3 Things to Know Before You Go In For a Piercing

Many of Brian's clients received their first piercings as children, using a gun. While a gun appears to be less traumatic than a giant needle, Brian begs to differ.

Brian Keith Thompson: Some piercers use a gun. That’s dumb. I don’t use a gun. It’s the needle’s job is to pierce the skin, not the gun. The gun is using a piece of jewelry and blunt-force trauma to make the hole.”

POPSUGAR: This is interesting; doesn’t the needle do the same thing? Why is it better to go gun-free?

BKT: Contrary to popular belief, piercing with a needle is faster and less painful than the piercing gun. The “gun” is using a blunt jewelry stud and forcing it though the lobe. The needle pierces with little trauma to the ear and is used only once and then discarded into a sharps container. The needle really is a safer and less painful way to pierce. Also, in the state of California, it’s against state law to pierce anything other than the lobe of the ear with a piercing gun.