A Beginner's Guide to Handling a New Ear Piercing

Does getting your ears pierced hurt?

Yes, but you can make the best of the situation by planning ahead. Bring a friend for moral support, and bring painkillers for afterwards if you think you'll need them. Think about how you best deal with stress and pain. Do you like to squeeze a stress ball? Does gossiping with a friend or playing Angry Birds help take your mind off the pain? Plan ahead and bring anything you think might help you deal with the potentially stressful situation. When you get nervous, having your friend there to comfort you is invaluable. Squeeze your friend's hand when you need to, and talk to your friend to take your mind off the piercing.

Tips for Handling Piercing Anxiety

Talk to your piercer. When you go into the piercing studio, let them know you're a little nervous. Have them walk you through the process, explain what they're doing and why, and answer any questions or worries you might have. They might offer you a comfortable chair or a glass of water. Chances are most of the people getting piercings are a little nervous, so they'll know exactly how to make you feel better. It might help to ask the piercer if they can pierce both of your ears at the same time so that you can get it over with faster. Know that it will be over soon, and the pain will be over.

Focus on something else to take your mind off the piercing. Read a book or magazine. Gossip with your friend, or get to know your piercer a little. Chat about your weekend plans, what's going on in school, that great movie you just saw -- talk about anything but the piercing. Thinking about other things will help you calm down enough to get through the piercing.

Stay positive. Focus on the best part of getting your ears pierced -- think about how you'll look with your new earrings! When it comes to the actual piercing, don't think about the pain or the stress. Instead, tell yourself that you can do it, you will get through it. If you do this enough, you'll find that it becomes true. Friends are great for this. Ask your friend to help you stay positive and to periodically remind you how great having your pierced ears will be.

Joke about the piercing. Your friend can help you approach the piercing with a sense of humor. Laughing is a key way to reduce stress and calm you down, so whether you're laughing about the piercing itself or about an unrelated story your friend tells you, it will help you relax. Joking about the piercing will make it seem less daunting, which will help you approach it more calmly and easily.

What should I do before a piercing?

Think about why you want to get your ears pierced. Are you doing it to fit in at school? Do you want to be able to wear that gorgeous pair of earrings you just got for your birthday? Do you just really like the way pierced ears look? Thinking about your motives will help put the piercing itself in perspective, and remind you that the benefits of having your ears pierced will outweigh the pain of actually doing it. Consider the alternatives to pierced ears, too. Know that you can wear clip-on earrings or use converters to wear pierced earrings, if you want to wear earrings without the pain of the piercing.

Do your research. Investigate the health and safety hazards of piercing your ears. Consider any allergies to different types of metals you might have, as that will affect what earrings you can safely wear. Learn about how to take care of your ears after piercing them, including how long to keep your earrings in and how to clean your ears. Make sure you're comfortable with the risks of piercing your ears, and be confident that you'll be able to take care of them after they're pierced. Knowing about the risks is the first step towards overcoming them. Think about ways to mitigate any risks you learn about, and come up with a plan to keep your ears clean and safe.

Choose a safe and reputable place to get your ears pierced. Make an appointment at a shop approved by the Association of Professional Piercers. Consider reviews and ratings, prices, and store hours before making your appointment. If you're worried about your safety, don't go to a shop such as Claire's that uses a piercing gun. The only way to sterilize piercing equipment is through the use of an autoclave, which would ruin a plastic gun. Choose a place that properly sanitizes their equipment, and be sure to use only high-quality jewelry. EXPERT TIP Sasha Blue Sasha Blue Professional Body Piercer Sasha Blue is a Professional Body Piercer and the Owner of 13 Bats Tattoo and Piercing Studio in the San Francisco Bay Area. Sasha has over 20 years of professional body piercing experience, starting with her apprenticeship in 1997. She is licensed with the County of San Francisco in California. Sasha Blue Sasha Blue Professional Body Piercer Use a professional piercer to keep your ears safe from contamination. If you get your piercing done in an unsanitary environment, the instruments might be cross-contaminated with someone else. A professional piercer will have a clean, safe space with sterilized single-use needles.

Review the legal aspects of the piercing. You'll be asked to sign a waiver. If you're worried about the legal side and about what your rights will be if anything goes wrong, take time to read the waiver through. Ask them about anything that looks confusing, or if you have any questions. Make sure you understand the waiver and are okay with everything it says before signing it.

Choose where you want the piercings. When you get your ears pierced, the piercer will mark a dot on each ear. Be absolutely sure it's in the right place. Take the time to look at your ears in the mirror. Consider them from different angles, and get your friend's and the piercer's input. Think about what they will look like with earrings on, and be totally comfortable with the placement of the dots before they make the piercings.

Review how the piercing will work. They will bring you into a cubicle and have you sit down in a chair and they will get their materials out. If any of the materials look intimidating or scary, ask the piercer about them. Make sure you understand what each tool is used for and how it works. You can also ask about their cleaning and sterilization process. Become comfortable with the tools before proceeding.

Prepare for life after the piercing. Know that your ears might actively hurt for a little while directly afterwards, but remember that it will stop soon. Ask your piercer for written information about caring for your ears. Make sure you're comfortable with your pierced ears and know how to take care of them.