Ear Piercing FAQ

Are you piercing with a gun or needle?

We are piercing with none of the above. All our piercers are using an alternative system and here is why. Guns are outdated, pose risks and they are difficult to clean hence not exactly sterile. They work using a strong snapping force created by an actual gun-like machine when pulling the trigger. They can cause tissue damage and pose risks of infection. Needles are sterile but there are risks including safety as it is a bare needle out in the air, it is not safe in the vicinity of for example children who may make sudden movements. Also, after making the hole with a needle the piercing needs to be placed in and the back needs to be secured which can be a painful and difficult process when piercing the ears of children.

Our piercing device works entirely by the force of the hand of the piercer, there is nothing else inside it but a spring that enables the professional piercer to use the special piercing jewellery just like a needle, push it through the ear and securing the back with the same movement, without having to touch it. It is basically just like a needle but with safety precautions and the comfort of placing and closing the jewellery with one push. The piercing jewellery is in a sterile cartilage and it is opened in front of our client. It is placed into the mechanism without the jewellery itself being touched ensuring a sterile procedure. It is a widely used mechanism, with many professionals now choosing this method as there are no downsides to it.

Do you have an age restriction in regards of ear piercing?

We do not have an age restriction in regards of piercing earlobes, but we do have recommendations. Our advice is to wait until the routine vaccinations of 2, 3 and 4 months are over as at 4 months old, baby’s immune system has developed more and due to the vaccinations (i.e. tetanus) baby is also more protected. With this in mind we do understand that in some cases ear piercing has a cultural or traditional side, so we do perform the piercing process under 4 months as well, in these cases an extra form will need to be signed at the appointment, before the piercing process begins. Risks, such as the increased dangers when an infection occurs in ages under 4 month and more are explained in detail at the appointment. Also please note that in these cases the piercing is parental responsibility.

Can you pierce with earrings bought elsewhere?

We are only able to pierce with our own jewellery as we pierce with the actual earring making the process less painful and hassle free and these special piercing earrings are coming in sterile cartilages that need to be placed onto our device. However, we carry a lovely selection with us to every appointment including flowers and colourful stone set pieces to ensure everybody can find one that suits them the best.

Can I pick the jewellery?

Yes, you absolutely can. Please find the catalogue of our whole selection here.

We carry a large variety of 9 carat solid gold earrings with us to every appointment. These include stone set studs, plain balls, flowers, butterflies, pearls etc. but there are several styles in our catalogue so if you have a choice in mind please let us know, otherwise you will be able to pick from the lovely selection your piercer arrives with.

On request we can also pierce with 14 or 18 carat and diamond set jewellery but this needs to be picked and communicated at least 72 hours in advance in order for us to make sure that we have the desired piece in stock for your appointment. Please note we do not carry anything above 9 carat jewellery with us generally, so this will not be an available option if not requested before.

For any special request (9, 14 & 18 carat, diamond set) please either email us at info@sparkln.com or message us on WhatsApp on 07432268001.

I am having my child’s ear pierced and I am very nervous. Does it hurt? How does the process look?

It is natural to be worried about having a piercing done, especially when it comes to our children. Most of our piercers are parents, therefore they can relate to both sides and are able to provide adequate support.

The piercing itself causes very mild pain, it rather feels like a pinch. When it comes to children, the fear and scare factor usually is the more overwhelming one, but they tend to recover from the scare of having been pierced quite fast. The piercing process can be completed in more than one ways: the piercer can complete one ear after the other straight away (recommended when piercing the ears of babies) or some time can be given between the two ears for the child to be consoled if necessary (recommended when piercing the ears of small children). The piercer will make this decision together with the parents after discussing the unique situation of the child being pierced. There is no rush, if necessary our piercer will take a step back and give some space to the child and the parents to be able to calm down and to continue with the process. Our aim is for the child and the parents to have the best possible experience, therefore we treat every appointment unique and we adapt to every single situation.

Do you pierce with jewellery other than 9 carat solid gold?

The standard prices displayed on the home page are inclusive of a pair of 9 carat solid gold earrings (per person in the case of multiple people packages), aftercare solution and unlimited support before and after appointment directly with your piercer. Please note that due to the soft nature of gold the back of all earrings are made of hypoallergenic surgical steel (316L).

The following alternative piercing jewellery is available for additional costs that goes on top of the standard prices:

14 carat solid gold piercing jewellery ......................................................................£ 30 /pair
18 carat solid gold piercing jewellery ......................................................................£ 50 /pair

9 carat solid gold piercing jewellery with genuine diamond ....................................................£ 70 /pair
14 carat solid gold piercing jewellery with genuine diamond ...................................................£100 /pair
18 carat solid gold piercing jewellery with genuine diamond ...................................................£180 /pair

Additional pair

Additional pair of 9 carat earrings .....................................................................£ 50
Additional pair of 14 carat earrings .....................................................................£ 80
Additional pair of 18 carat earrings ....................................................................£100

Unless agreed previously otherwise, our piercer arrives to the booked venue with a large selection of 9 carat solid gold piercing jewellery including plain jewellery, stone set pieces and shapes such as butterflies and flowers in different colours.

We do not carry 14 or 18 carat jewellery with us without the special request of the client.

Can I use numbing cream?

You may use numbing cream on yourself or your child at your own risk. They are very popular within our younger clientele and used by lots of parents of smaller children. We can not take responsibility for any side effects, we advise you to follow the guide lines of the manufacturer of the cream and we also recommend to do a patch test on a small area (such as wrists) at least 72 hours before the piercing appointment in order to close out any allergies as a case of an allergic reaction on the piercing site would result in the appointment having to be cancelled.

Can I swim after piercing?

During the healing period (3 weeks for earlobes, 8 weeks for ear cartilage), it’s best to avoid swimming and you should only do so at your own risk. After all, each new ear piercing is a small wound, which should be kept as clean as possible. Public swimming pools are often contaminated with germs, especially bacteria, and pools that use chlorine may cause problems, since chlorine and its byproducts can dry out and irritate your skin. Even lakes or oceans may be contaminated with germs, therefore, if you decide to go swimming and the piercing site gets in contact with pool or natural water, we recommend that you apply the aftercare product their swim. You may also use a waterproof bandage, which you should remove after swimming.

Can I shower or bathe as normal after the piercing process?

Yes you can shower or take a bath after the piercing but the following pre cautions should be considered : we advise against soaking the ear or putting the ears under the bath water during the healing process (3 weeks for lobes and 8 weeks for cartilages), we recommend that our clients wash their hair with extensive level of care. Hairspray, shampoo, soap, and other preparations should be kept away from new ear piercings as much as reasonably possible. After showering or bathing, the ear should be rinsed with clear water, and then the aftercare product should be applied.