Every six months for the past two and a half years, I've been getting a piercing or tattoo. A few months after my last tattoo, I started thinking about what I would want to get pierced. After deciding that I didn't want any of the usual body piercings (I already have my lip, nose, navel, and tragus pierced), I started looking into other ear piercings. For a few weeks I did my research and decided on getting my rook pierced. Finally the day arrived when I had the time and money to go to my usual Tattoo/Piercing Studio.
At A Glance Author Marijane173 Contact Marijane173@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Drew Studio American Graffiti Location Las Cruces, NM I always have at least one person go with me when I get something done, to help with the specific placing of the piercing and of course for moral support. This time my sister was the only on available, so I picked her up and we were on our way to the studio. We found a parking spot in the tiny parking lot and walked in. As soon as I stepped foot into the room I felt my heart start beating a little faster. I've been in that room many, many times, but I always get a little nervous even though I know what to expect. I was relieved a bit when I saw my usual piercer Drew sitting in the lobby. When I had gone for my tattoo he wasn't there and I had started to think he didn't work there anymore. He had done my last three piercings so I knew I could trust him. He told me that on Fridays regular piercings were $5 and non-regular piercings, like my rook, is $10. I was expecting to pay $45, the usual price, so this was good news to hear. I filled out the usual paperwork and he went off to get everything ready. I starte d to get really nervous now, so I tried to calm myself and get into my zone. Through all this calming, I didn't realize that Drew was ready for me until one of the other guys told me. He also made a comment that I was nervous. My sister told him, "Have you seen her face, how could she be nervous?" I realized he was ready so my sister and I walked into the piercing room.
I sat down in the chair and gave my sister my purse to hold. Drew marked where the entry and exit holes would be with a marker and I went to check it out in the mirror. After deciding it looked good, I walked back to the chair and sat down, bracing myself for what was going to happen next. He took the needle in one hand and held a little tube in the other. This was my first piercing where he did not use a clamp. I guess it is because the cartilage is so think there, that there is no need to use a clamp to hold it in place. I could feel the tube underneath my rook and the needlepoint resting on the top. He then said that this was not going to feel good at all and to breathe in and breathe out slowly. Shortly after I breathed out, I felt him push the needle through. I heard a pop and I could feel the needle going through my rook.
I had read some other accounts of rook piercings, and what I felt was not how the others had described it. It did hurt a bit, but an indescribable kind of pain. Then he fed the ring through the holes and I guess it was bleeding because he stood there holding a paper towel on it for awhile before he popped the ball in place. Once I heard the click, I got up and went to the mirror to check out my new hole. It looked awesome. Drew told me the usual information about the aftercare and told me if I need anything to feel free and stop by. I went to the counter, paid my 10 bucks, thanked everyone, and walked out the door. The rest of the day it was a tad sore, but nothing intense.
The next day it wasn't very sore at all, a couple of times I had forgotten it was there until I went to put my hair behind my ear and the back of it was a bit tender. Also I noticed when my ear started to get cold, it would started to ache a bit. Other than that it I hardly felt any soreness.
It's been three days now and it still looks great. I've bumped it a couple of times during the night since I'm used to sleeping on my sides, but despite that it doesn't really hurt. It hasn't bleed and isn't red at all. I've been cleaning it twice a day with soap and water and some salt water. I'm able to move the jewelry easily when I'm cleaning it also. I hope everything goes this way till it completely heals. I would totally recommend this piercing to anyone who's interested in it and knows how to take care of piercings. I love mine and I can't wait till I'm able to dress it up with some new jewelry.