Since I am a blood donor I need to leave 6 months between piercings, and therefore blood donations, to check that I have no antibodies in my blood. I gave blood 2 weeks ago so I thought it was high time I got a new piercing, having had my helix pierced 6 months ago and my nose pierced a ear ago. So I toyed with the idea of a rook or a snug, or maybe a daith, I knew it had to be on my left ear to balance out my other ear. In the end I settled on either a rook, although I thought I didn't have enough cartilage there and so decided on a conch as a back up.
At A Glance Author Nyika Contact Nyika@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Richard Studio Flesh Ideas Location Stevenage old town, Herts, UK
About a week ago I suddenly decided to get my conch pierced, I'm not sure what influenced the decision, nor where my rook idea went, but I suddenly knew that was what my next piercing would be. I expected it to hurt but had no real qualms about it. I was a little worried it would hurt since it was such a thick bit of cartilage. So far my most painful piercing had been my nose and my most troublesome my lobes, so obviously I was a little more worried about this one. My old piercer used the wrong jewellery in all my piercings (gun studs even when a needle was used), so I decided to find a new piercer and decided on flesh ideas as it wasn't too far away and looked clean on the website. I decided to get my piercing done when I had a quiet day during my A level study leave, so I packed my revision and took the train to Stevenage.
Before I went and found Flesh Ideas I had something to eat and drink and got some money out. The shop is small with a bench which you sit on amongst the flash tattoo panels. I could 2 tattoo guns buzzing as I walked in so I sat and waited with my geography textbook (weirdest place I've ever revised!) and waited. The receptionist popped out and gave some forms to a girl who was having her tongue pierced and then asked if I was OK, so I said I'd like my conch pierced. I was asked for ID, which I'd forgotten, but my debit card and blood donation card proved I was over 16 fortunately. I signed the disclaimer form and was given a sheet about after care, and then waited until the piercer, Richard, was taking a break from tattooing. A mum and daughter had come in to enquire about a really lovely butterfly tattoo for the daughter and a recolour for the mum. The receptionist dealt with these and got the tattooist to give quotes on both. A boy came downstairs looking slightly teary-eye d having had a tribal design tattooed on his bicep. It occurred to me that I was the only person in the shop who was there by myself; apart from when I had my ears pierced at Claire's accessories (bad idea, they got infected) when I was 11 I have always gone to have my piercings done alone. Finally the piercing started. Firstly the girl who was having her tongue pierced went up and was down literally 2 minutes later, which meant it was my turn!
Richard took me upstairs and asked me which ear I wanted, which involved me feeling around to work out which was my left ear, and then I sat down on the bed. I was told to look forward and keep looking that way and my ear was wiped with antiseptic. Then before I could say anything he squirted a bottle of numbing spray on my ear, which wasn't too pleasant, and then the needle was put through, which wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. By far the worst bit was having the jewellery put in, I had chosen a CBR because it was cheaper, which I knew was a bad idea, but for some reason I just went for it. I wiggled a bit when the CBR was put in and Richard told me to relax as rings weren't the easiest things to put into conches. He then dressed it with polystyrene type sheeting and tape and I gave him £25 for the piercing. I then went off, my ear didn't really hurt and I was happy. I then went off into town and drank coffee and revised, whilst looking a little silly w ith my ear bandage on.
About 12 hours on I have knocked my piercing twice but otherwise it has been fine, I've yet to try sleeping though! It has bled a little but not that much at all considering. I really love it and I'm really happy I chose it almost impulsively.