Hey all! I always wanted to write a story for BME but never had an experience worth talking about - they've all pretty much been the same old "want a piercing, get to the studio, freak out, get a piercing" scenario. And although this one is pretty much the same as all my other piercings (nipple, nose, navel), it's got a cute sequence to it.
At A Glance Author Reby Contact Reby@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Alex Studio TRIPLE X TATTOO - NYC Location 36 & 6 - NYC I always wanted my tragus pierced and really looked into it! And of course, when you want to know anything about piercings and experiences you come to BMEzine.com. HOWEVER, many of the stories told of a "crunch" or a "pop" which really super freaked me out. And I mean REALLY freaked me out; I completely put it out of my mind after reading certain stories that all included this "crunch" effect and decided I would definately never get it. It was just too much, especially since I'm a chicken to begin with. And with me, before ANY kind of piercing I freak out, much less one that consists of a CRUNCHING NOISE!!! But I got over it (or so I thought) once I heard that my friend Danny wanted to get the same done too - I was so happy, now I didn't feel so chicken about getting it, since it wouldn't be by myself :)
Now the challenging part - my piercer had disappeared! (Alex) And I can't go to just any piercer, partly because I don't think I could trust anyone as much...but mostly because I don't think anyone else would put up with me! (I "almost" run out of every piercing) And so the quest began.
I tried the old studio I used to go to: closed down.
I tried their alleged relocation: Erroneous
I tried asking around: Does that ever work?
Finally after weeks of searching my husband got in contact with another studio who knew him and they told us his new location - YAY!
So we decide to call first thing the next day and go ahead with it, me, Danny & my husband. So we pack ourselves in the car and drive down to Triple X Tattoo. Everything's set, we pick the sides we want the piercing in and Danny goes first. Surprisingly, he was fine...didn't even flinch! So I was much more relieved, and I thought to myself, "Maybe I'll be one of the lucky ones who feels no pain! The BME'ers were wrong about the deadly crunch!" But once I got in that chair, it all came back to me: EVERY word of EVERY story, all the horrors and the crunches and the pops and the crazy bleeding, and I completely backed out. And I always back out, but this time my mind was MADE - I was not doing this today! My excuse was that they didn't have the exact jewelry I wanted (gold). Everyone thought it was REALLY messed up (trust me, they let me know)especially since me & Danny decided to go through with this together. So I ended up having the whole shop, tattoo artists and everything, telling me I'd better do it. After the whole guilt trip I still refused, until it was presented to me that I had absolutely no choice and was pretty much being forced into the piercing at this point. (haha!)
So finally I get back in the chair and hold still, but every time the needle got just close enough I'd back away and chicken out. This happened about four times. (sorry Alex!) Ultimately, he got the needle through, even though through reflexes (and sheer terror!) I totally moved and almost screwed up the entire piercing. But we did it!!! So quick, not painless at all (well, the taper hurt, but the piercing was nothing) and NO CRUNCH! Yes!
And now I love it more than anything, it's so beautiful - a labret style silver-tone piercing with a clear rhinestone jeweled ball. It looks so hot when I wear rhinestone earrings, it lights up my face & looks like it was meant to be there. So far there have been absolutely no problems with it and it already feels like it's healed.
If anyone in the New York wants a perfect piercing like meee.. then you have to go to Triple X Tattoo on 36th street between 5 & 6 ave and DEMAND ALEX!
So if anyone has any doubts about this piercing - DON'T THINK TWICE! It's such a great piercing and it's so HOT for girls, and not only girls, but guys too - Danny's looks awesome!!! It heals super quick and is actually easy to clean & take care of. Words of advice though: If you don't "feel" your side, get it on the side that you don't normally sleep on, adjusting my sleep position was the most difficult part of the whole piercing, and I put a bit too much pressure accidentally sleeping on it sometimes. Also, for the girls & guys with long hair, take extra caution, because it's really easy for your hair to get wound around it, especially if you're not really paying attention, because when you pull your hair away you can pull the piercing out along with it. This is a toughie because it's a life-long habit you have to get used to changing, but worth it! Also, beware of headphones! The over-the-ear kind may hurt your piercing in the initial stages of healing by pressing up & making it too hot & sweaty, and the ear-plug type can really mess you up, because depending on your ear shape there may not be enough room in there anymore! And it's not too fun to bang around your piercing while it's still trying to heal. Though afterwards is usually a different story, depending on the location... ;)