Two days ago I finally worked up the courage to go and get myself pierced. For the last few years I've been working myself up to it only to back out near to the time, usually because of a lack of money but I guess if I was totally committed I would have got the money from somewhere. The worst thing worrying me before I had it done was the pain of getting it done, and the possibility of infection afterwards, but both of these are no where near as bad as I'd worried. I chose to get a helix ring and a short tragus bar (so you can just see the studs that close it), I love the way they look especially when together.
At A Glance Author yblad When It just happened Studio holier than thou Location Manchester, England
I chose Holier Than Thou in Manchester centre mainly because iv heard so many good things about how clean it is, and getting an infection is something I'm really paranoid about. I went first thing, actually getting there before the staff had even opened up the shutters. I have to say the place was excellent. I wish I could remember the name of the person who did it because she was really friendly and to be honest if it wasn't for her conversation calming me down I don't think I would have gone through with it. I was fine up until the point were I actually saw the needles that were going to be put through me. I have to admit that freaked me out a lot. I've never had a problem with needles, but there's something different about your first piercing. But then I got chatting with the woman as she set up about all the butchers in the area and how much more horrible using a piercing gun is, and that put me at ease. There are only four members of staff there anyway so it'll probably be the same with the others. Iv heard quite a few horror stories about some of the other places in Manchester, most of them apparently really don't care about the customer's well being. HTT are great for looking after you, I'm not sure if I would be getting any more piercings if it wasn't for the good experience I had there,
The piercing its self really didn't hurt as much as I'd expected. Its just like pinching your ear really hard, a kind of burning sensation that only lasts for a few seconds. If there's any who's thinking about getting a piercing but is unsure, my advice is to do your homework on it and the parlours where you live, then just go for it. It is going to hurt, but not as much as you think its going to. The rewards that come from the piercing are far greater than any pain in getting it.
They are a bit sore now, but it doesn't help that I keep catching them because I'm not used to them being there. The worst thing I keep doing is brushing my hair without thinking. I've been cleaning them with a salt water solution and they look pretty clean so far. Eight fluid ounces of water and a quarter teaspoon of salt seems to work best. Hopefully they will heal quickly so I can fully enjoy them, I cant wait until I can play with them without pain or worry.
I think my next piercing will be an eyebrow bar, me and my girlfriend both think one would suit me. One day if/when I can afford to take time of playing guitar I really want a hand web, I think it would look great when I'm playing. the only other things I really want are two studs in my wrist and neck. I'm not so nervous about the future ones, not if they are anything like these in how they feel to get done.
If anyone asked me to recommend a place to go in Manchester I'd definitely recommend HTT. I hope that in writing this I have helped someone else to go for it, I've only had mine for two days but I already couldn't imagine life without them. I've wanted to get piercings since I was five, I've always loved them and I'm so happy now I finally have them. My girlfriends going for her ear piercing two days from now, she's terrified. She wants to go to some backstreet place but I wont let her, so I'm going to drag her to a good, clean place to have them done. She doesn't get just how bad a thing guns are for piercings.
Good luck to anyone who's going for their first or any other piercing. Just make sure that the place you go is clean and you look after it properly and you'll be fine. I apologise for any bad spelling, my computer is a bit... disfunctional. Yblad x