Everyone that actually really likes to get body piercing knows how addictive, in reality they actually are. I always like to think about a piercing before I get it, so that way I know I really want the piercing, and won't have second thoughts of it later on. Every piercing I have gotten I have done for a reason, or there is a story behind it. Usually BME gives me new piercing ideas, and is my inspiration unless I see someone with a unique piercing, then I ask them for the information about it. I have been wanting to get my rook's done for awhile, and I also have been wanting to get my navel done two more times. Out of the thirty-plus piercings I have, those are some I have not done yet, and would almost complete all the "body modification projects" I want to do.
At A Glance Author Courtney Contact piercedgirl1981@hotmail.com When A week ago Artist Shawn Studio Naked Al's Location Bakersfield, California I wanted my rooks done for the simple fact that I knew they would look good with the ear project I am working on (0gage plugs and tragus's, so far...) My first intentions were to get my daith pierced, but I realized that would look to "cluttered" because of my tragus piercings. Also I don't really have that much of a daith to pierce! So I decided on getting my rooks pierced! A much better choice! I had read numerous articles on BME about other peoples experiences, researched these particular piercings for awhile, and figured I had a high enough pain tolerance to go through with this idea of mine!
I have also been wanting to finish my belly button project for quite sometime also. (four naval piercings, two on each side, one on top, one on bottom, eventually having four plain barbells put in each piercing, keeping it "simple" but unique). So my friend Steve and I decided to go to Naked Al's in downtown Bakersfield. I of course ask for "Shawn" because he is without a doubt the best piercer in town. He has done a great deal of body piercings (40,000 plus!) and has been piercing for years, and is very knowledgeable and has a great reputation. He always takes special care of his customers, and treats them like friends. He makes sure you are feeling okay, checks to see if you need anything, if you need to rest, etc., always focusing all his attention on YOU, and making you feel comfortable the whole time. All good things to look for in a piercer!
I decided when I walked in the door to just get the rooks done, along with the navel piercings. I said, "What the heck, I want them all so I am going to get them all done now, why wait!!!" So Shawn puts me down for 2 rooks, and 2 navels, and I tell him, "Shawn, only one rook, I don't know if I can handle the pain of two of them. He then assures me that with all the piercings he has done on me, I can handle the pain of two rooks!". So I do it! No chickening out now! Shawn makes the (very) wise decision of doing my rooks first, and afterwards I am very glad he did, because the pain of the rooks was so intense that after the rooks were done, the navel piercings were a breeze!
Shawn cleans the jewelry, materials, etc., like he always does before doing a piercing, takes the time to help me relax, answer my many questions, etc. and marks the spots on both my navel and rook, so that way the placement part will be done. He knows I'm a diabetic, so the first thing he does is give me a "glucose" tablet, to prevent a low blood sugar reaction. He really knows his stuff, because he's the only piercer I know personally that takes such precautions. So I'm feeling safe and ready! He puts the clamp on one rook, and puts a lot of pressure on it, and makes sure he is in the right spot, and then he inserts the (already bent needle, a straight one wouldn't work for this piercing) into the rook, and finally after like 4 seconds it goes through.
This has to be the most painful piercing I have ever gotten, and I have pretty much everything else pierced! Its only painful for like 5 seconds at the most, and that's when the needle is going through the actual rook. The jewelry didn't really hurt going in, I could barely feel that part. The rook is definitely not a "fast" piercing like the tongue or eyebrow, because of all the cartilage it has to go through. Of course everyone is different, and everyone's pain tolerance is different. The second rook piercing did not hurt as bad! It was alot more bareable, painwise. My adrenaline is rushing and I feel like I'm floating, and it's a cool feeling! It felt like a "good" kind of pain. Indescribable at the least I must say! At this point the owner of "Naked Al's", Al, walks in and asks Shawn what is he doing. Shawn says, "two rooks, two navels", and then Al says, "All on one person?!", Shawn then tells him Yes, and that I was a champ! And believe me I felt like one!!
The rooks are now completed, and are bleeding, A LOT! I sit there and hold gauze to both of my ears while Sean attempts to do the navel piercing. Since the navel piercings were going to be on the side of the belly button, they were considered a "surface to surface" piercing. Shawn puts the clamp on, sticks the needle through, and the ring goes in, no problem. He does the second one and I don't even flinch. The pain from the rooks was so intense that the navel piercings were nothing to me. I was to busy regaining my energy from having my rooks pierced to even worry about the navel piercing hurting! This was definitely a wonderful experience, I loved it! I have never had 4 piercing done in one session, and I loved it! I now know I can handle the pain of any piercing!!
I actually have waited a week to write this, so I could talk about the healing process. I am actually a diabetic, and diabetics usually take a very long time to heal, but I don't. (for some strange reason, I don't know if its because I have the best piercer around, or if my body just deals with body piercings wonderfully, or both!) My rooks are doing fantastic. They did not stop bleeding until thirty minutes later, after they were pierced. They bled at night time when I went to bed, and the next day, but now they are fine, completely turn able, not scabbed up, not crusty, no puss, nothing! The navels are fine also. I was told to use Saline solution on the rooks, and to heat up a mixture of it in a shot glass in the microwave and to soak my rooks with a cotton ball for a few minutes, twice a day or so. The only time I was told to turn them was when I was right out of the shower. The navels I also cleaned with saline solution, because of the fact that they were considered a "surface to surface" piercing, because of the placement. To wrap things up, all four of my piercings are doing wonderful!
If you are ever in Bakersfield, and are thinking about getting a piercing, I highly suggest going to Naked Al's, and getting a piercing done by Shawn. Naked Al's has a wonderful reputation and its highly recommended because..........well...............they keep it real!!! There website is: www.nakedals.com, phone number is (661) 327-9403.
Also, feel free to email me if you have any questions, want to see pictures, etc. I have had numerous amounts of piercings done, so I can share plenty of experiences! Good luck to everyone out there!