So I have been thinking about getting my tragus pierced for a while now. I had heard some pretty wild stories about hearing your cartilage break (I heard it too) and I was kinda worried about the idea.
At A Glance Author Jake Contact Jrediornot@aol.com When N/A Artist ? Studio Tribal Rites Location Boulder, CO I might as well start off telling you what else I have done...I have my ear lobes pierced with normal studs (I might stretch them, I haven't decided yet) I have my tongue pierced, it was stretched to a 4ga, but im back to ten. my webbing pierced and a tattoo of a lizard on my hipbone.
Ok, now back to my tragus...So ever since I got to college I have had the urge to go get it done, but I have always wanted someone to go with me and get something else pierced. (two reasons behind that, 1. I wanted to share the experience of getting pierced and 2. I wanted someone's hand to hold!) So I waited about a month and nobody really wanted to get anything else done (a couple nose studs but gimme a break!) So last Tuesday I said Fuck It and headed up to the shop. I went to Tribal Rites Tattoo which is right on the hill if anyone knows Boulder. I went in, signed the stuff and picked out a cool little green 16ga CBR. I was thinking about getting something thicker, but I liked the idea of the piercing complimenting my features, not overpowering them.
So I hung around waiting until my name got called. I had been pierced before, but I still get those nervous feelings. I sat down and made small talk with the piercer. Nice guy, wish I could remember his name. He cleaned me off and we talked about why I decided to get my tragus. See my thing is that Im sick of piercings that everyone else already has. While the tragus is getting more popular, its still more unusual than say a tongue ring or belly button. He told me that it was one of his favorite piercings to do.
He told me to take a deep breath, and when I exhaled, he pushed the needle through. Good lord it hurt. And the noise was wild! I could actually hear the cartilage in my ear breaking as the needle went through. But the pain was soon erased as I got that rush you always get from a tattoo or piercing. (God I love that feeling!) And then...blood. Not too much, but I could definitely see quite a bit coming out. He cleaned me up again, twisted on the ball and I tipped him and paid up front. I stuck around for a few minutes afterwards looking through tattoo magazines because sometimes I kinda zone out when I get pierced. Its not exactly what I would call lightheaded, but I didn't want to ride my bike back to the dorm room at exactly that moment!
In terms of aftercare, it hurt! The first couple of days I couldn't really touch it that easily (to clean I mean) Twisting the ring still hurts and its been a week. This is my first cartilage piercing, so I've heard they take a long time to heal. Im a quick healer, but I think the fact that I have been sick hasn't exactly helped the issue out. Plus, since I play lacrosse, every time I put my helmet on or take it off I brush it and it hurts!
I have been really happy with my tragus so far. I can sleep on that side now, but it still feels awkward so I don't too often. I have gotten a ton of compliments, and also a few of the "ew that had to hurt" comments (frankly I like hearing that, I find it amusing!)
Now all I have to worry about is telling my parents! They flipped out when they found out about my tongue, and they still don't know about the tattoo or my webbing. I have a month before they come out to visit me in school, so plenty of time to put off telling them!
To anyone thinking about getting their tragus pierced, I would like to offer my encouragement. It wasn't exactly a fun process, but nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be. It sounds weird, but hearing that breaking noise was funny to me, I was sitting there really listening hoping I could hear it.
What is next for me and piercings? I honestly don't know. I don't want to start to look like a pincushion, but at the same time I want more more more!! I think I am going to end up with my ears stretched to about 6ga and my eyebrow pierced. In terms of tattoos I think next up is Hobbes from "Calvin and Hobbes" holding a lacrosse stick. Ill try to keep people updated. Email me if you wanna know more or chat.