HI --
My 11 year old daughter will be getting her ears pierced on Thursday -- a gift for her 5th Grade "Continuation"/Graduation. Shhhh... it's a surprise for her (in case anyone reading this knows me). Anyway, do you all have recommendations on where to get this done -- safe, clean, professional, minimal pain, etc.? My first choice right now is the Claire's at Aspen Grove. We live in the Centennial area, so I'd like to stay in the south metro Denver area. Thanks!
Thank you all for your suggestions and advice. My daughter was completely surprised when I told her she was going to get her ears pierced -- the look on her face was priceless! I narrowed it down to Claire's or Piercing Pagoda because according to their websites they seemed to be better trained and also hygenic. In the end I chose Piercing Pagoda because they advertise that they use Safety Clutches for the backing -- these would help prevent the earring from being squeezed too tightly on the earlobe and also cover the sharp point of the earring post behind the ear. My daughter is very sensitive and I knew that sharp point would drive her crazy -- I can't wear post earrings for that very reason. Anyway, I checked with the Pagoda employee about the Safety Clutch backings and she assured me that she would use those on whatever pair of earrings my daughter chose. I should have checked again! She used regular backings and when I asked her again about the Safety Clutch it turns out that she didn't really know what I was talking about. Long story short... After I showed her a picture of the Safety Clutch in the brochure that she found tucked away in some drawer, she found some in her odds and ends box and gave them to me. The regular backings were nearly impossible to pull off, the earrings came half way out of her ear and I had to use a needle (sterilized) to re-insert one of them, and then I put on the Safety Clutch backings. Had I known it would turn out so badly, of course I would not have bothered to make the change. But I felt strongly enough that she needed the Safety Clutch backings that I chose the store based on that claim. The Pagoda employee should have made certain she knew what I was talking about instead of brushing me off and I should have double checked her work. I think my daughter will forgive me someday. She told me tonight (before I poked her with sterile needles, etc.) that she was afraid she was going to wake up and this would all be a dream. She has wanted pierced ears forever and now she has them -- almost more holes than she bargained for! Oh dear, oh dear.
I pierced my daughter's ear's when she was only 3 weeks old (that's what cuban's do) I don't trust clair's because who know's if you'll get a teenager. So i took her to Meryl Norman's. They are super clean and professional. I know one is located on University near Arapahoe, although I went to another spot. good luck
L.,
we too live very close to Aspen Grove and that's where we took our daughter. At first I was a bit uncomfortable becasue the gal doing the piercing looked very young but she did a really good job.
I recommend getting her ears pierced at a piercing shop (make sure it 'feels' like a dental office inside), NOT a Claire's or other mall store.
The piercing gun causes more trauma to the flesh than a simple needle. I've had my ears pierced with a gun and later on a needle, and I HIGHLY recommend the needle, not as painful and heals more quickly.
When my daughter got her ears peirced I looked for a place that had two people working so that one could be on each side. They put the mark on her ears and then each of them got the peircing gun and counted to 3 and they did both ears at the same time. That way when the first one was done if it hurt she wouldn't decide it hurt too much to do the other one. It worked out very well.
I took my daughter lolli locks, it is a hair salon, but also do ear piercing there as well. I had 2 people do it in one shot, I thought it was better than taking her to claire. There is one by southlands across from walmart.
Claire's or any spot that does it. Make sure she doesn't have any metal allergy's and to keep it clean and watch for infection for at least 4-5 weeks.
I have four daughters that have had it done. I have one that is so allergic to metal she can not wear pierced earrings.
C. B
My girls, ages 4 and 6 at the time, got their ears pierced at Claire's in the Cherry Creek Mall. It was quick, somewhat painless, very professional and I've had no problems whatsoever. After about 3 weeks, my youngest managed to somehow get her earring out. I was concerned the hole would start to close up right away, so I took her back to Claire's and they re-pierced it on the spot for us, no hassles at all. Another option would be to ask your pediatrician if they do ear piercings - some do, ours didn't, thus the mall. But the folks at Claire's did a fine job for us.
Hey,
I would recommend Piercing Pagoda at the mall. I had my last ear piercing done at Claire's and they pierced my ear with the glove going through as well! Both my girls I took to Piercing Pagoda and they were wonderful - of course both my girls were babies. :)
I highly recommend NOT going to Claire's or any place that does piercings as a secondary kind of thing.
I hope this helps!
K.
My friends have taken their daughters to claires and the stand in Aurora Mall and said they were great.
I have 3 daughters and they all got their ears pierced when they were 5 years old. We went to Claires at Park Meadows and it was great. The key is keeping the ears clean and turning the earring regularly. Since my kids were so young I basically did that for them so we didn't have any problem with infection. Good Luck!
L. Fowler
