I have my tragus pierced and I used to have my eyebrow done but that grew out so I was looking for something else. I knew I wanted another ear piercing but couldn't make up my mind between rook, conch, helix or anti-tragus. My friend got her rook pierced a few weeks after I began my contemplation and she totally put me off when she told me about the pain. After a little while all thoughts of piercings went out my head.
At A Glance Author Duffer Contact Duffer@bme.anon When A year ago Artist ? Studio Needleworks (in Oasis) Location Birmingham, UK One Saturday I woke up and my mum and sister had already gone out and I was getting bored and trying to think of things to do. Then it popped into my head - I'd get the piercing I'd been thinking about. Whenever I get anything pierced/tattooed I never tell anyone or ask anyone to go with me in case I chicken out so I just got in my car and drove to town. I was getting more and more nervous all the way and started to feel sick but I know from past experience that is normal for me.
I found a place to park and began my slow walk to Oasis. On the way I realised I still didn't know what I was going to have done. As I was going down the stairs and through all the other shops I just decided that whatever came out my mouth when I got there was what I would have. And it just so happened to be my helix.
The woman that served me made me feel even more nervous because she had her cheeks pierced but without any jewellery in!! She got out the different rings and bars I could choose from and I settled on a microbar because I didn't want a ring to get caught when I brush my hair. So I paid for it all and then I had the dreaded wait. It wasn't as bad as I was expecting because the girl sitting next to me was getting her tragus done and asking about mine. I'm really glad she was there because talking to someone really took my mind off what I was there for. All of a sudden in the middle of my story the guy came out and said it my turn.
I recognised the piercer as he had also done my tragus but I get so nervous I can never remember his name (he is kind of small with a shaved head if anyone goes there). So he gave me the clip to get my hair out of the way and I was that nervous I dropped it. I finally got myself settled and he marked my ear but I wasn't keen where the dot was, I thought it was too close to the edge. So he repositioned it for me and that time it was fine. Then came the spray which was freezing! I never think it's going to numb it but it did. Next was the clamp and I felt a little pinch. I thought he was taking ages with the clamp but then all of a sudden he tells me it's all done and sure enough when I checked in the mirror it was. I was really happy with it but it was already hurting.
I went round to Boots to buy some painkillers and one of my friends was there on her lunch hour so I showed her my helix and she said it was cool. Then she showed me the back of her neck which she'd recently had pierced - ouch!! Even though it was hurting I felt better about it now I had shown someone I knew.
The aftercare was a pain 'cause it's so awkward to get to the back of, especially with a ball in the way. I ended up using pointy cotton buds soaked in warm, salty water and I got a syringe from one the nurses were I work and used that to get right round the back of it.
It was 10 times more painful than getting my tragus pierced and I have to say it never felt properly healed with no pain at all until about 6 months had passed. Now a year on and I love it. The pain was worth it 'cause I think it looks cool. I also like it because it's a bit less common than the tragus or rook and people are always surprised to see that the back doesn't go into my head!! If you can put up with a bit of pain and some extra time for cleaning it I would definitely recommend getting your helix pierced.
Now all I have to do is decide on my next piercings - I think I'm swaying towards side lip and anti-tragus.
*if any of you want to see a pic just email me and I will happily send it to you :o)*