Ever since I was 14 I've wanted an industrial. I saw a girl with it in passing and I just couldn't believe how awesome it looked. I had already pierced my cartilage a few years back, but it got infected so I had to remove it.
At A Glance Author Cristina When It just happened Artist Yara Studio Adrenaline Rush Location NJ The art of convincing your parents to let you shove two holes through your ear can be difficult. I approached the matter with patience. I knew that I would have to beg for quite a while until my parents would finally give in.
Finally, after months and months of begging, by the time I was fifteen my parents agreed to let me get my precious industrial. I was so excited! I could not wait to get it done. I didn't have a job at the time so I needed to save up. Eventually though, my short attention span caught up with me and I completely forgot about getting the industrial. That is until a few weeks ago.
I was browsing online and I came across bmezine. I decided to take a look at the pictures. And of course I looked at the pictures of industrials and I fell in love all over again. Fortunately by this time I had a job and was able to pay for it myself.
Since my parents had already agreed to let me get it done a year ago it didn't take much convincing the second time around. So my friend and I made plans to go get the piercing done after work. She had been wanting the industrial as well. We figured we could support each other!
However, our plan did not go smoothly. Unfortunately the day we decided to go was an unlucky day, since the piercer was not there. I was disappointed beyond words. I was so ready to do it. I had convinced myself that I would not chicken out and that I would go through with it. Now this set back just gave me another day to over think it and back out. I told myself that I would have it done. I was determined. So my friend and I decided to go back again the next day.
When I walked in to the shop I was shaking with a mix of excitement and nervousness. All of the stories I had heard and read about the industrial being the most painful piercing possible were going through my head. But I would be brave, and I would not back out now. My dad came with me so that he could sign the permission form since I'm only 16. I was really impressed with the amount of paper work that the shop required for people under 18. It made me feel more safe. Usually if a tattoo shop is relaxed about age, that means they probably don't follow other important rules too, like using clean and sterile equipment.
I walked in and was greeted by the piercer. She was really pleasant and sweet so that put me at ease. Once she got all of the paperwork settled she led me to her station and showed me different gauge sizes I could chose from. There were so many different options of sizes and styles. I decided on the 14, even though she warned me it would be more painful than the 16 which I had initially planned on getting. I sat down in the chair as she disinfected my ear and marked it.
She went over everything I would have to do to take care of it so that it wouldn't get infected. The anticipation was killing me. Finally she opened the packet with the needle and got ready to pierce. I held my breath and closed my eyes. Oh my god, did it hurt. She did the bottom part first, and told me I was halfway done. I held my breath again as she began piercing the top. The top part was definitely even more painful than the bottom. She then pushed in the barbell as I clenched my teeth. I took a look in the mirror and I could not believe that was my ear! It looked amazing. Sure, slightly blood red, but amazing nonetheless. I thanked my piercer profusely for the awesome job she did.
She then showed me my needle and told me to say goodbye to it as she placed it in the waste compartment. I could not believe how big the needle was, and I definitely couldn't believe that it actually went through my ear. I was so proud of myself for finally doing what I had been planning on doing for two years!
I had succeeded and I didn't even cry, which was my goal. Honestly though, I expected it to be much more painful than it actually was. So to anyone who is considering getting the industrial, go for it! If I can do it, you can do it. Even knowing now how painful it was, I would still do it again in a heart beat. The few seconds of pain are definitely worth the reward. I love my beautiful little industrial!