GUIDE TO EAR PIERCING FOR MEN

All you need to get to know about ear piercing is from the types of earrings to the piercing process and everything in between. Let’s get started!

We all probably know ‘that guy’; the one who drinks a little at the music festival and wakes up with a piercing …or maybe a tattoo. We have created this guide to prevent you from becoming that guy.

And since we, at Inkbeau, are not experts in piercings, we have asked some experts for help. With their more than ten years of experience performing piercings and bodywork speaking for themselves, we are sure that we can learn a lot from them.

FIND THE RIGHT STUDIO AND GET READY

One of the most vital steps in adding a piercing is to do your research before you meet the needle.

“When you’re looking for a studio, check out some of their online reviews and see if they have photos of their work,” says the expert, who has an official degree from the top piercer’s institutions. “Call to ask about their sterilization procedures for piercing tools and find out if they have single-use needles. He also asks what material her jewelry is made of. All piercing jewelry must be made of stainless steel, titanium, 14k gold, PTFE/Bioplast (a type of medical-grade plastic), or natural wood or stone (for dilated ears).”

If the equipment isn’t new, properly sterilized, or properly sanitary, it could lead to the spread of blood-borne diseases, like Hepatitis B & C. So before you make an appointment, ask yourself the following questions.

• “Does the studio offer a clean feeling? Do you have separate areas for piercings and tattoos?
• “Do you use an autoclave to sterilize the equipment? The autoclave is like a pressure cooker. It uses vapor, heat, and pressure to sterilize objects. If the studio does not have one (or gas and heat sterilizer), you shouldn’t get your piercing there.”
• “Are they going to open the needles in front of you before the piercing starts? I only use pre-sterilized, single-use needles. Safety is paramount.”
• “Does the person who is going to do the piercing wear latex gloves? They should always do it and disinfect the center after each client. If I touch something that is outside the sterile area, I change my gloves.”
• “Do they use a piercing gun? A professional piercer would only use piercing needles. Are they using a ‘gun’? They are not experts.”
• “Are you uncomfortable in the studio? Any studio with good sterilization procedures should have no problem showing off their autoclave and explaining their procedures. Do you have the feeling that something is wrong? If you think so, go away!”

And once you have found the studio and made the appointment: “to prepare for the piercing, you should lessen your alcohol and tobacco consumption a few days before the procedure. And make sure you take a shower and are clean, especially in the area to be pierced “.

TYPES OF EAR PIERCINGS

The number of options is impressive. Finding a professional piercer to help clear up all of these pain, cost, and care issues have been extremely helpful.

1. Helix: the hole to be made in the upper area of the cartilage.
2. Industrial: Two holes in the earlobe joined by a jewel.
3. Auricular: It is made in the external cartilage at mid-height.
4. Antihelix: It is placed on the curved edge between the ear and the head.
5. Snug: it is placed in the vertical part that is in the internal area of ​​the cartilage, on the antitragus.
6. Tower (or rook): it is located in the cartilage area that is on the inside of the ear.
7. Orbital: Two holes in the cartilage joined by a jewel, usually located in the helix area.
8. Internal helix (or daith): the hole to be made in the internal cartilage of the ear.
9. Shell (or conch): there are two types, interior, and exterior, and they are made in the cartilage area in the shape of a shell.
10. Tragus: It is located in the central part of the ear between the face and the inner cartilage.
11. Antitragus: It is a hole made in the cartilage of the inner area of ​​the ear, in front of the tragus.
12. Lobe: It is a hole in the lowest part of the lobe.
13. Upper lobe: It is the hole at the top of the lobe.
14. Transverse lobe: It is the horizontal hole along the earlobe.

DOES IT HURT TO GET A PIERCING?

All piercings hurt more or less. The pain should only stay for a few seconds, but the area can be sore for a week or so. Earlobes hurt the least, but getting your nipples pierced can be quite hard.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR PIERCING

Depending on the area, “the healing process can take two to six weeks for earlobes, or six to twelve months for navel piercings .”

All the efforts you put into keeping injuries at bay are worth it. In many pharmacies, you can find a saltwater solution that is perfect for cleaning wounds. Ask your piercer for more info.

• Don’t touch or pick at the piercing or jewelry. Dirty hands are full of germs that can cause infections. Wash your hands properly before touching your ears or earrings.
• Don’t forget that you recently pierced your ears during your routine activities. Avoid hitting your ears when you change your clothes, put on your glasses, use the phone or comb your hair.
• Be careful at bedtime. You may be unable to lay your head on the side where you got the piercing.
• Do not use alcohol or any hydrogen peroxide-based stuff on the piercing. These products can irritate the tissue that is healing.
• Don’t put antibiotic ointments, gels, or creams on your piercings. They can attract dirt and prevent air from reaching the area.

WHAT TO DO WITH AN INFECTED PIERCING?

To our surprise, Hank told us that if we think about infected piercing, don’t take it out. “If you think you have an infection, inform your piercer and discuss your options. Please DO NOT remove it. If you do, the skin can scar over the infection and cause more problems. Often the problem is in the way of cleaning the wound or the type of cleanser.

In many cases, the infection is caused by touching the jewelry or piercing with dirty hands, or not washing your bedding regularly. Bacteria spread like oil on water, so make sure your hands are always clean before you touch your piercing and that you wash your sheets and stuff frequently. Infections can also start if it’s very hot and you sweat more. In this case, it is convenient to clean it more often with the saltwater solution.”

The good news is- there are a few steps you can take to avoid infection:

• Keep the pierced spot away from other people’s bodily fluids, such as saliva and sweat. Don’t let them touch, kiss, or suck on your piercing while it’s healing.
• Please don’t get in a hot tub, pool, or lake until it has healed.
• Avoid using cosmetics, lotions, and hair products near the piercing.
• Keep your phones, earphones, sunglasses, hat, bike helmet, or anything that comes into contact with the hole clean.
• Avoid direct sunlight, tanning beds, sand, suntan oils, and lotions. They can burn and irritate the piercing.
• Reduce your stress level. Avoid smoking, drugs, and alcohol because they negatively affect healing.

HOW CAN I KEEP THE HOLE OPEN WITH NO VISIBLE JEWELRY?

We know that not all jobs can look outstanding. The experts suggest that we ask if you can wear a retainer. “This is a transparent retainer earring made of Bioplast (plastic) with a flat disk at both ends.” If you’re not allowed, “take your earring off while you’re at work and put it back on as soon as you leave the building.”

Are you worried that the hole will grow while you are busy with your tasks? “If you’ve been wearing it for a short time, the hole can be closed in a day, especially if you’ve done it with a needle, which doesn’t damage the skin as much as guns. If you’ve been wearing it for a year or more, you can spend if he a few days, but still, if the tissue is healthy, it can be closed”.

CARE OF EARRINGS

“Do not remove the earring during the healing process. To prevent infection, you have to follow care procedures. Once it has healed, there is very little chance of infection, but you should clean your earrings from time to time to prevent them from foul-smelling. To clean them, absorb them in a small glass container with anti-bacterial soap and water; then use a delicate jewelry brush and rinse them thoroughly.”

Now comes the fun part! Your piercer has given you specific instructions to follow to care for your first piercing. But once the healing period is over. The sky is the only limit! Finding the earring that best tells your story is so much more fun than worrying about autoclaves and saltwater soaps.

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