At A Glance
Author	Breeza
Contact	Breeza@bme.anon
When	It just happened
Artist	Bianka
Studio	Tattoo Thirst
Location	Currumbin Waters, Qld, Australia

As some of you may be familiar with, I got my navel pierced about 7 months ago. I had a lot of problems with it, but I'm proud to say that it has survived.

Although it was a troublesome piercing at first, I was determined to get more piercings. I even had a list going of which ones I would like, hoping that the parents would give the okay to at least one of them.

In no particular order, here's what I came up with:

Tongue

Nose

Tragus

Eyebrow

Ear rim

Ear lobe

Tongue was out of the question, because I've had expensive dental work in the past and my mum was really against it. Nose was a no-go and so were the eyebrow, because I go to a private school which is very strict regarding any form of body piercing, even lobe piercings are monitored. Also, there is no doubt that where I work, I would be expected to cover them, or (GASP!) take them out. The ear piercings seemed the best, as they can be hidden by my hair and aren't very obvious anyway. I settled on the tragus, determined to get it in the next holidays.

I went to Murwillumbah today with mum and as we were leaving we stumbled across a small op shop which had a huge range of body piercing jewellery and a small piercing parlour at the back. We spoke to the guy who owned the shop about piercings and how I was most interested in getting my tragus done. He advised against it, as my tragus is pretty small. I felt a bit disappointed, but was determined to still get my piercing.

As is with most things, I had to ask my stepdad if I could get a piercing anywhere. Mum said I would have to ask him for the final ok, and she was fine with it if her was. I was craving a piercing, and he said if I had the money that I could get my ear cartilage pierced today. I was so excited, despite it not being my first choice, and mum said she would take me to Tattoo Thirst (where I also got my bellybutton pierced) in a couple of hours. Those couple of hours went so quickly and before I knew it, I was in the car on the way there.

We got to Tattoo Thirst and walked in, being met by the familiar and reassuring scent of antiseptic cleaner. Bianka, who did my bellybutton as well, greeted us and asked how my bellybutton was going. We talked for a bit and I showed her where on my ear I wanted a piercing. I asked if I could have a stud, but she only had a couple of rings, one 14g and one 16g. I decided on the 16g and went into the little room at the back of the shop. I sat down and was a bit nervous, but was almost certain that it wouldn't be as painful as my bellybutton. Bianka got out her little black pen and marked a spot on my ear where she thought the ring would sit well. I looked in the mirror and loved it, as I can get more piercings both above and below it later on. She sat down in the chair opposite me and got the familiar clamps. When she put them on, I didn't feel any pain, just some pressure. Then, it was time for the needle. She told me to breathe in and out, while she put the needle through. I kept my eyes open through the whole thing, which I'm very proud of. =] It only stung for a bit when the needle went through, then I felt a little bit of pressure when Bianka put the jewellery in. She screwed on the ball and, like my navel, I started bleeding. I could feel it running down my ear, this warm, watery liquid. She got some paper towel and cleaned me up. I sat for a bit and then checked out my ear. I loved it the minute I saw it! It was so exciting to have the guts to get it done. Bianka gave me some cleaning solution and cotton buds to clean off the dried blood and I was good to go. I paid her ($AU50, including jewellery) and mum and I kept chatting with her. She really is an awesome piercer, and one of the nicest people I have met.

That was all two and a half hours ago. My ear is a little bit red and is a bit tender and stings sometimes as I write this. However, it was a great experience and I would recommend an ear cartilage piercing to anyone who is brave enough to go for it, and I reckon it would suit anybody who's keen. =]