I am no stranger to piercing and having several standard ear piercing and my nose pierced, I decided to opt for a more unusual or different cartilage piercing for my next stabbing. I quite liked the look of rook piercings from the pictures I had seen on BME and after getting my ear studied by my piercer she told me my ear would be suitable to get it done. Not everyone has enough cartilage on that area of their ear to get to get it done or for it to heal properly apparently.
At A Glance Author vixstar Contact vixstar@bme.anon IAM vixstar When A year ago Artist Shirley Studio Urban BMS Location Edinburgh So I saved up my pennies and kidnapped my friend Rachel for a ride through to Edinburgh, to Urban piercing studios. We loved going there to get pierced as the staff were so friendly and helpful and their piercing standards very high. The hygiene was also impeccable which is a must! We had phoned to prior to going to going in to make sure Shirley would be in as she would best for this performing piercing. Doing a rook is quite fiddly and my rook was small anyway and combine that with fact that the other piercer Joe has huge hands then you can see why Shirley would be best!
As always I signed the relevant forms and waited for my turn. That's when my piercing buzz starts to get kick in and I start to get excited and part nervous especially if it's a piercing in an area I've never experienced. I didn't have to wait to long and Shirley called me through and Rachel followed. Rachel regularly came with me, partly to ogle and see what went on and partly to give me support and hold my hand should I need it. I looked at the jewellery on offer and decided I would get my rook pierced with a ring rather than a bar. I was choosing the ring for two reasons. I felt as the ring would move and there was only one ball it would hopefully be mean it would be easier to keep the piercing clean. Also I liked the look of the ring more. Shirley picked the size as she knew what would sit in my ear best. We also got the pen out and Shirley marked the spot in my ear where she would pierce me and got a mirror to check I liked it. Then she went off and sterilized the ring. When she came back that was us ready for the fun.
I lay down on my right side as I was getting my rook on the left pierced. She got the needle and everything all ready. Rachel got her hand ready in case I needed to grab it. Shirley leant over me and although I know what happens with piercing and what routine she does she explained it again just so I definitely knew what was going to happen. She then got needle in place and told me to 'breathe in, breathe out, breathe in and breathe out' it was on the last breathe out that I felt a sharp prick as she'd popped the needle through. She calmly told me 'there all done, needle through, we just need to pop the jewellery in which will be a wee bit stingy' The needle going through was honestly just a prick and nothing bad at all as I was a wee tad worried as I didn't know what to expect with it being a different area of cartilage. I then felt some tugging and this was a tad uncomfortable as due to the small-ness of the area and angle of the piercing is quite tight putting the jewellery in but it was soon done. The squeak of her putting the ball into my CBR re-affirmed this. Then came the nice part and Shirley put a cold compress on just to cool the whole area down as by now my whole ear was feeling rather hot.
I sat up, was given my 'bravery' lolly and looked in the mirror. My new metal looked so pretty and Rachel agreed it looked very cute. Shirley gave me aftercare instructions, clean with salt solution 2 times a day, pretty much the usual and did warn me that it might be a wee bit painful around my ear over the next couple days. I did take that in but having had piercings be sore I didn't really think it could be all that sore. Oh i was to regret thinking that!!!
The weekend following me getting pierced I went to visit friends in England and I was aware that my ear was getting sorer as warned by Shirley. I kept up the cleaning and also put on a cold salt compress in the hope it might soothe it. Then I got a treat. I woke up on Saturday morning with what I can only describe as ear-ache!!! My ear was in agony. It wasn't pain just from the piercing site but it was causing the rest of my ear to ache as well and it was so so sore. Now I knew exactly what Shirley meant. I was a complete grump to my friends as I couldn't even sleep that night and all they could say was well you will get piercings!! I'm pleased to say it did pass after two days of agony and it healed very quickly after that. Huge thanks to Shirley as I love this piercing dearly.