When you get nervous, having your friend there to comfort you is invaluable. Squeeze your friend’s hand when you need to, and talk to your friend to take your mind off the piercing.

It might help to ask the piercer if they can pierce both of your ears at the same time so that you can get it over with faster. Know that it will be over soon, and the pain will be over.

Friends are great for this. Ask your friend to help you stay positive and to periodically remind you how great having your pierced ears will be.

Consider the alternatives to pierced ears, too. Know that you can wear clip-on earrings or use converters to wear pierced earrings, if you want to wear earrings without the pain of the piercing. [2] X Research source

Knowing about the risks is the first step towards overcoming them. Think about ways to mitigate any risks you learn about, and come up with a plan to keep your ears clean and safe.

If you’re worried about your safety, don’t go to a shop such as Claire’s that uses a piercing gun. The only way to sterilize piercing equipment is through the use of an autoclave, which would ruin a plastic gun. Choose a place that properly sanitizes their equipment, and be sure to use only high-quality jewelry.