4. There's more detailed after-care instructions. | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Arts Entertainment

4 Reasons To Get Your Ears Pierced Professionally

If you've ever considered getting your ears pierced at Claire's: don't.

711
c2.staticflickr.com

Just a couple of days ago, I got my ears pierced for the second time. My original piercings were done at a Sweet 'n Sassy, but I chose to play it safe and get my second piercings at a professional piercing parlor. I'm so glad I did.

1. There's virtually no pain.

Before going into the shop, I was so nervous. Given my last piercing experience, I was bracing myself for the initial searing pain and dull fire that I thought was standard. However, as soon as I talked with my piercer, I realized that this was going to be far different. He explained that the needle would just feel like a pinch. When he actually pierced my ear, it really did feel like someone was just pinching my ear, and not the blast that I remembered from the piercing gun. Afterwards, on the drive home, I barely even noticed it was there. I fell asleep against the door of the car and had no problems whatsoever. In fact, after about 30 minutes, the soreness was gone too. I was really stunned. If you're sensitive to pain, professional piercings are definitely the way to go.

2. It's more sanitary.

Piercing guns are notoriously unsanitary. According to Good House Keeping, "You can't actually sterilize a piercing gun." My piercer took about 25 minutes to sterilize my actual earrings, and then showed me the sterilization process that he went through. He made sure to put on three pairs of gloves and changed them at various intervals, and ensured that the piercing needles were sitting on a sterile piece of plastic. He left no stone unturned, whereas piercings at Claire's or other mall stores typically only use an anti-bacterial wipe to wipe down the gun and then proceed to pierce people with said gun.

3. The piercers are well-trained.

According to a Claire's employee's Reddit AMA, most Claire's employees receive minimal piercing training by way of watching a few videos, practicing on mannequins or other employees and then going out and piercing customers. Personally, the prospect of being pierced by an unclean gun being wielded by an untrained person is duly horrifying. While, yes, it's possible that you can get pierced at Claire's or another location without any negative repercussions (as I did with my first piercing), I wouldn't risk it if I were you. Professional piercers are licensed by the APP (Association of Professional Piercers) and that puts my mind at ease.

4. There's more detailed after-care instructions.

Once my piercing was finished, I was handed a detailed sheet of instructions for after-care to prevent infection. I was told to wash my piercing with natural soap in the shower, and to spray it with a saline spray twice a day. I was shocked at how much information they actually gave me in comparison to my first piercing's. After my very first piercing, I was simply told not to touch my piercing and to leave my earring in for 4-6 months until it was healed. I don't recall any other instruction or guidance. In hindsight, that was startling.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

443356
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

16771
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

41699
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

7 Types Of Students You Will Meet In College

You wish you could be #5, but you know you're probably a #6.

21332
cool group of lazy college students in class
StableDiffusion

There are thousands of universities around the world, and each school boasts its own traditions and slogans. Some schools pride themselves on sports, while others emphasize their research facilities. While there is a myriad of differences among each and every school, there will always these seven types of students in class.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Rhyme Without Reason Greek Life Function Ideas

When you have no ideas for what to wear to this date function

321763
A dog and a frog
Healthy Pets

I am going to a rhyme without reason date function and I have looked at so many different rhyming words and I figured there need to be a new list of words. At these functions, there are usually at least two rockers and boxers and an umpteenth amount of dogs and frogs. I have come up with a list of creative and unique ideas for these functions.

If you like what you see, get a shopping cart going with these costumes.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments