Preferable ear piercing method? gun or needle

[farouk]

Not sure which section this would belong, so here goes:

Which is the preferable ear piercing method, gun or needle?

(Any wisdom, thoughts, ppl?)

 

[theLords]

Professionally done is the only way, i.e. the mall

 

[TorchHeart]

No option for a Black & Decker power drill?

 

[farouk]

Professionally done is the only way, i.e. the mall

theLords:

I wholeheartedly agree with your 'professionally' bit. But it would be the contention of some ppl that a proper piercing parlor rather than a mall kiosk where the employee with a gun may herself be a recent school-leaver with relatively little training, would actually be a more professional environment to have it done.

Maybe you were satisfied with having it done at a mall kiosk? which is just fine. But there is quite a variety of strong views out there, one way or another.

 

[Alabaster]

The gun is quick!

 

[theLords]

theLords:

I wholeheartedly agree with your 'professionally' bit. But it would be the contention of some ppl that a proper piercing parlor rather than a mall kiosk where the employee with a gun may herself be a recent school-leaver with relatively little training, would actually be a more professional environment to have it done.

Maybe you were satisfied with having it done at a mall kiosk? which is just fine. But there is quite a variety of strong views out there, one way or another.

That's very true. From my basic knowledge though a mall kiosk or store must be certified.

 

[farouk]

The gun is quick!

A: Yes, well this may have been your experience, which is fine. Actually, the piercing guns have studs which have thicker piercing needles built in, and which can bore away flesh from the lobe, whereas a piercing needle in a parlor tends to be much thinner and less painful. Added to the fact that some parlors use numbing agents, and so this is why when some ppl have had their firsts done with a gun but then go to a parlor for their seconds or thirds, or whatever, they often find it's an altogether more satisfactory experience.

(But one person's two cents' isn't someone else's, which is why such discussions can run and run...)

 

[Alabaster]

A: Yes, well this may have been your experience, which is fine. Actually, the piercing guns have studs which have thicker piercing needles built in, and which can bore away flesh from the lobe, whereas a piercing needle in a parlor tends to be much thinner and less painful. Added to the fact that some parlors use numbing agents, and so this is why when some ppl have had their firsts done with a gun but then go to a parlor for their seconds or thirds, or whatever, they often find it's an altogether more satisfactory experience.

(But one person's two cents' isn't someone else's, which is why such discussions can run and run...)

I didn't even know that the needle was an option. 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!

How is the proper needle method done, exactly?

 

[farouk]

I didn't even know that the needle was an option. 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!

How is the proper needle method done, exactly?

A:

If you go to a piercing/tattoo parlor to get 2nds/3rds put it, they will cleanse and mark up the lobes carefully, according to your instructions (maybe with or without a numbing agent) and when you are satisfied from a mirror with the placements a thin needle with a hole in it will be pushed through each marker dot and another thinner needle will be threaded through to put the earring in place. If you pull up Youtube, etc and type in 'ear piercing parlor' you will probably find examples of them doing it in this way.

(If you're considering more holes, trying it at a piercing parlor with the needle way may well convince you.)

 

[Alabaster]

A:

If you go to a piercing/tattoo parlor to get 2nds/3rds put it, they will cleanse and mark up the lobes carefully, according to your instructions (maybe with or without a numbing agent) and when you are satisfied from a mirror with the placements a thin needle with a hole in it will be pushed through each marker dot and another thinner needle will be threaded through to put the earring in place. If you pull up Youtube, etc and type in 'ear piercing parlor' you will probably find examples of them doing it in this way.

(If you're considering more holes, trying it at a piercing parlor with the needle way may well convince you.)

Thanks! I don't think I need any more...I have three in one lobe and two in the other. They weren't well placed, either! Sounds to me like those who opt for the needle may get a better job.

 

[farouk]

Thanks! I don't think I need any more...I have three in one lobe and two in the other. They weren't well placed, either! Sounds to me like those who opt for the needle may get a better job.

A:

YW.

It's your decision.

But you are right, too, about the placement accuracy; the needle can be very precise, as you would have seen if you had wanted a symmetrical three each side look, exactly placed by an experienced parlor piercer with a thin needle.

The gun can generally hover over where you want the holes. Somewhat hit and miss. But with the needle method the customer can really afford to be 'choosey' about where the marker dot goes exactly, because the needle can and should go in exactly where you have decided you want it.

 

[pjt]

I never would have considered the gun method as "professional". I had the gun which was quick and easy but my sister had the needle from a true professional, a doctor. And there was a major difference. With the gun they just wiped my ear with alcohol and shot so I heard the click or pow sound of the gun in my ear and I felt the impact although it was not terribly painful. And of course, I sat on a stool in the open where any person walking by could see. My sister on the other hand was in a private doctor`s office with a doctor and nurse on hand. She received general anathesia so there was not even the slightest prick of pain and there was no sound of the gun. But the biggest advantage was the professional precision. With the gun they just sort of get a good look and shoot. With the doctor`s office, the doctor made precise measurements to get the perfect and exact location on each ear. For me, I constantly dealt with ear infections from the piercing, my sister never once had any problems or infections. Eventually I just let my ears grow up because of the infections just never stopped. I imagine it was due to the difference in cleanliness. With a doctor, he sterilizes his hands and uses a sterile needle that was used once and thrown away as opposed to a gun that is used over and over again. Of course, the stud that is put in the ear is used just once but that gun must accumolate dust and body fluids over time. So my vote is a real professional--a doctor`s needle rather than the high school student welding a gun!!!!

 

[farouk]

I never would have considered the gun method as "professional". I had the gun which was quick and easy but my sister had the needle from a true professional, a doctor. And there was a major difference. With the gun they just wiped my ear with alcohol and shot so I heard the click or pow sound of the gun in my ear and I felt the impact although it was not terribly painful. And of course, I sat on a stool in the open where any person walking by could see. My sister on the other hand was in a private doctor`s office with a doctor and nurse on hand. She received general anathesia so there was not even the slightest prick of pain and there was no sound of the gun. But the biggest advantage was the professional precision. With the gun they just sort of get a good look and shoot. With the doctor`s office, the doctor made precise measurements to get the perfect and exact location on each ear. For me, I constantly dealt with ear infections from the piercing, my sister never once had any problems or infections. Eventually I just let my ears grow up because of the infections just never stopped. I imagine it was due to the difference in cleanliness. With a doctor, he sterilizes his hands and uses a sterile needle that was used once and thrown away as opposed to a gun that is used over and over again. Of course, the stud that is put in the ear is used just once but that gun must accumolate dust and body fluids over time. So my vote is a real professional--a doctor`s needle rather than the high school student welding a gun!!!!

pjt:

Yes, your concerns are widely shared.

I guess the piercing parlor has to some extent 'replaced' the doctor's surgery as the place to go for the needle method of piercing ears.

Piercing/tattoo parlors also sometimes use numbing agents, which are really more or less like a local anaesthetic.

So you did your first set of holes with a gun; did you ever choose the needle method for any second set?

 

[Lewis]

I got my left ear done by a friend around 1970 and she used a sewing needle sterilized of course, and then sewing thread was left in there for a while to keep it from closing up. I still from time to time wear a earring.

 

[farouk]

I got my left ear done by a friend around 1970 and she used a sewing needle sterilized of course, and then sewing thread was left in there for a while to keep it from closing up. I still from time to time wear a earring.

Lewis W:

Yes, well this was more or less the traditional method, until the gun came into vogue. However, the gun method never completely 'took over' from the needle, which professional piercing/tattoo parlors still use, (if you've ever been in one).

 

[farouk]

That's very true. From my basic knowledge though a mall kiosk or store must be certified.

theLords:

This is true in theory.

But I guess, also, that basic certification on paper isn't the same as a skill developed over years, and using a great deal of care in procedures. I sometimes get the impression that some school leavers that gun holes in kiosks have been trained in minimum compliance, whereas piercing/tattoo parlors as rule positively welcome more regulation.

But if you were satisfied by having yours done at a mall kiosk, then fine.

 

[pjt]

pjt:


So you did your first set of holes with a gun; did you ever choose the needle method for any second set?

No, I had so many problems with ears basically staying infected that I just never had any desire to try again. But if I did do it again, I would go for a needle from a doctor`s office. I think it is just the cleanest, safest, most professional and precise way to go.

 

[farouk]

No, I had so many problems with ears basically staying infected that I just never had any desire to try again. But if I did do it again, I would go for a needle from a doctor`s office. I think it is just the cleanest, safest, most professional and precise way to go.

pjt:

Yes, well two factors tend to be widespread. i) the problem with guns, ii) the very wide preference for the double/multi holes and the consequent need for their level spacing.

The result is often that those who started with guns have often graduated to the needle method and have found it exactly as you describe. But then, it in the end depends on how strong is any 'desire to try again', like you say, right?

 

[pjt]

pjt:

Yes, well two factors tend to be widespread. i) the problem with guns, ii) the very wide preference for the double/multi holes and the consequent need for their level spacing.

The result is often that those who started with guns have often graduated to the needle method and have found it exactly as you describe. But then, it in the end depends on how strong is any 'desire to try again', like you say, right?

Yes, it`s about desire to try it again and it is also about discovering a better way. A lot of people just think there are 2 ways to get their ears pierced 1) in the mall with the gun 2)DIY at home with ice cubes and a needle. But after some problems people ask around and find a better way. That is what happened with my sister and me. I got my ears pierced first. I had no stomach to do it myself like some of my friends did (doing it yourself obviously can lead to infection and a lack of precision too even though it is with a needle). So since I had no stomach for DIY, I thought my only other option was the gun. Then when my sister decided to get her ears pierced she sought a better way because she knew she didn`t want to deal with the infections like I had. I don`t think most people think of going to the doctor or tattoo parlor to get their ears pierced but there is a much better way than the gun.

 

[farouk]

Yes, it`s about desire to try it again and it is also about discovering a better way. A lot of people just think there are 2 ways to get their ears pierced 1) in the mall with the gun 2)DIY at home with ice cubes and a needle. But after some problems people ask around and find a better way. That is what happened with my sister and me. I got my ears pierced first. I had no stomach to do it myself like some of my friends did (doing it yourself obviously can lead to infection and a lack of precision too even though it is with a needle). So since I had no stomach for DIY, I thought my only other option was the gun. Then when my sister decided to get her ears pierced she sought a better way because she knew she didn`t want to deal with the infections like I had. I don`t think most people think of going to the doctor or tattoo parlor to get their ears pierced but there is a much better way than the gun.

pjt:

Well I think more ppl go to the tattoo parlor now than to the doctor for ear piercings.

But you (and your sister) must know whether, like you say, you have a strong enough desire to get doubles/triples done (or wherever you are at so far).

If you wanted, you could always check out your local tattoo parlor without obligation, unless the doc still does it, of course; but I think some doctors no longer do it, but anyway.