How to Get Your Ears Pierced

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Getting your ears pierced is an exciting, relatively pain-free way to add a new accessory. Make sure to get your ears pierced professionally, choose a reputable piercing location, and care for your piercings correctly to make the process as fun and safe as possible.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Preparation

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  1. Although the lobe and cartilage are the most popular choices, there are many piercing options around the ear. Some of the more uncommon placements include tragus, helix, orbital, daith, and conch. The placement you choose will also affect the price of the piercing.
    • Look into pricing. Some places like Claire's will pierce your ears for free, provided you purchase the earrings from them. Piercing studios will often charge for the piercing and the earrings.
    • Placement also affects price. Lobes are usually cheapest at around $20, while a helix orbital piercing can cost up to $80. Generally, prices range between $30 to $50.
  2. Make sure your blood sugar is at a healthy level, especially if you’re feeling nervous. Having a snack will help keep you from feeling faint or even fainting outright.
    • Some snacks that will help keep your blood sugar up include cookies, crackers, and juice.
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  3. If this is your first piercing experience, having a friend come along can help ease any anxiety and make it a fun experience, rather than a scary one.
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Quiz

wikiHow Quiz: What Piercing Should I Get?

Piercings are a great way to express yourself and enhance your style, but there are so many to choose from. How can you be sure you pick the perfect piercing for your personality and look? You’ve come to the right place. Answer these fun questions, and we’ll match you to the piercing of your dreams.
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Part 2
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Choosing a Piercer

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  1. It's important to consider which piercing technique you're most comfortable with. Piercing guns, like the ones used at Claire’s and Icing, push the earring straight through the skin.
    • Piercing guns, while quick and inexpensive, often cause more infections. The guns can be disinfected but not completely sterilized because they are made of plastic and do not hold up under sterilization techniques used for needles and other professional tools. [1]
    • Although this method is not widely recommended, as it does cause some blunt-force trauma to the ear, it is still common and many people choose it out of convenience.
  2. Tattoo shops and professional piercing studios use the hollow needle method, which creates a clean hole instead of forcing the earring through the skin.
    • This method sounds more painful, but many report that it's actually less painful.
    • The hollow needle method is preferable because it won’t infect as easily or heal over as quickly if you go without earrings for a long period of time.
  3. A good piercer will have ample experience. If you’re not confident that they are prepared and experienced enough, it may be worth finding a different piercer or location.
    • It's okay to ask the piercer how much experience they’ve had. At locations like Walmart, the piercer receives very little training and may not have any experience, so it's better to ask than have something go wrong.
    • Generally, professional piercers should have at least a year of experience before they start working alone. [2]
    • Checking reviews online is a great way to get a feel for the piercer's experience and the quality of service.
  4. A dirty studio is a red flag, so look around for general cleanliness. [3]
    • Make sure the piercer uses disposable gloves and sterile packets for each new needle. This is a crucial safety measure. If they don’t use proper sterilization techniques, you should probably find a different studio. [4]
  5. Pick the earrings you want to have your ears pierced with. When you get your ears pierced professionally, you will likely have to choose from the in-store selection. It’s important to know how to choose the best and safest earrings, since these will stay in your ears for the next six weeks.
  6. Look for earrings free of nickel and cobalt, as these materials commonly cause allergic reactions. [5]
    • The safest earring materials are surgical stainless steel, platinum, titanium, and 14K gold. [6] If these are over your price point, gold and silver are generally safe options as well.
  7. The piercer will use a surgical marking pen to place dots where the earrings will go. Examine the dots in the mirror and make sure they’re placed where you want them. The piercer can always wipe off and re-draw the dots if needed.
  8. Prepare yourself by taking a deep breath and the piercer will guide you through the process, which, for lobe piercings, is usually painless and takes less than a minute. You’ll feel a slight pinch on your earlobe, and then you’re done.
    • For less common piercings, the pain may be higher and the piercing may take a bit longer. Cartilage is harder to push the needle through, so it may take a few moments to complete the piercing.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Aftercare

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  1. Keep the earrings you had your ears pierced with in for as long as possible to prevent infection and keep them from closing up.
    • For lobe piercings, leave your earrings in for at least six weeks. Eight to ten weeks is even better, as the extra time allows your lobes to fully heal.
    • If you pierce any other part of your ear besides the lobe, leave the earrings in for three to five months to ensure they heal safely.
  2. Wearing this style of earring too soon can actually stretch the piercing, if worn for a long time. Continue to wear post-style earrings after the six months and only wear French-style earrings for short periods of time until you feel confident that the piercing has healed.
  3. Clean your piercings daily. Use the solution that came with your piercing or recommended to you by the piercing professional. Use a cotton ball or swab to coat the earring with solution, then twist the earring in both directions and move it back and forth for a minute to make sure the solution coats the piercing. This action also keeps your earring from attaching to the piercing as it heals.
    • Make sure the backs of the earrings are not too tight, pressing on the ear, or embedded in the ear.
  4. Sweat and chlorine can cause infections so it's important to clean your earrings as soon as possible.
  5. The more you touch them, the more germs you transfer and the more you’ll irritate them. This makes you more likely to get an infection. If you do need to touch your earrings, make sure to disinfect them afterward.
    • If you find it hard not to touch the earrings, you can place a small band-aid over the piercings.
  6. Treat any infections immediately with a saltwater solution. If you notice any pain, swelling, or redness, soak your piercings in a warm saltwater solution for a few minutes. The saline will disinfect your piercing and soothe the discomfort.
    • If the infection progresses and does not improve after three days, see your doctor or a dermatologist. [7] Infections can become extremely serious, so make sure to take care of them as soon as possible.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I make my ear piercing heal faster?
    Stephanie Anders
    Owner, Royal Heritage Tattoo and Piercing
    Stephanie Anders is the Owner and Head Piercer at Royal Heritage Tattoo and Piercing, a tattoo and piercing studio located in Los Angeles, California. Stephanie has over 10 years of piercing experience and her client list includes such stars as Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Alba, Cameron Diaz, Nicole Richie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Sharon Osbourne.
    Stephanie Anders
    Owner, Royal Heritage Tattoo and Piercing
    Expert Answer
    Ask your piercer how long your specific piercing will take to heal. A cartilage piercing won't heal as fast as an ear lobe piercing and a lobe piercing won't take as long as different cartilage piercings. Also, don't touch or twist a new piercing. The more you keep your hands away from the piercing the better it heals. When you twist and move the piercing, you tear open all of the healing cells that are forming around the wound.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Yes No
    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 19
  • Question
    What is the safest way to get ears pierced?
    Stephanie Anders
    Owner, Royal Heritage Tattoo and Piercing
    Stephanie Anders is the Owner and Head Piercer at Royal Heritage Tattoo and Piercing, a tattoo and piercing studio located in Los Angeles, California. Stephanie has over 10 years of piercing experience and her client list includes such stars as Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Alba, Cameron Diaz, Nicole Richie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Sharon Osbourne.
    Stephanie Anders
    Owner, Royal Heritage Tattoo and Piercing
    Expert Answer
    Choose a reputable shop that emphasizes cleanliness. When you get your ears pierced, you want to do so at a place that will prioritize safety standards. You can look up reviews online to find a good store, and then call them to ask about what their safety measures are.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 13
  • Question
    How will it feel when I pierce my ears?
    Community Answer
    It feels like a little pinch for a few seconds and that's it. It's sore for a few hours, but after that, the pain should start to clear up.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

      • Clean your ears every day to prevent infection.
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      • Don't remove earrings during your healing.
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      • Don’t buy cheap earrings, especially for your first pair. These can cause your skin to become irritated or turn green. It’s worth investing a little in a quality first pair of earrings.
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      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • I recommend staying as calm as possible and trying your best to not show any emotion. Once you start showing emotion, it will freak you out even more.
      • When I got my ears pierced, I pinched my leg and thought about that instead. It works!
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      Warnings

      • Take care of any infections as quickly as possible so they don’t grow worse.
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      • Do not pierce your ears yourself. Go to a qualified piercer and get them done safely.
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      • If you’re under 18, check your state laws on piercings. Some states require written consent from parents, while others require the parent to be present. [8]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/anti-aging/a35208/piercing-guns-bad-dangers/
      2. ↑ https://marineagency.com/get-ears-pierced-mall/
      3. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/anti-aging/a35208/piercing-guns-bad-dangers/
      4. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/anti-aging/a35208/piercing-guns-bad-dangers/
      5. ↑ https://www.parents.com/health/ear-infection/ear-piercing-for-kids/
      6. ↑ https://www.parents.com/health/ear-infection/ear-piercing-for-kids/
      7. ↑ https://www.trulygeeky.com/how-to-treat-an-infected-ear-piercing/
      8. ↑ https://www.bodycandy.com/blogs/news/age-of-reason-piercing-and-tattoo-laws-and-age-limits-2015-update

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you want to get your ears pierced, decide what part of your ear you'd like to get pierced.and look online for a reputable piercing shop. While stores like Claire's or Icings are common, they use piercing guns, which can increase your risk of infection. Once you've chosen a place, eat a snack before you go for your appointment. When you get there, you'll need to pick out your earrings. Choose ones that are hypoallergenic, like 14K white gold or stainless steel, and prepare to pay about $30 to $50. To learn how to care for your new piercing, keep reading!

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      • Harriet Baker

        Oct 30, 2018

        "This really helped me. I'm getting my ears pierced in 11 days, and now I know what to do. Thank you again, ..." more
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