Last year, when my oldest daughter Sarah turned nine, she eagerly anticipated getting her ears pierced as an early birthday gift. Like many parents, my first thought was to head to the mall, and that’s exactly what we did. Sarah had her ears pierced at Claire’s. It was only afterwards that I realized I might have overlooked a better, and perhaps safer, option: the tattoo parlor.
The experience at Claire’s was perfectly fine. The piercer was kind and professional, the earring placement was well-done, and Sarah didn’t complain too much about the pain. However, her ears did become slightly infected during the healing process, which was a bit concerning. Thankfully, they healed completely after about six months. That experience planted a seed in my mind. When my younger daughter, Lucy, turned eight and expressed interest in pierced ears for her birthday, I knew we were going to explore a different route: the tattoo parlor. Interestingly, it was Sarah who suggested this! She didn’t want Lucy to experience the same pre-piercing anxiety she had.
So, for Lucy’s birthday, we ventured to the tattoo parlor.
Having done some research after Sarah’s piercing, I felt more prepared this time, even though I had never actually been inside a tattoo parlor before. I came armed with the necessary signed and notarized consent form, and we had booked an appointment well in advance.
Walking into the tattoo parlor, the lobby was exactly what I expected: an eclectic mix of people, books filled with tattoo designs for browsing, and walls adorned with photos of happy customers showcasing their tattoos and piercings. While we waited, two women in their thirties were excitedly flipping through a tattoo album, admiring various floral designs. A man in his twenties was discussing his back tattoo with an artist, describing his vision for additions and scheduling a lengthy four-hour session.
However, the piercing room itself was surprisingly different from the lobby. It resembled a doctor’s exam room, albeit one with a charming fireplace – the tattoo parlor was located in a beautifully renovated century-old brick house. Lucy sat on an examination-style table, just like at her pediatrician’s office. The walls were lined with containers holding sterilized instruments, giving the impression of a well-equipped nurse’s station.
The two piercers dedicated almost an hour to us. We started with a conversation about the process and aftercare. Then, they meticulously sterilized Lucy’s ears. Instead of just eyeballing the placement, they used professional-looking calipers to ensure precise and symmetrical placement for the earrings.
Once they were satisfied with the markings, they explained every step of the piercing process to Lucy in detail. Unlike Claire’s and similar places that use piercing guns, this tattoo parlor used a sterile hypodermic needle to create a clean piercing hole, followed by the insertion of the earring. They coached Lucy on breathing techniques to manage any discomfort and even did a practice run. (1… 2… 3… go!). Then they performed the actual piercing.
We were fortunate that this tattoo parlor had two skilled piercers available. One piercer boasted twenty years of experience, with fifteen years specializing in piercing children’s ears. The other was an apprentice with a year of experience and had been piercing kids’ ears since the beginning of the year. This allowed them to pierce both of Lucy’s ears simultaneously. The benefit? It hurt only once, and Lucy even said it “only hurt a little.”
They provided Lucy with clear and straightforward aftercare instructions: avoid touching the piercings and clean them twice daily with saline solution. I was surprised to learn that twisting or turning the earrings was not recommended; they explained that this could actually hinder the healing process.
We were encouraged to call with any questions, no matter how small, and were given an email address that went directly to the experienced piercer’s cell phone, offering 24/7 support.
Lucy’s piercing cost $40, slightly less than their standard $45 fee because we were referred by a friend. I tipped each piercer $5 (the receptionist suggested 10% of the total cost as a guideline). Interestingly, this total cost was a bit less than what we had paid at Claire’s for Sarah’s piercing.
The piercers mentioned that they don’t actively advertise their ear piercing service. They noted that many parents are unaware that tattoo parlors offer this service and that it’s now widely considered a safer option. Their children’s ear piercing business primarily comes from word-of-mouth referrals, often from local moms’ groups. They currently pierce ears for about four children each week.
Lucy was really positive about the entire experience, although she was definitely relieved when it was over. For parents considering ear piercing for their children, I hope sharing our experiences is helpful as you decide what to do and, most importantly, where to go. Consider checking out your local tattoo store – it might just be the best and safest choice.
For those in Louisville, we visited Twisted Images on Bardstown Road.
Have you had experience with kids getting their ears pierced? Share in the comments!
P.S. Read about pierced ears and parenting angst, and girl drama and the central struggle of parenthood.
