At A Glance
Author	Helena
Contact	Helena@bme.anon
When	A week ago
Artist	Scott
Studio	Holier Than Thou
Location	Sydney, Australia

Hey all!

My name's Helena and this story just covers my 9th ear piercing (a cartilage) which is a really common piercing, and nothing to be scared of (Tina, I'm talking to you!).

The Studio:

I always go to Holier Than Thou in Parramatta, Sydney, on a weekday to get a project done by a guy named Scott, who I've recommended to all of my friends.

The place opens at Midday, so my friend and i got there at around 1 and waited for some other people to get done before it was my turn. Since I'm a repeat customer, they had all my info in file which really speeded up the process.

As usual, make sure you've had something to eat and drink before a piercing, and that you're well rested (and, obviously, you don't need to pee, because that would just be embarrassing AND stupid).

The Talk:

Scott's definitely the best professional piercer I've ever had, and the only one with which I've ever had a decent conversation (which makes you feel very comfy and relaxed... plus I really like the chair they've got there). I was getting this piercing as part of a 'Spiral bar' project, where a previous helix piercing would be incorporated with the new one once it's healed to pretty up my upper ear with a spiral-shaped piece of jewellery (duh =P).

I had a little problem with my previous helix piercing, though, which i had gotten about two weeks before this piercing by a different piercer (It was done on a whim when I got my tattoo done). It was red and a little irritated despite my careful attempts to sleep on my other side, to keep my hair off it, and to clean it thoroughly. The piercer who did it have me a saline solution to use, but it didn't seem to cut it. Scott told me to switch to the green solution that Holier Than Thou supplies with all their piercings, ad the red itchiness cleared straight up.

Before discussing any new piercings, I mentioned to Scott that the Captive Ball I had in the previous piercing made it really uncomfortable to sleep (even when just lying on my back, as it would drag on my pillow), and so Scott introduced me to using Synthetic material...

The Jewellery:

It's a bit of plastic; much like weed whacker wire, which is biocompatible and flexible, meaning piercings are much more comfortable and can heal in less time. It's also really cheap and good if you want to sort of 'hide' or disguise your piercing.

The Piercing:

So sitting in my favourite chair, Scott showed me him opening a sealed needle, and snapped new gloves on and old gloves off ALOT of times, and made me sign something saying something along the lines of 'yeah, yeah, this thingo was completely sterile before it pierced me'. He cleaned my ear, marked the position and gave me a mirror, and then shoved the needle right through. I can tell you I felt this one even less then i felt the previous helix piercing. Absolutely no pain. More like a bit of pressure, and there was no bleeding involved.

I'd say it's important for you to be comfortable with your piercer, and if you can get someone who makes you laugh AND feel comfortable, then you've got a winner. If you have a friend who makes an insane comment about carnivorous Hawaiians while you and your piercer talk Science, then it adds to a better (and hilarious) experience.

The Jewellery:

Scott measured my ear and then cut the plastic the right size and using a lighter he created a little plastic ball on one end, then left it in a solution to clean it. When the plastic was in my fresh piercing he made me tilt my head a bit and used the lighter to create another ball on the other end of the plastic, telling me he wouldn't reeeaally burn my ear, unless I wanted him too =P.

The Aftermath:

I've had absolutely no trouble with this piercing, and hardly any crustiness or swelling. I'm going back once both my helix's are fully healed to get the spiral shoved into them, but before that I'm going in April to get a cleavage bar.

I can tell you now, I've become a bit of a fan of the synthetic jewellery, and i find it alot more comfortable to use. I've convinced a fair few of my friends to get their piercings done with the plastic, and so far, one of them already got her nose done with it and loves it because her mum is oblivious to it.

I really recommend to those who have easily irritable piercings to give this type of jewellery a try. I've had a total of 4 helixes done and 2 of them were failures without the plastic or the proper aftercare. If your piercer doesn't do them, I'd go find someone who can (but that's just me).

And for those of you asking, the cost of the piercing was AUS $35 (including aftercare) and Aus $5 for the jewellery.

Luv,

Helena