Rowan ear piercing: licensed nurses, needle or device, prices, ages and aftercare

Rowan is a piercing company that says its piercings are done by licensed nurses. This page sets out what Rowan says on its own site as of September 2026, and compares it with what professional bodies and doctors advise. It is not a review of any particular location, and practice can differ from one to the next.

What Rowan says

Nurses

Rowan says “piercing by licensed nurses, only”, and that piercing is a medical procedure. A nursing licence is a medical qualification. The pages we read do not say what piercing-specific training the nurses receive. The Association of Professional Piercers (APP) suggests asking how long a piercer has been piercing, how they learned, and what they do to keep their knowledge current, such as continuing education in anatomy, aftercare and aseptic technique. Those are fair questions for any provider.

Needle or device

Rowan offers both. Its needle is described as a single-use hollow bore sterilized needle, which matches the APP’s standard that all tools, needles and jewelry must be sterile and every needle single-use.

Its device is the part people ask about. Rowan says it is hand pressurized and in the nurse’s control, and that guns use spring-loaded mechanisms to forcefully pierce. The APP says a reputable professional will not use a gun for any piercing, even for earlobes, and that its members may not use reusable ear piercing guns. The APP pages we read do not say whether that extends to a single-use device like Rowan’s, so ask what instrument is used and whether the parts that touch you are single-use and sealed. The piercing gun vs needle guide covers the difference.

Ages and consent

Rowan pierces from 2 months old with the device, and asks for one DTaP vaccine for children 5 and under. Needle piercing starts at 5 for children who can sit still and follow directions. For anyone under 18, a parent or legal guardian must be present, and Rowan asks for the guardian’s ID rather than the child’s unless local rules say otherwise.

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, because guns are not always sterilised between uses. Baby ear piercing covers what pediatricians say.

Jewelry

Rowan lists 14k gold, gold plated, surgical grade stainless steel and titanium. The APP’s accepted list for initial piercings is more specific: surgical steel meeting ASTM F-138 or ISO 5832-1, implant-certified titanium meeting ASTM F-136, commercially pure titanium, niobium, gold of 14k or higher that is nickel-free, platinum and lead-free glass. Gold plated is not on it. Ask which pieces are used for a new piercing and which standard they meet. See the materials guide.

Aftercare: where the advice differs

The two agree on most of the list. They differ on the cleaning product and on rotating a lobe earring. We follow the APP, and piercing aftercare products explains what to look for on a label. Piercing pillow covers the sleeping advice.

Rowan’s outcome figures

Rowan’s home page says the industry average for adverse piercing outcomes is 30 percent and that its own rate is under 1 percent. The part of the page we read gave no source or method for either figure, so treat them as a company claim rather than evidence.

Target

A search result for Rowan’s site says it offers piercing at select Target stores, but that page would not load when we checked. Use Rowan’s store locator to confirm before you go.

Questions to ask

These are adapted from the APP’s checklist:

• What instrument will be used, and is it a needle or the device?
• Are the parts that touch me single-use and sealed, and will they be opened in front of me?
• What are the jewelry materials, and which standard do they meet?
• What aftercare do you advise, and why that product?
• When can I change the earrings, and what does it cost?

Studios and other options

Rowan’s needle piercing at $35 per ear, plus jewelry from $68, sits alongside the studio prices in how much is ear piercing. Ear piercing at Claire’s, Banter and Rowan compared sets the three side by side, and how to choose a piercer has the checklist.

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.

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.