When I was 14 I was in Tampa, Florida on spring break at a piercing shop looking for some gages, and while there I saw a picture hanging above the counter of an Industrial piercing. I knew right a way that would be my first "real" piercing.
At A Glance Author Miranda Contact Miranda@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Bob Studio Body Art Imporium Location Louisville, Kentucky I'd had my cartilage on my left ear pierced twice and I had two piercings on my ear lobe, so I knew I could take the pain. Well, it took me a while before I actually got around to asking my mom if I could get it. So in November I had finally gotten a yes from my mom and was planning on getting it that weekend.
So we were down the road from the Body Art Imporium, which was where everyone I knew had gone to get his or her tattoos and piercings, and I chickened out after reading some of the stories on this site (lol). It was really embarrassing. So as soon as I got home I made plans to go get the piercing over winter break with my friend Kellie. She had her ears gaged really big and everything, but she'd never had any cartilege piercings. She wanted the Industrial as badly as I wanted it, and she was just as nervous and excited as I was, so I figured it would be perfect for me to go with her.
December 23rd was the date we'd planned, so on the 23rd me and my mom went and picked up her and her mother, who was too sick to drive, and we drove on over to the place that we were getting it done at. Once we arrived I was sooo nervous, and Kellie seemed just fine. She was actually more excited than nervous. We got in, and the guy that was going to pierce us introduced himself as Bob, and gave our mothers forms to fill out. Once that was done, Kellie decided to go first, as long as I would hold her hand while she was getting it done. He cleaned her ear and measured it and everything, and I could feel her starting to shivver from excitement.
She screamed soo loud, and said every curse word in the book, which made me even more nervous than I was before. But I had promised myself that this time I would go through with it. When it was done, she looked satisfied and said that it didn't hurt that bad, which I didn't believe. But I promised I'd get it done, so I sat down in the leather chair as her measured my ear for the right size bar. Once he'd found it, he began cleaning my ear as I squeezed Kellie's hand. The best thing was that he didn't make me do any breathing exercises or anything, he just went right ahead and did it. He most likely had better things to do than tell a 15 year old girl to take three deep breathes.
It hurt, I won't lie. But I didn't scream or gasp or cry. Everyone watching was shocked that I kept my facial expression plain and only muttered "ow". They didn't know that the reason I was so quiet was because I knew that if I opened my mouth I'd end up saying some rude words.
The needle part didn't hurt all that bad, the worst part about it was that you could hear the bar going through every single layer of skin and he was pushing the needle really slowly, not quick and painless like I'd expected. But when he was putting the bar in I have to say that I squirmed in my seat and made an odd noise. IT HURT SO BAD, but it was over almost as soon as it started. It just felt like he was stretching the ear ring hole so that the bar would fit. But once it was over it was totally worth it, and taking a pain killers made me forget that I'd even had my ear pierced, since it took away all of the pain. I'd suggest Advil or something. Sleeping was pretty tough, since I was used to sleeping on the right side of my head, but it was way way too soar whenever I touched it.
The place I got it done at was Body Art Imporium, and they're pretty clean, they only charge $40, and they are really, really good at what they do, so if you live in Louisville, Kentucky, or somewhere near it, I suggest you go there. My piercing may have hurt, but it is sooo worth it, and my ear looks great now and it isn't even sore. I also can't even remember the pain from yesterday when I got it done, so it's not so bad. I suggest you totally go get it done.