One of my favorite bloggers, Swistle, has posted from time to time with a “what was it like” (to have an endoscopy, have a tooth extracted, buy a used car). I find these so helpful. Many times a fear of the unknown keeps me from action, but this lets me know what it was like from an insider’s point of view.
I read a couple of years ago (here, here, and here) that instead of taking your daughter to Claire’s and subjecting her to the “gun” manned by someone not too many years older than herself and completely untrained, the safest thing to do was to take your daughter to a tattoo salon to get her ears pierced. It is much more hygienic, less traumatic for her ears, and done by a consummate professional.
My daughter was quite a few years away from from this visit at the time, but this last spring she turned 10 and we decided that 10 was old enough to get her ears pierced. She was dying to get them done right away, but I didn’t know where to take her or what to do.
As the summer wound down and school started, my daughter really wanted to get her ears pierced.
This past weekend we made the trip.
The Piercing Salon
The piercing salon we used has a minimum age of 10.
I had looked over the piercing salon’s website and thought I knew what I needed to bring to the appointment. But, we were sent home the first day because I did not have her birth certificate. (I thought I was safe with just her yearbook)
My best piece of advice? Call.
In the state of Virginia you need to have parent photo ID (parents must accompany all minors). We also needed proof of our daughter’s age and name. She doesn’t have a school ID, so we brought an old school yearbook and her birth certificate. (Yearbook is a photo ID, birth certificate confirms age).
It was a little confusing. And, the salon takes this very seriously. They kept documentation of all of our IDs and confirmed that they were legitimate. Here are a couple of websites (here, here, and here) with information about what types of ID may be required in your state. (it includes tattoo information as well) But, it would be best to confirm with the salon. They are happy to help tell you exactly what you need to bring.
Once her ID was sorted out, the piercer let her pick her jewelry. Then, we waited for ten minutes while the earrings and the piercing needles were sterilized.
After everything was ready we were allowed to go into the piercing room.
The Piercing Room
The piercer had my daughter sit on a table that looked just like the kind that they have at a Drs office (paper across the top and everything). First, she wiped down my daughter’s ear with some sort of wipe. She marked the spots for the earrings and had my daughter look at it in the mirror to check that she liked the location. After that she swabbed her ear with iodine. Then she showed us the needles.
Everything was super quick and very professional. She taught my daughter how to breathe to minimize the pain. She also talked her through every step of the piercing.
I didn’t get a good look at the piercing process, because my daughter wanted me to hold her hand while the procedure was done.
The earrings in the piercing salon were different than the type of earrings I have. They have a flat back and the stone is screwed onto the backing. She says it is very comfortable to sleep in these earrings. They are a huge step up from the pointy ones that I had when I got my ears pierced.
Once it was over
My daughter said the pain went away very quickly.
We were given a care sheet and a card with the date of piercing, the piercer’s name, and the time that it would take to heal. (6-8 weeks) She also recommended that we try our best to keep the earrings in for a minimum of two months, but that six months would be best.
We were told that if we had any questions at all not to hesitate to call or come in and they would be happy to help.
They tell you not to touch your ears for at least two months. If you have to touch them, you should wash your hands and dry them on a paper towel to minimize bacteria.
Also: No rubbing alcohol, no twisting your earrings.
Nothing.
Don’t touch them.
You are also not supposed to immerse your ears in water (no swimming) for at least two months. Showers are fine. (there was some benefit to my months of procrastination)
The Aftermath
She loves her earrings. She had a great experience.
I would totally recommend you go to a piercing place.
Have you been to a Piercing Salon for earrings for you or your child?