What you NEED to know before getting ear piercings (where to get it, the pain, after care)
I’ve had ear piercings since I was a baby, and added two more just before I graduated from college. I really like how they enhance my personal sense of style and have been wanting to get more, but my college piercing experience was not a good one. To ensure that everything goes smoothly this time around, I prepared for new piercings by doing a lot of research and being more thorough with choosing where to have it done. If you’ve been thinking of getting some, too, make sure you read these must-know guidelines first!
Say no to (piercing) guns
My college-age piercings were done cheaply in a jewelry shop kiosk with a piercing gun. While the pain was bearable, the piercings got infected and needed to be treated. I later learned that piercing guns aren’t the best option because they cause additional trauma that makes healing slower, and they are difficult to sterilize, which is probably why I got an infection.
Go to a tattoo shop instead
Choose a tattoo shops that uses piercing needles. Though they may sound scary, needles cause less trauma, and so are also less painful. Tattoo artists and technicians also go through proper training and certification to ensure that they do the procedure safely.
After a lot of research and friends’ recommendations, I chose to get mine at Vimana Tattoo in Quezon City. Before starting my procedure, my piercer Zack explained that the government doesn’t regulate the industry well, so tattoo artists have to be proactive about getting certifications. Vimana is certified by the Department of Health, and Zack himself is BloodBorne Pathogen Class certified. He also assured my germaphobe self of the shop’s high standards for hygiene by only using medical-grade equipment. For piercings, they use single-use cannula needles, which are the same kind that hospitals use for IVs!
Vimana’s shop was very clean, and I observed Zack being very careful about sterilizing everything for my procedure. If your piercer doesn’t have automatically sterilize tools or the jewelry you’ll be using, run.
Eat, don’t drink
Believe it or not, I am actually afraid of needles! To prepare myself for the procedure, I eat a full meal beforehand. This is to ensure that that my blood sugar is steady, and therefore I may be less likely to faint.
It’s also a good idea to watch what you’re drinking. Vimana doesn’t allow inebriated customers to avail of services to ensure that full and proper consent is given. If you’re worried about pain, skip drinking coffee, which can heighten your sensitivity. Take a painkiller instead.
Image via Vimana Tattoo
Plan your piercing
Though I had a good idea of what I wanted, I first consulted with Zack about which piercings would be right for me. I was thinking of getting a piercing on each ear, but he said it would be better to just do one side first so that I could sleep on the other.
Pain tolerance is also important to consider when planning your placement. Lobes are the least painful and heal in about a month. Cartilage piercings like a rook or a daith are some of the most painful and may take several months or even years to heal. I decided on getting a helix and a flat even if I was interested in a rook or daith piercing because I listen to music a lot and I didn’t want the piercings to get in the way of my ear buds.
Zack also gave a waiver form to sign before starting. It includes disclaimers like not being intoxicated during the procedure, and that the customer is 18 years of age or above. If you’re a minor, you’ll need an adult’s consent before getting pierced.
Pain is relative
After marking my ear for where the piercings would go, Zack explained the procedure in fuller detail. He told me that the shop used titanium studs because of its biocompatibility, so there was less risk of it being rejected by the body. He also chose studs for me because this design heals faster than hoop-style earrings.
Then he instructed me to take a deep breath, and applied the piercing. It was done in seconds! My best friends who accompanied me were so surprised by how fast the procedure was. Zack did the flat first, which I rated as 5/10 for pain. The helix was a solid 10/10 though, but Zack said that this is normal, as the pain increases with a second piercing. Since it was recently traumatized, the body’s response to pain is increased to prevent further injury.
Pay attention to aftercare
After the procedure, Zack handed me a leaflet of all the do’s and don’ts of caring for a piercing. This part is crucial because your body determines whether it will accept the piercings or not, and needs to heal itself accordingly. I found the pamphlet so helpful because even though Zack was thorough in his instructions, I was too happy and excited to pay full attention.
Zack advised me to soak my piercings in a saline solution made from warm water and pure sea salt twice a day. Some discharge or bleeding is normal, but I didn’t experience this. I’m also not allowed to dye my hair, go swimming, or tinker around with my new piercings until they have healed.
Final thoughts
I’m so glad that I researched and prepared for this well as I really had a great experience this time around! I found a great store and got excellent service, and I can’t stop gazing at my new piercings in the mirror. I now have six piercings in total, and I’m planning to get more after such a positive experience with Vimana Tattoo.
I cannot stress enough the importance of going to a tattoo parlor to get piercings. Check that they have the proper certifications, a sterile environment, and high safety stands. From what I’ve canvassed, prices start at P500 for lobes to P1,500 for cartilage piercings. They may seem pricey, but you’re paying for the expertise as well as the safety.
Have you gotten ear piercings? How many do you have? Share your piercing stories with us in the comment section below!
Vimana Tattoo Studio is at 186 Tomas Morato Ave, Diliman, Quezon City. They are open Mondays to Sundays, from 5pm to 2am.
Photos by Pauline Miranda
