Yesterday I got my cartilage pierced. It looks really awesome now. Here is how it all started:
At A Glance Author Fyla Contact Fyla@bme.anon When It just happened Artist I never found out his name! Studio Blue Magic Tattoo and Body Piercing Location Crystal Lake, IL I had been wanting my cartilage pierced for a long time. I had seen a couple people who had it done, but they all had studs, and I wanted a ring. The first thing I did was go to a local salon. I had the lady do my 4th piercing on each of my lobes (with a gun), and then was about to get my cartilage done. I was going to get it done with a gun (I did not yet know about all the risks) so the lady marked my ear where she would do it with the purple pen. But the thing that stopped me from getting it done was that I would only be able to get a stud, and I had my heart set on a ring. She said I would be able to change it to a ring after it healed, but I did not want to wait.
So I went home that day and looked in a phone book. I called other salons around the area and they all said the same thing (That they would to it with a gun but it would be a stud). Some of them even said that they only do lobe piercing! Finally, I got on the internet and started looking for places that would do it. I found a tattoo and body piercing place in Lake Geneva, WI, about 40 minutes away from where I live. My mom took me there and I was so excited that I was finally going to get it done. This would also be my first piercing done with a needle. But when we went in there the guy asked my age. We told him that I was 14 and he apologized. He said that I would have to be 16 in Wisconsin by law. I asked him, "Even if you have a parent?" and he said yes. I was really disapointed that I couldn't get my lousy cartilage done even with my mom there.
He did tell us that I could probably get it done in Illinois though, because they don't have that law. So the following weekend we went to the closest place in Illinois that came up on the computer. It happened to be the Blue Magic Tattoo and Body Piercing in Crystal Lake. I called there a couple hours before we went and made sure that I would be able to get it done and asked basic questions like how much it would cost, that the needles are sterile and not re-used, etc. It took us a while to find the place because my parents don't drive around much other than in Wisconsin.
We stopped at a different tattoo and body piercing place on the way. I could've got it done there and it would've been a much, much shorter drive. We went inside and asked some things and looked around the place. They seemed pretty sterile and everything, but I wanted to see one more place and make my decision as to which one I wanted to get it done at.
We got there and when we got inside we filled out the papers. The place looked sterile enough and the guy seemed friendly, so it all was good. I decided that because we came all this extra way, that I might as well get it done here. He took me into a room and cleaned my ear an marked it. I looked in the mirror and it was perfect! I sat back down and he put clamps on my ear and started putting gloves on. I asked him if the needle and everything was new. He said that the needle is, but the clamps and metal equipment are re-used, but they are heated to like 300 degrees. Everything went so quick, he told me it was done and I hadn't felt a thing. Then I started seeing specks for like a minute, but then I was back to normal. The whole adrenaline rush thing feels so cool. We thanked the guy and paid him and left. I couldn't believe it was over. The guy said that some people even pass out afterwards. I was so happy, it looked so cool.
So that was my experience from yesterday. He said to use Bactine to clean it, so we have picked up some of that. The hole I got was a 16 gauge and I love it. I haven't had any problems once so ever, at least yet. My mom said she thinks I should stop now (I have 4 piercings on each lobe and now this one on my cartilage) but I don't know if I'm done yet. Anyone who wants to get their cartilage done, don't stress over it, I felt nothing!