While an ear piercing is great, getting the hole pierced can be a bit tricky and risky. However, if you really want to do it, follow these instructions to brighten your ears safely.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preparation
Step 1. Recognize that a homemade piercing isn't perfect
It is much safer and more hygienic to go to a professional. If you do this on your own, you put yourself at a greater risk of infection, so think carefully about your options before proceeding. If you still opt for DIY, follow these tips.
Step 2. Get a sterile piercing needle
These are hollow needles that allow you to pass the earring once they have pierced the ear. Do not share these needles with other people, as they could transmit infections to you. Piercing needles are inexpensive and you can buy them online and in piercing studios.
- Make sure that the gauge of the needle is larger than that of the earring. A 16 rocker stud works great with a 15 needle (the smaller the needle value, the larger the diameter).
- You can also purchase a piercing set that contains two sterile earrings already loaded onto an awl. You can find it in beauty shops. Follow the instructions on the package carefully to the letter.
Step 3. Get the earrings
The best for a new piercing, both for the lobes and for the cartilage, are the rocker studs. Evaluate those with a diameter of 16 with a length of 10 mm, this way they are long enough to give the ear room to swell a little after the piercing.
- Some jewelers sell piercings with a very sharp point, almost like a needle. They are a good solution because they pierce your ear again every time you wear them.
- If you can, buy very high quality earrings, in silver or titanium. This way you reduce the risk of infections or allergies. Remember that some people are allergic to low-quality metals such as gold-plated ones.
Step 4. Sterilize the needle over a flame
Do not reuse another person's. Your needle must be in a sealed sterile package. Keep it on the stove until the tip turns red. You should wear sterile latex gloves as you go, to prevent bacteria on your hands from transferring to the needle. Remove any soot residue by rubbing the needle with hydrogen peroxide or a skin disinfectant with at least 10% alcohol. Remember that this is a procedure that guarantees only partial sterility and does not kill any microbes that may be present on the needle. The only way to completely sterilize instruments is by autoclaving.
You can also sterilize the needle in boiling water. When the water reaches 100 ° C, immerse the needle and leave it for 5-10 minutes. Remove it with pliers and handle it only with latex gloves. Clean the needle with hydrogen peroxide or skin disinfectant
Step 5. Wash your hands with soap and water
This way you minimize the spread of bacteria. Put on latex gloves right after.
Step 6. Move the hair so that it does not rest on the place you need to pierce
They may get trapped between the ear and the earring, or go through the hole along with the needle. If you can, pick them up with a rubber band.
Step 7. Use sealed wipes that contain 70% isopropyl alcohol to clean the ear
You have to do this to make sure that the area to be pierced is completely clean and that no bacteria can sneak into the hole. Wait until the ear is dry.
You can also use hydrogen peroxide or an alcoholic skin disinfectant
Step 8. Make a mark where you want to drill the hole
It is important to plan the position otherwise you could make a hole too high or too low. If you plan to pierce both ears, make sure that the two holes are at the same height.
If you have other piercings and are drilling your second or third hole, make sure you have enough space for you to wear the earrings without them overlapping. Likewise, avoid leaving too much space, otherwise the holes might look a bit odd
Part 2 of 3: Piercing the Ear
Step 1. Find something sturdy to put against your ear
You have to place something behind the ear to force on and to avoid piercing it and reaching the neck. A cold, clean bar of soap or a cork is fine. Avoid apples or potatoes, even if you've usually seen them used in movies. These are solutions that could lead to bacterial infections.
If possible, get a friend to help you. You can ask him to hold the cork against your ear or, if you trust him immensely, to drill the hole. The whole procedure is much faster if there is someone to help you
Step 2. Put the needle in the right position
It must be perpendicular to the surface to be pierced: that is, it must form an angle of about 90 ° with the earlobe. This position allows the needle to pass through the ear more smoothly.
Step 3. Take a deep breath and push the needle through your ear
Make sure you center the spot you marked. You will probably hear a 'pop' when the needle pierces the skin, don't be scared! Move the needle a bit inside the hole and, if you are using a hollow needle, slide the earring into the earring holder.
Step 4. Apply the earring
After piercing the ear but without removing the needle, insert the earring rod into the needle cavity and push it into the hole. The needle will come out on the other side and the earring will be in place.
Step 5. Remove the needle
Slowly take it off making sure the earring does not move. Know that it could be a painful operation, so don't be in a hurry, so you don't risk the earring falling out forcing you to do it all over again.
Remember that the hole could close in minutes if you leave it without an earring. If the jewelry falls out, sterilize it again immediately and put it back in the hole, otherwise you will have to reopen the hole
Part 3 of 3: Care of the Piercing
Step 1. Leave the earring in place for at least 6 weeks
You don't have to take it off. After 6 weeks you can change the jewel, but put the new one on immediately. An earhole needs between 6 weeks and a year to fully heal and maintain its shape. It is therefore advisable to ensure that there is always an earring.
Step 2. Wash your piercing every day
Use a warm saline solution, you can add some Epsom salts or sea salt to distilled water. Salt has disinfectant properties. Clean the hole until it's completely healed (about 6 weeks). Do not use skin disinfectant at this stage.
- A simple ear cleaning technique is to fill a small bowl (as big as your ear) with saline. Place a towel under the bowl and lie down on the sofa trying to soak your ear in the solution. Stay in this position for 5 minutes and your ear will feel like new! You can use a "250ml" graduated cup for this.
- You can also soak a cotton ball in the saline solution and rub it on the piercing.
- There are also specific antiseptic solutions on the market. You can find them in pharmacies and piercing studios. Again you have to use a cotton ball soaked in the solution and rub it once a day.
Step 3. Rotate the earring when you clean it
Grab it on the front side and turn it into the hole. This opens the hole and prevents it from closing around the earring.
Step 4. Remove the temporary earrings and put on the new ones
Do this only after you have waited at least 6 weeks. Put on the new earrings immediately after removing the temporary ones and after cleaning the hole.
It would be better if the earrings were made of 100% surgical steel, titanium or niobium because they do not cause infections like cheaper materials
Advice
- Use a tightly stretched pillow case when you go to bed. If the fabric is too soft it could get stuck in the earring and hurt a lot.
- Take Advil or acetaminophen for pain relief. It is best to take it half an hour before piercing, so it will already be active at the time of the piercing (some believe that taking it first impairs the ability to have a steady hand, so take it at your own risk).
Warnings
- Getting your hole done by a professional is less of a concern than doing it yourself.
- Don't get an infection! If this happens, don't remove the piercing! Doing so would seal the infection inside the earlobe, and could make the situation worse. Wash your ear continuously with warm salt water. If the infection persists, see a doctor.
- Do not pierce yourself with a gun, safety pin or old earrings. Safety pins are not made of the right material. Hole guns may not be sterilized properly and the inserted jewelry could cause tissue-killing trauma
- Unless you know what you are doing, trust a professional!
