I've recently grown to absolutely adore ear piercings, and now my brand new rook is no exception. In fact, it's overtaken my conch as my favourite.
At A Glance Author Tore Contact Tore@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Didn't catch her name Studio Hype Location Newcastle, UK My sister had her rook pierced a few years ago, but took it out after complaining that it was "annoying her". I remember asking her if it hurt much when she got it done, and her answer had basically been that it was quite painful. Being a lot younger then, I believed her, and thought her "brave" for getting it done. Ha!
Anyway, my last piercing (my conch) had been way back on April 1st of this year, on my last visit to Newcastle with a friend, and on this visit I had decided that the time was ripe for a new addition to my piercing collection. In the week leading up to the Newcastle trip, I had originally set my mind on a tragus piercing, as I thought it was a really pretty piercing to have.
Once in Newcastle, I met somebody who had her rook and anti-tragus pierced. I told her what I was planning on getting, and she told me that the tragus and anti-tragus were supposed to be some of the most painful, as her own anti-tragus had caused her a lot of pain. I'm not really afraid of pain from piercings, but all the same this made me reconsider what I wanted to have done. I asked about her rook, and she said she barely felt anything. So there and then, I decided on a rook piercing.
It was getting late in the day, so a bunch of friends we had met that day, the friend I'd gone to Newcastle with and I set off to the piercing studio. I usually feel a little nervous before a piercing, but this time I was quite calm and eager to get there. The studio I go to has a very good reputation – 20 years of experience and absolutely pristine equipment and environments, so once we arrived I was disappointed to find there was a huge queue, and I wouldn't be able to book in until 5:30pm (we had arrived there at about 4:15).
Because of the timing, we were at risk of missing our train home, and we didn't have a clue about the train times after the ones we had planned on catching. My friend and I must've sat and debated what we were going to do for a good 15 minutes before we decided that I should book in; we could always make a dash for the train if the piercing was nice a quick. They took my name down, and we were all set to leave when they called me back and said they could fit me in immediately as they were ahead of schedule.
So, feeling really pleased, I filled out my form, paid my money and went downstairs to be pierced, with my friend right behind me for company. I took my seat, and the piercer explained that the best thing they had in for a rook piercing was a ¾ ring with a screw-on barbell at either end, as they were less awkward than a CBR or curved bar. She dotted my ear and asked me to see if I was happy with the placement. I said I was, so she clamped my ear and pierced it, and put the jewellery in.
I was a little surprised at how practically painless it was, when I thought about the fuss my sister made over it supposedly annoying her. My piercer then explained about aftercare, what to do and not do to with it, and how long it would take. I wasn't surprised to learn it could be anything from 6 months to a year, so I think my sister was just a little too impatient to let hers heal.
Once it'd been done, it only felt hot for about 20 minutes (plus it was a windy day, so the breeze kept it nice and cool), then there was a little throbbing, but now I can barely feel it. It was also pretty easy to sleep on. I have my conch bar in the same ear, so I've always been careful when sleeping on it. The only time my rook hurts is when I wiggle my ears!
So, if painful piercings aren't really your thing, I would definitely recommend a rook piercing. I found it to be virtually painless, and it's placement on the ear doesn't make the piercing awkward for anything at all. As for anyone planning to get a piercing in the Newcastle area, I'd say Hype would be your best choice. The people there are very friendly, very helpful and know what's best for your piercing. It may be a little pricey, but you can't compare monetary value to the quality of a piercing, can you?