For a while now, I have been wanting to get something pierced. I have debated back and forth between tragus, second lobe, and belly button. What I finally picked was D - None of the above. I went with the industrial.
At A Glance Author Whitney Contact Whitney@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Rachel Studio Capital Tattoo Location Charlottesville, Va My first piercing, my ear lobes, occurred when I was 6 weeks old. Needless to say, I don't remember this one. So, I had no idea how much it would hurt to get this done. If not for two of my friends, I would have never gotten the testicular fortitude to get it done.
I was in the mall with my family, I had a weekend home from JMU, and I saw my friends Chris and Evan. They grab me and say "Capital closes in an hour... Let's go!" So, I get the money from my parents and we head out there. Well, we get there... I do the forms... and I realize that I DON'T have my ID. No can do tonight. This place is really strict about IDs, and will NOT let you have anything done unless you have one. This comforts me though. It lets me know that this place is really legit. So they tell me to come back the next day and I can get it done.
So the next day I head out with Chris. My anticipation is getting the best of me and I am getting REALLY nervous. We walk in, I redo the paper work, and I give them my ID. It's time for the piercing.
The artist's name was Rachel. She's a totally fun and nice person. With several piercing and tats herself, I felt like I was in good hands. I go back into a small, clean room with Rachel and my friend Chris. I sit in the little doctor's table and Rachel moves my hair. She puts iodine on my ear first and then does an alcohol swab. After that she takes a pen and marks where she will be piercing. She says, "Look in the mirror, this will be the angle of your piercing. Is this okay?" I liked it. So I shook my head yes. She opens up the equipment. Out of sealed bags come my earrings, the needle(s), and the thing that puts the balls back in the hoops.
Rachel uses 2 hoops when you first get it done. These tend to heal better than the bar. Also, they are less prone to infection and other complications. I guess it all depends on how fast you heal, but Rachel told me that it would be about six months before I was able to insert a bar. This seems like a long time, but I think that it is worth it. This way I can be sure to have minimal complications and scarring... I do NOT want to mess up my ear!
I grab my friend Chris' arm and he steps closer to me as Rachel prepares to pierce my ear. "Take a deep breath," she said. So I did. I also pinched Chris' arm with all of my strength. She did the lower one first. In - out. Not bad at all. Most of it was anticipation. Don't get me wrong... it hurt. But it was like a little pinch. She slid the hoop in for the bottom one. Time to do the top. "Ready? Deep breath," she says. In... still in... *pop*... out. This one hurt a lot more. This part of your ear had more cartilage. Still, it wasn't that bad. I didn't cry. So she puts the earring in that one and puts the balls in. So that's it! She gives me the basics about aftercare and I buy H2Ocean - a spray to help it not get infected. The piercing (including jewelry) was $70 and the spray was $10. Then I tipped her $5. So $85 total for my new piercing. After it heals, I get a bar put in and then it will LOOK like an industrial. Right now, it's still really sore. The first night is the worst - as is the first time you turn it. Bumping against it hurts and turning it... agh I don't even like thinking about it. But, so far NO infection and NO bleeding. (Well, I bled a LITTLE at the time of piercing but not SINCE then.) It was definitely worth it. :) I use the H2Ocean spray about four times every day. You simply spray it on each side of each hole. It's a sea salt water mixture but it does not sting.
Oh! And if you are EVER in Charlottesville and get the itch for a piercing... DEFINITELY check out Capital. It's really clean and the people are nice. There is also a Capital Tattoo in Richmond, Virginia which I have heard is just as awesome! Happy piercing!