These are the most popular and safest ear piercing studs we use. They are made of 24 karat pure gold over surgical steel - not just stainless, and they're nickel-free.
Made in the USA by Studex.  Each one is sealed in it's own package until use, as you can see.

   
24 kt. yellow gold or white gold over surgical steel studs with colored stones, set in bezels for smoothness. They also come in faux diamonds.

                               
24 kt. gold over surgical steel studs, with faux pearl and plain styles      24 kt. Y.G. over surgical steel studs for babies, plain & "diamond"  

After sanitizing our fingertips and cleaning the ears with Isopropyl Alcohol and "Neosporin Creme with Pain Relief,"  I mark a dot on the ear with a non-toxic marking pen by Studex.  Moms usually want final approval as to the position of the dot.   
                  ** Remember: No two earlobes are exactly alike!    After 20 years, I haven't seen one perfectly symmetrical person yet. **

                                                  
At Rothstein Jewelers in Beverly Hills I prefer to use the "Ear Piercing Gun."  There are no needles, no mess, no bleeding.  It is re-sterilized after each use. Once we're ready  ~ PRESTO! You have earrings in your ear! As you can see below, the earring stud and the backing are positioned into the gun and lined up. The earring latches into the backing perfectly when it goes rapidly thru the ear. There is enough room between the earring and the ear for daily cleaning and gentle twisting.

There are differing opinions regarding the piercing gun. The 2 major issues are: 1) Is it sanitary? 2) Does it hurt?
I have been a licensed Ear Piercing technician for 20 years at our jewelry store in Beverly Hills. I have also had my ears pierced with the gun. It's all about where you go to get pierced: We are not a typical "Mall Store." We are super clean and professional.  We make sure the client, the client's parent and I sanitize our hands. We sterilize the gun after each use, we sterlize and de-bacterialize the person's ears before each ear piercing, and there is no blood!

The piercing gun is the quickest way to insert the earring without any blood. No need to remove any needle and re-insert anything. The earring tip that goes quickly thru the ear is sharp - NOT blunt, as one tattoo artist claims. The pain usually subsides within a few minutes, sometimes it takes an hour.

We give personalized service and clear-cut instructions on the after-care & cleaning routine, including a "Take-home" sheet of After-Care Instructions and Advice.