Well, it was just over 6 months ago that I was once again bored with my appearance and decided I needed so something a bit funky. Tattoo was too permanent and my hair was dyed black and pink so that was a no go too. Which left piercing as the only remaining option, but where should I get pierced??
At A Glance Author Leanne Contact Leanne@bme.anon When Six months ago Studio Eternal Ink Location Sheffield I had my lobes done already (one on the right, three on the left) and have had my eyebrow and nose done in the past but I decided to go for something on my ear somewhere, and after a bit of thought I decided to get my snug done on the left ear so that I'd have a nice row of holes :)
So, I wandered down to the nearest tattoo and piercing establishment, Eternal Ink (Sheffield) and told the man I wanted to get my snug pierced. He said there'd be a short wait whilst the piercing lady did someone else and to take a seat. So I sat and waited, chatting to my friend - who looked paler and more nervous than me - which didn't really help calm me down!
Then, after a while the woman came out (I'm sorry I really can't remember her name) and asked me to read and sign a form which had information about after care and stuff on. Then she took me through to the piercing area. It was really clean; I could see all the gloves, needles, the autoclave, etc. I sat down on a stool in the corner and discussed placement of the piercing, specifically how far above my lobe piercings. Initially, she thought I wanted to get my conch done so I was glad we had a little chat. We decided on a 1.6mm diameter bar, and although I much preferred the look of the 6mm length bar as the balls on the end were smaller, the piercer advised I had the 8mm length put in to allow for swelling.
The piercer put on some gloves, cleaned my ear around where it was to be pierced and made a mark where the needle was going to go through and where the jewellery would be. I checked that the mark was in the correct place, which it was, and sat back down. Back on the chair, my heart started racing a bit but I took some deep breaths and just didn't stop talking. She sprayed the area with cold ethanol, it's such a unique feeling – this is the point where all the nerves, excitement, adrenaline and tingling from the cold ethanol all combine and you know there's no turning back.
I didn't look at the needle but I could hear the piercer taking it from the sterilized packaging. I moved my head slightly as requested and she told me to take a deep breath in and when I breathed out she would push the needle through. I was trying my best to keep as still as possible, and ended up squeezing the underneath of the stool a bit. Deep breath in.... and out. No intense pain or any sensation. I was a little puzzled, as I only heard a slight noise and I had to ask her if she had done it. As I said this, I started to feel a slight pain and could tell that she was screwing the ball onto the barbell. "There you go – all done" or something along those lines.
I couldn't believe that I'd hardly felt it, I was quite astonished. I went and had a look in the mirror and was really pleased. I could feel it getting hot already though.
All done and dusted I paid the lady and showed my friend, she said she thought it looked cool but just immensely painful. I stupidly played badminton straight afterwards but it felt OK. I found it impossible to sleep on that side for the first few nights, the worst part was rolling over onto it in the night and waking up. I also found my hair got caught around it quite a bit too.
The swelling around the snug persisted and began to get a little worse - but I have found it gets bashed a bit - it's hard to avoid hugging people and that's the worst! So, I spoke to a few friends with piercings and they suggested that if the barbell was stainless steel that my ear could be aggravated by nickel and to change the bar to a titanium one.
So, I went to Feline - a different piercing studio, which had been recommended by a friend and spoke to Jane, the piercer. I explained everything and she took me through to the piercing room. She said she didn't think it was infected, but she'd take it out and have a look. It was so weird to see the hole for the first time without the bar. She said she thought the barbell was stainless steel and that she's put a longer, thinner titanium bar in. So, I now have a 1.2mm diameter, 10mm length titanium bar in. The balls are smaller on this one too - yay!! She also recommended taking zinc tablets to help the healing process.
Jane was a fabulous help. Since the bar has been changed the swelling is going down a lot more, and not only that she didnt charge me anything at all for her time or the new bar. I will definitely be going back to Jane for my future planned piercings.
So, I've learnt quite a few lessons from this piercing experience. Firstly, research the piercing you're about go get - I really didn't expect it to take so long to heal but everything I've read since has shown me that's not true! Also, ask about and find a good piercer. I've had a few niggles with my snug but I love it, it's not that common and it hardly hurt at all! I can't wait to change the barbell for one with microcones.