Okay so this is how it works.. Before I had my rook done, I had 12 piercing (nine in my ears, including my tragus and cartilage) my tongue and my belly button done twice, but a rook piercing had always interested me. I started researching and reading up on BMEzine about the piercing, and almost all of the stories that I read said that it was really painful and to be perfectly honest, the pictures reflected this. But I wasn't going to let this stop me getting a piercing that I know that I've wanted for a while now. I'm 16, so I didn't need parental permission or anything so I guess you can call me lucky, because my parents can't exactly stop me and they don't really care anymore... lol
At A Glance Author x-x-steph-x-x Contact xx_daydreamer_xx@hotmail.co.uk When It just happened Artist Kate Studio Kara's Location Gloucester Two days ago on Saturday I went into town with my Mum and drew out £20 for my new piercing out of my bank, and borrowed £4 from my mum because the piercing would be a total of £23.95 with a bar and I didn't see the point in drawing out £30 from my bank, when I only needed an extra four pound. Luckily my mum didn't mind lending me the extra money. I went into Kara's in Gloucester and went up the stairs to the piercing studio.
I said to Kate that I was getting an ear piercing and she gave me the board of studs etc.. and then I told her that I was getting my rook done and not a normal stud so she asked me whether I wanted a bar or a hoop and I said that I wanted a bar because I had never really been too fond of a hoop in the rook. I don't think it looks as nice or as cool as a bar. To me, rings just look a bit.. odd in the rook but everyone has different tastes obviously. It was cheaper with a ring by £2.95 but I didn't mind paying the extra because it would look better in my view. I filled in the paperwork and signed it saying that I was 16 so I didn't need any permission from my parents.
I stood up waiting to be called into the room to get pierced, breathing heavily and thinking whether it would hurt. I asked her whether it would hurt more than my tragus (because that really hurt when I got that done a few months beforehand) and she said that it probably would be a lot more sore. Not all together re-assured I went into the room and sat down on the dentist-like chair, trying to calm down slightly. She put on her gloves, and marked my ear where the bar would be placed. I looked in the mirror and it was the perfect placement. I sat back down and she took the needle out of the packet and said okay, I'll do it on three and then started counting. I kept breathing in and out and she pierced it.. I could tell she did because my ear suddenly felt hot, but other than that I couldn't tell at all.
It didn't hurt, all I felt was just the heat rise to my ear and it really surprised me because I was expecting to really hurt.. And it didn't! I was very grateful. All she had to do next was get the curved barbell into the new piercing and screw on the ball. The ball kept flicking off because it's in a really difficult place to screw on so she had to get another person to do it for her and several failed attempts. Apparently, a rook piercing is by far the most fiddly to do. After the fiddly process of getting the jewellery in, I was all set to go and being given some anti-septic cleaning solution. She said she didn't think she had to tell me how to use it because I always go to Kara's for my piercings, so I'm used to it by now. Kate was really nice throughout the whole thing and I would definitely recommend her to anyone who goes to Kara's. She is really friendly and helps you feel at ease about the whole thing.
I'm very happy with my new addition, and I love it! It looks perfect and I don't know anyone else with it done, so I feel kinda unique at the moment... which is great. Anyway, if you're thinking about getting your rook pierced then go for it, it doesn't hurt as much as some people say (at least it doesn't if you go to Kara's in Gloucester) and it's totally worth it. It's such an awesome piercing, and not that common so go for it! E-mail me or talk to me on MSN at xx_daydreamer_xx@hotmail.co.uk if you have any questions. I'm always happy to help or advise!!
Happy piercing everyone!!