Why is getting your cartilage pierced at Claire's so bad?

its because they use a gun, which could shatter your cartilage. they best thing to do is wait till you are 18 then go to a professional piercing parlor. your ears will thank you in the long run.

Because they use piercing guns and piercing guns can't be sterilized.Ask any doctor and they'll tell you alcohol swabs barely kill all germs and bacteria.Therefore you can contract a blood-borne illness like HIV from the person before you or get a deadly infection like MRSA.If you truly cared about your health you wouldn't let that disgusting thing near you regardless of how much your mom 'refuses' to take you to a tattoo parlor.Get it done by a professional rather than some teen at the mall or don't get it done at all.

I agree with bubbles. Go to a professional piercing/tattoo shop. They have to be licensed, trained, certified, and sterile with a good grade with the health department before they can even operate business. I've been in 6 piercing parlors in the DFW area, I can tell you they've all had to have a separate secluded room that's sterilized to the max where they do only piercings and surgical removal, etc. Claire's puts their piercing parlor right in the middle of the store where people can access the counters, the equipment, its in a public place where you're highly likely to have germs attach themselves to your fresh open wounds. That quick alcohol swab isn't going to do much to defend that war zone. Best to let mom know these thing's, so she can understand why even the most mundane of people prefer a professional piercing parlor over a teenage gift shop swarming with dirty things. Good Luck.

As a disclaimer, all Claire's and Icing associates are put through detailed, professional training and then legally certified before you're even allowed to touch an ear- a lot of people aren't aware of that. It also depends where you go. I am a store manager of a Claire's and have been with the company for a long time. We pierce with a standard pre packaged earring, it can shatter your cartilage IF your cartilage is too thick. The piercer is legally supposed to inform you if it'd be unsafe to pierce your ear with the gun. I've been working here 5 years and have never once seen cartilage shatter. In the end it's of course up to you whichever one you feel comfortable with