About three months ago after many months of waiting I headed to The Edge Tattoo to get my rook pierced. I had wanted it pierced for a long time but had to wait due to the fact that I was still doing sports competitively and no jewelry was allowed to be worn at any of the sporting events. Once the season ended I could not wait to go get my new piercing.
At A Glance Author anonymous When Three months ago Artist Geoff Studio The Edge Tattoo Location Enfield, CT When I entered the place I met Geoff my piercer. I made my mom come with me for moral support and she trusted him so I did too. After I told him what I wanted he took a look at my ear and said that my rook was a weird shape and the hoop would look funny on my ear. I was sad because not many people I know have their rook pierced. I was determined to stay there until I had a new piercing in my ear. He looked at my ear some more and gave me some options and I wasn't liking any of them when all of the sudden he just said "You would look really good with a snug piercing!" I was a little concerned at first because I had never even seen anyone with a piercing there but after he showed me some pictures of people he had pierced there it convinced me.
After I paid and everything he gave me a run down of what he was going to do to my ear. He gave me an option of having a banana barbell or a hoop. He said that hoops are a lot easier to clean so I decided to opt for that. Plus I thought the hoop looked really cute. He put on latex gloves and changed them about every 30 seconds. Every time he would touch anything in the room besides me and the piercing materials he would take off the gloves and put on a new pair. It made me feel like he was being extra careful and sanitary which is a big deal. He cleaned my ear off with a wipe and then he gave me a mirror and drew a dot on my ear. I didn't like where he had it placed so I asked him to move it which he did with no problem. After I was happy with where it was going to go he changed his gloves again and got all ready. I sat down on this bed that was just like the ones in doctors offices. I was so nervous it wasn't even funny. My mom wasn't allowed to hold my hand or even stand in the piercing area because of safety precautions. He used a piercing needle and pushed that through my ear where he had marked. That hurt so much I didn't know what to do with myself. The only thing to do was grab the sides of the mattress and squeeze. After he changed his gloves yet again he got my hoop and put it in immediately after taking out the needle. The piercing hurt a lot to get but I do not regret it at all.
Afterward he gave me a packet about aftercare and gave me all sorts of tips while reading the packet to me aloud. He also gave me a spray called H2Ocean which I use on my piercing after I wash it. He said if I had any issues or problems to call him or visit him at the parlor. I felt completely comfortable with him.
My piercing was swollen for about a week but soon calmed down and began to look more normal. About 4 weeks after I got my piercing I went on vacation to the beach. I only cleaned it about once a day if that which led to some problems. The piercing got all red and started to swell up again. It looked a little bit like what it looked like when I first got it pierced. Right when I got home I began cleaning it 3 times a day again and within about a month it was back to normal. I now clean it 2 times a day unless I feel like it looks red or irritated or if I get really dirty. In that case I will clean it more. I hope that in a year my piercing will look 100% normal and I won't have to worry so much about it. Cleaning the hoop is very easy and I don't really mind doing it. It is well worth it. The piercing no longer hurts to sleep on or anything which is awesome because the first couple of days were a little annoying. If anything touched it or if I answered the phone and it hit it or if I rolled over in my sleep onto it the pain was insane. I am so glad that it doesn't hurt at all anymore.
I have been back to The Edge a couple of times to get my bead changed. They change it for me for free if I bring my own bead. I am currently wearing a white pearly bead which makes my piercing look super cute. Everyone always says to me "that is so original! I love it! Did it hurt?!" I love how everyone reacts when they see it.