I had just gotten my tongue pierced on Tuesday and had a hell of a time dropping that bomb on my parents. A spur of the moment trip to the shore led to a spur of the moment piercing. We decided we were going to stay down at the shore for a few days, and each night we found ourselves hanging out at Adrenaline. Once we got acquainted with the people who worked there, one of them asked me what I was piercing, as a marketing ploy to get people to think. It was something he yelled at out all the passersby on the boardwalk
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Mike Studio Adrenaline Location Seaside Heights NJ I did not say "nothing". I said "Well I want my rook done but I'm broke, and my dad gave me his credit card for emergencies only." Well apparently, to me, this was QUITE an emergency. Before I knew it, he sold me on the barbell rook piercing. I saw some girl with it about a month ago, thought it was fun and took a mental note that it was something I would want to do in the future. Typically I leave a few months between my piercings (eyebrow, industrial, tongue etc.) but this was roughly 4 days after I had gotten my tongue done! Entirely spur of the moment.
Once the Piercer mispronounced my name a dozen times, I told him how to say it correctly. Since we had been acquainted with him, and he's got straight edge tattoos all over him, and his friends vouched for that, I came to the conclusion that he had a sense of humor, and was not completely out of his rocker. The room was very clean looking and sanitary.
He told me to lie down on the chair, which I wasn't expecting because when I got my industrial done, I was sitting on a stool. Anyways, I turned my head how he wanted it, picked the ear I wanted and he put some jelly type stuff on it. I felt the needle touch my ear and he said "Deep breath." I inhaled heavily and before I know it, he had put the jewelry in. By far the fastest piercing ever. I was in the room for less than 8 minutes. I wish I timed it, because it was SO fast.
Considering I JUST had my tongue pierced, the rook hardly feels like anything. In fact I forget its there, and the only reason it DOES hurt is because I forget about it and accidentally bump it. Of course the initial needle insertion hurts, not major though. My industrial was still the most painful out of all my piercings. Didn't hear any popping or squishing, nothing gross. It bled a little, he cleaned it up & I was done!
Only problem that I've encountered is that my industrial is on my right ear and my rook is on my left, I always tried not to sleep on my right ear, but now I'm forced to until it heals. Also, talking on the phone can be painful if you're holding the phone too close. (My cell has been dropped way too many times, so I literally need to cram it into my ear to even SLIGHTLY hear, that too has presented a problem.)
Even though it was a Jersey Shore piercing shop, it was totally sanitary and clean. Nothing was dirty or gross. This was definitely a spur of the moment decision I do not regret. Stereotypes about boardwalk piercing parlors are not always true. About a ½ mile down from the place I went had a gross piercing shop. It all depends on the shop and its staff, not necessary the location. My rook piercing is pretty much painless and healing well, even after a day of swimming in the JERSEY SHORE WATER, hopefully I won't be paying for that later.
One of the workers there told me to try to keep my ear clear of the water. While salt water was good for a healing piercing, Jersey Shore salt water.. not so much. I took that into consideration, but the next day at the beach, I got my ass kicked by those waves. My rook was completely covered by sea water at least 20 times, but it honestly is doing fine and I haven't noticed any problems. It is hard to see the piercing while looking in a mirror, I was scared that it was in too far. The piercer never asked if I was "OK" with the position. When I tried to look at it, and couldn't see it clearly, I got a little panicky. However, I took a picture on my camera phone and it is CLEARLY visible that way. I guess the way the human head is, its just not possible to see that part of your ear without rigging up a mirror system, haha.
Anyways, if you're thinking about it, do it.