TOPIC: Ear Piercing

Hi Girls,

In hindsight, after having my ears pierced 3 weeks ago I would definately recommend taking Bambis advice regarding going to a proper piercing place that uses the hollow needles.

I had mine done at Hairhouse warehouse with the gun type on the spur of the moment 3 weeks ago and I am now on my second course of antibiotics for an infection in the right one. I took out the studs after a couple of days and put in sleepers as the studs get really painful if your ear swells up like my right one did.

I dont believe anything I did hygeine wise had anything to do with the infection as I have had several body piercings over the years and have never had any problems and know how to look after a fresh piercing.

Dont let the look of the proper piercing/tattoo places put you off most are very professional and hygeinic.

Hugs Kate

I walked into a chemist when I was 12 yrs old ( many moons ago , im 41 now ) and got both mine done , its up to the individual on where to go to get them pierced , and instead of ' ear care ' solution , I dabbed on metholated spirits with a cotton bud , it drys out the skin to make it heal quicker , make sure you are turning them always and try to get sleepers in sooner , they are much better than studs , hope this helps

Jasmine xo

Irrespective of where you get your piercing done, I would recommend use of sleepers over studs. This means that you can rotate the sleeper which helps the healing process. Also, when rotating the sleeper, you can use an antiseptic liquid (like Betadine - can be bought over the counter) on the sleeper itslef and around the piercing so that the risk of infection is minimized.

I hope this helps.

I have a slightly different view.
I had my ears pierced at different times & with the gun. The first time on impulse in Hobart & the second time in rural NSW. I only used the studs because I thought trying to put a sleeper into a hole that has not epithelialized could cause more trauma & increase the risk of infection.

However I did make sure that I pushed the stud in & out & rotated it. I "sterilised" the stud with those little alcoholic steriwipes that they give you before & after I manipulated the stud.

In my personal trial of 2 - I have a 100% non-infection rate!!!!!!

That's my view & I'm sticking to it! LOL

Lisa

I got mine done at a hairhouse warehouse and aside from a few moments (which was more a reflection on the earrings I went to put in more so than the job that was done), I havent had any problems.
And this was including have to take the studs out completely one week after getting them done as I had to get a CT scan done of my head and you couldnt have any metal. I was able to switch them over to plastic studs which I kept in for quite a while and had no problems thankfully. Any flareups that I had were quickly taken care of with some methylated spirits on a cotton bud


Melissa

Hi ladies, I did a lot of research prior to deciding how I would have my ears pierced.

I used a dedicated piercing salon and of course the hollow needles.

They supplied me with a product called "Body of Work , Body Care Lotion" which I still use each time I insert an earring.

I really did not want an infection and still don't. I don't need attention drawn to my holes even though they are clearly visible and I don't need the hassle of an infected lobe.

I use the above, wash my hands and my earrings every time and have thankfully had no problems.


Jan

Ah, I recall the days of a boiled stainless steel wig pin, a cork and a bottle of metho ( topical use only , not Dutch courage!)

I had a wobbly few minutes at the time but the holes have been there for nearly forty years with no problems. We had fewer options in those days!

My experience was with the stud gun at a hairdressers in Westfield. The 16 year old girl who did it was chatty and rather unbiased. She was acutally more concerned about her friend sitting next to me who wanted a 4th piercing in one of her ears. When asked which ear I wanted pierced, I said 'both'. She was a a little taken back until I quipped "well if i'm paying for both studs in the pack, might as well put both in." She asked me afterwards how I was coping with the pain. I replied "Nowhere as bad as when I used to wax my beard" The look on her and her friend's face was priceless

As for infections, make sure you use the spray they give you atleast twice a day and whenever your ears are exposed to moisture (showering, splashes and rain). Lisa W is right about pushing studs in and out while rotating them. Do that every time you spray them to get the antiseptic into the wound.

As for sleepers, I had difficulty putting them in 4 weeks after it was done. I'm in my late 20's and I dare say the older you are the longer it does take to heal. Once you can get sleepers in though, spray and rotate them through to help clean the inside of the holes. Also spray every pair of studs, sleepers and earrings when changing them to prevent recurring infections. Spray both the ones going in and the ones you took out.

Pricewise, everywhere does vary, but most places will charge $30-40 to pierce both sides with the gun. The advantage of this method is that you are in and out really quick. Mine only took 10mins, including waiting in a chair for 5mins.

Just remember to pick studs you can wear as a guy everyday and be happy with them. Also be prepared to wait 6 months before wearing dangly or weighty earrings. Use large hoop sleepers in the meantime.

Hi, I had mine done 7 weeks ago at the pharmacy where I get my prescriptions filled, they thought I was joking at first, the 2 young girls who did it, one on each side at the same time, didn't offer any care advice, except to use the antiseptic spray regularly, they did ask if I would be wearing hoops so, without explaining why, they did the piercing higher up in the cartilage above the lobe, apparently this takes longer to heal but is less likely to stretch with heavy hoops.
Observations:
Don't take the studs or rings out for at least 4 - 6 weeks, I did & had major trouble trying to get the studs back in, couldn't get them to start, then couldn't find the exit hole, had to push one through, which hurt a lot more than the original piercing.
Most people either don't notice or a don't care, all the comments I've had are from female friends & none have made anything of having both done, I reply that I'm celebrating my retirement.
I'm sure it will get easier, but at the moment I have major problems fitting the keeper to the back of the studs, small girl fingers would probably help, some keepers click onto the stud & are very secure, others seem to rely on suction at the back of the ear & can fall out, particularly while sleeping, I've started using small hoops at night.
Hoops & shepherds hooks are much easier to put in, though the hooks can fall out if your doing something energetic.
I had no infection issues, though I was careful to use the spray liberally, I've found that using a lubricant, just a touch on the end, helps with fitting & I'm sure I'll be wondering why it seemed so difficult as time goes by.
Overall I'm glad I had them done, much more comfortable than clip-ons & more choice & availability

I to have been wanting my ears done and keep putting it off for fear of what my friends say etc , my loving wife says just do it so after many months ive decided to get mine done over or before xmas as a wee treat for myself .
Its interesting only the woman have commented , im going to say its a mid life crisis ...lol

I did not know about doing the hole higher or lower as i like the hoop earrings will ask about this when i get them done thanks for that little info Terri .
I find the clip on so uncumfortable and if worn for a long time my ears take days to feel better , so i look forward to not needing them .

All I can say is you wont be sorry. Had mine done as a pressie to myself last xmas at Essential Beauty. Lady marked where she thought they would look balanced for my ears and was spot on. Gave me a bottle of disinfectant spray to help the healing and directions about turning the studs and removing them. I now wear hoops and the hooks depending on what I feel like. With the hooks, use the little plastic stoppers on them that are on the display cards to stop them from falling out when wearing them. You can also buy spare stoppers from places like Lovisa. I converted all my clip ons to hooks, not a hard job and can get packs of hooks from similar places.

First of all to anyone who hasn't yet done so I can only encourage you to get your ears pierced. For me it helps the look but more importantly makes me feel significantly better. I often find myself playing with the studs or catching glimpses of them and it's lots of fun to match earrings to outfits!

Depending on where you are in life , where you work, and how out you are, do prepare for comments - In my case, almost every friend and every colleague. The office chatter about it was pronounced and consistent for at least a week. I had to learn to ignore them all.
I did start with cover stories, "done in sympathy with my 9 year old daughter", "done on a dare", "part of the midlife crisis (like my hair growing out)". In the end I found being (mostly) direct and honest ended conversation easier and faster, "because I wanted to and always have".

I had mine done Easter this year, at Hairhouse Warehouse (in Point Cook, VIC). The two staff did comment on a male getting both ears pieced and were not overly friendly or informative - To to the point I had to ask how long to leave the studs in to begin with, if I needed to treat the piercings with product etc (everything I knew the answer to, I was more annoyed the information was not forthcoming unsolicited). I do feel that the lack of service may be limited to these two staff members on this day at this store, normally I find it a decent retail chain.
Of note, they did not stock / sell any antiseptic, I went to the local chemist who had a dedicated post piercing antiseptic liquid, cost effectively too.

Following the standard after care steps worked for me without issue, left them in for at least 6 weeks, smothered the area multiple times a day with the antiseptic. I still wipe down fingers, ears and earrings when changing them over.

One of the best lessons learned; do NOT try to put the backings on in the mirror - I tried for far to long on the first change and only ended up frustrated. With everything reversed I found it a near impossibility to to use the mirror. Close your eyes and go by feel! It took seconds to get the backing on. Now that I'm well practiced it takes a fraction of a second.

Had my ears pierced several years ago and consider it one of the best decisions ever made. I tried clip-ons which were painful and fell off at inopportune moments. My son and daughter made comments the first time they saw them but have never mentioned them since - I have a pair of diamond studs that I wear in guy mode, which is always good to stir some people up. It's not unusual for men to get their ears pierced these days so what the hell. A religious guy gave me quite an interrogation over it, but I just told him I had always wanted to have my ears pierced and if he had a problem with it, I didn't care. ("It's your problem, not mine" are the words I used.)

So if you haven't done it yet, do it now and let people get used to it.

Im hopeful that I can get them done this week and I'm just going to go for a little black stud. Finding the time is difficult right now but it will be great when I can get them done . Anyone know a place out Blacktown way. I will just check out various places I guess. But looking forward to it ..my ears will be happy

Most pharmacies do ear piercing & supply the studs & spray as part of the deal, I paid $29.95 at Blooms in Grafton, they should offer you a rather bewildering array of choices, take your time to pick & to ask questions about after care, I didn't, feeling a bit flustered at the time, as I think the girls doing the job were also

I have a large pharmacy close by so will check them out I was going to going to go to a beauty and piercing place for a better selection of studs but now maybe the pharmacy will have what I need and sounds like a good price to ..thanks Terri

I had mine done quite a while ago now at a tattooist in Atherton. Was very impressed with their set up, very clean and sterile looking. I kept my studs in for about a week, although they recommended three weeks, and then put sleepers in. Love wearing earrings, the bigger and danglier the better.

I had mine done five years ago after I left my partner, it was making a personal statement, saying I am free to be whom I want, sadly hardly anyone noticed, even my work colleagues.
I had mine done by gun at a professional salon, it took 10 minutes, used studs and followed their advice on care. The only time the studs come out is to change earrings and it is, for me, an important step in ones journey. Hugs Lacey

Some more observations after 9 weeks
It's becoming much easier to fit studs & hooks now, as I expected after more practice, still wish for smaller fingers (& feet etc, etc )
Still a little tender at times, but that is lessening as time goes by
I haven't worked out the best sleep solution yet, sleeper studs & small hoops can both be a little uncomfortable at times & sometimes the studs fall out during the night, I have no idea how long it takes 'till you can leave them out all night
One drawback I hadn't thought of, I now have to avoid the jewellery stands in department stores, I mean, a card with 10 pairs of assorted studs for $12 at Target!! if you don't see it you won't buy it
I also now have a collection of clip-ons that I can't convert, might bring them to Transformal next year & put them in a freebie box

Finally did it , got my ears done last night , very clean place and the guy that did them was fantastic , he did have a lot of piecings himself and a very nice guy as well , it was pain free really not that it worried me anyway but i cant even feel them in my ears now and sleeping last night no problem , so very happy and excited , The Hair Warehouse in Blacktown is the place , Chris was the guy that did it for me .
Sat night at our friends xmas party is going to be the big night, so far ive not had any bad reaction from people around other than the usual ..why the hell ??
So i will follow the intstructions he gave me and i guess all will be well , cant wait to hit the shops for some new earings .
A small step for some i guess but a big step for me as only my wife knows about Petra , but im happy and thats all that matters right