Best Ear Piercing Places in West Michigan
Ready for your kids first pair of earrings? Ear piercing is a popular thing for teens and tweens to do in Grand Rapids. Whether they’ve been asking for pierced ears for months or you’re looking for a special way to mark a birthday or milestone, choosing where to go can feel like a bigger decision than you expected.
So where do you go when your kid asks to get their ears pierced? We were asking the same question, so we set out for some answers.
West Michigan has plenty of options, from familiar mall jewelry stores to professional piercing studios with experienced piercers who work specifically with kids and families.
We’ve rounded up places worth considering, along with what parents should know about piercing methods, jewelry and aftercare before making an appointment.
in this article
Professional Ear Piercing Places in Grand Rapids
We like the idea of getting piercings at a professional studio.
They’re exceptionally clean. They have exceptional training in the ear piercing process.
And, it’s a private moment. Many kids don’t want to be on display like at the ear piercing places at the mall, especially if they’re apprehensive.
These studios have a reputation you can trust when it comes to you or your child getting a piercing.
Iris Piercing Studio
1500 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506
Iris Body Piercing is a professional piercing and jewelry studio in Eastown, offering an extensive selection of jewelry imported from all over the world.
Made from only the highest quality materials, they carry titanium, stainless steel, niobium, gold, silver, platinum, stone, glass, bone, wood, plus much more.
Above all else, this ear piercing place practices a professional, safe and clean piercing environment.
All equipment used during your piercing or jewelry change is 100% disposable. This means that once something is used, it is thrown away, and never used again. Iris Piercing is a participant in the Sterilizer Monitoring Program administered by Northbay / BioScience, LLC.
Iris Piercing requires a parental guardian to accompany the minor (age 5+) with a valid birth certificate as well as their own ID matching the name on the birth certificate.
Screaming Needle
2056 Lake Michigan Dr., Grand Rapids, MI 49504
652 28th St SW, Wyoming, MI 49509
1823 Plainfield NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
4629 Lake Michigan Drive, Allendale, MI 49401
Screaming Needle Tattoo & Piercing Co. offers friendly service in a safe environment. They’re fully licensed in the State of Michigan and Kent County and have four locations in West Michigan.
For minors they require written parental consent. As well as original birth certificate and photo ID required for the child (school ID, passport, child safe card), in addition to parent’s state issued ID.
“They were wonderful with my 7-year-old. They were so encouraging and respectful. Highly recommend,” one parent said about this ear piercing place.
Decorum
2460 Plainfield Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
Decorum begins ear piercing at age 6.
A pre-piercing consultation is required for ages 6 – 8 to ensure the child understands what they’re agreeing to. A pre-consult is not required for ages 8+, but a 10 minute session is complimentary if you’d like one.
A parent/guardian must be present with photo ID. Minors must have a birth certificate plus a photo ID to link child to certificate. (school yearbook, school id, passport, etc.)
A classic titanium with easy to clean ends is recommended for first time piercers.
It’s best to call ahead and make an appointment. This is a small studio and evenings and weekend appointments are often not available for walk-ins.
Equilibrium Piercing
4485 Plainfield Ave. NE #206, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Equilibrium offers professional piercing and luxury jewelry.
They offer ear piercing for children 7 years old and up. Their policy is to ensure the child is comfortable and a willing participant. They will not pierce a child’s ears if they do not want it or are too uneasy.
If your child decides last minute they don’t want or are not ready for the piercing, Equilibrium will not charge you any fees.
They require minors to have their parent or guardian with them, as well as the child’s birth certificate (or another form of proof of guardianship), legal guardian’s photo ID, and a photo ID for the child (school photo with school name on it, state ID, or school ID).
Studio Seventeen
214 College Ave, Holland, MI 49423
Individual body anatomy is key to your piercing at Studio Seventeen. Since all of our bodies are different, some styles or designs may not work with your anatomy.
All of their jewelry is quality and top of the line. Options include nickel free 14k and 18k solid gold, titanium and niobium.
Studio Seventeen has a minimum of 5 years old for ear piercing. A consultation for any child 5-9 years old is required to ensure the child wants the earrings and understands how to care for them afterwards.
Three forms are ID are required for all minors: the parent or guardian’s valid ID, the minor’s birth certificate, and a valid passport, school or state ID for the minor.
For children under 9 years of age, appointments must be made over the phone.
The Ink Society
7610 Cottonwood Dr Ste 101, Jenison, MI 49428
The Ink Society provides expert service in a clean, sterile, and comfortable environment. Precision piercings with implant-grade titanium jewelry. Their piercing specialists follow strict hygiene protocols and use only the highest-quality tools and implant-grade, titanium jewelry.
Noize is the Owner, founder, and lead piercer of The Ink Society with 14+ years of experience in the body piercing industry. He’s passionate about providing safe, precise, and stylish piercings that enhance everyone’s unique individuality.
Honest to Goodness Tattoo & Piercing
Honest to Goodness is going through some changes. They are no longer located at thier previous location near Founders Brewing. To get reach them, please email:Â hello@htgtattoo.com
Honest to Goodness Tattoo & Piercing is happy to pierce kids who are able to confidently tell them they want it. Ear piercing typically starts at age seven.
They will allow kids the opportunity to familiarize themselves with their piercer and the studio, along with talking about what to expect & how to care for their new piercings.
Must have with birth certificate and photo ID for the minor, and valid state ID for the parent/guardian (if guardian, they also require the state paperwork proving guardianship). Parent or guardian MUST be present during the piercing.
Confirm the current location when booking. The studio has moved from its former location near Founders Brewing, and some online listings may still show the old address.
Paperdoll Boutique
10 E Bridge St, Rockford, MI 49341
Paperdoll Boutique in downtown Rockford offers in-store ear piercing and is the place to go for a comfortable, relaxing ear piercing experience.
Paperdoll uses a FDA-approved medical device for ear piercing, not a spring-loaded gun. The actual earring acts as the needle and it works via the hand pressure of the piercer.
Both ears can be pierced at the same time, and all earrings have a special curved backing so there’s no hard post poking kids.
There is no minimum age for ear piercing. Parents / guardians must present a driver’s license.
Call 616-866-1634 to make an appointment (required).
Retail Store Ear Piercing Places
Parents opt for retail store ear piercing places for the good prices, and the idea that you can get both ears pierced simultaneously, which is appealing for some apprehensive kids.
Claire’s Ear Piercing
Woodland Mall – 3195 28th St. #H102, Grand Rapids, MI 49508
Rivertown Crossings – 3700 Rivertown Pkwy, Grandville, MI 49418
Claire’s offers FREE piercing with the purchase of an ear-piercing kit.
Starter kits are priced from $30 and include the piercing earrings and standard After Care Solution.
Infants (where infant piercing is provided) will need to have a current DTaP shot, which typically takes place at 8 weeks old.
Minors (under the age of 18 in the US and under the age of 16 in Canada) will need a parent or legal guardian present to sign the Claire’s Ear Piercing Registry and show a government issued ID before getting started.
Banter by Piercing Pagoda
Woodland Mall – 3195 28th St SE Ste. G116A, Grand Rapids, MI, 49512-7808
Banter offers FREE piercing with an in-store purchase of piercing earrings. Free instrument ear piercing is provided to our customers with an in-store purchase of piercing earrings.
Infants (where infant pierces are provided) will need to have a current DTaP shot, which typically takes place at 8 weeks old.
Minors (under the age of 18 in the US and under the age of 16 in Canada) will need a parent or legal guardian present to sign the Claire’s Ear Piercing Registry and show a government issued ID before getting started.
Shear Attitudes
9430 Spring Creek Ct, Middleville, MI 49333
No age restriction at Shear Attitudes hair salon, but kids under 17 must have parental consent. Call their salon at 269-795-4254 to set up an appointment.
Piercing Gun vs. Needle: What’s the Difference?
A piercing gun uses a spring-loaded mechanism to push an earring stud through the earlobe. The front of the gun holds the stud earring and the back holds a clasp. The ear lobe is placed in between the two areas and the piercer pulls the trigger, firing the earring into the ear and securing it in the clasp instantly.
Piercing guns are quick and common at mall and retail stores, but reusable guns can be difficult to fully sterilize. The blunt stud also forces its way through the tissue, which can cause more swelling and irritation.
For children’s earlobe piercings, professional piercers and health organizations generally recommend a sterile, disposable needle.
Whichever method you choose, proper sanitation, quality jewelry and aftercare all matter.
Earlobes and cartilage are different. Cartilage takes longer to heal and has a higher risk of serious infection, and piercing guns should not be used on ear cartilage.
Where Do You Go for Kids Ear Piercing?
Getting your child’s ears pierced can be a pretty exciting milestone, but the experience doesn’t have to be stressful.
The best place is one where you feel comfortable with the piercer, the sanitation practices and the jewelry they use, and where your child feels ready to sit still and participate in the process.
Whether you choose a mall location or a professional piercing studio, take a few minutes to ask questions before the earrings go in. A little preparation can make the experience easier for everyone and give those new earrings the best chance of healing well.
My 13 yr old granddaughter wants her ears pierced, that’s all she talks about. Her mom works full time and never has time to take her. Her mom is fine with getting her ears pierced. I was going to take her but I’m not a parent or guardian, so Addie won’t be getting her ears pierced anytime soon. Both of us are disappointed
Nice post and sincerely good knowledge to gather on this topic. My daughter turns 10 months old next month. Do you guys recommend Kay jewelers at Alpine for ear piercing infants at the age of my daughter?
Thanks a lot for this post! It’s very helpfull. My kids recently ask for have their ears piercing and this help me so much. Now they are looking forward to save enough to pay for they earrings and the total cost of the piercer ♥
This is a very good website.I got more information on this website, thank u for providing such a useful information, keep it up.
I found a professional piercing place that will do it at 6 months with a needle, not a gun! Screaming Needle (listed above) is the only place I could find after asking around, calling everywhere, asking the pediatrician, etc. It worked out great for my daughter… got them done at 6 months. She’s 9 months now and has never pulled on them or anything, and they look great. We went to the 28th St Wyoming location and Chris B. (the manager) did the piercing. He was great and very fast. My daughter cried a bit as expected, but didnt freak out, and she was fine a few
min later. Do not let an apprentice attempt the piercing… they tried to get away with that for me at first and he didn’t know what he was doing.
At Kitten Flower the jewelry is $60-75, not $10 and up….just wanted to let you know 🙂
I was hoping to get my daughters ears pierced at 6 months. Everyone has their own opinion/standards on this topic obviously. I understand the whole waiting until their little ones are old enough to consent, but what happen to parental consent? Different states like Maryland, Washington and California and other states that I cant recall, allow babies 6 months and older permit ear piercing. Some are in health facilities where the providers being licensed, held to a higher standard, and they wear gloves and overall are professional do pierce babies ears and they do not use a piercing gun. I am sure if we had places here in the Grand Rapids area the results/ satisfaction , this could be a more trustable option to consider opposed to the MALL. Come on tattoo parlors, by law are supposed to be held to higher standards also and with sterilization they practice and wearing of gloves, why do most places restrict baby ear piercing, but it is allowed at the MALL by a young preteen or 18 year old girl with no license or professional training? What is wrong with this picture? I would not want to get my daughters ears pierced at Claire’s or Icing as most or all the girls working there are young, not professional nor do they wear gloves. Why is it permissible in places like the mall but not at a Pediatrician facility? I think this is something that should change. I have my first daughter now and wish to get her ears pierced and most places in this city restrict it due to age. I’m not disqualifying the choice of small children consenting, but it should be mutual with parental decision also. This state law or who ever came up with this decision, should look at this controversy and CHANGE IT. If there are any places HERE in GRAND RAPIDS that are sterile, professional/ licensed and will pierce a 6 month olds ears. Please LET ME KNOW! Again, parental consent should also be a choice in this matter.
Latasha, it doesn’t have to do with the law. By law, I believe that tattoo and piercing parlors COULD pierce young children’s/infant’s ears. It has everything to do with consent and body autonomy. They choose not to do it until the child understands and wants to get their ears pierced and can take care of them by themelves. I hope this clears it up a bit 🙂
Hi Stephanie
I had my ears pierced when I was 10 years old ~ 40 years ago! Last night I had them repierced at Kitten Flower Boutique. It was a fantastic experience! Zach, the owner, and the staff are so knowledgeable and really want your experience to be the best. I would highly recommend this boutique for all your piercing needs ~ including children.
Stephanie, This is such helpful information. My 5 year old has just recently been asking to get her ears pierced. I knew I didn’t want to take her to the mall…but wasn’t sure where to start my search for a professional piercer in GR that worked with kids. This was the first article that popped up when I googled about the subject – it answered all of my questions AND provided great contacts. Thanks!
Meegan, thanks so much for writing. I am so glad to hear that this article was of help to you! 😀 We’d love to hear about your experience and where you chose to go. Best of luck to you and your little lady! – Stephanie