What to expect getting my ears pierced?

[Foxhound3857]

Been talking to my coworkers at work that I've been thinking about getting studs for a while, at least one in my left ear, but they all suggest that I may as well get both ears done (and that'd they'd make fun of me if I didn't, heh). They also said something like you can't put earrings in immediate after the piercing, that it actually takes months of healing before you can wear anything.

Can anyone illuminate me on this? Looking to get a pair of white gold rainbow moonstone studs, round cut, 6mm to 8mm.

 

[leebee]

IIRC (because it's been 47 years, hahaha) they will have a limited number of styles of earrings that they use to pierce your ears, which you have to leave in for a while (6 weeks?) while the holes heal. You'll get a special antiseptic that you have to put on the ear (with the earring in place) to help the holes heal, and twist them a couple of times a day to keep the earring post from scabbing to your ear. As I recall, having my ears pierced didn't hurt that much while they were doing it, but boy did my earlobes throb for a few days after! Good luck if you choose to get your ears pierced; I was 21 when I had mine done and have never regretted it.

 

[tazdev3225]

I did mine about a year ago for the third time. I kept letting the holes close. As leebee said it’s a 6 week healing process. You do need to use the solution to prevent infection and turn them several times a day. I do both ears at the same time, but that’s because I know I chicken out because I build things up in my head. The piercing is a big pinch. I don’t recall much pain after just a little discomfort for a day or two.just make sure you use earrings every day after you take the piercing ones out to keep the holes open.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I had to wait until I was 16 to get my ears pierced. My Mom took me a few months earlier, but my Dad was still mad. Ears has to be pierced with a certain type of earring to create the hole. Leaving them in for some time. Cleaning and turning them. I ended up piercing my left ear 3 times and right twice. It was the thing to do in the 80's but, again, my Dad was angry. My daughter will be 20 this year and hasn't pierced her ears (yet). She talks about it every now and again. I had mine done at Piercing Pagado in the mall. Where I used to live, many took their kids to the pediatrician's office to get it done by a nurse. I've noticed where I live now that there are places (in a mall type setting) to get it done by a nurse. Also getting it done at a tattoo place where they also do piercings. I've looked into the tattoo places for my daughter, read reviews and they have good reviews for piercings.

 

[Karalee402]

My daughter had her ears pierced three weeks ago. She was SO nervous, but she did an amazing job. She said it stung a bit at first and for a few hours after, but they were only tender for a day or so after. Now, it feels like they've always been pierced.
You'll choose a pair of earrings (I'd do some research and make sure you're choosing the best type for potential sensitivity) and those will stay in for six weeks. After that, you can change to another style, but as a previous poster mentioned, I'd keep something in for awhile so the holes don't close.
Good luck!!

 

[NannyBeBe]

I got my first piercings about 50 years ago. I now have three holes in one ear and two in the other. I recommend that you insist on gold piercing studs as gold is inert and less likely to cause any issues. Also, make sure that your hands are clean each time you rotate the studs while healing.

 

[mjkacmom]

Please go to a professional piercer and not the mall with piercing guns. I did not know this (to be fair my daughters are in their 20’s). Their early piercings are not spaced well, and many became infected. A quick google will give good information.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I can't help. My ears were pierced with a needle and an ice cube when I was six.

 

[CynBeth]

I am a wimp and waited until I was maybe 25. I had my doctor prescribe a numbing cream and did not really feel a thing. I had it done at a Piercing Pagoda and made sure 2 people would be there that day to have both ears done at the same time. As others have said you get a choice of ones to pierce with that you have to leave in for 6 weeks and turn a certain number of times a day and clean with the solution and then you can wear anything.

 

[Praise2Him]

I definitely recommend a tattoo/piercing shop. They use a hollow needle that punches the hole, not a gun that just pushes the skin through the ear.

 

[Toolulu22]

I had my ears pierced at the mall when I was in elementary school.

I can't help. My ears were pierced with a needle and an ice cube when I was six.

At some point in my teens, I wanted a second hole and pierced my own ears with a sewing needle and ice. The holes were smaller than the first ones, but as crazy as it sounds- there were no problems No idea why I didn’t just get them done someplace. I think it was a thing people were doing in school at that time.

Every once in a while when I’m putting on earrings, I’ll accidentally stick one through the old second piercing- so they’re still open thirty years since last use.

 

[Ning Ning]

You most definitely have to wear earrings the minute you pierce your ears! Otherwise, the holes will close. When I got mine done at age 13, a nurse did it by first marking the proper position, then putting some numbing agent on it, then she put a cork behind my earlobe and pierced it with a sterilized needle. My 14 karat gold studs went in immediately and I was told to keep those in for at least six weeks. I had to turn the earrings several times a day to keep the lobe from sticking to the post while healing and I had to clean them at least twice a day with either alcohol or peroxide. Other than a few times over more than 50 years, I've never had an infection or crusty earlobe.

 

[Foxhound3857]

How long do I have to wear the first set of earrings before I can take them out and the holes will not close ever, even if I don't put a new pair in for a while?

 

[Foxhound3857]

And do most piercing parlors offer the starter earrings that you're supposed to wear for the healing period, or can I pick my own?

Eventually I want to get some White Gold Moonstone Studs, 6mm-8mm, but right now I'm looking at 4mm 925 Sterling Silver studs, also rainbow moonstone, for about $35.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Hi, sounds like a nice thing to do for yourself.

A small package of lidocaine from the grocery store or pharmacy applied to both sides of the ear means you truly won't feel a thing.

The starter earrings with the rounded backs are the most comfy and they are nice to keep around for occasional irritation over the first year or 2 that pops up as you get used to them. As in, you'll forget to put earrings in from time to time so when you do put them in you'll find the spot recloses easily every now and then for a few years so there will be a little rebreaking of the skin and you'll need to do the whole alcohol cleaning thing again, it happens to most people so the earrings on hand just help with it.

It took maybe 5 years for the earring spots to never ever close but even now, 40 years later, if I skip for months and months I'll need to dip the earrings in alcohol and dab with antibiotic and endure a little redness and swelling after I finagle getting them back in. Seems our ears really just want to be left alone and they resist the earring a smidge, still, I like them so that's that - enjoy

 

[Foxhound3857]

Well, if I do go for a piercing and I have to choose a pair of starter earrings, these are what I'm looking at right now:

https://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Moonstone-Earrings-Sterling-Posts-Small/dp/B06XJ7D6K6?th=1

When it's safe for me to switch out, I'd go for a pair that is white gold and 6-8mm Moonstone.

 

[OneOftheB's]

How long do I have to wear the first set of earrings before I can take them out and the holes will not close ever, even if I don't put a new pair in for a while?

When my daughter had hers pierced a second time, the piercer said she needed to wear earrings full time for about a year, even at night.

And yes, the place where you get your ears pierced offer the earrings you should wear for the first 6 weeks. They have backs that make them hard to get off so the earrings don't come out by accident, so earrings you will find at a regular jeweler or online won't be the ones they use when you first get the piercings done.

 

[mylilnikita]

Are you going to be sober? Lol
I was not, well. not completely 40 years ago I was 17.
We got them done in a small shop I think it was a wig place. I can’t recall why not at the mall. But I got 2 holes in each ear just to get it all over with.

 

[Foxhound3857]

Are you going to be sober? Lol
I was not, well. not completely 40 years ago I was 17.
We got them done in a small shop I think it was a wig place. I can’t recall why not at the mall. But I got 2 holes in each ear just to get it all over with.

I rarely drink so that'd be a yes.

Pretty late in life for a 36 year old man to be considering something like this, but most of my coworkers have done it, and a pair of studs would be pretty cool I think.

 

[LuvOrlando]

The earrings you picked are very pretty