At A Glance Author Alledria Contact Alledria@bme.anon IAM Alledria When A week ago Artist Larry Studio Electric Pencil 2/Immaculate Tattoo Location Gardnerville, NV Last week my boyfriend and I drove up to a little town called Gardnerville, Nevada to visit his mom and her husband for Thanksgiving weekend. Wednesday afternoon my golf-enthusiast boyfriend wanted to play a round so I, in an insane devoted girlfriend moment, agreed to caddy for him. But at the last moment, I changed my mind and told him I'd take the car and pick his ass up later. He said fine, and next thing I know I've got four hours to kill. In Gardnerville. Jeez. I considered my options-- either go back to the house and visit with my future mother-in-law, or toodle about town. Now that's a no-brainer!
First thing I did was buy tires for the car, which took an hour and half. Then I got my hair cut, which took almost an hour. With an hour and half left to go, I went in search of coffee and saw a little tattoo shop on the way there. More like a tattoo shack, actually. My eyes searched the outside of the small structure and sure enough, there was a sign that said "Piercing." YES!!! The rest of my time was easily planned!
A half hour and a latte later, I entered the shop. The front room had a coffee table with binders on it, a couch, chairs and flash all over the walls. The second room had the cash register and counter display, two small booths with dentist chairs and another dentist chair directly behind the cash register. This room was VERY cramped. In one of the booths, sat a guy with glasses painting on a canvas. I told him I wanted a piercing, so a second guy came out from the back to talk to me. I asked him how much a rook piercing was, and he said $28. I told him I wanted a barbell and he said that would be about $25. Then he looked at my ear and said something about a barbell not working, so I opted for a CBR for $18. I asked what the standard gauge was for rooks, and he said 16 gauge. So I said, okay let's do it.
As he started to set up, I told him I would be paying by credit card and is that alright? He sort of groaned and told me his payday isn't for a while. He suggested that I go to the liquor store next door to get some cash. I didn't want to but I agreed. I was in a good mood after all, I was about to get a new hole in my head! The liquor store was dark and gross though, and made me feel a little bit shady.
As he set up, I looked around the shack, wondering if this was really a good idea. The place was fairly clean but not immaculate like the place back home. The counter display was dirty and fingerprinted, and the guy's cell phone was sitting on it. At one point he came over to hold the ring up to my ear to make sure it was the right size. Up on the ceiling, above one of the chairs, was a beautiful print of Bettie Page, in a nurse's uniform I think. Very cute. Finally he got done setting up and I sat down in the dentist-style chair. He tried to clamp me but the area was too small. He asked if he should count me down or just do it. I said "Count down, I guess."
I concentrated on slow even deep breaths while he counted to three. I felt a small prick and then nothing. Wow, that was easy! Then he says, "Here comes the most painful part of the procedure." Oh. I didn't realize. I felt an intense sting, then a pause, then another sting, which continued. And continued. I had no idea what was happening, but it was sure taking a long time. It was difficult not to squirm in the seat. My feet were nervously kicking and I wound up kicking the wall at one point. Then I could have sworn I heard him whisper, "Almost there, sweetheart." Now please keep in mind, I am NOT offended by someone calling me "darlin" or "girlie" or whatever else. But in this particular situation, it was an incredibly annoying thing to hear.
At least a half dozen slow deep breaths later, he finally tells me, "Now I'm going to put the jewelry in." It's about time! I thought. I kept focused on my breathing and felt the jewelry slide in. That part was quick at least! He asked if I felt exhilarated and I said yeah. I told him I was expecting a crunch or a pop sound or something but I didn't hear one. He said "You didn't hear the crackle sound? I did."
After I got up I asked, "Did you have to work to get the needle through or something?" He said he had to pierce from the top hole, then pierce from the bottom hole as well. Then put the jewelry in from the top. This seemed really odd but hey, whatever works I guess.
As I paid, he said "You know about aftercare for this, right?" "Umm, yes, I think so." I knew piercing aftercare, yes, but this was my first cartilage piercing. He suggested a sea salt soak, then cleaning, then another sea salt soak to get all the soap out. I didn't really agree with this, but whatever. He said I could come back later and get a barbell. I didn't ask what "later" meant and he didn't tell me. I asked for his name and his card and didn't bother mentioning that I don't even live around there.
A few things plagued me the rest of the evening.. He did not ask me about placement or even mention it. There were no aftercare sheets in sight. No complimentary (or even recommended) cleansers or a bag of sea salt. He did not hold a mirror up to me to look at the piercing after he'd done it. He didn't explain anything as it was happening, or anything at all come to think of it. He didn't tell me my healing time, or when I can change jewelry. I paid cash and didn't get a receipt. This might sound nit-picky, but it's the little things that count. In their defense, I think this place was really new.
Now onto the positive. When I did see a mirror, across from the cash register, I loved how it looked. I'm glad he persuaded me to get a ring instead of a barbell. It's an unusual and pretty piercing, though the actual pierced part a bit hard to see in the mirror.
In another BME story, I'd read that this piercing is situated near an acupuncture point for relaxation. I don't know if I've been particularly relaxed since Wednesday, but I have been immensely horny! No joke. Though it's impossible to sleep and use the phone on my left side, so far I think it's worth it. It's been five days or so and it still feels a bit swollen and tender. It only throbbed the first day, and even then it was not constant. It also bled a tiny bit the first day, but not enough to go dripping. Just two little blobs of blood. Now the only time it hurts is if I touch or rotate the ring, which can be intense. Ice is my friend.
Regarding the overall experience, I'm not going to call this guy a bad piercer, or even say that this was a bad experience. What I do have to stress is, professionalism makes ALL the difference. One of the main reasons I get pierced is because the experience is exciting and fun. When I'm back home, I feel trust and confidence in my piercer's skills and experience. And that's a great feeling! Sorry to preach but, if you know a good place or good piercer, stick with 'em! I feel dumb for rushing into this. I really wanted this rook, but it kinda sucks not knowing and trusting that the guy did a good job. Or that the jewelry is really "implant grade" like he told me. Or even that is his real name is Larry! Only time will tell if I'm going to pay for my haste and impulsiveness with an infection, or some other unwanted consequence. The next time I see my piercers in San Francisco, I'm going to thank them for being so awesome, and never stray again!