After More Than 10 Ear Piercings, Here's Everything I've Learned

istockphoto

Aside from coloring and experimenting with my hair, ear piercings are another beauty obsession of mine. Like many of you, I got my first piercings when I was a baby via a trip to the mall piercers who used a gun (which is a major no-no, btw—more on that later!). But my true fascination with piercings wouldn't come until the multiple ear piercings trend came in the late 2010s when everyone and their mothers were getting the coolest combinations adorning their ears.

At the height of my piercing frenzy, I had as many as 10 ear piercings, many of which I was caring for simultaneously, LOL. While they did look cool, there are some things I wish I had known before getting multiple ear piercings. If you're on the same path as I am, here are some tips to know before booking that appointment:

8 Things I Wish I Knew Before Getting Multiple Ear Piercings

1. Never get pierced using a gun.

If you're a piercing newbie, there are two ways to go about with getting your ear piercing. The first option (and also the more accessible one) would be a piercing gun, and it's usually offered by jewelry stores and mall kiosks at more affordable costs. The other alternative is getting pierced using a hollow needle, which you can usually have done by a professional piercer for a higher price point.

While choosing to get pierced using a piercing gun may seem like the more economical option, it can actually cause a number of problems down the line for your ear. Since it uses blunt force to puncture the ear, it can cause significant tissue damage. The gun will also pinch the jewelry into place, which might make it seem like your new earring is secure, but it actually won't let your new piercing breathe and heal properly. This can result in swelling and rejection of the actual earring by your body—yes, this can actually happen!

This leaves you with the option of using a hollow needle for your ear piercing, which only professional piercers can use. This leads me to my next point...

READ MORE:Attention: Please Don't Get Your Ears Pierced With A Gun

2. Make sure to choose a professional piercer to do your piercings.

A seasoned piercer will make sure to walk you through the entire process and answer any questions you might have—especially if it's your first time. As for the process, they use a single-use hollow needle that they show you to prove that it's disposable. They mark up the area they're gonna pierce and check in with you to make sure that it's in your desired spot.

The actual piercing process is very quick; the piercer will ask you to inhale and proceed to pierce your ear as you exhale. While the hollow needle is in your ear, they will then insert the earring stud while simultaneously pulling out the needle. After that, they will clean the piercing site with an aftercare solution and give you tips on how to care for it as it heals.

A professional will also make sure to choose the right size of earring for your piercing. They usually pick out a 10mm one to give way for the swelling that will happen in the first few months, and have you come back after three months to change it into a shorter one.

3. It's really expensive.

Getting ear piercings can be really expensive, especially if you're planning on creating an intricate earring stack. I recommend asking your piercer which ones you can do in one session (i.e. all in just one ear so you can sleep comfortably on your other side) and make sure to do it according to your pain tolerance as well.

4. Research the best ear piercing for you beforehand.

While you are in no way limited to the kinds of piercings you can get, it's important to take your lifestyle and future obligations into account before settling on a specific piercing. For example, if you have a beach trip planned out in the next few weeks after your piercing, it would be wise to postpone it first or reschedule your appointment so as not to disturb its healing process.

5. Depending on your pain tolerance, it's gonna hurt like a MF.

While the level of pain depends on where exactly you're going to get pierced and your pain tolerance, it's safe to assume that getting an ear piercing in general is going to be uncomfortable at the very least. In case you're curious, a piercing done on the lobe is the least painful one, as the needle only goes through the fleshy part of the ear. A cartilage piercing, however, is expected to be more painful as the needle will go through soft bone.

But of course, pain is still very much subjective. Personally, I felt like my daith piercing—an ear piercing done on the innermost cartilage of the ear—was only a 2/10 compared to my helix and sixth lobe piercing. So the pain level will still depend on your tolerance!

6. Aftercare is so, so important.

After you get pierced, your piercer will go through the aftercare process with you. They will recommend a cleaning solution that you can use to clean the site; it's important to do this religiously to ensure that your piercing heals properly. After all, it's v expensive! ;)

7. Know the difference between a keloid and an infection.

As your piercing starts to heal, you can expect to see some swelling and fluid come out of the piercing site. Keloids—which are bumps or raised scars that form due to an overgrowth of scar tissue—are also normal, though they can cause alarm, especially if it's your first time having it. A piercing infection, on the other hand, is caused by bacteria entering the hole. This usually happens when the site is constantly touched or irritated. It's usually warm to the touch and can have discharge and crust growing around it. When this happens, it's best to consult with your piercer or a doctor to prevent the infection from worsening.

I remember when the site of my sixth lobe piercing—which was done using a gun, eep!—eventually grew a keloid and my inexperienced self thought it was an infection. Rather than dealing with the pain, I decided to just take out the earring and let it heal naturally. I found out a few years later when I had it re-pierced that it was just a harmless keloid, LOL.

8. Don't change your piercing before it's fully healed.

It can be tempting to change your initial earring to a cuter one after just a few days or weeks of getting pierced, but it's important to exercise self-control and just wait it out. There's a reason why professional piercers choose an earring with a longer stud—this will give way for when the site inevitably swells.

Follow Cheska onInstagram.