19th May 2007
At A Glance Author abbi london Contact abbilondon@aol.com IAM abbi london When It just happened Artist Cath Blackburn Studio Chioko Location Camden, London
Early on Saturday morning after our leavers drinks and subsequent pub crawl the night before a hung-over trio set out on their quest to Camden to find what only could be described as the unknown. Wait..Im lying I knew exactly what I wanted my industrial. I'd been umming and ahhing over getting it done since turning eighteen and as I start a new job on Monday I thought sod it lets go for it once its in their its not coming out without a fight.
After a long winded search for x15 military DPM army shirts (which we did eventually acquire) my friends Lucy and Tara reminded me of our original intent for our trip to Camden, to watch me squirm about on Chioko's leather dentist chair and have my ear poked.
So off we went to grab some money from HSBC (£30) and marched down the stairs of the little shop. Chioko is a tiny tattooist and piercing place located right next door to the Electric Ballroom. In fact, if you hadn't seen the sign above the door and hadn't noticed the many young inked and pierced peoples entering and exiting you could have been forgiven for not noticing it, as it is tucked right at the back of a funky little shop and down some stairs. For the past two years I've been coming to Chioko for my piercings I've never dared to go anywhere else. Let's just say I'm set in my ways but I still can't fault the place. The clean appearance and amazing staff, I've even brought my mother and a large selection of my friends to Chioko for work.
So after filling in my form flashing my appalling driving licence photo for ID Cath, (don't let her un-pierced appearance deceive you!) was ready for me. I stepped into the little studio and laid back on the chair and dutifully reminded her I am a needle phobic remember so no showing of needles. I trusted her to be using sterile needles and what not I've seen her pierce numerous of my friends so no questions need be asked.
I decided to have my left ear industrialised so on with the gloves and marking of my ear with dial callipers and biro and discussing placement all while looking in the mirror and nattering about my prospective new job on Monday. We decided on using one straight bar instead of two separate smaller barbells due to my lifestyle and the unreliability of the barbells healing in parallel with each other. Cath then stressed if I had any issues I could come back ASAP and have the long bar changed for two smaller bars and further on down the line the bar changed for a smaller one when it was more healed.
After, giggling about a few horror stories of past customers Cath told me she was ready to go and offered me a wide selection of items to hold so I wouldn't have to crash a friends hand in the process. She then went on to explain how she really admired people who acquired industrial piercings due to the pain factor.
So with a toy monkey in my hands to hold and two monkeys' sorry friends in front of me watching in horror Cath changed her gloves and began. She pierced the bottom hole first and then the top all the while being amazing and saying soothing words. In all honesty people had built me up so much for the excruciating mind bending pain I was going to receive. It did hurt but nowhere near as much as I was expecting just that funny metallic sting zing feeling followed by the hot sensation. The jewellery was threaded threw and I was left sitting for a minute or two to chill out. After which I paid, received my aftercare instructions and tipped Kath and Reika a tenner and ambled outside for a coffee. While walking round the market afterwards my two friends stood clutching their ears somewhat traumatised holding a total of zero piercings between them. (I attend a very elite 6th form; let's just say I'm not the most conventional child).
I cleaned it last night after work and even managed to sleep on it, (more of a test than a long term arrangement) and I've had no issues. No pain, no swelling, no problem. I'm glad I don't have to worry about the issue of having to watch my hair due to my newly acquired 1/2 shaved head. Just don't ask it was a dare that turned into a charitable phase.
I'd recommend an industrial piercing to anyone who has ever wanted one, everyone is different when it comes to pain, but I found it to be a really enjoyable piercing and it looks great on my ear.
Thank You Cath you are an absolute legend: D
If anyone has any questions about my experience, or the piercing itself, please feel free to e-mail me about it!