I've had my tragi pierced for about two years now, and my friend has always liked them. yesterday she finally decided she was ready to get her own done. It was a sunday so we weren't sure we'd be able to find anyone open, but after calling around to a few places, we found a tattoo parlor about 25 minutes away, that did piercings for a decent price. We decided to drive up there and check it out.
At A Glance Author Dani Contact Dani@bme.anon When It just happened Artist not sure what his name was Studio alkali tattoo Location wisconsin Upon arriving, we were very pleasantly surprised with the place. It appeared to be very clean, and had a great atmosphere.(Unlike some of the tattoo parlors I've been in before that were more than questionable, this place looked more like an art gallery than a tattoo shop). Being the piercing junkie that I am, I knew I couldn't walk out without getting something pierced, so I decided I'd get something on my ears pierced. I asked if they had a book I could look at, to pick out a piercing, and the man told me they had a big poster in back with several different types of ear piercings on it, and I was welcome to follow him back and look at it. I examined the picture for a while, and decided that the rook piercing looked the most appealing to me. He asked if I wanted a hoop or a barbell, and I decided I liked how the barbell looked in the picture, so I just went with that.
When we walked back up front my friend was almost finished filling out her paper work, so she got to go first. I filled out my paper work, gave them my I.D, then went back to watch her get pierced. I had no time to prepare myself for the piercing, and no time to research it, like I usually do when I get something pierced, so I had no idea what to expect when it came time for me to get pierced.
It took him a few minutes to clean up his station after he finished piercing my friend, and then it was my turn. I sat on the table and watched him prepare the needle, and jewelry he was going to be using. After he finished setting everything up, he came over and sterilized my ear with an alcohol swab. He marked the spot he was going to be piercing and told me I probably wouldn't be able to see it if I looked in the mirror, because it was tucked up into my ear so much, and asked if this was alright with me. I told him that was fine, I trusted his judgement, and we were ready to go.
I laid back on the table and took a few deep breaths. He asked if I was ready, I said yes, and he said "alright, here we go". I was expecting him to count to 3 before he pierced me, so I'd be prepared, but right after he said here we go, I felt him push the needle through my rook, which hurt, but wasn't unbearable. He knew I had been nervous about being pierced so he said "there now..that wasn't so bad was it?" I told him it wasn't too horrible, because I figured the worst was over. I was wrong. I could feel him slowly pushing the jewelry through my ear, which actually hurt more than getting pierced. I cringed and he must've seen it because he stopped instantly to ask me if I was alright. I assured him I was fine, and he continued to push it the rest of the way through my ear. Finally he said "there, that's it" and I asked if we were finished. He told me all he needed to do was screw the ball on, and we'd be done. The actual piercing process took less than a minute. It hurt, but it wasn't the worst pain I've felt, by far.
After I sat up, he handed me a mirror and told me to check it out. I told him I loved it, and he looked pleased. He handed me and my friend each a bag of sea salt, explained that we were to put it in 12 ounces of purified water, and clean our piercings 2-3 times a day with a Q-tip. After he finished explaining our after care instructions, he looked at me, and apparently really noticed all my piercings for the first time. He laughed a bit and said "Well...I guess I don't really need to explain any of this to you, huh? I can see you've been there before."
We walked up front, and I talked to him for a while longer. He asked questions about my other piercings, we talked about different piercings I could do, etc. He pointed out that some people don't trust him to pierce them, because he hasn't got any piercings of his own. I actually hadn't noticed this until he said it, which is weird, seeing's as that's usually the first thing I notice on people. I told him he should get his ear pierced at least(I said this as a joke) and after we said goodbye, and were walking out, I heard him ask his co-workers if he should go for it and get his ear pierced.
All in all, I'm very pleased with my rook piercing, and my piercing experience. The man who pierced me was extremely nice and that made the situation much more comfortable and pleasant. The trip was well worth it and I'll definitely go back to him to be pierced some more.