It all started when I came across BME about a year ago. I instantly found myself flicking through the galleries for hours on en, tongue, ear, lip, bridge, cheeks, pocketing all of them! They all interested me. When I first found the pictures of large gauge tongues and lips etc, I was shocked but they interested me. I already knew a little bit about "Tunnels" and they did not appeal to me when I discovered them; I was about 7, but over the last year or so, larger gauge piercings started to interest me. I flicked through the large gauge ear galleries and I was intrigued. After a while I found a few pictures of people with 38mm (1 + 1/2") lobes, and they grew on me. I decided it had to start soon. Since then I have made a healthy long wish list of piercings that no one except me is happy about in this house! :]
At A Glance Author Russell666. Contact russell666__@hotmail.com When It just happened Artist Jackie Studio Nutz Location Ware, Hertfordshire My mother is against all forms of body modification. She refers to them as "mutilations", especially after she had seen implants and suspensions etc. (She isn't a fan of large gauge piercings anyway) from standing over my shoulder. Hypocritically, she has her lobes pierced, so I thought that may be a start. After a few weeks of convincing her to accept the fact I'm going to get pierced one way or another, she gave in.
The next day I phoned up my local bodmod shop ("Nutz Tattoo" in Ware) and asked if they had any 2.5mm (10g) needles. They said they did, told me I need not book an appointment and that was that.
We drove down to the shop where I was greeted warmly by the receptionist/tattoo artist. I told them I was here for the lobes, we had a chat about how business was, the fact their tattoo appointments were full until the end of the year, how the piercer (Jackie) was just finishing off an Industrial and what jewelry I wanted. I had a choice between some CBR's (Rings had never been my style), some plugs (Which looked a bit pathetic at 2.5mm as it was just a stick with a couple of o-ring on it) and some shiny barbells. I like shiny things, and through process of elimination, I went for them.
We chatted for 10 minutes or so after I had picked out my rather shiny barbells and I was called in to the back where a lovely Hospital style bed was awaiting me.
Jackie and I had a nice little introduction and a talked about what I wanted done. The room had a very sanitized, clean smell to it and it was also quite small, I had to avoid kicking her quite a few times! She showed me the needles, all packaged up. (Bigger than I had expected) Then talked me through the clamps and how she would normally do it freehand; however with the large gauge needle she felt more comfortable with the clamp.
I was marked up and happy with the placements: I asked for them in an ideal place for stretching up to a very large gauge. She clamped me. (I was expecting a lot more discomfort from what the experiences on BME have taught me!)
"Ready?"
"Yep."
In went the first needle into my right lobe. Straight through. She trimmed what was needed and then I didn't really feel it until Jackie had started screwing on that balls which was slightly uncomfortable but nothing unbearable. She asked if I was ready for the left. I said yes as she changed her gloves and took out a new needle. She clamped my ear, and again, straight through went the needle. Another slight discomfort as the balls were being screwed on. She gave me the aftercare talk and leaflet, and I was done!
I pushed back my hair and looked in the mirror with a big smile on my face :]. I went through to the front desk where the reception guy asked to see. I showed him, paid my £40 and had to insist I leave a £5 tip for Jackie! (It's always very important to tip your piercer!) I had a quick read-through of the after care leaflet, had to remember if I had sea salt at home or whether I had to make a visit to Tesco next door. I stood outside compared metal with the girl who had just had her Industrial done. She winced when I told her I had used a large gauge needle!
So all in all I'm happy with my lobes for now. She did an excellent job, I recommend her to anyone in the Hertfordshire area. Pretty soon I'll be back in Nutz for many piercings and even sooner I'll begin the stretch to 38mm, perhaps even 50mm! ...If my ear can take it that far.