It is more traditional to go to a licensed shop to get ears pierced, but Emma Jacobs ’21 chose a different route when she decided to get a double-piercing. With no experience besides watching
a YouTube video, she made the move to pierce her own ears. Now, she’s doing the service for her friends.
According to Jacobs, she got her first piercing by a professional at the age most girls do.
“I got my first piercing when I was seven, but just over this summer, I did my double-piercing myself,” Jacobs said.
There was rationale behind piercing her own ears, according to Jacobs.
“I did it myself because it’s free, really easy and if I wanted to get them done at a shop, I’d need parents’ permission because I’m not 18,” Jacobs said.
There was a big occasion coming up and piercings seemed like the perfect complement to the outfit, according to Jacobs.
“Two of my friends were with me. We were all going to a festival the next day and thought I ‘why not?’,” Jacobs said.
According to Jacobs, the process is quite simple, it just takes steady hands.
“First, I numbed my ears with ice for ten minutes. Then, I used a marker to put a dot where I wanted the piercing. Finally, I took a needle, soaked it in rubbing alcohol and pierced it,” Jacobs said.
Without certification, she still managed to make a safe pierce by looking on the internet, according to Jacobs.
“I looked up instructions on how to do it so I wouldn’t mess it up,” Jacobs said.
According to Jef Saunders, owner of Gamma Piercing and board member of the Association of Professional Piercers, the danger of at-home piercings starts with incorrect preparation.
“Sterilizing things actually requires special equipment, called an autoclave, and is required
whenever you are making a hole in the human body,” Saunders said.
According to Jacobs, she doesn’t see much risk associated with messing up the job.
“If I mess up, I know it’s not a big deal because without an earring, the piercing will close on its own,” Jacobs said. “I actually did my triple piercings but took them out a day later.”
Aftercare is an extremely important aspect, according to
Gamma Piercing’s website.
“Let your body do its job! You must allow your body to heal without interrupting its natural healing process,” Saunders said.
According to Jacobs, her friends were eager to get theirs done by her after the success.
“I did three of my friends’ double piercings. They think it’s super fun to do,” Jacobs said.
Even while piercing her ears without her parents knowing about it, they learned to embrace it, according to Jacobs.
“My parents were surprised at first but now they’re really chill about it and think it’s cool that I did it myself,” Jacobs said.