Finding a piercer, especially during covid?

[Heather Nicole]

Ok, so I'm really itchiting to get my basic earlobes done now that I finally realize it's no longer the 90s, and maybe a certain something else too. I've done a lot of research in the past, so I know the red flags to look out for. But aside from that, and maybe it's just my social anxiety, I don't know, but I don't have the first clue how to actually find which (if any?) of the piercers in my area are any good? Especially during covid. We have a TON of "sniffers" in the area who don't bother covering their nose just so they can *technically* claim they're supposedly "wearing a mask" even though it very obviously does absolutely nothing when worn that way. (My mom and I are both all kinds of "at risk".) Any advice?

[Benji C]

Um... I'm not exactly sure... but maybe this will help..?https://odh.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odh/know-our-programs/body-art-program/welcome-to-body-art

[Trista1]

I pierced my own ears at home this last April using a cheap kit that I found on amazon (had my wife help me I was too chicken to do it myself). They went in easy and it hurt far less than I was expecting. 

So if you are brave enough or have help that may be an option.

[Jordyn1215225]

I went to Claire's.  The lady was very nice and very quick.  I have a diamond in each ear that my wife bought for me. 

[SaraAW]

I had mine pierced a couple weeks ago. I went to a tattoo / piercing studio. Super professional and lots of COVID protocols. Stay away from anyone using a "gun" to do piercings. They are really just pushing a rather blunt item through your lobe and it can cause issues with healing/scarring. Best get it done by someone using needles, it is really quick and even less painful than the gun, especially if the piercer is experienced. Opt for a barbell for the initial piercing, you'll get the best results with healing. The backing on studs typically doesn't allow as much air at the site and hoops can cause hypertrophic scarring. In 6-8 weeks, you can then swap out the piercing for any style of your choosing.

[Ivy]

The first I had done back in the day at an outdoor concert.  I had a friendly girl push a needle through.  Then a couple years ago I had some done at Claire's.  

2 hours ago, SaraAW said:

The backing on studs typically doesn't allow as much air at the site and hoops can cause hypertrophic scarring

That time I did have an issue kinda like this.  But I did eventually get that straitened out.

[KymmieL]

As Sara said. Go to a professional piercer One who has been trained. Yes, there are trainers for body piercing. Make sure that all the equipment used has been autoclave sterile.  You also may check into the health regulations in your state. If the state references South Dakota's tattoo and body piercing regulations. That is one of the best if not the best in the country.

 

The South Dakota tattoo/ body piercing health regulations were co-written by a couple friends of mine, a professional tattooist and his wife, a professional body piercer. She took her profession very seriously  even taking anatomy classes.

 

But ultimately your choice, have a semi sharp stud pushed through your ear with an instrument not able to be hospital sterile or a sterile ultra sharp needle making a hole. Plus the after care instruction. and a place where you can contact the person who did the work about ANY problems.

 

Kymmie 

[Heather Nicole]

Thanks everyone! You've all been very helpful.

 

I finally got them done this evening!

 

(My mom had a slight initial shock, as I expected, but ultimately she's good with it.)

 

I remember hearing about piercing guns back in the 90's and why they weren't a good thing. I'm really surprised to hear they're still in use. I was convinced they'd become a relic by now.

 

Regardless, I also managed to stumble upon another, more disturbing imo, reason I ended up choosing to avoid Claire's:

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/04/229478/claires-children-ear-piercing-age-backlash-employee-quits

 

Yyeesh!! We like to think we live in an advanced civilized society, but...Bleh!

 

Long story short, google maps helped me find a piercing/tattoo shop nearby that I felt comfortable with. The guy there was kinda young (from my perspective!) and professionally wasn't bad at all. Did everything right. He definitely had some social awkwardness, but in a way I could very much relate to. Luckily, the last few years at work have finally taught me some basic social skills, so I was able to compensate for him by knowing what to pay attention to, what questions to ask, and how to get the right information communicated both ways. So that was a relief. (On several counts.)

 

Initially, my thought for jewelry (since I'll have to wear it to work and everywhere else for a good while, all while in guy mode) was some kind of round black stud. I think that would suit my hair and male appearance well. But there are a lot of well-reasoned limitations on starter jewelry, so that didn't seem to be feasible. (Maybe I might've been able to find one online that could still manage to be suitable as a good starter, but eh, I was already getting impatient from a couple other setbacks.)

 

@SaraAW made a good point with barbells though. I'd never even heard of barbells being used for standard earlobe piercings before. They had some there, maybe about a half inch long, but ultimately, I worried about them being more likely to snag when putting a face mask on and off. Besides, they didn't really speak to me anyway, and I was kinda freaking at the idea of going to work as a guy with anything dangling from my ears. (Not that I don't love dangley jewelry!)

 

So I went with the medium stud of cubic zircon (I assume. I don't know one rock from another, but based on the price, I know it definitely isn't diamond!) It's maybe a touch flashy for a shy lad, but it's much more what I was ultimately interested in anyway (I like sparkles ), it can be partially-hidden by my long hair, and as long as I really own it, I like to think it gives just a touch of a pirate vibe!

 

And yea, I got all the aftercare products and am trying to follow them, and the other recommendations I've found, as close to religiously as I can. And I'm washing my pillowcases and bedsheets right now, just to be extra careful of the germies. We'll see how it all goes...

 

In any case, I'm really happy to have piercings in my body, yay! Can't wait until they heal and I can try on different ones!

[Jordyn1215225]

Congrats.  I went with the cubic as well. I have worn mine for 4 or 5 months straight. Today is my first day at work not wearing them.  I took them off last night to put in some dangglies. When i get home first things first.  Gotta take my meds since i forgot them today and second put my diamonds back in.  

[SaraAW]

Congrats @Heather Nicole! Remember to wash your hands before touching your ears for any post-piercing care.

 

The barbels I got look like a stud from both sides of the lobe. You can see it in my profile pic. As its a ball on the back, it actually snags less, than a standard stud locking back, when putting on and taking off the mask. The two main things are are you like what you got and follow the aftercare instructions.

 

I'm still a couple weeks off from being able to change them out for the first time, but am looking forward to being able to change them up to match what I am wearing.

[Heather Nicole]

4 hours ago, SaraAW said:

Congrats @Heather Nicole! Remember to wash your hands before touching your ears for any post-piercing care.

 

Thanks I've been trying to follow the wash hands before touching rule, but I'm finding I keep accidentally brushing across the left one when I move my hair out of the way. Avoiding that is going to take some getting used to!

 

4 hours ago, SaraAW said:

The barbels I got look like a stud from both sides of the lobe. You can see it in my profile pic. As its a ball on the back, it actually snags less, than a standard stud locking back, when putting on and taking off the mask.

 

Ahh, that's cool! I like it. The place I went to unfortunately didn't have anything like that, otherwise I probably wouldv'e gone with it. Seems like it would be really hard to rotate while cleaning though. The stud-style one I have, I already find hard enough to turn, not so much because of tightness, but just because it's so tiny (and the whole earlobe area is small) and my fingers are huge.