Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hi all,

I am planning to go full time soon and would like to get my ears pierced. The age old question, however, is--needle or gun?

Should I go to the mall and get the gun method for $20, or should I pay three times that amount and get it done at a parlour for $60 with the needle?

As we all know, being TG is expensive, and for the lobes, does it really matter if the gun is lower quality?

Thanks!

Chrissi

*Will not mention how she DIY'd it*

Not recommended, even if it worked out okay for me. :eusa_doh:

As a body modding kinda person it baffles me that the gun method is even still around :P if you're gonna do it, do it right.

That being said, $60 is expensive as hell for just ear piercings, you should be able to find it for half that price.

I've always been in favour of the gun, I've never read or heard of any real reason to why the gun is not as good as the needle method.. all accusations are groundless IMO. Sounds more like business competition and bitterness to me.
One of my best friends who is a tattoo and piercer fanatic recommended me to the gun when I was considering going to a parlour, no regrets here.

My first one was a large gauge sewing needle, a cube of ice, a couple shots of liquid courage/pain killer and a dorm room full of girls.  With lots of peroxide/alcohol you'll do fine, countless generations of girls did it that way.  Why not you?

The second one (other ear, years later) I had done with a gun.  No problems there either.

I actually did mine myself with a sewing needle :P

but if I was gonna actually pay for it I wouldn't opt for the gun

I've gotten it done with a gun and with a needle (three sets of holes) and I'd rec. the needle.
The one I got done with a gun came out badly - off the mark, so my third ear piercing had to be in cartilage instead of on the lobe. Yeah, I chalk that up to the person obviously having bad aim with it, but twice with a needle at two different places came out well, so my odds lie with that. Easier to aim when you can see where it's going, lol.

I'd also say the needle hurt a lot less, by comparison. If that's a factor for you.

I have four piercings, all with the gun, and I see no reason why not go with the cheaper method. Nothing wrong with it. Quick and easy.

I had the gun. Keeping them clean and not touching afterwards except with sterile stuff was important to me as I got an infection in the right ear.


From memory it was about AUS$20 which included the studs and some hydrogen peroxide spray. :angel:

Then AUS$50 to get a script from my Dr and $25 for the antibiotics :'(

When I was younger, like in my teens, I had it via the gone. When I got older, I re-did them but with a needle with a professional piercer. Much better with the needle, especially because there's more control and it's a lot easier for the holes to be even (and in the right spot), and there are fewer risks (ie, gun can shatter your cartilage, especially if the person doing it does it wrong).

I usually don't wear earnings anymore, although. LOL I have to be careful which metal it is 'cause metal and me don't get along.

Needles FTW!

Just google the dangers of piercing guns.

The jewellery thats shoved through your ear isn't very sharp so it causes scar tissue, they can't be sterilized and the people using them aren't normally trained.

100,000s of people across the world have all had great results with the gun and vice versa. I won't say one way it any better than the other, just personal preference really.

I had mine done with a gun just a few weeks ago. The price at a parlor was $40, so I opted for Claire's instead. Total cost with studs and H2O2 was $11.41. They are both centered good, but the left one is at a little bit different angle than the right. 

Got mine pierced at age 16 in a store with the gun.  Haven't worn earrings in years but I can still get earrings into them.

Contemplating getting some guy earrings.  Since I'm not a shopper I have no idea where to go.  So, I remain earringless at the moment.


Jay

Jay,
As I'm sure you know, you have to get studs first and leave them in for like six weeks. Although I've got some really cute and glittery danglies for later, I opted for titanium studs for now. It was either that or silver/gold. I'm not really into gold and the silver looked a little chincy. 

I've gotten quite a few compliments on them. I'm afraid they might look too masculine for my tastes!! Looking back, I wish I had got the silver, but they might work for you!

Quote from: Jasmine.m on February 05, 2010, 10:07:26 AMAs I'm sure you know, you have to get studs first and leave them in for like six weeks.

That seems a bit quick as they wouldn't have healed by then. It's not a good idea to change the jewellery in healing piercings as that will irritate it and slow down healing.

Quote from: Jasmine.m on February 05, 2010, 10:07:26 AM
Jay,
As I'm sure you know, you have to get studs first and leave them in for like six weeks.

Um, yes.  But my ears have been pierced since I was 16 yrs old... so long since healed and still useable.   :D

But dangling cat earrings aren't gonna cut it anymore, LOL.


Jay

Several time as a teenager I tried to pierce them with a needle and they always got infected.   When I was a student, I had them pierced with a gun.  No problems from then on.

I too have had my ears pierced for years and despite long periods of not wearing earrings, the holes have never healed up.

I got mine pierced about umm...about 5 months ago? It was with the gun, haven't had any problems with them really...except I lost the back to one the other day *my friend told me to take them out and clean them, thought I was getting an infection* I was really upset, lol I started crying o.O

Yeah I bought a back the next day, so felt kinda stupid for crying but w/e :P

Umm the only thing I noticed was the lobe was hardish, kinda like a lump in it, my friend said it was because of the gun, it comes and goes so idk.

my sister did them with a needle for my 16th birthday. I got expelled from school but my mother was a fighter and got me back in with earrings.

Had mine when I was really young, baby. Another one I did as a teen with some alcohol, as in drinking kind, and the back of a track medal I won. Bad idea it was not very sharp  and I did not push it through straight.
Good Luck
Myles

I've had some done with the gun and some with the needle.  The needle is less painful.

Why are the guns less accurate? Don't they mark your ears first?

Chrissi

I had mine done at the mall with a piercing gun when I was little and they got infected and I had to let them close up. The second time, my mom had bought a kit that came with the piercing earrings and the gun thingy, had no problems with those at all. I did my second set of holes myself with a large sewing needle, my left ear I still have that hole and never had any problems with it, my right ear, I had a bit of swelling, so I ended up taking out the earring, and letting it close up and never re-did that ear.. I kind of like having an odd amount! heh

I'd say you'd probably be better going to a tattoo/piercing place than just going to the mall, 'cause I've heard some nasty things about gun piercings... Definitely wouldn't recommend the do it yourself technique, especially if you want them to be even! ha

Quote from: Icephoenyx on February 06, 2010, 12:43:26 AM
Why are the guns less accurate? Don't they mark your ears first?

Chrissi

Yeah exactly they are meant to mark them and if they don't then it's the operator that's at fault, when I had mine done she marked one ear slightly off but I got her to remark it and it was fine.
I think people are mistaking the problems with the gun method with the poor operator skills/training over the actual method, when done correctly it is fine. Quick, painless and cheaper! Just go to a chemist/pharmacy in a 'better' suburb.

I got both sets of mine done with the gun. They did a great job and cost less than twenty bucks each time. I was very happy to give a tip both times

Allot better than when I was young and we would just randomly shove a safety pin in our ears, nipples etc.

guess I'll weigh in on the gun vs needle debate here.  I've had 14 peircings (lots of holes i don't have jewelry in), with both needles and guns, and I'm definitely going for needle on my next one.

why its better-
Anyone who will be doing a needle peircing in a shop has completed an apprenticeship program, with hours and hours of training on safety, cleanliness and anatomy.  Peircing needles are sterilized in an autoclave, and in many shops have designated rooms that are kept as sterile as an operating room. and the big difference, hollow needles.  It makes a bigger difference if you are peircing through cartiledge, but can affect healing. With a hollow needle, you are basically punching a hole and removing the little bit of skin.

Compare to a Claires-type place in the mall, and its kind of a no-brainer.  The girl with a gun in the mall probably had minimal training, and is likely making close to minimum wage.  If the gun has been cleaned at all between customers, it was probably just a wipe down with an alcohol wipe.  Then, instead of a needle, they are using an earing.  Instead of removing the skin, its being pushed to the side to make room for the post, which is why you can get bumps sometimes with gun piercings.  Also, its just annoying to have the point from the piercing stud poking you in the neck, or side of your head.

I had 6 of my 14 peircings done in the mall with a gun, and was lucky enough that I had no problems with them, but I wouldn't reccomend that method to anyone, or go that route again myself.