Needle Piercing FAQs: Why Is Needle Piercing Better Than Gun Piercing?

Curious about needle piercings? For as long as there have been piercings, there have been different ways of doing them. While many retailers choose to use piercing guns, we at Blue Banana like to use piercing needles. But why are needles better than piercing guns? And if you’re looking for your first piercing (or your child’s first piercing), how can you be sure that piercing needles are safe? In today’s piercing care guide, we’ll go over needle piercings: the most frequently asked questions, the common myths, and the pros and cons.

Is needle piercing better than gun?

The most important thing people want to know is needle vs gun- which one is better and why? We much prefer piercing needles, and here’s why: Piercing guns are very bulky and big, leaving a big and dramatic hole in the client’s ear. Needle piercings are small and precise, which means that your piercing will have less chance of irritation or infection, and more chance of a speedy healing time. Needles also pierce your skin super quickly and efficiently, while piercing guns can be traumatic for both the piercing area (they can even shatter the cartilage of your ears) and for the client (the loud noise can be very jarring and dramatic).

Why would anyone use piercing guns?

With so many benefits to needle piercings, you might be wondering why anyone would ever choose piercing guns. Big retailers usually only pierce ears, which can be pierced by piercing guns. As piercing guns require less training than piercing needle, these big companies choose piercing guns every time, disregarding the fact that they’re much worse for their customers. Here at Blue Banana, we think all piercings should be treated with the exact same precision and care, which is why we use piercing needles for all of our piercings.

How does a piercing needle work?

Piercing needles are sterile single-use needles, containing a hollow cannula that creates the piercing hole.

What will the piercing be like?

When you come into a Blue Banana studio for a piercing, your piercer will talk you through the entire process before starting. They will clamp the piercing area with a sterile forceps to hold it still and taut, and use the other hand to pierce you with a piercing needle. Don’t worry- it’s fast and easy, and your piercer will ask you to take a deep breath as they pierce you, so that you barely even notice it.

Want to know more about getting pierced at Blue Banana? Find all of our piercing information here.