Q&A for How to Get Your Ears Pierced

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.

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.

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.

The hole might close up, and you'll need to get it pierced again. Also taking the earring off and putting it back repeatedly while the piercing is still healing might cause irritation and infections.

Ear piercings feel like a strong pinch, but the pain goes away quickly for most people.

You could bring a stress ball, a friend, or take a deep breath right before they pierce. It's not that big of a deal, and it will be over before you know it.

Yes, if you think it will help. Don't be afraid of what people will think, just do what you need to do to make getting your ears pierced less stressful.

Yes. Go to the drug store and find some saline, not nasal saline, and cotton swabs. Then, rub the swab around the area and over the piercing, and on the metal pole part that goes in your ear.

Put ice on it until it's numb or put numbing cream on the area to be pierced.

You just get a regular ear piercing. All earrings can fit in a normally pierced hole, regardless of their size (the part that actually goes into the ear is always small).

There is no age limit, so get them when you are have the maturity to care for them properly.

Bring a friend or family member to distract you, make small talk with the piercer and ask him to just do it without warning you.

As long as you are going to a professional, the process is safe, quick and pretty painless.

People say it's a little pinch, which it is, but exactly what it feels like will depend on your pain tolerance, this varies from person to person.

Yes, but be careful of what metal you get, as you may be allergic.

You can be any age. However if you are under 18, your parent or guardian will need to sign a waiver.

Take a deep breath and think to yourself that you can do it. If you do not like them, you can always let them close over.

Sometimes, though at some piercing salons this might cost extra. Numbing isn't usually required with simple ear piercings.

I recommend you should decide if you actually want them pierced or not. If you do, then just remember to keep your earrings in for at least 6 weeks so the hole doesn't close up, and make sure to clean them daily to keep them from getting infected. If you take proper care of your piercings you won't have to go through it again.

You should check your local pharmacy, or an online retailer such as Amazon.

Tell the person who’s piercing your ear to do it without a warning. You can bring a family member or friend to make you feel better.

No. Sedation is a medical procedure, and it is very unlikely anyone working at a piercing facility would have the expertise or materials required to do it.

No. Leave the starter earrings in all the time for 6 weeks and do not take them out. For 6 months after the piercing you can change the earrings, but try to still have earrings in at all times. After that, you can take them out overnight if you so wish.

You could, though it's riskier. See How to Pierce Your Ear .

You could get an infection if you don't clean. It's a good idea to clean them daily.

You can ask the person that is doing the piercing if it would be alright to use the numbing cream or not, because you do not want to interfere with the piercing.

Yes, you can.

Go for a tattoo studio or a piercing parlor. Avoid places like Claire's and Walmart. Look for somewhere that pierces your ears with a needle, as guns can cause a lot of trauma.

You shouldn't avoid them, because the guns are over with quickly.

Yes, but make sure you clean it as soon as you get out of the pool or as soon as possible because it reduces the chance of infection. It also depends on where your piercing is, because some piercers may recommend that you do not go swimming for a certain amount of time. You should check with them just to be safe.