I'd known for a while I wanted to get another piercing done - it was just a question of what. I really wanted something different, the problem being I work in a primary school so it couldn't be anything too obvious, or I'd be asked to take it out. That ruled out facial piercings. So...
At A Glance Author jenneebee Contact jenneebee@bme.anon When Six months ago Artist Becky Studio 21st Century Body Art Location York
I went out on the Tuesday night to my regular haunt with a bunch of friends and saw a guy I'd not seen in ages. He had his scaffold done about 6 months previous, in the US. As soon as I saw him again, I knew that was what it was going to be. I asked him some questions about how much it had hurt, the cost and things, the only problems he'd had were getting replacement bars and balls in the UK in US sizes! It was healing up fine, though he did say that it had hurt at the time.
I researched a bit on Wednesday, as 21st Century are closed, confused myself whether scaffold and industrials were the same thing (which they are as far as I've read!), and decided that was it. I posted on a couple of message boards and the only comments I got were that it took a long time to heal and to do it before it got really cold or it aches!
The thing I really like about scaffold piercings is that they are a bit different. Not many people go for them, and sure they take longer to heal, but I've had a couple of cartilage piercings in my other ear so figured it couldn't be much worse than that. The other thing is (go on and laugh at me) I've always wanted a threaded dice. Perfect.
I had the Thursday off, walked into town by myself (everyone else was at work) and went for it. I've had a couple of cartilage piercings at 21st Century after having it recommended by a friend, so knew it would be ok. I had to wait a while while a woman had her nipple done, chatting to her kids (that was odd!) and tried not to think too hard about what it was going to be like, having read a few horror stories on here.
I handed over my £30, went in, and asked for smaller balls than the one on display as I needed it to be a bit more 'discreet', she said it was no problem. We chatted about where I would want the bar to go, as it couldn't go as low as I wanted it to because of the shape of my ear. The top hole would end up being quite close to my head. A few dots later I was ready.
There was no 'cracking' or 'snapping', just a bit of a tug as she pushed the needle through and I breathed out. It barely bled, and it felt tight as the freezespray wore off but that was it! So simple! I had the steel barbell put in straight away and it was only on talking to another friend who had it done that I realised this seems to be quite uncommon. They had a PTFE bar put in first until it all healed and then could put a steel bar in. I think I prefer mine, but I can see how having the PTFE first would be better.
I was told to use salt water to keep it clean but it dried my skin out, which may have been because I was making the water too salty, so I've been using Savlon spray and cotton buds. The lower piercing got infected about a month in but Savlon spray sorted that out really quickly. I was also told not to sleep on that side until it had healed completely. It's been sore but hasn't hurt at all. The only problem has been that it doesn't hurt so I forget it's there and getting dressed or hair brushing became interesting for a while after I kept knocking it and making it sore again! Or hugging people on the wrong side. Ouch. Now the lower hole has healed completely (5 months down the line) and the top is getting there.
I love it - it's just one of those things that feels 'right'! The time between deciding and getting it was really short so I hadn't run it by many people. Reactions were varied. My boyfriend really liked it. My close friends reserved judgement until it looked a bit less pink and sore and are now just used to it. You should have seen the look on my parents' faces though. And the kids at school. 'Is that a nail through your ear, miss?' or 'What's happened to your ear miss? Is it a staple?'
*wicked grin*
Just got to decide what's next now...