Gun piercing: no precision possible

A piercing requires genuine quality of placement, precise marking, and a technique adapted to the person's anatomy:

With a gun, we're in a much more automatic, chain-like process, far less precise than a true piercing. It might seem "quick" or "convenient," but in reality, just because a piercing takes a few seconds doesn't mean it's well done; quite the opposite.

Placement matters enormously, especially if you want a harmonious, symmetrical, and comfortable result for everyday wear once healed.

This is all the more important for earlobes, which seem "simple to do" at first glance, but can easily be pierced too low, too high, asymmetrically, too close to the edge, or crooked due to gun use.

The action is much more brutal and traumatic for the tissues

The problem with the gun is also its mechanism:

This device forcefully pushes jewelry through your skin, which is very brutal for the tissues, in addition to not allowing for precise placement.

On an earlobe, this can already be enough to make healing uncomfortable in the best-case scenario: inflammation, redness, itching, excessive lymph, etc. And in the worst-case scenario, a trip to the emergency room, as is regularly seen with gun use.

The overall result is a piercing that will take a very long time to heal, if it ever heals completely, again, in the best-case scenario.

Cartilage should never be pierced with a gun

We say it clearly: gun piercing should already be banned for earlobes, but even more so, and for a long time, for cartilage.

Helix, flat, tragus, nose, or any other such area should absolutely not be pierced with this type of device:

Cartilage is more demanding, more sensitive to trauma, takes longer to heal, and is much less tolerant of low-quality jewelry. Because of the gun, ear cartilage, for example, can fracture into pieces due to the brutal shock of the jewelry being forcefully inserted, and believe us, the result is very unsightly.

Even if some people think "it works very well," that doesn't make the method correct; just because a result may sometimes seem acceptable doesn't mean it's good practice.

Hygiene does not meet the standards expected for a real piercing

Let's start with an obvious fact: a piercing is an act that penetrates and comes into contact with the skin.

It must therefore be performed under serious hygienic conditions, with appropriate equipment, and true professionalism regarding sterilization and its monitoring.

The gun poses a problem in this regard because it does not offer the same level of requirement as a procedure designed for piercing. This is not a detail, and it is not something we consider secondary at all. The vast majority of guns are made of plastic, so they cannot be sterilized between two people in an autoclave. The risk of cross-contamination exists and should not be taken lightly, as the autoclave is the only sterilization process that can eliminate the presence of prions, hepatitis, or HIV, for example.

When it comes to piercing, hygiene should never be treated as a secondary option.

Jewelry inserted with a gun is ill-suited

Another important point: the jewelry used.

Initial piercing jewelry must be chosen for comfortable and optimal healing: with an adapted biocompatible and hypoallergenic material, a shape suited to the location, and a clasp system that does not create tension or irritation.

With guns, you often find standardized, uncomfortable, too tight, always of mediocre or average quality jewelry, and not suitable for good healing in the short or long term. These are often pieces of jewelry with very thin plating (sold as gold) that are full of nickel, therefore allergenic, with a butterfly-type clasp that will only increase pressure around the piercing and injure the back of the ear in the process.

The problem is therefore not only the piercing technique, but also what kind of jewelry is initially put in the piercing, which will cause problems later on.

Lack of precision can be seen immediately... or later

Bad placement isn't always obvious at first glance; sometimes it's only noticed later:

• when the person wants to wear suitable, real piercing jewelry,
• when they want to get a second, symmetrical hole,
• when they see that the two sides don't line up,
• or when the jewelry always seems "misplaced" without them understanding why.

This is one of the reasons why we believe that a proper piercing should be performed with the necessary time, and not in a rapid, assembly-line approach.

Speed is not an argument for quality

Gun piercing is often defended with the same arguments:

• "it's quick,"
• "it's less scary,"
• "it's always been done this way,"
• "for earlobes, it's enough."
• "it hurts children less"

For us, these are not good arguments at all; a piercing is not better done or less painful because it's rushed.

A piercing will always be better done when it is well thought out, well placed, well executed by professionals, with appropriate jewelry and equipment, follow-up, and good aftercare explanations.

What about children?

This is a topic that also matters a lot to us!

We believe that a piercing, even on an earlobe, should not be an automatic gesture done in a hurry, especially not on someone who doesn't understand what's happening.

This is also why we are not in favor of certain common practices on very young children or even babies who haven't asked for it. Earlobes are not fully mature on an infant or young child; piercings performed at that age are very likely not to end up symmetrical once growth is complete.

At the shop, we prefer that it be done under good conditions, with real time for discussion, a minimum of understanding, and a reassuring environment. After more than 10 years of opening and experience, it is for these reasons and to ensure the child's consent that we only pierce earlobes from 8 years old.

Why we refuse this practice

Our position is simple: we do not do gun piercings because it is not how we want to work, and it does not align with our vision of piercing.

We prefer a more rigorous approach:

• a real human exchange with the person,
• individual anatomical verification,
• precise placement,
• suitable and biocompatible jewelry,
• a serious hygiene protocol,
• long-term follow-up

This is more consistent with our profession, more respectful of the body, and more honest with customers.

In summary

Gun piercing is not a "simpler" or "faster" method; it is a more approximate, more brutal, and less suitable method for proper healing.

Yes, many people have been pierced this way.

Yes, it is still very common.

But for us, that's not enough to make it a good practice, quite the opposite.

It is for all these reasons that we firmly advocate for the prohibition of gun piercing.

Need advice?

If you're unsure about an earlobe piercing, the choice of jewelry, or the best way to get an ear pierced under good conditions, you can contact us directly at the shop.