Well to start off, I had two holes in each ear in the lobe. I had been wanting a nose piercing for a long time but my parents completely refused. I considered doing it myself, but my friends all said it was too dangerous. So instead, one day when I was really bored, I pierced a third hole in each of my ears. Everyone had told me how dangerous it was, how it can get infected and such, but I just couldn't wait (I had just dyed my hair and was on a rebellious streak).
At A Glance Author andrea When A month ago Artist me Studio my bathroom So I dug through my jewelry box until I found the earrings I got when I got my ears pierced last time. This took longer than expected, because one of them had ended up in my makeup box. But I finally got both of them, and grabbed one of my mom's sewing needles and went downstairs. Then I put a pot of water on the stove until it started boiling and put the earrings and needle into it. I partially covered it with a lid and let it steam for 20 minutes. Then I carefully poured the water out, and poured the earrings and needle onto a fresh paper towel which was on a clean plate. I got out an ice tray from the freezer and dumped all the ice into a bowl. Then, taking the dish and the bowl, I went upstairs, stopping at the medicine closet to get some rubbing alcohol, cotton swabs, and the ear cleaning solution I had gotten last time, I think from Claire's. I poured the rubbing alcohol over the needle and earrings, then washed my hands. They still looked kind of dirty so I got out so me latex gloves. But the gloves were dirty too, and out of the package, so I went back to washing my hands and just scrubbed a lot with very hot water and a lot of soap. Then I took some ice cubes and tried to numb the ear. This took several tries because the ice kept slipping out of my hands. Finally I was ready to pierce, so I washed my hands again.
I looked carefully at my ears in the mirror to decide where to put it. Then I breathed deeply, picked up the needle, slid it through the spot I desired. Just like that. It went through so easily, didn't hurt or anything. Then a problem arose. How was I going to get the earring through my ear while the needle was in there? I tried sliding it through with the needle, I tried sliding the needle halfway out and then the earring halfway in, everything. Finally I realized I would just have to pierce it with the earring. So I took the needle out and started pushing the earring through. It hurt a bit because the numbness was wearing off, but the worst was the sound. I could HEAR the flesh in my ear giving way as the earring went through. It was awful. But then it was through, and only stung a little bit, a dull kind of pain.
Time for the next ear! I washed my hands, numbed it, washed them again, and picked up the earring. This one hurt a lot less because it was more numb, but again I could HEAR it. Then it got stuck and wouldn't go all the way, no matter how hard I pushed. Well, too late to turn back now, I already had the other one done. So I looked at myself in the mirror, tears running down my face, took a deep breath, and BAM! it went through. This one hurt a little more afterwards than the other one. And as I stood back to admire my work, I realized that they were uneven. But just a little. I could have taken it out and done it again I suppose, but after all that I had just gone through, are you kidding?!?! So i just poured the ear cleanser all over them, not even using the cotton swabs, and went back to my room to write the entire experience down in my diary. I was done! I couldn't believe it. It felt so great, and I loved picking out new earring
Now, it's about three months later. They stopped hurting, they never bled, or got infected or anything. I only experienced a little bit of swelling and itchiness, but as I read those are common to new piercings, I didn't mind. Oh and one ear pussed for a day or so but quickly went away. They're completely healed now, I can change earrings whenever I want, and my ears look awesome. I know a lot of people regret doing their own piercings, but I certainly don't. I'd do it again. In fact, my success with that has given me courage to try a self- ear cartilage piercing or nose piercing...hmm... you'll be hearing from me soon I'm sure.