At A Glance
Author	Fairy
Contact	Fairy@bme.anon
When	Three months ago
Artist	Emma
Studio	Mantra
Location	Gloucestershire

Decisions

I really wanted a new piercing but did not know what to get. I only had the cartilage in the top of my ear done. This time around, I wanted something different, something that would provoke a reaction. I decided that I did not want anything on my face because that's the first thing people look at-first impressions and all that. Also I did not want a visible scar on my face!
I found myself looking for loose pieces of skin that might be suitable for a piercing and found the webbing between my thumb and for-finger on my left hand. The next day I went into my tattoo shop to ask if it was possible and they gave me the address for this site. The site was so helpful. I found loads of pictures and was able to read experiences of other web piercings. Most people seemed to have some kind of problem with this piercing but all their stories turned out fine in the end. I guess your going to experience some kind of problem when you stick a piece of metal through your hand!
In the coming weeks, I spent a lot of time thinking about it, talking to friends and had a few trips to the tattoo shop to speak to their piercer (Emma). Emma was so helpful. She showed me the equipment and jewelry she would be using and tried to calm my fears. About a month after my first visit to the shop, I had decided. The appointment was made and I would not let myself back out even though I was told that the piercing could grow out within 6 months. The web must be pierced!

Nervous

On the day of the piercing I was really nervous. All my friends were winding me up, saying my hand was going to drop off etc! I knew it would be fine. I was confident that Emma would get it over and done with as quickly as possible.
First, the area had to be cleaned, then marked up. I really should have spent more time making sure that the marks were in the right places but I was so nervous, I just wanted it done. It was the first hand/web piercing that Emma had done so she must have been nervous too. She did not want to go too deep. When it was time for the area to be clamped I had to look away. I'm quite squeamish and never like watching injections and stuff. I was expecting to wince and maybe cry out a bit but the pain was not too bad. Emma put in a 1.2 ring which was done so quickly I did not realize it was in. Next bit was to pop the ball in. That was supposed to be tricky, but again, it was fine.
Finally, it was done. I looked at the piercing and saw that one of the markers had been missed. The piercing was actually twice as long/deep as it should have been. The gap between the two holes should have been about ½ cm but ended up being a whole cm. Also, the positioning was not what I was expecting. Instead of having a hole either side of the web ridge, the jewelry actually comes out of the top of the ridge and goes down into the palm of my hand. This is why I should have spent more time making sure the markings were in the right place before the needle went through! I think I actually prefer the way it was done in the end because it will not grow out as quickly, if at all.

Taking it home

I was told to wash my piercing with sea salt water 6-7 times a day because your hands get so dirty. There are also sweat glands in your hands which does not aid the healing process. I managed to keep up with this regime for about two weeks but it was not easy. It's hard work remembering to take sea salt with you and clean your hand when you go out and about. I kept a spare tub of sea salt at my boyfriends' house for when I was there. As the piercing started to heal, I did not bother to clean it as much - big mistake.

Infection city!

One morning, I noticed a small white blob next to one of the holes. I did not think much of it until it grew. It looked like a blister. My very holy friend told me to go home, wash it and pop it with a sterilized pin. I washed it in hot salty water and to my delight, it popped itself. I went to bed feeling relieved. However, the next day the blister had re-formed! Again I washed it and it popped! The worst thing was the following morning when my raw flesh was actually squeezing itself out of the hole where the blister had been. One might imagine this to be very painful but it actually did not hurt at all!
I returned to dearest Emma for advice. She knew exactly what to do. She told me to use Savlon antiseptic wound wash constantly to keep it clean, which was much easier than having to drag around a tub of sea salt! Within a week it had healed totally.

Changing the jewelry

Deary, deary me! I made my friend change the ring to a bar. The ring coming out was not too bad, but the bar going in was! The worst part was the screwing on of the balls. I think he got twisting happy! I had to scream at him, "their on, their on!" I might even go as far to say that it hurt more than having it done in the first place! Oh well, the bar is much more comfy.

Most asked questions

Question - Why there?
Answer - Why not?! I think it looks pretty. I would rather get my hand pierced than my tongue. If you get your tongue done, some people can't eat solids for a couple of days and even find it hard to talk.

Question - Does not it catch on things?
Answer - Not as much as I thought it would. I had a ring in to begin with which did not catch on much. I have changed the jewelry to a bar now because I can wear clear balls on it so that it will not show up as much at work. The balls on the bar catch on my braided hair all the time but I just have to be careful. I kind of have to wash my hair one handed.

Question - Did it hurt?
Answer - no more than my ear piercing!

I have definitely got the piercing bug. Many more holes to come!