Today, a Tuesday, I finally went for it.
At A Glance Author lydia Contact lydia@bme.anon When N/A Artist she did not tell me her name Studio Wonderland Tattoo Studio Location St. Clair Shores, MI THE INTRO
I have been waiting to get a professional piercing for a while now. When I was 15, I wanted my navel pierced but when I was 17 I decided that it wouldn't suit my lifestyle. I dive (not like scuba, like in the Olympics) and my stomach is covered in a tight swimsuit a lot so navel would not be a good idea. Then, I saw it. The perfect ear picture. It is two CBRs through the upper cartilage, fairly close together so they overlap slightly and a lobe. I have my lobes pierced; I have had them since I was ten. I got them done with a gun at Claire's, which turned out to be a big mistake as they are now quite uneven because I flinched when the right one went through so it is crooked. But I found a way to remedy my sad right ear, and that was my pretty double cartilage picture.
GETTING PREPARED
Well, when I finally got to the piercing parlor (I went for the one closest to me rather than the one with the best reputation, because I'm silly) I was extremely nervous. I went by myself because I wanted to be an adult about it. I recently broke up with my boyfriend of 3 years, which hurt me badly, but I am moving on and now I am enjoying a life of independence. I thought the piercing could symbolize this change in my life: I would get hurt and then it would heal and is a lovely new ornament symbolizing my independence. So I drove off to Wonderland.
TALKING IT OVER
The woman who did my ears was the only one in the shop. I yelled hello and she emerged from the back and I showed her the lovely picture. She said it would be $30 per, no discount for a double piercing. I had only brought $55, so I said I would just get the first one. We had a quick talk about my mild nickel allergy and she said that the titanium CBRs would be no problem, and if they were I would know in about a week. I showed her my id and filled out a form, then we walked to the back. I could tell she thought I was a cutesy teenager by the way she treated me and the piercing I chose, but that's ok. I know someday I'll have enough mods to get taken seriously :)
FINALLY, THE PIERCING!
She put gloves on and opened all the packets: needle, clamp, and some other things I was too shaky to notice. She got some Vaseline out of a jar and put it on the counter in a mound which unnerved me a little, but I was WAY too nervous to say anything. She stuck the freshly unwrapped needle in the mound, hovering above the counter but not touching it. Then she marked me up and the pain began. She clamped my ear, which hurt pretty badly, so much so that I didn't even feel the piercing itself. It just felt like a throbbing, hot pain in my ear. I shut my eyes but it didn't matter, I was not facing the mirror. In retrospect I wish I had but there's always next time. The needle pushed through fine, and she got the jewelry in quickly and with a steady amount of pain, no spikes up or down. I did not bleed at all which is lucky and I also did not hear any crunch or pop sounds if there were any. I was pretty psyched immediately after even though it was sore and red.
THE AFTERWARD
She muttered a little during the piercing which I discovered when I got home was because she missed the exit slightly and went through a little less than she planned but it still looks beautiful. It was mildly sore for the rest of the afternoon, about three hours, and then the pain wore off except when I brush against it accidentally (I have very long hair which I am praying doesn't get stuck through it). She gave me aftercare instructions that said to use bactine so I threw them out. She did tell me to "keep my grubby hands off of it" though. I will do sea salt soaks twice a day and NEVER let anyone touch it, not even me. I'm really excited to get the next one below it, but she told me that the piercer would probably want me to take out the upper jewelry so I have to wait at least two months until this one heals. That means that for now, I'm stuck looking alittle teenybopper. But not very. Secretly, I think I look kinda badass with my little cartilage piercing. And I'm totally ready for more.