My best friend Shizzy, a friend of hers, and myself made a day to go out and get pierced together. Shizzy set out to wanting to get her tongue-web pierced and I wanted to get and industrial. I think the industrial is one of the most beautiful ear piercings and was quickly drawn to the idea of getting one. I have to thank Shizzy since she is the one who introduced me to them. I also have to thank her because she has wanted one for more than three years and didn't get too upset at the fact that I would get one done before her.
At A Glance Author Miw Sher Contact heavy_metal_bitc_h@hotmail.com When Three months ago Artist Stuart Studio Utility Location Blower St. , Halifax Since Shizzy and her friend didn't have permission to get pierced, I followed them to a piercing studio in Dartmouth which Shizzy and I had never heard of. They didn't ask for any I.D. which worked out to the advantage of Shizzy and her friend, although it usually isn't a sign of a good piercing studio. Shizzy asked the lady if they would pierce her tongue-web but after they looked at it they said they wouldn't because it was too small. That seemed to be a good sign but I still didn't get the best feeling from the piercer or the place itself. Shizzy decided to get her navel pierced since it would be relatively easy to hide and her friend chose to get a labret piercing. It appeared the piercer did a good job with the actual piercing, and she wore gloves, but the instruments(which were set out on paper plates) and jewelry(which was chosen by hand straight from the front and then brought back with us) didn't seem to go through any major steps for cleanliness. I was asked if I wanted to go next and politely passed up the chance saying I didn't think I wanted to get my industrial done that day.
Although it seemed to be fairly safe and clean piercing, Shizzy had quite a bit of trouble getting the healing started and is now left with a small amount of scar tissue, and her friend had to remove her labret piercing. I think walking out was the smartest thing I could have done that day. Moral of this part of my story: getting pierced at a place where paper plates are used to hold instruments, jewelry, etc. might not be the best idea.
After we were done, we parted ways with Shizzy's friend and the two of us made our way back to Halifax to go to Utility for my industrial. We went in a discussed me getting an industrial and after I was completely sure I was going to have it done we made an appointment for about and hour later and my parents were called to make sure it was okay to get the piercing. We went across the street for an hour so I could have something to eat before getting pierced. After eating we went back and Stuart was ready and waiting. He measured my ear for the barbell and took us into the back. Everything was very clean and I felt so much better getting my industrial done there rather than at the other place we had been to. I laid down and watched Stuart very carefully and cleanly unwrap everything and then mark and clean my ear. He then told me he was going to pierce it and to take a deep breath and then breath out. The top part was the most painful part of my industrial. Shizzy was there watching and taking pictures(which sadly the camera went missing with) and after a few moments he started on the bottom part. This wasn't too bad but it was only the beginning. Stuart then put the jewelry in and found it was too short. He put in a jewelry taper removed his gloves and then went out front to get a new longer barbell. By this time my ear was covered in blood and Shizzy was looking a bit scared. He returned with the new barbell, put on a new pair of gloves and inserted the new barbell. He then cleaned me up and I was all set to go.
That night I carefully cleaned it in the shower and did a salt soak. It stung a little bit but felt nice. The swelling still hadn't begun to go down and the balls on the ends of the barbell began to cut into my ear, so before I went to sleep I took some ibuprofen in hopes that it would help. When I woke up the next morning the barbell was still cutting into my ear and it was even more red than before. I quickly got ready that day and hopped on the bus back to Utility. Luckily, Stuart was there again that morning and very kindly took me back and replaced the barbell once again to a bigger one and cleaned it up for free. The swelling almost instantly went down and the healing process began.
Now about four months later, my industrial is no longer sore but has some scar tissue around the openings. This is from the pressure from the balls cutting into the skin that first day with my industrial. I, of course, wish it wasn't there but wouldn't give up this piercing for anything. I still think it is the most beautiful piercing and it is the one I am most proud of. I would recommend Utility to anyone but for those people who wish to get this piercing I would recommend you request the barbell be a size larger than that which they measure just to allow for any extra swelling. Although the barbell may be too big once it heals and you may have to pay for smaller jewelry, it is worth it just for the scar tissue you will prevent.
Happy piercing!