This is the story of my unhappy snug. The story starts in Toronto in autumn 2002. I'd only been living in Toronto for a few months, but was having a great time, working in a juice and smoothie bar and hanging out with friends a lot. Everyday on the way to work I walked by the Way cool Queen West studio and would entertain myself with what I could get pierced when I had a little more money. Work wasn't too happy about me getting my lip pierced, plus I'd have to take it out when I returned to Scotland, which was ages away, but I didn't want to get too attached to something I would have to take out!
At A Glance Author BenchWarmer Contact BenchWarmer@bme.anon IAM BenchWarmer When Two years ago Artist Johnny Studio Way cool, Queen west Location Toronto, Canada After more deliberating I settled on ear work, it's not as in your face, so work was all good with it, and narrowed the choice down to my daith or snug. I'd been into the studio before, just to have a look about, see what it was like. As it was then, it's nice, comfy couches in the waiting area, a lot of jewellery cabinets, a soda machine in the corner and flash covering the walls since they did tattoos as well.
I spoke briefly to the girl behind the counter and she said both of those piercings should be fine, and that snugs are relatively less common, so I went for that one, just to be different from the crowd! I took a seat, had a drink and waiting for a piercer to become available. I remember being slightly nervous, I only had one other cartilage piercing at that point, my helix done with a gun in 1997 when I didn't know about the evils of guns! But it was slightly tender, not the actually piercing, just the ache for ages after that.
Finally after about 15 minutes of looking at the flash my name got called and I followed the piercer guy, who was named Johnny through to a little room, which was more just one large room partitioned into many small ones, but it was private enough for me. He had me lay on the bed, introduced himself and we had a chat about what he was going to do. The piercing was initially done with a ring, since that's what Johnny recommended, so he showed me a little BCR in its autoclave package and marked me up. Once I had ok'd it in the mirror he gave me ear a really good clean, counted me down from 3 and pushed the needle through. The pain was bad enough to make me pull a breath in, but not bad enough to make any noise. As always the worst part was putting the jewellery in, which stung badly. Johnny gave me an aftercare sheet, recommended some products they sold at the front desk and had me on my way. I forget the total, but I believe it came in under $40, not bad really.
Some of my friends said it looked gross, but others really liked it, along with myself. Its an unusual piercing, but I soon found out why! It hurt like a bitch all the time. Because it's on the outer part of your ear mine got hit with stuff all the time, not major bumps, but just like rolling over in my sleep, or using the telephone. I healed fine for a few weeks, cleaning it with sea salt soaks only. After a month or 2 however, I noticed some little lumps on the piercing, so I go back to Way cool for some advice. I just spoke to the counter girl again since everyone else was busy and she recommended tea tree oil soap, which I dutifully bought and used to no effect. The piercing was now 2.5 months old, and as lumpy as ever!
I decided to try another piercing place, one I'd read about on BME, Way cool uptown. I spoke to Gary there who recommended changing it to a bar, because it will move around less, I also found out now that the piercing was a deep snug, and may be having problems draining as well. Not so good. René changed my jewellery to a nice curved bar, the same one I still had in when the photo was taken below, and recommended more sea salt soaks.
Now, fast forward a long time to Jan 2005, I'm back in Scotland attending uni. Even after having the piercing for over 2 years it was still uncomfortable and lumpy. I got am IAM account up and running and someone (I can't remember who though, sorry!) recommended chamomile team salt water soaks. So, instead of warm water, use warm tea with salt in it. I did soaks religiously for several weeks before I saw any improvement. But there was improvement, so much so the piercing appeared settled and non-lumpy for the first time in years. But as soon as I layed off the chamomile soaks the lumps came back with a vengeance! This time when I upped the soaks again they didn't help as much and I made the sad choice to retire the piercing.
In May this year I went along to Nirvana in Glasgow, a great studio btw! And had it taken out. Since it was so close to my birthday, and the end of the hockey season I got my rook and conch pierced that day too! Those piercing didn't replace my snug, but they stopped my ear looking bare! Below are links to pictures of my snug, The first one was taken before any chamomile soaks in Jan and the other one shows my ear in June with my new piercings and the tiny remainder of the bumps. Since then the bumps have almost completely gone, I can still see them, but no-one else can really see them, I just know where to look I guess.
http://iam.bmezine.com/iampix.exe?cmd=viewpic&pic=a3wjkc0qoj1rrqxj&title=My+Unhappy+Snug&date=2005%2F02%2F14&desc=Not+a+very+happy+Snug+piercing
http://iam.bmezine.com/iampix.exe?cmd=viewpic&pic=a3wjkc0qsi2rz7nm&title=Rook+and+Conch&date=2005%2F07%2F04&desc=%3ALook+closely+and+you+can+still+see+the+bump+from+my+snug
Don't let any of this put you of cartilage piercing at all. My snug was a pain in the ass for a time, but I do miss it!