On this page
Claire’s is a jewelry and accessories retailer that offers ear piercing in its stores. This page sets out what Claire’s says on its own piercing guide as of September 2026, and compares it with what professional bodies and doctors advise. It is not a review of any particular store, and practice can differ from one location to the next.
What Claire’s says
| Topic | What Claire’s says |
|---|---|
| Age and consent | Anyone under 18 (16 in Canada) needs a parent or legal guardian present, and the guardian signs the consent form |
| Babies | From around 3 months old, as long as they have had their DTaP vaccination |
| Method | Performed with an FDA-registered Class 1 medical device using gentle hand pressure |
| Price | Free with the purchase of a piercing starter kit. Kits from $29.99 (medical-grade stainless steel) to $129.99 (diamonds) |
| Offered | Lobe, second and third lobe, outer cartilage (helix), auricle and nose. Cartilage and nose at select locations only |
| Appointments | Walk-ins welcome, and online booking is available |
| Healing | Lobes 3 to 6 weeks, cartilage 8 to 12 weeks |
| Hygiene | Describes the piercing as safe and sterile, with sterile, hypoallergenic starter studs |
What the page does not say
Two things people most want to know are missing from the page:
- Whether the instrument is a needle or a gun. The page says it is an FDA-registered Class 1 medical device used with gentle hand pressure. That does not answer the question.
- Who does the piercing and how they are trained.
Both matter, because they are the checks the Association of Professional Piercers (APP) starts from. How to choose a piercer has the full list.
How that compares with what piercers say
The instrument. The APP says most ear piercing guns cannot be sterilised, and that a reputable professional will not use a gun for any piercing, even for earlobes. APP members may not use reusable ear piercing guns. The Cleveland Clinic says guns are not always sterilised between uses, and quotes a physician who recommends needles for piercing children. Piercing gun vs needle covers the difference.
The jewelry. The APP’s standard lists specific accepted materials, such as surgical steel meeting ASTM F-138 or ISO 5832-1 and implant-certified titanium meeting ASTM F-136. Claire’s describes its studs as sterile and hypoallergenic, and its cheapest kit as medical-grade stainless steel. We did not find a standard named on the page, so ask the store which one the studs meet. See the materials guide.
Healing time. Claire’s page says 3 to 6 weeks for lobes and 8 to 12 weeks for cartilage. Other sources give longer figures:
| Piercing | Claire’s | Cleveland Clinic | This site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earlobe | 3 to 6 weeks | 6 to 8 weeks | 6 to 10 weeks |
| Cartilage | 8 to 12 weeks | Up to 6 months to a year | Helix: 24 to 52 weeks |
The American Academy of Dermatology says not to remove a new piercing for six weeks or more, even at night, because taking the starter jewelry out too early may cause the piercing to close. Plan for the longer figures. Ear piercing healing time explains why. Earlobe healing time and cartilage piercing healing time cover the two in detail.
Aftercare. Claire’s page points to a separate aftercare page and gives no instructions itself. Whatever advice you are given, the APP calls outdated care like antibacterial soap or ointment a red flag. See piercing aftercare products for what a healing piercing needs.
Questions to ask in store
These are adapted from the APP’s checklist. Ask before you sit down:
- What instrument do you use, and is it a needle or a gun-style device?
- Are the parts that touch my ear single-use and sealed, and will they be opened in front of me?
- Who will do the piercing, and how were they trained?
- Which standard do the studs meet?
- How long before I can change the earrings?
- What aftercare do you advise?
If the answers are vague, you can walk out. The APP says to trust your instincts and never stay in a situation that feels wrong.
Babies and children
Claire’s says it pierces from around 3 months old. The APP’s standard for any piercing of a minor is that a parent or legal guardian must be present to sign a consent form. The Cleveland Clinic quotes a physician who recommends needles for piercing children. Baby ear piercing covers what to consider.
Rowan and Banter by Piercing Pagoda publish their own pages on ear piercing: see Rowan ear piercing, Piercing Pagoda ear piercing (now Banter) and all three compared.
The alternative
In the six US studio price lists we read, a lobe piercing was $20 to $30 for the service with jewelry extra, or $45 to $55 with starter jewelry included, and a piercer can fit jewelry to you. How much is ear piercing sets those beside Claire’s, Banter and Rowan, and how to choose a piercer explains what a good studio looks like.
Not medical advice
This page is educational. If a piercing is hot, has spreading redness, thick coloured discharge or red streaks, or you feel unwell, see a doctor the same day.
Frequently asked questions
How much does ear piercing cost at Claire's?
Claire's says ear piercing is free with the purchase of a piercing starter kit. When we checked in September 2026, its page listed kits from $29.99 for medical-grade stainless steel up to $129.99 for diamonds. Prices and offers can change and may vary by store, so confirm before you go.
What age does Claire's pierce?
Claire's says anyone under 18 (16 in Canada) needs a parent or legal guardian present, and that the guardian signs the consent form. It also says it pierces babies from around 3 months old, as long as they have had their DTaP vaccination. Whether to pierce a baby is a decision for you and your doctor.
Does Claire's use a piercing gun or a needle?
Claire's page says the piercing is performed with an FDA-registered Class 1 medical device using gentle hand pressure. It does not say whether that is a needle or a gun-style instrument, so ask the store. The Association of Professional Piercers (APP) says a reputable professional will not use a gun for any piercing, even for earlobes.
Is a Claire's ear piercing safe?
Claire's describes its piercing as safe and sterile, with sterile, hypoallergenic starter studs. Whether it meets the standards professional piercers use is a fair question to put to the store. The APP's checklist covers who does the piercing, how it is sterilised, what jewelry goes in and what aftercare you are given.
How long does a Claire's piercing take to heal?
Claire's page gives 3 to 6 weeks for lobes and 8 to 12 weeks for cartilage. Those are shorter than other sources. The Cleveland Clinic gives six to eight weeks for earlobes and up to six months to a year for cartilage, and our guides give 6 to 10 weeks for an earlobe and 24 to 52 weeks for a helix. Plan for the longer figures.
Does Claire's pierce cartilage and noses?
Its page lists lobe, second and third lobe, outer cartilage (helix), auricle and nose piercings, and says cartilage and nose piercings are offered at select locations only. Check with your local store.
Sources
- Claire's - Piercing guidehttps://www.claires.com/pages/piercing-guide
- Association of Professional Piercers - Picking your piercerhttps://safepiercing.org/picking-your-piercer/
- Association of Professional Piercers - Why piercing guns are a problemhttps://safepiercing.org/piercing-guns/
- Association of Professional Piercers - Jewelry for initial piercingshttps://safepiercing.org/jewelry-for-initial-piercings/
- Cleveland Clinic - Ear piercing 101: healing, hurting, cleaning and morehttps://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-to-expect-when-getting-your-ears-pierced
- American Academy of Dermatology - How to care for a new piercinghttps://www.aad.org/news/how-to-care-for-a-new-piercing
This article is for education only and is not medical advice. If a piercing is hot, swollen, spreading redness, oozing yellow or green discharge, or you have a fever, see a doctor today.