Piercing 101: What You Need To Know About Ear Piercing

We often get questions about ear piercing. We heard you; Camillette has put together a guide on earlobe piercing!

Credits: Cat Han Unsplash

Are there any laws and regulations in Quebec?

Unfortunately, the government of Quebec does not regulate piercing. Apart from legal consent, there is no law regarding ear piercing. To regulate their practice, many salons turn to the Association of Professional Piercers (APP) based in the United States. A piercing studio that is a member of the APP is always a plus! The APP ensures that its members follow strict health rules and standards to provide clients with a safe and reliable environment. Take note that if your are under 16 years old, you need parental consentement. 

What is the best piercing technique?

Usually, two techniques are used: the piercing gun or a needle. The piercing gun is not recommended by all professional piercers and is not approved by the APP. APP members are not allowed to use this technique. In addition to providing little precision, the gun is rarely completely sterile and are often not sanitized in a medically recognized way (eg autoclave sterilization). Therefore, reusable gun piercing can spread germs and pathogens, which significantly increases the risk of infection. Some operators report malfunction and the misuse of ear piercing guns is extremely common according to the APP. The process can be painful and the gun could permanently damage your earlobe. As you might have guessed, healing can be difficult, sometimes even impossible. If your piercer uses the piercing gun be aware of the risk.

 

On the contrary, the needle is the preferred method of professional piercers. The needle is always carefully packaged and therefore completely sterile. If you follow the aftercare instructions given by your piercer, the risk of infection is low. The needle offers more precision, is less painless, and allows you to choose higher-quality jewelry that is better suited to your ear morphology.

How long does healing take?

For an earlobe piercing, the initial healing time is about 6 to 8 weeks. During this time, it is important not to touch the jewelry or change it for another one to limit the risk of infection! Complete healing of the piercing can take from 9 months to over a year, depending on the individual.

Picture's credits: Kimia Zarifi - Unsplash

What are the post piercing care instructions?

There is many post piercing care to do. We listed the more important ones below, but be sure to ask your piercer for the complete care instruction in details.

1. It is important not to move or touch your jewelry during the entire healing process.

2. When you shower, avoid soaping the pierced area. Instead, rinse the area for 60 seconds with a removable shower head if accessible.

3. Avoid sleeping on the area to avoid risking moving your piercing and causing pain. Sleeping with wet hair is also not recommended to avoid causing infections.

4. If you need to clean your jewelry, use the products recommended by your piercer. Do not clean it with alcohol and soap to avoid irritations or infections.

What material is most suitable for healing?

For a new piercing, it is important to choose jewelry that meets the standards set by the APP to reduce the risk of infection. It is also important to note that few piercing studios will allow you to bring your own jewelry for this same reason. Since they cannot guarantee the source and quality of the materials used, a safe studio will refuse to put them in if they do not come from them. (PSST! If they allow you to bring your own jewelry, consider this a red flag!)

Yellow, white, or rose gold is recommended by piercers. In addition to being beautiful, it is a durable material that does not tarnish and is hypoallergenic! Therefore, gold is ideal for wearing during and after the healing period!

Knot Stud Earrings in 14k Yellow Gold

 

Check out our selection of gold jewelry to wear after your healing period is over

How to choose a piercer?

The best advice we can give you is to choose a piercer for their experience rather than their price. Make an appointment or speak on the phone with your piercer to ask all your questions. However, an in-person consultation is better. It allows you to see with your own eyes if the studio looks clean and safe. We have listed some popular piercing studios in Montreal for their strict hygiene standards and professionalism. 

Mauve Studio

Mauve studio is a well-known piercing salon in Montreal. Fully dedicated to piercing, the company is a member of the APP. They impose strict health standards to ensure the safest service possible.

AngerInk

AngerInk offers both piercing and tattoo services. Although they are not members of the APP, the studio respects the standards imposed by the association. The service is provided by experienced piercers, and cleanliness is very important to this company.