For many kids, getting their ears pierced is another part of growing up. It’s become so normal that most parents don’t really do their research. They just head to the mall, which is likely where many of them also had their ears pierced.
A video from one dad and some experts’ opinions might make you re-think doing piercings at the mall. In fact, you might want to head to a tattoo parlor instead.
For many kids, getting their ears pierced is a huge milestone.
Many children simply want their ears pierced so they can accessorize with earrings, but in some cultures, piercings carry special meanings and traditions.
There has always been a lot of debate when it comes to piercing kids’ ears.
Much of that debate has been centered around how old a child should be when they get their ears pierced. Many parents are divided on what the best age is to have it done.
However, many parents are now considering the question of “where?” instead of “when?”.
When I was a kid, everyone I knew got their ears pierced at Claire’s or a similar store at the mall. It seemed to be the norm.
These stores typically use a device called a “studex.”
These spring-loaded devices sort of resemble a gun. An earring is placed inside the device and it is the actual earring that does the piercing as opposed to a separate needle.
Now, a video has parents reconsidering where they should go when it comes to their kids’ piercings.
Reed Lucas shared a video of his daughter, Genesis, getting her ears pierced at Body Electric Tattoo in California.
According to Reed, who uploaded a video of the procedure to YouTube, the piercing was done by their friend, Brian.
Throughout the whole 10-minute procedure, Brian is great with Genesis. He keeps her calm, ensures the holes are even, and does both piercings quickly.
Genesis was a champ the whole time, too.
There weren’t even any tears and she looked pretty pleased to have new earrings and a lollipop to enjoy.
If taking your child to a tattoo parlor makes you uneasy, the important thing is to do your research.
Some people still picture tattoo parlors as dirty spaces full of thugs, but that’s definitely not the case.
Read reviews online, talk to previous customers, and visit before booking an appointment.
Professional piercers and body artists take their jobs seriously and will be happy to answer any questions or concerns.
Experts have also weighed in on this issue.
Tattoo shops and professional body piercers are held to higher health standards than jewelry stores at the mall.
In fact, many tattoo parlors are regulated by the state and have strict health and safety standards.
All the tools and surfaces they use for piercings can be sanitized after each customer, which isn’t always the case for those piercing guns at the mall.
Also, professional body piercers must go through more intensive training.
The associates at jewelry stores are trained through manuals and videos made by the company they work for, but the standards vary from company to company.
Another important thing to consider is that using a needle is a lot less painful than those earring “guns” malls use.
“It’s a spring-loaded gun with a product called a studex, which is essentially just a pointed earring. And then it uses that spring force to puncture it into the ear, essentially kind of blowing apart the tissue,” said Chris Summers, a professional piercer, in an interview with Wish TV .
In contrast, professional piercers use hypodermic needles.
Not only are these needles sterile , they essentially remove a small sliver of skin to make room for an earring. It’s a much less painful process than using those guns.
Since Reed uploaded the video in 2015, it has over one million views.
The video has over a million views on YouTube and many of the comments agreed with Reed that a professional tattoo or body piercing shop is the right choice.
Many have praised this video for spreading awareness about professional piercers.
“Why would anyone take their kids to get a gun piercing, when they can have an awesome experience like this instead! Kudos to you for making an awesome choice, and kudos to her for being the cutest little customer ever!” one YouTube comment said on the video.
Tattoo parlors and professional body artists have noticed more parents coming in with their children to have piercings done.
Chronic Ink, a Canadian tattoo and body art shop with multiple locations, even has a guide for parents on its website.
Once you have chosen where to get your child’s piercing done, Chronic Ink recommends going over aftercare instructions with your child.
To prevent any infection, the piercing needs to be cleaned daily. A professional body artist will set you up with all the instructions and supplies, but ensure your child knows the responsibility of caring for their piercings.
