Do you recommend the needle or a piercing gun for safety and healing? Safety and healing time do not differ between our needle and device piercing methods. We’re proud that less than 1% of our ear piercings result in adverse reactions compared to the industry average of 30%.The piercing method selected depends on your personal preference, with a couple of restrictions:
1) Children under 5 years old must be pierced with our hand pressurized device
2) Unique placements (including the forward helix, tragus, conch, and flat) must be pierced with a needle
If you’re still not sure which method is right for you or your child, our nurses will discuss both with you during your appointment and help you choose the safest method. Click here to learn more about the difference between our needle and device piercing methods.
What metal types are best for sensitive ears? At Rowan, we believe every ear deserves the best. That’s why all of our earrings are hypoallergenic. This means they do not have brass, nickel, or zinc, the three metals most commonly associated with metal allergies. Hypoallergenic earrings are great for everyone but are particularly beneficial for those with more sensitive ears.
How do I know if my child has a metal allergy? Metal allergies can cause itchy rashes, redness, swelling, and bumps where the skin has touched the metal. In extreme cases, metal allergies can cause hives or blisters. If you suspect your child has a metal allergy, consult with your pediatrician.
What should I look for in a safe, hygienic piercing location?. Developed with stringent guidelines prioritizing client safety, the Rowan Clinical Piercing Standard puts forward a set of ear piercing protocols and training that include equipment sterilization, hypoallergenic earrings, and aftercare practices. Its rigorous standards align seamlessly with a nurse’s professional ethos, making it an optimal choice for those seeking a safe and hygienic ear piercing experience. This standard has resulted in an adverse outcome rate of less than 1% against an industry average of 30%. Rowan achieves this success by believing that the ear piercing experience doesn’t end the moment you leave the studio; thorough aftercare including use of our Advanced Aftercare Solution, use of hypoallergenic earrings during the piercing process and once the piercing has healed, and a variety of follow-up methods ensure that piercings have the best chance of healing.
Learn more about why you should get pierced by a Rowan licensed nurse here.
Is there a risk of infection or complications with infant ear piercing? Regardless of age, there is always a risk of infection with ear piercings. To minimize this risk, it’s essential to follow proper aftercare instructions and watch for signs of infection, such as excessive swelling, fever, or green or malodorous discharge. If you suspect an infection, it’s important to consult your baby’s pediatrician for treatment. At Rowan, we pierce infants who are at least 2 months old and have received the appropriate DTaP vaccination. For more information, please visit our “Baby Piercing 101” Blog Post.
What is the best age to get my child’s ears pierced? Should I wait until my child asks for a piercing, or is it okay to do it as a baby? Parents and legal guardians know best! We offer a safe and celebratory ear piercing experience for all ages, starting at just 2 months old. No matter the age, your child will be in the best hands at Rowan.
What is the best way to prepare my child for their first ear piercing? It’s normal for a child to feel nervous before their first ear piercing, but there are many ways to help ease your child’s nerves: tell them what to expect ahead of time, choose a time of day when they’re well-fed & well-rested, bring a comfort object and/or distracting object, and practice deep breathing. Most importantly, be ready to celebrate! Your child will look to you for cues, so if you’re enthusiastic and positive, they’ll likely feel more at ease and follow your lead! For more information on the tips & tricks listed above, check out this blog post.
Do you numb the ears before piercing? We do offer a numbing cream to anyone who is particularly nervous. Please note we do not use numbing cream on anyone under the age of 5.
How do you ensure the earrings are placed evenly? Our nurses take the time to look at each individual’s ear anatomy to ensure the perfect placement on the ear when you look in the mirror. But ultimately YOU get the final say in placement – piercings are only performed after placement is confirmed.
Can my child get multiple piercings at once? The answer no one likes to hear: maybe. Whether or not your child is able to get multiple piercings on the same ear is up to the discretion of their parent and our nurses.
Do you offer a second person to pierce both ears at the same time for young kids? Whether we can pierce both ears simultaneously depends on whether we have multiple nurses staffed (and available) at a given time and if the child prefers they be done in tandem. If you’re interested in having both ears pierced at once, please call ahead to check with the studio before booking your appointment. They will be happy to provide you with dates and times that work for this service.
How long does it take for ear piercings to heal? It takes a full year of proper aftercare and wearing hypoallergenic earrings 24/7 for your piercing to heal. But, you can safely swap your earrings out for new hypoallergenic styles before then. Learn more about how to determine whether your piercing has healed on our blog. If you’re nervous about changing your child’s earrings for the first time, or want a second opinion on whether your child has healed, we offer complimentary jewelry change services Mon-Thurs with the purchase of a new pair of Rowan earrings.
How often should we clean the new piercings, and with what? Clean your piercing with Advanced Aftercare Solution 2-3 times per day. Simply spritz the front and the back of the piercing and voila, you’ve got a clean piercing! It’s important to avoid soaps, ointments (this includes Bacitracin & Neosporin), creams, and lotions while your piercing is healing. These products can clog the piercing, disrupting adequate air flow and causing potential complications with healing. Alcohol and peroxide are also not recommended to clean your new piercings. This is because they can dry out the area and rinse away all bacteria – we want the good stuff!
What signs of infection should I watch out for? Symptoms of an infected ear piercing include redness and swelling that extends beyond the piercing site, increased pain or tenderness, warmth around the area, yellow or green pus oozing from the piercing, and the earring appearing to become embedded or “sinking” into the ear. Sometimes the line between irritation and infection can be blurred, making it difficult to distinguish one from the other. You can always reach out to our nurse helpline – [email protected] – to address your concerns, and our nurses can offer advice, which may include consulting with your doctor.
What should I do if the earring gets stuck or embedded in the ear? The most important thing to do if the earring becomes embedded is to not try to remove the earring yourself. This can cause permanent damage to the ear. It’s best to leave the removal to medical professionals. Come in for a consultation from one of our nurses. Our nurses may be able to safely remove the earrings. If not, they’ll refer you to your pediatrician or nearest doctor’s office. Prevent embedding by avoiding sleeping on the piercing, keeping space between the earring and the piercing, and cleaning the piercing daily.
How can I prevent my child from touching or twisting their earrings too much? Kids will be kids. The best thing you can do is continue to remind them not to play with their earrings. Encourage them to wash their hands whenever possible, and help them remember to spray their Advanced Aftercare Solution 2-3 times daily.
What happens if my child has an allergic reaction to the earrings? While it’s highly unlikely that your child will have an allergic reaction to our hypoallergenic jewelry, it does happen. If you suspect an allergy, bring your child back into the studio and our nurses will provide a free consultation to help you determine whether the piercing is reacting or if there are other factors to consider and discuss a course of action from there.
What should I do if my child’s piercing closes up? If you suspect your child’s piercing has closed, do not try to force an earring into the piercing. Come into Rowan and one of our nurses will give you a free consultation to determine whether the piercing has closed and whether we may be able to safely repierce.
Can my child go swimming with new piercings? If not, how long should we wait? The short answer is yes. Our Medical Advisory Board says it’s okay to swim in pools and the ocean during the first two weeks of a new piercing as long as you bring your aftercare with you to clean your piercings when you’re finished swimming. After two weeks, you’re free to swim in any body of water you please. If you have additional questions about swimming with a new piercing, check out our handy blog post.
Should I remove earrings for sports or activities? Regulations may vary by sport, age, and state, so it’s best to consult with your coach ahead of time. If your sport allows you to wear earrings, it’s important to choose the safest option: sports studs. Made of soft, hypoallergenic silicone, these light and flexible studs fit comfortably in the ear without causing distraction. Simple studs, such as our gold or silver basic bezel studs also tend to be safe earrings to wear during sports. We also recommend wearing flat backs, as they are less likely to get snagged on equipment. It’s best to avoid hoops or any earring that dangles, as these can easily get caught on clothing or equipment or accidentally grabbed and torn from your ear – ouch!
How should we space out multiple piercings for the best healing process? / How long should we wait before getting a second or third piercing? This is not a one size fits all answer. It is not uncommon for a person to get 3-4 piercings in an appointment. If you decide you want additional piercings beyond our limit of 4 per appointment, we advise waiting two weeks in between piercing appointments.
Are cartilage piercings more painful or difficult to heal than lobe piercings? Cartilage and earlobes not only look and feel different, but they also heal differently. Ear lobes have a good amount of blood flow and the piercing site generally feels better sooner. The initial healing process for the ear lobe site takes as little as 3 weeks with the use of our Advanced Aftercare Solution; however the complete healing process can take about a year. By contrast, the cartilage has a limited blood supply and is a denser tissue so healing can be slower and in contrast to the ear lobe, it may take 8-12 weeks for the initial healing process to occur and about a year for the cartilage to fully heal. The ear cartilage will stay tender for up to one full year after piercing. Read on for more information about the difference between cartilage and earlobe piercings.
When can my child switch to different earrings? / What is the best way to transition from basic studs to hoops or dangles? After 3 weeks of regular use of Advanced Aftercare Spray, you may be able to switch into a new pair of hypoallergenic studs. It’s important to listen to your body and wait a little longer than 3 weeks if the piercing is still tender, irritated, or swollen. We typically recommend waiting at least 6 months before changing into a hoop or dangly earring. We always recommend coming in for our complimentary jewelry change service, especially when you think you’re ready for a hoop or dangle. We offer this service Mon – Thurs with your purchase of Rowan earrings. This way, our nurses can better advise on whether it’s time to switch!
