Where to get a tween’s ears pierced?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had made an appointment at Craig Pokes U in Arlington, but my daughter got sort of skittish as we walked up the stairs (which were covered in flash tattoo drawings of skulls, flames, etc.). The piercer saw that she was hesitant and yelled, "I won't pierce someone who doesn't want to be pierced". At that point she cried and we left. We went to a Piercing Pagoda later that day and she did fine. They wouldn't refund the $30 for the appointment, either.

I have a really hard time believing there was yelling. I have a feeling you were the problem, and she reacted to you. I'm guessing she got nervous, you made a fuss, and they refused to pierce her, because she didn't want it. Craig Pokes U pierces tons of kids. They make a lot of money from referrals, including this forum. I doubt they'd ruin their business by yelling and behaving unprofessionally.

It's true they won't pierce a child if the child is upset or doesn't want the piercing. That's one of the reasons I always recommend Blake. When I took my 7yo DD, he spoke directly to her, explained the process and aftercare, and asked her if she wanted her ears pierced. It was an important lesson in body autonomy. Afterwards, he even demonstrated how to anodize metal with a little machine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had made an appointment at Craig Pokes U in Arlington, but my daughter got sort of skittish as we walked up the stairs (which were covered in flash tattoo drawings of skulls, flames, etc.). The piercer saw that she was hesitant and yelled, "I won't pierce someone who doesn't want to be pierced". At that point she cried and we left. We went to a Piercing Pagoda later that day and she did fine. They wouldn't refund the $30 for the appointment, either.

I have a really hard time believing there was yelling. I have a feeling you were the problem, and she reacted to you. I'm guessing she got nervous, you made a fuss, and they refused to pierce her, because she didn't want it. Craig Pokes U pierces tons of kids. They make a lot of money from referrals, including this forum. I doubt they'd ruin their business by yelling and behaving unprofessionally.

It's true they won't pierce a child if the child is upset or doesn't want the piercing. That's one of the reasons I always recommend Blake. When I took my 7yo DD, he spoke directly to her, explained the process and aftercare, and asked her if she wanted her ears pierced. It was an important lesson in body autonomy. Afterwards, he even demonstrated how to anodize metal with a little machine.

It seems really ethical and admirable for them to let both child and parent Craig’s refuses to pierce someone against their will.

[Anonymous]

Craig Pokes U did my daughter's ears uneven. It was crazy expensive too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had made an appointment at Craig Pokes U in Arlington, but my daughter got sort of skittish as we walked up the stairs (which were covered in flash tattoo drawings of skulls, flames, etc.). The piercer saw that she was hesitant and yelled, "I won't pierce someone who doesn't want to be pierced". At that point she cried and we left. We went to a Piercing Pagoda later that day and she did fine. They wouldn't refund the $30 for the appointment, either.

I am guessing by "skittish" you mean your child was either crying or upset and telling you she didn't want to do it. The piercer heard you from the back and yelled out to the front (in order to be heard): "I won't pierce someone who doesn't want to be pierced." You yelled at or spoke harshly to your child to settle down, she got more upset, and you made her leave and took her to the teens at Piercing Pagoda who will pierce anyone.



Sidebar for anyone considering places like this: I took my kids to Sweet & Sassy in Leesburg for a hairstyle and manicure once and the whole time we were there, there was a little girl screaming and crying that she didn't want her ears pierced and finally her parents held her down and they did it. I will NEVER go back to that place again after the way they treated that poor child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Craig Pokes U did my daughter's ears uneven. It was crazy expensive too.

How was it uneven if they mark it ahead of time and you check it? Also, how expensive are we talking??

[Anonymous]

We also had a bad experience at Craig’s. I am not sure why there is so much love for the place. And it’s a dump

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had made an appointment at Craig Pokes U in Arlington, but my daughter got sort of skittish as we walked up the stairs (which were covered in flash tattoo drawings of skulls, flames, etc.). The piercer saw that she was hesitant and yelled, "I won't pierce someone who doesn't want to be pierced". At that point she cried and we left. We went to a Piercing Pagoda later that day and she did fine. They wouldn't refund the $30 for the appointment, either.

I call BS. There are no stairs at Craig PU. It’s in the front of the building on the ground floor. If you went to the back and up to the tattoo parlor well, that’s on you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had made an appointment at Craig Pokes U in Arlington, but my daughter got sort of skittish as we walked up the stairs (which were covered in flash tattoo drawings of skulls, flames, etc.). The piercer saw that she was hesitant and yelled, "I won't pierce someone who doesn't want to be pierced". At that point she cried and we left. We went to a Piercing Pagoda later that day and she did fine. They wouldn't refund the $30 for the appointment, either.

I am guessing by "skittish" you mean your child was either crying or upset and telling you she didn't want to do it. The piercer heard you from the back and yelled out to the front (in order to be heard): "I won't pierce someone who doesn't want to be pierced." You yelled at or spoke harshly to your child to settle down, she got more upset, and you made her leave and took her to the teens at Piercing Pagoda who will pierce anyone.



Sidebar for anyone considering places like this: I took my kids to Sweet & Sassy in Leesburg for a hairstyle and manicure once and the whole time we were there, there was a little girl screaming and crying that she didn't want her ears pierced and finally her parents held her down and they did it. I will NEVER go back to that place again after the way they treated that poor child.

Gosh that is awful. I don’t understand the reasoning behind wanting your young child’s ears pierced so badly. Why couldn’t they just wait until she was older??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We also had a bad experience at Craig’s. I am not sure why there is so much love for the place. And it’s a dump

Can you share more?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had made an appointment at Craig Pokes U in Arlington, but my daughter got sort of skittish as we walked up the stairs (which were covered in flash tattoo drawings of skulls, flames, etc.). The piercer saw that she was hesitant and yelled, "I won't pierce someone who doesn't want to be pierced". At that point she cried and we left. We went to a Piercing Pagoda later that day and she did fine. They wouldn't refund the $30 for the appointment, either.

I call BS. There are no stairs at Craig PU. It’s in the front of the building on the ground floor. If you went to the back and up to the tattoo parlor well, that’s on you.

That's true - you actually go DOWN a step or two to get in and they are definitely not covered in any drawings. The interior of Craig Pokes U is filled with granny furniture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had made an appointment at Craig Pokes U in Arlington, but my daughter got sort of skittish as we walked up the stairs (which were covered in flash tattoo drawings of skulls, flames, etc.). The piercer saw that she was hesitant and yelled, "I won't pierce someone who doesn't want to be pierced". At that point she cried and we left. We went to a Piercing Pagoda later that day and she did fine. They wouldn't refund the $30 for the appointment, either.

I am guessing by "skittish" you mean your child was either crying or upset and telling you she didn't want to do it. The piercer heard you from the back and yelled out to the front (in order to be heard): "I won't pierce someone who doesn't want to be pierced." You yelled at or spoke harshly to your child to settle down, she got more upset, and you made her leave and took her to the teens at Piercing Pagoda who will pierce anyone.



Sidebar for anyone considering places like this: I took my kids to Sweet & Sassy in Leesburg for a hairstyle and manicure once and the whole time we were there, there was a little girl screaming and crying that she didn't want her ears pierced and finally her parents held her down and they did it. I will NEVER go back to that place again after the way they treated that poor child.

Gosh that is awful. I don’t understand the reasoning behind wanting your young child’s ears pierced so badly. Why couldn’t they just wait until she was older??

I don't know - it was a 30-something caucasian couple with maybe a 5 or 6 year old. It should not be allowed. When we had my kids' ears pierced, the piercers spoke directly to them and asked them for consent first. Everyone should be allowed to do that - and in fact, I don't think ear piercing should be allowed by anyone except a licensed piercer. I feel the same way about "med spas". I don't want an aesthetician working on my face, I want a nurse.