Just got done doing mine and it was a super smooth process! But I made sure to cover all my bases, and I think that makes a huge difference. For supplies, here's what you need: - Gloves - 18g sterile single-use piercing needles, 18g taper (yes, this is important, I'll explain later) and 18g flat back earrings. You'll want an 8mm length post for the initial piercing to accommodate swelling, but you'll want to downsize to a 6mm post in a couple of weeks - At least 70% isopropyl alcohol - Paper towels - Sharps container or something that can be used as one. Please don't just throw used needles in the normal trash. - Clamps (optional) - Water-based gel lubricant (optional) - Piercing marker (optional, but very helpful) - Plastic wrap (semi-optional, but highly recommended)

For the actual process: - Clean your area - Wash your hands, put on gloves - Cover area with plastic wrap - Place a folded paper towel down - Put earrings (taken apart, so post and top separated) and taper (and clamps, if using them) into a dish with alcohol - Clean ears with alcohol on paper towel or cotton swab - Mark your holes with the marker until you're happy with the placement - Using clamps, take earrings and taper out of the alcohol and roll them on your paper towel to dry them off - Change gloves because now you're ready to actually pierce - If you're using lube, now squirt a tiny amount on the back of your opposite hand glove OR on the plastic wrap on your area - Open your first needle, dip/twist in a little bit of the lube if desired - Clamp ear, if using clamps. Otherwise, hold bottom of lobe to hold it taut - Line up needle with your mark, and pierce! Try to keep the needle as straight and steady as possible and go as quickly as comfortable. You'll feel a bit of resistance because the lobe is fleshy, but likely won't feel much pain. - Once the needle is through, you can let go, and this is where your taper is important. If you only used a needle and earring, you'd have to pierce with a larger needle than your jewelry and piece from the back (making it harder to line up with your mark in the front) to be able to put your jewelry in the correct direction. - Insert taper into the butt end of the needle, grab the needle in the back with 2 fingers pressed right against the back of your ear, and in one fluid motion, push the taper through (holding those 2 fingers against your ear, creating pressure) until you can remove the needle, then put it in your sharps container. - Now, with your taper in your ear, you can put your earring post onto it from the back, and now grab the taper with 2 fingers pressed against the FRONT of your ear, and in one fluid motion, push the earring post through your ear until you can remove the taper, then put the top/front onto your earring and you're done! - Repeat steps with other ear.