At A Glance Author Liz Contact elombard@aol.com When A month ago Artist Erin Studio Chameleon Tattoo and Piercing Location Cambridge, MA I completely agree with those who wrote in the Ear experience section that perhaps people should not choose a Daith as their first piercing because of the pushing and squeezing involved. I also agree with the reviewers who wrote that a Daith is a "slow" piercing; meaning a piercer must make careful, deliberate movements. Because the area is so tiny, a fast push-through does not guarantee a correct placement, especially considering a piercer must fit their fingers in there along with the needle, the jewelry and other necessary instruments. I've had piercings in thicker areas of tissue; {i.e. nipples, Christina, outer labias} but despite the thickness of the tissue, I found them to be very fast and smooth compared to my Daith.
Anyone viewing BME's image sections will see that even though people possess the same body parts, these parts can vary dramatically in shape, size and color. Some BME photos show Daiths which have a gradual bend, if that makes sense, making the area more accessible. Some people's ears have distinct curves and crevices, very pronounced, ridges etc., while others have less pronounced creases and edges. This means nothing in the 'grand scheme of things' but it is an excellent example as to why some people can have a particular piercing with little or no difficulty, while others can't. Going a step further, a piercing can be done on two different people, the exact same piercing, but it will look and sit very differently according to the shape and structure of their particular anatomy.
I had my left Daith pierced the last week of January - by Erin at Chameleon Tattoo and Piercing located in Harvard Square Cambridge, Massachusetts. Unlike any of the other piercings I have, this piercing was a difficult one for a number of reasons. This most "inner" of the ear's cartilage reminds me of a seashell and mine is a snug, curved piece of rigid tissue which has a distinct and definitive curve into and under where a Rook would be, there is very little room to work The area is tiny and tight, I'm talking close quarters. In my case, the additional pressure and discomfort I experienced might be due to the awkward angle and lack of space in that area of my ear. But I have to say right here and now that Erin performed a perfectly, flawless Daith- my CBR sits flat against the inside of my ear. The Daith took a lot of effort on her part- I mean, that woman had to work for this friggin' thing!
Erin had inspected my ear during our last visit and informed me that she could do a Daith on either side. I chose the left where I have a 14g inner conch with a SS CBR. My right ear has a rook with SS CBR. Now looking back I'm glad that we placed the Daith on the left.
Piercing Time:
Erin cleaned the ear thoroughly and displayed a circular curved needle she uses for a Daith. When I had my Rook done (at a different studio before I discovered Chameleon's), the piercer used an "L" shaped needle. I believe this is just the personal preference of the piercer who is working on you. Erin told me that I would be lying down for this. I now know why, because of the necessary pushing she had to do; if I were sitting up, I would have been rocking back and forth like an ocean buoy on a turbulent sea. She marked me while I was sitting up.
"Do you want to check the marks?" asked Erin.
I got up and took the hand mirror over to the long wall mirror hanging across the small, clean room. I twisted and turned but it was a waste of time. It was nearly impossible to catch a glimpse of the marks, I eventually saw the top one but the lower mark was hidden underneath the cartilage. Oh, enough already! Erin is the expert and I trust her to make the best placement. I got back on the table and stretched out on my right side facing the wall, left ear facing the ceiling. Erin lined up the needle; it was an 18g (maybe a 16g). She firmly pressed the needle to my skin, and explained,
"That's the tip you feel. OK, give me some deep breaths."
This is a necessary and common part of the routine, one I'm very familiar with, but when I breathed with her I kind of spazzed out between the second inhalation and the final exhale; I stopped her.
"Erin, let's try again" I asked, "I kind of lost you." We began again and on the third breath out, the needle went in. Yikes! I admit this was unpleasant. The pain was bearable but the pressure and pushing was something I've never experienced before and it seemed to go on and on. Erin asked me repeatedly if I was OK; she was worried about my inner conch which sits in the left ear where she was working. Erin was afraid that the intense pressure from her hand was hurting the conch. But truthfully, it didn't bother my conch. The pressure pain I felt was higher up the ear, closer to where a helix would be. I could describe it as having my ear "grinded" against my skull (which came after the piercing) during the placing and closing of the jewelry. But I like to remind myself this is a piercing and you have to accept that pain may or may not be part of the experience.
Like other reviewers wrote, this piercing seemed to go on and on, {I said that earlier, didn't I?} I made silly faces and said, 'eeeey, eye, eye eye,' softly and repeatedly but I kept breathing! For something so traumatizing on the ear, I had very little pain afterwards that would come later. I bled and we stopped that by applying firm pressure to the ear with some clean gauze.
One BME woman wrote the pain of a Daith was "a nip, a big nip" I find that a perfect, accurate description. It was unlike the quick, intensely sharp sensation that you may experience with a VCH or a HCH. This was a burning, hot feeling resembling the nipples but with lots of pulling and tugging. When you look closely at a Daith it is amazing that it can be pierced at all. I agree with the BME Dictionary's entry for Daith, it comes from a Hebrew word meaning 'knowledge'~ so true! A piercer has to know their craft to perform this one correctly. If this truly refers to the piercer's knowledge and ability to do this challenging piercing, then it is a well deserved and accurate name. I think it is a challenge to get one and to give one.
My sixteen year old daughter, Claire was there in the room with us. (Claire had just had her right Tragus pierced by Erin minutes before) Looking back, it was a good thing Claire went first with her Tragus, perhaps watching Erin pushing and squeezing and me grimacing and making foolish faces might have spooked the poor kid. But somehow I don't believe it. The Tragus was Claire's first professional piercing not counting the lobes. Months ago, I sent her BME and she researched and thought about her choice of piercing for almost three months. When Erin pierced her, Claire didn't flinch, not a muscle, she didn't hold my hand or make a sound. I see more piercings in this girl's future
Now five days later I have some definite swelling in the ear, and pressure and discomfort while cleaning. This is completely normal and understandable considering the 'trauma' to the ear. I will continue my aftercare with warm soaks, gentle Q-tip cleaning (Dr. Bonner's Soap) and no dirty fingers trying to fidget the newly placed ring.
In closing, I will not be getting my right Daith pierced, with the Rook already in place, I am happy with the way my ear looks. The one regret I have {if you can call it a regret} is that this piercing is not easily "visible" to my eye. I can't see it unless I use two mirrors, angling for the best position to bring my newest mod into view. That's OK though, I know it is tucked safely away inside my ear, like a pearl in an oyster shell, beautiful and unusual and all mine.
For all the complaining I just did, this is a piercing I treasure (as I do all my others) It is every bit as beautiful and intriguing as I thought it would be. And about my children? I'm pretty open minded concerning piercings that my kids might want. The one thing I will demand is that they get pierced by a consummate professional. For us that means Erin at Chameleon Tattoo and Body Piercing.
Thank you to Erin and thanks to all the BME family for their insights and support. You all make it possible.
Namaste,
Liz