if done right and since it's permanently altering my body, I really do want it done by someone certified and who's there for follow-up questions/care after the fact.  I've been back to the studio a few times for checkups (at no cost) to make sure they're healing properly and all has been going well.  They also provided non-iodized salt for after-care soaking at no cost and I can pick up more if I run out.

[Cheska]

I highly recommend avoiding the piercing guns at all cost. For one the people at malls are not properly trained and you could end up with lopsided holes. Also the biggest issues is that those guns can not be properly sterilized and you could end up getting an infection if they use a dirty machine and at the very worst you could end up with hepatitis c from unsterilized equipment.  It's worth paying the extra money to get it done at a tattoo/piercer shop with a needle.

I second this.

[Eva Marie]

I highly recommend avoiding the piercing guns at all cost. For one the people at malls are not properly trained and you could end up with lopsided holes. Also the biggest issues is that those guns can not be properly sterilized and you could end up getting an infection if they use a dirty machine and at the very worst you could end up with hepatitis c from unsterilized equipment.  It's worth paying the extra money to get it done at a tattoo/piercer shop with a needle.

The place I went to used a gun that used the actual studs I bought to do the piercing - it was all part of a system and the gun just pushed them through. The studs came in sealed packaging so I assume that they were sterile.

I don't know much about the variety guns that are out there and maybe there are some with their own built in needle (eeewwwwww.....) but the gun my place used was totally sanitary, quick, and safe.

The lady did take time to evenly mark my earlobes before the piercing too.

The takeaway from this thread is to ask questions first, and walk away if you don't like the answers.

[Christine Eryn]

I did mine at a tattoo parlor and would not have it done anywhere else.

[Violet Bloom]

The place I went to used a gun that used the actual studs I bought to do the piercing - it was all part of a system and the gun just pushed them through. The studs came in sealed packaging so I assume that they were sterile.

I don't know much about the variety guns that are out there and maybe there are some with their own built in needle (eeewwwwww.....) but the gun my place used was totally sanitary, quick, and safe.

The lady did take time to evenly mark my earlobes before the piercing too.

The takeaway from this thread is to ask questions first, and walk away if you don't like the answers.

  You are probably referring to the Inverness System.  This is the one that was used on me.  The safety, simplicity and gentleness of it was what sold me on getting pierced at all.  I researched it first on the internet and then went on to seek out a local provider.  I went to a chain salon called Caryl Baker Visage.  This system is commonly used on children and young infants without incident.  I had no healing problems until long after, and then only because I was being careless and snagging my piercings while brushing my hair.  (This was after I'd already switched away from the original piercings they'd provided.)

  The old-fashioned, spring loaded gun is not worth bothering with.  It is too rough and crude while being open to the potential for serious contamination issues.  The Inverness tool uses only hand pressure because the piercing jewelry has a surgical-grade needle point and a minimal shaft diameter.  Everything that comes into contact with the ear is disposed of as an ejectable cartridge.  The piercing jewelry is also individually contained inside a sterile capsule so that it is never handled directly.

  I reported on my experiences earlier this summer, and I know others followed my lead without any regret.  There are very few tattoo parlors in my city that are considered even remotely reputable or safe and they are also very expensive by comparison.

[Isabelle]

This thread has given me many lols. Where is the spirit of punk rock today? Get a safety pin, pick a body part and have at it.

[V M]

This thread has given me many lols.  Get a safety pin, pick a body part and have at it.

Been there done that

Where is the spirit of punk rock today?

Could maybe look here... Music you are listening to now 4.0  and then add something

[Aazhie]

This thread has given me many lols. Where is the spirit of punk rock today? Get a safety pin, pick a body part and have at it.

It's DOA, after all the punk rockers died of overdoses and communicable diseases

My roommate did all her own piercings but she also surgicated her own tongue to not be tongue tied anymore. She's kind of weird.

Earlobes are fairly durable but if you are going to go the cheap and infectious way, just have a friend jab you at home.  At least that way you can crudely sterilize the needle yourself. 

Guns that aren't disposable are garbage. They use blunt force trauma and require sharp ended jewelry(which jabs you in the head) and they basically spray blood mist all over the place.  So if anyone had a bloodborne disease, you are at risk.  At least home is safe.  There are sterile kits they sell on various websites. 

I worked at a piercing shop and we would show anyone who asked the sterilization process, the quality control checks and certifications of all our artists.  HepC, HIV C-dificil, and many other gross germs can be in other people's blood and if they reuse a gun on you that was used on other people-you are practically sharing a needle with random people.  I've had both Claire's and parlour piercings and even at their worst, the palour jabs healed better, faster and with less hassel than my nightmare with Claire's.

Don't rotate your jewelry, use titanium, niobium or SURGICAL (not stainless) steel, do not use hydrogen perioxide or alcohol on healing wounds. Saline solution is great aftercare and the piercer should use longer posts so there's room for swelling.