Preferable ear piercing method? gun or needle

[farouk]

Professionally done is the only way...

theLords:

PS:

I do think that if a young person wants to pierce his or her ears, then it's best for them to do it professionally, like you say, rather than to try to dissuade them; (when they heal, the rings can soon be removed for certain occasions if necessary): otherwise, some of the less sensible young ppl are likely to try to do it in front of a mirror with an unsterile needle, which in these days of diseases, is not a good idea.

I know that there are some really conservative church ppl who think it's 'nicer' if, e.g., young men don't have their ears pierced, but I think it's always a good idea for them, if they are interested, to get them done, so it's over and done with, professionally.

 

[PouringRain]

I voted "gun" but that vote was more for what I would recommend to others.

The gun is often quick and less painful. It's like a stapler. "Click" and it's done. For most people, I'd say that is probably the easiest way to go.

I do not wear earrings anymore, but I had several........ and not all in my ears. I self pierced half of them with a needle. The others I had done with a gun.

The other day I bought a new pair of earrings, and I haven't worn any in years, and my left first hole was closed up, so I just popped the earring through it. Then I just cleaned off all the blood and squirted some antiseptic on it.

 

[farouk]

I voted "gun" but that vote was more for what I would recommend to others.

The gun is often quick and less painful. It's like a stapler. "Click" and it's done. For most people, I'd say that is probably the easiest way to go.

I do not wear earrings anymore, but I had several........ and not all in my ears. I self pierced half of them with a needle. The others I had done with a gun.

The other day I bought a new pair of earrings, and I haven't worn any in years, and my left first hole was closed up, so I just popped the earring through it. Then I just cleaned off all the blood and squirted some antiseptic on it.

Pouring Rain:

Hi; it's good to keep the holes open, isn't it? (At least, some of them.)

If the gun worked for you, then fine. (I just hesitate a bit for a number of reasons discussed in the thread.)

 

[farouk]

....What I was thinking of was the old fashioned way I had it done once as a teenager with an ice cube for numbing and a bar of soap for the needle to embed in!
...

Alabaster: PS

BTW: do you mean that you have gotten all your holes with this method? (I think the piercing gun came in around the early 70s. Some of the more modern piercing guns are admittedly more gentle than the earlier ones...)

In any case, until about the mid to late 70s, doubles/triples were quite rare.

(Two cents'.)

 

[pjt]

I voted "gun" but that vote was more for what I would recommend to others.

The gun is often quick and less painful. It's like a stapler. "Click" and it's done. For most people, I'd say that is probably the easiest way to go.

I do not wear earrings anymore, but I had several........ and not all in my ears. I self pierced half of them with a needle. The others I had done with a gun.

The other day I bought a new pair of earrings, and I haven't worn any in years, and my left first hole was closed up, so I just popped the earring through it. Then I just cleaned off all the blood and squirted some antiseptic on it.

Well, ear piercing is not horribly painful but I would guess a needle is less painful than a gun if the needle method is done by a professional. My sister felt no pain when her ears were pierced and I would say a stapler is a good way to describe the gun. It is a quick, sharp impact with a little burn afterwards and then the pain is gone.

 

[Alabaster]

Alabaster: PS

BTW: do you mean that you have gotten all your holes with this method? (I think the piercing gun came in around the early 70s. Some of the more modern piercing guns are admittedly more gentle than the earlier ones...)

In any case, until about the mid to late 70s, doubles/triples were quite rare.

(Two cents'.)

LOL! It was 1972 and I was at work at a restaurant, and a waitress there decided to pierce my ears with the ice and soap. I let them grow in because they wren't straight through, but angled!

I waited until my 48th birthday to get them done again! I was rebellious! My mother always taught me it wasn't a good thing for Christians. Yet, when she was about 70, she herself went and got it done! I have to laugh!

I liked the original 2 lobe piercings so much that I got three more---I like being asymmetrical!

 

[farouk]

LOL! It was 1972 and I was at work at a restaurant, and a waitress there decided to pierce my ears with the ice and soap. I let them grow in because they wren't straight through, but angled!

I waited until my 48th birthday to get them done again! I was rebellious! My mother always taught me it wasn't a good thing for Christians. Yet, when she was about 70, she herself went and got it done! I have to laugh!

I liked the original 2 lobe piercings so much that I got three more---I like being asymmetrical!

Alabaster:

I see; sounds like you and your mom had some fun anyhow...

She was like, double pierced like you, maybe? (or maybe it was her daughter's doubles that made her go for singles at last...)

(Anyway, so you did double at 48. I think it's very wrong to associate extra holes with teens, even though the teens so often opt for the gun method, not realizing they do have a choice.)

 

[farouk]

Well, ear piercing is not horribly painful but I would guess a needle is less painful than a gun if the needle method is done by a professional. My sister felt no pain when her ears were pierced and I would say a stapler is a good way to describe the gun. It is a quick, sharp impact with a little burn afterwards and then the pain is gone.

pjt:

Okay, I see. Sounds anyway that it's not particularly the pain aspect of the gun that would dissuade you from the gun if you decided to get another pair of piercings put in, but rather the complications that might arise (which your sister seemed to avoid, being pierced with a medicated needle).

So I guess you would regard the gun's 'quick, sharp impact with a little burn afterwards' as quite worthwhile, whether for a single set or doubles, were it not for the infection experiences that you had, if I've understood you?

 

[pjt]

pjt:

Okay, I see. Sounds anyway that it's not particularly the pain aspect of the gun that would dissuade you from the gun if you decided to get another pair of piercings put in, but rather the complications that might arise (which your sister seemed to avoid, being pierced with a medicated needle).

So I guess you would regard the gun's 'quick, sharp impact with a little burn afterwards' as quite worthwhile, whether for a single set or doubles, were it not for the infection experiences that you had, if I've understood you?

For me, it is definitely the infections that would prevent me from going for the gun again. However, I do not like pain and I prefer to be pampered so a painfree, no noise needle is an added bonus. And when I heard the care the doctor took in making precise measurements of my sister`s ears to get the perfect pierce, that impressed me too. But the bottom line is I just wouldn`t want to deal with infections ever again. And just to make it clear, I followed all the directions to a T in how to do piercing after care so the infections were not due to my neglecting my ears, taking out the studs too soon, or touching my ears with dirty hands. I believe the infections came from the gun.

 

[PouringRain]

It is also possible that your infections came from allergies to the metal in the earring. My one daughter is so sensitive to that, she can only wear white gold. She can not wear any other metal, nor earrings designed especially for sensitive ears.

 

[pjt]

It is also possible that your infections came from allergies to the metal in the earring. My one daughter is so sensitive to that, she can only wear white gold. She can not wear any other metal, nor earrings designed especially for sensitive ears.

Before getting my ears pierced I had heard that some people have allergies to various metals so to play it safe I did get pure gold studs so again I think it was the gun. Of course, I cannot prove it, but that is what I believe.

 

[PouringRain]

Before getting my ears pierced I had heard that some people have allergies to various metals so to play it safe I did get pure gold studs so again I think it was the gun. Of course, I cannot prove it, but that is what I believe.

All gold is mixed with alloys, and the different types of gold (yellow, white, rose, etc.) are mixed with different types of alloys. My daughter can only wear white gold-- not yellow or any other. She can wears the others as necklaces or other jewelry, but in her ears she can only have white.

BTW I am not disagreeing that you could have gotten your infection from the gun. I am only suggesting that there could have been an alternative explanation as well.

 

[farouk]

For me, it is definitely the infections that would prevent me from going for the gun again. However, I do not like pain and I prefer to be pampered so a painfree, no noise needle is an added bonus. And when I heard the care the doctor took in making precise measurements of my sister`s ears to get the perfect pierce, that impressed me too. But the bottom line is I just wouldn`t want to deal with infections ever again. And just to make it clear, I followed all the directions to a T in how to do piercing after care so the infections were not due to my neglecting my ears, taking out the studs too soon, or touching my ears with dirty hands. I believe the infections came from the gun.

pjt:

I see, so it's really for a variety of reasons which seem quite deep-seated that you now prefer the needle method, of which the gun infection possibility is one, but also because of the more painfree nature of the experience, and also because of the potential for sheer precision for the measurements for your extra holes, which kind of emphasizes the point that, if you are going for the classy arrangement, you might as well get the spacing right...

And of course, as you imply, the 'click' of the gun can be a bit startling to some ppl, particularly if they are feeling a little tense anyway, I supposed. This is not something that tends to be discussed much, though.

(I'm sure Pouring Rain has a good, general point, too, about alloys.)

So where you said previously, "if I did do it again, I would go for a needle" re. any decision about getting your double piercings, it's very convincing, isn't it?

 

[pjt]

All gold is mixed with alloys, and the different types of gold (yellow, white, rose, etc.) are mixed with different types of alloys. My daughter can only wear white gold-- not yellow or any other. She can wears the others as necklaces or other jewelry, but in her ears she can only have white.

BTW I am not disagreeing that you could have gotten your infection from the gun. I am only suggesting that there could have been an alternative explanation as well.

You are right that the infections could have been from the alloys or any other reason, I cannot prove anything. But I strongly lean to the cause being the gun. My sister wore gold studs too and had no problems and her skin has always been much more sensitive than mine. So if it were the alloys, I think my sister would have gotten infected ears too, but she never had a problem, but again it is just my hunch. I can prove nothing.

 

[pjt]

pjt:

I see, so it's really for a variety of reasons which seem quite deep-seated that you now prefer the needle method, of which the gun infection possibility is one, but also because of the more painfree nature of the experience, and also because of the potential for sheer precision for the measurements for your extra holes, which kind of emphasizes the point that, if you are going for the classy arrangement, you might as well get the spacing right...

And of course, as you imply, the 'click' of the gun can be a bit startling to some ppl, particularly if they are feeling a little tense anyway, I supposed. This is not something that tends to be discussed much, though.

(I'm sure Pouring Rain has a good, general point, too, about alloys.)

So where you said previously, "if I did do it again, I would go for a needle" re. any decision about getting your double piercings, it's very convincing, isn't it?

I like your term "classy arrangement" because yes I would definitely consider the professional needle method as much more classy than the gun.

And yes, you sum up the sound of the gun right. It is not terrifying nor will it cause nightmares but it is not pleasant and although one knows it is coming it is a little startling if it is your first time with the gun but nothing major. The sound alone is not what should put one off from the gun.

But to answer your last question, my piercing days are over. I have no desire to ever get my ears pierced again and because of my experience with infections, I hope my daughter never wants to get her ears pierced. I will not encourage her in any way, but if a day comes where she says she wants them pierced and I cannot convince her otherwise, then I will seek a professional to do it with a needle.

 

[farouk]

My mother always taught me it wasn't a good thing for Christians.

Why ever not? So, whatever did she mean?

:

Yet, when she was about 70, she herself went and got it done! I have to laugh!

LOL

 

[farouk]

I voted "gun" ...

I do not wear earrings anymore, but I had several........ and not all in my ears. I self pierced half of them with a needle. The others I had done with a gun.

Pouring Rain

PS:

Don't be surprised if your daughter, whom you mentioned, eventually wants to get more done, too (like her mom). It seems to be the custom, and especially it runs in families, too.

Allergies with metals are quite widespread, you are right.

 

[Alabaster]

[/B]Why ever not? So, whatever did she mean?

:




LOL

She became a Christian in the early '50's and legalism was a bit rampant at the time. She grew to become a giant in the Lord, a speaker and an author, filled with the Holy Spirit and free in Christ!

 

[PouringRain]

Pouring Rain

PS:

Don't be surprised if your daughter, whom you mentioned, eventually wants to get more done, too (like her mom). It seems to be the custom, and especially it runs in families, too.

Allergies with metals are quite widespread, you are right.

It doesn't run in our family. I have not even worn mine for about 13 years, other than the rare occasion. I wear earrings less than once a year. I bought a new pair recently thinking I might like to wear some, but so far I haven't worn them except to try them on here at the house the one time. The daughter that I mentioned with the allergies, she does not even wear earrings other than the rare occasion. She is not into earrings at all, nor does she ever buy new ones nor ask to buy any.

I had my girls ears pierced when they were babies, at the youngest age allowable, following their first set of immunizations. They had no infection, and the healing time was fast. I recommend it to people who want to have their daughter's ears pierced. If my boys wanted their ears pierced, I would not allow it.

 

[farouk]

................... If my boys wanted their ears pierced, I would not allow it.

PouringRain:

Really, okay. Your choice, you must know what works best for your household. God bless.