I haven't had a piercing since I took out my nostril stud almost a year ago, so I've been itching for something new lately. After looking around on bmezine.com for a while, I decided that I either wanted a snug or a daith. I came to the conclusion that I'd get the snug first, on my right ear, and then go for the left daith in a few months. About a week ago, I found one snug picture in particular that I liked, with a higher and wider placement on the girl's ear. I printed it out and brought it to Lucky's Tattoo and Piercing Emporium in Northampton, MA yesterday. On the ride there, I was getting increasingly nervous about the whole thing, because I had read that snugs are one of the most painful piercings. I was also worried that my ear anatomy wouldn't accommodate a snug. But luckily, I had my friend with me, and she was able to convince me that I had nothing to worry about, especially since she was getting her nipples done. And that had to hurt way more than a little cartilage piercing, right?
At A Glance Author Marissa Contact Marissa@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Penelope Studio Lucky's Tattoo and Piercing Emporium Location Northampton, MA Still feeling nervous, but excited, I wandered into Lucky's. The girl at the desk had to ask me a few times what I wanted, because she didn't know what it was. Thankfully, the piercer and owner, Penelope, was nearby and knew what I was talking about. When it came time to pick out jewelry, I decided on an 18g curved barbell. I'd heard that generally, rings are more irritating. Penelope said that it really depends on your lifestyle; if you're super athletic and roll around a lot in your sleep, a ring is probably not the best idea. I may not be athletic, but I do tend to move a lot overnight, so I went with the barbell. My friend and I filled out the necessary release forms, handed over our money (mine was $47), and were led to the back piercing room.
The room was very clean, and we weren't allowed to touch the counter top or utensils. Penelope had everything all set to do my friend's nipples first, and gave us a rundown of what she'd be doing and the aftercare. Basically, sea salt soaks and antibacterial soap cleaning twice a day until it heals. When it was my turn, she had me sit up in the piercing chair (instead of lying down, which is the first thing that surprised me). I showed her the picture, and we decided that I'd have mine a little less wide, but just as high on my ear. She made the marks, got it placed perfectly the first time, and she got ready to push the needle through right away. No clamps or anything (the second, very pleasant, surprise). "Take a deep breath in...and out." She really had to push to get the needle through all the way, so it took a few seconds and was kind of awkward. I didn't hear the infamous cartilage crunch, either (third pleasant surprise). The pain wasn't unbearable by any means. Not nearly as painful as I was anticipating. It stung more when she put the barbell in, actually. Unfortunately, I have really good blood circulation in my ears, so it took a few minutes to stop bleeding. Once it had stopped and Penelope had cleaned everything up, I was able to look at it. The final result is adorable and I love it. Penelope had never done a snug so high on the ear before, and she jokingly nicknamed my piercing a "snook" because it's halfway between a rook and a snug. She got out her camera and took a picture for her viewbook, which I'm excited about. I left her a nice tip because she was amazing...seriously, if you're in the area and looking for a great piercer, go see Penelope. She's the best. She made me feel comfortable the whole time, even when she was shoving the needle through.
After the actual piercing, my ear felt a little hot and was really red, but it didn't exactly hurt. Now, the day after, there's minimal swelling and pain. I really only feel it enough to know it's there, and it only stings a little when I clean it. Cleaning is a bit difficult, and I pretty much have to stick my head under the faucet to rinse it out. I didn't sleep well last night, because I have to get used to sleeping on one side. But it's a small price to pay. All in all, I'm extremely happy with my "snook," because it's really cute and I've never met anyone else with one. If you're thinking about getting a snug, just go for it. Don't worry about the pain. It's totally worth it afterwards.