Ear piercings are discreet and quite common. This makes them a great choice for people who are new to piercing. If you are thinking about getting your ears pierced for the first time, you need to consider some things to ensure a successful piercing.
Below are some things you must know before you get your ears pierced:
Pick where to Get your Piercing
There are many places to get an ear piercing. Some people choose to get it at a retail store which offers piecing jewelry and piercing itself. Others prefer to get pierced at a beauty salon or doctor’s office. But, body art professionals also have their own shops usually for both body piercing and tattooing services. The best place to get a piercing should have a trained piercer. Talk to the piercer about their experience and training.
Know the Ear Piercing Equipment they Use
Professional piercers use safe and sterile equipment. You must understand the ear piercing choices available at the shop. Every piercing shop varies in the equipment they use but usually, you should hear from them about their use of hollow needles to remove a core of flesh for piercing your ear or a spring-loaded piercing gun.
Pick the Right Earring
Picking the piercing stud is probably the most exciting part of the ear piercing process. The earring must stay in place for the entire healing period which is usually 6 weeks for an earlobe piercing and 12 weeks for cartilage piercing. There are different ear piercings and your choice of jewelry will depend on the kind of ear piercing you get. When choosing an earring, pay attention to the quality of craftsmanship. Pick a piece that is very thin with a fine point to let the earring glide through the earlobe with little to no discomfort. Also, choose an earring made of hypoallergenic metal that conforms to the highest standards for nickel content.
Be Educated about Ear Piercing Aftercare
For safer piercing healing, keep the piercing site clean. Wash your hands before you touch the earring or clean the piercing site. You must clean the site at least three times every day using an aftercare solution. For the first six months after the piercing is healed, make sure to have the earrings for more than 24 hours to prevent the piercing from closing. If you are planning to get a cartilage piercing, wear the earrings at all times. For lobe piercings, leave the earrings in your ear for six weeks. Never remove them during this period.