My story starts off in April of 2003... I was working at a restaurant called Franzisi's part-time and going to school for Chef Training in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Canada. I was 20 years old and itching for a change to my physical appearance...
At A Glance Author mana rockit Contact mana rockit@bme.anon When Six months ago Artist Ivan Studio Anipeg Tattoo & Piercing Location Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Canada I had just gotten paid the day before and I didn't have to work till 5pm so I figured I'd walk down to Anipeg Tattoo and ask Ivan to pierce my ears at 14g like we had discussed. I had toyed with the idea of stretching my ears after getting them pierced, eventually to 0g and wanted to have a small start on the long road so to speak, hence the 14g.
When I walked in there Ivan made me feel very comfortable. It helps that we've known each other for many years, but it didn't take away from his professionalism as he sat and calmly explained the whole procedure and showed me all his tools in their packages and that little brown dot that we all know and love that means everything is sterile and has been autoclaved. Make sure that you're well aware of the procedure before you give the Ok, and make sure all your questions have been asked. Check to make sure the tools are all sterile and that your piercer shows you the packages that they use in the autoclave machine to make sure you're getting a clean and safe piercing.
Once my ears were cleaned up and dotted, and I had given the okay for the placements, Ivan made sure I took a few deep breaths and shoved in the needle. It didn't even register at all, it was great. After both were done and he gave me a juice box to drink, I was on my way.
I had no problems with the healing process, in fact they were probably the best piercings I've ever had to take care of. I have an allergy to metal but those babies healed within 3 weeks and it was on... the stretching game had begun.
I moved to Ottawa soon after I had gotten my ears pierced. I remember buying two packages of Fimo because I had heard from friends that you could make inexpensive tapers and claws, and even plugs to stretch responsibly with.
My first jump I went from 14g to 10g in one sitting. My ears hardly even stung. I can remember thinking to myself "Is it always going to be this easy?" and wondering if I should stop or just continue going and see where I could really go in one night. Then, the voice of reason came from my brother who warned that I could rip my lobes and really create some scar tissue, so I decided to axe that idea and wait a few weeks.
My next jump I went from 10g to 4g, but that was a slow and gradual progress. I had made these short stubby tapers that I wore in my ears and at night when I'd sleep, my ears would stretch themselves from the pressure of my head upon my pillow. Every morning when I'd wake up, I'd move the o-ring in the back closer to my lobe... it was great, I never felt any pain and my ears never ripped.
As the months progressed I realized my lobes were oddly elastic... when it had taken friends of mine years to stretch, it had only taken me months! And the look of my piercings made me pleased beyond words. I felt beautiful, I felt sexy... I felt like I was expressing myself with my body modification and it became addicting.
I haven't had many problems with people being rude or obnoxious concerning my piercings either. My parents both love the look of it and they've always been supportive of my choices concerning my body. During Chef Training I had to retire two of my beloved piercings... my 14g labret and my 14g nose ring, I still regret it to this day. Of course there's more ideas in the works of getting new piercings (ie. madonna, both nostrils, septum, both conches, an orbital and maybe my tragus's) and tattoos are also becoming an addiction - there's really no stopping once you get money.
Currently it's December of 2003 and 7 months have passed since I first got my ears pierced by Ivan in Sault Ste. Marie. I'm currently at 1/2" and I love it. I just ordered a pair of 1/2" black buffalo horn tunnels and I'm anxiously waiting for them to come in.
The only thing that I can think to warn people about is that never say never. Body modification, next to music and art, are my greatest passions, they're highly addicting once you start! And it's such an amazing opportunity to talk to people all over the world about their body mods too, it really opens a whole new world. As it is right now, I'm looking to go eventually to 5/8th's but who knows if I'll stop there... the world's a beautiful place and my ears are works of art.
Take care, safe stretching...
xo, Mana.