How to Pierce Your Ears at Home

While it's recommended you have your ears pierced by a certified professional, you can safely pierce your ears at home. You can learn how to safely pierce your ears using a few simple steps. It's vital to follow safety precautions to reduce the risk of infection and irritation. To pierce your ears at home, you don't need the assistance of a piercing gun-- just a sterile needle.

Preparation

Before you can begin piercing your ears, there are a few things you will need for preparation. First, you will need to get a sterile needle and ear ring for the piercing process. It's best to purchase a prepackaged piercing needle and ear ring. If you are unable to purchase a piercing needle and ear ring, you'll need to sterilize them both. This can be done using a pair of needle nosed pliers to hold the needle and ear ring over an open flame. Do this until the metal glows red.

You will also need and apple wedge or potato wedge. These will be placed behind the ear lobe to make the piercing process easier. It will guide the needle easily through the ear and prevent the hole from tearing.

You will also need alcohol and cotton balls to clean the ear lobe. Also, ice is very helpful to numb the ear. It's best to have petroleum based lubrication and antiseptic soap for the piercing process as well.

Piercing

After you are properly prepared, you can begin the ear piercing process. By following these simple steps you can pierce your ears safely at home.

1, Place ice on the front and back side of the ear lobe for at least one minute to numb the ear.
2. Using a cotton ball, apply alcohol to the front and back of the ear lobe to clean it.
3. Place the apple or potato wedge behind the ear lobe and gently press the sterile needle through the ear lobe. There should be no excessive pain or bleeding.
4. Place a drop of lubricant on the ear ring post and remove the needle from the ear lobe.
5. Gently slide the ear ring into the hole and secure.

Healing

After you have successfully pierced your ear, clean the piercing with antiseptic soap twice daily. Unless it's necessary, do not remove the ear ring until after it has fully healed. The healing generally takes 1 to 2 months.

If you experience excessive pain, swelling, and irritation in the ear lobe, you may be allergic to the metal of the ear ring. Try changing the ear ring to a different metal or a hypoallergenic ear ring. If the problems continue to persist, remove the piercing completely.

References:

"How to Pierce Your Ears" Lifestyle.com

"Body Piercing" YoungWomansHealth.org