First, a little back-story: My mom is a great person, very accepting of whatever crazy ideas come into my head next, but also very protective. My health has always been crap so the idea of letting me get new holes in my body at any time while I was growing up was out of the question, she was too busy trying to keep me alive than let that happen until I was old enough to make up my own mind. I think that 22 is old enough don't you?
At A Glance Author Monica Contact Monica@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Dustin Robbins Studio Iris Body Piercing Location Salt Lake City, Utah I have always been fascinated by body modifications, both the modern things as well as the stuff I'd seen on television documentaries of primitive tribes so it was obvious that one day I would let myself be pulled into this strange but amazingly beautiful world. I'd spent years perusing this site as well as many others soaking in information like a sponge and falling in love with new piercing ideas that I couldn't wait to add to myself.
This last couple of years I have been talking with my mom about finally getting my ear lobes pierced and after a talk with my doctor, she finally decided that it would be okay (although to be honest I'd made up my mind no matter what she said. Again, I'm 22 so whatever decisions, good or bad, are all mine.) So I finally dove into researching where I would want to have it done. Fortunately the fact that I had waited so long had given me a chance to learn the dos and don'ts and I was pretty sure that I'd had a decent grasp on most things I would need to know. I checked the APP website and found two shops that I really liked, one in Boise, Idaho and the other in Salt Lake, Utah (I'm smack dab in the middle of the two cities so I figured whichever city I visited first would be the one I would go to)
Soon, my new nephew was born in Utah so the family visit to see him was pointing me in the direction of the shop in Salt Lake, Iris Body Piercing. I was very excited, but also nervous at the prospect of how soon something that I had wanted for so long was finally going to happen.
The two weeks until the trip passed quickly. I was trying to not think about it too much because I thought that I would get myself too nervous, but all that really happened was that I was getting even more excited.
The trip was uneventful and finally the last day that we would be there came, the day that I was going to get pierced. Finding the shop proved to be the most nerve-wracking part of the whole thing. Honestly, it isn't that the shop is really that out of the way, it's just that we are all from a much smaller city and driving there is always a pretty difficult task. My brother was driving and he happens to be one of the most impatient people in the world. His griping is actually what started to make me nervous. I was so sick of him at this point that all I wanted to do was get home. My mom tried her best to keep me calm and from just giving up. Many phone calls were made that evening to Iris and even though my family was insane and pretty grouchy, they were very nice on the phone and helped us finally get there.
As soon as I walked in the door I immediately felt calmed. The place is so clean and just has a very serene feeling. All three of the piercers (Dustin, Nick and Jesse) greeted me and helped me pick out my jewelry (12g lavender color fronts) and Dustin took them in the back to the autoclave. Nick talked to me about the aftercare and was very patient with all of my questions. I then signed my forms and paid. Cleaning my jewelry took a little while so I sat on their very comfortable couch and talked with my niece.
As soon as the jewelry was cleaned, Dustin took me into one of the piercing rooms. It was even cleaner than the front area, just smelled so clean and nice. There was also some very relaxing music playing. He asked me to sit on the table and he marked my ears and had me look in a mirror to see if they looked right to me. Perfect! He made small talk with me as he opened the package with the needle inside (they use all disposable equipment) changed his gloves again (he did so many times I lost count) and rubbed a cleaning solution on my ears. He told me to breathe deeply and, without clamps, pierced my left ear. I really didn't feel much of anything. There wasn't any more pain than a tiny pinch; I've had much nastier shots than that! I have to admit the feeling of the needle going through the flesh and tissues inside my ear was strange. I could feel a kind popping inside. For a weird person like me, that was actually really neat! He had the jewelry in just a second later and was on to my other ear. There was only very slightly more pain this time and Dustin said that was what most people said. As soon as my jewelry was in my right ear and he had the O-rings on he stood in front of me moving his head quickly back and forth to check that they were even and we both laughed at that. I went to the mirror and was ecstatic! They were as exact as possible! I thanked him quite a few times and gave him a tip. I told him that as soon as I could I would be back, and I definitely will! I really can't recommend the boys at Iris any more! They are seriously great and I can't imagine going anywhere else! I've told all of my friends how great the experience was! I can't be happier!
As of now, it is a week and three days later and my ears feel and look great! I've been doing my best with the aftercare that Iris recommends (LITHA, or Dry-Healing, which means just leave it alone and keep it dry for those that don't know) and I've been sleeping on my back with my pillows propped up too. Washing my hair has proven to be a bit difficult, but fortunately my mom doesn't mind washing it for me in the sink while I hold cups over my ears. (Yes, it does look funny, heh. It gets the job done though.)
I can't help but keep thinking of all the things I can't wait to do now, it was the best welcome I can imagine to the world of body mods.