About a year ago I decided that an Industrial ear piercing was an absolutely essential accessory for me to have. I just loved the way they looked, and at the time, I only knew a handful of people who had it done. Since my friend Danielle was an avid "piercee", I had been hanging around her tattoo/piercing shop, Needle Masters, pretty often and had become well acquainted with the shop and her piercer, James.
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon When A year ago Artist James Studio NeedleMasters, Reynolds Location Toledo, Oh One boring evening in October I announced to Danielle and my best friend Isaac that tonight was the night! I had to have my Industrial done RIGHT NOW! Two days before, I had scheduled a date with my friend Coreen to get our ears pierced, (she wanted a few new helix piercings in each ear) but she ended up going with a different friend before I got out of class that day (grr!), so I was really anxious to get my already-delayed piercing. As we were about to leave, Danielle got a call from her boss and had to do a quick run... "Can we PLEASE just go, D?!" An hour delay for Danielle to work was all it took for me to chicken out. I was too nervous, it was going to hurt too much, and if I hadn't gotten it by now, it must be a sign! I won't get my Industrial, what a silly idea that was! As soon as Danielle got back from working and heard about me changing my mind, she made it quite clear that we would make a trip to Needle Masters that night and I was getting my Industrial done, no 'buts' about it.
So off we went in two cars: D and Isaac, and I drove with my then boyfriend, Jay. Upon arriving to Needle Masters, Danielle told James what I wanted done, and paperwork was handed to me... "Wait," I said, "I didn't bring an ID!" Determined to pull me into the piercing world, Danielle and Isaac took a twenty five minute drive back to my car in search of my driver's license. Jay tried to calm my nerves while we waited by taking me to a coffee shop near by and bought me my favorite drink. Caffeine- yea, like that will calm you down.
Unable to find my ID, Danielle returned with my student ID, my blood donor card, and my social security card. I laughed in her face, told her I was ready to leave now, and headed back toward the car. I was dragged back inside by all three of my friends, and Danielle offered to pay for my $45 piercing if I went through with it. Who could turn that down? I agreed to the deal, and James began to assess my ear, after accepting my less-than-adequate identification. He then informed me that the piercing was impossible because there was nowhere to pierce my ear for the second hole.
Who knew ears could be shaped wrong? Overcome with disappointment, I started frantically searching piercing magazines, determined to find SOMETHING to pierce. (After all, D was paying!) Within a half hour, I fell in love with an Industrial I found. Instead of a standard ear Industrial, this one went through the conch. Completely excited, I showed James the picture and he managed to find one barbell that would fit the length of my ear. Into the auto clave it went, and the wait was long, boring, and unnerving.
Finally James was ready. He made all his markings and bent the barbell to fit the shape of my ear correctly. My heart was pounding. Deep breath, again, again – hold – 1, 2, 3 exhale! One down, one to go. I did my breathing, 1, 2, 3 exhale – and the second hole was pierced through my conch. Hey! That wasn't so bad! I worked myself up for that?! James inserted the jewelry (the most painful part of the procedure) and everyone oohed and aahed. I couldn't wait to see, so I jumped up from the chair and took a gander at my new shiny steel in the mirror. It looked cool, but seemed blurry. People were talking to me but they sounded fuzzy and far away. I realized I didn't feel very well at all. James gave Danielle money for a soda and Jay and Isaac walked me to the couch. I woke up lying on the couch I thought I was walking to. Oh, man - I passed out. How embarrassing! My face flushed a pretty shade of red as everyone (not just my friends but the other artists and waiting customers) giggled at me. So, I passed out. Apparently the mix of no food and a big cup of caffeine don't make a good combination for a piercing.
I'm fine though, and I LOVE my vertical Industrial. I get excited and puzzled comments all the time. (OH MY GOD, does that thing go all the way through your ear?!) James told me later that he had never done that piercing before, and I was proud to be a guinea pig. I did get a nasty keloid underneath the top hole about a month after I got it done, but after a rigorous ritual of picking, soaking, and popping, it was gone in about two months. (This probably isn't a good way to get rid of keloids, but hey, it worked for me.) Over all, the fainting and the less-than-attractive keloid were worth it because I couldn't be happier with my Industrial.