Places to Get Ears Pierced

Piercing your ears opens up your earring options, but the thought of pain and blood makes many hesitant to go through with it. Once you finally work up the courage to take the plunge, your attention turns to finding a place to get the deed done. From specialty piercers to general stores, some of the most important factors to consider are sanitation and experience.

Tattoo and Piercing Shops

Tattoo and piercing establishments may be a little intimidating, but they are typically clean and safe places to get your ears pierced. These establishments are regulated in some states and must use sanitary procedures; check your state's individual policies. They also have vast experience performing multiple piercings a day. Ensure that the piercer wears gloves, sanitizes your ears before the piercing and uses a sterile piercing needle that you watch him unwrap. Typically such places use a needle, which takes longer to pierce through the skin than a piercing gun, but is likely more sanitary.

Jewelry Stores and General Retailers

Many jewelry stores and general retailers also offer ear piercing services 2. They use piercing guns instead of needles, which are much quicker. The key to a successful experience at these stores is asking the right questions beforehand. Ensure that the person performing the piercing is licensed and has at least one year of experience with ear piercing 2. If they don’t, ask if there is another employee who has more experience or visit another location. Verifying proper sanitation is particularly important at these stores.