I’ve edited this to update some info that has changed and to put the posts in the right order so you can read from beginning to end. You’re welcome! - nothing pertinent to the experiment has changed, just I’ve been doing this longer now, my prices have changed and the chain store where poor Elanor was sent on her mission has recently closed down.

I’ve been a piercer for 10 years now and have as many enquiries asking if I use a gun because people WANT that as I do because they absolutely do not. In my training course as The British School of Body Piercing, I reiterate time and time again that gun piercings are dangerous and unsanitary. But I had my first piercings with a gun and I don’t remember having any issues. Maybe it’s hit and miss? It was over 30 years ago though so maybe I just don’t remember…

It occurred to me that an experiment was necessary. We are looking for a little indicator as to whether gun piercing is actually the evil, cheap and nasty practice many piercers make it out to be or whether in the end it just comes down to personal choice.

Another of the key differences between my own practice and that of the chain stores that offer gun piercing is the aftercare. I advocate a “leave it alone completely” policy which, when followed, leads to speedy healing with few to no issues. It’s very difficult for me and for clients to go against the grain on this front: there is a received wisdom that piercings need to be cleaned several times a day, sometimes also turned. I’m pretty confident these practices are the reason some piercings take so long to heal.

According to the Nursing Times,
small wounds (which is what a piercing
fundamentally is) should be left alone to heal
and need not be cleaned any more than via
the normal personal hygiene routines of
bathing or showering every day or two.

In this experiment, we have a sample size of 1, whose name is Elanor. Which is to say it is not at all conclusive. It might be interesting though!

She will be having one ear pierced by me with a medical grade needle, standard titanium jewellery and my aftercare instruction to “leave it alone completely and wash as normal”. She will have the other ear pierced with a gun at a chain store (yes. THAT chain store.) and will follow their aftercare instructions as given. Each day she updates me on how it feels and takes a photo of each ear. We’ll see which heals faster and better!