I had just gone through an awful break up and was finally on the mend. To mark this change I had decided to have a bit of an overhaul, clothes, hair, you know. I was also contemplating a tattoo, and found myself looking on BME for inspiration. Then I stumbled upon the ear piercing section. Ear piercings have always really been my thing, since finally being allowed my lobes pierced at the tender age of 14. I found, and fell in love with the anti-tragus. So much so that I immediately booked an appointment with Cold Steel. Since moving to London they have become my lifeline for new holes, though I had only been once before, I was very impressed.
At A Glance Author Vawny Contact crazybitch_ears@hotmail.com When It just happened Artist No idea what her name is, but lovely lady Studio Cold Seel Location Camden, London Anyway, the day came and, with a friend, I turned up for my piercing. I paid and chatted a little about my other piercings to the lovely nameless lady behind the counter. I filled everything in, picked a plain silver ring, and then I sat down and waited for the room to be prepared for me.
The lady then led my friend and I upstairs to a room, which smelt so strongly of some sort of antiseptic. In the cente of the room was a dentist-looking chair, minus the arms, which she told me to sit down in so she could mark me up. After climbing (literally) on to the excessively high chair, and being laughed at, she marked me up and I grudgingly got down to have a look. It looked great. The lady pulled some gadget out of the chair, which created a little staircase so little me could get back up. I started to feel a little nervous. While setting up and changing her gloves every 5 seconds (!) she was explaining about the sea salt soaks, and not touching it, and all the other useful aftercare you receive from a good piercer, but my head was spinning and I really wasn't listening.
Note to all reading this; seriously try to get a good nights' sleep before going. I had no choice being an insomniac but what they tell you is important. I'm only glad it was all written down!
Anyway, my friend held my hand, well; we kind of more held thumbs as I prepared for impact. There was a lot of pressure on the area, I have no idea if it was from clamps or not. She pushed the needle through quickly, all the time talking to reassure me and I vaguely remember her saying something about needing to bend the needle. I lay there and the jewellery popped in. She clipped in the ball, and then fitted the other jewellery in healed holes I had purchased earlier. I sat up cautiously and walked to the mirror and looked tentatively into it. It was fabulous. And better yet, I was the only person I knew with it! For now at least.
After a hard day of shopping, and of admiring my new earring at every opportunity, we then went home. It was hurting considerably more by this point. I took some painkillers and tried to get on with some work. After a few hours I decided it was time to try to sleep. But not without a salt soak.
I filled my little Tea Pot up with boiling water, added sea salt and took it into my bedroom. When the water had cooled down, I tried to soak my beautiful new hole. But how? I was advised to use a cup, but my neck couldn't take any more of that as I recently had a conch in my right ear. So I decided to use a Muller corner yoghurt pot and sit upright... for future reference, it doesn't work! Water went EVERYWHERE!
And so to bed. As mentioned earlier, I'm a chronic insomniac, so this was not going to be a good night. My conch on the other ear decided to play up as well, so I was trying to stay centered and I have never been more uncomfortable!
Eventually, sleep came and the next day I woke, almost forgetting I had even done it. I glanced sleepily at the pillow to see it dotted with blood. Panicking, I ran to a mirror, only to find it wasn't from that area.
It is the end of the second day with my cutesy new mod, and while I am drunk, I will still soak it tonight! So far, the only thing coming off of the area is pen, so that, to me, is a good sign! There has been no blood, lymph or excessive swelling, so I am a happy bunny! It has been uncomfortable, and I'm sure more is to come, but it is so worth it, I recommend it to anyone thinking about it. Even a girl I live with is contemplating it!