When I was about 9 years old or so, like many young girls, I had my ears pierced at a local mall. One of those little piercing booths that they have set up in the mall. The lady who pierced my ears used the typical piercing gun, with the little earring studs. I picked out a cute pair of blue studs, but anyway that does not matter. After about 6 weeks, which was the amount of time I was told until my ears would heal, I tried to change the earrings. They still were not quite healed, and it hurt quite a bit to remove the earrings. I had them in for about a week, but they caused me a great deal of pain and discomfort. So, I took them out, and let the holes close. Even a few weeks after taking them out, they still caused me some pain.
At A Glance Author Jordi Contact jordcat13@aol.com When Six months ago Artist Gera Studio Panama Reds Location Oxford Ohio Let's fast forward to 9 years later. I was 18, and I really started developing an appreciation for body modification. All of my friends had some sort of modification or another. And I had yet to even have my ears pierced. I came across www.bmezine.com and was amazed at the different piercing and modifications people were getting. I became addicted. I decided I needed to break out and get something pierced. I was not very experienced and did not know what to get at first. I decided that I would have my lobes re-pierced. Plus I had just started my freshman year in college, so I thought that it would be a neat way to remember it.
After reading many articles on BME about how piercing guns can be harmful, I decided against having my ears re-pierced at the mall. A friend of mine had hers done with a gun a few months before I had decided to have my ears re-pierced, and she had tried to convince me to go with her then. I remembered how much getting my ears pierced the first time had hurt. I went a few months earlier with my best friend to get his tattoo at a tattoo and piercing shop just a few miles from where I lived. It was in a small college town, and many college students away from home went there to get something pierced their first year away. I figured they must be good if so many people go there. The place was very clean, and the people there were friendly, so I decided to go.
I did not really plan on the day when I would get my ears pierced. One day I just told my mom I was going to go get my ears pierced again, and asked her if she would like to go with me. So we headed off to the shop to get my ears pierced. When we walked in, I told the woman behind the counter that I wanted to have my lobes pierced. She looked at me like maybe I did not know what I was doing, and said in a rather gruff voice, " You do know that we don't use guns here don't you?" I said of course, and she showed me the jewelery that would be used. I did not really have a choice, a simple pair of stainless steel captive bead rings. Which was fine, I love the look of them. She gave them to the piercer, Gera, who was also in the room. She took the earrings to the back to clean them and get ready. So I had to sign the necessary paperwork and show my ID. Then I was told to go to the back room where I would be pierced. The room was very clean. A counter, a few cabinets, and a chair that looked much like the kind at a dentist office. Gera was very nice, and explained everything that she would do. My mother sat in the corner of the room in a chair and watched as everything happened. First my ears were cleaned, then they were marked. The piercer had to check several times to make sure they were even. She asked me if I liked the placement, and then asked my mom if she thought they were placed well. We both agreed that they looked fine. She lined the needle with the mark that she had made, and told me to take a deep breath in, and then out. As I breathed out, she pushed the needle into my ear. It did not hurt at all. I figured that there would be more pain, like there was when I had had my ears pierced 9 years ago. I looked over at my mom who had turned her head. I suppose she did not want to watch. Gera then inserted the jewelery and the bead, which took some time, the bead was a bit difficult she said to insert. After that was done, she pierced the other ear the same way. I looked at my new earrings in the mirror and instantly fell in love with them. I knew I would want more piercings after these had healed. She gave me the after care instructions, Cleaning two times a day with Bactine, and turning the jewelery. I paid the lady behind the counter, and left. My ears healed in about a month, with no trouble at all.
I love my earrings. Since having my lobes re-pierced, I have had them pierced a second time. I have even considered stretching my ear lobes. Soon I plan on having my helix or conch pierced. I love the look of them. I hear they hurt a bit more than an ear lobe piercing, but Im sure I can handle it.