At A Glance
Author	Gina T.
Contact	YodelehihooBlu@netscape.net
When	N/A
Artist	Dominick
Studio	Starlight Tattoo
Location	Belleville, NJ

Wanting It

My friend got her industrial over a year ago. It used to freak me out looking at it, but then I started to like it and decided that I would one day get it. Now, I am the biggest baby. I am even afraid of needles which makes it kind of funny that I wanted a piercing.

I decided that I would get it over Christmas break so that I could fully concentrate on taking care of it and not have to have sleepless nights during school. I knew my other friend who wanted to get it also and we decided on the date and the place. The day came and I was so scared. I even hoped that she forgot about it but of course she didn't. When we got there I was practically shaking and she breaks the news to me that she's not getting it at all and the only reason she told me she was, was to get me to go. I was still so nervous and while checking off all the things that I was allergic too got even MORE nervous. I am allergic to practically everything even medals which makes people think that this would be a not so smart decision.

Getting It Done

Finally, we get to the back. I'm now freaking out. My piercer was very nice and kept talking to me to just keep me relaxed. He told me that he was going to pierce one side, put the bar through and pierce the other side and pull the bar through completely. He told me to turn to the side, and he started. I grabbed my friends hand as if there was no tomorrow and just concentrated on what was about to happen. He told me to do the breathing exercises, which I found very helpful. I closed my eyes, took a breath, cringed a little and the first side was done. The second side was a little harder. He pushed it through but it only went through half way so he pushed it even harder and finally it was over.

I could tell there was a lot of blood, but that's just expected. Honestly, I'm surprised that it didn't hurt as much as I thought it would, me being a baby and all. It hurt, but nothing that bad, and I barely even felt the pulling through of the bar. I did hear a crunching noise when it went in, but you forget about it.

The Aftermath

Afterward, I think I was in a little bit of shock. I had to drive and I was just out of it which wasn't good at all. At first I didn't feel it, but eventually I did. All it felt like was a pinch.

That night I made sure I slept on my left side and tried not to move in case there was blood. I woke up to warm liquid dripping into my ear. I go to the bathroom, turn on the light and the entire top half of my ear was filled with blood. I guess it had been there for a while because most of it was dry and crusty/jelly like. At first it was quite scary to see that much blood, but I just cleaned it and everything was good. It hasn't bled ever since. The area around the second hole is bruised from the pushing but other than that my only problem is the top is too close to my head so my hair covers it.

All in all my experience was good. It doesn't hurt that much and as long as you take care of it and make sure you don't snag your hair on it, everything will be okay. It has been about three weeks since I got it, and it's looking good so far. It was sore for a while but now I'm surprised that I barely even feel it. It only started pussing the other day, but it hardly does anymore. The bad part about not feeling it is the fact that I forget to clean it. Not only do I forget, but being at school and so busy, I get too lazy to do it. I admit that I'm ashamed; I think the fact that it's been so healthy is because I cleaned it all the time. I suggest cleaning it and not sleeping on it at all for a while. It's going to be hard but you can do it. The area around it also gets itchy so that's a pain, but you have to just suck it up and don't scratch or you might irritate it. So if you're wondering if you should get it or not, just get it, it's worth it. Just make sure to bring a friend along to hold your hand.

I absolutely recommend Starlight Tattoo in Belleville. We chose it because that's where most people around my area go and the owner is a tattoo artist who has won over 200 international awards. I figured that his shop is probably well maintained and any piercer that he would hire should be good and trustworthy. I was right. Plus the place is immaculately clean. You can even check out their website at www.starlighttattoo.com