I can't remember the last time I was as happy as I am now, after getting my industrial pierced a couple days ago on the 8th of December. Like most people my age (16), I begged and begged both my parents to let me get this and that pierced, but both were unmoving. My mom didn't have as much problem with it as my dad did, but because of the uncertainty of how he might react, she was always afraid of taking me to get a piercing done.
At A Glance Author Hadean Contact Hadean@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Hook Studio South Tacoma Tattoo and Body Piercing Location Lakewood, WA I finally convinced my mom to take me about a week ago. It took a lot of persuading but overall, the arguments and such were all worth it. I basically explained to her that it was a much more constructive outlet then cutting myself and trying to overdose on medicine because of my depression. This really hit home because I had recently taken a friend to the hospital for trying to overdose on some random shit.
Several days later I was calling South Tacoma Tattoo and Body Piercing. A friend of mine had recently had his industrial done by a piercer there named Hook. I was extremely impressed with his work and decided to go to him as well. By the time I got off the phone with Hook, I was feeling even more confident in my decision to get an industrial. Hook was extremely kind and professional over the phone, explaining to me the cost and details of the piercing; immediately I felt he was someone I could trust, trust enough to shove a needle through my ear!
A week later, after I got out of school, my mom and I were on our way to the parlor. By the time we got there I was relatively nervous; I have no pain tolerance what so ever, but my love for body modification overcomes the fear of pain. The shop was extremely clean and it had a very welcoming atmosphere. I filled out some paperwork and gave Hook my identification card, as did my mom, and then he measured my ear to determine the size and price of my jewelry. I'm fortunate enough to have tiny ears, so I had the minimum cost of $55 for my industrial!
After Hook took me back, he began cleaning my ear. We had a casual conversation about changes in our lives, his children, and other random shit, including a small explanation about the shrunken head he had in a jar (which completely amazed me). All in all, talking with him calmed me down a great deal; by the time he was explaining how he was going to go about piercing my industrial, I felt relaxed and more excited then nervous.
He marked my ear where he intended to pierce and had me take a look in the mirror to make sure it was where I wanted it; I looked at it for maybe a minute before agreeing. Sitting on the table, I leaned against the back (which was in an upright position) just to make sure I wasn't going to move my head while he pierced my ear. As he began, Hook guided me through a breathing exercise, allowing the needle to slide through with as little pain as possible. It did hurt, but once the needle was completely through, the pain began to slowly fade and my first thoughts were, "this pain is so satisfying!" Once the jewelry was in, he cleaned up what little blood there was with a couple q-tips and then he went over the aftercare.
As soon as I could I was up and looking at my new industrial; admiring a 'job well done' and the new body modification. I left the shop with the brightest smile on my face. My ear burned slightly for about thirty minutes afterwards, but it wasn't bad and I was so happy that I hardly felt it. The only time it hurts now is when I (or something) accidentally bumps it, and when I am cleaning it. To people wanting to get an industrial but fearing the pain, don't worry. If you've found yourself an experienced piercer, it wont be anything close to agonizing, you might even find the pain enjoyable!
The experience was amazing and I couldn't be happier with my new piercing. Hook did an awesome job, and on top of that, he was very professional and friendly. It's important to find a piercer (and tattoo artist) that you trust because it's easy to get infections and you don't want to end up with something you are not satisfied with. I trust Hook and will more then likely be going to him for more piercings. I'd recommend to anyone in the area that they drop by South Tacoma Tattoo and Body Piercing.