Piercing Gun Vs. Needle: Which Is Better & Safer?

Body piercing has become increasingly popular over the years due to the creative outlet it provides for self-expression. However, when it’s about getting one, people often find themselves stuck in the piercing gun vs. needle debate. Both methods are commonly used for piercings and have their proponents. Piercing guns are convenient, while needles offer precision. But which one is truly better in terms of safety and effectiveness? Don’t worry. We have got you covered. Read this article to understand each procedure in detail and weigh the potential risks against the benefits before you take the plunge. Scroll down to know more.

What Are Piercing Guns And How They Work?

A piercing gun is a plastic device specifically designed to pierce earlobes. It operates on a spring-loaded mechanism that swiftly drives a stud earring through the earlobe, creating a clean hole and inserting the earring simultaneously. This method is popular for lobe and cartilage piercings such as the conch, tragus, helix, and rook due to its speed, widespread availability, and relative affordability. Despite these benefits and its widespread use, there are certain limitations with piercing guns. They come in one size, and therefore, may not be suitable for everyone and cater to specific needs. Additionally, those handling the gun typically undergo only a few weeks of training, which may increase the possibility of accidents and other complications.

Did you know?

It is believed that the first piercing gun was invented by Canadian jeweler Irving Wilson. The core technology behind today’s piercing guns stems from his original invention.

Apart from the piercing gun, many piercers use needles to create different types of piercings today. Find out more about them in the section below.

What Are Piercing Needles And How They Work?

Most professional body piercers use piercing needles for various body piercings today. It involves using a hollow, sterilized needle to gently puncture the skin. Then, a piece of piercing jewelry is inserted into the hole to complete the piercing process. This method requires more skill and training where the piercer learns extensively about the ear anatomy, placement, and correct technique to reduce the risk of trauma and scarring.

Reputable professional studios adhere to strict hygiene practices and use sterile disposable needles for each new piercing to ensure a safe and comfortable experience for each client. The needle piercing method is used for different types of body piercings such as earlobe piercings, ear cartilage piercings, nose piercings, oral piercings, belly button piercings, and even genital piercings.

Sarah, a dietitian and blogger, shares her experience of getting her third lobe piercing with a needle in her blog. She writes, “As you don’t even see the needle, I was told to take a deep breath, which I did and it was done. The actual piercing was not painful at all and I remember a little discomfort when the jewellery was put on. From my memory it was less painful than the gun lobe piercings I had before. The needle likely being smaller. My jewellery was in and then I was done (i)!”

Did you know?

Ancient tribes believed that spirits entered the human body through the ears. As a result, they pierced their ears with metal to keep the spirits away.

Both methods come with their own set of pros and cons. Before you finalize your decision, check out the next section to find out what they are.

Pros & Cons Of Piercing Guns And Needles

Choosing between a piercing gun and a needle can be tricky and requires careful consideration. Therefore, understanding the benefits and risks involved with each method will help you make a safe and informed decision before getting pierced.

Pros Of Piercing Guns

Piercing guns are popular and for good reason. Here are the following benefits of using them:

• Quick Process – The spring-loaded mechanism allows the earring to be inserted in a few seconds, making the piercing procedure fast and a popular choice among many.
• Accessibility – Piercing guns are widely available at pharmacies, malls, and department stores, making them accessible to a larger population.
• Convenience – Getting your ears pierced with a gun is convenient since they are easy to find and provide quick, walk-in service.
• Affordability – They are more budget-friendly compared to going to a professional piercer with needles. The price may range anywhere between $20-$50 in some places.

Despite all these benefits, piercing guns are not recommended and used by professional piercers in their piercing studios for multiple reasons. Find out what they are below.

Cons Of Piercing Guns

Piercing guns come with a host of cons that make them an unpopular option among reputable piercers. Some of them include (1):

• Tissue Trauma – The blunt force trauma of the gun piercing can cause bruising, swelling, soreness, and damage to the ear and may require more healing as compared to a needle.
• Infection Risk – Piercing guns cannot be properly sterilized after every use. As a result, they may harbor blood and bodily fluids from multiple clients. This increases the chance of transferring bacteria and blood-borne infections.
• Uneven Piercings – The placement and angle are harder to control with a gun, resulting in crooked or uneven piercings.
• One Standard Size – They only come in a standard gauge size, limiting jewelry options.
• Poor Training – Mall kiosks and other shops may have amateur piercers with little to no training performing these piercings with guns. They may not have the appropriate information on aftercare products as well.

The lack of proper training and increased infection risk make piercing guns an unsafe choice for piercings. But before you double down on your choice, it is better to look at the pros and cons of piercing needles in the section below.

Pros Of Piercing Needles

Piercing needles are commonly used by professional piercers for the following reasons:

• Single-Use – Reputable piercers use sterile, disposable needles for each new piercing, minimizing infection risk.
• Proper Healing – The needle creates clean entry and exit wounds without tearing or bruising the skin like a piercing gun. This ensures proper and safe healing.
• Adequate Training – Professional piercers receive extensive training on proper technique, anatomy, and safety protocols to ensure a safe experience for each client.
• Less Painful – The needle’s sharp precision typically causes less pain and discomfort than the blunt force of a gun.
• Less Bacteria Exposure – Unlike piercing guns, which cannot be sterilized, the pre-sanitized, disposable needles reduce the risk of transferring blood and bodily fluids to the piercing site.

All these benefits make piercing needles popular among professional piercers. However, they have certain disadvantages. Find out what they are below.

Cons Of Piercing Needles

Using piercing needles comes with the following set of cons:

• Long Process – Piercing with a needle requires patience, skill, and precision. This may make the process longer as compared to the speed of a piercing gun.
• More Expensive – Going to a professional piercer may cost more as they may include the jewelry and other additional costs in the overall budget as compared to getting it pierced quickly with a gun.

If you are still unsure about which method to choose after going through the list of pros and cons for each method, fret not. We have got you covered. Check out the next section to help you overcome this dilemma.

How To Choose The Right Piercing Method

Start by researching piercing studios in your or near your area. Go through their work on social media and visit their studios to ensure they follow proper hygiene protocols. Once you have finalized your piercer, talk to them about your piercing, and the body part you want it on. They will assess your anatomy and suggest a piercing method that will minimize the risk of tissue damage.

Piercing guns can cause additional blunt-force trauma and increase the chances of infection since the equipment cannot be fully sterilized between clients. That is why many professional body piercers recommend using only sterile disposable needles and quality piercing studs or instruments based on your desired piercing type to support proper healing. However, it boils down to your personal preference and budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hurts more, a needle or gun piercing for the ear?

A piercing gun is designed to push the earring through the ear lobe, which causes blunt-force trauma and pain. On the other hand, a skilled piercer quickly pierces the intended area with the needle, making it less comfortable and brief.

Do piercing needles take out skin?

No. Piercing needles do not take out skin but are designed to create a clean hole in the skin for the insertion of jewelry. In contrast, piercing guns may cause significant tissue damage and result in scarring and additional swelling (1).

Do needle piercings bleed more?

No. There is no clear consensus on whether needle piercings bleed more than those done with piercing guns. However, it is important to remember that both processes require puncturing the skin, which may cause some bleeding based on individual factors such as skin type, location of the piercing, and the skill of the piercer.

Understanding the fundamental differences between a piercing gun and a needle is important for making an informed decision. Check out this video to gain insight into the pros and cons of each method.

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Gracia OdileBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

 

Gracia Odile is a teacher-turned-beauty and lifestyle writer with three years of professional experience. She has a bachelor's degree in English from St. Stephen's College, a master's in Anthropology from the University of Madras, and a degree in education from GGSIPU. She is passionate about understanding the intricacies of human interaction in various cultural contexts. Her empathetic approach and captivating writing...more

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