At Empress, everything we do is rooted in empowerment and education. We believe everyone deserves access to safe, high-quality piercing, regardless of their budget or background.

But in order to move the industry forward, we also have to be honest about the practices that hold it back. Piercing guns are one of them.

For decades, piercing guns have been treated as the “normal” way to pierce ears, particularly for small children. They’re available on the high street, used in many beauty salons and retail stores, and often seen as quick and convenient. Because of this, many parents understandably assume they must be safe.

I don’t think it is fair to get angry at parents for getting their child’s ears pierced with a gun, as they weren’t to know any other option since these have been one of the main methods of ear piercing for decades. When something is widely offered by retailers, people naturally trust that it has been properly regulated and proven safe.

Unfortunately, the reality is very different.

The problem with piercing guns

Piercing guns work by forcing a blunt stud through the ear using extreme force. This is VERY different from professional needle piercing, where a single-use, sterile needle creates a clean channel through the tissue for the Piercing Jewellery to sit.

From both a hygiene and trauma perspective, the difference is HUGE. 

Piercing guns cause blunt force trauma to the ear. Instead of creating a precise channel, they force jewellery through the tissue, which can lead to swelling, bruising, shattered cartilage and much longer healing times.

They also present sterilisation issues. The majority of piercing guns cannot be fully sterilised in a medical grade autoclave. While they may be wiped down between clients, the plastic they're made out of can't be sterilised in the same way as professional piercing tools, as it would melt!

The jewellery itself is often another issue. Many gun studs are not made from implant-grade materials designed to sit safely inside the body during healing. Lower quality metals can increase irritation and allergic reactions, due to its high nickel content.

Finally, piercing guns are frequently used in environments where staff are not trained piercers. There is often limited anatomical assessment, little discussion of placement, and minimal education around healing and aftercare.

When all of these factors combine, the result is simple: Piercing guns create higher risks of infection and poorer piercing outcomes.

The hidden strain on the NHS

One of the biggest concerns with unsafe piercing methods is what happens when things go wrong.

Infections, embedded studs, severe swelling, and allergic reactions all require treatment and very often, that treatment falls to the NHS.

GP appointments, antibiotic prescriptions, and even A&E visits for embedded jewellery are not uncommon outcomes when piercings are carried out using inappropriate methods. These are largely preventable complications when piercings are performed using sterile, single use needles and implant-grade jewellery.

At a time when the NHS is under enormous pressure, reducing avoidable medical complications should be a priority. Improving piercing standards is one small but meaningful way to do that.

The growing problem of at-home piercing kits

If piercing guns are problematic, at-home piercing kits are even more concerning.

What is even more dangerous are the at home piercing kits. I think these need to have an age restriction on purchases so that young children can be kept safe.

These kits remove any form of professional oversight. There is no sterile environment, no anatomical assessment, and no trained guidance on hygiene or placement. Piercing becomes a DIY activity, often carried out by teenagers on themselves or their friends.

The risk of infection, scarring, and improper placement rises dramatically — and again, when complications occur, the NHS often becomes the place where those problems are treated.

Empress’ stance on safe piercing

At Empress, we believe the Piercing industry should move forward, not remain tied to outdated practices.

Every piercing we perform is carried out using single use sterile needles, in controlled environments, by trained professionals who assess anatomy, placement, hygiene standards and jewellery suitability. We only use ASTM F-136 implant-grade titanium jewellery, regardless of whether a client chooses our Standard, Premium, or Deluxe options.

This is not about making piercing exclusive or expensive. In fact, our mission is the opposite.

Our goal is to make safe piercing accessible and affordable, so that outdated and unsafe methods naturally disappear. When professional piercing is welcoming, transparent, and fairly priced, people stop turning to guns and DIY kits.

Raising standards across the industry

The future of piercing should be built on education, hygiene, and modern medical standards.

Banning piercing guns would not remove access to ear piercing, it would simply ensure that the procedure is carried out using methods that prioritise safety and tissue health.

Outdated practices shouldn’t remain in place simply because they have existed for decades. As knowledge improves, industries have a responsibility to evolve.

At Empress, we are proud to be part of that evolution: raising standards and helping create a future where safe piercing is the norm, not the exception.