Upper ear piercing for 13 year old

[strongbluebell]

My 13 year old daughter has asked me if she can get her upper ear pierced.
I know nothing about the subject, couldn't find any mention of it in the stickies.
Can anyone tell me is this legal and also is it safe?
I presume this is classed as cartilage piercing?
If it is legal and safe have you any suggestions as to where she could get it done (Dublin area).
Thanks

[Raze_them_all]

It's cartilage, will be done with a hollow point needle. Shops have a 16's policy.

[Kersmash]

And yes, it is perfectly legal

[!!!]

Yes it is legal.
I think it is great that you are researching as the parent, well done.
Anyway, make sure you go to a reputable piercing studio and the piercing is performed with a needle. I'm not from Dublin myself so I can't advise you on studios unfortunately.
Under no circumstances allow your daughter to get the piercing in a jeweller's/chemist with a gun.

Yes, it is pretty safe as long, as I said, it is pierced with a needle. Choose a bar over a ring as jewellery and follow the aftercare instructions. It should be fine.

The cartilage piercing is named a helix by the way.
Best of luck with this.

[Hellrazer]

My 11 year old wants a Helix and her nose pierced(just to start with).I told her when shes 16 Ill bring her into Paddy myself to get them done and not a minute sooner.

[strongbluebell]

Thanks for replies everyone, lots of useful info.
Just wondering Hellrazer why you would wait till your daughter is 16.
Not a criticism, just trying to gather a bit of info to make a decision. Interested to hear opinions.
Thanks

[adrieanne__x]

Originally Posted by Hellrazer

My 11 year old wants a Helix and her nose pierced(just to start with).I told her when shes 16 Ill bring her into Paddy myself to get them done and not a minute sooner.

To be honest, I'd be of this vein also. My daughter won't be getting a piercing until a reputable piercing studio that uses needles and not guns (a lot of the reputable places have a 16's, sometimes with parental consent, as a general rule) will pierce her. Not even her ears. She'll be old enough to decide herself then and can care for them properly herself.

[dearg lady]

I find it slightly funny I must admit that peeps are so anti piercings for young teenagers, but maybe I would change my tune if I had kids of my own! I got my ears pierced first when I was 4. And got my first non ear piercing(eyebrow) when I was 13 in a very reputable studio in Dublin, however, i think things have changed now!! Seems like 16 is the general rule for a lot of places, so it may be difficult to find somewhere that will pierce her.

[Hellrazer]

Originally Posted by strongbluebell

Just wondering Hellrazer why you would wait till your daughter is 16.

Its for the same reason as adrieanne__x says ie when its reputable studio thats trained in all aspects of hygiene and cross contamination.Im not letting her get her ear/nose pierced with a gun in some dodgy shop that thinks its alright.The damage that those things can do is unbelievable especially to cartilege.

[Denny M]

Originally Posted by Hellrazer

Its for the same reason as adrieanne__x says ie when its reputable studio thats trained in all aspects of hygiene and cross contamination.Im not letting her get her ear/nose pierced with a gun in some dodgy shop that thinks its alright.The damage that those things can do is unbelievable especially to cartilege.

And a lot of places wont do piercings like nose before they are 16 too.. And any place that would, I'd be kinda worried about..

[adrieanne__x]

Mods, if this isn't ok delete it... but here's an article on gun piercings vs needle piercings.

http://tattoo.about.com/cs/psafety/a/piercing_guns.htm