I suppose you could call me a "knowledgeable newbie" when it comes to piercings I have a lot I want to get, and I know a lot about the piercing process, but I don't have many adventurous ones just yet. I got my helix/rim done a few years back aged 11, in a shady parlour and with a gun, and needles to say, it got very infected and eventually, (months after the healing process was meant to have finished) I took it out and let it heal. It was a very bad idea, but I was young and naοve; I thought a gun would hurt less (and it was cheaper than having it done with a needle). Never again!
At A Glance Author Kath Contact Kath@bme.anon When It just happened Studio The Studio, in Afflecks Palace Location Manchester Out of the three sets of holes in my ears, the best (and most recent ones) came from the lovely girl down at The Studio in Manchester's Affleck's Palace, so there was no doubt about where I was going for this experience.
My original plan was to go all out and have an industrial done, but upon reaching Afflecks I realised I had neither the money nor the stomach to go through with it! I don't know why, but the thought of two holes rather than just one made me even more scared, but I definitely wanted to get something pierced on that day I'd been waiting all week for it. My three good friends had come along with me Jemma wanted her helix done, Simon wanted his eyebrow done and Andy is completely useless around needles so he was steering well clear of the piercing rooms! I bravely said I'd go first, despite being a bit scared (this was my first needle-piercing, but I guess it's good to start small if you're a bit nervous.) Unfortunately, Jemma had forgotten her student card, so she couldn't get hers done on that day. That's when I decided to steal her idea! But she didn't seem to mind.
I filled out the forms along with Simon, paid my £15 and went straight into the room (which I will say was very clean) and the woman there talked me through what she was going to do (I'm so sorry, I don't know her name but she's really, really nice, very calm and professional.) I felt a bit better now that I was in there and really going to go for it. She dotted my ear and got me to check it was in a desired position (which it was) and then got to work!
She cleaned my ear first (I was pretty sweaty from walking around Manchester all day, eww!) And then froze it - freeze spray is a blessing! If it's offered to you, don't say no! It made the needle part of the process a lot less painful in fact I didn't even feel it at all. And I was glad she didn't count down, or tell me when she was about to do it, because I think it would have hurt a lot more if I'd been expecting it. I fact, I was sat there thinking "Has she done it? Was that the needle?" And sure enough, she'd done it. It felt fine, no worse than having your lobes done with a gun (L was very happy to hear this as she was dreading the pain!) But putting the ring through was a fuss, because of the way it closes, and she had to physically push on the part of the ear that had just been pierced, so that was a bit painful, but again, nothing scream-worthy. Then she popped the ball on and ta-da! I had a sexy new ring hanging off my right ear. She answered my questions about aftercare and I was done! The whole process was less than five minutes.
I was on an adrenaline rush for about an hour, whereas Simon was experiencing quite the opposite he kept complaining that his eyebrow hurt and he just wanted to go home!
I would definitely recommend this to mothers whose teenage daughters are pestering them for more "individual piercings". It can be worn with a ring or a stud, is very discreet and girly, and most of all, very easy to care for. The process is painless, and it hardly hurts at all now, seven hours on: despite catching it on my hair and having people poke at it all day in wonderment!
And again, I will always recommend The Studio, with their friendly service (and the fact that every piercing I've got there has healed beautifully) so if you're in Manchester and craving for some new metal, get you butt in there!
Now I definitely don't fear the needle anymore, and I'm already planning my next one! I'm looking forward to acquiring more much more metal in the coming summer holidays!