Getting earrings done is very common in the Netherlands. It is generally accepted that women wear earrings and shooting earrings is therefore done many times a year. However, things still sometimes go wrong with the holes. This is usually due to insufficient information in the shop where the holes are made. In the store, two dots are first placed on the earlobes with an iodine marker. You can then see whether you think they are in the right place and (also not unimportant) whether they are the same. The earrings are only placed after approval.
Leave holes, what now?
If you have had holes pierced*, earrings made of surgical metal will immediately be placed in them. The chance that you will have an allergic reaction to this is very small. Surgical metal earrings are usually not the prettiest, but it is important that you wear them for at least six weeks before trying other earrings. During these six weeks, it is recommended to turn the studs at least once a day so that they do not get stuck. Opinions are divided about this turning. One store advises this because it prevents the earrings from getting stuck and the other store says that it is better not to do this because the ears do not have a chance to heal. During the first week, you should drip the Styrilon provided twice a day between the earring and the hole. This is to prevent inflammation. Sometimes it is advised not to swim for the first six weeks due to a greater risk of infections. If you do go swimming, be wise to drop some antisept or Sterilon between the earring and the hole after swimming.
* People talk about shooting earrings here, but more and more stores are opting for a different method in which the earring is placed silently.
Antisept
The use of the Styrilon provided during the first week is very important. Piercing guns are often used frequently in stores and not all employees handle the device hygienically. Sometimes even disinfecting with an alcohol wipe is not possible or is not done carefully enough.
Now Styrilon is quite aggressive and not everyone responds well to this. If you prefer to use something other than Styrilon, consider Antisept, piercing gel, Betadine or Ear Care Gel.
After the first six weeks
After the first six weeks you can try other earrings. Don’t choose earrings that are too heavy. If you wear earrings that are too heavy, you increase the risk of tearing and you may be left with two uneven holes. Holes can close again, so especially during the first period (the first year is often recommended) it is important to wear earrings every day. Especially in children under the age of thirteen, it is quite common for the holes to close again.
Every store has its own rules
If you want to have multiple holes drilled at the same time, it is useful to express this wish to the jeweler immediately upon arrival. Not every jeweler is willing to drill multiple holes at once and it is very annoying to only find out once you have already selected the earrings.
Each store also has its own age limit. Some stores already put earrings on babies from eight weeks old and other stores only do this for children from six years of age.
There is one legal rule. Shops are obliged to ask parental permission when children are under 16 years old and want a piercing.
