Let's rewind a few months before I was pierced. My friend took my twin sister and I to Infinite Body Piercings in Philly. I was going to get my navel ring changed, and me and my sister wanted to get matching rook piercings. We called our parents when we were there to ask what they thought of this, and they said absolutely not. So, I got my navel ring changed (and my nipples pierced...shhh!), and we went home.
At A Glance Author Kameo When Three months ago Artist Amanda Studio The Inkwell Location Southampton, PA I couldn't shake the thought of having a rook piercing. I was watching TV with my two friends in my basement, and we were bored. I said "hey, wanna go get pierced?" I forgot that they were both still 17, but they said they'd come watch me. We hopped in the car, drove to The Inkwell, and looked around the shop a little. I have lots of friends that have piercings and tattoos from this place, so I knew they were a good, clean place.
Amanda, the piercer, was busy with somebody in the piercing room, so I looked around at the jewelry for a little. I was getting anxious. When Amanda came out, I asked her a few questions. My first question was "how painful is this compared to the navel or nipple?" She said it's less painful than the nipples, but more painful than the navel. Even if she said it would hurt more than both, there was no way I was turning back...I guess I just asked to make conversation and calm my nerves!
She gave me the option of a CBR or a CBB, and I decided to get the curved barbell (since my parents still didn't know I was getting this). She asked if I wanted it longer to give room for swelling, and I said yes.
We get into the piercing room, and I hop up on the chair. She cleaned my ear, and placed the dot. I checked the mirror and said "Looks good, you're the professional anyway..I trust you on placement." My friends were standing in the doorway watching. We were all chatting it up, so the process was slow.
After it was cleaned one last time, she told me what she was going to do before it happened. She placed the needle against my ear, but didn't press yet.
"You're going to feel a lot of pressure." The needle went in and, oh, I felt the pressure. It was painful, but definitely tolerable. After the needle was through, she put the jewelry through.
It didn't bleed much, but she refrained from putting the ball on until it wasn't bleeding at all. The ball went on, and TADA: my rook was finished.
I paid, tipped, and walked out into the cold air. It stung a little, but wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
My ear was sore for the following week, and it hurt if I wore glasses for too long. I didn't clean it, or touch it at all for that matter, for the first few days. After the 3rd day, I did a sea salt soak. It was a bit awkward, but worth it. Since then, I've been rinsing it in the shower (with just water), and drying it with a q-tip. I hardly ever get crusties, but when I do, I just use a q-tip or pick them off (I know, not a good idea, but I wash my hands first!)
It doesn't hurt at ALL, and it moves back and forth freely. I don't have any other cartilage piercings, but I'm seriously considering some more, since they seem to heal nicely for me (unlike my navel, which is still fussy after 5 months).
I was able to hide this piercing from my parents for a good month or so, and then my mom saw it. My dad's reaction was "good luck paying for college!" but my mom was like "hey, it's just a piercing." They both weren't happy that I went against them telling me not to, but they also didn't make me take it out. I mean, it's my body...I should be able to do what I want with it, right?
I would HIGHLY recommend this piercing for anyone interested. It's so cute, and I get tons of comments on it! My favorite is "how much did that hurt?!" I always say "Well, it depends on what you compare it to! For me, it didn't even compare to my nipples!" After they hear that, they forget about my rook and ask about those! Ha, I love it.
I've only been 18 since October, but I've gotten 5 piercings since then! All of them but my navel are healing perfectly, and I can't wait to get more! I'm contemplating a second rook piercing, but I'm not sure which ear to get it in. I might just go for a double rook!