Why you should choose a needle instead of a gun for your next piercing

You’ve seen the signs at the mall: ‘$10 piercings’ in big, bold letters, promising a quick, fuss-free, and often “painless” way to add some bling to your look.  

A flash of metal, a click of a piercing gun, and voila — you’ve got yourself a new piercing. But while that bargain stud might look cute for a hot minute, you could be stuck nursing a swollen, angry bump for weeks.

Turns out, there’s a reason why reputable studios use needles, not guns. Cleaner, more precise, and overall less traumatic to your body, it certainly seems like the better option, especially for more complex piercings. 

But are piercings done with a needle really that much better for you than ones done with a gun? We got Vincent Tan, a piercing professional at Curious Creatures, to break down needle piercings for us. 

What exactly is needle piercing?

Needle piercing is a professional method of piercing where a sterile, hollow needle is used to gently create a precise incision at the piercing site before your chosen jewellery is inserted. 

According to Vincent, the needle method creates a cleaner cut as opposed to the blunt force used in piercing guns or single-use cartridge systems. 

“With sharp piercing needles, there is less tissue damage when pierced through the skin. This causes less trauma, so your piercing can heal properly and stay healthy,” says Vincent. 

During a typical needle piercing session, Vincent would consult and prep his clients, examining their ear anatomy to find the most suitable placement for their new piercing and the chosen jewellery.

“Since every ear is unique, a placement that works for one person may not work for another,” says Vincent. Hence, he will step in when necessary to give suggestions or advice on the placement of the piercing. 

Next, the customer’s ear will be cleaned and marked to confirm their preferred placement. Once that’s done, Vincent will then unpack sterile tools in front of the customer and give a quick run-down on the piercing procedure. 

Piercees take a deep breath before letting out a slow and controlled exhale as Vincent swiftly pushes the sharp, tri-bevelled needle through their ear.

He then uses a jewellery transfer tool to insert the post of the internally-threaded jewellery before screwing on its half-threaded top.

Then, he will clean up the new piercing with saline and provide his customers with some aftercare instructions. 

As you can see, the entire process is calm, controlled, and over in seconds — certainly a far cry from the loud snap of a spring-loaded gun. 

Moreover, the typical jewellery used in needle piercings also boasts a longer post, designed to allow for post-piercing swelling and for dirt and bacteria to be easily removed. 

Why choose the needle method over a gun?

In contrast, piercing guns rely on a spring-loaded mechanism that forces an earring stud through the skin with blunt force.

While the back of the stud may be pointed, it isn’t sharp — unlike a needle, which is designed for precision. As such, the gun essentially pushes the stud through skin tissue, tearing it in the process to make room for the jewellery. 

Vincent also points out that piercing guns make it harder for piercers to aim properly, so you might wind up with a “crooked or inaccurate” piercing placement. 

Being a few centimetres off on a piercing site like your fleshy earlobes might not be a big deal, but when it comes to cartilage piercings, the stakes are much higher.

Think piercings like helix, conch, daith, rook, tragus and industrial. According to Vincent, if your piercing goes through the cartilage, there is a possibility that it might crush or shatter it. Hence, these would probably best be done with a needle. 

Another reason to opt for the needle method? The jewellery used is actually designed for easier cleaning and to support the healing process.

Piercing studs and other jewellery used in guns come with shorter posts that sit snug on your ear. When the jewellery at the piercing site doesn’t allow or account for swelling, which is something that’s guaranteed to happen with any fresh piercing, complications can happen.

“Having allowance for a fresh piercing to swell is necessary,” says Vincent. 

“Skin can heal over jewellery that is too snug, causing it to become embedded if left unattended,” he explains. 

In some cases, you may even need medical attention to resolve this issue. 

Hence, despite a heftier price tag, Vincent would recommend a needle piercing over a gun for “accuracy, precision, a clean cut, and better healing”.

He’s not the only one because the Association of Professional Piercers also stands staunchly against the use of a gun. Besides the reasons already cited above, they pointed out that you run the risk of being put in contact with previous clients’ blood and bodily fluids if reusable piercing guns are not sanitised properly (yuck).

Who might not be a suitable candidate for needle piercings?

Before you start booking your appointments with a piercer, it’s important to note that needle piercing might not be for everybody. 

Vincent says, “As needle piercings are performed one at a time, the overall experience may not be suitable for young children.” 

The process might also be intimidating for those who have trypanophobia, or a fear of needles. 

The price tag that comes with a needle piercing can also be offputting for those looking for a bargain. A needle piercing in Singapore can run you anywhere between $40 to upwards of $100, depending on the piercing placement.

How to make sure your piercings heal in the best way possible

Whether you decide to get a piercing done with a needle or a gun, one thing’s for sure — proper aftercare is key to ensure your piercing heals smoothly.

“Regardless of piercing method, everyone can react differently to the wound inflicted by a piercing,” says Vincent. 

Common complications include infections (stemming from poor aftercare or bacteria getting into contact with the piercing), hypertrophic scarring, keloid formation, and even rejection or migration, where your body pushes out or shifts the jewellery over time.

But don’t let this scare you. With the right cleaning routine and a bit of patience over the two to 12 months of healing, most piercings will heal beautifully and stay trouble-free. 

Here are some of Vincent’s top tips:

1. Keep it clean, but don’t overdo it

Use a sterile saline solution to clean your piercing gently. Skip products like alcohol or peroxide, as these harsh products can irritate your skin. 

2. Keep your hands off your piercing

While it may be tempting (and oddly satisfying) to pick the scabs off of a piercing in recovery, doing so will only hinder the healing process. The dried matter might be attached to healing tissue, and peeling it off can increase the risk of infection or, worse, lead to scarring.

As such, it’s best to leave your fresh piercing alone. Do not attempt to rotate, turn or remove your jewellery during the healing process because all you’d be doing is disrupting the healing process — the piercing might even close up permanently. 

3. Avoid irritants

When applying things like body creams, makeup, moisturisers, and perfumes, be careful not to get them on the piercing. 

Pay extra attention in the shower, making sure to avoid getting shampoo on soap on the piercing and rinsing thoroughly. 

You might also want to slow down when you’re putting on or removing clothes, glasses, masks and when tying your hair up to avoid snagging the piercing on something. 

4. Sleep and swim smart

This one’s a no-brainer — do not sleep on your piercing. Sleeping on your piercing increases the chances of inflammation, infection and irritation bumps. It can even cause your piercing to migrate and heal at a bad angle.

If you’re a side sleeper, piercing pillows, which are designed to reduce pressure on healing piercings, might make for a good investment. Additionally, take the time to change and wash your bedding more regularly to avoid infection. 

It’s best to avoid pools, hot tubs or other natural bodies of water altogether — swimming in them increases your risk of bacterial exposure. 

5. Support healing from the inside

A healthy lifestyle makes a huge difference; you are what you eat after all.

So be sure to drink plenty of water, eat a nutritious diet high in Vitamin C and Zinc, and get enough sleep to support the recovery process. 

While you should exercise regularly, remember to keep your piercing dry and clean after. 

If you’ve just gotten your piercing, it might also be best to skip sushi for lunch or hold off on that seafood buffet because raw or undercooked food may contain bacteria and viruses that can affect the healing process. 

For those with a suspected piercing infection, do visit your local GP to have your condition assessed. 

While a piercing might only take seconds, how it’s done can impact you for months. Make sure to do your research before you invest in a new one. The proper piercing method and aftercare will mean fewer bumps, less hassle, and prettier piercings for years to come.