I stumbled on to BME while I was looking for an odd ear piercing to get on my 16th birthday, and I've decided to share my story about the industrial I have in my right ear.
At A Glance Author Kelsy Contact Kelsy@bme.anon When A year ago Location Longmont, Co I was 14 and completely jealous of my sister for being able to get piercings, when I really really wanted to and couldn't. She had already gotten her nose, helix, and tragus done so I decided I'd look for something different to try. I was at a concert and I saw the coolest thing I've ever seen in my 14 years of life, an industrial. I came home and got online and researched it. Then I had to ask my Dad, my dad said no, but then I told him it'd be me and my sister's sisterly piercing. I didn't think she'd actually agree, but she did. There goes uniqueness huh? So we decided since I wasn't 16 that we'd see if they'd pierce it as two cartilages that the bar would just happen to fit through. The first place we went to said no way, but my sister got hers done anyways. We then called another parlor and again they said no. So the third parlor was like ok, and we made an appointment with them.
I got nervous on the car ride to the parlor and decided I was being stupid so I stopped thinking about it. I had my hair already pinned back on my right side because I just wanted it done without a hassle. We got in the store and we're waiting for my appointment time and my sister decides to get her conch done. Not wanting to be outdone again, I said I would go first. My dad and I filled out all the forms and handed them in to the lady at the front desk. She was really nice. I sat back down and looked at tattoo books waiting for everything to be sterilized and ready. My piercer and I walked back to the room and I sat down in the chair. I wasn't too nervous at this point, probably more relieved that I could finally get this done. He took some barbells and figured out the right size, then determined then angle. He showed me in the mirror and I approved of the markings. He put the clamps on, which I think hurt worse then the actual piercing did and we started talking about breakfast . A pinch and the needle was through the first mark, and a deep breath and it was through the second one. It seemed like forever before the hoops were in and tightened, which also hurt a little more then the piercing, and then the clamps were released. He wiped up my ear and showed me the little amount of blood on the gauze before I got out of the chair. I thanked him for doing a good job, and then I paid and sat in the waiting area for my sister. The dull throbbing was dull enough to ignore and I examined my ear in the mirror. There was a little blood but it was nothing too much. It made me laugh to see my ear so red. When I got a bigger mirror in a Burger King bathroom, I washed my hands and turned the bottom hoop up, so it wouldn't stretch the hole like it had done with my sister's. It was a little painful, but not too bad and it felt better to have the weight off of the hole.
I went home and cleaned my ear before I went to bed, and had a bit of trouble getting to sleep since I sleep on my right side. I finally just cupped my hand over it and fell asleep. The next morning I woke up with a numb hand and a little throbbing in my ear but I wasn't worried. It was still too sore to turn the hoops to clean it all the way so I made do. I carefully brushed my hair and pinned it up again. Then I admired my ear and thought of how great the barbell would look in it. Four months later, I decided to buy a barbell and put it in myself, since I didn't want to pay to have it put in. I had my Dad undo the hoops and I took both of them out, I rubbed Vaseline on the entrance and exit hole and it slid through beautifully! However, I wouldn't recommend this because I was warned about the dangers of doing it on my own.It was a lot easier to sleep on with the barbell in since it wouldn't get caught on loose threads. It's basically healed now, it gets sore ever now and then from me sleeping on it, but that's fine. I have a great deal of fun grossing my friends out by sliding the bar through my ear so it sticks out really far haha.
I love this piercing and I would recommend it for a first piercing because it's easy to clean and doesn't hurt badly at all. I'm in love with mine!