Q&A for How to Pierce Ears with a Sewing Needle

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Will it hurt when I take a shower?

Community Answer

No, it shouldn't hurt to shower.

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Question

I'm about to use this method for my cartilage. Any recommendations?

Community Answer

Don't. If you have a Sally's around you, they have cartilage-piercing kits that don't cost much.

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Question

What can I do if I pierced my cartilage with a needle, but the hole isn't big enough for a piercing?

Community Answer

You can always poke it again with a bigger needle to make the hole bigger, but that could be very painful and damage your ear more. I would allow your ear to heal before attempting piercing it again.

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Question

How long will it take to heal?

Community Answer

Anywhere from 3 - 6 weeks. Keep turning the stud earring daily and gently wash with piercing cleaner.

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Question

What should I do to permanently close my ear piercing?

Kaitlin Crepage

Community Answer

If you don't wear an earring in the hole for a long time, the hole will eventually close.

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Question

Are there different options from numbing gel that I can use for numbing?

Community Answer

Placing an ice cube on the ear helps to numb it. However, numbing can cause its own problems, as it can shrink your ear. Only numb your ear if you’re afraid of pain.

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Question

I want a cartilage piercing. Is that something that I can do myself? How difficult is it?

Community Answer

Go to a professional and have it done because it is fairly difficult to do, as it isn’t just skin you’re poking through. Also, cartilage becomes infected very easily.

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Question

Can I use bleach to sterilize a sewing needle?

Community Answer

It is better if you use rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer. If you use bleach, you might get a different result.

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Question

Instead of using some saline to clean my ears, could I use sea saltwater? And could I use it to clean my ear right after I have pierced it?

EmoTransBoi

Community Answer

Yes, you could use salt ater instead of saline. Also, using saltwater to clean your new piercings, and through the healing process is actually better than rubbing alcohol or surgical spirit because it doesn't dry out the piercing.

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Question

Is it normal for my piercing to hurt right after I pierce my ear?

Community Answer

Yes, it will hurt for a couple of days after. You can take pain medicine if it really starts to bother you, but it doesn’t last very long.

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Question

If my piercing gets infected, how do I heal it?

Community Answer

You can try to use activated charcoal or bentonite clay. They help with infection. They are natural remedies, and if you try them, just be sure to be careful, as the charcoal stains, and the clay is hard to get off of clothing once it has dried.

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Question

What can I use to clean it daily if I don't have salt water or saline?

Community Answer

Use 96 percent alcohol, or oxygenated water, beacause they clean it even more than saltwater and saline.

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Question

How am I supposed to shower without getting soap on it?

Community Answer

Put tape over your ear to help block out the soap from getting in your ear.

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Question

What if I get the needle stuck in my ear?

Community Answer

If the needle gets stuck, put some ice on your ear to numb it and then pull out the needle (or whatever you're using) slowly. It may hurt more this way, but pulling the needle out faster could do more damage. Make sure to clean the area and your hands after, if you plan to try again, clean the needle again. Or, if the hole is big enough, put the earring in.

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Question

Can i just use gloves rather than continuously washing my hands?

TheCreativeLime

Community Answer

You can, but it's not recommended. If you do use gloves, sanitize them thoroughly with soap and warm water.

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