My last piercing experience was a horror. I decided after this butchering to never get pierced in St. Joseph, MO, ever again.
At A Glance Author Monica Contact Monica@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Chris Hughes Studio A-1 Tattoo Location Gladstone, MO Thus began my search for a suitable piercer. I needed someone that would not hurt me any more than necessary nor expose me to any infections (both of which happened last time). Fortunately I befriended Zach through IAM and as he is located close by I asked him where he got his piercings done. He recommended Chris Hughes, located at A-1 Tattoo in Gladstone, MO, and on an evening of hanging out, I decided to investigate.
To tell you the truth I wasn't planning on getting my daith pierced that evening. My original plan was for a septum piercing. I really like septums and knew that I could easily hide one with a retainer as I worked at my highly conservative job and thought this would be the way to go.
The shop was small, neat, and clean. Zach chatted with the girl at the counter and I stood there with an upset stomach from my nerves. I had money in my purse which was a birthday gift from Jakk and was pretty sure that I was going to spend it at A-1. Chris came out and I was introduced to him and asked about a septum piercing, letting him know that I had a professional job and needed a retainer. He immediately asked me to tilt my head back and informed me that with my "large, flaring nostrils" a septum piercing, even with a retainer, would be extremely difficult to conceal. I was a little embarrassed to be informed that I had such nostrils and I was also disappointed that I wouldn't be able to get the long-wished-for septum piercing.
Zach began to list other possibilities for piercings while I stood there blankly, my dreams shot. Chris brought out his portfolio and I looked through it a couple of times, trying to make a decision. Nipples were a possibility but I thought my husband would be pissed if I came home with nipple piercings without letting him know about it first. The hood, while tempting, required more mental and physical preparation than I had gone through. I've always wanted some cartilage ear work but didn't want to go through the long and painful healing process and any facial piercings were completely out of the question due to my place of employment.
Both Zach and Chris suggested the daith. I looked at photos and asked questions on the healing process and how long it would hurt after the piercing was over. Chris was extremely helpful, attentive, and patient, answering every question with care. I didn't ask about the pain of the piercing itself, for which I am grateful. After I thought about it for awhile longer, I decided to go for it. What is life all about if you just stick to what you know and refuse to try something new?
Zach and I went back with Chris to the little doctor-like room and the door was closed. I was instructed to sit on the "exam" table, which was purple (fun!), and Chris began gathering supplies, none of which I really looked at, and talked about aftercare. I was extremely nervous at this point. I'm not used to getting pierced (tattooed is a different story) as it's only happened five times prior and they were truly far between one another.
My heart was pounding and my palms were sweaty. Chris instructed me to lie on the table with my head on the "pillow" which was, like the entire table itself, covered with doctor-paper. I turned my head towards the wall as he sat in a chair on my left side. I really couldn't see anything but the lights above me and the white wall next to my head. I couldn't tell what was going on as far as what Chris was doing. Every now and again he would hurl something at the trash can which Zach tells me were numerous pairs of gloves. I would guess this happened at least five times throughout the procedure.
Presently I felt something on my ear and/or in my ear. Zach, the star witness, said that he was putting the ring in the area to find the perfect placement. It probably took five minutes but it felt like much longer. Every time he touched my ear I internally freaked out a little because I thought it was the needle. This whole time he made small talk, asking me about my children and talking about his own and how his son asks him to wear long sleeves.
I was apparently marked, of which I was unaware, and then he said something like, "Here we go."
"Okay," I said, and prepared myself.
"Take a deep breath in, and then let it out slowly," said Chris. I did as he suggested and as I exhaled, of course, he put the needle in. It hurt a little bit for a second. All of a sudden, however, there was intense red-hot pain, my eyes got big, my back arched and then unfortunately it cramped up. The horrendous pain was coupled with a crispy crunching sound and occurred when the needle was exiting the area. I had to take two more breaths before it was through. Next was the receiving tube and then about 10 seconds later the ring was in my ear. This part didn't really hurt.
I immediately requested to sit up to calm my back down and I noticed that I was seeing big red blobs everywhere. I moved my back around sufficiently and then gratefully laid back down while he affixed the bead to the CBR.
I looked in the mirror at my ear. My comment on my bright red ear was answered by, "We throw that in for free." Chris then apologized for hurting me. "I hate daiths," he said. "They're really slow and very painful and I don't like hurting people." I remarked that it didn't compare to childbirth and as long as I have that point of reference I can handle almost anything. It did hurt, though, quite a bit, and more than I was prepared for. The beauty of piercings is that it may hurt, but the pain really doesn't last that long. It's always worth the pain. And now that it's over I can remember the pain with affection. It was fun.
After I paid and gave Chris a $10 tip we left and went to McDonald's. My ear didn't hurt at all for two hours and I felt really spacey and flaky for some time and babbled a lot of bullshit to poor Zach. Before I went to bed I had a pounding headache and my ear was throbbing. It was sore the following day but today, only 36 hours post-piercing, it doesn't really hurt at all. It does feel a little "ear achy-ish" and I can feel it when I smile. If I talked on the phone with my left ear it would probably hurt more but the piercing is such that it's really tucked out of the way of every day life. It was a brilliant idea and it looks nice and adds more interest to my ear, which is dominated by a 5/8" lobe (as is my right). My right daith will follow in a couple of months for perfect symmetry.
Thank you Chris, thank you Zach, and thank you Jakk, without whom I wouldn't have gotten pierced last Saturday night. Now I certainly have hope and trust for the future. Happy birthday to me.