When it comes to piercing your kid’s ears, you might think that the local mall is the go-to choice. But hold on a second—have you considered a tattoo shop? Sounds unconventional, right? But let me tell you, it could be the safest and most stylish option out there!
I remember my own ear-piercing saga. I was a late bloomer, itching to have my ears done, while my mom was staunchly against it until I turned 17. Then, one magical Christmas, I found a dazzling set of earrings in my stocking. With tears of excitement, I pleaded with my mom to let me get my ears pierced. “If Santa thinks it’s okay, I suppose it’s fine,” she said. Off we went to the mall!
I loved my new bling, but oh, the pain! After a few days of agony and an inspection from my mom, I discovered my lobes were bright red and oozing. Infection City! We had to remove the earrings, and after a few months of begging, we tried again. Spoiler alert: it didn’t end well, and I ended up needing antibiotics. I decided to give up on ear piercings altogether.
Fast forward to college, where a tattoo artist friend convinced me to let him pierce my ears the professional way—with a needle. Hesitant but hopeful, I took the plunge, and now I rock 13 piercings, all done in tattoo shops. Not a single infection in sight. If only my mom had let me step foot into a tattoo shop back then!
Expert Opinions
Brian Rivers, the owner and head piercer at the trendy Body Electric Tattoo in West Hollywood, is part of a growing movement encouraging parents to ditch the mall and head to tattoo shops for piercings. “I had a bad experience at the mall,” he told Pop Sugar. “It didn’t go well, and my ears got infected due to my sensitive skin.”
Rivers also points out that piercing guns can be more painful and less safe. “They use blunt force to get the earring through the ear, which just punctures it, rather than properly piercing it,” he explained. Needles, on the other hand, are designed for piercing and can heal much faster. Plus, they can be sterilized properly, unlike piercing guns that are made of plastic and can’t withstand the heat needed for sterilization.
The Association of Professional Piercers backs this up, stating that only sterile, disposable equipment should be used for body piercings. They consider any procedure that uses non-sterile tools or unsafe jewelry a serious health risk.
Choosing the Right Shop
Not all tattoo shops are kid-friendly, though, so it’s important to do your homework first. Sarah Lynn, a professional piercer and mom, recommends checking out reviews online and calling ahead to see if a shop is willing to work with children. “It’s not a bad thing if they don’t want to—some just prefer not to,” she noted.
While there may be a stigma around tattoo parlors being ‘sketchy,’ many are regulated far more strictly than mall kiosks. So when it comes to your child’s ear-piercing adventure, consider heading to a tattoo shop. After all, why not make the experience fun and stylish?
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Summary
While mall ear-piercing kiosks are often seen as the family-friendly option, tattoo shops may offer a safer and more professional environment. With proper sterilization techniques and skilled piercers, parents can trust tattoo shops to provide a better experience for their children’s ear piercings. Always do your research before choosing a location, and consider the expertise of professionals in the field.