Ear Piercing for Girls

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I don't think there's anything wrong with the mall. In my heavy metal days I had a few done with the needle/ice cube while drunk and the mall sober and the mall ones were always simple and perfect.

I did that too, and the last one I did ended up on a really bad angle.

[BEANZ]

Merle Norman was awesome. The ladies (not kids) actually knew what they were doing. Our 4 year old had hers done there and everything went very smootly.

[FireFly]

Needles are less traumatic for the skin itself and there's no gun noise. That said, people have been piercing ears with guns for a long time.

Back in highschool my doctor did body piercings so that he knew they were being done in a sterile environment in a small town. Always with a needle.

[Sliver]

Well, if we go to the mall I like the idea of Merle Norman better than Claire's. I imagine it would be less intimidating than your average tattoo parlour as well. I'll probably take her there.

Thanks guys!

(and sorry Redvan, there was nothing wrong with your comment)

[You Need a Thneed]

My 5 year old daughter will probably get her ears pierced sometime soon. we will probably take her to a mall somewhere too.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by core_upt

Tattoo.piercing place will allow her to put a ring in right away as opposed to having to start with a stud.

I'm sure his goal is to see how big of spacers his daughter can have before she turns 10.

My only ever piercing was done in a tattoo parlour with a needle, at the age of 19. While there, I was tempted to get a tattoo but didn't. In general, people under the age of 25 should not be allowed to get tattoos. There is a reason there are about a million of each of the following tattoos: barb wire/rings of fire around biceps, trees of life, fairies, butterflies, Chinese symbols, "tribal" designs, celtic symbols, stars, random motivational saying like "live", "breath", "think", etc..., random Japanese inspired art, tramp stamps, etc...

KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE OUT OF TATTOO PARLOURS!

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by blankall

I'm sure his goal is to see how big of spacers his daughter can have before she turns 10.

My only ever piercing was done in a tattoo parlour with a needle, at the age of 19. While there, I was tempted to get a tattoo but didn't. In general, people under the age of 25 should not be allowed to get tattoos. There is a reason there are about a million of each of the following tattoos: barb wire/rings of fire around biceps, trees of life, fairies, butterflies, Chinese symbols, "tribal" designs, celtic symbols, stars, random motivational saying like "live", "breath", "think", etc..., random Japanese inspired art, tramp stamps, etc...

KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE OUT OF TATTOO PARLOURS!

Yes because the ship anchors, death playing card, wolf heads and Cartoon characters from the good old days were so original

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Yes because the ship anchors, death playing card, wolf heads and Cartoon characters from the good old days were so original

I like the ship anchors on the forearm if the dude is an actual sailor as goes together like a cowboy and hat.

[Northendzone]

take her to Deadly Tatoos - just because she will like the name. May as well get her lower back done now as well.......

anywyas, Merle Norman - I beleive that is where my wife took my little tortuga (my daughter).

[Flash Walken]

Don't go to the mall.

That clacking sound of the gun is awful, as will be the wailing of your daughter.

Highly recommend a tattoo parlour of sound reputation.

I get the impression you're a bit of a germaphobe, in which case, think of the hundred of other little girls that have had that gun jammed in their ears prior to your special little bundle.

[Canuck-Hater]

Im not a parent but I would take her to a piercing shop that actually sterilizes the needles in an autoclave. The piercing gun at the mall is just unsanitary.

[DuffMan]

Do it yourself.

Wow. Pretty divided on this.
My mom made me wait until I was 12 to get my ears pierced. When my daughter tells me she wants her ears done, that means she's ready. I'll make sure that's she's mature enough to keep them clean and know the consequences of not taking care of them.

I actually worked at Claire's in my early 20's I wouldn't hesitate to bring her there, unless it's some 17 year old, I might ask when someone older is working. It's not unsanitary because the only thing that goes through the ear is the sterile earring. Merle Norman is an even better idea. Great ladies there.

I would say 10 years and under, get them done at the same time. Less chance of walking around with a single.

I also would have no issues with taking her to a tattoo place, but only if she's older, because I don't think they could do both at once. And a needle isn't as quick as a gun, so I wouldn't want to see her in too much pain at a younger age...

Go with the regular sized studs vs the mini's because of possible (slight) chance of complications (the ear grows over the earring and the earring gets embedded in the ear) If someone tells you to clean it with alcohol, turn around and walk the other way. If your daughter has long hair, keep an eye on the back.. hair gets wrapped around the shaft behind the backing and "ear gunkies" gets stuck to it and it gets stinky!

To the person with the daughter with grown over holes; after your daughter having a long hot shower, try putting the earring in through the back of the ear... sometimes I've had better luck going that way.

Good luck!

[Minnie]

I had my daughter's ears pierced as an infant. We just added the care of it to her daily care routine and it was fine. She had her nose pierced 3 times in the past 2 years and the first 2 didn't last - the first got too infected so she had to remove it. The second time she accidentally yanked it out with a towel and we couldn't get it back in. The third time, she had it done at Merle Norman's with a gun - the first two times were at tat shops (one here where we live, and one in Banff) and they used needles to do it. This last time it has lasted and she is pretty happy with it.

I don't know if the Smiling Buddha does piercings but you could check. That place is clean as a whistle or it was when I got a tiny little tat done there a number of years ago (no, not a tramp stamp, lol). There's another one I've been hearing good things about - something Canvas? I think it's on the NE side?

Good luck with the ear piercing, Sliver.

[RedMileDJ]

When I was 21, on a dare, I had my upper ear pierced. The top of the ear, where the cartilage is. Like this:



I had this done at Claire's, with the gun. BIG MISTAKE.

Because of how the gun works, rather than going through or pushing the cartilage out, it pushed the cartilage UP into the skin. I didn't notice until a couple days later. So I had this HUGE piece of cartilage under my skin, in the back of my ear. It looked like a hug ZIT...and it hurt.

I finally go fed up with trying to see if it would go away, and took a razor blade to the bump. Made a small incision, and the piece of cartilage popped out. Bled pretty good for a few hours and bandaged it up.

Today you can't see what happened, if you were to look at my ear. But at the time it was a mess.

DON'T go to Claire's. Go somewhere where they use a needle. Ie: Merle Norman or whatever. Don't go to a tattoo parlour. It'll freak her out. Just my 2 cents.

[PYroMaNiaC]

As someone whos been piercing ears for over 10 years now, I think there are a couple of important questions to ask yourself. You know your child better than anyone else. (Please note that while I don't work at a mall, I do use a gun.)

First up, will she keep it clean? If not, wait. While you can always do it for her, its an easy task that helps teach personal hygiene and shows continued commitment to what she wants.

Secondly, how well does she handle pain? It hurts no matter which method you choose. It bothers me a lot when I hear mothers tell their kids that it's like a pinch. No, it's not. It stings a lot and I am required to keep your little girl in my chair for 10 minutes after I'm done to ensure that she doesn't stand up and pass out. Then, it can be uncomfortable to sleep on a stud earring for the first night or two.

Lastly, is she doing this because her friends have had it done? Her friends may have had it done as babies. They may have gone to someone or someone who has done a poor job. Maybe her friends are into dance classes while shes mucking out a barn. Make sure its what she wants.

And just for the record, there are drawbacks to both methods. No matter which you choose, find someone who is reputable.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by PYroMaNiaC

As someone whos been piercing ears for over 10 years now.

Do you pierce ears with fire?



















When I was young, I used the lighter and sewing needle trick to be rebellious.

[PYroMaNiaC]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Do you pierce ears with fire?








When I was young, I used the lighter and sewing needle trick to be rebellious.

Yes, but only upon request. And it usually involves more fire than makes most people comfortable.

My child thought that it would be good pierce her eyebrow using a sewing pin. The kind with pretty colored heads. Gawd. It's a wonder I survived the teen years.

[FlameCity]

Originally Posted by Minnie

. The third time, she had it done at Merle Norman's with a gun -

Yikes! With the standard stud that they use? That can have painful consequences ... Like having the backing end up in her sinus if it comes off ... Painful to have removed!!

[Acey]

I have more ear piercings than I have fingers so I feel qualified to say that piercing guns are horrible and should be avoided at all costs.