I'd been asking my mom for about a month to take me to get my tragus pierced. (I'm only 16, minor) I don't know what it is about that part of the ear that interests my so much more than anything else, but it does. It's not an issue of individuality or anything, it's just me. Anyway, she has shot my down time after time until we made a compromise: I keep my straight A's through second semester junior year, and I get pierced. It worked. So this morning, June 14, day after school ended, my mom and I planned to go to San Jose's Pierced Out; I got my belly button pierced there and really enjoyed the atmosphere and cleanliness. Funny huh? She lets me get my belly button pierced but freaks over a little earring. Go figure.
At A Glance Author jennbugg Contact jennbugg@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Michael Studio Pierced Out Location San Jose, Ca I got there and there was already a small line of people, the two people in front of my consisted of a navel piercing and an eyebrow. My mom and I provided our driver's licenses, which were copied for their records (always make sure they make a copy, it reassures you that they're completely thorough and legit) and we both signed some forms.
The guy who pierced me came out and showed me a little strip of paper with a green square. He told me once everything was sterile, the green box would turn black (the strip of paper would be in the box with the piercing utensils), and I wrote my name of the back of the paper. Then he showed me the 18 gauge ring he'd use and let me pick out a colored bead that would be in the ring (orange). Now that I think about it, how do I chance this jewelry?
When it was my turn, I followed the guy into the back room, with my mom, and I sat on the cushioned table thing. He washed his hands and put on a set of gloves. Nice. He opened up a box and I could see the needle and junk. My strip of paper was in there too, and of course, now the little green box was black. He took a cotton thing and cleaned my ear. Marked my tragus to show me where'd it go and then put on a second pair of gloves. Cool. I laid on my right side, I was piercing my left ear, and he put a cotton cover that had a little hole so it exposed nothing buy my tragus. He told me that he would set the needle behind my ear, tell me to take a deep breath, and then tell me to let it out while he would shove the needle through. And he did. I took a breath and through it went. In all to hell honesty, it did NOT hurt as much as I expected. Yes, it went crunch a little, but not enough to creep me out too terribly. And the pain of the pierce was just as bad as stubbing our to e on a coffee table. Then there was a feeling of relief when he slid the needle out, while at the same time sliding the ring in. Actually, the most pain came when he was putting the ball in because he had to push on my ear to do it. Piece of freaking' cake.
I was SO glad that it didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. And I love the way it looks! I'm so super excited that it went way better than I expected. I recommend it to anyone thinking about it because you only live once and this didn't even hurt. I was getting all prepared for some horrendous experience and the build up wasn't even worth it. Thank god. But I won't cheat you guys out: it did hurt, just not enough to cry to, whine to, or admit to.
Before the piercing I had gotten the sea salt you use to clean it, and another little pamphlet for aftercare. Since my navel is pierced I already knew the details, but I let the guy explain it to me anyways. I also got the coolest bumper sticker. After the piercing, I paid the guy, well my mom did (its good to pay after, or when the place WANTS you to pay after, because money is so dirty), and thanked him.
Both my experiences with Pierced Out have been so good. The place is way clean and they are very, very thorough which makes you feel like they're doing exactly what they're supposed to. I recommend the place to anyone in San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Campbell, Cupertino, Mt. View, or Saratoga, it's close enough.
It's the same day and there's very minimal swelling, actually, I don't even think it is swollen. It is slightly sore and tender when I smile because I can feel it in my ear. But it's not limiting me from anything: I forgot and accidentally used my left ear when I answered a phone, but I didn't even notice. That's got to be a good sign.
For whoever is thinking about getting a tragus piercing: DO IT!