I first saw this piercing about a year ago, when I was fourteen. I stumbled across BME and started browsing the pictures, immediately attracted to the industrial. After months of frustration about how to ask my mother, I decided to take advantage of my situation.
At A Glance Author Vanessa Contact allthesamex@aol.com When Six months ago Artist Jamie Studio Uptown Ink Location Reading, PA I went to the doctor for my physical, and they told me I had to go to the gyno because I had a disease called PCOS which affects my reproductive organs. My mom knew I was nervous about going to the gyno and she was trying to be extra nice, so I asked her while we were in the waiting room. She said yes, as long as I pay for it.
As soon as I saved up 70 dollars, we went to get it done. This was the first time I had been in a piercing parlor, and to be honest I was a little scared of what to expect, and was a little freaked out when I saw a women walking around without a top on before getting her nipples pierced. My friend had gotten her navel done by Jamie, and recommended her.
When I got there, Jamie was busy with a tattoo, so I looked at pictures while waiting. My nerves were shot pretty bad and I had to ask to use the bathroom three times in a matter of 15 minutes. Finally, she was done with the tattoo, so I told her what I want pierced, and she began explaining the piercing and healing processes.
Then I sat down on the chair as she got her equipment out. At this point I remembered (from BME) that I should ask if they have use an autoclave. Jamie smiled and showed it to me, saying that she was happy to see that I've done research.
We decided at what angle to put the bar. Then she marked me. It was finally time. She took the needle and told me to take a deep breath. The pain was bad, but not unbearable, and it only lasted about 10 seconds. My first official piercing was finished.
For the next couple weeks it was extremely tender. Wearing headphones was impossible. Sometimes I would forget about it and try to hold the phone to that ear, which was very painful. My hair also got wrapped around it a lot. I eventually got used to it. I cleaned it every day like I was supposed to, and used to H20cean given to me by Jamie.
I made a mistake by getting it done over the summer and then going to the Outer Banks in NC for two weeks. I got a nasty bump on my ear near the top hole from the waves hitting it. I was freaked and had this dumb feeling that it was going to reject. (I wasn't very educated on rejecting at the time) So I went back to Jamie as soon as I got back from North Carolina. She told me it was a keloid and It cleared up after about a week of using tea tree oil, though. Then I guess you could say I got kind of lazy with the cleaning. I also played with the bar a lot- not good. These two things really delayed the healing process. It's six months later, and the top hole is still tender, and the bottom hole has its good days and bad days.
I was surprised by the reaction from my older relatives; they love it. They are all rather old fashioned, so my original plan was to keep it hidden by my hair whenever they visit. One day though, I had just woken up and my hair was in a pony tail. I went downstairs to my kitchen to make myself some breakfast and my grandparents and two of my aunts were there. It completely slipped my mind to cover it, so I went about making pancakes for me and anyone else who wanted some. My aunt commented "that's a very nice bar you have in your ear." I thought at first she was being sarcastic, but she honestly liked it. I was very surprised. My grandfather was less enthusiastic about it though "its really interesting, but do you really think its a lady like thing to do getting a bunch of holes in you?" "grandpa, when was the last time I have done anything remotely lady like?" I answered back, which got a laugh from everyone.
Since my industrial, I've gotten my tragus, helix, tongue, and navel pierced. I'd have to say that the industrial was by far the most painful, but also my most treasured piercing. I love playing it up by wearing different colored balls and bar bells on it. It's the one that most people comment on. I really recommend it.