Well, after getting my industrial done, I was debating what to get next for a while. I love my industrial...it's not too controversial, yet I think it's somewhat unique. After looking at pictures of everything on BME, I decided that the rook was the next piercing I wanted. Cartilage piercings look tasteful and fun at the same time, in my opinion, and I couldn't wait for the rook.
At A Glance Author ali Contact ali@bme.anon IAM ali719 When A month ago Artist Jim Studio Infinite Location Philadelphia, PA I went to Infinite over on South Street here in Philly, and talked to one of the piercers. It had been about a month since I got my industrial, and he recommended I wait a couple more weeks before I got the rook. I have the industrial in my left ear, and wanted the rook in my right. I was thoroughly impressed with the fact that Jon turned me away. It showed that they actually care about their clients and don't want them to wind up with screwed up piercings.
I waited about another month before deciding one morning to go for the rook again. Although I think my industrial is far from healed, it was doing all right. A very small amount of hypertrophic scarring on the top hole, but it's not sore anymore and hasn't given me any trouble lately. I went over to Infinite (without a doubt the best piercers in Philadelphia) with my sister that afternoon. We walked in and talked to the counter guy for a little while. Since I had researched stuff on BME, I really didn't have any questions and I was surprisingly not too nervous. I decided on a 16 gauge CBR with a silver ball. Jim called me back a few minutes later to get started. My sister and I walked back into his room (which was immaculate). He chatted with me about my industrial and set everything up. I started to get a little nervous by now, because I know cartilage piercings don't feel the greatest. He marked it, I checked it, and told him to go ahead. He told me to take 3 breath s and he pushed the needle through on the third. This definitely hurt a bit and I whimpered like the little girl that I am. Then he told me to take another breath. I was a little confused because I thought he was done, but he had to push the needle through the other side. This also hurt. Jim then put the ball in, which also hurt a considerable amount. I said something like "Oh that was great!" to Jim and he laughed and said "What the rush?" I was like "Yeah!" I probably sounded like a silly, sadistic girl, but oh well. :) It's just the greatest natural high after a piercing...I was all smiles as I tipped Jim and left.
Now, I know that cartilage piercings take a very long time to heal and are somewhat tricky, and the rook gave me a little trouble. It didn't really hurt after I left, although it stung when we were in the cold for about a half an hour that day. The next day my ear felt kind of numb. This felt really strange to me, but luckily it felt normal within a few days. Cleaning it is slightly challenging. I compared this piercing to my industrial a lot. Cleaning my industrial was fairly easy- I just lathered each hole up with soap and rinsed it out. The rook is in a very tight spot and it hurt to try and rub into it with soap. I had to use Q-tips for the first week to even get soap onto the hole. Then, one night while studying, I absentmindedly played with my ear lobe, and caused my rook to start bleeding. It continued to sporadically bleed for the next few days, especially when I cleaned it. This scared me a little because my industrial had never bled since getting it pierced . I've found the best time to clean it is in the shower with a Q-tip. It's easier to just let the water run all over my ear for a while with the soap. It's also been hard to sleep on. I still don't like to sleep on my industrial, because it protrudes from my ear. I now either sleep on my back or on the side of head, not putting weight directly onto either ear.
All in all, I'm very happy with my rook so far. Yes, it is difficult to clean and still sore, but I think it looks adorable. I classify piercings as looking cool, cute or very unique, and I consider the rook to be one of those very cute piercings. I don't recommend cartilage piercings to anyone who knows they'll slack off with caring for them- they do require work and patience. Here's a couple lessons I've learned:
-Warm salt water rinses are great. I have a small squirt bottle from my Chemistry lab class that is perfect for this. I coat the bottom with salt and fill it up with warm water. I squirt both of my ears down with the salt water (perfect because I don't cross-contaminate my ears) and then squirt them down with regular warm water.
-If you use hairspray or styling products like I do, I've found holding the cap to my hairspray bottle over my ear like a seal prevents anything from floating into my piercings while I'm doing my hair.
-I use Dial, twice a day. I've heard Dial causes dryness, but I've been all right so far.
-If you are thinking about multiple piercings in each ear, invest in a hands-free set for your phone. I have one for my cell phone and it's a lot easier and safer than holding the phone (coated with germs) to my unhealed ears.
I hope my story has helped anyone out there a fan of cartilage piercings like myself. Good luck with your future modifications! :)