I was sitting around the day after a boring old lobe piercing, and I decided that it wasn't enough. Sure, the endorphin rush kept me happy for a few hours, but my need to be modded hadn't yet subsided. Seeing as I have an ultra-conservative mother, the septum I so greatly desired was out of the question. I browsed BME for anything interesting, and I stumbled across two in particular that I really liked. The tragus, and an industrial. Having difficulty deciding, I asked Paul, a good friend of mine, for his opinion. Not being a huge fan of piercings, he told me that he thought the tragus looked nicer. Ok. Decision made.
At A Glance Author Kelsey Contact gc_a3_mest_afi@hotmail.com When It just happened Artist Renee Studio Tattoo 4 U and Body Piercing Location Dryden, Ontario. Canada The next day I called up Tattoo 4 U to see if they had any openings. Sure enough they did, and I booked my piercing for 4pm. I talked to Paul online to see if he'd come along, and he agreed. As we discussed it, I became more and more nervous, because I've heard many a story of incredibly painful tragus piercings, which shouldn't have mattered because pain usually isn't a factor for me. But for some odd reason, I was scared.
I arrived at Tattoo 4 U at quarter to 4, and waited for my piercing. I talked to Amber, the receptionist, as I looked at jewellery, and we discussed my future mod plans. I asked about getting my standard navel redone, as it had closed up because I took the ring out too early for a cheerleading competition. (I know, blah blah typical cheerleader with a navel piercing, but honestly, I'm not like that. Promise. Like really, how many cheerleaders have black and lime green hair? Exactly. But I digress.)I had my inverse done earlier that month, and it was healing up nicely, so I figured it was due time for the standard again. I booked a date for that one, but that's another story.
Stacy, the owner of the shop, was busy with a tattoo, so Renee, her apprentice, offered to do it. Of course by then I was just itching to get it over with, so I agreed. Paul at this time hadn't shown up, and neither had Devin, another friend that was supposed to come along to check into pricing and such for a tattoo he wanted.
All alone I walked into the back piercing room, glancing at the tattoo work Stacy was doing as I passed by. Sitting in the dentist chair, nervous as hell, I glanced around the room. Taking comfort in the familliar surroundings, I chatted with Renee as she explained how she would go about the piercing. She took the needle and 16g CBR out of their sterile packaging, and cleaned my ear with some stuff, no idea what it was. She marked the place on my ear with a surgical marker, and handed me a mirror to check placement. I thought it looked alright, so she put the mirror back in the drawer, and changed her gloves. She moved to the side to pierce and raised the needle. At this point I was extremely scared, and holding the chair as tightly as I could. I began to ask her how much it would hurt... and halfway through my question there was *stab* *CRUNCH* done. That wasn't so bad. But as she put the jewellery through, it got caught and had to be forced in. That hurt like a motherfucker. But it was done. She handed me the mirror again, and I carefully inspected my new hole. It was beautiful. But the pain was still there. It didn't feel like a lobe piercing, it was more of a dull throbbing that felt like a bad earache.
We walked out front and I paid Renee and tipped her, of course. She explained proper aftercare (salt water soaks), and I left the shop feeling excited from the endorphins, and popped a few painkillers to subdue the constant throbbing that was enhanced by the wind outside. I walked home happy, but at the same time disappointed that my friends didn't show. I came straight home, tried to find Devin and Paul to yell at them for their stupidity, went on BME to check out other experiences, and proceeded to write my own. (Hooray for free memberships!)
At the moment there is no pain, possibly from the painkillers, and there's a slight amount of swelling. Aftercare shouldn't be a problem, and I look forward to my fully healed, beautiful tragus. To anyone considering this piercing, I say go right ahead, the pain is only temporary. And it's definitely worth it. Even though I didn't get it purely for aesthetics, I love the way it looks, and it has so far curbed my desire for more mods. I highly recommend Tattoo 4 U to anyone in the Dryden area. The place is very sanitary and sterile, and the people there are some of the nicest you will ever meet. Not to mention their great merchandise. Stacy is wonderful at what she does, and Renee is getting better and better. Yay.
THE END