What Claire's Says Is Changing
Staff Training
Claire's has said that piercing associates undergo company-run certification training before performing piercings in stores. The company has highlighted this training as a way to standardize technique and hygiene practices across its large store footprint, which spans hundreds of mall locations in the U.S. and Canada.
Piercing Devices
Claire's has historically used spring-loaded piercing guns, a method that differs from the sterile, single-use needles preferred by professional piercing studios. The company continues to market gun-based piercing as fast and low-pain, positioning it as appropriate for earlobe piercings in particular, while studios and piercing associations have long argued that needle piercing causes less tissue trauma. This is an ongoing point of debate in the piercing industry rather than a settled consensus.
Jewelry Options
The retailer has expanded jewelry offerings marketed for sensitive ears, including options described as hypoallergenic or surgical-stainless-steel. As with any retailer claim, shoppers should verify specific material certifications (such as ASTM F136 titanium or ISO-certified surgical steel) rather than relying on marketing terms like "hypoallergenic" alone, since that term is not strictly regulated in the U.S.
In-Store Experience
Claire's has also updated store layouts and consultation processes in some locations, aiming to make the piercing area feel more clinical and less like a walk-up counter. This includes visible sanitation stations and printed aftercare instructions handed to customers post-piercing.