When you think of a group of 50 kids from Colorado going to Hawaii for a marine science camp...you wouldn't think that they will all go get piercings on a shopping day after attending class. But, thats just how it was. Two weeks in Hawaii, where you only need to be 16 to get body piercings at most places, how was I supposed to resist that?
At A Glance Author Molly Contact volley13molly23@hotmail.com When A week ago Artist Chris Studio Ono Studios Location Kona, Hawaii I have wanted to get my tragus for about a year now. I would look at all the pictures at bme, and whine all day to get it done. It's such a cute little piercing. Howeverm after getting my tattoo last year, my mom has been hesitant to let me get anything else done. I couldn't understand why, but you know, she is my parent and I had to abide by her rules. (Although I still thought about it everyday!!!)
As we got off the bus for our first shopping day in Kona, one of our instructers gave a quick lecture about body piercings, weed, and tattoos. And we all got off the bus. As bad I wanted to get my tragus pierced that day, I was scared my teacher would flip out. But I couldn't resist going into a tattoo shop to go buy a pair of zero gauge earrings. Thats where I met Chris. He seemed like a very cool guy, we talked a little about piercings, and I left the shop.
The more I thought about it...I had to get it done. We went out to diner, and right after I ran over to the shope, slapped thirty bucks on the counter and asked for a tragus. I had a friend go with me to do it, and I made sure to ask all the appropraite questions. It felt so cool to have everyone saying "Molly, you know the most about all of this stuff, you talk to him". The whole trip I was pourring out the little knowledge I had about piercings and tattoos that I had learned here on BME. I liked to read up on the stuff, because I've always thought that going into this line of work would be really interesting. I felt so smart! I wanted to get it done first, and honestly it wasnt that bad. I decided on a little 16 ga barbell. Very cute. I was kind of worried because I heard it can burt really bad and be sore for 3 or 4 days later. The clamp hurt pretty bad, but nothing unbearable. Chris counted to three and I was pierced. I didn't even flinch, I just squeezed mt hands togeth er and took a deep breath. As for being sore, there was a dull pain for a couple hours after, but I could still sleep on my right side (the side I got pierced) that night. Keeping it clean wasn't hard, just a q-tip and some bactine three times a day. Since salt water rinses are good for fresh piercings anyway, being in and out of the ocean didn't hurt it any. No infections or redness.
Now I'm back home in Colorado and everyone has gotten the chance to admire my new tragus.I told my dad and brother over the phone, but waited until I got to the airport to show my mom. Despite what she has always said in that past about a tragus piercing, she did not "sneeze and throw-up" She was a little upset at first, but now she likes it. And I do too, of course. I'm up to nine piercings, and one tattoo now. Still love them all. The only downside to it, after I returned to the dorms that night and showed the rest of the girls my new piercing, everyone and their mother went out and got it done too. About five or six other girls I'm guessing, as well as the ones who copied someone's inner conch piercing too. I hate posers. Be orginal, it is so much more attractive. So my advice to anyone out there that wants to get piercing some day- Please get it for yourself! No because other people got it done and you want to fit in. Or because you think having holes everywhere makes y ou seem cool. Or because you want to make your parents mad. They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Well "they" lie. Imitation is annoying. Plus, I gained some knowledge about going into the piercing industry from Chris too. So, ready for the morals of the story. Tragus's are pretty. Don't be a copy cat, you loser...just kidding. But really, piercings should be for YOU, not for anyone else. And finally, going to Hawaii for a science camp sounds like a really lame thing, but it really is amazing. (thanks to bright green tattoo shops in Kona)