I got my first ear piercings when I was 5 years old, in anticipation of my 6th birthday. Years went by, and I got a second set of holes when I was about 15. More years went by, and my navel was pierced when I was 20, and re-done when I was 22. A few more years went by, and I got my vertical clitoral hood pierced at age 24. I knew enough to know that I liked being pierced, but I had good control over myself.
At A Glance Author susitna Contact susitna@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Ryan Studio The Hole Look Location Anchorage, AK That is, until this year. I'm 27 now, and so far this year, I've gotten five piercings and a tattoo. This approximately doubles the artificial hole count. This story is about my third set of lobe piercings, which represent a turning point in my body modification lifestyle. They were my second and third holes of the year. My habit has definitely started escalating. You see, I had my nostril pierced on a Tuesday (read the experience here: http://www.bmezine.com/pierce/03-nose/A80424/nosconne.html). Previously, this would have sustained me for a good year or two...but, oh, no. Not anymore. I found myself returning to the Hole Look the following Friday for another round of piercing.
I was still concerned about how I would be perceived at work, so I stuck to a pretty generic piercing, just a simple set of 18G lobes. The Hole Look always uses fixed bead rings as the initial jewelry in such piercings. All in all, I bought 3 pairs of stainless steel rings, so I could have matching jewelry in all my ear holes, because I felt that would add continuity and help prevent people from reporting me to the office manager for being too "edgy" (whatever that means).
There were a couple of people waiting to get pierced before me, so I waited and read the paper in the lobby. This always seems to happen to me, and I actually kind of like it. I get all excited when I'm in the car, driving to the studio, because I know what's about to happen. Telling the people what I want to do that day gives me a little rush, and it would probably feel a little anti-climactic if I could have it right way. The second anticipation stage gives me time to calm down so I can have an even better rush in the piercing room. It's all part of the ritual for me, at this point.
I saw Ryan come out into the lobby, looking for his next victim, and happily realized that it was me. Yay! My turn! I love my turn. I followed him into the room, which had already been sterilized and set up. The steel tray next to the piercing chair was already set with the necessary provisions: long-handled Q-tips, soap, a marker, two needles still in their sterile wrappers, two clamps still in their sterile wrappers, and six fixed bead rings still in their sterile wrappers. Hooray!
I sat down on the chair and Ryan handed me my four extra rings. He offered to put them in for me, but I figured I'd just do it myself when I got home. I had on diamond earrings, and I didn't want to risk losing them. Plus, I was ready for the big show and didn't want to wait any longer! Ryan set about trying to figure out the best placement.
He looked a little perplexed for a moment or two, and then he asked me where I'd gotten the previous holes done. I apologized, because they'd been done back when I was young and stupid and didn't realize that guns were bad. The first set was done at a beauty salon in my hometown, and the seconds had been done at a cheap jewelry store at the mall.
Then came the question: "do you want them in a straight line?" Ugh. That's never a good sign. I gave him the best answer I could, "if at all possible". He explained to me that the right ear could be done nice and straight, but the left ear was going to be a bit of a challenge. He could make them straight, but then the new piercing would be very low on the earlobe. I told him to make a wise decision, and he smiled and nodded. He made a dot, soaped it off and tried again. Crooked line it would be. He asked me if I wanted to check the placement, and I declined. I told him I trusted his judgment. I was so very ready for my needles at that point.
Then came the speech, very well rehearsed from years of repetition on his part. He talked about what he was going to do, and I nodded when appropriate. He unwrapped one clamp, and attached it to my right ear. Then the needle was shucked from its wrapper and lined up. Deep breath in, slowly let out, and it was through my earlobe. Jewelry got unwrapped and inserted into my freshly pierced hole. One down, one to go. Ryan switched sides and repeated the ritual on the left ear. It didn't hurt much at all, really. Just a really satisfying sting and a little bit of slightly pleasant burning. I don't really remember how my previous, gunned, piercings felt, but it can't have been too much different.
It's been a month since then. My right ear seems well on its way to healing. My left one is a little angrier, but that's most likely because I tend to sleep on that ear, but only when I'm having a hard time falling asleep, so it tends to be pretty fitful. It must get tugged on a bit more than the right one. Even so, there are no signs of infection, just a little extra lymph. Aftercare has been pretty standard, some saline washes, a little bit of tea tree oil, and washing with gentle soap in the shower every day. I'm very happy with them, and even thinking about getting them some more friends!