It was just a few days before my anniversary and my fiancé hadn't gotten me a gift yet. What better way for him to show his love for me than for him to pay for me to get another hole in my head, two holes at that. It took about 20 minutes of whining on my part, as my fiancé wasn't very excited at my choice for a gift, but then I was ready to go. I had only had one real piercing (non-gun) and that was my tongue. I also have two holes in each ear and a tattoo. I was somewhat leery of piercings after complications with my tongue (the piercer slipped and hit the nerve down the middle, pulled the needle out then stuck it back through), but I've wanted an industrial for quite a while. I started looking around for places to get it done, and found a piercer that worked at my local flea market. Now, I know what you're thinking, a flea market? Actually, the guy only works there on Sundays and owns a shop in a nearby town. He had about 7 years of experience and seemed pretty knowledgeable when I spoke with him. So off I went.
At A Glance Author psychoflute Contact psychoflute@bme.anon When A week ago Studio Organized Confusion Location Winston-Salem, NC I talked with the piercer about what I wanted and he compared barbells, found one that fit and then told me to head on back. The piercing room was off of the flea market booth. The piercer followed me in and I was pretty nervous as I hopped onto the table and anxiously awaited the opening of the packages. He put on gloves, set everything out and cleaned everything. He clamped the first side of my ear, told me to take a deep breath in and pushed the needle through as I was breathing out. Now I can't lie, it hurt...a lot. It seemed like it took the needle forever to go through, but through it went. It felt like my ear was on fire, and it pulsed and ached. I mumbled something along the lines of an "Ow" as he fiddled with it a bit, since I was bleeding pretty badly, swabbing it and asking if I had had anything to drink or if I had taken anything (which I hadn't). Finally it slowed down enough that he was able to start the next one. He asked me if I was all right, I said that I was fine and he started to clamp the other side. By this point I knew what to expect, but unfortunately it didn't help the fact that this one hurt worse. I was also tense, which didn't help much. My eyes watered a bit, but before I knew it the barbell was through and he was screwing on the ball. I got up to leave, but had to plop right back down in the next available chair. I felt shaky and weak, probably because of adrenaline. I drank some soda and smoked a cigarette then went about the rest of my day.
Now, a week later I have a great looking industrial. The piercer never really asked about placement, and I probably should have ok'ed it first as the finished product is slightly more angled than I wanted it to be, but overall I am quite happy with it and am already shopping for new jewelry to put in after it heals awhile. I have had a few problems, as this is not an ideal location for a wound. My hair gets caught in it every now and then, I can't sleep on it and I cannot wear my glasses or wear my hair down around it (mainly a precaution against infection, since I use styling products). I have been cleaning it with cotton swabs and water two times a day, which seem to be working well. I had about two days of irritation when I took some advice I found online about turning the barbell. It turned bright red, hot and very, very sore. I lived with the ache for a day, thinking it would possibly take care of itself, but no such luck. So the next night I cleaned it thoroughly, and the next day when I woke up it was fine other than one rather tender spot on the inside of the top piercing. I'm assuming it is still ok, as I can't see up under the ridge of my ear where the pain is coming from, but the redness and perpetual ache is gone. At this point the only time it really hurts is if it gets knocked or caught or while I am cleaning it. As soon as I can find some sea salt I intend to do soaks, but it seems somewhat difficult to locate. The healing is the hardest part for me, as I am a very impatient person and want the healing to be over so that I can have some fun with it. I definitely recommend this piercing, as long as you are aware that yes, it is painful and takes a long time to heal. The end result is well worth it.