It all began 5 years ago...Although I had had my earlobes pierced since I was 8 and had my cartilage pierced a year later (both guns...eew...) I was still young an naive, so the world of piercing was new and exciting to a twelve year old. I stumbled across this website while looking for pictures of navel piercings, and found that there was more to ear piercing than I originally thought. I fell in love. Piercing has always fascinated me, but I didn't know there were so many possibilities for just one little ear! And then I saw it...the most intriguing ear piercing I had ever seen, an inner conch. I immediately showed my mother, whose response was, of course, "NO!" And I've fought with her ever since, until now...
At A Glance Author Bailey Contact bea6587@hotmail.com When A week ago Artist Bonnie Studio The Ultimate Location Rochester, New York My 17th birthday was rapidly approaching and my parents were continually asking, "What do you want for your birthday?" To their dismay, the answer was always the same...my ear pierced (more specifically, my conch). By this time I had gone through 4 "standard" cartilage piercing, though only two lasted, 6 lobe piercings, with only 4 pulling through, and a forward helix piercing, my personal favorite (until now). Finally, they caved. But, upon requesting to see what I wanted pierced (my conch, daith, vertical tragus, and snug), none were accepted. Oh the frustration...
Enter my sister, my savior. When she had heard enough of my whining of the injustice of it all, she knew it was time to do what she had been dreading for 17 years...stick up for her little sister. Now, my sister was never one to keep her mouth shut, and her devilish attitude has continually gotten her into trouble. However, for some odd reason, she was almost...sweet...to my parents. It was as if she had wanted the piercing herself. She reasoned with them on and off for two days. When they had heard enough and knew she wasn't going to give up, again they caved; this time, for good. Although I had tried fruitlessly to explain to them that it was a just a piercing and that I could remove it when the time came, it was still no go. I don't know how she did it, but thank the lord for older sisters.
The day after my birthday my mom broke the news to me...I think she did it then because my birthday had royally sucked. "You can get that 'thing' you want, as long as you pay for it." I knew she wasn't happy but I didn't care. I was ecstatic. After 5 years, it was finally time. An hour later, video camera in hand (for academic purposes), my father and boyfriend with me, I walked into the studio, surprised to see so many people there for it being a Sunday. The piercer was in the back piercing a nose, so we walked around looking at the jewelry and the flash until she was finished. I told her what I wanted, my father signed for me (for lack of picture ID) and left, as he really didn't like the idea of a needle being shoved through his youngest daughter's ear. We chose the jewelry, and as she soaked it we chatted a bit about various things and my boyfriend got the camera ready. When the jewelry was done (about 10 minutes later), we went in the back and got everything rea dy. She told me everything she was doing before she did it, and I can't tell you how many times her gloves were changed. As it got closer to the actual piercing part, I got more nervous, and therefore don't remember much. I do remember her telling me to breathe in and on the exhale she would pierce me. It seemed like it took forever for the needle to go through the cartilage. It was an odd feeling, not really pain, just burning, then as it exited the back, a crackle noise and lots of hurt. The worst part of it all was when she put the ring in. She cleaned it off, popped the ball in, and gave me the sharpie she marked me with. *My little souvenir*.
We walked to the front, and she gave me a sheet with all the appropriate after care, and for what seemed like the hundredth time, asked me how I was feeling. I paid the $35, and I really wanted to tip her, but I didn't know how appropriate it was so I just thanked her a bunch of times. I have cleaned it everyday twice a day with saltwater and antibacterial soap. The only problems I have had were yesterday it throbbed all day (I think I might have slept on it), and some crusty blood. All in all, it was a wonderful experience. I would definitely do it all over again, and I still can't believe I finally got my conch!