How to find a reputable piercer?

[Rhianna'sMommy]

So dd2 (5) is starting to talk about getting her ears pierced. How do I find a reputable piercer? The only place I know about is Claires (which is where Mommy friends I know have taken their kids). I know no one who does piercing or tatoos so I can't really ask about piercing parlors. And I am not comfortable taking my 5 yr old to a random tatoo place to get her ears piercedeither.

So how do I find a good place to get dd's ears pierced if I don't really want to do the piercing gun at Claires?

[loveramongstars]

Sometimes department stores like JCPenney do them in their salons. You can check Salons. Also, where are you?

Sent from my Inspire. Hope everything makes sense!

[JennTheMomma]

Normally only tattoo parlors use needles, which is what you're suppose to use. Sometimes Pediatricians will use needles, but rarely. I honestly feel more comfortable at a parlor than a store in the mall, but parlors here don't do kids under 14.

[KaleidoscopeEyes]

Originally Posted by JennTheMomma Normally only tattoo parlors use needles, which is what you're suppose to use. Sometimes Pediatricians will use needles, but rarely. I honestly feel more comfortable at a parlor than a store in the mall, but parlors here don't do kids under 14.

yeah its age 16 here.

[yanyan]

Why is it better to use a needle than one of the piercing guns?

[tygr2410]

Originally Posted by yanyan Why is it better to use a needle than one of the piercing guns?

a gun compresses the tissues around it and just pushes them to the side vs a needle removes it and does not cause the same trauma.

I would also take my child to a parlor. I have lots of piercing myself. The places are clean and inspected by the health department....i don't think Claire's is. I'd call ahead of time and ask what their policy is and if they would do a child, so long as the child consents and the parent accepts liability.

[JennTheMomma]

Originally Posted by yanyan Why is it better to use a needle than one of the piercing guns?

Piercing guns are also not sterile. Only the earing itself is sterile, but the gun is plastic and isn't able to get washed that well. A needle is always brand new and they open it in front of you.

A gun causes damage to the lobe, while the needle pierces the lobe. You can look it up at the Professional Piercers Association, that have a lot of why the gun is not recommended. They may also have a list of reputable parlors in your area.

[iris0110]

Originally Posted by JennTheMomma Piercing guns are also not sterile. Only the earing itself is sterile, but the gun is plastic and isn't able to get washed that well. A needle is always brand new and they open it in front of you. A gun causes damage to the lobe, while the needle pierces the lobe. You can look it up at the Professional Piercers Association, that have a lot of why the gun is not recommended. They may also have a list of reputable parlors in your area.

The piercers are also professionals who have apprenticed and trained to do piercings vs a teenager who may have taken a course for a couple of hours before being handed a gun. A piercer is trained in how to maintain a clean work area, not so much for the teen. The piercer is more likely to leave you (or your child) with a properly placed piercing. Also as has been mentioned but cannot be stressed enough, tattoo shops are licensed and inspected, Claires, Walmart, or any of the mall piercing shops, are not. "Just choosing a random tattoo shop" is still better than using a mall shop because that piercer is still superior to a gun piercing by a teen. Honestly a professional piercer is going to give your child a better piercing than a pediatrician. I wouldn't go to a piercer if I was sick, but I wouldn't go to a doctor to get a piercing.

Laws may vary area to area but many shops will pierce minor children with their parents present. Sometimes the choice is left up to the piercer so you may have to call around. Locally there is no law against it but some shops won't do it and even more piercers will not (or will only do it if they know the person in question). I would start with friends, relatives or co-works who have tattoos or piercings and ask them where they were done and go from there.

[ccserrano]

Our pediatrician (2 different drs) did both of my daughters .

[twinpossible]

I would rather go to a parlor then Claires. The above post is right, you are supposed to use a needle but Claires just pushes the earring through the lobe. My suggestion is to ask around, my hubby and I have tattoos so most likely we will take our girls there for their ear piercings if they want them and we feel they are old enough to decide. Our local parlors will pierce only ear lobs on children under 18 and the parent needs to sign.