Q&A for How to Pierce Your Ear with a Safety Pin

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Question

If I'm 11, how much will it hurt to pierce my ear?

Community Answer

It doesn't really matter how old you are. It depends on how sensitive your skin is and how high your tolerance for pain is. You can use ice to numb the area, but it's still going to be a little painful.

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Question

Can I use an earring to pierce my ear?

Community Answer

No, earrings are generally not sharp enough to pierce your ear.

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Question

Can I do all these same steps, but with a thumb tack?

Community Answer

Yes, but the thumb tack may not be long enough to pierce through your ear completely.

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Question

Can I get my ear pierced with a safety pin at a shop?

Community Answer

You very likely won't. Ear piercing shops have to follow several health and safety regulations, including using safe, sterile tools designed specifically for doing piercings.

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Question

Does the piercing hurt at all?

Community Answer

Not really. You will feel a slight pinch, but it is not too painful.

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Question

How do I stop the hole from closing?

Community Answer

Keep earrings in the holes for at least a year after initially getting them pierced. After that, the holes should stay open even if you remove the earrings, but you can just wear earrings regularly to make sure.

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Question

What should I do if it is my first piercing?

Community Answer

If it is your first piercing, get it done professionally; if you mess up, it won't turn out well.

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Question

How much will it bleed?

Community Answer

It should not bleed that much at all, a few drops at most. If it continues to bleed for a while, you should go to the doctor or ER.

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Question

Can I take the safety pin out in an hour, then stick an earring in?

Community Answer

Yes, but it most likely will be a little hard to push through.

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Question

If we pin our ears, is it necessary to get a tetanus shot?

Community Answer

If the pin/needle is sanitary and not rusty and you have your tetanus booster vaccination, there's no risk of tetanus.

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Question

Isn't using cheap metal for piercing a bad idea?

Community Answer

Yes. It can make the hole infected and possibly hurt more when doing it.

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Question

How do I pierce my ear with an earring?

Community Answer

You can't pierce with an earing because it is not sharp enough.

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Question

Doesn't the ice make it harder to pierce through the ear?

Community Answer

No, the ice will not freeze or harden the ear, it will just deaden sensation.

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Question

Do I use the pin when it is still hot, or do I wait for it to cool?

Community Answer

They only reason you put it in boiling water is to get rid of any bacteria or germs on it. You can let it cool down before using it.

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Question

Can I do this if it's my second piercing?

Community Answer

Yes. My left second hole closed up so I re-pierced it myself with a safety pin. Just make sure the pin is sterilized.

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Question

Can I pierce my ear open with an earring if it closed over?

Community Answer

Use a safety pin and go in from the back of your ear. It's much easier to do that way and won't hurt as bad. If you use an earring it might be harder and more painful, but if you go in from the back side of your ear it should open back up.

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Question

Can I pierce my ear without having to have an earring or stud in?

Community Answer

You can, but the hole will just close with nothing to keep it open.

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Question

Is it safe to pierce my ear with a sewing needle?

BreezyDeezy

Community Answer

It's safe, but it's definitely not recommended. It will lengthen the healing time because it pushes the skin aside instead of punching through it.

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Question

Can I use a push pin to pierce my ear?

Community Answer

You can try, but a push pin is likely too small to pierce your ear.

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Question

What should I do if the safety pin won't go through?

Community Answer

You should stop, and go to a professional to have them finish the piercing for you so that you do not damage your ear.

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Question

Can I disinfect the safety pin by using rubbing alcohol?

Community Answer

Yes, it will disinfect and sterilize the pin making it safer for you to use.

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Question

Can I do this if it is my third piercing?

Community Answer

Yes. It makes no difference whether it is your first or third.

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Question

Is this safe to do if I am piercing my ear for the first time by myself?

Odin 4878

Community Answer

No. Never pierce your ears by yourself, especially the first time. Shell out the bucks for a professional to do it, so you have a lesser chance of infection and less chance of a mistake.

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Question

Can I use a piercing earring to pierce my ears?

Community Answer

Yes. It may hurt a little but you can do it.

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Question

How can I lessen the chances of infection when piercing my ear?

Community Answer

You can lessen the chance by not doing it yourself, but if you insist, you can sterilize the pin by putting it in boiling water or hover it over a fire; that will lessen the chance of infection. You should also use ice to numb the ear. After piercing the ear, you should be sure to take good care of it. You can use some articles on wikiHow to help you, like How to Care for New Body Piercings and How to Care for Newly Pierced Ears .

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Question

How will I know when it is okay to remove the safety pin and replace it with an earring?

Community Answer

Ear piercings generally take around 4-6 weeks to heal, but your ear may still be sensitive - it might hurt a bit changing it out for the first time.

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Question

Can I use a lighter to disinfect the needle?

Community Answer

Yes. A lighter can work, or boil the needle for 3 minutes to sterilize the needle and make it safer to pierce.

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Question

How will I know when it is okay to remove the safety pin and replace it with an earring?

Community Answer

When I did it, I took the pin out right after and put the earring in. A safety pin is way thinner than an earring, though, so you will have to push it in with some force.

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Question

What are some good tips and tricks to making the earring holes even on both sides?

Community Answer

It's very unlikely that you'll get both sides perfectly, but try asking a friend to mark your ears for you. Be sure to use the same size piercing needle for both ears.

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Question

Can I pierce my own ear with a sewing needle?

Community Answer

No; a sewing needle is thinner than an earring, and it would cause you pain to put the earring in.

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